TWO YOUNG SCOUTS
For two days did Sacandaga's little expedition proceed up the Shatemuc,
now making tedious carries around roaring waterfalls, and again
laboriously hauling their laden canoes up some stretch of tumultuous
rapids. At one of these places Sacandaga, bidding Nahma accompany
him, left the river and made his way swiftly along a broad trail that
led to the westward. After following it for a while they came to a
place of many springs delightfully shaded by giant trees. Although no
human being was to be seen, there were on all sides remnants of former
encampments. Also the ground about certain of the springs was worn
bare by innumerable hoof-prints, showing that deer and other animals
were accustomed to gather here in great numbers. Deeply marked trails
leading from every direction centred here, as though the springs formed
a meeting-place for all people.
As Nahma noted these things Sacandaga smiled at his expression of
astonishment. "It is Sara Tioga, the place of healing," he said. "To
it come all who are sick or suffer pain that they may drink of the
medicine waters and be cured. Many would be here now but for the report
that an enemy is coming this way. When we have wiped him out then will
we return hither, that we may rejoice with feasting and dancing. At
that time will be seen a great gathering of the Iroquois, for this is
the place of all their places that they most love. Now, however, we may
tarry only long enough to drink of the life-giving waters and then must
we hasten forward. In drinking take careful note of the spring most
offensive to thy taste, for thus may be discovered which one is most
needful to thy well-being."
So Nahma drank of all the springs, finding some of them salt, some
sparkling with effervescence, and others so nauseous that he turned
from them in disgust.
"I like none of them and will drink no more," he finally declared.
"Then must all of them be for thy good and thou must stand in need of
all the elements they contain," answered his companion, who cared to
hear naught but praise of his beloved springs. "But let us go, for we
have no time to lose."
As they turned to depart from the beautiful place, Nahma suddenly
sprang upon his companion with such violence that Sacandaga was hurled
to the ground and the young man fell with him. At the same moment an
arrow was buried to its shaft in the trunk of a beech a few paces in
front of them, where it stood quivering with the force that had sped
it. Even as he fell Nahma bounded up, and an instant later, when the
startled sachem also gained his feet, he saw the young warrior darting
back in the direction from which they had just come.
At the same time a third figure hideously daubed with war-paint
appeared in plain view. He stood directly in front of the rash youth
with bended bow and a second arrow drawn to its head. Quick as thought
Nahma dropped, and the feathered missile flew harmlessly above him. As
he again leaped to his feet his assailant turned to fly, but ere he
had taken half a dozen steps he sprang convulsively into the air and
plunged headlong with outstretched arms. An arrow sped from Sacandaga's
bow had passed through his body.
"Why did you kill him?" asked Nahma, regretfully, as the two stood
together looking down on the still twitching body of their late foe.
"Is it not what my young brother would have done?" inquired Sacandaga,
in surprise.
"No; I would have caught him and made him tell me things."
"What things?"
"Why he hid from us and tried to kill us, who he was, and what he was
doing here. I do not remember seeing him among thy young men."
Sacandaga smiled grimly. "He seems to have escaped being seen until he
came within range of Quick-eye's vision; but all thy questions may be
answered in a word. He is a Huron."
"A Huron!" cried Nahma. "How may that be, when he looks like other men?
I thought a Huron was a wolf. Surely my father has said so."
"A Huron is a wolf in spirit," replied Sacandaga, as he stooped and
deftly removed the dead man's scalp, "but the wolfish spirit is
concealed beneath the semblance of a man."
"Then how may one know a Huron?" asked the puzzled youth.
"By his paint, his moccasins, the cut of his scalp-lock, the fashion
of his weapons, his cast of feature, and by a thousand other signs as
plain as the difference between light and darkness."
All these things had once been well known to Nahma; but now they were
as though he had never before heard of them, and he listened eagerly to
the words of Sacandaga's lesson.
"This time," concluded the sachem, "my young brother has done well,
and to his quickness of sight combined with promptness of action do I
owe my life. But never again, my son, run openly upon an enemy without
first knowing his strength. It is seldom that a Huron spy comes alone
into the Iroquois country, and had there been others, or even one
other, with this one, thy death had been certain. Always when surprised
seek first a place of hiding from which to discover the strength of thy
enemy and plan for meeting him."
