RUNNING FOX
[Illustration: The next instant his own arrow dropped his enemy to the
ground.]
RUNNING FOX
BY
ELMER RUSSELL GREGOR
AUTHOR OF “WHITE OTTER,” ETC. ETC.
[Illustration]
FRONTISPIECE BY
D. C. HUTCHISON
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
NEW YORK—LONDON
1918
Copyright, 1918, by
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
Printed in the United States of America
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I beg to gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness to Schoolcraft’s
works on the Eastern Indians, and to Morgan’s “League of the
Iroquois” for much valuable information about the old-time Lenape
and Iroquois Indians, and to the Lenape-English Dictionary edited by
Daniel G. Brinton, and published by The Historical Society of
Pennsylvania, for many ancient Lenape words.
Elmer Russell Gregor.
Table of Contents
I—A LONELY VIGIL
II—INTO THE PERILOUS NORTH
III—A THRILLING ADVENTURE
IV—IN THE GRIP OF THE RAPIDS
V—WOLVES
VI—A PROWLER IN THE DARK
VII—THE MYSTERIOUS CANOE
VIII—A NARROW ESCAPE
IX—FORCED INTO HIDING
X—SPOTTED DEER DISAPPEARS
XI—A SKIRMISH WITH THE SHAWNEES
XII—SMOKE
XIII—SURPRISED
XIV—ANXIOUS DAYS
XV—A BATTLE WITH THE CHIPPEWAS
XVI—THE ESCAPE
XVII—PURSUED BY THE ENEMY
XVIII—THE IROQUOIS BLUNDER INTO A TRAP
XIX—THE ATTACK ON THE DELAWARE CAMP
XX—VICTORY
RUNNING FOX
CHAPTER I—A LONELY VIGIL
Having reached the age of sixteen winters, Running Fox, the son of Black
Panther, a famous Delaware war-chief, determined to establish his
reputation as a warrior. He knew, however, that before he could gain
admission into the gallant company of fighting men he would have to
prove his courage and ability in some daring exploit. Running Fox
believed that the Delawares would expect some extraordinary achievement
from the son of their most noted chief, and he resolved to surpass the
most noteworthy deeds of his tribesmen. He spent many days trying to
think of something sufficiently heroic to gain him the fame he desired.
As he could come to no decision, he finally went to his father, and
asked him to name the greatest possible achievement for a Delaware.
The eyes of the stern Delaware war-chief lighted with pride as he heard
the bold request of his son. He spent some moments silently studying the
face of the eager lad before him. Then, convinced that Running Fox was
in earnest, he answered him.
“My son, you have asked me to tell you the greatest thing a Delaware can
do. I will tell you. Far away toward Lowaneu,
The-Place-Where-The-Cold-Comes-From, in the Mohawk camp, lives a great
war-leader named Standing Wolf. You have heard our warriors talk about
him at the council-fires. He has killed many of our people. We have
fought many battles with him, but we cannot kill him. It must be that he
bears a charmed life. We believe that he has some mysterious power. Many
times our young men have surrounded him, but when they rushed in to
destroy him he always killed most of them and escaped. He has done some
wonderful things. It must be that he possesses some mysterious medicine
charm. If you can go to the Mohawk camp and find out how Standing Wolf
gets his power it will be the greatest thing you can do.”
“I will go,” Running Fox cried, impulsively.
“My son, you are brave enough, but you speak fast like a child,” replied
Black Panther. “You must think about this thing. Then you will begin to
see how hard it is. Many brave warriors have tried to do it. Not one
found out about it. Most of them lost their lives. The Mohawks are as
keen as wolves. When you enter their country, you will be in constant
danger of losing your life. If they find your trail it will be hard to
escape. But if you feel brave enough to try to do this great thing, then
you must go and talk with Sky Dog. He is a great medicine-person,
perhaps he will be able to help you. Now I have told you what to do.”
“My father, I will do as you have told me,” agreed Running Fox.
He went at once to find old Sky Dog, the venerable Delaware
medicine-man. When Running Fox arrived at the medicine-lodge and drew
aside the huge bear robe that hung before the entrance, he saw the aged
medicine-man sitting upon the ground before a small fire. He was tossing
small handfuls of dried sweet-grass upon the embers, and droning some
sort of medicine-song. He took no notice of the lad standing uneasily in
the doorway, and Running Fox began to wonder whether he had better
withdraw. While he hesitated, however, Sky Dog raised his head and
looked to see who his visitor might be.
