perhaps left in the wilderness to die alone, or be returned to her captor?
Caroline took a deep but quiet breath to quell those harsh concerns.
Stop worrying and get to sleep! You’ll probably have a longer and harder day tomorrow, so you need your rest.
The next day was filled with those same chores and more. She watched as the rest of the hunters returned with loadedtravois from their final task, and the women set about to handle the meat and hides. They rode into camp shortly before the return of the braves who had taken the wagons away, which evoked another gathering of the men present to speak with them.
During the hottest part of the day, she and Macha washed clothes in shade provided by trees growing along the river’s bank and spread them out on bushes to dry.
Later, at the water’s edge, she and Macha gathered rushes to make backrests and sitting mats and trays for carrying items. During each trip to and from the tepee, Caroline caught furtive glimpses of War Eagle as he talked or did tasks with other men.
As the August sun sank into the horizon, they foraged the surrounding area for greens and dug up bulbs to be used in their next few meals. She learned which plants were edible, which ones to avoid, and which ones were used for medicines and dyes. She was amazed and impressed by how the Indians used the wild offerings of nature for survival. She also discovered that nothing from the great hairy beasts they slew went to waste. Horns became weapons and tool handles, drinking cups, and diggers. Hooves became glue. Hair was fashioned into balls for children and other items. Bladders and stomachs made excellent water bags and supply pouches. Hides would be turned into tepees, clothing, and shoes. Sinew provided thread for sewing. Bones became tools and weapons. The meat was the main source of their nourishment, especially in the winter when snow covered the ground and many animals migrated to other locations. Of course, other creatures were slain for those same uses, but the buffalo was their main provider for survival. Now, she understood why the Indians were so concerned about white men slaying the beasts only for their hides. It was clear to her that stopping those hunters would go a long way toward peace.
* * *
As War Eagle furtively observed Caroline while she did her chores, just as he had done yesterday, he wondered if she hated him and viewed him as a “savage,” a fierce “hostile,” as most whites did. Surely she was frightened by and distrustful of them, of him, even though she had given him a gift of gratitude for the snake rescue. He touched the pezutaozuha suspended around his neck where he had placed a white circle the size of his two thumbnails. Carved in black upon what Cloud Chaser told him was “whale ivory” was a scene with a big fish, a strange boat, clouds, and water. His brother had said it was called “scrimshaw” and had been done by the chief of a boat that captured huge fish called “whales,” which swam in the big waters far away. A yellow circle on its top revealed it had been suspended on a thong of some kind and worn around her neck after her brother gave it to her long ago, according to what she had told Cloud Chaser. He was amazed she had parted with it, but it must have been the only possession she had with her that was an appropriate gift for a man, and she had felt compelled to thank him for saving her life and for bringing her to a camp of good people. But did that alter her feelings about them? About him?
Neither he nor they had mistreated her, but perhaps she was being obedient and even friendly to Cloud Chaser and Macha only to avoid punishment or death. He tried to study her in closely guarded secret, as he did not want others alerted to his interest in her. He could not help desiring her. With her sunny hair and sky-colored eyes, she was beautiful and alluring. Cloud Chaser’s mother had those same colorings and agreeable traits when she was their
Caroline took a deep but quiet breath to quell those harsh concerns.
Stop worrying and get to sleep! You’ll probably have a longer and harder day tomorrow, so you need your rest.
The next day was filled with those same chores and more. She watched as the rest of the hunters returned with loadedtravois from their final task, and the women set about to handle the meat and hides. They rode into camp shortly before the return of the braves who had taken the wagons away, which evoked another gathering of the men present to speak with them.
During the hottest part of the day, she and Macha washed clothes in shade provided by trees growing along the river’s bank and spread them out on bushes to dry.
Later, at the water’s edge, she and Macha gathered rushes to make backrests and sitting mats and trays for carrying items. During each trip to and from the tepee, Caroline caught furtive glimpses of War Eagle as he talked or did tasks with other men.
As the August sun sank into the horizon, they foraged the surrounding area for greens and dug up bulbs to be used in their next few meals. She learned which plants were edible, which ones to avoid, and which ones were used for medicines and dyes. She was amazed and impressed by how the Indians used the wild offerings of nature for survival. She also discovered that nothing from the great hairy beasts they slew went to waste. Horns became weapons and tool handles, drinking cups, and diggers. Hooves became glue. Hair was fashioned into balls for children and other items. Bladders and stomachs made excellent water bags and supply pouches. Hides would be turned into tepees, clothing, and shoes. Sinew provided thread for sewing. Bones became tools and weapons. The meat was the main source of their nourishment, especially in the winter when snow covered the ground and many animals migrated to other locations. Of course, other creatures were slain for those same uses, but the buffalo was their main provider for survival. Now, she understood why the Indians were so concerned about white men slaying the beasts only for their hides. It was clear to her that stopping those hunters would go a long way toward peace.
* * *
As War Eagle furtively observed Caroline while she did her chores, just as he had done yesterday, he wondered if she hated him and viewed him as a “savage,” a fierce “hostile,” as most whites did. Surely she was frightened by and distrustful of them, of him, even though she had given him a gift of gratitude for the snake rescue. He touched the pezutaozuha suspended around his neck where he had placed a white circle the size of his two thumbnails. Carved in black upon what Cloud Chaser told him was “whale ivory” was a scene with a big fish, a strange boat, clouds, and water. His brother had said it was called “scrimshaw” and had been done by the chief of a boat that captured huge fish called “whales,” which swam in the big waters far away. A yellow circle on its top revealed it had been suspended on a thong of some kind and worn around her neck after her brother gave it to her long ago, according to what she had told Cloud Chaser. He was amazed she had parted with it, but it must have been the only possession she had with her that was an appropriate gift for a man, and she had felt compelled to thank him for saving her life and for bringing her to a camp of good people. But did that alter her feelings about them? About him?
Neither he nor they had mistreated her, but perhaps she was being obedient and even friendly to Cloud Chaser and Macha only to avoid punishment or death. He tried to study her in closely guarded secret, as he did not want others alerted to his interest in her. He could not help desiring her. With her sunny hair and sky-colored eyes, she was beautiful and alluring. Cloud Chaser’s mother had those same colorings and agreeable traits when she was their
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