THE SHAWNEE CAMP
At midday the Shawnees climbed to the top of a high pine-clad ridge, and
Spotted Deer looked down upon a great river. Close beside it, on a
grassy flat, was the Shawnee village. It was composed of many bark huts,
and inclosed on three sides by a high log stockade. The front was open
to the river. As the Shawnees had stopped to rest, Spotted Deer had an
opportunity to study the camp. He viewed it with stirring emotions. Once
inside the log barricade, he wondered what fate awaited him. He saw many
people moving about at the edge of the village, and passing from lodge
to lodge. Several canoes were on the river. Smoke rose from the camp.
Then one of the Shawnees uttered a piercing whoop that echoed shrilly
across the valley. It roused the camp. People ran from the lodges and
assembled in the center of the village. Their upturned faces made it
plain that they were gazing toward the top of the ridge. The heavy
timber concealed the Shawnees and their captive. The Shawnee called
again, and a great shout rose from the camp. Then the dogs barked
furiously.
The Shawnees began to descend toward the river. The western side of the
ridge was steep and rough, and Spotted Deer was greatly handicapped. He
found it difficult to remain on his feet. The Shawnees were following a
narrow, precipitous trail, and there were places where the free use of
both arms was almost a necessity. The Shawnees, however, showed no
concern for the safety of their captive. At a number of steep places, he
lost his footing and slid several bow-lengths before he regained his
balance. At other spots the trail shrank to a mere foothold across the
face of precipitous ledges where a false step meant severe injury or
even death. Spotted Deer astounded his captors with his calm nerve and
marvelous agility. More than once they expected to see him hesitate at
some particularly perilous part of the trail. He never wavered, however,
and made his way over places where the Shawnees were compelled to steady
themselves with their hands.
"The Delaware is like Tschinque, the mountain cat," they told one
another.
When they finally emerged from the timber at the level of the river,
they were instantly discovered from the camp. Their appearance threw the
village into a commotion. The entire tribe seemed to have rushed out to
see them. Men, women and children assembled beyond the stockade. They
united their voices in a wild bedlam of sound that might have filled a
less courageous captive with terror. Spotted Deer, however, showed no
fear. His experience on the war trail, and his adventure in the Mohawk
camp, had taught him what to expect in the unfortunate circumstances in
which he found himself. He was prepared, therefore, to accept
discomfort, torture and death with the unshakeable courage which his
people demanded of their warriors.
As his captors led him toward the village they began to sing, and
Spotted Deer knew that they were giving a boastful recital of their
exploit. In the meantime a company of men and boys were hurrying forward
to meet them. They were followed by a large pack of dogs. The Shawnee
leader stationed himself beside the captive. Spotted Deer was astonished
when he was addressed in his own dialect.
"Delaware, we have brought you to our village," the Shawnee told him.
"Our people are waiting for you. They are very mad. Perhaps they will
kill you."
Spotted Deer received the threat in silence. The Shawnee studied him
closely. He was angered by the scornful smile of the Delaware.
"Have my people frightened away your words?" he demanded, sarcastically.
"I see many dogs," replied Spotted Deer. "A Delaware is not afraid of
dogs."
For an instant the Shawnee seemed about to attack him, but at that
moment they were surrounded by the company from the village. The
Shawnees pushed and jostled wildly in their efforts to reach the
prisoner. His captors, however, held them off. The leader called out in
commanding tones, and the Shawnees fell back. They seemed frantic with
excitement, and Spotted Deer knew that they would show little mercy.
As they moved toward the camp, some of the boys began to taunt and jeer
and throw stones and sticks. The dogs, too, were snarling and snapping
and skulking between the Shawnees to reach the stranger. One
particularly ugly-looking brute rushed forward and attempted to fasten
its fangs in Spotted Deer's leg. He kicked savagely and it slunk away.
Once at the edge of the camp, Spotted Deer was made the object of a
vicious attack. His guards were swept aside, and men, women and children
rushed upon him and began to beat him. For some moments he believed he
would be killed. Then some one called out loudly from the village, and
the attack suddenly ceased.
