The Mandie Collection (7 page)

They all went outside where the horses were saddled and waiting.

“Must get more horses for Papooses,” Uncle Ned said, walking toward the fenced pasture where the animals grazed.

Dimar followed him. “I will help,” he said.

When they brought out two ponies for the girls, everyone mounted and waved good-bye to Morning Star and Elizabeth. Mandie balanced Snowball on her shoulder, and they galloped off down the road.

The search was tiresome. They left the horses at the creek in the woods by the hospital, hoping to return before the workmen left for the day. Then they invaded the bushes, searching and calling Joe's name.

As they walked along the creek bank, it became an uphill climb, and Mandie looked around, sensing something familiar. “Sallie, isn't this the way to the cave?” she asked her friend.

“Yes, it is,” Sallie replied.

Mandie spoke to Uncle Ned, just ahead of them. “Are we going to the cave where we found the gold, Uncle Ned?”

The old man turned around. “Cave fell in, remember? All closed up now. Rockslide,” he said. “We pass it soon, Papoose. We look in mountain for doctor boy.”

“And we will stop by my house to rest and eat,” Dimar spoke up from behind Mandie. “My mother will have food ready.”

“It will be nice to see your mother again,” Mandie told him.

The group tramped on through the bushes, climbing the steep mountainside. Soon they came within sight of the waterfalls that had hidden the doorway to the old cave.

Mandie stopped and stared. “Look!” she exclaimed. “The waterfalls have changed, haven't they? Aren't they a little lopsided?” Snowball jumped down from her shoulder.

Everyone stopped to look.

“Rocks slide down, make different shape when cave fell in,” Uncle Wirt said.

Dr. Woodard stood by Mandie and put his hand gently on her shoulder. “So that's the cave where you, and Sallie, and Joe found the gold,” he said to her. “You know I've never been up through these mountains before.”

“Yes, this is it,” said Mandie. “I thought everyone knew about this place. You see, you had to walk under the waterfalls to get to the opening in the rock. When you went through that opening, there was a huge dark cave, lots of rooms, and also lots of bats. We frightened them one time, and they went wild, flying all around us.”

“And the gold we found was in one of those dark rooms,” Sallie added.

“As soon as Uncle Ned and Uncle Wirt took the gold out, the whole cave fell in,” Mandie explained. “Rocks came sliding down every which way.”

“Joe told me about that,” Dr. Woodard said, still staring at the waterfalls. He cleared his throat and moved forward. “Guess we'd better keep on going, so we can find him before dark.”

“Yes, we'll have to hurry to cover all this area and get back out before dark catches us,” said Uncle John.

The old Indians kept alert as they led the search party. There was no clue or any sign of a trail. Snowball followed Mandie until he became tired and meowed for her to let him ride on her shoulder again.

Finally they came to Dimar's house, a neat log cabin set deep in the woods by a small stream. When the young people spotted the cabin, they hurried ahead, and arrived at the door before the others.

Jerusha Walkingstick, Dimar's mother, stood in the doorway, waiting for them. She embraced the two girls.

“Come! Eat!” she told them, leading the way back into the cabin. Then returning to the door, she beckoned the others.

After they had all gathered around a long table full of food, Uncle Wirt thanked God for their lunch and asked for help finding Joe.

As they ate, Snowball wandered out the open door into the yard. A few moments later there was a loud shot, and a bullet hit a tree near the front door. The kitten came bouncing back into the cabin, his fur ruffled.

The men jumped up, grabbed their rifles, and ran outside. The girls followed. But since there was no one in sight, the men split up, heading different directions toward the surrounding woods.

“You girls stay there with Jerusha,” Uncle John called back. “Dimar, you keep watch with them. Back in the house at once, all of you.”

The girls obeyed, and Dimar stationed himself at the doorway with his rifle. Standing by the window with Jerusha, Mandie and Sallie watched the men vanish into the woods.

“Dimar, does anyone else live around here?” Mandie asked.

Dimar didn't take his eyes off the yard outside. “No one who would shoot at us,” he replied. “There are only friends.”

Sallie spoke up. “Then maybe it is someone who does not live in the woods.”

