A DARING RUSE
For some time the Delawares studied the prisoners in silence. Then
Dancing Owl suddenly recognized one of them. He was one of the warriors
who had captured him the year before. The hot-tempered young Delaware
immediately began to taunt and tantalize his foe.
"Well, Shawnee, I have caught you," he laughed. "How do you feel about
it? Do you know who I am? Yes, yes, I see that you are afraid of me. You
were very fierce when you caught me. Perhaps I will kill you. Then we
will see how brave you are."
His friends listened with delight. They laughed scornfully as the
enraged Shawnee glared helplessly at his conqueror. Then they attempted
to identify Big Dog, the Shawnee chief. Running Fox realized that unless
he could learn which of the prisoners was Big Dog, it would be
impossible to carry out the daring, plan by which he hoped to rescue
Spotted Deer. He studied the Shawnees with great care. They seemed about
of an age. All were men in the full prime of life. Two were of strong
and muscular physique. The third was lithe and sinewy. The latter was
the one whom Dancing Owl had recognized. All had the stern, fearless
face and bold eyes of the seasoned warrior. As there was no distinction
in dress or bearing, Running Fox found nothing to guide him to a
decision. He resolved to consult his friends.
"Turning Eagle, stay here and watch," he said. "Come, my brothers,
follow me."
When they were safely beyond hearing of their foes, the five Delawares
seated themselves to talk.
"My brothers, we have done a good thing," said Running Fox. "The words
of that mysterious Medicine Person have come true. She is a good friend.
We must try to find out who she is. But first we must find out about Big
Dog. I cannot go ahead with what I intend to do until I find out which
one of those warriors is Big Dog. Do any of you know him?"
His friends shook their heads.
"Well, can any of you pick him out?"
"Did the Medicine Person tell you how to know him?" inquired Painted
Hawk.
"No," said Running Fox. "I was foolish; I did not ask about it."
"It will be a hard thing to find out," declared Crooked Foot. "I looked
sharp at these warriors but I cannot tell you what you wish to know."
"I do not believe that warrior I talked to is Big Dog," said Dancing
Owl. "He was not the leader of those warriors who caught me. A great
chief is always the leader."
"Yes, yes, that is true," agreed his companions. "One of the others must
be Big Dog."
Running Fox had already reached that conclusion. He was glad to hear it
indorsed by his friends. Still he realized that even with one of the
warriors eliminated it would be quite as difficult to learn which of the
others was Big Dog. Aware that a mistake might prove fatal, he resolved
to do nothing until he became certain of the identity of the Shawnee
chief.
"My friends, we must be sure about this thing," he said. "Now I will
tell you how to find out about it. Yellow Wolf, you speak Shawnee words.
You must talk to those warriors. Be sharp. Try to catch them."
"Yes, Yellow Wolf, you must try to fool them," said Crooked Foot.
"Well, I will see what I can do about it," agreed Yellow Wolf.
They rose and returned to the prisoners. The sun was dropping toward the
western ridges. The day was far spent. Running Fox was impatient. He had
planned to make his bold attempt to free Spotted Deer early in the
night. He realized that there was little time to learn what he wished to
know. He watched anxiously as Yellow Wolf approached the Shawnees and
addressed them in their dialect.
"Come, come, Big Dog, open your eyes," he said, sharply, as he studied
the faces of his foes.
Two of the Shawnees glanced quickly at their companion. His face clouded
with anger. Yellow Wolf laughed and turned to Running Fox.
"There is the great chief Big Dog," he said, as he pointed toward the
Shawnee who had been betrayed by his friends.
"It is good," declared Running Fox.
As Turning Eagle continued to watch the prisoners, the other Delawares
again withdrew to talk. Then Running Fox explained his plans.
"Yellow Wolf, you are as sly as Sanquen, the weasel," he laughed. "My
brothers, Yellow Wolf found out what we wished to know. It is good. Now
I will tell you what I propose to do. I am going to talk to those
Shawnees. I am going to tell them about Spotted Deer. I am going to tell
them that they must help us. I am going to ask one of those warriors to
go to the Shawnee village with me. I am going to ask him to talk to his
people. When he gives them my words, I believe they will let Spotted
Deer walk out."
"Running Fox, if you do this thing I believe you will surely be killed,"
Painted Hawk declared, soberly.
"That Shawnee will tell his people to kill you," said Dancing Owl.
"No, I do not believe it," replied Running Fox. "Come, we will go and
tell the Shawnees about it. You must listen sharp to my words."
