CHAPTER X--SPOTTED DEER DISAPPEARS
The night passed without alarm, and at daylight the Delawares began tolisten for signals. As the time passed, and they neither saw nor heardanything of the Mohawks, they believed that they had finally abandonedthe pursuit.
"It is good," declared Spotted Deer. "Now we will hurry away from here,"
"No, we must wait a little longer," Running Fox warned him. "I believethe Mohawks have gone away, but we must be sure. Perhaps they arekeeping quiet to fool us. Yes, they may be waiting along the edge of theswamp."
"Well, we will stay here," agreed Spotted Deer.
They waited until the day was half gone, and then, having heard nothingto rouse their suspicions, they again moved cautiously toward the borderof the swamp. As they neared it, they stopped and spent a long timelistening and watching. The way seemed clear, however, and theydetermined to risk all on the chance. A few moments afterward theycrossed the boundary of the swamp, and disappeared into the forest.
"Now we are safe," laughed Spotted Deer.
"Well, we got out of that trap, but there is still great danger,"Running Fox warned him. "This country is filled with our enemies. Wemust keep watching."
Running Fox turned toward the west, as he believed that the Mohawks weresomewhere to the eastward. Besides, if his enemies should discover histrail he hoped to mislead them into believing that he and Spotted Deerwere Shawnees, for he knew that those people lived in the greatwilderness to the westward. The Delawares continued to travel until longafter darkness had fallen, and finally stopped in a dense forest ofpines. They were greatly elated over their successful escape, but theywere somewhat worried by the thought that the Mohawks might have learnedtheir identity.
"If they know who we are, it will be hard to get near their camp," saidSpotted Deer.
"Yes, that is true," replied Running Fox. "But I do not believe theyknow who we are. I believe they took us for Shawnee scouts."
The next day the Delawares turned toward the north. They had been toldthat the Mohawk village was somewhere within a day's journey of a largewoodland lake, and they climbed to all the high places to look for it.Their efforts were in vain, however, for the vast wilderness continuedunbroken as far as they could see. The following day, therefore, RunningFox proposed that they should separate, and explore the country indifferent directions.
"Yes, I believe it is the best thing to do," said Spotted Deer.
It was agreed that Spotted Deer should reconnoiter from a range ofmountains farther to the westward, while Running Fox continued northwardalong the ridge of hills which they had followed from the headwaters ofthe river. They planned to meet at the end of the second day at the baseof a large pine-clad mountain about a day's journey toward the north.
"Well, we are going away from each other," said Running Fox. "We will bein great danger. We must not let the Mohawks catch us."
"We will watch out," said Spotted Deer.
They agreed that if either of them failed to appear at the meeting placeat the appointed time the other was to wait there a full day longer.Then if his comrade failed to appear he was to go in search of him. Thethought depressed them. They realized fully the peril of venturing alonethrough the stronghold of their foes, but they saw no other way oflearning the location of the Mohawk camp. As Running Fox had said, itseemed to be the only thing to do, and they determined to make the bestof it. Therefore, they parted without further ceremony, and hurried awayon their mission.
Early the second day, as Running Fox reconnoitered from the summit of ahigh mountain, he discovered what appeared to be a large body of waterseveral days' journey farther toward the north. He watched it a longtime, and finally decided that it must be the lake of which he hadheard. Then he examined the sky for a trace of smoke from the hiddenMohawk camp. Several times he thought he had found it, but each time itturned out to be clouds, and he finally decided that it would be uselessto waste more time looking for it. Well pleased with his discovery, hehastened down the mountain and set out to meet Spotted Deer.
