An Honorable Soldier in General Washington's Army: Chapter 12
by Tami B.
Disclaimer: The following work has been written solely for the enjoyment of fans and not for monetary profit. The rights to the characters initially created for the Daniel Boone series belong to 20th Century Fox and Fess Parker. All other characters are of the author's own creation. No copyright violation is intended.
Daniel strummed the dulcimer called "Sweet Talker" as he sang a song about his family members in the late afternoon. He was creating the song as he went along and drew the biggest laughs when he had far too many lyrics for the tune. At the end of the song, Daniel received applause and praise from his much appreciative audience.
"Sing it again, Pa," Israel demanded.
"Son, let's sing one we all know," Daniel suggested.
"Ah, gee, Pa, I liked that one. Can't you sing it again?" Israel asked pleadingly.
Rebecca handed her thirsty musical husband a mug of water. "Israel, quit pestering your father," she told him.
"The truth of the matter is I don't think I can recall half of it," Daniel admitted after he drank the cool water that satisfied his parched throat.
"We can help you there, Pa," Jemima said. "Adam and I wrote down the words." She held the paper up for Daniel to see.
"Now, we can sing it again. Please, Pa?" Israel begged.
"I reckon, but you'll have to help me," Daniel informed him.
Israel immediately inserted himself between Jemima and Adam at the table in order to get the best view of the paper. "Ready, Pa," Israel said.
"Close enough, Israel?" Adam asked.
"Yeah," Israel said, "I can read it all right. You have good handwriting, Adam."
"When I went to school, excellent penmanship was mandatory," Adam explained.
Ignoring Adam's statement because he didn't know what he said nor what he meant, Israel directed his attention back to his father. "Let's sing, Pa."
>From the bench, Daniel began strumming as Rebecca took a seat beside him. All five of them began to sing. The song was almost complete when a sharp knock came at the door and Mingo entered in a hurry.
Judging by the look on his face, Rebecca knew the news wasn't good.
"Trouble, Daniel," Mingo said. "I have just learned that a small contingent of Redcoats are assembling the leaders of all tribes in order to incite them to drive the settlers from Kentucky."
Laying aside the dulcimer, Daniel stood and asked, "Where are they meeting?"
"About four hours walk north of here," Mingo responded. "The Redcoats are led by a lieutenant with plenty of rum. I'm sure they're imbibing by now. They were to meet at noon today."
"Becky, at the first sign of trouble, you and the young 'uns get to the fort," Daniel ordered. "Mingo, Adam, and I have to stop this before the whole frontier erupts in war."
"You gonna whup the Redcoats, Pa?" Israel asked.
"Looks like we'll have to or they'll whup us," Daniel replied honestly.
"Yippee!" Israel exclaimed and didn't receive an admonition from Rebecca.
"Dan," Rebecca said, kissing him lightly on the lips. Concern was etched across her face. "We'll pray for your success."
After embracing his daughter and son, Daniel kissed his wife once more. "Everything will be all right, Becky. After all, we'll have an honorable soldier in General Washington's army along who knows how to whup Redcoats better than anyone. We can't lose."
Rebecca in spite of herself smiled, as did the children. Leave it to Daniel to attempt to lighten the moment.
Thinking Daniel exaggerated his usefulness in this situation, Adam decided to remain silent on the subject. He handed Daniel his cap, rifle, and the rest and the three of them set off to avert a war.
When the trio arrived, the leaders of all the tribes and the Redcoat lieutenant were gathered in a grand circle. It appeared only token amounts of rum had been served, but no doubt once the leaders agreed to war with the settlers the rum would flow like a river.
The trio was concealed in the heavy woods. They were able to hear and see what was going on.
"You two stay out of sight. I'm going to palaver with them," Daniel said. "If I'm unsuccessful, we may have to resort to more forceful means."
"Best of luck, Colonel," Adam said.
"Adam, you'll take orders from Mingo while I'm otherwise engaged," Daniel said.
"Yes, sir," Adam replied with no reservation about taking orders from Daniel's friend.
Daniel made his way to the circle as Mingo and Adam looked on.
"You'll be supplied with sufficient guns, gunpowder, and lead balls," the lieutenant was saying, "to drive the settlers back beyond the mountains."
Walking into their midst, Daniel presented an imposing figure. All became quiet when the tall frontiersman came to stand beside the lieutenant and began to speak. "Not long ago, I visited each of your villages and was promised peace between our people. We defeated the Shawnees in battle to keep the peace. Today, I see you with this Redcoat who wishes war to come between our people. What he's offering is death to your braves and immense suffering for your women, children, and old men. It is right and good that there be peace. Then both of our peoples will live. The war between the Redcoats and us is for us to wage. It is not your fight. So I tell you again, let the peace continue. The Redcoat brings firewater to bribe you into fighting for his side. I bring you truth. If you agree to this war, then many will die including your little ones. There's been enough war. It is a time for peace and healing among our people."
