The sun was well above the mountains before the young Delawares
descended to the river, and resumed the perilous journey into the north.
Running Fox told Spotted Deer about the strange medicine-creatures that
had appeared in his dream, and Spotted Deer became quite excited.
“That was a wonderful thing to happen to a person,” he declared,
impressively. “You must do whatever those mysterious animals told you to
do. I cannot help you. You must do those things alone. I have heard my
father say that.”
“It is true,” agreed Running Fox. “If you try to help me it might do
great harm.”
As the lads were still well within the northern boundary of the vast
Delaware hunting grounds, they had little fear of an immediate encounter
with their foes-Still they were cautious, for they knew that such an
experience was not impossible, as both Shawnees and Iroquois frequently
invaded that territory to hunt and fish. The Shawnees were a powerful
nation living farther to the westward, with whom the Delawares had
fought many desperate battles.
The day was about half spent when Running Fox suddenly dropped to his
knees, and called excitedly to Spotted Deer. The fresh trail of a bear
crossed a narrow strip of gravelly beach and disappeared into the woods.
The tracks were huge, and it was evident that the animal had only
recently crossed the river.
“See, here is the track of Machque,” said Running Fox, as he measured
the footprints with his hands. “He must be very big, and very fierce. He
cannot be far off. I will follow his trail, and try to kill him. Spotted
Deer, you must wait until I come back. Perhaps it will take a long time
to do this thing, but you must wait. It is the only thing to do.”
“I would like to go with you, but I believe it would be bad,” declared
Spotted Deer. “You must do as it appeared in your dream. I will wait.”
A moment afterward Running Fox followed the tracks into the forest. The
lad had been well trained in the art of hunting by his father, and his
sharp eyes had little difficulty in keeping the trail. It led him along
the side of a rocky hillside, and then down into the bushy tangle of a
dark spruce swamp. The footprints looked very fresh, and Running Fox
moved forward as noiselessly as a lynx. He stopped after every few
strides to look, and listen and sniff. He had never killed a bear but he
had heard the hunters tell many stories about that crafty beast, and he
knew that it was only by using the utmost caution that he could hope to
get within bow-shot. He crossed the swamp without coming in sight of his
quarry, and followed the tracks over the top of another rocky hill. As
he was climbing carefully toward the summit he came upon an ant-hill
that had been dug open by the bear. The demoralized ants were still
rushing frantically over the wreck of their lodge. On the other side of
the hill Running Fox lost the trail on a steep ledge of smooth gray
rock. Circling carefully around the ledge he finally picked up the
tracks leading down into a narrow ravine that penetrated far back into
the hills. As the sides of the gully were covered with blueberry bushes,
the young Delaware understood why the bear had chosen that route. He saw
many crushed and uprooted plants which told him that the hear was
feeding upon the berries. Running Fox hurried along the ravine in the
hope of overtaking the bear at its feast, but although the trail seemed
continually to grow fresher the eager young hunter was unable to get
within sight of his quarry.
The ravine at last led up to a wide grassy plateau closed in on three
sides by low hardwood ridges. It looked like an ideal feeding ground for
elk and deer, and Running Fox saw several well-trod trails leading
through it. Then he saw something more interesting. Far over in the
opposite corner of the plateau he discovered some animal lying down. It
was beyond bow-shot, and Running Fox began to study how he might
approach without being seen. When he had watched some moments he decided
that the distant object was either an elk or a deer. As it failed to
move he concluded that it was asleep. Then he suddenly thought of the
bear tracks. They led directly out into the open plateau, and toward the
mysterious object in the farther corner. Running Fox was perplexed. He
knew that what he saw was not the bear. Still he realized that whatever
it was it had come there after the bear had passed. The idea did not
satisfy him, however, for he told himself that unless the bear had gone
by a long time before, the keen nose of an elk or a deer would instantly
have found the dreaded scent. In that event neither of those wary
creatures would be likely to sleep on the fresh trail of their enemy.
Running Fox felt positive that the bear had but recently crossed the
plateau, for the grass which had been trodden down was still springing
upright. Then the solution flashed into his mind—the animal he saw was
dead.
