THE ALARM
The long, silent night was slowly merging into dawn when the Delawares
were suddenly awakened by a piercing shout from the center of the camp.
Thoroughly alarmed, they rushed from the lodges, weapons in hand,
expecting to find themselves beset by foes. Instead they found Dancing
Owl, a young warrior who had left the village the previous day to hunt.
"Well, young man, what has happened?" inquired Black Panther, the famous
Delaware war chief.
"The Mohawks are on the river," Dancing Owl told him.
The announcement threw the Delawares into a frenzy of excitement. They
feared that their fierce foes from the north were about to attack the
village.
"Where are they?" Black Panther asked, anxiously.
"I saw them a sun's travel up the river," declared Dancing Owl.
The Delawares felt relieved. They realized that there was at least time
to prepare for defense. They crowded eagerly about Dancing Owl and began
to question him. Then Black Panther asked them to assemble at the
council lodge to hear the words of Dancing Owl.
"Come, Dancing Owl, tell us about this thing," said Black Panther, when
they had seated themselves.
"Well, my friends, I hunted hard but I did not kill any game," said
Dancing Owl. "I kept going along the river until it got dark. Then I sat
down to rest. Pretty soon I heard the cry of fierce Nianque, the lynx. I
listened sharp. After a long time I heard it again. It was up the river.
I went ahead. I went a long ways. Then I saw a great light. I heard some
one shouting. That made me cautious. I waited a long time. Then I heard
some more shouts. Then I went ahead very slow. I kept looking ahead.
Pretty soon I saw two big fires. There was one on each side of the
river. Then I stopped. I did not know what to make of it. I kept
watching. Pretty soon I saw some warriors moving around one of those
fires. They were on the other side of the river. They were far off. I
could not tell about them. Then they went away. Pretty soon some of them
came back. They knocked away the fire. Then I could not see them.
"Well, my friends, I kept watching. I said, 'Those people will cross the
water and knock away the other fire. I will creep up close and see who
they are.' Then I went ahead. I was very cautious. The fire kept
burning. I was looking for those people on the water. I did not see
them. Then I heard Woakus, the fox. It was close ahead of me. It did not
sound good. I listened sharp. Pretty soon I heard it again. Then I said,
'Some one is making that noise.' I kept watching the fire. It made a big
light. I kept around the edge of it. Then I heard some one moving in the
bushes. He was close. I got ready to fight. Then I saw that person at
the edge of the light. He was a Mohawk. Then he went away.
"I watched a long time. Then I heard the call of Gokhos, the owl. It was
the call of the big night bird with the ears. I knew it was the Mohawks.
It was on the other side of the water. Pretty soon I heard it again. It
was on the side of the water where I was. I kept watching. The fire was
going down. The light closed up. I went nearer. I heard some people
talking. Pretty soon I saw five canoes. They came across the water. I
saw two Mohawks in every one of those canoes. Then I saw another canoe.
It was near the edge of the woods. Pretty soon two Mohawks got into it.
Then they all paddled up the river. I waited a long time. Then the fire
died out. I heard a great shout. I was far up the river. I knew it was
the Mohawks. Then I hurried away and came here. Now I have told you all
I know about it."
The Delawares remained silent for some moments after Dancing Owl had
finished his story. It baffled them. They were at a loss to account for
such unusual recklessness on the part of the Mohawks. They could
scarcely believe that those crafty foes would dare to proclaim their
presence so near the Delaware camp. They could think of no reason for
the two great fires along the river. They feared it was part of some
clever stratagem.
"Dancing Owl, I have listened to your words," Black Panther said,
finally. "This thing is mysterious. I cannot tell what to make of it.
Now I am going to ask you something."
"I am listening," Dancing Owl told him.
"You came back along the river," said Black Panther. "Your eyes are
sharp. Did you see anything?"
"No, I did not find any signs," declared Dancing Owl. "I kept watching
for the Mohawks but I did not see them. I believe they went the other
way."
"Well, my friends, I cannot tell what to make of it," acknowledged Black
Panther. "Only a foolish person makes a big fire to tell his enemies
where to find him. The Mohawks are not foolish. They are as sly as
Woakus, the fox. I cannot tell why they made those big fires. It is
mysterious. I believe something bad will come of it. Come, Sky Dog, you
are a great Medicine Person, perhaps you can tell us about it."
Sky Dog, the aged Delaware Medicine Man, rose to his feet in obedience
to the command of his chief. He was a picturesque figure as he stood in
the center of the great circle of Delawares who were looking
questioningly into his face. He had wrapped himself in a heavy wolf-skin
robe for protection from the sharp autumn air, and his white hair showed
beneath the edges of a great beaver-skin cap. For some moments he faced
his tribesmen in silence. Then he began to speak.
"My people, you have heard the words of Dancing Owl," he said. "This
thing he tells about is mysterious. I cannot make anything of those
great fires. I will go away and think about it. Then perhaps I will tell
you something."
