Elmer Russell Gregor

“ Running Fox declared, suddenly. "We must hold out until our people come to help us."
"How will they know about it?" Crooked Foot asked, in surprise.
"I will try to go to them," Running Fox said, quietly.
"No, no, you must not do that," Spotted Deer said, anxiously. "You have risked your life to help me. You must not risk your life again. If you try to do this thing, the Mohawks may catch you. If they see who you are, terrible things will happen to you. Come, Running Fox, we will all try to get away. Then if the Mohawks catch us, we will die together." ”

“ 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." ”

“ They feared that a canoe was somewhere near.
"Come, jump into the bushes!" cried Running Fox.
They hid themselves and looked anxiously up the river. The paddle was near the shore and appeared to be drifting still nearer. They watched it in trying suspense. They longed to secure it, but still they feared to make the attempt.
"Perhaps the Mohawks saw us," said Yellow Wolf. "Perhaps they threw that paddle into the water to fool us. If we try to get it we may be killed."
"Yes, I believe it is a trick," Dancing Owl said, suspiciously. ”

“ He turned and spoke briefly to his tribesmen. A company of warriors came forward and formed a circle about the Delaware. They carried their weapons and were painted for war. The Shawnees greeted them with shouts of approval. For a few moments they stood, glaring fiercely at the prisoner. Then they began to move slowly about the fire, stepping in time with the rhythm of a slow, mournful chant. ”

“ Once overtaken by those fierce foes from the north, Spotted Deer feared that the little company would be speedily annihilated. For him, however, death would be preferable to falling into the hands of the Mohawks. Having escaped from their village, with his friend Running Fox who had carried away a priceless medicine trophy, and then killed their famous chief, Standing Wolf, Spotted Deer knew only too well the punishment that would be inflicted upon him. If, therefore, the Mohawks were on the trail of the Shawnees he was as eager as his captors to elude them. ”

“ Soon afterward the Mohawks returned within bow-range. They commenced to taunt and threaten and sing their war songs. Then they began to move closer. The heavy stand of timber offered them splendid shelter. They darted quickly from tree to tree, and the Delawares caught only swift, momentary glimpses of them. It was a crafty, cautious method of attack which enabled the Mohawks to advance upon their foes with little peril to themselves.
"They are getting close, we must stop them," Crooked Foot said, anxiously.
"Wait," cautioned Spotted Deer. "If you shoot your arrows you will hit the trees. ”

“ The place which Dancing Owl had indicated was several arrow-flights farther along the river. He was eager to approach it, but Running Fox counseled caution.
"Wait," he said. "Perhaps there is some one there. We will watch and listen."
"Your words are good," declared Yellow Wolf.
They waited some time, and then as they discovered nothing to arouse their fears they moved noiselessly toward the place where the fire had burned. They had gone less than a bow-shot, however, when Dancing Owl suddenly collided with a great black form that rose from the trail. ”

“ In the meantime the Mohawks had become quiet, and it was evident that they had abandoned the search and were waiting for the darkness to pass.
"It is bad," said Crooked Foot. "When it gets light, they will come in here and kill us."
"We must fight them off," declared Yellow Wolf.
"Perhaps we can get away before the light comes," proposed Dancing Owl.
"No, it is useless to try to get past them," Running Fox told him. "There are many Mohawks around this place. They are watching sharp. If we try to go out, they will kill us." ”

“ Running Fox promised her. "Be quick, tell me who you are."
"He knows," she murmured, as she rushed upon Spotted Deer and pretended to claw at his eyes.
Then Many Beavers and the war leader approached, and she hurried away. For some moments the Shawnees stared sullenly upon their foes. Then Walking Bear stepped forward and freed the Delawares from the stake. He showed no inclination to unbind their hands.
"Delawares, we will let you walk away," he said. "We will see if a Delaware will do as he proposes to do. If you kill Big Dog and Striking Bear, we will surely come and wipe away your people. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The Delawares, however, hunted them out with the calm, thorough persistence of wolves. They took a terrible vengeance upon the fierce foes who had attempted to annihilate their tribesmen. Few of the Mohawks escaped. Those that got away fled wildly toward the north to carry the news of their disaster to their people.
"My brothers, you are alive—it is enough," cried Running Fox, as he rushed to meet his friends.
"Running Fox, you have given us our lives," cried Crooked Foot. "You are a great war leader."
"My brother, you took me away from the Shawnees," Spotted Deer said, with emotion. ”

“ We must go to fight the boastful Shawnees. Come out when you are ready. The way is clear. Listen, I am going to tell my friends to go away. You must not try to harm us. If you do, perhaps we will have to kill you."
"Go, Mohawk, we will save our arrows," laughed Yellow Wolf.
They heard the Mohawk talking loudly to his companions. A few moments afterward they saw many of the Mohawks retreating cautiously into the shadows. They knew at once that it was a wily trick to lure them into the open, and they felt sure that a strong force of scouts was still lurking within bow-shot. ”

