Friend Seeker (Perry County, Pennsylvania Frontier Series) by Chandler Roy F

Author:Chandler, Roy F. [Chandler, Roy F.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Katherine R. Chandler
Published: 2012-11-06T16:00:00+00:00

Two longhouses made up the Iroquois village. They faced each other across a common that included an immense fire pit and a number of notched poles of symbolic importance. Each longhouse was hide and bark covered with thick earth walls rising chest high. Smoke escaped from a number of adjustable openings, an indication that numerous families lived within each lodge. From the clearing edge Friend Seeker hailed the village and men appeared quickly at each longhouse entrance.

Oak Neck remembered Friend Seeker and he accepted the apprentice warrior's gifts and courtesies with fitting dignity. With little formality, Friend Seeker was given a place and introduced to a few younger warriors who practiced their Delaware on him. As he had no Onondaga or the commonly used Seneca, the Seeker appreciated even their crudest efforts.

Within the longhouse, families enjoyed privacy in partitioned sections. Most shared fire pits, reducing the number necessary, and Friend Seeker joined a clump of young single men in a cubicle near the fire of Oak Neck.

At the Oak's whim, students leaped forth to exercise, take a trail, or listen to words of experience. The Seeker could see the advantages of such close communal living, but the constant hurly-burly of many people was confusing enough to make him miss the tranquility of Three Feathers' lodge.

Among the Iroquois, Friend Seeker was not a favored student and Oak Neck was not above using the visiting Delaware to test his own young warriors or to inspire them to greater efforts.

Oak Neck was a harsh enough instructor, but Friend Seeker believed Three Feathers to be more demanding. Oak Neck might grumble or ridicule, but he did not heap on extra labors the way Three Feathers did. The Oak taught by example and was quick to show a wrestling grip or a spear thrust.

As his students demonstrated, the Oak's methods were effective. When the young men wrestled, Friend Seeker rarely triumphed. Though as strong as most and quickest of all, he lacked experience and was regularly thrown or caught in painful holds, but each defeat was learned and the Seeker filed it in his memory, dusted himself off, and sought the next challenge.

With bow and war arrows, he was as good as any and when they ran, all others fell behind. For this he could thank the training of Three Feathers.

As village chief and representative of the Iroquois confederacy, Oak Neck had other duties. Friend Seeker observed the activities, learning what he could from the judgments and decisions. Iroquois ways were sometimes different from the Delaware, and Friend Seeker could admit they were often better. The hold of the Iroquois leader on his people was tighter and the families of the longhouse were more disciplined in their responses. That resulted in unified actions without individuals or groups flaunting their independence to the detriment of all.

Oak Neck taught often in the Delaware tongue. For this Friend Seeker was grateful although he knew Oak Neck's main intent was to allow his own young warriors to learn the speech of their neighbors.

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