"Believe not this man," the lieutenant said. "His words are lies. The King will not allow your people to suffer. You'll be given food and anything else you need."
"Boone does not lie," a Cherokee elder said in Daniel's defense.
The lieutenant looked shocked. He didn't know that the woodsman standing beside him was Daniel Boone. He knew the Indians respected and listened to Daniel almost as if he were the Almighty. His effort to commit the Indians to war was significantly made much more difficult, but he was determined to accomplish his mission. "Boone comes to you empty handed with empty words. He does not give you gifts to honor you. His insistence that there be peace cannot be. True peace can only come when the settlers are gone from Kentucky."
"The Redcoat is mistaken," Daniel said. "We have kept the peace. We can keep the peace. It is the Redcoat who comes to us with talk of war and attempts to break the peace. We shouldn't let that happen. This Redcoat and those with him should be driven from Kentucky, not the settlers," Daniel argued. He could tell the leaders were listening and they didn't seem to desire war on the surface, but they continued to drink the rum the lieutenant provided and knew that their capacity to reason will be greatly diminished as they consumed more of it. If he were to stop this war, it would have to be soon.
At their observation post, Mingo and Adam listened intently. "Do you think the Colonel is getting through to them?" Adam asked.
"It's hard to say," Mingo responded. "I'm going to do a little reconnoitering. You stay here and keep your ears open."
"Yes, sir," Adam said as Mingo crept into the darkening woods.
"Great chiefs, Boone does not want you to make war because he knows he will lose and you will have proven your superiority over the settlers. Victory is assured and it is yours. You cannot be defeated," the lieutenant said with conviction.
"The more this Redcoat talks the more he reminds me of a bird without wings thinking he can fly and when he tries, he dies," Daniel said with a shake of his head as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing from the lieutenant. "Most of your warriors will die in this war, so who will provide meat for your villages? If you successfully defeat the settlers, your villages face a winter of starving, for this Redcoat will not provide for you. Your warriors will be dead - and your people starved. War means death to all of you. Peace means we all live," Daniel knew he was overstating his case, but so was the lieutenant. He had to drive home the point that peace was the only logical choice.
Judging by the looks on the Indians faces, the lieutenant gauged he still had a chance. A slim one, but one nevertheless. Seeing that the rum wasn't flowing as quickly as he liked, the lieutenant ordered, "Sergeant, see that these great chiefs mugs are filled."
The sergeant quickly saw to the officer's bidding. He and the other soldiers quickly poured rum. They filled the mugs to the rim.
"Drink up, my friends," Daniel encouraged. "When your bellies are full of firewater and your brains go to mush, this Redcoat will stand before you, mocking you, and thinking how cheaply he bought you. To him, you're only a means to an end and nothing more. He does not honor you. Behind your back, he will curse you and spit on your graves."
"See here!" the lieutenant exclaimed, appalled. "Boone is wrong! I respect each one of your tribes. When the war is over, your nations will be mentioned with awe and honor. No country will be held in higher esteem than the Indian nations I see before me today."
Some of the chiefs nodded their heads at each other in agreement with the lieutenant's words. The lieutenant let a smile escape his lips. He was succeeding.
Mingo moved silently around the perimeter of the meeting site. Concealed by the trees, he came upon two British soldiers guarding kegs of gunpowder. Then he saw Markes riding on his horse, dismount, hand the reins to one of the guards, then remain in the background of the ongoing debate. Mingo doubted Daniel knew that Markes was there, but at present Adam's father was a non-factor. Making his way back to the observation post, Mingo made no noise and found Adam as he left him, alert and ready.
"Welcome back," Adam greeted in a whisper. "Did you find anything interesting?"
"Oh, yes," Mingo said. "I'll tell you about it later. Right now, we need to listen."
Adam nodded and turned his attention back to Daniel.
"Peace or war. That is what must be decided. The Redcoats want war. We want peace. With war, you have only suffering and death. With peace, all those in your villages live. The choice seems simple enough to me," Daniel concluded. He decided to harp on the death theme to make the nations understand what was truly at stake. "To prove that peace is best I have big magic which if you give me a moment I will produce." Daniel strolled into the woods away from Mingo and Adam and out of view of everyone. Curious looks arose on the Indian's faces.
"Big magic? What's big magic?" Adam asked not understanding what Daniel meant.
"Your guess is as good as mine. Daniel has something up his sleeve and I hope his big magic isn't just a rabbit," Mingo commented.
Daniel joined Mingo and Adam and began to explain. "Boys, you goin' have to go to work. I spotted a keg of gunpowder on the edge of the clearing."
"There's more than one, Daniel" Mingo said. "There are seven casks that I saw. All guarded, but there may be more."