“ When the long night finally passed, they felt confident that Running Fox had escaped. The thought thrilled them. They knew that if they could stand off the Mohawks, a strong force of Delawares would eventually come to their rescue.
"We must be strong," said Spotted Deer. "I believe Running Fox will bring our people."
At daylight they heard the owl-calls around the edge of the swamp. They were repeated many times until the woods rang with the weird chorus. The Mohawks were exchanging signals. The Delawares felt certain that their foes were getting ready to close in. ”

“ Then the three Delawares sped safely away while the bewildered Shawnees were hiding in the woods in fear of an attack from a large war party of Delawares. Dancing Owl told the story to his friends with great delight.
"It was a great thing to do," laughed Yellow Wolf. "The Delawares are too sharp for the foolish Shawnees."
"Yes, yes," agreed Dancing Owl. "If Spotted Deer is alive we will fool the Shawnees and carry him away."
"Well, if the Shawnees have killed Spotted Deer, I do not care what becomes of me," declared Running Fox. ”

“ If any harm comes to me, Big Dog and Striking Bear will die. If I do not bring back Spotted Deer before another sun comes, then they must die. Now you know about it. If you let your people kill me, you will know that they are also killing your brothers. I have spoken."
He stooped and freed Many Beavers. Then he ordered him to rise. The Shawnee obeyed. The Delawares watched suspiciously. They had serious misgivings about the outcome of the adventure.
"My brothers, keep my words," said Running Fox. "If I do not bring Spotted Deer here before the next sun comes, then you must kill these Shawnees. ”

“ What had become of the concealed scout who had imitated the cry of the loon? Spotted Deer began to think. Had he been deceived? Had Quiquingus himself uttered that cry? Spotted Deer scoffed at the idea. He felt sure that he would have discovered the bird if it had been anywhere within sight. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Spotted Deer watched closely along the edge of the timber. He knew that it would be easy to blunder past a canoe concealed in the shadows near the shore. Several times he was deceived by half-submerged trunks of fallen trees which in the baffling twilight resembled canoes. Then, as he paddled slowly around an abrupt turn in the river, he suddenly discovered two canoes crossing directly ahead of him. Each canoe contained two paddlers. They were a considerable distance away, but as Spotted Deer was exposed in the center of the river he had little doubt that he had been seen. ”

“ The scout straightened and raised a piercing yell that reverberated threateningly through the swamp. Dancing Owl prepared to shoot his arrow at him, but he sprang behind a tree.
"Well, my brothers, the Mohawks have found us," said Spotted Deer. "Now we must fight. We are in a good place. If you save your arrows until our enemies come close, it will be hard for them to reach us. I believe we can hold them off a long time. Keep close behind these trees. We must keep alive until our brothers come."
Having found their foes, the Mohawks immediately surrounded their hiding place. ”

“ Running Fox examined the signs. He agreed with Turning Eagle that one of those who had slept there was a prisoner.
"It must have been Spotted Deer," declared Running Fox. "Now we must try to find him. Come, we will follow those people."
He led the way along the trail. For some distance it was plain and easy to follow, and Running Fox marveled at the carelessness of his foes. It appeared that the travelers had little fear of being pursued.
"The Shawnees are like foolish old women," said Yellow Wolf. "They leave many signs." ”

“ The Shawnees jested laughingly. He knew they were rejoicing at his discomfort. He strove heroically to conceal it, but his arms were stiff and swollen and he found great difficulty in raising the food to his month.
"You are a young man, but we will make you old," laughed the Shawnee. "Your arms are already too weak to pull the bow. See how you shake! Are you frightened?"
Sharp words rushed to the lips of Spotted Deer but he kept them back. He realized that an outburst of anger would invite a fresh attack from his foes. ”

“ Then one of the warriors freed him. Spotted Deer again found his arms powerless.
"Come, Delaware, eat some meat so that you will be strong when we come to kill you," the Shawnee leader said, threateningly.
"A Delaware is always strong," Spotted Deer replied, boastfully.
"Well, we will see about it," laughed the Shawnee. "There is an old woman out there who is talking bad against you. She is a Mystery Woman. No one knows how she came here. She has been here a long time. She has done some big things. My people will listen to her words. She says the Delawares killed her people. ”

“ Dancing Owl and Turning Eagle were young warriors about the age of Running Fox. Both were noted for their courage and ability. Dancing Owl had killed a number of Mohawks and had been captured by the Shawnees. Turning Eagle was a famous scout. Yellow Wolf and Painted Hawk and Crooked Foot were seasoned veterans of the war trail. Each was the hero of many thrilling exploits. Running Fox had great confidence in the warriors whom he had chosen to accompany him. He believed that once on the trail of Spotted Deer, they would follow it into the Mohawk camp if it became necessary. ”

“ We have done what we came to do. Now we must try to get back to our people before something bad happens to us."
"Yes, my brothers, we must keep going," declared Crooked Foot. "I believe the Shawnees will try hard to turn us back."
The reckless scramble down the rough hillside was a severe ordeal for Spotted Deer. The slope was strewn with bowlders and tree trunks, and a dense tangle of brush and vines concealed the pitfalls. Spotted Deer stumbled painfully over the obstructions, striving heroically to conceal his agony. Running Fox, however, was keenly aware of his suffering. ”