“But why would anyone shoot at Dimar's house?” asked Mandie. “I do not know, but we will find out,” Dimar assured her.

After a while the men returned. They stopped to study the tree the bullet hit and then came inside the house.

“There is no one out there,” Uncle John said, standing his rifle by the chair where he sat.

Uncle Wirt and Uncle Ned warmed themselves by the fireplace while Dr. Woodard sat back down at the table.

“Did you see anything?” Mandie asked.

“Nothing, Amanda,” Dr. Woodard replied.

“But there was a gunshot. I saw the bullet strike the tree,” Sallie insisted.

“Yes, there was a gunshot, Sallie, but whoever was shooting got away before we could catch them,” said Uncle John.

“We find feet marks. Go in creek,” Uncle Ned muttered. “And we catch,” Uncle Wirt added.

Uncle John stood. “If everyone is finished eating, I think we'd better get on our way.”

Everyone stood and got ready to leave.

“Thank you, Mrs. Walkingstick, for the food and everything,” Dr. Woodard told the woman.

“Yes, we appreciate it, Jerusha,” Uncle John said as the two Indian men echoed their thanks.

Jerusha smiled. “Always welcome,” she said.

Mandie and Sallie put their arms around the Indian woman. “Thank you,” they said in unison.

Jerusha squeezed them tight.

The men started out the doorway, and the girls hurried to catch up. “Must be careful,” Jerusha called after them from the doorway. “We will,” the girls called back. They waved and went on their way.

Again they walked and they walked, through bushes, briars, weeds, and swinging tree limbs, but they could find no trail or clue. They met no one and heard nothing.

Although Mandie was soon exhausted, she did not complain. After the fright of the gunshot, Snowball clung to Mandie's shoulder, content to be carried along.

Walking through an open meadow between Dimar and Sallie, Mandie turned to the Indian boy and said, “Dimar, you said Joe was all right when you left him at the hospital after the men came. If he promised to stay out of sight, how could he have gotten into trouble?”

“Perhaps the crooks came through the bushes and found him,” Sallie suggested.

“Perhaps,” Dimar agreed. “But I think whoever shot at the tree by my house is one of the crooks who tore down the walls of the hospital.”

“You do? Why?” Mandie asked quickly.

“Because whoever it was, went into the creek so we could not follow his footprints,” Dimar observed. “The crooks at the hospital also went into the creek so we could not follow their footprints.”

“You are absolutely right,” Mandie agreed.

Sallie looked puzzled. “But why would the crooks follow us all the way to your house?”

“I do not know but I intend finding out,” said Dimar.

After hours of walking, the tired band of searchers finally got back to the hospital. It was late. The workmen had already left for the day. And again their entire day's work had been torn down.

Gasping in anger, Mandie ran ahead. Then she spied a large piece of cardboard nailed to a post that was left standing. “Look!” she cried, pointing. Hurrying closer, she read out loud, “White man, go home!”

Everyone crowded around.

Uncle Ned grunted loudly. “Crooks are Indians. We stop. Call powwow at council house.”

“That is a good idea,” said Uncle John.

Uncle Wirt looked very angry. “We tell all Cherokee help find doctor boy. Stop tearing down walls,” he said loudly.

They made their plans to call all the Cherokees in the Eastern Nation to the council house the next day.

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHEROKEE POWWOW

After mounting up with the others, Mandie sadly turned her pony back onto the trail to Uncle Ned's house. They still had not found Joe, not even a trace of him.

Mandie was worried. Joe could be in danger somewhere, and there was no way for her to help. They had traveled miles and miles that day to no avail. He had to be somewhere. And those crooks had to be somewhere, too. Why couldn't they find Joe or the crooks?
Please, dear God
, she prayed silently as her pony clopped down the trail with the others.
Let them be found. Please let Joe be all right
.

Elizabeth and Morning Star waited for them at the doorway of Uncle Ned's cabin when they returned. The two women silently looked among the group, and when they didn't see Joe, they said nothing.

Mandie jumped down from her pony and ran to her mother's arms. Elizabeth hugged Mandie tightly, smoothing her daughter's tangled blonde hair. Tears flooded Mandie's worried blue eyes. She couldn't control the sobs.

