Puma Son of Mountain Lion

by Dicksion, William Wayne

  Puma, in a moment of respite, looked up to see one of the pirates on the deck of the pirate ship holding a gun, trying to get a bead on Michael. Puma had no cartridges left in his guns. He knew that soon the pirate would get an open shot at his father. Looking for a weapon to defend his father, he saw a belaying pin lying loose on deck. He picked it up and threw it with all his might. It was a long throw, but it was the only weapon Puma had. The pike made two complete turns in flight and landed point first in the pirate’s chest.

  Michael looked up just in time to witness the remarkable throw. His son had just saved his life. Seeing that the sailors of The Dolphin had the situation on deck under control, he yelled to Puma, “Come! Your mother and sister are in danger!”

  As quick as his namesake, Puma followed his father down the ladder to the lower deck where Juanita and Carmen had taken refuge. The hatch to their hiding place had been broken open. They had defended themselves well—the bodies of two pirates blocked the entrance to their compartment. Puma saw that four other pirates had taken his mother and sister captive, holding the women in front of them, with knives at their throats. Puma and his father both stopped and stood as if frozen.

  The look in his eyes foretold the death of the men holding his wife and daughter, Michael asked, “All right, what do you want?”

  The man holding his knife at Juanita’s throat spoke. “Drop your weapons and step back. One false move and we’ll cut their throats.”

  In almost a whisper, Puma heard his father’s remark: “Do as he says.”

  The leader holding Juanita said his men, “One of you, take that kid up on deck. Hold him to prevent the rest of The Dolphin’s men from coming down and interfering with what we’re doing down here.”

  The bigger of the two stepped forward to take charge of Puma.

  “No, no, anyone can handle that kid. Gordo, you take him. Sam, you come with us. There’ll be men guarding our comrades. We may need you.” Turning to Michael, he said, “Now, take us to where you’re holding our captain and the rest of our men. I warn you, one false move and it’ll be all over for these women.”

  Michael saw that neither Juanita nor Carmen had been harmed, and that they were determined to make a good accounting of themselves. The pirate they called Sam stood behind Michael, holding Michael’s belt with his left hand. He had a knife in his right hand, and the point was pressed against Michael’s back. Michael knew he could disarm Sam anytime he wanted, but the pirates might be desperate enough to carry out their threat and harm Juanita and Carmen. All he could do for now was to go along with their plan and wait for an opportunity to regain control of the situation. He felt certain that Gordo would never hold Puma. If he delayed long enough, Puma would bring Captain Mason and his men to help.

  The pirate, Gordo, walked behind Puma, with his saber at Puma’s back, while taking Puma up on deck. They had to go through several narrow passageways and then climb a ladder to get on deck. At the top of the ladder, Puma remembered a small passageway with a hatch at the top. We’ll have to pass through that hatch to get to the deck. In that small, confined area, there’ll be no room for Gordo to swing his saber—all he can do is thrust with it. The opening to the deck could be closed with a steel hatch cover.

  Puma formed a plan. He pretended to be a weak and harmless child. The trick worked. Gordo relaxed for just an instant in the narrow hatchway. That was all Puma needed. Puma had taken the advice of his old mentor and trainer, Pat Connors, and he had a long, thin blade hidden in his boot. Puma climbed through the hatch and was now on deck. He quickly drew the blade from its sheath, and when Gordo tried to get through the narrow opening, Puma took charge. Kneeling, he reached into the hatch, grabbed Gordo by the hair with his left hand, held the knife at Gordo’s throat with his right, and said, “Come out gently, or die. The choice is yours.”

  Gordo meekly crawled out on deck where Captain Mason and two of his men took him under control. Puma quickly informed the captain of the developments below deck. Then, armed with his knife and a belaying pin, he said to the captain, “Follow me.”

