Long long ago, in this very land that we now call Jacksonville, there lived a family. Now this family did not look like us. They had dark skin - though not as dark as most black people. Their hair was very long and shiny. Their eyes were black as coal and their teeth were very white.

The father, whose name in our language means Big Oak because of his tremendous strength and very large build, was a powerful and honorable man. Big Oak was considered a minor chief of the Ocale - a little known Timucua group. This particular band of people were the family of Big Oak and he had chosen the site of the compound himself. The family home was a palmetto thatched and open-sided house facing inward to a circle of other houses for a few family-kin. There was the home of Big Oak's mother. She had become the responsibility of Big Oak, when His father had been bitten by a rattlesnake while hunting. Also, directly across the compound, was the hut of Little Lizard. Little Lizard was Big Oaks' youngest brother. He was a grown man, but due to some birth defects, he could not support himself to stand. His life would have been a poor existence except for the generosity of Big Oak.

The village was nestled in the wire grass just adjacent to the pine forest. From here to the east was about twenty miles of scrub and sand dunes until one reached the ocean. Only Big Oak had actually seen the great water, but someday he hoped to share it with his entire family. This would only happen when the Great Spirit gave the command.

Big Oak and his clan were peaceful farming people. In this land, the corn grew tall and the native grasses and trees provided a generous harvest. The pine woods to the west were full of deer, rabbits, squirrels and other animals which provided food and the material for clothing. Big Oak was the best tracker and marksman of the clan. He provided well for his beautiful wife, young daughter and son, as well as others in the group.

Yellow Rose trusted her husband. They had married after the tribal traditions when she was only fourteen seasons old. Big Oak was eighteen summers of age when he went west thru the pines until he reached the village of her parents. Though many other bucks had tried very hard to win her hand, it seemed that not one of them could fulfil the demands of her father. After many nights of questions and also many, many pelts were given, Big Oak convinced Spotted Wolf that he was the man to give him grandchildren. Spotted Wolf was a distant relative of the redmen of the mountains called the Cherokee nation.

As Yellow Rose rested from a long day of backbreaking work in the nearby field, she looked on with pleasure as she watched her gentle giant. This had become her greatest joy, to simply see him as he dealt so tenderly with her children. It did not seem possible that a man of his size could be so very gentle, but this was her Big Oak. Yellow Rose loved Big Oak with all her heart.

Yellow Rose was a very beautiful woman. Even the toiling in the fields and cooking over the fires of camp had yet to take its toll. Yellow Rose was also a talented basket maker. After gathering the wild wire grasses and other assorted materials, she could weave the designs that made a basket suitable for carrying a baby or steaming the wild cabbage. In those days, it was necessary to make whatever was needed to survive. One had to build or create any thing that was needed for daily living.

Warm Breeze was a child of comfort, a summer child. Breeze loved her mother more than words could express. Even though she was highly intelligent, it seemed that Breeze considered herself below par. As she watched the deft fingers of her talented mother as she quickly and nimbly created the intricate patterns and complex shapes of the special basket, she wondered if indeed

she would ever be able to duplicate such an object of art. This special basket will be the carrier of a new baby. This baby is more than just another addition to the group. This baby is the infant son of New Moon and his Cherokee wife. New Moon is the middle brother of Big Oak and the uncle of Warm Breeze and her younger brother. Although only seven summers of age, Breeze is considering the day when she will be a mother and have her own little papoose. Could it be possible? Indeed, is there yet another man in this world to compare with Big Oak? How can a girl hope to have a husband that measures up to such a wonderful father? Ah! yes something to dream about.

Osprey - water eagle - could not care less about such things as husbands or wives and the like. Osprey's only concern at the moment is Fang. Fang, the true friend and loyal companion of all the five years of Osprey's life. Fang - a tame grey wolf - has been in the family since being brought from afar as a tiny pup. Big oak, being the kind and gentle man, had saved the pup from the fate of being the supper of a nomadic band some eight years earlier. Although Fang was now going on to nine years old, he was lively and alert as ever.

Osprey and Fang had been inseparable since Osprey was a tot. Now Fang considered the boy a member of his very own pack. As such, nobody or anything had better try to harm this boy. Fang either followed the boy everywhere or else the boy followed the animal. This would be the trial of loyalty many times as the boy had a knack for getting into trouble. This day would prove to be no exception.

Osprey was named in honor of the water eagles. These birds lived around the river just south of the village. Osprey was very aware that Big Oak had warned him sternly, not to go down to the river unless accompanied by one of the adults of the community. But being Osprey, he decided this day that all the adults were just old people and not wanting to have any fun. Anyway, the river was only three hundred yards away. What possible harm could there be in strolling down to the river on this fine day? After all, Osprey knew that he could swim as well as any fish in that old river anyway. "Come on Fang! Let's have some fun". Poor Fang! Would he ever get this boy raised? However, if Osprey went, then Fang would go, to the river.