“Hi, I see some one standing in the doorway of my lodge,” he said,
peevishly. “The light is bad, and my eyes are old, so that I cannot tell
who you are. Come in here, and let me look at you.”
Running Fox entered, and stood before the medicine-man. Sky Dog nodded
understandingly.
“Now I see who you are,” he said, “You are the son of a great chief.
Well, what do you want?” he demanded, sharply.
Running Fox suddenly felt bewildered in the presence of this great
medicine-person. For some moments, therefore, he maintained an awkward
silence.
“Well, have you no ears?” Sky Dog cried, impatiently. “I have asked you
something. Has your tongue left your mouth? Come, I am not here to be
stared at.”
The sharp reproach instantly aroused Running Fox from his reverie. He
saw that his stupid silence had angered Sky Dog, and he hastened to
explain the reason for his visit.
Sky Dog seemed astounded at his boldness. He shook his head, and stared
thoughtfully at the fire. It was a long time before he replied.
“You have spoken big words,” he said, finally. “You are only a boy, and
yet you have asked me to help you do something which our bravest
warriors have been unable to do. Do you think that I will listen to such
foolish prattle? No. You must show me that you are in earnest. Does your
father know about this thing!”
“Yes, my father sent me here,” replied Running Fox.
“Well, then I may do something about it,” said Sky Dog. “But there are
many things to be done before you can start on such a journey.”
“I am listening,” declared Running Fox.
“That is right. Well, first you must go to the sweat-lodge, and purify
yourself so that you can pray to Getanittowit, the Great One. Then you
must go away from the village for three days. You must go to a high
mountain, and ask Getanittowit, the Great One, to help you. You must
sing medicine-songs. You must not eat anything but a handful of parched
corn once each day. Perhaps if you do these things Getanittowit will
take pity on you, and send you a vision. If that comes to pass you must
come to me, and I will tell you the meaning of it. If you do not receive
a vision it will be useless to set out upon the undertaking, for you
will surely be killed. I have told you what to do. Go.”
Running Fox left the lodge in high spirits. He had little doubt that if
he faithfully carried out the commands of Sky Dog he would receive aid
and power that would enable him to achieve his ambition. He went to his
father and told him what Sky Dog had said. Then he hurried to the
sweat-lodge.
The Pimoakan, or sweat-lodge, was a low, dome-shaped structure made of
willow boughs, and covered with several layers of animal robes. It was
located close beside the river. As Running Fox approached it he saw Sky
Dog and an aged assistant heating stones at a fire near the entrance to
the lodge.
When the hot stones had been rolled into the lodge Sky Dog ordered
Running Fox to remove his clothing and crawl into the Pimoakan. Then the
medicine-man and his companion filled raw-hide buckets with river water,
and dashed it over the hot stones. When the lodge was filled with steam
they hung a number of heavy bear robes over the entrance, and left the
lad to his fate.
For some moments Running Fox believed that he would smother in the
stifling clouds of steam. Gasping and choking, he was on the point of
crying out to be released when he suddenly realized what it would mean.
He told himself that such an act would not only disgust Sky Dog, but
that it might even arouse the anger of Getanittowit, the Great One. The
possibility frightened him. He endured the ordeal with the uncomplaining
fortitude of a hardened warrior. The hot, steam-laden atmosphere induced
profuse perspiration, and water streamed from every pore in his body.
Running Fox grew weak and dizzy. He fought to overcome his weakness,
however, for he realized that it was only by thus cleansing himself that
he might become fit to hold communion with Getanittowit, the Great One.
While Running Fox was confined in the lodge, Sky Dog sat just outside
the entrance, chanting medicine-songs. He ordered Running Fox to repeat
them until he could sing them through without a mistake. Then Sky Dog
drew aside the bear robes, and commanded Running Fox to come out. The
lad staggered out, pale and faint. He presented a pitiful appearance.
Sky Dog pointed toward the river, and Running Fox stumbled down the bank
and threw himself into the icy water. The shock quickly revived him, and
in a few moments he clambered out quite recovered from his experience.
“Now you can go away and rest,” said Sky Dog. “But you must keep
thinking about the thing you wish to do. Then, when you feel strong, you
must take your robe and a little parched corn, and go away. You must do
that before two suns have passed. Go to some high place and stay there
three days. During that time you must continue to ask Getanittowit to
take pity upon you, and send you a vision. You must also keep singing
the medicine-songs. You must not take any weapons with you for that
would make Getanittowit very angry. At the end of three days come back
and tell me what you have seen. Now I cannot tell you anything more.
Go.”