Having come to that decision Running Fox began to look for the bear. He
felt quite sure that it was somewhere near the carcass, unless it had
discovered him and rushed away. Still he rather doubted that, for the
wind was in his favor, and besides he believed that a bear as large as
the one he had followed would be in no great hurry to run off. He had
often heard his father tell how a bear would loiter in the vicinity of
such a bait for several days, feeding when hunger prompted and sleeping
in some nearby thicket between meals. Running Fox also realized that the
bear might have been feeding as he approached, and upon catching sight
or scent of him had retreated into the woods to watch. In any event he
told himself that the first thing to do was to go and examine the bait.
Running Fox made his way cautiously along the edge of the plateau,
taking advantage of whatever cover offered itself, and advancing against
the wind. When he finally came within bow-shot of the bait he saw that
it was an elk. Then he sat down to watch and listen. After he had waited
a long time without seeing or hearing anything of the bear, he went
forward to examine the elk. It was an old bull that apparently had died
from old age. Running Fox was surprised to find that almost one whole
side of the animal had already been eaten. He also saw that something
had been tearing at the carcass but a short time previously. The grass
was well trampled all about the bait, and Running Fox identified the
tracks of many different animals. The freshest tracks, however, were the
huge footprints of the bear which he had followed from the river.
Running Fox believed that the bear was feeding upon the carcass when it
suddenly became aware of his approach, and retreated into the woods. He
felt quite certain that it would return, and he determined to conceal
himself and watch.
The Delaware found much to interest him as he sat quietly in his hiding
place and waited for the bear to return. A flock of crows were the first
to appear. They made a great racket as they circled about the elk, and
the eyes of the young hunter flashed with anger. He knew from experience
that those noisy birds gave warning to all the wild things of the woods,
and he feared that their senseless commotion might arouse the suspicions
of the bear. They soon flew away, however, and Running Fox felt much
relieved. A short time afterward he saw something moving along the edge
of the timber at the other end of the plateau. In a few moments he
identified it as a deer. He took its appearance for proof that the bear
was not at the moment anywhere near. Then, as he watched the wary
creature browsing in the shadow of the woods, he heard soft, stealthy
footfalls directly behind him. Fitting an arrow to his how, Running Fox
turned in time to find himself facing a large red fox. Before the
surprised creature could bound to safety the expert young Delaware sent
his arrow through its heart.
Recalling the advice of the medicine-fox which had appeared in his
dream, Running Fox crawled noiselessly through the brush, and cut the
ears from his victim. He saw that the fox was very old, as its teeth
were worn almost to the gums. The discovery filled him with joy, for he
felt sure that by carrying the ears of that wise old chief he would
become as sharp and crafty himself.
Then for a long time nothing more appeared, and Running Fox began to
grow restless. The day was almost at an end, and he feared that Spotted
Deer would become impatient. Still he had no thought of leaving the
plateau, and was determined to spend the night there if the bear failed
to appear before dark. At sunset, however, he heard some large animal
moving through the woods. It sounded too heavy for a deer, and too noisy
for an elk, so that Running Fox believed it must be the bear. His heart
bounded at the thought. He had heard many stories about thrilling
battles with those great beasts of the wilderness, and he hoped that he,
too, might experience such an adventure. Then, as the sounds drew
nearer, all else was forgotten as the eager lad hurriedly fitted an
arrow to his bow, and fixed his eyes on the edge of the woods.
Running Fox was not kept long in suspense. In a few moments he saw the
bushes swaying, and the next instant a bear walked into the open. It was
not the huge creature which Running Fox had pictured in his mind, but
his disappointment soon gave way to surprise as two half-grown cubs
immediately followed their mother from the woods. All three animals soon
walked within range, but the bewildered young hunter withheld his arrow.
He feared to kill the mother bear and her young lest he should offend
the great medicine-bear which had appeared in his dream. Besides, he
told himself that a warrior could scarcely boast of such a feat. He
watched, therefore, while the old bear led her cubs to the carcass of
the elk, and began to feed.
Some time later when the mother bear raised her head and sniffed the
air, Running Fox instantly became alert. As the old bear continued to
watch the woods, the lad began to hope that the animal he had followed
might be returning. However, the bear soon resumed feeding, and Running
Fox believed that he was again doomed to disappointment. At that very
moment, however, a stick cracked over in the spot toward which the
mother bear had been looking. She again raised her head and sniffed.
Then she began to growl. Running Fox watched anxiously. For some moments
all was still, but the bear continued to growl, and sniff suspiciously.