It was evident that the Delawares were disappointed. They had implicit
faith in the ability of the old Medicine Man, and they had hoped that he
would be able to tell them the significance of the fires. However, as
he, too, seemed perplexed and bewildered by the audacity of the Mohawks,
the Delawares saw little chance of arriving at an early solution of the
mystery.
"My brothers, as we do not know why the Mohawks did this thing, and
there is no use of talking about it like a lot of foolish old women,"
Black Panther told them. "We know that the Mohawks were close to our
village. Dancing Owl saw them. He says those Mohawks went up the river.
Perhaps they will come back. We must keep a sharp watch. I believe they
are trying to fool us. Perhaps they are scouts. Perhaps there is a big
war party hiding in the woods. Perhaps the scouts made those fires to
draw our warriors up the river. Then it would be easy for the war party
to get into the camp. We must be cautious."
His words raised the suspicions of his tribesmen. They believed he had
guessed the plans of their foes. The idea roused them. They began to
discuss the possibilities. Some of the younger and more impulsive
warriors were eager to organize a war party and go out to search the
woods. Most of the older men counseled against it.
"No, it would be foolish to do that until we know about this thing,"
said Yellow Wolf, a famous veteran of the war trail. "We must send out
scouts to find out if the Mohawks are in the woods. Then we will know
what to do."
"Yes, yes, that is the best thing to do," the Delawares told one
another.
There was one, however, who took no part in the discussion. He was
Running Fox, the son of Black Panther, and the most famous of all the
Delaware warriors. Although but a youth, his daring exploits had made
him the idol of his people. Two years previous, accompanied by his
friend Spotted Deer, he had gone to the Mohawk camp and successfully
escaped with the great Mohawk medicine trophy. When the famous Mohawk
chief, Standing Wolf, led a great war company into the Delaware village
to recapture the token, Running Fox killed him, and drove the Mohawks
from the camp. The following year, he and Spotted Deer journeyed into
the north and killed the mysterious White Wolf, which the Delawares
believed brought famine and pestilence upon them. That achievement
convinced the Delawares that Running Fox had received the mysterious
powers of a Medicine Person. In spite of his youth, therefore, they
looked upon him as one able to lead and counsel, and they were eager for
his opinion concerning the Mohawks and their fires.
"Running Fox, Running Fox!" they cried.
Running Fox rose in response to their cries. He was tall and sinewy,
with an alert face and bold, flashing eyes. He possessed the quiet,
forceful dignity of his father, and the Delawares looked upon him with
pride and affection.
"My friends, you have asked me to talk to you," said Running Fox. "I
have listened to the words of Dancing Owl. I do not believe we are in
any danger. I do not believe those Mohawks will come any closer. I do
not know what to make of those great fires. I am not thinking about
them. I am thinking about my brother, Spotted Deer. I believe he is in
great danger. My heart is heavy. Perhaps those Mohawks have carried him
away. Perhaps they have killed him. It is bad. I do not like to talk
about it."
As Running Fox finished speaking a gloomy silence fell upon the
Delawares. His words had carried an ominous warning. The Delawares
suddenly realized the peril which threatened Spotted Deer. He had left
the village some days previous on a hunting expedition to a lake several
day's journey to the northward where he hoped to kill a bear. He had
expected to return at the end of six days. The seventh day had just
dawned. Spotted Deer had failed to arrive. The Mohawks were on the
river. Startling possibilities flashed into the minds of the Delawares.
"My son, what you say is true," declared Black Panther. "I believe
Spotted Deer is in danger. He has not come back. It is bad. If he does
not come before this sun passes, we must go to find him."
"My father, I will not wait," Running Fox told him. "Spotted Deer is my
friend. We have done many big things together. If the Mohawks have
caught him it would be foolish to wait. We must come up with them before
they reach their village. If they take him to the camp he will surely be
killed. I am going to find him."
"Yes, yes, it is the best thing to do," agreed old Sky Dog, the Medicine
Man. "I saw this thing in a dream. I did not wish to talk about it. Now
I see what it meant. You must go, Running Fox. Do not lose any time.
Keep going until you come in sight of the Mohawks. I believe you will
find Spotted Deer."
Running Fox was immediately besieged by a host of eager volunteers who
wished to accompany him. Most of the active warriors of the tribe
desired to go. He found it hard to refuse them, for all wished to prove
their loyalty for Spotted Deer. Running Fox realized, however, that a
large company would be less likely to succeed than a few picked scouts
moving swiftly on the trail.
"My friends, I see that you all wish to help Spotted Deer," he said. "It
is good. It makes me feel big. But I must tell you that it would be
foolish. Perhaps what Black Panther says is true. Perhaps many Mohawks
are hiding in the woods. Most of you must stay behind to guard the
village. A few of us will go to find Spotted Deer. I will be the leader.
I will ask Dancing Owl, and Yellow Wolf, and Painted Hawk, and Crooked
Foot, and Turning Eagle to go with me. It is enough. Now, my friends, go
to your lodges and get ready to go away."
"Wait!" shouted old Sky Dog. "You are going into great danger. If I do
not help you, something bad may happen. You must all come to my lodge,
and I will make a smoke to Getanittowit and ask him to help you."
"It is good," said Running Fox.