so
unexpectedly?” asked Jean-Baptiste sarcastically. “I understand
their position is dire, but we do not have the capacity to put up
such a large number of refugees, no matter what their
circumstances.”
“ I understand,
S ir. They can not stay here.” St.
Denis sat quietly for a moment. Then he raised his hand to his
chin. “But there is ample room north of here on the lake,” St.
Denis thought aloud.
“ Are you sure
that is wise, monsieur?” asked Jean-Baptiste. “The natives along
that lake are hardly pleased with us as it is now. I’d hate to see
their reaction if we relocate this tribe alongside them. They’ll
want even more in return for certain.”
“ Yes,” thought
St. Denis. “But it seems we have very few options. I think if we
gather up enough provisions to bring the Acolapissa, it’s possible
it will be enough of an offering to allow the Nashitosh to stay and
share the lakeshore. After all, it is a large lake.”
“ Indeed, but
territory is a touchy subject with the natives,” Jean-Baptiste
cautioned. “Don’t forget what it took to acquire the land we hold
now.” He thought for a few moments more. “You have my permission,
Louis, do what you can.”
St. Denis
gathered up a team of soldiers and instructed them to put provisions together, including
food, blankets, animal pelts and grains to bring to the Acolapissa.
Sergeant LaRouche was the leader of the small platoon of soldiers.
He was not amused on that he had been pulled back into duty helping
this tribe once again. St. Denis also summoned Andre Pénicaut, an honorable man and carpenter whom he
trusted. He placed him in charge of leading the displaced Nashitosh
tribe to Lake Pontchartrain. St. Denis would travel with them
initially to help them get settled.
He and Pénicaut approached
a small area outside the fort where the Nashitosh were gathered.
They were given food and they sat quietly and ate their first meal
in days. St. Denis spotted Natchitos sitting with his family and
walked towards them. Natchitos saw him coming, so he stood to greet
him.
“ Tell me my friend, are you
fleeing some type of danger?” he asked Natchitos.
Natchitos explained, “I saw that you were
not coming, so I thought you had trouble. I thought of sending a
party to come and give you aid. But the crops became lost and my
people were restless and weakened. I could not send my men any
longer. I am sorry.”
“ There is no need to
apologize,” St. Denis responded. “I am honored by your gesture.
Please accept my apologies for not returning to your area sooner. I
did not know the situation with your crops had become so desperate.
You made a wise decision in coming here. I will help you as much as
I can.”
He then introduced Pénicaut
to Natchitos. “Monsieur Pénicaut is a builder, and a trusted
friend. He has agreed to go with you to the lake that is nearby.
There you and your people can settle and live without fear.”
Natchitos nodded to Pénicaut. “But my friend, there is another
tribe at the lake, the Acolapissa. This is the tribe of which I
spoke to you. We obtained this land from them.” Natchitos nodded in
understanding. “I know the chief of this tribe, he is called Red
Hawk. He is a good man, but he is a cautious man as well. It may
take some time for him to be comfortable with new neighbors. Do you
understand?”
Natchitos looked at him
with confidence. “We are in your debt, Lieutenant. I thank you. I
will meet this Chief Red Hawk. It is I who should ask for his
permission.” St. Denis and Pénicaut looked at each other with some
worry. But St. Denis trusted his instincts. He nodded to Natchitos
in agreement.
The tribe began to gather
and load into their canoes. The soldiers pulled their boats
alongside the canoes to load more provisions. LaRouche stood at the
bow of one boat and barked orders at the men. They handed him
crates one by one. As he worked, LaRouche scanned over the tribe
with a glare. The he saw him. Tooantuh was
unexpectedly?” asked Jean-Baptiste sarcastically. “I understand
their position is dire, but we do not have the capacity to put up
such a large number of refugees, no matter what their
circumstances.”
“ I understand,
S ir. They can not stay here.” St.
Denis sat quietly for a moment. Then he raised his hand to his
chin. “But there is ample room north of here on the lake,” St.
Denis thought aloud.
“ Are you sure
that is wise, monsieur?” asked Jean-Baptiste. “The natives along
that lake are hardly pleased with us as it is now. I’d hate to see
their reaction if we relocate this tribe alongside them. They’ll
want even more in return for certain.”
“ Yes,” thought
St. Denis. “But it seems we have very few options. I think if we
gather up enough provisions to bring the Acolapissa, it’s possible
it will be enough of an offering to allow the Nashitosh to stay and
share the lakeshore. After all, it is a large lake.”
“ Indeed, but
territory is a touchy subject with the natives,” Jean-Baptiste
cautioned. “Don’t forget what it took to acquire the land we hold
now.” He thought for a few moments more. “You have my permission,
Louis, do what you can.”
St. Denis
gathered up a team of soldiers and instructed them to put provisions together, including
food, blankets, animal pelts and grains to bring to the Acolapissa.
Sergeant LaRouche was the leader of the small platoon of soldiers.
He was not amused on that he had been pulled back into duty helping
this tribe once again. St. Denis also summoned Andre Pénicaut, an honorable man and carpenter whom he
trusted. He placed him in charge of leading the displaced Nashitosh
tribe to Lake Pontchartrain. St. Denis would travel with them
initially to help them get settled.
He and Pénicaut approached
a small area outside the fort where the Nashitosh were gathered.
They were given food and they sat quietly and ate their first meal
in days. St. Denis spotted Natchitos sitting with his family and
walked towards them. Natchitos saw him coming, so he stood to greet
him.
“ Tell me my friend, are you
fleeing some type of danger?” he asked Natchitos.
Natchitos explained, “I saw that you were
not coming, so I thought you had trouble. I thought of sending a
party to come and give you aid. But the crops became lost and my
people were restless and weakened. I could not send my men any
longer. I am sorry.”
“ There is no need to
apologize,” St. Denis responded. “I am honored by your gesture.
Please accept my apologies for not returning to your area sooner. I
did not know the situation with your crops had become so desperate.
You made a wise decision in coming here. I will help you as much as
I can.”
He then introduced Pénicaut
to Natchitos. “Monsieur Pénicaut is a builder, and a trusted
friend. He has agreed to go with you to the lake that is nearby.
There you and your people can settle and live without fear.”
Natchitos nodded to Pénicaut. “But my friend, there is another
tribe at the lake, the Acolapissa. This is the tribe of which I
spoke to you. We obtained this land from them.” Natchitos nodded in
understanding. “I know the chief of this tribe, he is called Red
Hawk. He is a good man, but he is a cautious man as well. It may
take some time for him to be comfortable with new neighbors. Do you
understand?”
Natchitos looked at him
with confidence. “We are in your debt, Lieutenant. I thank you. I
will meet this Chief Red Hawk. It is I who should ask for his
permission.” St. Denis and Pénicaut looked at each other with some
worry. But St. Denis trusted his instincts. He nodded to Natchitos
in agreement.
The tribe began to gather
and load into their canoes. The soldiers pulled their boats
alongside the canoes to load more provisions. LaRouche stood at the
bow of one boat and barked orders at the men. They handed him
crates one by one. As he worked, LaRouche scanned over the tribe
with a glare. The he saw him. Tooantuh was
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