The Delawares bounded through the woods like frightened deer, for they
knew that the Mohawks were close at their heels. Then they heard
something that filled them with dread. The dogs were baying fiercely on
their trail.
“Listen, the Mohawks have sent their dogs after us,” Running Fox cried,
savagely. “They will follow us like wolves. It will be hard to get
away.”
“Well, if they come up with us, we will stop and kill them,” said
Spotted Deer.
“We have few arrows,” Running Fox warned him.
“Perhaps we will not need them,” replied Spotted Deer. “These dogs have
seen us there in that camp many days. Perhaps when they find out who we
are they will not trouble us.”
“That may be true,” Running Fox agreed, hopefully.
They noted that the savage baying had already grown weaker in volume,
and they believed that most of the dogs had abandoned the chase, and
were barking from the edge of the camp. There were some, however, that
seemed intent upon overtaking the fugitives. In fact it was only a few
moments before the lads heard them bounding through the undergrowth a
short distance behind them. Realizing that flight would only invite an
attack, the lads instantly stopped and waited for the dogs to come up
with them.
“Here they are—watch sharp!” cried Running Fox.
The next moment four great wolf-like creatures overtook them. As the
lads faced them and ordered them off the curs seemed to recognize them.
They circled cautiously about them, sniffing and bristling, but showed
no disposition to attack. There was one, however, that suddenly grew
threatening as the Delawares attempted to resume their flight. It
snarled viciously, and rushed toward Spotted Deer. He waited until it
came within arm’s reach, and cracked its skull with the Mohawk war-club.
“Now we will get away,” he laughed, as the other dogs drew their tails
between their legs and scurried toward the village.
Without the help of the dogs the Mohawks soon blundered from the trail,
and it was not long before the lads heard them signaling on all sides of
them. What disturbed them was the fact that some of the Mohawks seemed
to be ahead of them. They could scarcely believe that their foes had
actually passed them, and they wondered if it might not be some of the
warriors who had left the camp early in the day.
“The Mohawks have surrounded us,” Spotted Deer said, uneasily.
“No, I am not afraid about that,” replied Running Fox. “They have lost
the trail, and they are scattering to find it. If we watch sharp we will
get by them.”
When it grew light the lads began to look for certain landmarks which
they had fixed in their memory. They planned to skirt the edge of the
lake where they had blundered into the Shawnees, and then make directly
toward the river. As the day progressed and they continued to avoid
their foes they began to feel more confident. Running Fox had little
doubt that the skin of the great white Medicine Owl was beginning to
exert its power.
“When the Mohawks find out that we have taken away the skin of Gokhos I
believe they will be afraid to follow us,” said Spotted Deer.
“No, I feel different about it,” replied Running Fox. “When Standing
Wolf finds out what we have done I believe he will bring a great
war-party to fight us. Yes, I believe he is already on our trail. We
must travel fast to warn our people.”
The sun was disappearing behind the western hills when the Delawares
finally reached the northern end of the lake. They had traveled at top
speed ever since their escape from the camp, and they were tired and
hungry. Nevertheless they feared to stop. They had little doubt that at
least some of the Mohawks were close behind them, and they knew it might
be fatal to sacrifice even part of their lead.
“We must keep going,” Running Fox said, grimly. “If the Mohawks do not
come up with us pretty soon I believe they will begin to hold back.”
They continued along the shore of the lake, and had gone about half of
its length before night finally overtook them. Then a big red moon rose,
and flooded the forest with its light. It blazed a broad silver trail
across the water, and as they watched it they suddenly saw the black
phantom-like forms of three canoes sweep swiftly across the path of
light. They were within bow-shot of the shore, and were apparently
making for the end of the lake.
“The Mohawks have fooled us,” said Running Fox. “Now they will get to
the river ahead of us. Perhaps they will wait at the end of this water.
We must keep a sharp watch.”
He had barely finished speaking when a loon called a short distance
farther down the lake. The Delawares felt certain that it was a signal
from the canoemen. In a few moments they were sure of it when they heard
a fox yapping on the opposite shore. Then close behind them sounded the
call of Gokhos, the owl.
“The Mohawks are all around us,” whispered Spotted Deer.
They believed that there was a shorter trail between the Mohawk camp and
the head of the lake, which accounted for the Mohawks overtaking them.
