A WILY CAPTIVE
The Shawnees moved through the woods in silence. They had abandoned the
canoes. Spotted Deer felt certain that they had been alarmed, and were
making a stealthy retreat under cover of the night. He wondered if the
Delawares had discovered them. The possibility excited him. He began to
form reckless plans for escaping if his people should overtake the
Shawnees.
Then he suddenly realized that it might have been the Mohawks who had
been discovered along the river. In that event he believed he was in
equal peril with his captors. Once overtaken by those fierce foes from
the north, Spotted Deer feared that the little company would be speedily
annihilated. For him, however, death would be preferable to falling into
the hands of the Mohawks. Having escaped from their village, with his
friend Running Fox who had carried away a priceless medicine trophy, and
then killed their famous chief, Standing Wolf, Spotted Deer knew only
too well the punishment that would be inflicted upon him. If, therefore,
the Mohawks were on the trail of the Shawnees he was as eager as his
captors to elude them.
Spotted Deer traveled through the woods with great discomfort. Unable to
use his arms, he was powerless to protect himself from contact with tree
trunks and undergrowth. A guard led him through the darkness, but made
no attempt to save him from the stinging blows from branches which were
released by the warriors in advance. Several times Spotted Deer barely
escaped having his eyes destroyed. Once he stumbled over a log and fell
headlong into the undergrowth. His guard seized the opportunity to
attack him. Regaining his feet the hot-tempered young Delaware turned
savagely upon his foe, but the Shawnee swept his hand to his
knife-sheath and Spotted Deer realized the folly of resistance. At that
instant he recognized his assailant as the leader of the company. The
discovery increased his hatred for that arrogant foe.
At daylight the Shawnees halted beside a stream. Spotted Deer counted
them. There were only eight. He believed that the missing warriors had
remained behind to watch their foes. He wondered if their comrades had
stopped to wait for them. He finally decided that they expected the
scouts to overtake them at that spot.
As the Shawnees loitered beside the stream, they produced rations of
dried meat, and ate heartily. One of the warriors beside him held a bone
before Spotted Deer, and laughed contemptuously. The Delaware ignored
the taunt. He realized that a display of temper would only invite
further affronts. The Shawnees were keeping a sharp watch upon him.
Despite his helplessness they seemed to be suspicious and fearful that
he might attempt to escape. Spotted Deer had hoped that, when darkness
passed, they might free his arms, but they showed no intention of
releasing him. He suffered intensely, but gave no sign. His agony was
forgotten as he fixed his mind on plans for escape.
Then, as he sat watching his captors, he suddenly heard the notes of
Gulukochsun, the wild turkey. The experienced young hunter instantly
recognized the call as a counterfeit. He realized at once that it was a
signal. The Shawnees showed interest. They listened in silence until the
call was repeated. Then two warriors disappeared into the woods. Spotted
Deer believed they had gone to meet the scouts from the river. It was
not long before the latter appeared. There were two. Four warriors still
were missing.
The scouts were engaged in conversation with the leader of the company.
The Shawnees gathered about them to listen. One, however, remained
beside the Delaware. His captors seemed determined to take every
precaution against his escape. Spotted Deer would have given much to
know what they were saying. His guard seemed equally curious. They
talked in low tones, however, and the Shawnee appeared unable to catch
their words. His face betrayed his impatience. He evidently disliked the
task to which he had been assigned. He began to grumble threateningly at
Spotted Deer. The latter treated him with scornful indifference.
Spotted Deer felt certain that the scouts had brought word of
considerable importance. The Shawnees gave unmistakable evidence of it.
They were talking soberly and shaking their heads. Spotted Deer
continued to watch them. He believed that enemies had been discovered
along the river. "Were they Delawares or Mohawks?" The question caused
him great suspense. If the Shawnees had stolen Mohawk canoes and left
them at the river, he feared that his people would be deceived. In that
event there seemed little hope for him. Having experienced the
discomforts and perils of captivity in the Mohawk camp, Spotted Deer
feared that similar trials awaited him at the Shawnee village. For a
moment the idea shook his nerve. Then he drove it from his mind with the
assurance that his people would come to his aid in time to save him.
In the meantime the Shawnees had ceased talking, and appeared ready to
resume their journey. They showed no great haste, however, and Spotted
Deer believed they had little fear of being overtaken. Their
indifference made him doubt that they had encountered the Delawares. He
was certain that the latter would never permit them to withdraw without
a fight. It seemed probable, therefore, that the Mohawks had come down
the river to recover the canoes. For a moment the thought filled him
with fear for the safety of his people. Then he realized that a small
force of Mohawk scouts would be unlikely to loiter near the stronghold
of their foes. Spotted Deer believed that once in possession of their
canoes they would lose little time in withdrawing from the Delaware
hunting grounds.
As the Shawnees were crossing the stream the call of the wild gobbler
again echoed through the woods. One of the scouts immediately replied.
Then the Shawnees waited. In a few moments four warriors appeared. The
company was now complete, and the leader gave the word to advance.
Spotted Deer was placed between two warriors near the head of the party.
He suffered greatly, for his arms were cramped and numb, and the rawhide
had cut far into his swollen wrists. Pride, however, enabled him to
conceal his agony from his foes.
Toward the end of the day the Shawnees stopped at a spring in the bottom
of a wooded ravine. It was evident that they planned to remain there for
the night. Spotted Deer grew weak at heart as he thought of the long
hours of agony before him. It was gradually sapping his strength. His
one fear was that he might collapse. The thought enraged him. He would
rather die than appear weak before his foes.