Out the door and then around the back of the houses and then to the right - how easy. Out of sight now and hidden by the high wire grass, Osprey and Fang strolled down the path that led to the banks of the river. Past the magnolia trees and the sycamore trees that marked the point of higher ground and then on down to the wild cedars in the sand dunes and finally to the marsh along the banks of the river. Somehow, the scene began to look different than Osprey had ever seen it. How very big everything looked when one was not in the company of Big Oak! "Oh! well, come on Fang, let's find some clams. You like clams, don't you Fang? You don't!!".

As Osprey began his search for clams or mussels, he picked up a stick with which to dig the creatures out of the mud. Intent on the job at hand, the boy failed to notice how quiet it became. The noisy jays were no longer flitting about and even the crickets were mute.

Suddenly there was the rumbling sound of Fang's awful growl. From deep within the animal came a sound that Osprey had seldom heard. Though he was only five years of age, the boy was a product of the wilderness. He instinctively disappeared into the cattails and rushes. Blending in so well that not even the mighty water eagle could have seen him. Crouched very low and with his one hundred - two pound friend by his side, the boy knew he was safe , at least for the moment. But what was there? Then he saw them! Two canoes - each containing two braves. People he did not know. People who were dressed quite differently than anyone he had ever seen in his short life. They were wearing paint! Osprey had heard much about this while listening to the men talk around the camp fires of the village. This could be serious. Were these scouts of a larger party? How could he get back to the village and warn his people? Oops! if he went back and told the men, then they would know he had been to the river alone. What to do? Oh! what to do? Great Spirit, please help!

To call on the Great Spirit, seemed like the natural thing to do. All his young life, Osprey had heard his beloved father give the account of the power of the Great Spirit. Although the common belief among all his family and friends had always been in many gods, Big Oak reasoned - "Either one is God or He is not". In his reasoning, how could more than one be Almighty, if there were others just as powerful. If so, then a single one would not be truly God. Many of Big Oak's people believed in the god of the sun or the god of harvest. Some believed that their ancestors even had super-natural powers. Big Oak could not believe this! There is only one God and Big Oak called Him "Great Spirit".

As the men in the canoes passed by, Osprey lay hidden and completely concealed. As young as he was, the boy knew that he faced a real challenge. Something as serious as this must be reported to the adults. However, if he did report, then everyone would know that he had disobeyed his fathers' orders about going to the river. Big Oak had many reasons for issuing this order. There were snakes, bobcats, panthers, bears, and other animals in the region. Not to mention numerous alligators, including one huge twelve foot black bull gator that Big Oak himself had an encounter with.

As Osprey considered the situation, it seemed that something inside simply said "Remember Osprey - one is called to stand tall in the truth. If you want be a man, then you must always face your responsibilities, even if it includes your own pain. You have disobeyed your father but this could be more important than your chastisement. Go, run swiftly lad."

Osprey said, "Come Fang, let us fly like the water eagle". With this, the boy and his best friend left their place of hiding and rapidly hit the path to the compound. Running the full three hundred yards, the boy and dog were very tired as they dropped in the center of the compound. Osprey was so out of breath that he could hardly speak. Yellow Rose was the first to see him as she was working in her vegetable garden. She quickly came to him and saw that something was terribly wrong. "What is the matter Osprey?", she said. Osprey began to tell what he had seen. "Wait - let me get your father". "Someone go and summons Big Oak!", she commanded.

As Big Oak arrived, Osprey began to catch his breath. "Father" he said, "I was down by the river and ..". "You what?" said Big Oak. "I have told you not to go ...". "I know father and I am ready to take my punishment, but I must tell you what I saw first", said Osprey.

As the boy related his story and described the men in the canoes, Big Oak began to form a plan. He must identify these people and determine if they were friends or enemies. Big Oak and his clan had always been peaceful people, not wanting to do anything but live a life of peace and harmony with other people and nature.

"My son" said Big Oak, "You and I will discuss your problem of disobedience at a later time. Right now, I have a problem as leader of this clan." And with this, Big Oak immediately called the other males of age into the meeting house at the middle of the half circle of houses which made up the compound. After asking again of Osprey, the direction and speed of travel of the canoes, Big Oak dispatched scouts of his group to go find these people and if possible to speak with them. The plan - to make a judgement. If they appeared peaceful, then invite them to a meal at the compound, and if they appeared warlike, then prepare to defend the compound.

Trusting his father to handle the situation, as did all the rest of the group, Osprey said "Come Fang", and with this started his own investigation of some spider webs which he had seen earlier. This may be a chance to see that big old yellow and black spider again.