The Huron scout who had just paid the penalty of his daring was one
of two sent to discover if the Iroquois had knowledge concerning the
projected invasion of their country. His companion had remained with
their canoe at the upper end of Andia-ta-roc-te (Lake George) while he
had penetrated the country as far as the springs of healing, where,
if the Iroquois felt themselves secure from invasion, he was certain
to discover a number of their lodges. He was greatly disappointed at
finding the place unoccupied, and was about to retrace his steps with
the information that an alarm had been given, when Sacandaga and his
young companion appeared on the scene. Hiding like a snake in the
grass, the Huron watched these two with longing eyes while waiting to
see if they would be followed by others. He recognized Sacandaga, and
was determined if possible to carry back with him the scalp of that
redoubtable chieftain.
An opportunity came as his enemies turned to depart, and he cautiously
brought his bow into position. At that instant Nahma, glancing back,
caught sight of a tip of the weapon projecting above the tall grasses
and did the only thing possible to save his companion's life.
As the fortunate survivors of this episode left the scene of its
occurrence they took a path leading northward, and after a time came
again to the Shatemuc, having cut off a great bend of the river that
the canoes must necessarily follow. As they went they discovered the
slight trail left by the Huron scout, but at the river it was lost.
Wading to the opposite bank, Nahma soon recovered it, and asked
permission to follow it farther; but Sacandaga would not grant this
until the arrival of the canoes. Then, after briefly relating what had
happened, he selected a young warrior already famous as a trailer and
ordered him to accompany Nahma over the path the Huron had come. This
warrior was named Ah-mik-pan-pin, or the Grinning Beaver, on account of
two prominent front teeth over which his lips were never wholly closed.
"Have a care," said Sacandaga on parting with the young men, "and run
no risks for the sake of scalps. What I desire is a knowledge of the
party to which that Huron belonged. I would know how large it is,
where it is camped, and whether it is coming or going. Find out these
things as quickly as may be and come again with thy news. The Maquas
will sleep to-night at the foot of the great rock by the shore of the
wide waters. They will have no fire and will make no sound, but he who
utters the cry of wah-o-nai-sa (the whippoorwill) twice and then once
will be answered by the same cry once and then twice. Go thou and come
again quickly."
With this Nahma and Grinning Beaver set forth, and were instantly
lost to view in the thickness of the forest. For two hours they sped
forward without a pause, then they began to see spaces of light through
the trees, and the Beaver intimated that they must now exercise the
greatest caution.
"This trail will not lead us to them," he whispered, "for they will
have moved to one side or the other after their runner left. Let us,
then, go separately to the water's edge, thou on the one side and I
on the other. Whoever reaches the beach first shall utter the cry of
wah-o-nai-sa, and if it be not quickly answered he shall return to see
what is wrong. Is it well?"
"It is well," replied Nahma, and the two went their respective ways as
agreed.
With the utmost caution and without a sound louder than his own
breathing did Nahma circle towards the lighted space marking the limit
of the forest. All at once he stopped and listened. From behind him,
faint and distant, he had heard an unmistakable exclamation of surprise.
It was not repeated nor did he hear further sounds, but it was enough,
and after a moment of listening he started back over the way he had
come. He found the place where he had parted from his companion, and
then followed the slight trail made by the latter. Suddenly and without
warning he came upon a sight so startling that he stood in his tracks
like one petrified, gazing at it with dilated eyes.
Two warriors locked in a deadly embrace lay motionless on the ground.
Their surroundings were drenched with blood, and to all appearance both
were dead. Nahma stooped over them, and saw to his horror that one of
the faces, so swollen and distorted that he had not sooner recognized
it, was that of his recent comrade. The other was a Huron, and a knife
still clutched by the Beaver's hand was buried to the hilt in his
heart. At the same time his own fingers held the throat of the young
Iroquois with a grip like that of a vise.
It required all of Nahma's strength to unlock that death-clutch, but at
length he succeeded, and the two mortal foes so recently thrilled with
vigorous life lay side by side stark and rigid.