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Many Flags
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
August 13 2002
Status: offline
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 Posted - February 19 2003 : 11:18:43 PM
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The snow came down heavier as Many Flags swished the broom across the cabin porch. He waded to the wood shed, gathered more wood in his arms and entered the cabin to find his Magdalena washing her long gray hair. He stirred the fire, she moved closer so the tresses would dry, and she looked up, smiling. “So, Alteliebe! Has the snow slowed at all?”
“Naye, Magda. It is coming even faster. Reminds me of years ago when Seamus, bruder Tales and I were trapped for several days after leaving Sign Talker with his Snow Eyes. Ahhh, now that was some snow, and ice, too”.
“Ach, Michael. Lately you live in the past. Last night in your sleep I heard you whispering strange words. Let’s see...ahh, yes. You were mumbling ‘redbud, redbud’ and then you would laugh. But then later....hmmm, let’s see. Something very similar you talked of, but this time you thrashed as if in fear. Ja, it was ‘red leaf’ you talked of. I seem to remember those Indian names from your past.”
“Meine Liebe!! Let us not speak of my enemies! But, dry your hair and sit here beside me. Let me tell you of the time we were trapped in snow after we had left Sign Talker, and there were six Huron....naye, I believe there were seven....and they surrounded us and........”
It was after Many Flags, Three Tales and Seamus had left Sign Talker to woo his Snow Eyes, through January and into February of 1758; that the lads, traveling south were caught in the three day blizzard. They had traveled several days and were at a section of the trail where there was no civilization for miles around. It was early morning, not long after starting off, that Seamus stopped. The three were quiet and Tales whispered, “Seamus, what is it? I hear or see nothing.”
“But, what do you smell?" asked Seamus.
The two brothers stood still for another minute, then Tales replied, “Snow! Ja, Cousin! And, I believe a big one.”
The three talked among themselves for a few minutes and then took off in three different directions. Luckily they had just been rounding a ridge when the snow-smell had been found. A sharp whistle from Flags brought the other two to him and there in the ridge they found an indentation, a slight overhang in the rock with some small trees to the right and left of the opening. A few more hushed words and they set to work.
Knowing they may only have a few hours, they divided up the work. Seamus and Three Tales cleared the few inches of snow off the ground in a ten feet square in front of the overhang. Then they began to construct a lean-to type shelter with cut saplings in front of and around the overhang using the close trees as corners and support. Walls were built and a roof of branches.. Hemlocks were found and their branches found their way woven among the walls and roof of branches. Then, a covering of bark strips was laid inside on the floor of the new dwelling with more hemlock branches on top of those. A most cozy, comfortable and functional shelter had been built, all within a few hours.
In the meantime, Many Flags had scoured the forest for dead wood. Dry branches, sticks, fallen logs of 12 inches or so were all dragged to the growing shelter doorway. Flags pulled it all inside, stacking the dry wood along the inside walls. This would be used as firewood, but until used would also provide an inside wall of insulation. The lads had built lean-to shelters of this sort, and many other shapes and sizes numerous times in the forests around their home in the Allemaengel. It all took only a few hours, and good thing it did not take longer. For within three to four hours time, the snow had started. It was a light, icy snow but also mixed with larger flakes. Beautiful to watch, but most beautiful to watch inside a shelter; not caught outside where cold and trudging moccasined feet through growing snowy inches and blinding snowswirls, would soon take a toll on even the hardiest longhunter.
The lads scooted inside the shelter, lots o
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Gadget Girl
Gatherer of Gathering Gadgets
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - February 20 2003 : 08:43:25 AM
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Ya know it's gonna be a good day when you sign on to the board in the morning and find a new installment to "The MacWilliam Chronicles"!!!!
 GG |
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Chris
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 25 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - February 20 2003 : 11:51:19 AM
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Excellent! Thanks, Many Flags. And when do we get to find out what happened?
:o)
Chris |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
 Posted - February 20 2003 : 12:29:26 PM
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Oh goodie!  I love cliff-hangers... as long as I don't have to wait too long for the next part!
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Many Flags
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
August 13 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - February 20 2003 : 5:32:53 PM
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| Well, now, I'll tell ye...the rest of the tale is in my head....it may take a bit of time sitting by the fire with a clay pipe and some port to remember it all....so, give me a few days....just a few days.....Pax Aye! Many Flags |
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Many Flags
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
August 13 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - April 22 2003 : 01:30:35 AM
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| I should say, NAYE, it will take me a few months, a few months to remember it all!! Sorry to have hit a dry spell, but the "rest of the story" is here in my brain...uhhh, in a few weeks, a few weeks, the second part of this story will be told.....Pax Aye! Many Flags |
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Shelter in the Snow, February of 1758, Part 1