As Running Fox drew near the meeting place he stopped to reconnoiter.Then, after he had circled carefully through the woods to make sure thatno enemies were lurking in the vicinity, he continued toward the spotwhere he and Spotted Deer had planned to meet. Daylight had faded intodusk, and night was near at hand. They had agreed to meet before dark,and Running Fox felt quite sure that Spotted Deer was already at themeeting place. To make sure he whistled the plaintive notes of thewhite-throated sparrow. It was one of the signals which they had agreedupon, and Running Fox listened anxiously for the answer. When he hadrepeated the song many times without getting a reply he began to worry.Then he told himself that perhaps Spotted Deer was somewhere out ofrange of the signal. To make sure of reaching him, he imitated theshrill quavering cry of Quenischquney, the panther. It echoed throughthe woods with startling force, and Running Fox knew that if SpottedDeer were anywhere near he would be sure to hear it. Still it brought noresponse, and Running Fox was perplexed. Twice more he sent thestartling shriek ringing through the wilderness, and each time he fearedthat sharp Mohawk ears might hear it, and detect the counterfeit. Stillhe saw no other way of learning whether Spotted Deer was in thevicinity. However, as time passed and he heard nothing from his friendhe became alarmed. He wondered what had detained Spotted Deer. Thequestion suggested many alarming possibilities, and Running Fox tried todrive them from his thoughts. He told himself that Spotted Deer wouldappear before the night passed, and soon after it grew dark he began tosignal with the call of the little red owl. He called many times, but noresponse came out of the darkness. Then, when half of the night hadpassed, Running Fox began to lose hope. He feared that Spotted Deer hadbeen killed or captured by the Mohawks, and the thought drove him todespair. His first impulse was to rush recklessly away in search ofSpotted Deer. Then he suddenly remembered that he had agreed to wait afull day at the meeting place.
Running Fox spent the following day in an agony of suspense. He neithersaw or heard anything of Spotted Deer, and by the time night came themiserable lad had worried himself into a frenzy of despair. He hadlittle doubt that Spotted Deer had fallen a victim to the Mohawks, andhe began to blame himself for having sent him upon the expedition. Thenhis heart filled with anger, and he determined to search the wildernessuntil he had learned the fate of his friend. If Spotted Deer was aprisoner he vowed to rescue him, and if he had been killed he promisedto avenge his death. Then, sleep being out of the question, Running Foxspent the night singing his medicine-songs and praying to Getanittowitfor the safety of Spotted Deer.
Day had barely dawned when Running Fox started away in search of hisfriend. He turned toward the west, and traveled at a pace that broughthim to the rugged range of mountains which Spotted Deer had set out toexplore, by midday. He climbed to the top of the ridge and continuedtoward the north. As he sped through the forest, the distracted lad kepta constant watch for the trail of Spotted Deer. However, he was unableto find the slightest clue, and at dark he abandoned the search with aheavy heart.
Having failed to discover any evidence of his friend, Running Fox was indoubt as to just what to do. He still hoped that Spotted Deer might besafe, and in that case he believed that he would eventually return tothe meeting place. Running Fox realized, therefore, that unless he, too,returned, Spotted Deer might go in search of him. He told himself thatin that event they might never find each other. On the other hand ifSpotted Deer had been captured each moment was precious, and Running Foxdreaded to think what might happen if he blundered into a wrongdecision. At daylight, however, he determined to return to the placewhere they had agreed to meet.
The day had ended when Running Fox finally arrived at the appointedrendezvous. He approached the spot with high hopes. At each stride heexpected to hear the familiar signal from his friend. When he failed tohear it, he stopped and again whistled the notes of the white-throatedsparrow. Then he waited, straining his ears for the reply. There was noanswer, how
ever, and Running Fox gave way to despair. He needed nofurther proof. He was sure that Spotted Deer had fallen into the handsof his foes. As he pictured his plight, Running Fox blamed himself fornot continuing the search. He feared he had lost the chance of savingSpotted Deer. Running Fox knew only too well the hatred which theMohawks held for his people, and he felt sure that they would loselittle time in taking vengeance upon the unfortunate young captive. Thethought drove him to distraction. He determined to return at once to thedistant mountain range, and continue the search until he found theMohawks and learned the fate of his friend. However, his strength wasunequal to the task, for two days of forced traveling had completelyexhausted him. He realized, therefore, that it would be folly to attemptto do anything further until he had recovered from his exertions.
Night had already closed down, and the disconsolate young warrior threwhimself upon the ground, and moaned out his grief for his friend. Atintervals he roused himself, and sat up to listen. More than once hefancied he heard a cautious footfall near at hand, or a faint signalfarther away, and his heart bounded wildly. Each, time, however, hisimagination played him false, and his hope gave way to deeper despair.At other times he imitated the call of the little red owl. It was afavorite signal which he and Spotted Deer had used since their firsthunting expedition, and his heart ached as it went unanswered. Then histortured brain finally sought relief in sleep.
