| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Many Flags |
Posted - October 10 2002 : 10:47:48 AM
On that particular day, in 1747, after receiving what they needed from the German Immigrant, and after receiving a “farewell, stay safe” from their mother (and a scowl from her to her nephew Seamus), Christian and Michael and their cousin Seamus set off for the largest town around - Reading.
It would take two days to travel there, sometimes on wagon roads and sometimes with shortcuts through the forest, and the lads would stop the first evening and make camp at some spot, instead of taking hospitality from strangers along the way. It was the way they wanted it, for their Lenape friends had taught them well the ways of the forest and they preferred the open air when they could get away.Their German neighbors and relatives in the Allemaengel would never have thought of staying under the umbrella of the big woods at night, preferring the comforts which they worked so hard to enjoy, the feather beds, the meals of "schnitz und knepp", and warm hearth fires. But Christian and Michael Hagenbuch and their cousin Seamus MacWilliam had a streak of wildness, a streak of the Native in them, which would later brand them as longhunters.
They traveled through the day, and on the wagon trails they passed some others, stopping to talk the news (“the Shumacher place caught fire last night, but was discovered before it got too worse”; “some wealthy merchants from Philadelphia were traveling through looking to buy some land”; “there’s been some treaty business with the Indians up where the Susquehanna branches meet, there at Shamokin, it could mean some bad times”.....), and toward evening they took off on a southeastern shortcut they were familiar with and found a place to make camp.
A small fire was started, to cook some corn mush and some smoked bacon, and an apple for each finished the evening meal and the fire was left to embers as the three settled in their blankets on the leafy woods floor, huge chestnuts and oaks forming protective shields overhead.
Sometime during the night, Michael (later to be called Many Flags) awoke, sensing a presence to his left. He looked across the dimming embers and could just make out Christian (later to be called Three Tales) fast asleep, and Seamus (always to be called Seamus), who was wide awake, his eyes huge as he stared at what Michael sensed. Michael mouthed with no voice, “What?” and Seamus mouthed back (as Christian rasped a low snore), “Deer ...white.”
Slowly, Michael lifted and turned his head. There standing not four feet from him was a beautiful white-haired buck. Antlers of 6 or more points (it was dark except for a slim bit of moonlight), jutted out from its head as it stared off into the night. Michael laid his hand on his loaded rifle, but then slipped it off as he recognized the aura of the animal. As the two youngest lads stared in awe, the older lad moved in his blanket, stretched, opened his eyes which then also grew wide.
For several minutes all three lads lay motionless as they watched the white stag. Then, shaking its head it silently trotted off. Christian reached out and threw some dry wood on the fire. In a minute’s time, it blazed and lit up their dark world beneath the huge trees; the world now devoid of the haunting white deer.
Finally, Seamus spoke. “Uncle Andreas once told me that he has seen a white buck at times. But, I would never have believed its beauty and, uhhh, ghostliness. Does it mean something? Uncle Andreas seemed to think there was something, uhhh, spiritlike....uhhh....”, and Seamus stopped, and drew in a sharp breath, the darkness and twisted shadows suddenly becoming ominus.
Christian spoke with sense. “Let’s get back to sleep. It’s a long day tomorrow before we get to Reading Town. We can speak of this more tomorrow.”
The three settled back down. The embers once again began to die and Michael dozed off, the white buck suddenly appearing in the shadows of his dream......(to be continued).....Pax Aye!
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| 2 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - October 24 2002 : 01:10:20 AM
Cousins, please I'm starting to go into withdrawl. I need to know 'what happens, now', you really have left me on a cliffhanger here...
Your Cousin,
Sgt. Duncan Munro
Capt. Graham's Coy
1/42nd Royal Highlanders
"Nemo Me Impune Lacessit" |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - October 19 2002 : 1:49:52 PM
Very ominous cousin, but only bad luck if you kill the "Ghost Buck".
Your Humble Servant,
Sgt. Duncan Munro
Capt. Graham's Coy
1/42nd Royal Highlanders
"Nemo Me Impune Lacessit" |
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