_Just
the expedition. But the young man was self-confident enough to know that James Rogers would have a better idea what to do than he would.
"Go at them directly. That'll keep the numbers closer to even. And they'll have the sun in their eyes, this time of day. If we can get past them, they'll never catch us."
His brother John winced. "True—if we get past them. They've got five men on each of those canoes, to match against our total of five."
Seeing that Nancy Ward was giving him a cold look, he hastily added: "Six, I mean."
Ward snorted, and drew a pistol from under her wrap. The Spanish-made weapon looked even older than she did. "I knew how to use this before your grandfather was born."
She wasn't bragging, either. Nancy Ward had earned the title of War Woman among the Cherokee following the battle of Taliwa, against the Creeks, sixty years ago. After her husband Kingfisher had been killed, Nancy had picked up his gun and led the final charge that drove the enemy off. She'd been eighteen years old, at the time.
"Does everyone have a gun?" asked Ross. The question was really aimed at Tiana. He already knew that the four men in the party did.
"No," she replied. "Just this." She unlaced a small parcel at her feet and drew out a knife.
James shook his head. "Actually, she does have a gun. Or will have"—he
"Go at them directly. That'll keep the numbers closer to even. And they'll have the sun in their eyes, this time of day. If we can get past them, they'll never catch us."
His brother John winced. "True—if we get past them. They've got five men on each of those canoes, to match against our total of five."
Seeing that Nancy Ward was giving him a cold look, he hastily added: "Six, I mean."
Ward snorted, and drew a pistol from under her wrap. The Spanish-made weapon looked even older than she did. "I knew how to use this before your grandfather was born."
She wasn't bragging, either. Nancy Ward had earned the title of War Woman among the Cherokee following the battle of Taliwa, against the Creeks, sixty years ago. After her husband Kingfisher had been killed, Nancy had picked up his gun and led the final charge that drove the enemy off. She'd been eighteen years old, at the time.
"Does everyone have a gun?" asked Ross. The question was really aimed at Tiana. He already knew that the four men in the party did.
"No," she replied. "Just this." She unlaced a small parcel at her feet and drew out a knife.
James shook his head. "Actually, she does have a gun. Or will have"—he