A COUNCIL OF WAR
When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the
canoe to the river. They launched it and found it water-tight. Then
Running Fox paddled slowly along the edge of the shore. They were
watchful and alert for danger, but the river appeared free of foes. It
was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to
find their friends. Running Fox ceased paddling and imitated the cry of
Gokhos, the owl. It was answered from the other side of the river.
"Our friends are waiting," said Yellow Wolf.
Running Fox turned the canoe toward the center of the river. Once beyond
the shadows near the shore, they realized that they were in plain sight
of any foes who might be lurking in the forest. They kept a sharp watch
for the sudden appearance of canoes. When they came within bow-shot of
the place where the fire had been, Running Fox again ceased paddling and
waited for a signal. He felt quite sure that they had been seen by their
friends. In a few moments they heard the call of Gokhos directly ahead
of them. Running Fox paddled cautiously toward the shore. Then they
recognized the voice of Painted Hawk.
"My brothers, the way is clear," he said.
As they stepped ashore their friends hurried forward to inquire about
the canoe. When they learned that it belonged to Spotted Deer they were
dumb with amazement.
"It is mysterious," Painted Hawk declared, at last. "I believe Spotted
Deer was in this place. How did his canoe get across the water?"
"Have you found signs of Spotted Deer?" Running Fox inquired, quickly.
"We found signs that told us a prisoner was here," said Painted Hawk. "I
believe it was Spotted Deer. That is why I called you. When it grows
light I will show you those signs. Perhaps you can tell us about it."
"If Spotted Deer is a prisoner it would be foolish to wait," Running Fox
declared, impatiently.
"We found many tracks," explained Painted Hawk. "We cannot follow them
until it gets light."
"Well, tell us about it," said Yellow Wolf.
"Wait," cautioned Running Fox. "First we must pull this canoe into the
bushes. Then we will go and sit down in the woods. See, Mauwallauwin is
peeping over the trees. Pretty soon the river will be light. If we stay
here in the open, perhaps our enemies will see us."
The others quickly saw the wisdom of his words. The moon was rising
above the eastern ridges and they knew that they would soon become
conspicuous on the open shore of the river. They dragged the canoe from
the water and carried it into the bushes. Then they withdrew into the
shelter of the forest. Fearful of making a fire, they seated themselves
in a little circle and began to talk.
"My brothers, I will tell you about this thing," said Painted Hawk.
"When we came to this place we began to look around for our enemies. We
did not find them. Then we came down here near the water and began to
look for signs. We saw some tracks around the place where the fire was.
We saw the marks of canoes near the water. Then we began to look around.
Pretty soon we found some tracks in the woods. Then we found some ashes
and black wood behind a rock. We saw where some people had been lying
down. Then Turning Eagle found something big. His eyes are sharp. He was
looking at a place where some one had been lying down. Then he saw
something to tell about. Come, Turning Eagle, tell our brothers about
it."
"I will tell you about it," said Turning Eagle. "I was looking around
that place where those people had been lying down. I was looking sharp.
Then I saw something strange. It looked like it looks when our brother
Wisawanik, the squirrel, pulls away the leaves. I looked close at that
place. Then I saw some more marks on the ground. They were made by
fingers. Then I thought about it. I said, 'Some one was lying down with
his hands behind him.' They were in the middle of his back. They were
crossed. Then I said, 'That person was a prisoner.' Then I called
Painted Hawk and Crooked Foot to look at those marks. They felt good
about it. That is all I have to say about it."
"Are you sure about this thing?" Running Fox inquired, eagerly.
"Yes," declared Turning Eagle. "I looked sharp. What I have told you is
true."
"Come, we will go to this place," proposed Dancing Owl.
"No, we must not do that," Running Fox told him. "If we go to that place
in the dark we cannot see anything. Perhaps we will wipe away many
tracks. We must wait until the light comes. Then we will go and find out
about it."
"This thing is mysterious," declared Yellow Wolf. "If the Mohawks caught
Spotted Deer over here, how did we come to find his canoe on the other
side of the water?"
For some moments the Delawares remained silent. They seemed unable to
answer the question. The circumstances were confusing. At last, however,
Dancing Owl spoke.
"My brothers, I saw those big fires near the water," he told them. "I
went up close. Then I saw the Mohawks. I saw them go up the river. I did
not see anything of Spotted Deer."
"Turning Eagle, did those people who were here go back to the river?"
Running Fox asked, anxiously.
"I cannot tell you that," said Turning Eagle. "We found many tracks.
Some were going toward the woods. Some were going toward the river. They
were all mixed together. But I will tell you that some tracks went away
into the woods. Yes, I believe those people went away toward
the-place-where-the-sun-sleeps. We tried to follow those tracks. Then it
got dark and we could not see them."
Running Fox was greatly impressed by the announcement. His mind was
filled with interesting possibilities. He began to doubt that the
Mohawks had carried Spotted Deer up the river. The uncertainty gave him
hope. Still he was unable to guess what had become of his friend. Having
found his abandoned canoe it was evident that misfortune of some sort
had overtaken him. For the moment Running Fox felt helpless to solve the
mystery of Spotted Deer's strange disappearance. His one hope was that
Spotted Deer was still alive.