It was evident that they hoped to intercept them before they reached the
river. Spotted Deer proposed that when they reached the end of the lake
they should make a long detour toward the east, and gradually circle
back to the river. Running Fox promptly decided against it.
“No, that would take a long time,” he said. “We have done what we set
out to do. Now we must take the shortest trail to our people. I believe
we will find danger any way we go. The best way is to go ahead until we
strike the river.”
“We will do as you say,” agreed Spotted Deer.
Then for three long days they skulked through the forest endeavoring to
reach the headwaters of the river. Twice they were turned back, and
compelled to make long, wearying detours. When they finally reached
their goal near the end of the fourth day, they were almost on the point
of collapse. However, the sight of the river gave them new strength, for
it seemed like a friendly trail to their own village.
“Now we will soon be with our people,” laughed Spotted Deer.
“We will find much danger before we reach them,” Running Fox warned him.
The Delawares had little doubt that the Mohawks had canoes concealed
somewhere near the headwaters of the river, but they believed they had
already been put to use by their owners. Therefore, the lads determined
to take no chances trying to find them. Their one thought was to reach
their people in time to warn them against the great war-party that they
felt sure would follow them to the Delaware camp.
Late the second day they suddenly came in sight of a single canoe
directly ahead of them. It contained three Mohawk warriors, and was
close to the shore along which the Delawares were traveling. The
paddlers appeared tired, and the lads felt certain that they had paddled
desperately down the river in a last effort to overtake them before they
reached the Delaware hunting grounds.
“Look, those warriors are coming to the shore,” whispered Spotted Deer.
Shortly afterward the Mohawks brought the canoe to land, and two of the
paddlers stepped out. The third, however, remained in the canoe, and
paddled across to the opposite shore. Then, he, too, landed, and drew
the canoe into the bushes. Then all three Mohawks disappeared into the
woods.
“Those warriors have come a long ways ahead of the war-party to look for
us,” whispered Running Fox. “If they do not find us they will wait until
their people come.”
The lads were fearful of colliding with the canoemen who had disembarked
on their side of the river, and they determined to hide themselves until
darkness made it safe to advance. While they were waiting, Spotted Deer
suddenly formed a daring plan for outwitting their foes.
“When it gets dark I am going to swim across the water, and get that
canoe,” he told Running Fox.
The latter shook his head. It was some moments before he replied.
“No, you must not do that,” said Running Fox.
“Yes, I am going to do it,” declared Spotted Deer. “You are the leader,
but you must stay here until I see what happens to me. Yon have done a
great thing. You will bring great power to our people. It would be
foolish for you to get killed. If I get that canoe I will come back and
get you before it gets light. If I do not come back by that time you
will know that I have been killed. Then you must do the best you can to
reach our people. Now I am not going to talk any more about it.
“Spotted Deer, you are very brave,” said Running Fox. “If you get that
canoe it will be a good thing for us. Yes, then we can get away from the
Mohawks, and go to our people very fast. But you must not let anything
happen to you. Perhaps the Mohawks have set a trap. Perhaps the warrior
who dragged the canoe into the bushes is watching. You must be very
careful.”
“I will watch sharp,” Spotted Deer assured him.
Spotted Deer did not wait long after darkness fell. He believed that his
chances for success would be better if he made his attempt during the
early part of the night. He felt quite sure that at that time the
Mohawks would still be intent upon watching, but he feared that if he
waited until later they might become discouraged and decide to abandon
their vigil. Running Fox held the same opinion.
“Now I am going,” Spotted Deer whispered, when he was ready. “It may
take me a long time, but you must creep down close to the water and keep
listening. If I get the canoe I will come back near this spot. When I
get near the land I will slap the water like Amoch, the beaver. When you
hear that you must throw a little stone into the water. It will make a
splash like Maschilamek, the trout, and the Mohawks will think nothing
of it. But I will know what it means. Now I am going.”
“Go. I will watch for you,” said Running Fox.
A moment later Spotted Deer disappeared into the dark as silently as a
shadow. He turned directly toward the river, and when he came in sight
of the water he stopped to listen. Clouds filled the sky, and the night
was black and still. Spotted Deer raised his face toward the heavens,
and asked Getanittowit to aid him in his task. Then he advanced to the
edge of the water. For a moment or so he stood there looking and
listening. Then he waded carefully from the shore.
