The Adventures of Cherokee by Nancy Johnson Read Free Book Online Page B

move.
    “U tso nati !” shouted Sunee, as she raced toward the little girl. “Cherokee! Get the snake! I’ll take care of the child!”
    Cherokee leaped into action, eyes scanning the ground as he ran. He spotted the rattle snake and headed directly for it.
    The movement of the two wild horses attracted the people at the wagon train. Emily’s mother screamed. The child looked up as the buckskin and spotted horse, ears flat to their heads, flew directly at her, but she could not move. In seconds, Sunee slid to a standstill between Emily and the snake. Putting her head gently against the girl, Sunee pressed her backward, away from danger. Emily, not wanting to drop her flowers, placed one tiny hand on the mare’s face. She was forced to back up several steps until finally she lost her balance and plopped down on her bottom.
    Cherokee reached the rattler at the same time. He reared on his hind legs stomping the snake, once, twice, three times, killing it with his sharp hooves.
    The people in the wagon train did not see the snake and thought the horses were going to hurt Emily. Weapons out, the men raced toward the child to protect her. Several men fired their guns while running, but the shots went wild. Sunee and Cherokee saw them coming, quickly turned and raced back toward the woods and safety.
    “Thank you, Jesus!” said the little girl’s mother, as she picked her up, hugging her to her breast, wild flowers flying everywhere. Both of them were crying. The men, looking around, saw a 6 foot Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake on the ground where Cherokee had been stomping.
    “Look, Joseph! Those horses killed a snake!” said John.
    John, the father of the child, stood in awe, as he looked at the bruised and torn body of the deadly reptile, and then after the horses.
    “I wonder why two wild horses protected our child, Martha,” he said to his wife. “Maybe they aren’t so wild after all. Suppose?”
    “It is a miracle,” she replied. “Tame or wild, I will always be grateful to those horses, and that you didn’t injure them with your guns!”
    “Let’s clean it and take it back for a meal. They are very good to eat. Tastes like chicken. I’m going to keep the rattles, too,” commented John. “Someday Emily might want them to remind her of her near death experience on her way out west.”
    He bent over, picked up the large reptile and followed the others back to camp.
    The sun was setting and the fall air turning cooler. The horses cantered toward the forest in companionable silence. Once they reached the edge of the trees, they slowed to a walk and entered the darkening woods. Their hooves caused the leaves to make crisp noises with each step. It was very pleasant indeed. They felt safe in the bosom of Mother Earth and the memories of Grandfather’s words.
    “We do have a uno ligo so, a partnership, don’t we?” asked Cherokee.
    “Yes, Cherokee,” answered Sunee. “I was just thinking the same thing. It is good that we decided to make thisjourney together. The Great Spirit has already given us his blessing, by putting us in this place and giving us the ability to save the small child.”
    “You protected her,” said Cherokee.
    “And you killed u tso nati,” responded Sunee.
    Sunee rubbed her nose on Cherokee’s shoulder affectionately.
    “Let’s thank the Great Spirit for his gifts and then rest. Perhaps we can follow the people again tomorrow,” she suggested.
     

-7-Indians  
    Cherokee and Sunee rose early and watched as the women cooked breakfast and the men saw to the hitching of the teams of horses and oxen. The day started early for the folks in the wagon train, too.
    Sunee observed that the women kept their children close, making sure they didn’t stray into rattlesnake infested territory. After breakfast, supplies were loaded and Joseph, the wagon master, called for them to start out.
    Cherokee noticed that the train was going in the direction his vision had shown him, so he and