RECROSSING THE RIVER.
During the time occupied in the scrutiny of the surroundings, Jack
Carleton forgot all about the river for which they had set out to watch
for the returning Pawnees. Though the Sauk most likely kept it in mind,
yet he was so occupied that he gave it no attention. Now, that he was
relieved, however, he advanced the few yards required, and took a survey
of the river as it swept past.
It so happened that he was just in time, for the canoe which had caused
such a stir earlier in the day was returning. It was two hundred yards
up stream, and was loaded to its utmost capacity with Indian warriors.
There were fully a dozen, and the craft was sunk to its gunwales--so
much so indeed that the two who were handling the paddles were forced to
use care to escape swamping.
The Sauk thought that probably other Indians were swimming alongside or
behind the craft, but a brief study of the water convinced him that such
was not the case: all the Pawnees who were coming over to push the
campaign were in the boat. It would seem that a dozen brave and well
armed warriors were sufficient to combat the force on the other side.
Hay-uta stood watching the river with such quietness that Jack, who was
still sitting on the prostrate tree, never suspected he had discovered
any thing, until he turned about and signified by signs that the craft
and its occupants had landed some distance above.
I need not say that all this time the lad was longing for the return of
Deerfoot, the Shawanoe. If any one could penetrate the mystery which
shut them in at every step, he was the one to do it. None could have
attained a point nearer perfection than he, so far as woodcraft was
concerned.
"But what can we do?" was the question which presented itself to the
youth; "if the faintest footprints showed on the ground, the Sauk would
have discovered them, and if they ain't there, Deerfoot can tell no more
than we know."
"I wonder what in the name of all that's sensible he meant by crossing
the river, and leaving his bow and arrows in my charge. If I owned such
an arrangement the first thing I would do would be to fling it into the
river. Whatever plan he had in mind when he swam over, must have been a
blunder which is likely to upset every thing."
The knowledge that the Pawnees had landed on the same shore where were
the Sauk and Jack Carleton required attention on their part, for if
their enemies decided to search for the marauders who, after slaying Red
Wolf, had run off with their canoe, it would not do for the parties to
remain idle.
In making their way to the spot where they were now resting, our friends
had taken much pains to hide their footprints, and it would be a hard
matter for the Pawnees to trace them. In fact, Hay-uta felt little fear
of it.
While he and Jack busied themselves in the manner described, Deerfoot
had not been idle. He swam the river, as you have been told, and reached
the other shore, without awakening suspicion on the part of the Pawnees.
After emerging from the water, he set about locating the war party, for
the first step in his scheme required that to be done. His expectation
was that the company were gathered near some point not far removed from
the camp-fire of the night before.
A scout through the woods, however, showed he was mistaken. He found
what seemed to be half the party grouped around a new fire, where there
was evidence that most of the previous night had been spent. Breakfast
was over, and a number were smoking pipes. The experienced eye of the
Shawanoe told him there was no purpose just then of moving away. The
Pawnee villages were still far to the north-west, but the warriors were
in the comfortable condition of those travelers who are at liberty to
spend as much time as they choose on the road. It mattered little to
them whether they were a week early or a month late.
Had any one observed the countenance of the young Shawanoe while he was
studying the group around the camp-fire, he would have seen that he was
deeply interested in one warrior, who was standing with arms folded, and
leaning lazily against a tree, smoking a long-stemmed pipe. It was his
old acquaintance Lone Bear, and it was clear that, whatever the plan of
the Shawanoe, it assigned a prominent place in it to that individual.
Without affecting any secrecy in the matter, I may as well say that the
scheme of Deerfoot was as simple as difficult. He could converse readily
with the Pawnee, Lone Bear; the latter knew the fate of Otto Relstaub;
he had lied when asked for information; Deerfoot resolved to compel him,
if possible, to tell the truth.
The project at first seems absurd, for it may well be asked by what
possible means could Deerfoot hope to extract reliable information from
the rogue. It would never do to venture among the war party for that
purpose, for the previous experience of the Shawanoe showed how he was
hated, and the situation had not improved since then.
Deerfoot hoped to separate Lone Bear from the rest of the company, so as
to have him alone to "operate" upon; but that would require strategy
more delicate and skillful than that by which the hunter detaches a
choice bull from a herd of bison, until he has him where he wants him.
Enough has been told to show in what terror the Shawanoe was held by
Lone Bear, who believed he was under the special patronage of the Evil
One. Should he encounter the dreaded warrior alone in the woods, more
than likely he would succumb without a blow.
But the Pawnee was among his own people, and it looked as if he meant to
stay there for an indefinite time to come. As nothing could be done so
long as he had company, the one and all important problem which faced
Deerfoot at the beginning, was how he was to draw the warrior away to a
safe point in the wood.
