Off To See The Wild West Show Part 1, Chapter 13 (2/6) By Frank Beill 1886: Hull, Yorkshire

(1/6), (2/6), (3/6), (4/6), (5/6), (6/6). Part 1 Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Part 2 Prologue, Chapter 1, 2, 3.

'It is called the Persian Monarch. It is taking us home.' 'Home?' What did this word mean? I'd lived in a home but it wasn't my home, not anyone's real home. I shook my head trying to drive out the sleep. 'Yes, back to the land the white man calls the United States of America. We will go back to the Dakotas. That is our real home.'

Our wagon was surrounded by a mass of moving bodies, carrying their belongings from the huge cavern of the Emigrant Shed and across the quayside. Everything looked yellow in gaslight apart from the greasy greyness of the cobblestones. I didn't quite understand why this place should be called the Emigrant Shed as it was normally reserved for people from all over Europe who were arriving in Hull. Maybe it was because these migrants weren't going to remain in Hull or even in England. They were on their way to the New World and a new life.

Mainly they were escaping from persecution because they were different. I knew how it felt to be different. Often it was because their religion wasn't acceptable in the land from which they were escaping. Jews, Mormons and a whole range of other sects were on their way to a new life and I was going to join them in that same quest. 'I'm hungry,' I said. I'd not eaten anything since attacking the mountain of food John Nelson organised for George and me in the marquee.

'Food later. Come with me.' Laughing Waters offered a hand to pull me up. She was much stronger than she looked. Lakota women had to be.

She led me into the shed. I was aware that we were being followed. I turned abruptly to see two miniature versions of Laughing Waters scurrying into hiding behind a large wooden barrel. My sister barked an order and the pair re-emerged, pouting with chins dropping onto their chests and avoiding eye contact with us. 'These are our sisters. Moon That Shines and Star Petal.' The little ones giggled but still didn't dare raise their eyes. 'They want to watch their new brother to see what a boy does.' 'As long as they don't see everything a boy does!'

I smiled and walked towards them. I stretched out my hands towards their heads. I wanted to stroke their thick black hair but they ran off as though scalded. 'They will come back.' Their big sister sighed. 'They always do.'

'Do they speak English?' I was desperate to find someone else in my new family with whom I could converse in my own language. It would have been unfair to depend on Laughing Waters all the time. 'They know a few words. They were at the mission school too before we joined Pahaska. That is what we call Colonel Cody ... Pahaska. It means long hair.' 'Does our father know any English?' I had a new father but not yet met him or so I thought. 'Yes, you spoke with him.' So, Dog That Stands was the inquisitive one but would I recognise him without his war paint?

Red Shirt was wise to place me with a family where I could converse with some of its members. So much wisdom and as John Nelson said 'we calls 'em savages.'

Continued... Next Page (3/6)

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