  The captain was not accustomed to taking orders from a boy, but he had seen this boy in action and decided it would be the prudent thing to do. He said to the two sailors standing nearby, “You two take charge of this man; the rest of you, follow me.” When the enemy who had taken Michael and the women captive arrived at the cargo locker, the men of The Dolphin guarding the captives were forced to drop their weapons. The pirates demanded that their comrades be released.

  Not giving the sailors an opportunity to respond, Michael spoke up quickly, “The captain of The Dolphin has the key to the locker; you’ll have to get it from him.”

  The pirates had not considered that possibility, so they were undecided about what they should do. In the meantime, Puma and Captain Mason, with four of his sailors, had made their way through the passageway to the locker and overheard the conversation. Puma realized what his father was thinking and had his group withdraw into hiding.

  They heard the leader of the pirates say, “Sam, Gordo has them under control on deck. Go get the captain of The Dolphin. Bring him here. He’ll open this hatch, or he’ll die.”

  Puma and his group waited, and as Sam passed, Puma struck him on the head with a belaying pin. Two sailors bound and gagged the unconscious pirate and dragged him out of sight. Then they waited to see what the leader of the pirates would do when Sam didn’t return.

  Only two men were left guarding Juanita and Carmen. Michael waited patiently, knowing the opportunity would come when he would be able to free the girls. He knew that the only trump card the pirates had left was the threat of harming Juanita and Carmen.

  When Sam didn’t return, the men holding Juanita and Carmen realized that something had gone wrong. The tide had turned. The simple job of taking an unarmed sailing ship had gone awry. Now, they were the ones in jeopardy. If they killed the women, they would surely be killed, also.

  In any event, they would be taken hostage and turned over to the navel authorities for trial. Without a doubt, they would be found guilty of piracy, and hanged. The pirates knew there was no chance of freeing their comrades—they had to think of freeing themselves.

  In a voice more commanding than he felt, the lead pirate said, “The only chance you have of saving the lives of these women is to allow us to return to our ship.”

  Puma heard, and he whispered to the captain, “Hurry, let’s get back on deck.”

  It seemed like an odd request, but the captain had learned to trust the judgment of this remarkable young man. Pointing to Puma, he said to the crew, “Follow that man.”

  Michael’s keen perception allowed him to understand what was happening just down the passageway. He said to the pirate who was holding Juanita, “You lead the way.” Then he called out loudly, “All right, men, let them pass. They are returning to their ship. Don’t try to stop them, or they will harm the women.”

  As the pirates were leaving with Juanita and Carmen, Juanita looked questioningly at Michael. A knowing look passed between them. Juanita knew there was a plan in progress. She squeezed Carmen’s hand to reassure her.

  Puma hid at the top of the ladder that the pirates would have to use to get on deck, but he didn’t dare strike a blow to the heads of the pirates. Their reaction might result in the knife making a deadly swipe on his mother and sister’s throats. There had to be a safer way. Then it came to him that to make the leap from one ship to the other would require the full attention of the one doing the leaping, and thus they would have to relax their hold on their captives.

  The sailors of The Dolphin had taken control of the pirate ship, and the pirates were in captivity. Puma crossed to the pirate ship and had the sailors of The Dolphin push the ships far enough apart to require a long leap to change over. Puma hid in the rigging and waited for the two pirates to attempt to cross with his mother and sister. From his hiding place, he saw them come out on the deck of The Dolphin. The women still had knives at their
throats. He waited. His time would come. He was pleased to see his father was behind his mother. Now all he had to worry about was the first man who tried to make the leap.

  Then the unexpected happened. The pirates, believing their ship was still in the control of their companions, released their hold on the women and both jumped at the same time. Puma looked up just in time to see his father make a running leap to the deck of the pirate ship and land on the back of the first man he could grab.

  Puma leaped into action, bringing the butt of his steel belaying pin down hard across the head of the leader and the last remaining pirate.