Three warriors were walking slowly toward the crowd of Shawnees. It was
evident at once that they were persons of importance. As they
approached, Spotted Deer studied them with great interest. Two were
robust men of middle age, and the third seemed considerably older. He
wore a bearskin robe, and carried a tomahawk. Spotted Deer believed he
was the one who had called out. He wondered if it was the war chief of
the Shawnees.
As the three warriors advanced, the Shawnees separated to permit them to
reach the prisoner. Spotted Deer had been badly battered by his foes,
and the Shawnees laughed indifferently as they saw the evidence of his
punishment. There was a bold challenge in his glance, however, that
compelled their respect. It was apparent that the youthful warrior had
little fear of them. For some moments they studied him in silence. Then
the oldest warrior turned and addressed the great company of Shawnees.
When he ceased speaking, they entered the village.
The Delaware was taken to the center of the camp. He presented a
striking appearance as he walked between his guards with his head erect
and his eyes flashing defiance at his jeering foes. He was led to a
large bark lodge, and pushed through the doorway.
Spotted Deer found himself in a good-sized room which was occupied by an
old woman, who was busily engaged poking the embers of a small fire. His
guards had followed him into the lodge, and at sight of the three
intruders the old woman began to scold furiously. Then she suddenly
noticed that Spotted Deer was a stranger. She rose, and tottered forward
to look at him. In a moment she turned, and questioned her tribesmen.
When they replied, her aged face flamed with hate. She rushed at Spotted
Deer like some horrible witch who was about to shrivel him with the heat
of her wrath. Cackling fiendishly, she thrust her bony, talon-like hands
at his eyes. He avoided her, and then sprang forward so menacingly that
she drew back shrieking in terror. Then the Shawnees ordered her from
the lodge. She turned at the doorway and shook her clenched hand at the
captive. A moment afterward they heard her haranguing the crowd that had
assembled outside. Spotted Deer believed that she might prove to be a
crafty and dangerous foe.
In the meantime one of the Shawnees had motioned for the prisoner to
seat himself upon the wide platform of poles that extended along the
side of the room. Then they bound his ankles, and withdrew.
Left to himself, Spotted Deer began to study the lodge. It was similar
in plan and structure to the Delaware lodges. The walls and roof were
made of slabs of bark fitted between two rows of poles, and held in
place by splints and ropes made of twisted strands of bark. Each slab
was punctured at the ends and securely tied in position with bark
fibers. The roof, which was somewhat arched, was braced with many small
poles and had an opening in the center as an exit for the smoke from the
camp fire. The lodge was about five bow-lengths wide and four
bow-lengths long. A wide platform of poles extended along each side of
the room. The floor was packed earth. There was a shallow fire pit in
the center. The lodge was without furnishings, and appeared deserted.
Spotted Deer wondered how the old woman had chanced to be there. As
there was nothing to indicate that she had been cooking, he believed
that she had entered the lodge to burn incense and conduct some
mysterious medicine rite. The thought stirred his imagination. He
realized that she might be one of the strange Medicine Women. In that
event he feared that she might exert a powerful influence against him.
His meditations were interrupted by a noisy commotion outside. He heard
people talking excitedly before the entrance to the lodge. He wondered
if the Shawnees were about to attack him. Then, above the confused
clamor, he recognized the shrill cackling voice of the mysterious old
woman. It was evident that she was still talking against him. A few
moments later he saw her peering into the lodge. Many faces appeared
behind her. She pointed a long, crooked finger at Spotted Deer, and
launched forth into a violent tirade. Her face wore a diabolical
expression. She appeared beside herself with rage. Spotted Deer believed
she would lead the Shawnees into the lodge to kill him. He was at a loss
to understand why the vicious old creature showed such animosity toward
him. However, neither she nor the people with her attempted to enter the
lodge. In a few moments they withdrew, and Spotted Deer heard them
moving toward another part of the camp.
He was left alone until the end of the day. Then the robe was raised
from the doorway and several warriors entered the lodge. One was the
haughty leader whom Spotted Deer had learned to hate. An old woman
followed behind them. She carried a portion of roasted meat and a wooden
bowl. For a moment Spotted Deer mistook her for the violent creature who
had annoyed him. As she came nearer, he was relieved to learn that she
was not that ill-tempered individual. She placed the meat and a bowl of
water beside him and hurried away. Then one of the warriors freed him.
