Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison

Molly is with Little Turtle in the woods, and Little Turtle kills a turkey with his bow and arrow. Little Turtle is excited to earn his new bow and arrows from Shagbark, but he is surprised that Molly is upset by the turkey’s death. The two friends find Shagbark working in his lodge. Shagbark presents a new bow with arrows to Little Turtle. Little Turtle chooses turkey feathers to finish the arrows, and Shagbark renames him Turkey Feather.

In response to Molly’s sadness over the turkey, Shagbark explains the Indian perspective of hunting. Molly understands the reason for hunting, but she refuses to become “strong and hard like an Indian girl” (282). She argues that it takes more courage to be moved by suffering rather than “to make oneself hard and unfeeling” (281). Shagbark appreciates Molly’s emotion, believing that she has been brought to the Senecas for a purpose. He tells her that hunting “is a man’s work” and invites Turkey Feather to try out his new bow (282). The three go to Chief Burning Sky’s lodge to present Turkey Feather to the chief as a new hunter.

There is a white man at the chief’s lodge.