Cultural
Background
Storyteller's Cabin
For days they waited, but no white solider appeared. But Tsali figured it was only a matter of time. For he had just killed two white soldiers, and there was no way they were going to let him get away with it.
Then, almost a week after the invasion, some Cherokee scouts passed word up the valley that a white man was approaching the caves. The odd thing was, he was walking through the valley alone, with no weapons that they could see. Perhaps he was a white settler lost in the woods, they reasoned. No one made a motion to kill him, for the last thing they needed was more white blood on their hands.
Tsali peered out of his crevice as the white man slowly walked out of the woods. He was dressed like a mountain man in dirty, well-worn clothes. It was then that Tsali recognized him -- he was William Thomas, a white trader who had done a lot of business with Tsali's village. William knew these woods almost as good as Tsali, and must have known exactly where the fugitive Cherokees had gone to hide. Tsali and William weren't friends, but Tsali respected him enough to know that he was a man of honor, and had come alone.
Tsali crept out of the cave and walked slowly down the hillside toward him. William shook his hand, then explained what business had brought him up there:
"General Scott is furious about what you've done, Tsali. He says he's going to bring his men up here to hunt you down. You may be able to hide up in these hills for awhile, but one of these days, he's going to find you. You and your people are going to spend the rest of your lives on the run."
Tsali nodded and stared at the ground, William's harsh words ringing true.
"But he's sent me up here with an offer," William continued. "He says if you'll give yourself up, he'll call off his search, and your people can stay in these hills as long as they want. He gave his word."
Tsali glared at William and said, "His word means nothing to me. I've heard these promises from white people before. Why should I believe him?"
"What choice do you have?" asked William. "You stay here, he'll come after you anyway. And he may be mad enough at that point to kill both you and your people. He doesn't want to send his soldiers up into this wilderness - not when he's only after one man. But he will if he has to."
Tsali looked up into the cloudless sky, pondering the offer. In his heart, he knew that William was right. As long as he stayed in hiding, he was a danger to his family and his community. He sighed a deep sigh, then replied, "whatever decision I make, I must speak with my family first. Come back in one week, and I will give you my answer."
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