Over the 2 months after his defeat, Big Waterfowl worked tirelessly to win Captain Miles Standish Jennings' favor. Realizing he could never win against his army of 109 horseback puritans, he decided to instead work humbly in service of quartermaster Chestnut Womancorn. Slowly, Chestnut grew to trust Big waterfowl and noticed his aptitude for logistics. As winter approached, this would prove useful.
Winter of 1864 was harsh. Harsher than any the pilgrims had experienced before, and harsher than what they were prepared for. The battle several months earlier had depleted much of their stores and left them too disorganized to successfully endure the winter. Their hope was in the belated felling of trees and futile fishing through the thickening ice. While these proved more promising than expected, few colonists were able to help chop, fish or transport. As the nights grew longer, their hope lessened. These nights gave Big Waterfowl much time to ruminate on the situation, and what he could do about it.
One favorably sunny day, he set out in search of the trampolines Captain Miles Standish Jennings had confiscated from their battle. He managed to sneak around the barracks to the armory. Fortunately for him, the doors were unlocked. He snuck in and began rummaging, eventually finding the plethora of trampolines he once used against his current residence. As he was dragging one out through the doors, a soft click sounded behind him. "Sneaking around are we, Big Waterfowl?" Captain Miles Standish Jennings asked with his usual annoying bravado. Big Waterfowl spun around startled, trying to explain his intentions, but Captain Miles Standish Jennings didn't care to listen, and continued speaking "I was a fool to let you reside among us. Well, no more" he added. He took aim, but before he pulled the trigger, Chestnut Womancorn came running up yelling for Captain Miles Standish Jennings to stop.
Chestnut gave her account of Big Waterfowl's diligence, and noted his logistical prowess, asserting her belief that Big Waterfowl had no ill intentions. Were it anyone else, they would have promptly received the butt of Captain Miles Standish Jennings' musket to their face, but as it hadn't since before they left for America, his heart leapt at the sound of Chestnut's voice. Well, he couldn't help but heed her concern, and so Big Waterfowl was once again saved from the wrath of Captain Miles Standish Jennings, and his galling bravado.
To the luck of the puritans, Big Waterfowl had indeed devised a solution to their winter inventory problem. A week later, two lines of trampolines had been laid out, one to the log mill, the other to the pond. Before the snows began to fall, every able-bodied man worked to fell the last trees and fish the last fish they could. Along the lines of trampolines they bounced the wood and fish back to town. There the women and children received, stacked, and stored the supplies.
Astonished, Captain Miles Standish Jennings apologized to and thanked Big Waterfowl for saving his people. As they hunkered down, Captain Miles Standish Jennings and Big Waterfowl forgave one another, and embraced their new friendship.
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