  The fight was over. Both Puma and his father began to laugh with relief. Michael jumped back across the gap separating the two ships and gathered his wife and daughter in his arms. They held onto one another until Puma joined in the embrace.

  The captain and his men had just witnessed an extraordinary battle. It was hard to believe what this man and his son had just done.

  Michael ordered, “Tie and gag these prisoners. Set sail for Mobil, Alabama. We’ll turn these murderers over to the authorities. Captain, you and I have a report to write.”

  “I’ll get the cook busy. This deserves a celebration,” Juanita said.

  “Well, I guess we showed them a thing or two,” Carmen said.

  Puma laughed. “Yes, I guess we did,” and gave her another hug.

  A skeleton crew was placed onboard the pirate ship, and they sailed it into Mobil Harbor, to be turned over to the Navy. The Dolphin had eight men in sick bay, but not one man had died. Michael asked Captain Mason to send a message ahead, informing the McBain shipyards that they had encountered some minor difficulties and would be a little late returning.

  The captain shook his head. “If that’s your idea of a minor difficulty, I sure don’t want to be onboard when you run into a serious problem.”

  Michael said, “Let’s put these injured men in the hospital and take a couple of days shore leave. The uninjured men, as well as the injured, need a little time to recover from all the excitement.”

  After docking the two ships and turning the pirates over to the authorities, Michael and his family went into the city of Mobil.

  Puma looked around in amazement. I had no idea there were so many white men. The Indians don’t have a chance. I must get back and help them to understand. The Indians must be made to understand that their only hope is to adapt to the changes. There are too many white men and their weapons are powerful. It’s a mistake to believe that white men are weak. Some of them are great warriors, and some are very wise.

  He and Carmen explored the town while their parents had some precious time alone together. It was a time of discovery for both Puma and Carmen. They wished they could share it with their friends, Kile and Cathleen. In only a few days, the injured men were well enough to travel, and they continued to Savannah.

  Chapter 19

  The Plantation

  After arriving in Savannah, they hired a buggy and traveled inland to the plantation home of Michael’s grandparents. Their journey led them through red, rolling hills that had been cleared of pine trees. Ragged white men farmed the land. On their porches were older people sitting in cane-bottom chairs. Some swung in wood-slatted seats that hung from rafters on ropes or chains. Many were smoking pipes. They didn’t seem unhappy, but they didn’t look prosperous or well fed either.

  The road continued down a long hill into a river valley lined with large trees. The trees had moss hanging from their branches and produced a cooling shade. Dark-skinned people worked in the fields of cane, cotton, and corn. White men riding horses watched them work. Some of the workers gave Michael and his party furtive looks as they passed. Their eyes were neither friendly nor unfriendly. They looked well fed and some sang soulful songs, but they didn't appear happy. Puma saw only resignation in their faces. He wanted to ask his father about it, but he thought that now, was not the time

  In the valley, Puma saw a magnificent old home with white columns rising two stories from an expansive front porch. A stairway led to the porch from the long, tree-lined driveway that circled in front of the mansion.

  Pointing to the house, Michael said, “That’s the old plantation home. It has been the birthplace of three generations of my mother’s people.”

  The plantation reminded Puma of their hacienda in Santa Fe, except it was much grander. The large oak trees lining the approach gave him a sense of history. The trees had green vegetation hanging in clusters from their branches. Puma learned later that the growth was called Spanish moss. It thrived in the hot, humid air.

  All around the magnificent old home were expansive gardens with manicured lawns and well-maintained pathways wandering through. Dark-skinned people were working at keeping everything neat and clean. These workers were also singing soulful songs. An air of calm about the home gave it an elegant, peaceful, feeling; yet there was something different about the workers that Puma couldn’t identify. They didn’t seem to have the same sense of purpose as the peons did at the hacienda. Puma wondered what the difference might be.

