Chapter 7
June 24th, 1777 - 5 days later - Evening
Daniel and Rain Cloud buried the Wyandot warrior early in the morning. They found a message, etched deep into the dirt with a stick, indicating a meeting place near a river. They wondered why Mingo had killed this man, and they were looking forward to the meeting. It had been a hard five days. Rain Cloud was quieter than Mingo, if this was possible. Daniel had spent some time trapping with him and Mingo last winter. He had also met Rain Cloud's family at some of the gatherings he had attended in Chota. Mingo had brought Rain Cloud along during the peace negotiations but he was always silent, standing proudly by Mingo. What did matter to Daniel, in any case, was that Mingo trusted him with both the mission and all of their lives.
Mingo kept the pace quick and hard. He had no one to protect his back and probably wouldn't until the whole thing was over. Daniel and Rain Cloud were acting as his hunters, the charade had to be maintained at all cost.
Rain Cloud insisted on hunting for fresh meat. In one of the few conversations he had with Daniel, he had said "Mingo deserves fresh meat; we'll be happy with a fire and fresh meat." Daniel had repeatedly told Rain Cloud that he could speak his native language, but Rain Cloud only used broken English with him.
Daniel followed the trail that led to Mingo, and Rain Cloud had gone looking for game; they would meet by the river's edge.
Daniel arrived in time to see Mingo swimming in the river. He wasn't all that surprised; Mingo loved the feel of water. Daniel watched, and thought about joining him. He was incredibly dusty but decided the river would still be there in a few hours. He found Mingo's clothes on a dry piece of rock, all his adornments and weapons. Daniel lifted the whip in his hand, hefting it ,sizing it up. Mingo had taught him a little about handling it. Rain Cloud would arrive soon; he was as good a hunter as he was a tracker. So Daniel decided to amuse himself.
He cracked the whip loudly on the bark of a tree, breaking the silence of the forest. Mingo lifted his head from the water but saw no one around. A second crack was heard and Mingo rapidly swam toward the shore. As he climbed out, he saw his friend Daniel a few feet away and smiled. He shook the water off and got dressed quickly.
"Hello, Daniel! You are still misusing my whip. Do you not remember the lessons I gave you?" he asked smiling, glad to see a friendly face.
"I guess you ain't been a good teacher," Daniel retorted. "Water any good?
"The water is even better than fine, Daniel. I knew you would come and that I could use it. It has felt very good. Where is my friend, Rain Cloud How is Jemima? And Rebecca?" Mingo's voice had not been used for a while. All these questions came flowing out of him in a rush.
"Whoa there, Mingo. Rain Cloud will be here shortly. He wanted fresh meat tonight. Rebecca was looking better when I left, but Jemima was still sore. They're fine by now. We can't worry. Colonel Hartford is looking after them," Daniel hushed Mingo.
"Let's make a small fire where you can dry that hair of yours,"smiled Daniel, "Perhaps I can learn a few tricks with the whip?"
Rain Cloud arrived shortly after; the fire was burning bright and hot. He had shot a fowl and before getting down to cleaning and preparing it, he approached Mingo and clasped arms together in a warrior's greeting. The two Cherokees exchanged a few words of greeting in Cherokee. Daniel, who was witnessing their exchange, saw how glad they were to be in this together.
Mingo had tightly braided his dry hair. He had let Daniel practice some with his whip. As Rain Cloud got supper started, Mingo worked the fine threads of his whip. He was proud of his skills with the whip, and he maintained the weapon in fine working order.
Daniel had boiled some water for coffee. At last, Mingo would eat and relax this evening, confident that friends around him would protect his back.
"Tell us about the Wyandot we buried this morning, Mingo," Daniel said. Rain Cloud was curious too. Daniel, in deference to both Cherokees, spoke in their language. Perhaps Rain Cloud would believe that Daniel truly meant it when he had offered to speak Cherokee on the trail.
"Well, he attacked me; shot at me from behind. I got him first. I didn't want to leave his body like that; I sang his death song and used his weapons to honor him in death. I hoped the only one who could read English would be you. However, I was hoping someone else would find the warrior. I have offered prayers to the Great Spirit for his soul." Mingo was sad. It wasn't in him to leave even an enemy without the burial customs of his tribe. The few basic rites he managed to make were more for his own sake than for his assailant.
Daniel saw this mission would deplete much of Mingo's energy, playing a renegade, going against his own values. They had known the risks, the price to pay, but they understood and agreed with the conclusion.
"Have you made any contact?" inquired Daniel.
"Not yet, my friend, although I believe I was followed for a while by someone other than the two of you."
On that note, they decided to eat and enjoy a civil evening between friends; Rain Cloud, having at last accepted that Daniel truly meant his words, and began a tale as they ate together.
Morning came and with it a very rested Mingo. It had been his first good sleep in a week. Daniel had no news of McTavish, the young lieutenant with whom he would have a rendezvous two days hence. He had not seen any tracks of his, nor heard a peep from him either. The young lieutenant was either very good or had taken a different route.
As they separated, Mingo knew it might truly be the last time they would see one another. They all knew the direction Mingo was taking. Mingo was counting on both his friends to protect one another.
"I don't like the idea of you going into Canada, Daniel. If the British heard of your presence there, they would not hesitate to make you their prisoner and have your head as a trophy," commented Mingo; rightly so. He knew the British in Canada offered a large bounty for Daniel Boone.
"You be careful, Mingo and I will too. I'll be Jeremiah Fox from now on. You'll remember the name, right?" teased Daniel, as if his blood brother would forget. "We'll see each other in Quebec, if not before, if you need us."
The three men went their separate ways.