An Honorable Soldier in General Washington's Army: Chapter 4
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.
A few days after Adam's arrival, Daniel decided to begin the second phase of his mission. Adam seemed to be of normal strength and able to withstand the rigors of travel and camping out. With their packs filled to the brim with what Rebecca considered necessities, the trio set out to learn if the tribes had any inclination to drive the settlers from Kentucky.
Adam was dressed in what General Washington termed "rifle dress" which consisted of a white linen shirt and buckskin pants and jacket - the same ones that saw him from New York to Kentucky. He was glad he had them. They could handle whatever the wilderness threw at them. His uniform, on the other hand, especially his pants, would probably have been in pieces when he returned.
They traveled into Wyandot country with Adam keeping up well with the taller men. He never lagged behind the woodsman and never complained about anything. Mingo knew certain surly spoiled lieutenants who could learn a few lessons from this enlisted man.
Dusk was fast approaching with nary a Wyandot in sight. Daniel chose a campsite and the three were busy settling in for the night. Salted deer roasted over the campfire as Daniel stirred a pot of beans. "Come and get it," he announced.
"Great," Adam said as he dished himself out a plate full of beans and a hunk of deer meat. "I'm famished. 'And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry.' Matthew."
"I'm glad you didn't add 'because tomorrow we die'," Daniel said.
Chuckling, Adam said, "That's a different scripture that is inappropriate to our situation - I hope."
Daniel and Mingo filled their plates and then they all settled down on a fallen tree trunk they used as a chair with their rifles close at hand.
"This is almost as good as Mrs. Boone's cooking," Adam declared while shoving in more than a mouthful of meat. "Almost."
"Nothing compares to Rebecca's cooking," Mingo chimed in. "Ask her to make you an apple pie, Adam. It is absolutely delectable."
"Oh, I couldn't ask her to do that," Adam said appalled at such a notion.
"Why not?" Mingo asked.
"I'm a guest in the Colonel's home. As such, I don't think I should be making demands of my hostess," Adam replied. "Am I right, Colonel?"
"All I can tell you, Adam, is you have not because you ask not," Daniel quoted Israel.
Adam thought a moment. "I don't know. Facing those fiery blue eyes, if she took offense at my request, that would slay me."
"Corporal, you've been in terrifying battle situations and the idea of simply asking for apple pie fills you with fear?" Daniel asked incredulously.
"Yes, sir," Adam admitted. "Disappointed in me, Colonel?"
"No, I feel the same way. Becky's fiery eyes and temper have been known to send bears fleeing in horror, panthers begging for mercy, and buffalo cowering in sheer terror," Daniel said in jest.
Adam laughed. "I share the same feeling."
Daniel suddenly became alert. His eyes searched the wooded area around their campsite. "Did you hear that?" Daniel whispered to Mingo, placing his plate on the ground and taking up his rifle.
"I did," Mingo said softly, his own senses tuned in for anything threatening.
"Hear what?" murmured Adam with concern because he heard nothing out of the ordinary.
"Adam, do as we do and don't talk," Daniel ordered.
The corporal nodded, freed himself of his plate, and brought his rifle to his lap.
"Maybe our Wyandot friends have come for a visit," Mingo uttered under his breath.
"Maybe," Daniel said, rising from the tree trunk.
Mingo and Adam followed Daniel's lead. "Come on in, friends!" Daniel called into the darkness.
The Wyandots emerged from the forest. There were five in all. "Why is Boone in the land of the Wyandot?" the leader asked gruffly.
"I've come to speak with your great chief," Daniel replied. "Join us." He gestured towards the rest of the beans and deer meat. The Wyandots dived in with relish. "Reminds me of Adam," Daniel remarked.
Adam looked annoyed but took Daniel's teasing like a sport. They resumed eating and spent a restless night with Daniel and Mingo taking turns keeping an eye on their newfound friends.
After breakfast the next morning, the Wyandot led the group to their village. There was much excitement in the village at their arrival. Adam was a bit unnerved but tried to act nonchalant as Daniel and Mingo were doing.
The chief greeted Daniel with enthusiasm and led them all to a lodge. It was crowded with the Wyandot representatives and the three of them sitting in a circle. The peace pipe was passed around and when it came to Adam's turn, he took a long drag on it. Exhaling, he began to cough so hard that he thought he would bring a lung up.
"Don't inhale, Adam," Mingo advised him, patting him on his back.
Adam nodded then passed the pipe on to the next person and noticed the amused looks on the faces of the Indians.
"It has been many moons since Boone has visited the land of the Wyandot," the chief remarked.
"Yes," Daniel agreed. "The reason for our visit is to ask you if any Redcoats or anyone else have come to your village talking war with the settlers?"
The chief shook his head. "There has been no talk of war among the Wyandot. We want peace," he said simply.
Daniel smiled and nodded. "That is what the settlers want as well. If someone should come to you with talk of war, send for me. Together, we must strive to keep the peace."
The chief nodded. "Our people will live in peace," the chief affirmed.
"I couldn't ask for more," Daniel said.
"We will celebrate the peace with you and your friends," the chief said.
"A hoe-down goes a long way to keeping the peace," Daniel whispered to Mingo.
Towards dusk, the celebration began. The warriors danced to the sound of the beating drums. Adam watched with fascination. The hunters had provided a buffalo and deer and Adam had his fill of each.
Daniel and Mingo sat with the chief as all three observed the proceedings. When the dance ended, Daniel stood and spoke, "To the great chief of the Wyandot and to the great Wyandot people, the peace between our people has been reaffirmed this night. Keeping the peace can be a challenge and obstacles may lie in the path, but keep it we will, not only for ourselves but also for our grandsons and granddaughters. They will speak our names with reverence and respect for we have preserved for them a legacy of peace and prosperity. My friends and I honor the Wyandot people who are our friends in this quest. Together we will work to maintain the peace and reap the rewards that will bring. May the Wyandot people be known as the greatest in the land."