Just before dark, however, the Shawnee leader freed the wrists of his
captive. Then he offered him a generous portion of dried meat. Spotted
Deer was unable to take it. His arms were powerless. The Shawnee laughed
cruelly at the plight of his foe. He threw the meat upon the ground, and
walked away. Spotted Deer turned his back upon it. Then for some time he
was unmolested.
It was not long, however, before the Shawnees again bound his arms and
feet. This time they drew the rawhide even tighter than before in the
hope of forcing an appeal from the courageous young captive. Spotted
Deer remained silent. Only the threatening flash of his eyes gave
warning of the fierce emotions raging in his heart. When his foes had
rendered him powerless, he faced the Shawnee leader and laughed
scornfully.
As the Shawnees failed to make a fire, Spotted Deer believed that they
feared pursuit. The thought kept him alert. He determined to be ready if
his tribesmen should attempt to rescue him. When he was finally forced
to lie down in the midst of his foes, he endured his discomfort with a
calm fortitude that astonished them. The night was cold and frosty, and
a piercing north wind swept through the ravine. The Shawnees wriggled
far down into their robes. Spotted Deer, however, was without shelter.
The cold soon overcame him. Violent chills swept through him. Sharp,
darting pains passed along his limbs. It seemed as if his arms were
being twisted from his body. Each moment intensified his agony. There
was no way to obtain relief. The night seemed endless. He prayed to
Getanittowit to send daylight.
Then Spotted Deer heard something which roused him from his misery.
Soft, stealthy footfalls sounded close at hand. He raised himself to
listen. At that moment an arm was thrown about his neck, and he was
dragged to the ground. A hand was clapped across his mouth, and he felt
a knee against his chest. Completely bewildered, Spotted Deer wondered
what had happened. He heard the Shawnees whispering excitedly. He
believed that they had been overtaken by their enemies, and feared that
he would betray them. Had the Delawares come? Spotted Deer listened for
the familiar war cry. He feared that it might be the signal for his
death. The Shawnees had become silent. They were listening and watching
to interpret the peril which seemed to threaten them. Many moments
passed. The footfalls had ceased. Spotted Deer wondered if the Delawares
were preparing to rush upon their foes. Then he realized that it might
be the Mohawks. The possibility filled him with alarm. He was not afraid
to die, but he weakened at the thought of falling into their hands.
A moment afterward the suspense was ended. A loud, startled snort
sounded through the darkness, and then something bounded away through
the undergrowth. The Delaware and the Shawnees both understood. It was
Achtu, the deer. The Shawnees laughed nervously. The warrior removed
himself from Spotted Deer. There was no longer need for caution. The
crisis had passed.
At daylight the Shawnees freed Spotted Deer from his bonds. They gave
unmistakable warning that an attempt to escape would end in death. The
Delaware, however, was too miserable to make the effort. It was a long
time before he could use either his arms or his legs. When he had
somewhat recovered, the Shawnees gave him meat. He ate it, for he was
weak and hungry. Besides, he wished to prolong the interval of freedom.
Meanwhile he searched his brain for a way to outwit his foes. His
predicament seemed hopeless.
At sunrise the Shawnees resumed their way toward the west. Spotted Deer
was astounded when they left him the freedom of his arms. A great hope
rose in his heart. He believed that he might be able to leave clews
which would lead his friends to his rescue. The Shawnees had taken his
weapons but had left his empty knife-sheath attached to his belt.
Spotted Deer found an opportunity to free it without attracting the
attention of his foes. A few moments later he dropped it beside the
trail. He knew that if his friend Running Fox should find it, he would
recognize it at once. Then as he accompanied his captors through the
woods he made every effort to leave a plain trail. Several times he
appeared to stumble, and each time he cleverly overturned a stone with
his foot and broke or bent the bush or limb which he had seized for
support. His clumsiness brought angry protests from his guards but they
apparently failed to detect the stratagem. Thus throughout the day the
wily young Delaware left signs which he hoped his friends might
eventually find and follow.
That night the Shawnees seemed more bold. They made a fire, and appeared
to be in high spirits. Spotted Deer believed that they were within a
day's journey of their village. He missed several warriors and he felt
sure that they had gone ahead to announce their exploit in the Shawnee
camp. The thought sobered and depressed him. After they had given him
meat, the Shawnees again bound his wrists and feet. However, they
permitted him to lie close to the fire and the warmth gave him some
comfort.
The following day the Shawnees advanced through the woods with far less
caution. They talked and laughed and sang, and it was evident that their
recent anxiety had passed. Spotted Deer felt sure that they were
approaching their village. The thought made him reckless. Although he
was closely guarded, his arms were free, and he determined to seize the
slightest opportunity for an attempt to escape. He believed that his
foes might grow less vigilant as they drew nearer the Shawnee camp, and
he hoped to catch them off their guard. He became as alert and watchful
as a lynx, ready at any moment to dash into the forest. Before he could
act upon the reckless impulse, however, the Shawnees suddenly appeared
to have guessed his intentions. They stopped him, and bound his arms
behind his back.
For an instant only, Spotted Deer betrayed his anger in his face. Then
as his foes began to laugh and jeer he recovered himself. His heart,
however, was heavy with despair. It seemed as if his last hope had
vanished. He believed that his crafty captors had taken the precaution
to render him powerless against the attacks which might be made upon him
as he entered the Shawnee village.