  While The Dolphin was anchored in Mobil, Michael had sent word ahead telling his grandparents that they would be arriving. As they approached the pillared entryway, Puma saw a distinguished old gentleman with a finely dressed matronly-woman at his side. Their hair was white as snow. They looked old, but they seemed to be well and strong. They were smiling and standing with their arms extended in a gesture of greeting.

  As Michael stepped from the carriage, they embraced him warmly. After the embrace, Michael turned to introduce his family. He said, “Grandmother and Grandfather, this is my wife, Juanita Montoya Diego McBain. Juanita, this is my grandfather, Dan O’Hannon, and my grandmother, Constance.”

  Puma had never before heard his mother introduced by her formal name. He watched closely as the elderly couple appraised her. He saw admiration in their eyes, but sensed that they were withholding their approval. It would be difficult for anyone not to admire Juanita. She was elegant, and she was strikingly beautiful in the new gown she had bought in Savannah. Puma knew that they would approve of her in time. Every one did.

  Then they turned their attention to his sister. Carmen had inherited her mother’s beauty, and with it she had inherited a very feminine version of her father’s strong features and charm. The grandparents’ eyes glowed as they looked admiringly at their great-granddaughter.

  Now the moment Puma had been dreading arrived; he was the center of attention. The grandparents looked at him. Puma saw a deep, questioning in their eyes, but also admiration and respect. They were a nice old couple. He liked them. They spoke slowly and smoothly. They seemed to caress their words as they released them. The tone of their voices and the way they spoke were pleasing.

  An old black man, impeccably dressed, clapped his hands and two other black men hastened forward to gather the things that Michael and his family had brought. An older, lighter-skinned black woman stood just outside the clustered group. She was obviously waiting to see what might be required of her. As the group turned to enter the home, the black woman followed at a discrete distance. She smiled. Puma sensed that she approved of all she was seeing. She looked at him with questions in her eyes. Puma thought, I’ll be glad to answer her questions, as soon as she puts them into words, but I don’t think she ever will.

  They entered the house. It was truly a mansion. It had a very large front room enhanced by a tall ceiling with a wide, winding staircase leading to a balcony that partially circled the entry room. At the top of the stairway, Puma saw what appeared to be doorways, and guessed that the doorways led to rooms that opened to the balcony. The mansion had tall windows from which light entered through ornamental drapery. Two black men carried the luggage to the upstairs rooms.

  The grandparents led them into a dining room where there was a lavishly decorated table laden with food. Grandmother had taken Carmen under her wing. Grandfather O’Hannon led Michael and Juanita to the table; Puma followed and
the smiling black lady followed him. Grandfather sat at the head of the table with Grandmother to his right, Michael at the other end and Juanita to his right. Carmen sat beside her great-grandmother, and Puma sat across the table from Carmen. They were all trying to be casual, but it was still very formal. Puma could tell this was an important occasion for the grandparents. They had waited a long time to hear what had happened to their daughter. There was a feeling of expectation in the air.

  A meal of roast pig with all the trimmings was served. The adults drank wine; Puma and Carmen were served a mint- flavored drink. The conversation during the meal was light, and after finishing their desert, everyone relaxed.

  Michael leaned forward and began his story by telling of why they made the journey, and why they were isolated from the other wagons in the wagon train, and then ended the story by telling how his parents were killed; and then how he survived to avenge their deaths.

  “Mother and Father were enjoying the vast and fertile land,” he said, “only to have their lives cut short by a sudden and devastating Indian attack.”

  He paused while Grandfather wiped tears from his eyes and Grandmother sobbed silently. After a time, he continued, telling of his struggle to survive alone on the Great Plains. He told of reading the books his mother had brought with her. He showed them the pictures their daughter had taken with her. Michael continued with the telling of how he met Evening Star and her mother. Puma found that he, too, must wipe tears from his eyes as he remembered his Indian mother and grandmother. His new great-grandmother came and wrapped her arms around him, and he felt somewhat comforted by sharing his sorrow with her.