"Even better," Daniel said. "Get the gunpowder quietly and spread the kegs along the perimeter. I want lots of explosions. My big magic must be loud. I'll give you some time to set up and then set them off one at a time."
Adam smiled. He liked the plan and could hardly contain himself to get started. "Yes, sir," he said excitedly.
Daniel slapped Adam's knee and prepared to enter the circle once more. Mingo stopped him and whispered in his ear. "Daniel, watch your back. Markes is in the dark behind the lieutenant. I didn't tell Adam."
"Don't. He doesn't need to know," Daniel said.
"That's what I thought," Mingo said.
Daniel strolled to the circle as Mingo and Adam set out to capture gunpowder to make big magic for the big frontiersman.
"Well," the lieutenant said dubiously. "Where is your big magic?"
"Oh, it'll be here," Daniel assured him. "Big magic sometimes takes big time to prepare."
"You're bluffing, Boone," the lieutenant told him. "Acting mysterious isn't going to sway the Indians to peace."
"That's just what you think," Daniel said before turning to the sitting chiefs. "In order for you to see my big magic, I'll need to warm up some. Any volunteers for a wrestling match?"
A muscular young man stepped forward discarding his hatchet, knife, and assorted other accouterments. Daniel sighed inwardly. He was hoping for an easier match. Such was not to be.
The wrestling match began with much whooping and hollering. Daniel was pleased with that for it would drown out any sound that his two big magic makers would produce.
Nearing the gunpowder, Mingo was almost disappointed that taking the kegs was going to be too simple. The guards were intently watching the wrestling match. "Adam, take the one on the left."
Adam nodded. They moved forward swiftly each nabbing their man by placing an arm across their throat and a hand across their mouth. Dragging them into the woods with a sound knock to their heads, the men were sent into unconsciousness.
"Sweet dreams, you bloody lobsterbacks," Adam whispered.
Mingo and Adam got the kegs into the woods and began to place them around the perimeter as Daniel had instructed.
Meanwhile the wrestling match was a draw. No man could get the better of the other. Daniel was so elusive that the Indian couldn't get a sufficient grip on him to bring him down. Having better luck in that area, Daniel failed to get the Indian to the ground. He was that strong. The two danced around each other trying to gain an advantage over the other.
"Adam," Mingo said when they had the kegs set in their spot. "I'll set off four of them. You the other three alternately. Spread a gunpowder trail to the keg and light it from your rifle."
"Yes, sir," Adam said, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Move to the third keg that way," Mingo pointed behind him. "I'll start when Daniel gives the word."
Adam did as he was told. When he got to the keg, he pried the lid open, spread a trail, place the lid back on the keg as it laid on its side, and then removed the rifle ball from the barrel. No sense in wasting it Adam told himself. On the opposite side of the perimeter, Mingo did the same. Both waited in readiness for their leader to give them the word.
Deciding that Mingo and Adam were set, Daniel made every effort to end the wrestling match with himself as the winner, of course. At last, he found an opening and with might born of determination Daniel forcefully brought down the Indian on his back driving the wind out of him which allowed Daniel to pin him where he couldn't escape. Their champion defeated, the Indians became quiet.
"I have won the wrestling match and I will win a war if you should decide to go that way. I want peace. Join me. Join me now," Daniel encouraged, standing to his feet, and releasing the Indian. No one moved or said a word. "I will not have war only peace. My big magic will stop anymore talk of war."
With that, an explosion boomed so loud and so close that the Indians were startled and took to their feet looking around. The next explosion on the opposite side of the circle was beginning to rattle them. The third explosion caused more anxiety among the Indians. The following two explosions pushed some of the Indians over the edge and they ran in the direction of their villages. The lieutenant tried to stop them, but they were too terrified to listen to him. They wanted to be far away from Daniel Boone and his big magic.
Adam had trouble getting the last cask open and when he finally did he heard more than one person running towards him. He laid a trail but it was much shorter than the others for he had to hurry. Firing his rifle over the gunpowder, Adam made a run for it, but when the cask went off the shock wave knocked him to the ground hard sending his hat and rifle flying. He soon lost consciousness.
The final explosion sounded but the camp was deserted. Even the Redcoats were clearing out. Daniel made for the woods himself to regroup with his friends.
Markes retrieved his horse, mounted, and made his way north. He had hardly cleared the camp when he saw movement ahead of him. The form resembled his son's so he made a cautious approach. As he got closer, he knew it was his son. He was lying on his stomach attempting to rise to his feet. Markes dismounted and went to his side. He helped him roll to his back. His son appeared to be disoriented, confused, and a small amount of blood was on his forehead. Using that to his advantage, Markes brought his horse to his prone son. Helping his son to his feet and then onto the horse, Markes lashed Adam's wrists to the saddle and mounted behind him. Then he continued north to join the Redcoats on the march home.
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