A STRANGE ALLY
The Shawnee camp was brightly illuminated by the glow from the fires,
and the Delawares saw many people passing about. The Shawnees appeared
to be engaged in their ordinary tasks, and there was nothing to indicate
that anything of importance was taking place. The Delawares noted that
the village was located beside a river. They saw the light reflected on
the water.
"I have seen that camp before," said Yellow Wolf. "It is close by a big
river. It is a long ways from the edge of the woods. The ground around
it is bare. There are many high logs stuck in the ground around the
village. It will be hard to get into it."
Running Fox listened in silence. He suddenly realized the difficulty of
his task. If the camp was surrounded by a log stockade, he knew it would
be impossible to see anything of Spotted Deer without entering the
village. He had little hope of being able to accomplish that perilous
feat. He knew that even if he should succeed in getting into the camp,
it might be impossible to locate and reach Spotted Deer. For the moment
he lost confidence. Then he suddenly realized that Spotted Deer had
relied on him. The clews which he had left along the way took on a new
significance. Running Fox accepted them as mute appeals for aid from the
friend who more than once had risked death to help him. The thought
stirred him. He determined to sacrifice his life if necessary in an
attempt to free Spotted Deer.
"Getanittowit will help me," he murmured.
"It will be hard to get down to that place," Painted Hawk said,
suddenly.
"There is a trail that goes down there, but it is very steep," Yellow
Wolf told him. "A long time ago I was with some scouts, and we came over
here and found out about this place."
"It would be foolish to follow that trail," Running Fox told them.
"Perhaps the Shawnees are watching."
"Well, Running Fox, you are the leader, tell us what you propose to do,"
said Painted Hawk.
"I am going to ask Yellow Wolf and Dancing Owl to go down there with
me," said Running Fox. "I am going to ask the rest of you to wait up
here. I cannot tell you what we are going to do. I do not know how to
get into that camp. I do not know how to find out about Spotted Deer. I
am going down there to look around. If we do not come back before it
gets light you will know that something bad has happened to us. If you
hear the call of Gokhos three times, you must come to us. If you do not
hear it, then you must wait until it gets light."
"We will keep your words," Painted Hawk told him. "If the Shawnees catch
you, one of us will go and tell our people. Two will keep watching. Then
we will bring a big war party to get you."
"It is good," said Running Fox. "Come, my friends, we will go."
A moment afterward the three daring scouts disappeared into the night.
Their departure filled their friends with doubts. They knew the peril to
which Running Fox and his companions were exposing themselves, and they
had grave fears for their safety.
"Our brothers are brave," Painted Hawk declared, hopefully. "I believe
they will fool the Shawnees. Yes, I believe we will see them again."
Running Fox made no attempt to find the trail of which Yellow Wolf had
spoken, but turned directly down the side of the ridge. The way was
steep and perilous, and they proceeded with great caution. The night was
black and starless and great Mauwallauwin hid behind the clouds. Running
Fox was thankful for the darkness. He knew that it would make it easier
to approach the Shawnee camp.
"Mauwallauwin is helping us," he said. "He has put away his light so
that the Shawnees cannot see us."
When they finally reached the base of the ridge they stopped at the edge
of the timber to watch and listen for their foes. They found a wide
stretch of barren ground between them and the Shawnee village.
"That is a bad place," declared Dancing Owl. "If the Shawnees catch us
out there, it will be hard to get away."
"We must be cautious," Running Fox told him.
Then as they heard nothing to alarm them, they left the shelter of the
woods, and moved slowly across the open ground. As they approached the
village they suddenly thought of the dogs. There was little doubt that
some of them were prowling about outside the camp.
"If they smell us they will make a great noise," said Yellow Wolf.
Running Fox moistened his finger and held it above his head to test the
wind. It came from the direction of the village. The discovery somewhat
relieved their anxiety. There was less probability of the dogs catching
their scent. Then they suddenly heard something which brought them to a
standstill. It was the call of Gokhotit, the little red owl. It sounded
over near the edge of the timber. It was a favorite signal between
Spotted Deer and Running Fox. The latter thrilled as he heard it. A
great hope rose in his heart. Twice it sounded softly through the night
and then it ceased.
"Listen!" Running Fox whispered, excitedly. "That is a signal. I have
heard Spotted Deer use it many times. Perhaps he is hiding over there.
Come, we will go over there and find out who it is."
They turned and hurried toward the place where they had heard the call.
The possibility of finding Spotted Deer made their hearts beat wildly.
