CHAPTER III--A THRILLING ADVENTURE
The sun was well above the mountains before the young Delawaresdescended to the river, and resumed the perilous journey into the north.Running Fox told Spotted Deer about the strange medicine-creatures thathad appeared in his dream, and Spotted Deer became quite excited.
"That was a wonderful thing to happen to a person," he declared,impressively. "You must do whatever those mysterious animals told you todo. I cannot help you. You must do those things alone. I have heard myfather say that."
"It is true," agreed Running Fox. "If you try to help me it might dogreat harm."
As the lads were still well within the northern boundary of the vastDelaware hunting grounds, they had little fear of an immediate encounterwith their foes-Still they were cautious, for they knew that such anexperience was not impossible, as both Shawnees and Iroquois frequentlyinvaded that territory to hunt and fish. The Shawnees were a powerfulnation living farther to the westward, with whom the Delawares hadfought many desperate battles.
The day was about half spent when Running Fox suddenly dropped to hisknees, and called excitedly to Spotted Deer. The fresh trail of a bearcrossed a narrow strip of gravelly beach and disappeared into the woods.The tracks were huge, and it was evident that the animal had onlyrecently crossed the river.
"See, here is the track of Machque," said Running Fox, as he measuredthe footprints with his hands. "He must be very big, and very fierce. Hecannot be far off. I will follow his trail, and try to kill him. SpottedDeer, you must wait until I come back. Perhaps it will take a long timeto do this thing, but you must wait. It is the only thing to do."
"I would like to go with you, but I believe it would be bad," declaredSpotted Deer. "You must do as it appeared in your dream. I will wait."
A moment afterward Running Fox followed the tracks into the forest. Thelad had been well trained in the art of hunting by his father, and hissharp eyes had little difficulty in keeping the trail. It led him alongthe side of a rocky hillside, and then down into the bushy tangle of adark spruce swamp. The footprints looked very fresh, and Running Foxmoved forward as noiselessly as a lynx. He stopped after every fewstrides to look, and listen and sniff. He had never killed a bear but hehad heard the hunters tell many stories about that crafty beast, and heknew that it was only by using the utmost caution that he could hope toget within bow-shot. He crossed the swamp without coming in sight of hisquarry, and followed the tracks over the top of another rocky hill. Ashe was climbing carefully toward the summit he came upon an ant-hillthat had been dug open by the bear. The demoralized ants were stillrushing frantically over the wreck of their lodge. On the other side ofthe hill Running Fox lost the trail on a steep ledge of smooth grayrock. Circling carefully around the ledge he finally picked up thetracks leading down into a narrow ravine that penetrated far back intothe hills. As the sides of the gully were covered with blueberry bushes,the young Delaware understood why the bear had chosen that route. He sawmany crushed and uprooted plants which told him that the hear wasfeeding upon the berries. Running Fox hurried along the ravine in thehope of overtaking the bear at its feast, but although the trail seemedcontinually to grow fresher the eager young hunter was unable to getwithin sight of his quarry.
The ravine at last led up to a wide grassy plateau closed in on threesides by low hardwood ridges. It looked like an ideal feeding ground forelk and deer, and Running Fox saw several well-trod trails leadingthrough it. Then he saw something more interesting. Far over in theopposite corner of the plateau he discovered some animal lying down. Itwas beyond bow-shot, and Running Fox began to study how he mightapproach without being seen. When he had watched some moments he decidedthat the distant object was either an elk or a deer. As it failed tomove he concluded that it was asleep. Then he suddenly thought of thebear tracks. They led directly out into the open plateau, and toward themysterious object in the farther corner. Running Fox was perplexed. Heknew that what he saw was not the bear. Still he realized that whateverit was it had come there after the bear had passed. The idea did notsatisfy him, however, for he told himself that unless the bear had goneby a long time before, the keen nose of an elk or a deer would instantlyhave found the dreaded scent. In that event neither of those warycreatures would be likely to sleep on the fresh trail of their enemy.Running Fox felt positive that the bear had but recently crossed theplateau, for the grass which had been trodden down was still springingupright. Then the solution flashed into his mind--the animal he saw wasdead.
