December 27th, 1753 – Kublanerasaka squatted between two tall, long-needle pines. He was comfortable for he could compact his tall, thin frame down the size of a small boy if necessary. Flexibility helped when he needed to be down low, in this case to peer under branches and see the legs and torso of an eight-point deer.

He reached around to his side pouch, and pulled out a long, thin arrow. Silently he nocked the arrow in his bow and drew it back. He needed to be almost perfectly silent. The deer and elk had become agitated since the white men started moving through the hunting grounds. At least they are driving game toward the tribe, he thought. But the animals would get used to this activity and even that small benefit would vanish.

Suddenly, the deer jerked its head toward him, jumped back and darted away into the brush. He stood up to get a better view, but the animal was gone. All he could see now was rustling branches. He released the tension in his bow and un-nocked the arrow. That was odd he thought; I made no noise, what made the deer dive into the wood. [more]