Spotted Deer again found his arms powerless.
"Come, Delaware, eat some meat so that you will be strong when we come
to kill you," the Shawnee leader said, threateningly.
"A Delaware is always strong," Spotted Deer replied, boastfully.
"Well, we will see about it," laughed the Shawnee. "There is an old
woman out there who is talking bad against you. She is a Mystery Woman.
No one knows how she came here. She has been here a long time. She has
done some big things. My people will listen to her words. She says the
Delawares killed her people. Her heart is black against you. She wants
to see you die. It is good."
Spotted Deer remained silent. The threat made little impression upon
him. He had already anticipated the fate which the Shawnee prophesied.
"Well, how do you feel about it?" inquired the Shawnee.
The Delaware refused to reply. He was endeavoring to secure the meat and
water before his foe became impatient and took them away. After several
torturing attempts, he succeeded. The Shawnees jested laughingly. He
knew they were rejoicing at his discomfort. He strove heroically to
conceal it, but his arms were stiff and swollen and he found great
difficulty in raising the food to his month.
"You are a young man, but we will make you old," laughed the Shawnee.
"Your arms are already too weak to pull the bow. See how you shake! Are
you frightened?"
Sharp words rushed to the lips of Spotted Deer but he kept them back. He
realized that an outburst of anger would invite a fresh attack from his
foes. As he was completely in their power, he believed it would be folly
to antagonize them. He smothered the fierce emotions that raged in his
heart, and remained calm. When he had eaten the meat the Shawnees bound
his arms, and passed out of the lodge.
Spotted Deer immediately began to think about the Mystery Woman. He
wondered if she possessed the strange powers which the Delawares
credited to the Medicine People. He had been taught to regard those
mysterious people with superstitious fear. The thought that the strange
old woman might be one of them caused him considerable uneasiness.
Having incurred her hostility, he wondered if she would cast some evil
spell upon him. The credulous young Delaware started at the possibility.
As the long day finally came to an end, Spotted Deer wondered if he
would be left unguarded through the night. He heard people laughing and
singing in various parts of the camp, and smelled the smoke from their
fires. A narrow streak of light showed at the doorway of the lodge. He
believed the Shawnees were eating the evening meal. A short time
afterward he heard the dogs snarling and fighting over the bones which
had been thrown to them.
Then some one went through the camp crying out in a loud voice. Spotted
Deer knew that it was a courier calling the people to assemble for some
particular event. He heard them passing the lodge. The streak of light
at the side of the doorway grew wider. It was evident that a large fire
had been lighted close by. He heard the crackle of the flames. Soon
afterward some one began to speak. Spotted Deer listened closely. He
felt quite certain that he recognized the voice of the Shawnee leader.
He talked some time, and when he finished speaking, a great shout went
up from the company. His words seemed to have found approval. Spotted
Deer wondered if he had been the subject of his discourse. Other
speakers followed. Then, after a short interval of silence, the shrill
voice of the Mystery Woman echoed through the camp. It filled Spotted
Deer with a vague, superstitious fear. She spoke in a wild, hysterical
manner, and it was not long before he heard sounds which led him to
believe that she was rousing the Shawnees against him. When she finally
subsided, the night rang with their shouts. Spotted Deer was filled with
gloomy premonitions of impending disaster.
When the tumult finally ceased, the night was far spent. Then some one
entered the lodge. Spotted Deer stared anxiously toward the doorway. The
impenetrable darkness concealed his visitor. The latter approached
without making a sound. In a few moments Spotted Deer felt a hand upon
his shoulder. It passed down his arm and stopped at his wrists. Having
made sure that the binding was secure, his unseen foe then examined the
thongs about his ankles. Then he withdrew as noiselessly as he had
approached. Spotted Deer wondered if he had gone out. Some time
afterward he thought he heard a sigh near the doorway of the lodge. He
believed some one was on guard.