Seminole
Courage
Sammy Tiger sat quietly in the dug-out
canoe and watched his older brother paddle swiftly and silently through the
Florida swamp. It was almost dark and the cypress trees, hung thickly with
Spanish moss, made an eerie outline against the fading sun.
Sammy shivered. He didn't like the swamps
because of the danger,
“Where are we heading tonight?” he asked.
Toto adjusted his head lamp and grinned
at Sammy.
“We're almost there,” he whispered. “Don't
make any noise or the frogs will scatter before I have a chance to catch them.”
Sammy sighed deeply, thinking of the town
market where Toto would sell his catch. He knew the economy was bad and it was
hard to find a job, but killing frogs so the market could sell frog legs to the
expensive restaurants, didn't seem to have much dignity.
“There are other ways you could earn
money,” Sammy suggested.
“Sure, sure,” Toto whispered
sarcastically. “If the white man can't find a job, what chances do I have? I
could always wrestle alligators for the tourist trade to pay for the food your
belly needs. Of course I could get killed that way. Then the missionary could
pray for my poor departed soul, eh? Maybe you'd like that better.”
Sammy bit his lip to hold back the tears
that suddenly stung his eyes. He loved Toto and didn't want to hurt him. Still,
Toto's superior air and sarcastic remarks bothered the younger boy.
“ I was talking to the missionary and he was telling me that at Big Cypress
Reservation we could learn to raise cattle, and maybe someday even have our own
ranch.”
Toto snorted. “Fat chance of that with
the money I earn. Hush now, we're almost to the spot.” Toto had switched on his
head lamp and was slowly moving the beam of light over the saw-grass. “Look,”
he whispered, pointing to one side as he fingered his spear, aiming it
carefully.
Two yellow eyes gleamed brightly in the
lamp's glare. The frog, hypnotized by the light, sat mutely waiting for his
doom. Toto's arm shot forward and the spear flew swiftly to its mark.
“Ha,” Toto exclaimed, quickly scooping
the frog out of the murky water and dumping it in a burlap sack.
“I feel this will be a profitable night,
brother.” Again his lamp swept over the saw-grass and again a frog sat
paralyzed.
Sammy averted his eyes. He remembered the
pet frog he had loved as a tiny boy, and it hurt him each time he saw Toto's
spear find its mark.
Toto threw another frog into the
half-filled sack and glanced at his brother. “Why are your eyes closed? Are you
such a coward that you can't even watch me as I work?”
Sammy flushed and said icily, “I'm not a coward. I just believe there
are other ways to earn money besides killing helpless creatures.”
Before Toto had a chance to protest, a fierce bellow echoed through the
still air, shattering the quiet. Again and again, the hissing bellow splintered
the night.
“Bedding 'gator,” Toto hoarsely
whispered, “and close, too.”
Sammy felt a chill of terror race through
him. A mother alligator protecting her nest was a dangerous creature. Her
instinct would make her a killer. Accidentally they must have disturbed her mud
bed. Sammy's eyes searched the darkness as he gripped the sides of the canoe.
Toto jumped to his feet,
scanning the bank of the swamp with his head lamp.
“She is very close,”he muttered softly.
Sammy felt the canoe shudder an instant
before the alligator lunged to the surface.
“Watch out,” he screamed as the huge tail
whipped through the air.
Toto's anguished cry tore through the
night – the tail had caught him on his side and sent him hurtling into the
muddy water.
Sammy watch in horror as his brother disappeared under the surface of
the swamp. His hands, still clutching the sides of the canoe, felt clammy,
almost paralyzed. He wanted to jump in after Toto, but he couldn't seem to
move. He felt his muscles were slowly
turning to jelly. His scalp crawled and he could feel his hair rise on the back
of his neck.
Toto's head bobbed to the surface. His
face was pale, his eyes filled with pain and terror.
“The spear,” he cried, “'gator's got my
arm.” Then he was dragged under again.
Sammy grabbed the spear. A strange buzz
filled his head. He wanted to throw up. He knew that Toto's life depended on
his, Sammy's, courage. If he could find the spot right between the alligator's
eyes. If he could send the spear straight to its mark. If he could make the
alligator's death swift and merciful, at the same time saving Toto's life. If
-if...
I can't. I haven't the strength or the
courage Sammy thought desperately. Then he remembered the missionary's
words. With God all things are possible.
Sammy dove into the water, the spear
gripped tightly in his hand.
Toto was still frantically thrashing
around, trying to escape the iron grip of the reptile's jaws. The alligator's
tail whipped crazily back and forth as Sammy tried to move into the right
position of attack. The water sloshed against his chin and made moving
difficult, but Sammy felt an inner strength moving him closer, closer.
He raised the spear above his head,
aiming carefully. Easy, he told himself, go easy. One slip and Toto would die.
He waited, spear poised, until the alligator thrashed into view. Now. Now. Sammy
lunged forward with all the strength he could muster and prayed the spear would
find its mark. Suddenly inky darkness engulfed him.
Sammy opened his eyes to find Toto
leaning over him. He saw the ugly gash and blood oozing from his brother's arm.
At least he still had his arm. Toto was smiling, his eyes filled with love and
gratitude.
“The 'gator,” Sammy gasped. “Is she -”
Toto spoke softly. “Your aim was straight
and true. Now we must get to a doctor quickly. I am very weak.”
Trembling, they made their way back to
the canoe and out of the swamp. As the doctor at the hospital worked stitching
his arm, Toto smiled at Sammy.
“You showed great courage, little
brother.”
Sammy studied his bare feet, embarrassed
at Toto's words. “I had no courage,” he confessed. “I sat paralyzed with fear.
But I asked God for help, and he gave me the courage.”
The smile faded from Toto's face and his
eyes clouded over. “Perhaps you are right,” he murmured. “ I would learn more
of this God who can give a boy such courage, yes?”
Sammy's heart burst with happiness. “Oh,
yes, Toto, yes.”
Toto grinned. “But I still do not know if
I want to raise cattle. I will see, that is all.”
“Of course, Toto,” Sammy assured his
brother. “You are the head of the family. I will abide by what you decide.”
Secretly, he knew their life was going to take a turn for the better. “Whatever
you say, Toto, whatever you say.”
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Author: Audrey Frank