Free The Adventures of Cherokee by Nancy Johnson Page A

was touching her belly.
    “Cherokee, wait for me.” she called.
    “You are alright, Sunee,” answered Cherokee. “I believe that I should go ahead of you to be sure everything is safe. Just follow behind me and go where I go.”
    The water was nearly up to Cherokee’s shoulders. Suddenly his feet no longer touched bottom. He began to swim with strong, sure strokes.
    “Don’t be afraid, Sunee,” said Cherokee over his shoulder. “Just swim and follow me.”
    Cherokee swam straight and sure, even though he could not see the distant banks, either. Sunee followed. She was still frightened. Her eyes showed white with fear. She was silent as she followed the young stallion.
    They had been swimming about 45 minutes when Cherokee felt something press against him, gently shoving him to the right. For a moment he fought against it. Then he thought it might be Grandfather, and allowed the direction correction. Almost immediately he saw a sand bar sticking out of the river. Upon reaching it, he climbed out of the water and shook himself. Sunee followed his example.
    “I was getting tired,” said Sunee.
    “Did you see anyone swimming with us?” asked Cherokee.
    “No,” she answered. “Was there someone there?”
    “I thought I felt something or someone push me toward this sandbar,” he said. “Perhaps it was Grandfather.”
    “Perhaps,” answered Sunee, “I didn’t see anyone, but I am glad to rest a while. Do you think it’s going to be much farther?”
    They gazed on across the expanse of river they still had to swim. Then they looked back tothe shore they had so recently left.
    “I am not sure,” said Cherokee, “But I think if we try hard and use our strength we will make it soon.”
    “Could we rest just a while longer?” asked Sunee.
    “Yes, but not too long. There is no food to eat and we will need to find shelter on the other side before it gets too cold. Besides, this sand seems to be moving.”
    The two horses rested for an hour and then Cherokee led the mare down into the cold water once again. The water became deep so quickly that they had to swim right away. But Sunee felt better and not so afraid. She followed Cherokee with a willing heart. She could feel her heart pumping as her legs moved rhythmically in the deep water. In order to take her mind off the great distance, she began to think of her mother, Unaca, and her sister, Yellow Bird. She wondered what they were doing and if they were alright. She thought about running through the meadows with Cherokee inthe beautiful sunshine, mane and tail flying.
    Cherokee turned to see how Sunee was doing. Her nose was just dropping below the water.
    “Sunee!” shouted Cherokee.
    Sunee came up out of the water all the way to her shoulders. Then she sank back down again. Coughing and sputtering she regained control of her swimming. Looking up she discovered that she had drifted far south of Cherokee as her mind wandered. With great effort she headed back toward him. Because the water was so strong, she could not get all the way back.
    “Cherokee. What should I do?” she called.
    “Swim toward the bank,” he replied. “I will meet you.”
    Sunee did not let her mind wander again.
    The horses were very tired. Just when Cherokee thought he could not swim another stroke, his hooves touched bottom. Mud sucked at his feet, causing him to take slow steps and pull out each hoof one at a time. As soon as he lifted one hoof, the other three sank into the mud. Sunee was having the same trouble. Bodies trembling with fatigue, they reached the west bank of the Mississippi River. It was with great difficulty that they waded through the thick, sticky mud, attempting to reach land.
    “Stay away!” said a voice.
    Startled, the two tired horses looked up to see a large, red stallion facing them.
    “We have just crossed the river and we are cold and wet and tired,” said Cherokee. “Why can’t we come on land?”
    “Because I say so,” said the horse in a