Tani was a small Cherokee lad who lived during the great Hundred Years’
War between the Northern and Southern tribes. When he was twelve years
old, Tani’s only wish was to own a bow like his father’s—a strong
hickory bow with a stout hide thong and a quiver of straight strong
arrows.
Each time he would approach his father about owning such a bow, his
father would laugh, and placing his hand on his son’s head, tell him in
a kindly voice that he was still a little too young to handle a
man-sized hickory bow. This always made Tani feel a little sad because,
being a boy of twelve, he thought he was man enough to own one.
One day Tani’s father called Tani to him and told him they would be
going on a hunting trip and asked if he would like to go along. Tani was
overjoyed and all he could think about for the next three days was the
forthcoming trip with his father. When the time finally arrived, Tani
prepared for the trip just as his father did and noticed his father
place war paint on his face and chest and arms. Tani said good-bye to
all, and when he said good-bye to his mother he noticed she was crying.
He did not understand, for his father had not told him that the hunting
trip they were going on was to seek out Talitanigska, one of the great
Cherokee Chieftains, and report to him the movements of a large band of
Seneca Indians. This was a very dangerous journey, for the Seneca
Indians were deadly enemies of the Cherokee Tribe.
As Tani and his father traveled swiftly along the back paths of the vast
forests toward the encampment of Talitanigska, one thought kept rushing
through the little brave’s mind: What great adventure was his father
leading him into? Tani soon learned the answer to this question. That
evening, as Tani and his father were seated at a small guarded fire off
to the side of the trail, Tani’s father told him the nature of their
task.
The little brave’s heart pounded as he learned the reason for their
journey. That night as they rolled in their blankets and slept, Tani
dreamed of many Seneca Indians attacking his father and himself and of
his standing back to back with his father, beating off the attackers.
When the dawn broke, Tani and his father were on their way. They were
careful to avoid any soft earth that might leave signs for roving
Senecas to find and follow.
About midafternoon Tani’s father turned into a shallow stream and
started north against the current. Suddenly, his father slipped and fell
heavily head first into the stream. Tani reached his father’s side and
found his father could not stand. He helped him ashore and seated him
against the trunk of a tree on the bank. A gash was red with blood
across the forehead of Tani’s father. Tani saw that his father’s ankle
was badly twisted. Not a word was spoken, but Tani built a small fire
and made his father as comfortable as possible.
For several hours as the sun slowly sank behind the hills, Tani’s father
worried about the situation he and his son were in. He was tired and he
must have dozed, for he woke with a start as he felt his bow being
lifted from his fingers. He watched in silence as Tani fitted an arrow
to the bow, pulled back the string and let fly. The arrow buried itself
in a near-by bush. There was a thud, followed by a terrifying scream. A
Seneca sprang up and fell dead across the path. Tani rushed forward and,
having made sure their enemy was dead, returned to his father’s side.
Without a word he continued his sleepless watch.
The night passed without incident but as dawn approached, Tani heard a
rustle in the near-by bush. He raised his bow ready to fire, but
recognized the head feathers of his Cherokee brothers and let the bow
drop to the ground. He leaped forward with a happy cry. The two braves
were from Talitanigska’s camp. They quickly made a sling hammock to
carry Tani’s father and soon the four of them set forth for the great
Chieftain’s camp.
Once safely within the camp, Tani’s father was well cared for and soon
was able to stand once again on his injured foot. Two weeks after their
arrival at Talitanigska’s camp a great council fire was held to
celebrate the victory of the Cherokees over their enemies, the Senecas.
As the festivities came to a close, Talitanigska stepped to the center
of the ring and asked that Tani step forward. Then, in front of the
great Cherokee Chieftains, Talitanigska took his stout hickory bow from
his shoulder and placed it in Tani’s hands.
“This is for you, Tani,” he said, “for you are a great brave and now a
man among men. You stood full of courage in the face of great danger.
Because of your quick thinking, you saved your father’s life and made it
possible for your father to bring me the valuable information. This
information helped our fellow tribesmen to meet and defeat the Senecas,
our enemies.”
Tani did not know what to say; but the following morning, as he and his
father prepared to leave, he stepped in front of Chief Talitanigska and
thanked him for the gift. He said he would always cherish the great
hickory bow and remember the great kindness shown him by one of the
great Chiefs of the Cherokee nation. Tani had his bow, just like his
father’s. There was no happier brave alive as he tramped closely behind
his father on the path home.