Late the following day Running Fox took his deer-skin robe, and a small
bag containing parched corn, and left the village. He made his way
toward a high pine-clad mountain directly behind the great Delaware
camp. There were few who saw him go away, for Running Fox had carefully
guarded his plans. Two, however, his father and old Sky Dog, stood
together at the edge of the village and watched him disappear into the
shadows of the forest. Then they turned silently away, and walked
thoughtfully to their lodges.
When Running Fox finally reached the summit of the mountain the sun had
disappeared, and the purple evening shadows were settling in the
valleys. Seating himself upon the trunk of a fallen pine the young
Delaware looked wonderingly upon the glorious panorama that lay before
him. Far below was the Delaware village beside a splendid river which,
like a great serpent, glided down from the north between parallel ridges
of low wooded hills. Behind those ridges were others, rising one behind
the other, like great billows, until they eventually ended in a long,
irregular line of ghostly gray peaks far away against the brilliant
sunset sky. The entire country was covered with a vast primeval forest
which continued in all directions as far as the eye could see. At
various intervals isolated woodland lakes flashed from its Bomber green
background and rushing mountain cataracts blazed narrow white trails
down the hillsides. It was an unspoiled picture of natural grandeur, a
land blessed by the bounteous generosity of Getanittowit, who had filled
it with blessings for his children. The waters teemed with fish, the
forests swarmed with game, and the air was perfumed with the fragrance
of the pines. Running Fox looked upon it with pride and affection, for
it was the home of the great Lenape nation, his people, the Delawares.
Then the lad turned his eyes toward the north, and his face grew stern
and threatening. He realized that he was looking upon the hunting
grounds of his enemies, the fierce and warlike Mohawks. Somewhere in the
great silent wilderness that stretched for unknown leagues beyond the
headwaters of the river was the Mohawk village in which lived the famous
war-chief, Standing Wolf. Running Fox knew that to learn the secret
which would enable his people to triumph over their enemies he must find
and enter the hostile camp. For the first time he began to understand
the difficulty and peril of his task. It seemed like a foolhardy
undertaking for an untried lad of sixteen winters. Running Fox thought
of the experienced warriors who had sacrificed their lives in the
attempt. For a moment or so it weakened his confidence. He even wondered
whether he might not have chosen a feat beyond his ability. The idea
angered him. He told himself that no task was too great for the son of
Black Panther.
Running Fox continued his reveries until darkness closed about the
mountain-top. Then, as the fires began to twinkle down in the Delaware
camp, he rose and turned his face toward the sky. He stood some moments
gazing at the starry heavens. Then he suddenly began his appeal to
Getanittowit, the Great One.
Late in the night Running Fox was interrupted by the sound of something
moving stealthily through the forest. He was instantly alert, for he
recalled that more than one daring Iroquois scout had been detected
spying upon the Delaware camp from the summit of that very mountain. For
a moment Running Fox longed for his weapons. The next instant he
banished the thought for fear of angering Getanittowit. He believed that
as long as he sang the sacred medicine-songs, and repeated the words
which old Sky Dog had taught him, he would be safe from all danger. Thus
assured, he listened without fear to the mysterious sounds in the
darkness. At last a startled snort told him that it was only Achtu, the
deer. A few moments later he heard it dashing away through the woods.
Dawn found the devout lad, heavy-eyed and weary, still gazing into the
sky and calling upon Getanittowit to help him. “O Getanittowit, take
pity on me and help me to do what I have set out to do. O Getanittowit,
send me a vision. O Getanittowit, I have sung the sacred medicine-songs
many times to make you glad. O Getanittowit, take pity on me and help
me.” Running Fox continued to repeat the earnest appeal and sing the
sacred songs throughout the day. With the falling of darkness, however,
the exhausted lad ceased his exertions, and soon afterward fell into a
heavy slumber.
The following day Running Fox hovered on the verge of collapse. The
scant daily ration of parched corn was insufficient to maintain his
strength, and the long, trying ordeal began to sap his vitality. He had
stationed himself on a bare granite ledge which formed the very peak of
the mountain. There, in the full glare of the scorching summer sun, he
stood and offered his prayers to Getanittowit. At times his head reeled
and his legs trembled beneath him, but when that happened he staggered
to the shade of the forest, and refreshed himself at an icy spring which
bubbled forth between the roots of a massive hemlock. Then he toiled
painfully up to the ledge, and continued the sacred ceremony which he
felt confident would eventually win him the favor of Getanittowit.