Then a great black object appeared at the edge of the woods. Running Fox
knew at once that it was the bear he had trailed from the river. As it
walked slowly into the open and he saw how big it was he could scarcely
believe his eyes. It seemed to be very fierce, for it approached the
bait growling and snapping its jaws. As it drew near Running Fox saw a
round white spot, half as large as his hand, directly behind its
shoulder. It immediately fired the imagination of the superstitious
young Delaware. He believed that Getanittowit had placed that mark upon
the bear to guide the Delaware arrow.
Running Fox had been so absorbed in watching the approach of the giant
that for the moment he had forgotten all about the mother bear and her
cubs. Now he heard her growling and gnashing her teeth. He had expected
to see her dash away at the first sight of the intruder, but she showed
no such intention. Instead she gave every evidence of disputing the
right of ownership which the big bear apparently intended to assert.
Running Fox looked upon her with admiration as she stood there snapping
her jaws, and growling defiance at the huge brute that threatened her.
For a few moments the big bear stood watching her in surprise. He seemed
puzzled by her unexpected show of resistance. Then it roused his
fighting spirit, and he rushed forward roaring furiously.
As the cubs dashed for the timber, squealing with terror, the mother
bear prepared to meet the attack. She appeared scarcely more than half
the size of the monster that had attacked her, and yet she seemed quite
as fierce and eager to fight as he. When the big bear came within range
she rushed at him, and he reared and attempted to fall upon her. She was
too quick, however, and as he crashed down she rushed in and closed her
jaws upon a hind leg. Wheeling with the agility of a panther, he snapped
viciously at her neck, but she released her hold and jumped tuck in time
to save herself. Then he rushed at her in blind fury, and knocked her
off her feet. Turning upon her back, she clawed him like a wildcat.
Snarling, biting and tearing, the maddened beasts fought with a fury
that meant destruction to the vanquished. It soon became evident that
the mother bear was doomed to defeat. The tremendous bulk and strength
of her antagonist made him invincible. He was inflicting terrible
punishment upon his courageous foe, and it seemed only a matter of
moments before he would have her completely at his mercy.
However, it was at that stage of the encounter that Running Fox joined
in the fray. Completely carried away by the fierceness of the fight, the
lad jumped to his feet and shot his arrow at the big bear. In his
excitement, however, he missed his aim, and the arrow struck about a
hand-width above the white patch behind the shoulder. The bear twisted
about and snapped off the shaft close to its body. Then both bears
caught sight of him, and immediately ceased fighting. For a moment, as
they stood glaring at him and snarling, it looked as if they intended to
unite in attacking their common enemy. Then, as Running Fox drove a
second arrow into the body of the giant, the latter rushed forward
alone. At that instant the cubs began whimpering at the edge of the
forest, and the mother bear, weak and suffering from a score of ugly
wounds, ambled painfully off to join them. As the great bear came
roaring down upon him the young Delaware realized that he was fighting
for his life, and the thought steadied him. Twice more he sent his
arrows tearing into the great muscular body, but they seemed to have
little effect. The infuriated bear stopped just long enough to snap at
the feathered shafts, and then it made a final rush at its foe. However,
during that momentary delay Running Fox had fitted another arrow to his
bow. He held it until the bear was only a few paces away, and then, as
it rose unsteadily upon its hind legs, he uttered the shrill Delaware
war-cry and drove the arrow deep between its fore legs. The giant
crashed to the ground, and the excited lad immediately rushed forward to
strike it with his war-club. At that moment, however, the bear suddenly
recovered and struggled to its feet. The surprised young hunter almost
collided with it. It struck savagely at him, but he jumped aside, and
shot an arrow into the fatal mark behind the shoulder. It finished the
fight. The bear sank slowly to the ground, and lay still. This time,
however, Running Fox was more cautious, and he remained at a safe
distance until the last signs of life had vanished. Then he ran eagerly
forward and began to cut off the great curved claws.
By the time Running Fox had finished his task darkness had already
fallen, and as he was a considerable distance from the river he
determined to remain where he was until daylight. Then he suddenly
thought of the wounded mother bear. He feared that she was too badly
hurt to travel far away, and he had already seen enough of her temper to
make him cautious about risking an encounter in the dark. He left the
plateau, therefore, and spent the night farther down the ravine.