Chapter 4

They kept a close lookout for more Indians, but did not happen to meet any as it came time to stop for the evening. While they walked, Joe had fashioned Ed a fighting stick similar to his so that the boy would have something to work with as soon as they had time to start practice.

The evening was warm enough that they did not build a fire. They ate some of the food that had been packed by Martha and Mary and drank water along with it. Of course, the food would have tasted better if it had been warm, but Joe was concerned about attracting attention from Indians if they had a fire.

Joe started Ed out with some simple exercises to let him understand which muscles were going to be involved most significantly when fighting started. Ed needed to do some exercises to build up his strength in those muscles because his smaller stature would make it easier for an opponent to push him about. Joe began the actual instruction with some blocking moves designed to keep Ed from being cut by an enemy with a knife. He also showed Ed a few simple attack moves, but concentrated on defense for this first lesson.

They were both tired by the time they lay down on their blankets for sleep, but Ed had made more progress than Joe had expected. At the rate he was going, Ed might actually live through a fight with a knife wielder by the end of a week's training.

The next morning, they were up with the sun and ate a breakfast of pemmican and water. They were soon on the trail and expected to reach the Nipmuck village by the middle of that afternoon. They did not meet any more delays, so they were right on schedule when they were sighted by a watchman just beyond the edge of the village.

Whites had not visited the village in several years, so the Indians were quite surprised to see them. Two men came running up and brandished tomahawks at them, but Joe had seen enough movies to know not to show any fear. The Indians demanded that they leave immediately, but Joe, in his halting trade language, said that they had no intention of leaving before he had talked to their village elders.

This precipitated an immediate attack by the two Indians. Joe ducked under the tomahawk swings and laid out the attackers with his bare hands, being careful not to do more than break a few minor bones. It was a question of who was more impressed, Ed or the few Indians who had seen the simple fight. It had been over so quick that there had been no time for a crowd to gather. Joe stepped back and let some women help the men to a couple of round houses made of skins.

Joe shouted loud enough for everybody to hear, "I DO NOT WANT TO FIGHT ANYBODY! I AM HERE TO TALK TO THE VILLAGE ELDERS ABOUT A GRAVE SITUATION! PLEASE DO NOT HINDER ME!"

Two more braves came swaggering up and announced that Joe would have to go through them to talk to anybody. One man carried a tomahawk and the other had a mean looking steel knife. Joe did not wait for the men to get set to attack. Instead, he jumped in with a mass of blows from his hands and feet. The timing and method of attack were so surprising that neither of the Indians put up any kind of battle to speak of. They were both laid low with a few broken bones just as the first two had been. Joe was unharmed, though he was breathing hard after this last bit of effort.

This time there was a crowd to see the fight, and everybody was duly amazed that a lone White man could do so much damage in such a short time. In only a few moments, Joe was surrounded by 10 Indians, all of whom had some sort of weapon, be it knife, cudgel, or tomahawk. It looked like the time for politeness was over!

Joe said, "DOES IT TAKE 10 OF YOUR WARRIORS TO SUBDUE A SINGLE WHITE MAN? I AM ASHAMED OF YOU! I THOUGHT I WAS FACING A GROUP OF BRAVE MEN, NOT A GANG OF COWARDS!"

That was the last straw, as the ring of Indians closed in on Joe. At almost the last moment, a commanding voice shouted, "HOLD, I WILL TALK TO THIS MAN." The ring of advancing warriors backed off, and a very distinguished elderly Indian walked up to Joe.

"You are very brave or very stupid to come into our village the way you have. What do you want?"

"To whom do I have the honor of speaking?"

"I am Walking Bear, the head sachem of this area. Who are you?"

"I am Joseph Bell, sometimes known as White Ghost. I am a friend of the local White people, though I want to see this war ended and peace and friendship established between your people and mine. However, in this particular event, I am here to assist my friend, there, in righting a wrong perpetrated by some Nipmucks, though I don't know what village they came from."

"The way you fight, I think that 'White Ghost' is a good name for you, and that is what I shall call you. Come with me. We will talk of this. Bring your friend along, as I don't want any accident to befall him while we are talking."

The three men entered a hut and sat on some furs laid on the ground. They were quite comfortable, so Joe did not miss having a chair to sit in. "So, White Ghost, what is this matter you are so concerned about?"

"My friend's family was attacked while he was not at home, and his family was killed and scalped. The only member of his family besides himself to survive the attack was a baby sister who was stolen by the raiders. We want her returned to us. We don't want to fight, but we will if we have to, to get her back.

"Here is a small sample of bead-work left behind by the raiders. I was told that it was the kind of work done by the Nipmucks, but nothing more could be determined beyond that."

Walking Bear looked at the sample of bead-work and said, "Yes, that is the type of work that my people do, but it was not done in this village. You will have to look elsewhere for the missing child. I cannot tell you where it was done."

"Thank you, Walking Bear. You have been very courteous and helpful. We do appreciate your help."

"You are welcome, White Ghost. Would you and your friend care to spend the night at our village and start your journey home tomorrow?"

"That is very kind of you, but I must say that we will not be returning home. We are honor bound to continue the search by visiting other Nipmuck villages until we exhaust all possibilities. I do hope that does not cause you distress."

"No, that is a very reasonable and honorable thing for you to do. However, the invitation to stay in this village still stands. We would be honored to have you join us for the short time."

"Very well, your invitation is gratefully accepted. Some warm food would be welcome."

"Excellent! You and your young friend will spend the night in my home tonight. Would either of you wish for female company to warm your beds tonight. I am certain that there are many women who would like to spend the night with a warrior as obviously accomplished as you are."

"Thank you for the offer, but my friend is too young to appreciate the opportunity, and I do not wish to do something that he cannot do. I hope that you understand."

The real reason for Joe's decline of the invitation for female company was simply that he was afraid of contracting an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease). These were very common among the Indians. The STDs were brought north by sailors who passed the sicknesses along when they were entertained for a night. Such was the penalty for extending hospitality to visiting White men by the native peoples.

Walking Bear accepted the decline without comment, and the three went back outside to see and be seen. Several men came up to Walking Bear and engaged in a few minutes of conversation. When it was over, Walking Bear explained what had been said. "The five men who have approached all consider themselves to be skilled wrestlers and bare-hand fighters. They would like to challenge you to a contest after seeing how easily you bested those men who tried to keep you out of the village. You do not have to accept their challenge, but please understand that if you do accept that they will be seriously trying to do you bodily harm, such as a broken bone. They will not try to kill you, but that could happen, too. What do you say?"