More than half of the day had passed when Running Fox discovered
something which filled him with dismay. Far away toward the west
threatening black clouds were piling up above the hill-tops. The young
Delaware watched them with great anxiety. He knew that the Delawares
considered it a very bad omen to be overtaken by a thunder storm while
conducting one of their sacred ceremonies. It was considered especially
significant if one were praying to Getanittowit, the Great One. Under
those circumstances a thunderstorm was accepted as a sign of
Getanittowit’s displeasure. The thought filled Running Fox with panic.
Keeping anxious watch of the darkening western sky, the superstitious
young Delaware continued to chant the sacred medicine-songs to avert the
ill fortune that threatened him.
It was not long, however, before Running Fox realized that the storm was
actually approaching. The ominous black clouds had formed into a great
mass that was sweeping rapidly toward the sun, and the low, threatening
rumble of distant thunder echoed among the hills. The air grew hot and
stifling. A quick, darting line of fire cut the western sky. Running Fox
turned his eyes appealingly toward the sun, as he sang the
medicine-songs in a high, hysterical tone. Each moment he saw the storm
gaining greater force. The sky grew blacker, the thunder sounded louder,
and the lightning flashes became more frequent. Then the sun disappeared
behind the edge of the storm-clouds, and a peculiar yellow light flooded
the valleys. An uncanny hush had fallen upon the wilderness. Running Fox
was awed by the sound of his own voice. It sounded harsh and unnatural
for he was almost screaming the sacred songs in his eagerness to make
them effective. Then another sound reached his ears. The wind was
roaring over the ridge to the westward. A few moments later it swept
over the mountain-top. A hawk sailed across the sky on the crest of the
gale. Running Fox ceased singing to watch it. He wished that he, too,
might flee as easily. Before the bird had disappeared, the storm was
upon him. It began with a startling crash of thunder, and a crackling
flash of light.
Believing that his long ordeal had been in vain, and that he had in some
way offended Getanittowit, the Great One, Running Fox wished to die. He
knew that if he returned to his people with the disfavor of Getanittowit
upon him he would be shunned as one in league with Medsit, the Evil One.
He might even be driven from the camp. His heart failed him as he
thought of the disgrace which he had brought upon his father. Then, as
the first great drops of rain began to fall, he turned his eyes toward
the village. A number of people were standing at the edge of the camp,
gazing at the mountain-top. Somewhat apart from the others stood a
solitary figure, whom the disconsolate lad thought he recognized as his
father. The possibility roused him. He believed that Black Panther was
there to give him courage and to urge him to continue his petition. The
thought filled him with hope. Running Fox told himself that perhaps
Getanittowit was only testing his faith and courage. Encouraged by the
idea, he determined to show himself worthy. A few moments later,
therefore, when the Delaware camp was swept from his sight by a terrific
deluge of rain, Running Fox turned his face fearlessly toward the sky,
and again sang the medicine-songs. He was a heroic figure as he stood
alone on the mountain-top in the fury of the storm, calling upon the
great being whom his people believed ruled over all their destinies.
Most of the time his voice was lost in the crashing of thunder and the
roaring of the wind, but in every lull it rose strong and confident with
the new hope that had entered his heart.
“O Getanittowit, I am still here singing the sacred medicine-songs,” he
cried. “O Getanittowit, take pity on me. O Getanittowit, do not send me
back to my people without something good to tell them. O Getanittowit,
when I first heard the dreadful Thunder Beings I was afraid. Now my
heart is strong again. O Getanittowit, take pity on me.”
A terrifying crash of thunder was followed by a blinding flash of
lightning that shattered a huge dead pine and filled the air with giant
splinters. Running Fox was less than three bow-lengths from the tree.
When it was struck he staggered backward with his hands before his face,
and fell to the ground.
When Running Fox finally regained consciousness, he found himself
staring into darkness. For some moments he blinked his eyes to make sure
that they were open. When he had convinced himself, a great fear entered
his heart. He told himself that Getanittowit had destroyed his sight.
Raising his eyes toward the heavens in mute appeal he was astonished to
see the stars. He scarcely dared hope that they were real. He turned his
head and looked about him. He saw the dim, shadowy outlines of rocks,
and the shattered trunk of the giant pine. Then the truth suddenly
flashed upon him. It was night. Getanittowit had taken pity upon him,
and brought him back to life. Running Fox attempted to rise and give
thanks, but he was too weak. Besides, he was wet and cold. He longed for
his fire-sticks. Then, as he began to tremble, he suddenly remembered
his robe. He crawled about until he found it. It was quite dry on the
under side, and he wrapped it closely about him. Then exhaustion
overcame him, and he fell back unconscious.