“Darling,” her mother whispered, looking over Mandie's head at John.

John shook his head sadly.

Dr. Woodard came over to Mandie and took her in his arms. “Look now, Amanda dear, we've not given up hope yet,” he said. “Remember,
where there's a will there's a way. So we've got to keep that will in order to find a way.”

Mandie looked up at his worried face. “I'm sorry, Dr. Woodard,” she sobbed. “I know you are worried about Joe, your own son, but you're trying not to show it.”

“We have to trust in the Lord to help us. We can't just give up, Amanda,” Dr. Woodard said. “You're worn out. That was quite a trip for a young girl. Why don't you get prettied up a bit, eat some good hot food, and get some rest?”

“I'll try, Dr. Woodard,” Mandie said.

“You'd better try real hard, young lady. That's doctor's orders,” he said, trying to smile.

Sallie, standing nearby, came to her friend's side. “Come on, Mandie. Let's get washed so we can eat.”

Mandie followed her to the washpan at the other end of the big room. After everyone had washed and gathered around the table for prayer, Elizabeth and Morning Star silently dished up hot food.

No one seemed to want to talk about the day's fruitless search. Uncle Ned finally broke the silence. “We send word. All Cherokees powwow in council house when sun comes up tomorrow,” he said.

“I will spread the word,” Dimar volunteered.

“And I find young braves to help,” Uncle Wirt added.

“All Cherokees, every one, must come to council house,” Uncle Ned emphasized.

Dr. Woodard looked surprised. “Is it possible to gather all the Cherokees in such a short time?” he asked.

“Oh, yes, it has been done before,” Uncle John told him. “One Cherokee tells another, and the next one tells another, on down the line. It works pretty good.”

“Is there any way I can help, Uncle Ned?” Mandie asked.

Uncle Ned shook his head. “Papoose must stay here. Only braves do this job.”

“May I go to the council house for the meeting?” Mandie asked. “Yes. Papoose Cherokee, too. Must go to powwow,” Uncle Ned replied.

Mandie smiled. “Thank you, Uncle Ned.”

“I guess I'm the only outsider,” Elizabeth remarked.

“Mother of papoose go, watch but not talk or vote,” said Uncle Ned.

“I appreciate that,” Elizabeth answered.

“Oh, but you forgot. I am also an outsider,” Dr. Woodard spoke up. Uncle Ned said, “Doctor must go, too. Doctor father of lost boy.”

“So we will all go to the meeting,” Uncle John declared.

After hurriedly finishing their meal, Uncle Wirt and Dimar left to relay the message to all the Cherokees. Mandie and Sallie, exhausted from all the walking, climbed up to the attic room with Snowball and crawled into bed.

Mandie was so worn out that in spite of her worry she soon fell asleep.

The next morning after breakfast, Uncle Wirt and Dimar arrived to ride with the others to the big Cherokee powwow.

In the excitement of getting ready to leave, Uncle John took charge. “You young people ride in the wagon with Uncle Ned,” he said. “The rest of us will go with Uncle Wirt.”

Outside, Dimar helped Morning Star onto the seat of Uncle Ned's wagon, and then crawled into the back. Uncle Ned took his place next to Morning Star, and the others got into Uncle Wirt's wagon.

As they rode down the dirt road, Mandie smiled at Dimar. “I hope you had time to get some sleep last night.”

“I did,” Dimar replied. His dark eyes reflected his admiration for her. “It did not take long to get the message line going.”

“Do you think Tsa'ni will be there?” Sallie asked.

“He had better be. This is a meeting for all Cherokees,” Dimar said.

“Dimar, do you think all the Cherokees will help look for Joe?” Mandie asked.

“They will be glad to help. Some of them know Joe, and they know he is your friend,” Dimar replied as the wagon bounced on down the road.

“But where will they look? We covered so much territory yesterday. I don't see how there could be anywhere else to look,” Mandie said.

“They will go over the same area again, and they will also search everyone's house,” Dimar answered.

Mandie frowned. “Search everyone's house? Don't they trust each other?”

“Yes, but since it was an Indian who put that note on the hospital wall, there has to be a bad Indian somewhere, and they will not stop until they find the traitor,” Dimar explained.