Follow the River

Johnny, Will, and Gander Jack meet with the Cherokee Snake Stick and his men, who they hope will negotiate with the Shawnee for the hostages on their behalf. Snake Stick is a grouchy, shifty man who is suspicious of the “English.” Will offers Snake Stick some whiskey, which Snake Stick drinks quickly. Snake Stick asks Will why he should not just kill them and take their goods rather than work on their behalf. Will says that it would be dishonorable to do so, and he knows how honorable Snake Stick and the Cherokee are. Will argues that even though Snake Stick is at war with English men, he is not at war with “English women and children” (214), and therefore they should help him get his wife and children back. They show Snake Stick the goods they have brought as a ransom, and Will says that he will pay Snake Stick for his help with goods or whiskey. Will knows that even if Snake Stick agrees to help, it will take months, but he has to have hope.

Mary’s and Ghetel’s feet are badly damaged from walking along the woody, stony riverbank of the New River. They have only had a few acorns to eat in the past four days, and their clothes and blankets are torn and tattered. Ghetel blames Mary for their circumstances. They find a hickory tree, but squirrels and worms have gotten to the nuts already. Ghetel “glower[s] in silent accusation at Mary” over this (220). She asks Mary for the tomahawk to crack the few nuts they have found. Mary hesitates because Ghetel already has the remaining hickory spear in her hand, and she is afraid that Ghetel might attack her. They tensely trade weapons. That afternoon, they come very close to spearing a deer fawn, but they miss. They are devastated.

Instead, they pretend that the roots and tubers they forage are a delicious feast to cheer themselves up. The foraged food often makes them sick with diarrhea or hallucinations. However, Ghetel’s mood has improved, and she makes herself new “shoes” with scraps of her dress for herself and Mary.

They arrive at the mouth of a river Mary doesn’t recognize. She doesn’t tell Ghetel that she doesn’t know where they are, and they continue southwest along this river.

Mary and Ghetel follow the river through a canyon of black rock. As they walk, Mary frets because she doesn’t recognize the location. Ghetel tells her that the rocks in the canyon are coal. Mary sits, thinking about their route and the landmarks she remembers. She decides that they have to ford the coal river and return to the New River, which they do. That night, they sleep in a rotted-out tree trunk near the New River. When Mary wakes up the next morning, she thinks that Ghetel is dead. Eventually, Ghetel gets up, and they see a half-rotten doe’s head washed up on the banks of the river. They eat it.

At twilight, they come to the salt lick. Mary is relieved. That night, they camp under a rock, and Mary attempts to make a fire but fails. This is fortunate because they later hear some Indigenous Americans on the opposite shore of the river. The next morning, Ghetel makes them shoes out of dead leaves and bark. They come to the “burning spring” Mary passed on her outward journey. There, they forage some food.

Mary and Ghetel are awoken in the night by a gale. In the morning, they continue over the rough terrain. They are cold and wet and have not had any food in two days. After fording a spring, Ghetel refuses to continue. Mary tries to urge Ghetel onward, but Ghetel says that she will kill her. She points her spear at Mary. Mary walks a few yards ahead of Ghetel, who continues to menace Mary. As she walks, Mary tries to calm Ghetel by telling her how close they are and how lovely it will be when they get home. After a few miles like this, they come to a rushing creek that is moving too fast to wade through. Mary stands there, stunned. At that moment, Ghetel gets close to Mary and grabs her blanket.

Mary tries to get away from Ghetel, but the old woman holds on to her blanket. Ghetel pushes her down and gets the tomahawk from Mary’s belt. She attacks Mary with the tomahawk. Mary defends herself with the spear, and the tomahawk falls into the river. Then, Mary angrily beats Ghetel with the spear. Furious, Mary walks away from Ghetel. After walking for a short way, Mary waits for her, but when Ghetel does not appear, she continues.

Eventually, Mary reaches a place where she can ford the stream. She sees two wolves stalking her and quickly begins to cross. She is halfway across the stream when she sees Ghetel coming after her. She tries to warn Ghetel about the wolves, but Ghetel doesn’t understand. Eventually, Mary stands in the stream and throws her spear to fend off the wolves. Then, she helps Ghetel cross. In the confusion, Ghetel loses her blanket. They huddle under their last blanket in a pile of leaves. Before sleeping, Mary thinks about how they have about 100 miles to go along the New River. She knows that the way will be difficult because the Shawnee took a path through the mountains instead of along the riverbank.

Mary wakes up to see Ghetel eating bugs she found under tree bark. Ghetel tells Mary to find her own but later begs her forgiveness and offers her some of the bugs. Mary refuses. Mary tells Ghetel that she will leave her behind if she ever attacks her again. Then, they continue on, sharing the blanket.

Their feet have been badly cut by crossing an area of rockslides. While they soothe them with mud plasters, Mary sees a cardinal. Ghetel throws a rock at it but misses. When they continue, they keep trying to throw rocks at birds, although they don’t hit any. They come to the “paint-tree creek” that Mary remembers, but it is too high and fast to cross, and they must continue up a gorge to find a crossing point. Eventually, they cross the creek. By the time they return to the New River, Mary is eating bugs along with Ghetel.

The next morning, they forage for worms. As they continue along the river, they are surrounded by tall, rocky mountain crags. It is very difficult terrain to cross. Eventually, they reach some woods that are flatter and easier to walk in. They make camp in a hollow log. The next morning, they come to a waterfall. Mary approaches it to try to find a way to go around. Ghetel follows close behind and refuses to turn around when Mary urges her to retreat because she doesn’t trust Mary. Eventually, Mary screams at Ghetel and hits her with the spear “across the bony old rump” to get her to move (274). Mary guides them up a cliff and over the falls.

Below them, they see two rivers, one going east and one going south. Mary is not sure which is the New River they need to follow. Without letting Ghetel know of her uncertainty, Mary picks the south-leading river as the most likely route. As they continue along, however, Mary feels a gnawing doubt about whether she made the right choice.