As they drew near the timber they became more cautious. They realized
that the call might have been made by a Shawnee, and they determined to
be on their guard. When they finally came within bow-shot of the woods
they stopped and listened. Then the call was repeated directly ahead of
them. There was something weird and mysterious about it as it rose
tremulously through the night.
"Now watch out!" Running Fox warned, as he fitted an arrow to his bow.
Then he replied to the signal. His call was soft and low and only
sufficiently loud to reach the ears of the mysterious caller at the edge
of the woods. The Delawares listened anxiously as it died away. A moment
afterward they heard an answer. It, too, was low and guarded.
"It is mysterious," said Yellow Wolf.
"I believe it is Spotted Deer," declared Dancing Owl.
"Be cautious," Running Fox warned him.
Alert, and ready to defend themselves, they advanced carefully toward
the timber. When they were within easy speaking distance they stopped.
Then Running Fox called softly.
"Spotted Deer," he said.
"Spotted Deer is in the Shawnee village," replied a voice from the
darkness.
It was the voice of a young boy or a woman and the Delawares turned to
one another in surprise. For some moments they remained silent while
they tried to solve the mystery. Many thoughts passed through their
minds. Had some wily Shawnee scout discovered them and prepared a clever
stratagem to lure them to their death? Had Spotted Deer found a friend
among the Shawnees? Was it one of their own people? Before they could
arrive at a decision the strange voice again sounded from the woods.
"Do not be afraid, Delawares," it said. "I have come here to help you.
Perhaps I can save Spotted Deer. You must listen to my words."
"Who are you?" demanded Yellow Wolf.
"The Shawnees call me the Mystery Woman."
"It is a Medicine Person," Running Fox whispered, uneasily. "We must
listen to her words. Perhaps she will help us."
"Do not try to kill me," said the mysterious person in the timber. "If
you kill me, Spotted Deer will surely die."
"No, my friend, we will not kill you," Running Fox assured her.
"Then I will tell you what to do," she said.
"We will come over there and talk with you," proposed Running Fox.
"No, no, stay where you are," she commanded, impatiently. "Come, there
is little time. Close your mouth and open your ears."
"We will listen," Running Fox told her.
"Well, Delawares, I will tell you that the Shawnees have caught your
brother, Spotted Deer," she told them. "He is tied up in the Shawnee
camp. You cannot reach him. Scouts are watching around the camp. If you
try to get into the village you will surely be killed. Now listen sharp
to what I am about to tell you. The Shawnees are going to kill Spotted
Deer. They are going to kill him when the great chief Big Dog returns
from the hunt. He will come before two suns pass. That is why I came
here to find you. Spotted Deer says his people will come. He says his
friend Running Fox will come."
"I am here," said Running Fox.
"It is good," she replied. "How many have come?"
The Delawares remained silent. The question made them suspicious. They
feared that this mysterious woman might be attempting to gain
information for their foes.
"Well, I see that you are cautious," she laughed. "It is good. Now I
will tell you what to do. Red Dog will cross this ridge. He will come
along a steep trail that comes down from the top of the ridge. Two great
warriors will come with him. They are Many Beavers and Striking Bear.
They are very brave. When those warriors come to the Shawnee village,
Spotted Deer must die. If they do not come, perhaps I can help him. Now
you know about it. I have finished."
"My friend, you have spoken big words," said Running Fox. "I do not know
who you are but my heart is good toward you. I believe you are trying to
help us. It is good."
They waited some moments but there was no response. The silence aroused
their fears. They looked anxiously into the darkness. They listened for
the approach of stealthy footsteps. There was no hint of danger.
"Come, my friend, give us some more words," Running Fox said, finally.
The appeal was futile. The strange voice had ceased. The Delawares
became uneasy. They wondered if they had been conversing with one of the
mysterious Medicine Beings. Then they heard the call of Gokhotit, the
little red owl. It was far away toward the Shawnee village.
"She has gone," said Yellow Wolf.
"Perhaps she will tell Spotted Deer about us," Running Fox said,
hopefully.
"Do you believe her words?" Dancing Owl asked, anxiously.
"Yes," said Running Fox. "I believe she came here to help us. I cannot
tell about it. It is mysterious. Perhaps Getanittowit sent her here. I
believe something good will come of it."
"Well, I do not know what to make of it," declared Dancing Owl. "Are you
going to the Shawnee camp?"
"No," replied Running Fox. "I believe it would be foolish. It would be
hard to get into that camp. If we go over there and get caught, Big Dog
and his friends will come to the camp. Then we will all be killed.
Anyway I believe that strange woman is a Medicine Person. If we make her
mad, much harm may come of it. I am going to turn around. We will go
back and tell our brothers about it."
"It is the best thing to do," said Yellow Wolf.