The sun was shining when Running Fox awakened. As he opened his eyes,and sat up, he exclaimed with surprise. Spotted Deer was seated withinbow-length of him.
"Yes, I am here," laughed Spotted Deer, as Running Fox continued tostare at him in speechless amazement.
"I cannot believe what I see," stammered Running Fox, as he moved overto Spotted Deer and seized his hand. "Well, now I see that you are not aghost. How did you get here?"
"I came to this place while it was dark," explained Spotted Deer. "ThenI gave the call of the little red owl. I did that many times, but no oneanswered. Then I moved around looking for you. At last I found you. Atfirst I was frightened, for I thought you were dead. When you did notmove I touched you. You did not feel it. Then I shook you. You did notfeel that either. Then I got frightened again. Well, I stooped over andlistened. I heard your breath. That made me feel good. Then I said, 'Iwill sit here beside him, and pretty soon he will open his eyes and seeme.' Well, you kept on sleeping, and pretty soon I fell asleep. When itgrew light I opened my eyes. Then I waited. Now you see me."
Running Fox spent some moments in silent meditation. He was greatlydisturbed at what Spotted Deer had told him. He realized that utterexhaustion had placed him at the mercy of any foe who might havehappened along. The thought worried him. He felt ashamed of hisweakness.
"Spotted Deer, I see you here alive--it is enough," Running Foxdeclared, warmly. "I believed that the Mohawks had caught you. Now I seethat you have escaped. I am feeling good again. But I must tell you thatI am troubled about something else. You say that you came up and tookhold of me. That is bad. A good war-leader would not let that happen. Ido not know how it happened, but I feel bad about it."
"Running Fox, you must not talk that way," replied Spotted Deer."Perhaps it will never happen again. You were very tired."
Then Running Fox told of his exhausting search to find him, and SpottedDeer instantly understood the reason for the helpless condition in whichhe had found him.
"Now I see how it happened," said Spotted Deer. "If you were not verystrong you would have been dead. Yes, if you were not a good war-leaderyou would not have come back here. We will not talk any more about it."
"Well, what did you find?" inquired Running Fox.
"I found a big war-party," declared Spotted Deer.
"Tell about it," Running Fox said, eagerly.
"Well, after I went away from here I went right to those mountains whereyou tried to find me," said Spotted Deer. "I could not see any water soI kept going ahead. Soon after the second sun I heard some signals. ThenI heard some more. That made me very cautious. Well, pretty soon I foundan old trail. It turned back this way. Then I hid myself between somerocks, and began to watch. After a long time I heard some one coming.Then two warriors went by very fast. I could not see what they lookedlike. Well, I kept watching, and pretty soon I heard many voices. Then Isaw that those people were not following the trail. They passed behindme. I followed them. When the next sun came I saw that they were movingtoward The-Place-Where-The-Cold-Comes-From. Then I climbed a high hill,and saw a big piece of water. It was about two suns' travel ahead ofthose people. Then I said, 'Hi, they are Mohawks, and their village isnear that water.' Well, I found out what I wished to know. Then I camehere."
When Spotted Deer finished speaking Running Fox remained silent. Heseemed to be thinking about what Spotted Deer had told him. The latterwatched him closely. He wondered if he had displeased him by remainingaway so long.
"Well, Running Fox, how do you feel about it?" asked Spotted Deer.
"You say that you have found out what you wished to know," repliedRunning Fox. "I am not sure about that. I, too, saw that piece of water.I came back to tell about it. I did not see any signs of the Mohawkvillage. Perhaps it is near some other piece of water. You say that youcould not tell who those warriors are. Then how do you know that theyare Mohawks? We must not be too sure about that. There is only one wayto find out. We must catch up with them. Spotted Deer, I am not sayinganything against what you have done. This is our first war-trail. Youfound those people. It was a good thing to do."
"Running Fox, you have spoken good words," declared Spotted Deer. "Now Isee that I did not find out enough about those people. Well, I will dowhatever you tell me to do."
"We will go and find them," replied Running Fox.
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