Free Legend upon the Cane by ketihrees Page A

a safe migration route to
the Houma tribe if they wish to do so. I understand they have a
sound friendship with the Houma. All we will ask in return is that
he let the Nashitosh leave in peace.”
    He had St. Denis’ full
attention. He had been looking for a way to make amends with
Natchitos and his people. He knew they had left unwillingly the
land that they loved. He knew this for certain.
    “Do you think the Nashitosh would
be agreeable to such a move?” he asked St. Denis.
    St. Denis thought for a few
moments. “I am certain they would welcome the news, Sir. I think it
is a splendid idea.”
    “Then make it so, Louis,”
Cadillac responded. “I will give you three months to organize the
tribe and the men you will need.”
     
    LaRouche and his
platoon approached the tribal
camps alongside the lake. The tribal women saw them coming and
began to prepare food for them. They grew tired of the white men
coming to demand food and showing up so much more regularly. “We
have nothing for them to suspect and we don’t need their
protection. Why do they keep coming here?” was a common question
among the tribes.
    LaRouche made himself at home. He
walked about the tribe nonchalantly, poking his hand into each
kettle to see what was cooking. The other soldiers stood nearby,
not wanting to be a part of his carefree actions. The women ignored
him and the tribal men looked at him with contempt.
    Tooantuh was gathering reeds
and firewood for the village fires and was unloading them onto a
pile when he noticed LaRouche poking around the village. He grew
tired of these intrusions and felt them more and more unnecessary.
He frowned with a long sigh as he threw on the last bundle of wood.
Then he noticed LaRouche kneeling down next to Ayita, who was
stirring the fire under a kettle.
    “ Good afternoon,
there,” LaRouche said coyly to her, with a mischievous grin. “Sure
would like to get some food for my men. We’re all hungry. But for
you, I can wait just a little longer.” Ayita ignored him, never
looking away from the coals. She didn’t understand him anyway. She
just wished he would go away. Tooantuh grew more agitated and
decided he would no longer tolerate this behavior.
    “ Sure is a pretty
day out, isn’t it little lady?” LaRouche said sweetly and brushed
his hand along Ayita’s arm. She stopped stirring the coals and
stared down at the ground coldly.
    Just then
Tooantuh came walking up angrily, shouting in his own language,
“ What is this? What are you doing putting your hands on
my wife?” he demanded. “Leave! All of you. Leave! You are not
wanted here anymore! You are a disgrace!”
    LaRouche was now standing
and Tooantuh yelled to his face. LaRouche yelled back at him,
“Quiet mister! I’ve had enough of you. I was just being polite to
the lady. She and I were about to take a walk together.” He grabbed
Ayita’s arm and tried to pull her up, but Tooantuh slapped his arm
away and then gave him a huge shove, knocking him to the ground.
LaRouche had finally pushed him over the edge. Tooantuh pulled his
bow and bundle of arrows off of his back and held them in his hand
defiantly. The soldiers stood and looked on in shock. Tooantuh
stood over LaRouche, gripping his bow and arrows tightly. The
soldiers quickly drew their rifles and pointed them at Tooantuh.
Tooantuh ignored them. He stood over LaRouche and threw down his
bow and arrows in a challenging gesture.
    “ Stand down,
men!” yelled LaRouche from his back. He began to pull himself off
the ground. “If he wants to fight me, then he’s got it!” He stood
eye to eye with Tooantuh and glared at him. Tooantuh turned and
walked briskly over to an open area. LaRouche followed directly
behind him.
    “ Sir, don’t do
this,” Sommer begged LaRouche. “We can’t be provoking these people,
let’s just get our things and leave.”
    “ Not me,”
LaRouche said angrily. “Go if you want to, I’m going to settle this
right now!” He began to walk