"My friends, I will tell you how I feel about this thing," said Yellow
Wolf. "Spotted Deer has disappeared. We have found his canoe. Something
bad must have happened to him. Dancing Owl saw the Mohawks in this
place. He did not see Spotted Deer in their canoes. Painted Hawk and
Crooked Foot and Turning Eagle are good scouts. They have found many
tracks over here. Turning Eagle says there was a prisoner here. I
believe his words. Now, my friends, we cannot tell who left those
tracks. I believe they were Mohawks. We cannot tell about that prisoner.
Perhaps it was Spotted Deer. Perhaps it was some one different. We
cannot tell about those big fires. Now you see if we cannot tell about
these things it will be hard to know what to do. Come, Running Fox, you
are the leader, tell us about it."
"Yellow Wolf, what you say is true," replied Running Fox. "It is hard to
know about this thing. I will tell you how I feel about it. I do not
believe the Mohawks took Spotted Deer up the river. Dancing Owl was
watching. He did not see him. Turning Eagle has sharp eyes. I believe
what he tells us is true. I believe that prisoner was Spotted Deer. If
he was with the people who slept at this place, then they must have
taken him away. Turning Eagle says they went away toward
the-place-where-the-sun-sleeps. My friends, perhaps those people were
not Mohawks. The Shawnees live over there beyond the hills. Perhaps
those people were Shawnees. Perhaps they came over here to hunt. Perhaps
they caught Spotted Deer. Perhaps they are going to the Shawnee village.
When it gets light we will try to find out about it. Now I cannot tell
you any more."
"Running Fox, your words are good," said Painted Hawk. "I believe those
people who went away on foot were Shawnees. I cannot tell about Spotted
Deer. You found his canoe on the other side of the water. I believe he
was over there. Perhaps the Mohawks caught him over there. Perhaps they
did not come down where Dancing Owl was watching. Dancing Owl says he
heard the call of Gokhos. It was up the river. Perhaps the people who
caught Spotted Deer were calling the warriors at the fires. Perhaps the
Mohawks followed Spotted Deer down the river. Perhaps they made those
fires so that he could not pass. I do not know about this thing. This is
how I feel about it."
"My brothers, I have listened to the words of Yellow Wolf, and Running
Fox and Painted Hawk," said Crooked Foot. "Now I will give you some
words. We must try to find out the best thing to do. I will tell you how
I feel about it. I believe the Mohawks were here and I believe the
Shawnees were here. I believe the Mohawks went away in canoes. I believe
the Shawnees walked away. I saw those marks on the ground. I believe
there was a prisoner lying in that place. If it was Spotted Deer, then I
believe he went away with the Shawnees. That is all I have to say about
it."
Then the Delawares became silent. Having failed to come to a definite
conclusion regarding the disappearance of their tribesman, each of them
was meditating upon the possibilities suggested by his friends. They
realized that only daylight could give them a clew to the mystery.
"Well, I see that we feel different about this thing," Running Fox told
them. "There is no use of talking any more. We must wait until the light
comes. Then we will go and look sharp at those tracks. If they tell us
that Spotted Deer was taken away by the Shawnees, we will know what to
do. If we cannot tell about it then we must separate. Some of us must go
to the Mohawk village. Some of us must try to follow the people who
walked away. My friends, that is all I can tell you about it."
"We will wait until it gets light," agreed his friends.
A moment afterward Running Fox rose and walked away. His heart was heavy
with grief and he wished to be alone. He made his way to the edge of the
timber and seated himself at the base of a giant pine. The great, black
forest was hushed in slumber. The night was glorious. The air was sharp
and still. The heavens were sprinkled with stars. The river sparkled in
the moonlight. Running Fox was unimpressed. His mind was filled with
thoughts of Spotted Deer.
"It is bad," he kept telling himself.
Convinced that Spotted Deer had been captured by either the Mohawks or
the Shawnees, Running Fox realized that each moment of delay lessened
the chance of saving him. The thought that Spotted Deer might be
depending upon him drove him into a frenzy of despair. He saw little
chance of overtaking his foes before they reached their village, and
then he feared he might be too late to help his friend. His courage
weakened at the thought. Spotted Deer had been his loyal friend and
companion since early boyhood, and a strong affection existed between
them. They had shared many perilous adventures and each had risked his
life to save the other. Now, when he believed Spotted Deer was in urgent
need of assistance, Running Fox felt powerless to help him. The thought
overwhelmed him with grief. Rising to his feet, he spread his arms
toward the sky and offered an earnest, impassioned appeal to
Getanittowit, the Great One.
Great Getanittowit, listen to my words.
Getanittowit, something bad has happened.
Getanittowit, tell me about it.
Great Getanittowit, my heart is black.
Getanittowit, take pity on me.
Getanittowit, make me brave and strong.
Getanittowit, give me power to find Spotted Deer.
After he had finished his appeal, Running Fox stood for a long time
staring anxiously into the heavens. Then a star swept across the sky and
dropped into the west. The superstitious young warrior accepted it as a
good omen. He believed that his prayer had been answered.
"Getanittowit has sent me a sign," he said. "Now I will find Spotted
Deer."