Running Fox had barely closed his eyes when he heard some one calling
his name. Then he saw Machque, the bear. For a moment Running Fox felt
uneasy without his weapons, for the bear was a huge creature and looked
very fierce. However, as he had heard it call his name he knew that it
must be a medicine-creature, and he believed that it had come to help
him. While he was looking at the bear, he heard some one behind, him
calling his name. He looked and saw Achtu, the deer. It showed no fear
of the bear, and walked up and stood beside it. Then Running Fox knew
that they must be medicine-creatures. As he was thinking what to say to
them, he again heard his name, and this time it was Woakus, the fox. It,
too, went and stood beside the others. Then came Quenischquney, the
panther, and Wisawanik, the squirrel, and Gokhos, the owl, and the
terrible Wischalowe, the rattlesnake, whom the Delawares called “The
Frightener.” When they all were assembled, the bear was made the leader.
“Running Fox, we have come here to help you,” said this strange
medicine-creature. “You have stood the test, and now we are going to
help you. You are setting out to do a hard thing. If you do exactly as
we tell you, you will go through with it. What I have to say is short.
You know that my people are brave and powerful. You must fight and kill
one of my people. Then you must eat his heart, and wear his claws about
your neck. This will make you as strong and as brave as we are. I have
finished.”
“Running Fox, you have heard some one who is stronger and braver than I
am,” declared Achtu, the deer. “But you must remember that strength and
courage will not always save you. When you cannot fight you must run. My
people are the fastest people who live in the woods. You are going out
to do a great thing. I will tell you that you must kill one of my
people, and eat his heart. Then you will be able to run faster than your
enemies.”
“Running Fox, you have heard Machque, who is strong and brave, and
Achtu, who is very swift, but you must also be very cautious. You are
going upon a dangerous journey. If you are not careful you will surely
be killed. My people are very hard to catch. If you can kill one of our
old men, and cut off his ears, you will be as sharp as we are,” said
Woakus, the fox.
“Running Fox, you have heard some great people,” growled Quenischquney,
the panther. “Well, now I am going to help you. It is a good thing to be
strong, and brave, and swift, and cautious, but you must also be able to
steal up and surprise your enemies. No one can do that better than my
people. But I must warn you that our young men are very fierce, and you
will have a hard fight if you try to kill one of them. However, I will
give you power to do it. Then you must take the longest claw from each
foot, and keep them about you.”
“Running Fox, I am smaller and weaker than all these great people who
have talked to you,” barked Wisawanik, the squirrel. “However, I am also
more nimble, and better at hiding. If you wish to travel safely to the
village where Standing Wolf lives, you must be nimble and good at
hiding. If you will kill one of our chiefs who wear the black robes, and
carry his scalp with you, you will be able to hide so well that your
enemies will not be able to find you.”
“Running Fox, you have been promised some good things, but I am going to
offer you the best of all,” boasted Gokhos, the owl. “If you have all
the powers that these good friends are going to give you, it will all be
useless without my gift When darkness falls then it will be safer to
travel through the forest. But to do that you must have eyes that can
look through the night. My people have this gift. If you can kill one of
our great white leaders, who live far away in the country of the
Mohawks, you will not only be able to see as well at night as by day,
but you will also have magic power to overcome whoever may try to harm
you.”
“Running Fox, you know me; I am called ‘The Frightener’,” said
Wischalowe, the rattlesnake. “Whoever hears my warning trembles with
fear. If you will kill one of our old men, and tie his war-drum to your
belt so that it makes a noise when you walk you will frighten away all
who seek to harm you.”
When Wischalowe finished speaking they all remained silent, waiting for
some talk from Running Fox. For some moments he was at a loss as to just
how to address these strange medicine-creatures. While he was thinking
just how to thank them they suddenly disappeared. At that moment Running
Fox regained consciousness. Day had dawned, and the sun was well above
the eastern ridges. For a moment or so the bewildered lad looked
anxiously about him, expecting to see the strange creatures that had
appeared in his delirium. When he failed to find them his heart gave a
great hound of joy, for he believed that they had been
medicine-creatures sent by Getanittowit to help him. The idea gave him
strength, and he struggled to his feet and offered thanks to
Getanittowit. Then he toiled painfully down the mountainside. It took
him most of the day to reach the valley. When he finally staggered into
the camp he went directly to old Sky Dog, and collapsed as he reached
the door of his lodge.