There were shouts of agreement that grew louder as Daniel resumed sitting beside Mingo. When it had calmed, Mingo said to Daniel, "Not a bad speech, Daniel," Mingo commented. "The generalities were overstated somewhat, but that is your style."
"And it achieved the desired effect. We're all one big happy family," Daniel said, glancing around the village of contented faces. His eyes stopped on Adam who was attempting to converse with a boy about his own age. Daniel watched as Adam nodded his head and then, in exuberance, the Wyandot youth raced to an elder whose expression never changed. He then approached Daniel who stood and Mingo with him.
"Your son has agreed to wrestle my son. It will be so," the elder said and turned to call the people together.
"My son?" Daniel asked. "I just gained another addition to my family and Becky never bothered to tell me."
"Fathers are always the last to know," Mingo stated dryly.
Adam joined his companions. Curious at the stirring in the village, he asked, "Sir, what's going on?"
Daniel and Mingo exchanged glances. "We're preparing to watch a rasslin' match, son," Daniel answered as Mingo cut his eyes at him for continuing the joke to an unwitting Adam.
"Oh. Who's wrestling?" Adam asked.
"You are," Mingo replied.
"Me?" Adam said with a laugh. "You're kidding, right?"
The two men shook their heads.
"How did I get chosen to do this?" Adam asked in a voice that was clear he wanted nothing to do with the wrestling match.
"You accepted that youngster's request," Daniel said, pointing to the waiting wrestler, coming to realize Adam had blindly agreed to this.
"He spoke to me in Wyandot and I was just trying to establish our names. How that got translated into a wrestling match is unfathomable to me," Adam explained.
"Apparently something got lost in the translation," Daniel said with humor. "At any event, you're committed to rassle."
"Colonel, you must know I am not a great wrestler. I seldom, if ever, win," Adam said.
"That's fine. In this case, it might be wise to lose," Daniel said.
"Well, since there's no expectation to victory, I gladly accept the invitation," Adam said, moving towards the still waiting contestant.
When Daniel and Mingo merged into the circle of Wyandots, Daniel shouted to Adam, "Do your best, Corporal!"
Adam nodded and then the wrestling match commenced and then it was over. Adam lay pinned beneath the Wyandot youth. When he was released, Adam went to join Daniel and Mingo.
"How long did he last?" Daniel asked Mingo.
"By my count, less that three minutes," Mingo replied.
Thinking Adam just threw the match, he prepared to berate him for it. "Adam, was that your best effort?" Daniel asked as the lad came to stand beside Mingo.
"Yes, sir," Adam replied honestly. "In fact, I lasted longer than I usually do. He's not as good as the fellows in my unit."
"If you had to rassle the Redcoats instead of shooting them, you'd be in a world of hurt," Daniel commented.
"And I'd lose my distinction as an honorable soldier in General Washington's army," Adam concluded.
"There are more matches to come," Mingo said. "Maybe you can pick up some pointers."
Adam shook his head. "I've observed the same in camp and it doesn't sink in."
"Then what you need is practice. We'll take care of that once we get back," Daniel said.
"Don't get your hopes up too high, Colonel. Men not as great as you have tried and failed," Adam told him.
"If that's your way of trying to get out of this, it won't work. I'll make a passable rassler out of you or my name isn't Daniel Boone," Daniel said.
"I can't go anywhere but up," Adam observed.
Mingo had remained silent, thinking Daniel had committed himself to a task that was practically hopeless. In his opinion, Adam just wasn't cut out to be a wrestler. Placing a hand on Adam's shoulder, Mingo whispered to him, "If that wrestling doesn't work out, I'll instruct you in the art of using a hatchet."
"You're an expert with it?" Adam asked.
Mingo nodded.
"That would be agreeable," Adam said. "I think."
Daniel and Mingo smiled and they all resumed watching the wrestling match between the youth champion and another competitor who was infinitely better than Adam.
There were numerous wrestling matches that ensued. The last contest of the evening went to Daniel and the Wyandot champion. As expected, Daniel emerged the victor after a very nip and tuck contest. Adam admired the way Daniel wrestled and the gracious way he won.
They stayed with the Wyandot two more days then made their way to the other villages. Each vowed to keep the peace and there was a celebration in each village followed by wrestling matches. Adam was curious about this until Daniel told him that he had learned various styles of wrestling from the different tribes that made him to difficult to beat. So far, no Indian had bested him except for Mingo. Adam had learned his lesson and accepted no invitations to wrestle. One embarrassing loss was enough.
In the Cherokee village, Mingo proved his prowess with the hatchet as he beat out all competitors excluding Daniel who chose not to participate. Daniel said he didn't want to show his friend up and Mingo said Daniel knew he'd lose. Adam thought a contest between the two men would result in a draw.
Traveling back to Boonesborough was pleasurable knowing all the tribes affirmed to keep the peace. As glad as Adam was for it, he knew Daniel and Mingo were more so. They lived in this land. It was to their best interest that they all lived in peace. In his musings, Adam envisioned himself living and working in this land along with them. He smiled with pleasure at that thought.
A hunting day was proclaimed by Daniel and all were going, except Rebecca. Sitting on the porch, Daniel wondered how much longer Israel would take to get his chores done. He had dawdled and now was in the cabin hurrying so he could get started. Adam had graciously offered to help him, but Daniel told him that his son needed a lesson in responsibility.
The alarm from the fort rang out just then which brought Daniel and Mingo quickly to their feet. Their eyes trained towards the settlement.
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