THE MYSTERY WOMAN
When the Shawnees had dispersed, two warriors entered the lodge. They
bound Spotted Deer's ankles, and then they seated themselves near the
doorway. Spotted Deer believed they intended to remain on guard through
the balance of the night. For some time he heard them talking. Then they
became quiet. He wondered if they had gone out. The fire in the camp had
died down. The lodge was dark. He was unable to see them. He listened
anxiously to learn what he wished to know. Then, as he heard nothing to
indicate that the guards were still in the lodge, he relaxed upon the
platform of poles and tried to sleep. It was useless. He had been
severely beaten by the Shawnees, and his face and head ached and
throbbed from the cuts and bruises. The lodge was cold and drafty, and
as he was without a robe he began to shiver violently. Each moment
increased his discomfort, and he wondered if the Shawnees had spared him
to prolong his agony. At last, however, exhaustion brought relief and he
fell into a light, restless slumber.
Then he suddenly awakened and sat up to listen. He heard soft, stealthy
footfalls near the doorway. The lodge was dimly lighted by a narrow
streak of moonlight that had entered through the smoke hole in the roof.
Spotted Deer watched closely. In a few moments he saw some one enter the
lodge. Then as the huddled figure hobbled toward him, he recognized the
bowed form of the Mystery Woman. The discovery filled him with
superstitious fear. He believed she had come to kill him. As she came
closer he saw that she carried a bowl. He wondered if it contained a
strange medicine potion. Perhaps she planned to cast some evil spell
upon him. The thought was alarming.
The Mystery Woman came directly to him. For a moment or so she stared
wildly into his face. Then she spoke. Spotted Deer could scarcely
believe what he heard. She was addressing him in the Delaware tongue.
"My son, do not be afraid, I have come to help you," she said.
For some moments Spotted Deer looked at her in astonishment. Then he
recovered himself and sought to conceal his emotion. Her words had made
him suspicious. He recalled the deceitful offer of the Shawnee leader.
He feared that she, too, was attempting to deceive him with some clever
bit of treachery. Perhaps she hoped to gain information about his
people. He determined to be on his guard.
In the meantime the Mystery Woman was watching him closely. Her face
betrayed impatience. It was evident that his silence annoyed her.
"Have you no tongue?" she asked, sharply.
Spotted Deer still remained silent. He believed that he was confronted
by a crafty and dangerous foe, and he realized that he must be cautious.
His inherited dread of the strange Medicine People made him doubly
suspicious of the mysterious old creature who addressed him.
"You say you are a Delaware," she said, angrily. "I have spoken Delaware
words. I see that you do not know them. I do not believe you are a
Delaware."
There was something in her tone that conveyed a warning. Spotted Deer
suddenly realized that it might be fatal to rouse her anger. He believed
that it would be wise to hear what she wished to say. He decided to
speak.
"A Delaware keeps his words for his friends," he said.
"Hi, now I see that you are one of my people," the old woman whispered,
excitedly.
Spotted Deer started at her words. For an instant they filled him with
hope. Then he realized that the wily old Mystery Woman was attempting to
deceive him and quiet his suspicions. He determined to match wits with
her.
"You are a Shawnee," he said, contemptuously.
She went close and glared fiercely into his face. Her expression
startled him. Her features were quivering with emotion. Hate blazed from
her eyes. Her breath came in quick, sobbing gasps. She seemed to be
struggling against the impulse to kill him. It was some time before she
could speak.
"Those are bad words," she said, savagely. "I will shake them from my
ears. I have come here to help you. There is little time. You must
believe what I am about to tell you. Listen, my son, to the words of a
Delaware."
Spotted Deer was impressed. There was an earnestness in her tone that
was convincing. Impulse urged him to believe her. Caution, however, kept
him suspicious. He still feared treachery.
"I will listen," he told her.
"It is good," declared the Mystery Woman. "Now I will try to help you."
She placed the bowl beside him and moved to the front of the lodge. She
drew aside the robe and peered outside. In a few moments she returned to
Spotted Deer.
"There is no one there," she told him. "The camp is still. Now I am
going to do something good for you."
"If you are a Delaware, untie me and let me get away," said Spotted
Deer.
"No, no, that would be foolish," she declared. "If I untie you perhaps
some one will come in and find out about it. Then both of us will be
killed. Anyway you could not get away. The Shawnees are afraid that your
people are coming to help you. Scouts are watching around the edge of
the camp."
Spotted Deer continued silent. He was unable to decide whether the old
Mystery Woman was telling the truth or simply attempting to win his
confidence. In either event he was eager to learn her plans. She had
seated herself beside him, and was dipping a piece of buckskin in the
bowl. Spotted Deer watched her with considerable uneasiness. Then as she
began to bathe his face and head, his suspicions suddenly vanished and a
great hope entered his heart.
"Come, old woman, if you are a Delaware tell me where you came from," he
said, eagerly.
"I am a Minsi," she said, quietly.
"Those people are my brothers," he told her. "I have been to their
village. Your words are good. Tell me something more."