There really was no means of doing so. Deerfoot could conjure up no
strategy which, when launched against a party of Indians, would produce
the desired effect upon a single member, leaving the others unaware of
what was going on. He had asked the Great Spirit to open the way, and he
was prepared to wait, with the stoical patience of his race, for the
"moving of the waters".
Lone Bear smoked his pipe with the placid enjoyment of an ancient
Hollander, while the Shawanoe surveyed his painted and sodden features
with peculiar interest. Red Wolf and several warriors, with whom he had
become familiar, were missing, but the presence of one party caused
surprise. The redskin who had held Jack Carleton prisoner for a short
time the evening before was among the group, also smoking his pipe with
as much pleasure as Lone Bear himself. He did not seem to attract any
attention, and was as much at home as any of them.
His case was a singular one, but Deerfoot concluded that he had had some
quarrel with the members of the company. He had probably killed his
antagonist, and had fled without stopping to catch up his gun. After his
experience on the other side of the stream, he had opened negotiations
at long range with the company, and, finding them ready to receive him,
had passed over and joined them.
Suddenly Lone Bear stood upright, like a man who recalls a forgotten
engagement. He took his pipe from his mouth and stared around in the
woods, as if looking for some one. Deerfoot's heart fluttered with the
hope that he meant to start off alone.
At this moment, the battle on the other side of the river opened. The
whoops, report of a gun and cries caused much excitement among the
Pawnees. All of them sprang to their feet and looked toward the river
(too far off to be seen), as if they expected to learn by observation
the meaning of the hubbub.
The Shawanoe frowned with impatience, for, as has been stated, it looked
as if the imprudence of his friends across the stream would destroy the
purpose which had brought him to the vicinity of the Pawnee camp. The
probabilities indicated great danger, so far as Hay-uta and Jack were
concerned, and Deerfoot was on the point of rejoining them, when he
decided to wait. Whatever their peril, the end was likely to come before
he could reach them.
The sound of the turmoil borne to the war party in camp soon ceased, and
a long silence followed. Two of them walked toward the river, and a
third sauntered in another direction--all apparently in pursuit of
information. Deerfoot's eyes sparkled. Ah, if that third man had only
been Lone Bear!
The warrior on whom the young Indian had his attention fixed, however,
seemed to be partial to his former attitude, and, still puffing his
pipe, he leaned once more against the tree, as if lost in meditation.
By and by the red men from the other side came over in the canoe, and,
as may be supposed, they had a stirring story to tell. Deerfoot watched
them from his concealment, but heard nothing from which he could gain
any information.
Among the dozen selected to make the return in the canoe was Lone Bear.
Suspecting their intention, Deerfoot kept his eye on them until the
craft left the shore.
It was then he "grasped the situation". The Sauk and his young companion
had taken care of themselves in spite of the large party of enemies;
they had stirred the wrath of the Pawnees to that point that they had
secured re-enforcements to go back and crush the daring foes.
All this proved that it would not do for Deerfoot to linger after the
departure of the party, especially as the one in which he was
particularly interested was in the canoe.
The boat, laden so deeply with painted valor, reached the shore only a
few minutes in advance of the Shawanoe, who, with his usual skill,
avoided detection by friend or foe. The point where he landed was above
that which the canoe touched, for he tried to approach as nearly as he
could the spot where he had left his two friends. He quickly learned
they were not there, and then moved down the stream parallel to its
course, keeping near enough to observe it all the way.
It will be noticed that this took him close to the Pawnees, who were
also searching for Hay-uta and Jack Carleton. In one sense, the larger
body was between two fires, but in no danger. The shape of affairs was
singular. The Pawnees were hunting for the Sauk and his companion, while
Deerfoot, their friend, was also looking for them, but doing it in the
wake of their enemies. The difficulty of Deerfoot was increased by the
fact that whatever signal he sent to his friends, would have to be
thrown over the heads of their enemies.
But the Shawanoe addressed himself to the task with his usual coolness
and confidence. When he caught sight of the warriors, moving along the
bank of the river in no particular order, he fell in, and "joined the
procession," as may be said. It is not to be supposed that the Pawnees
had struck at once the trail of those who took so much pains to keep out
of their way, but the loose manner in which they were following them
indicated that they suspected, rather than knew, the course taken by the
fugitives.
When this had continued some minutes, the Shawanoe appeared to feel the
necessity of reaching some understanding with his friends, despite the
great risk incurred. He therefore emitted the soft, bird-like signal,
which he knew would be recognized if it reached them.
Indeed, there could be no mistake in that respect. The trouble lay in
the fact that it would also be heard by enemies, who, if they did not
know, would be quite sure to suspect its purport.