The river was narrow and still at that spot, and Spotted Deer crossed it
without difficulty. As he approached the shore he ceased swimming, and
turned upon his back. He floated a long time, listening for a warning of
danger. Then as he heard nothing to arouse his suspicions he swam to the
shore.
It took only a few moments to wade from the water, and cross the narrow
beach between the river and the stand of willows in which the Mohawk had
concealed the canoe. Spotted Deer entered the cover with great caution,
for he feared an ambush. His fears proved groundless, however, and he
reached the canoe in safety. Then he hesitated. The most perilous part
of his task was still before him, and he was somewhat in doubt as to
just how to proceed. He doubted his ability to carry the canoe to the
water, and still he realized that if he attempted to drag it through the
dense tangle of bushes he might make sufficient noise to warn the
Mohawk. Still there seemed to be only those two alternatives, and he
knew that every moment he delayed he increased his peril. He lifted the
how of the canoe to the level of his knees, and saw at once that it
would be almost impossible to get it to his shoulders. The question was
decided, therefore he would be compelled to drag it.
Holding his bow and arrows in one hand, Spotted Deer started to draw the
canoe from the willows. It was not an easy task, and the young Delaware
trembled at the noise he made. Each moment he expected to find the
Mohawk at his throat. Once out of the willows, however, he made better
progress. He had almost reached the water when he heard a twig snap at
the edge of the woods. Believing that he had been discovered, he threw
off his caution, and dragged the canoe toward the water with no attempt
to conceal the noise. As he launched it and clambered in over the side,
he heard the Mohawk running toward the river. Several strong paddle
strokes carried him from the shore, and then the night hid him from his
foe.
As Spotted Deer paddled frantically toward the opposite shore of the
river, he heard the Mohawk yelling furiously to warn his friends. The
anxious lad realized that once they reached the river it might be
impossible to rescue Running Fox. The thought drove him to still greater
exertions. As yet the two scouts had failed to answer the frantic
appeals of their tribesman. Then, when Spotted Deer was two-thirds of
the way across, he heard them signaling with the notes of the owl. Still
they seemed to be some distance back from the water, and he had hopes of
picking up Running Fox before they could reach the river.
Once within bow-shot of the shore, Spotted Deer ceased paddling and
struck the water a resounding whack with the blade of his paddle. Then
he listened anxiously for the splash of a stone. Several moments passed,
and the silence remained unbroken. Spotted Deer again struck the water
with his paddle. Still there was no answer. Spotted Deer suddenly grew
weak with fear. He believed that something had happened to Running Fox.
The possibility staggered him. He was unable to rally his wits. Then he
heard the Mohawk on the opposite side of the river imitating the scream
of Nianque, the lynx. A moment afterward the signal was answered from
the edge of the woods, a bow-shot farther down the river. The next
instant a stone struck the water within a bow-length of the canoe.
Wild with joy, Spotted Deer paddled furiously toward the shore. Running
Fox waded out to meet him. As he stepped into the canoe, an arrow sang
harmlessly past them. The next moment they heard the Mohawks rushing
into the water below them.
“Paddle hard!” cried Running Fox. “They will swim out and try to catch
us.”
“We will get by them,” declared Spotted Deer. “Keep watching ahead.”
He turned the canoe toward the opposite side of the river, and put all
his strength into his paddle strokes. Then, when he was half-way across,
he turned down the river. They had gone several arrow-flights when
Running Fox called a warning. A moment later they flashed past one of
the Mohawks, who was floundering desperately within three bow-lengths of
them.
“Now we are safe,” said Spotted Deer.
“Yes, I believe we have got away,” replied Running Fox. “You have done a
great thing.”
Spotted Deer asked Running Fox why he had been so slow in replying to
his signal. Running Fox said that at the time he heard it one of the
Mohawks was somewhere within a few bow-lengths of him, and he had feared
to make the slightest move. He had been compelled to wait, therefore,
until the Mohawk moved away.
“Well, we have fooled them,” declared Spotted Deer.
“Yes, that is true,” replied Running Fox. “But I believe they will bring
a great war-party to fight us.”