"Have you seen the great chief Big Hawk, and Black Rabbit the mysterious
Medicine Person?" she asked.
"Yes, yes, I have talked with those people," Spotted Deer assured her,
excitedly.
"Have you seen the great rock that stands behind the village? Have you
heard how Leaping Dog killed four bears?"
"Yes, yes, I know about those things," said Spotted Deer.
"Well, then, I will tell you that I am White Crane. Leaping Dog was my
father."
"Woman, I believe your words," Spotted Deer told her. "Now I know that
you are a Delaware. Tell me how you come to be here."
"I cannot give you many words," she told him. "The night is almost gone.
Pretty soon the Shawnees will begin to move around. If they find me here
it will be bad. I will talk fast. You must listen sharp."
"Friend, my ears are open," said Spotted Deer.
"My son, a long time ago I went into the hills with my mother to pick
berries. We were quite a ways from our village. While we were picking
berries we heard a great shout behind us. Then my mother seized me and
began to run. We saw some warriors chasing us. Pretty soon they came up
with us. I was frightened and I began to cry. One of those warriors
seized me. My poor mother drew a small knife and plunged it into him.
Then one of his friends knocked her on the head with his war club and
she fell into the bushes. I never saw her again.
"Those warriors took me a long ways. We traveled many days. I got very
tired but I kept going. I did not know those people but I hated them
because they had killed my mother. Well, my son, one night when they
were sleeping I crawled away. The woods were very black and I was
afraid, but I kept going. After a long time I heard a dog barking. That
frightened me. I did not know what to do. Then I said, 'Perhaps there is
a village over there. Perhaps some good people live there. Perhaps they
will take pity on me and give me something to eat and a place to sleep
in.'
"I went that way. Pretty soon I saw some lodges. I was greatly
frightened. My legs began to shake. I listened sharp. I did not hear any
one. Then I went nearer. Pretty soon I entered the village. It was dark
and still. I kept very quiet. Then I saw some little red lights from a
fire. I went over and sat down in that place.
"When the light came, an old woman came out of a lodge and saw me. She
began to talk very fast, but I did not know her words. Then she called
her people. They came running from the lodges. When they saw me sitting
by the fire, they did not know what to make of it. They were shaking
their heads and talking and pointing toward the sky. Then I knew that
they took me for a Medicine Person. It made me feel good. I knew they
would not harm me.
"My son, that is how I came here. I have been here a long, long time.
Now I am an old woman. I have never talked our tongue. The Shawnees have
never harmed me. They call me the Mystery Woman. They listen to my
words. Getanittowit has helped me. I have done some big things. Perhaps
I can save you."
"Who were those people who carried you away?" inquired Spotted Deer.
"I believe they were Mohawks," she told him. "I know those people came
into our country before this thing happened to me."
As she ceased speaking, they heard something moving outside the lodge.
They listened in breathless suspense. Then the old woman seized the bowl
and hurried toward the door. Spotted Deer saw her draw aside the robe.
He believed she was listening. Long, anxious moments passed. He wondered
if she had left him. Then he saw her. She was crouching in the doorway.
In a few moments she rose and came to him.
"It was a dog," she said.
Spotted Deer nodded understandingly.
"It is almost light," she told him. "Pretty soon I must go away. But
first I must tell you something. My son, when I saw you I asked about
you. When I heard that you were a Delaware, my heart grew big for you.
Then I fooled the Shawnees. You saw what I did. It was the only way to
save you. They believe I wish to kill you. It is good. They will listen
to my words. I will try to save you. It will be a hard thing to do.
"Now I will tell you about it. The warrior who brought you here is
Walking Bear. He is a great war leader. He is very mad at your people.
He says the great chief Black Panther killed his brother. He says that
he has killed many Delawares. He says that you must die. That old man
who talked to you is Howling Wolf. He is a great Medicine Person. Now
you know about those people."
"Who is the chief?" Spotted Deer asked, eagerly.
"Big Dog is the chief."
"Where is he?"
"He is away on the hunt. That is why the Shawnees did not kill you. I
told them Red Dog would be very mad about it. I told them they must wait
until he comes. They listened to my words. That is how you come to be
alive. But, my son, the Shawnees will surely kill you when Big Dog comes
back."
"When will he come?" inquired Spotted Deer.
"Before three suns pass," the Mystery Woman said, solemnly. "If I do not
get you away before that time you must prepare to die. I will try hard
to save you. No matter what I do you must know that I am trying to help
you. Now I am going away."
"You are a good friend," Spotted Deer said, gratefully. "If I get away I
will take you to your people.".
"No, no, you must not try to do that," she told him. "It would be
useless. I am old and feeble. I cannot travel. I would hold you back.
The Shawnees would catch us. You must go alone. I will stay here and die
in the Shawnee village. If you get away you can tell my people about
me."
A moment later she hurried from the lodge. Spotted Deer realized that he
had found a crafty ally. He wondered if she would be able to save him.
He feared to hope. He knew that the Shawnee chief might return at any
moment, and then the Mystery Woman would be powerless.