When they reached the captives, Running Fox stooped and stared steadily
into the face of Big Dog. The eyes of the Shawnee blazed with hate. The
Delaware straightened and began to speak.
"Big Dog, do you know the words of my people?" he asked.
The Shawnee gave no sign that he understood. Running Fox felt sure that
he was attempting to deceive. He waited some moments, and then he
resumed speaking.
"If you do not know my words there is no chance for you," he said. "I
have come here to give you a chance for your life. Now listen sharp to
what I am about to tell you. Your people have caught my brother, Spotted
Deer. He is tied up in your village. I believe your people are about to
kill him. If they kill him you must die. We have come here to take
Spotted Deer away. You are a great chief. If you speak to your people
they will listen. You must tell them to let Spotted Deer go. If you do
that no harm will come to you. Come, be quick, give me a sign."
For several moments the Shawnee remained motionless. Then he glanced at
his companions. His eyes questioned them. The Delawares watched closely.
Would he yield? Their hopes died as the stern Shawnee chief stared
defiantly at Running Fox. The latter still waited. He began to wonder if
the Shawnee really understood his words.
"Well, Shawnee, I see that we must kill you," he said, finally. "Come,
my brothers, the foolish Shawnees wish to die."
The Delawares drew their bows and advanced upon the captives. The latter
gave no evidence of fear. Running Fox watched anxiously. He knew that
unless he could force the Shawnees to agree to his terms there was
slight chance of saving Spotted Deer. It was apparent, however, that Big
Dog and his companions intended to defy him. The thought suddenly roused
him into a temper. His face grew dark with anger, and his eyes flashed
dangerously. He jerked his bow into position and fitted an arrow. Then
he drew back the bow-string and aimed the arrow at the heart of Big Dog.
At that instant the chief slowly raised himself. Running Fox lowered his
bow. His eyes lighted with hope.
"Well, Shawnee, I see that you wish to speak," he said. "It is good. We
will listen to your words. But first I will tell you something. If you
try to call out when I take that thing away from your mouth I will shoot
my arrow through you. Remember those words."
Big Dog nodded. Then Running Fox began to untie the buckskin gag. The
other Shawnees watched with interest. It was some moments before Big Dog
spoke.
"I heard your words," he said, brusquely.
"Well, how do you feel about it?" inquired Running Fox.
"I will do this thing," said Big Dog.
"It is good," Running Fox told him. "Now you must listen sharp. I know
about your brothers. They are Many Beavers and Striking Bear. Do they
know my words?"
"Many Beavers knows your words," said Big Dog, as he exchanged glances
with the warrior beside him.
"My brothers, let Many Beavers speak," said Running Fox.
Many Beavers sat up and the Delawares removed the gag from his mouth.
Then Yellow Wolf drew his knife and sat close beside him.
"If you try to call out I will kill you," he said.
"Now, Shawnees, I will tell you how to keep your lives," Running Fox
told them. "I am going into your village with Many Beavers. He must
carry the words of Big Dog to his people. He must tell them that Big Dog
is a prisoner. He must tell them that, if any harm comes to me, Big Dog
will die. He must tell them that Big Dog says to let Spotted Deer walk
away with me. He must tell them that if I do not take Spotted Deer to my
people before the next sun comes, Big Dog and Striking Bear will die.
You have heard my words. If you do this thing we will give you your
lives. If anything bad comes of it you must die. I have finished."
Running Fox ceased speaking and watched the Shawnees. For some moments
they remained silent. They appeared to be studying his plan. At last Big
Dog spoke.
"What you propose to do is foolish," he said. "If you go into my village
with Many Beavers, my people will surely kill you. I am the only one who
can save you. There is only one way to do this thing. You must go to the
village with all three of us. Then no harm will come to you. Then I will
tell my people to let your brother walk out. Delaware, I am a great
chief. I know about these things. I have told you the best way to do
it."
"Shawnee, I am laughing at you," Running Fox told him. "Do you believe
you can fool me with those words? No, I will not talk about them. I have
told you how to keep your life. Now you must answer. Will you do as I
tell you?"
"Yes, I will go to the camp with you," Big Dog replied, craftily.
"Many Beavers will go with me," Running Fox said, angrily. "You will
stay here with Striking Bear until I bring back Spotted Deer. Come, I
will not talk any more. Will you do this thing?"
"Well, if you wish to throw away your life, I will not stop you,"
laughed Big Dog.