Having come to that decision Running Fox began to look for the bear. Hefelt quite sure that it was somewhere near the carcass, unless it haddiscovered him and rushed away. Still he rather doubted that, for thewind was in his favor, and besides he believed that a bear as large asthe one he had followed would be in no great hurry to run off. He hadoften heard his father tell how a bear would loiter in the vicinity ofsuch a bait for several days, feeding when hunger prompted and sleepingin some nearby thicket between meals. Running Fox also realized that thebear might have been feeding as he approached, and upon catching sightor scent of him had retreated into the woods to watch. In any event hetold himself that the first thing to do was to go and examine the bait.
Running Fox made his way cautiously along the edge of the plateau,taking advantage of whatever cover offered itself, and advancing againstthe wind. When he finally came within bow-shot of the bait he saw thatit was an elk. Then he sat down to watch and listen. After he had waiteda long time without seeing or hearing anything of the bear, he wentforward to examine the elk. It was an old bull that apparently had diedfrom old age. Running Fox was surprised to find that almost one wholeside of the animal had already been eaten. He also saw that somethinghad been tearing at the carcass but a short time previously. The grasswas well trampled all about the bait, and Running Fox identified thetracks of many different animals. The freshest tracks, however, were thehuge footprints of the bear which he had followed from the river.Running Fox believed that the bear was feeding upon the carcass when itsuddenly became aware of his approach, and retreated into the woods. Hefelt quite certain that it would return, and he determined to concealhimself and watch.
The Delaware found much to interest him as he sat quietly in his hidingplace and waited for the bear to return. A flock of crows were the firstto appear. They made a great racket as they circled about the elk, andthe eyes of the young hunter flashed with anger. He knew from experiencethat those noisy birds gave warning to all the wild things of the woods,and he feared that their senseless commotion might arouse the suspicionsof the bear. They soon flew away, however, and Running Fox felt muchrelieved. A short time afterward he saw something moving along the edgeof the timber at the other end of the plateau. In a few moments heidentified it as a deer. He took its appearance for proof that the bearwas not at the moment anywhere near. Then, as he watched the warycreature browsing in the shadow of the woods, he heard soft, stealthyfootfalls directly behind him. Fitting an arrow to his how, Running Foxturned in time to find himself facing a large red fox. Before thesurprised creature could bound to safety the expert young Delaware senthis arrow through its heart.
Recalling the advice of the medicine-fox which had appeared in hisdream, Running Fox crawled noiselessly through the brush, and cut theears from his victim. He saw that the fox was very old, as its teethwere worn almost to the gums. The discovery filled him with joy, for hefelt sure that by carrying the ears of that wise old chief he wouldbecome as sharp and crafty himself.
Then for a long time nothing more appeared, and Running Fox began togrow restless. The day was almost at an end, and he feared that SpottedDeer would become impatient. Still he had no thought of leaving theplateau, and was determined to spend the night there if the bear failedto appear before dark. At sunset, however, he heard some large animalmoving through the woods. It sounded too heavy for a deer, and too noisyfor an elk, so that Running Fox believed it must be the bear. His heartbounded at the thought. He had heard many stories a
bout thrillingbattles with those great beasts of the wilderness, and he hoped that he,too, might experience such an adventure. Then, as the sounds drewnearer, all else was forgotten as the eager lad hurriedly fitted anarrow to his bow, and fixed his eyes on the edge of the woods.
Running Fox was not kept long in suspense. In a few moments he saw thebushes swaying, and the next instant a bear walked into the open. It wasnot the huge creature which Running Fox had pictured in his mind, buthis disappointment soon gave way to surprise as two half-grown cubsimmediately followed their mother from the woods. All three animals soonwalked within range, but the bewildered young hunter withheld his arrow.He feared to kill the mother bear and her young lest he should offendthe great medicine-bear which had appeared in his dream. Besides, hetold himself that a warrior could scarcely boast of such a feat. Hewatched, therefore, while the old bear led her cubs to the carcass ofthe elk, and began to feed.
Some time later when the mother bear raised her head and sniffed theair, Running Fox instantly became alert. As the old bear continued towatch the woods, the lad began to hope that the animal he had followedmight be returning. However, the bear soon resumed feeding, and RunningFox believed that he was again doomed to disappointment. At that verymoment, however, a stick cracked over in the spot toward which themother bear had been looking. She again raised her head and sniffed.Then she began to growl. Running Fox watched anxiously. For some momentsall was still, but the bear continued to growl, and sniff suspiciously.Then a great black object appeared at the edge of the woods. Running Foxknew at once that it was the bear he had trailed from the river. As itwalked slowly into the open and he saw how big it was he could scarcelybelieve his eyes. It seemed to be very fierce, for it approached thebait growling and snapping its jaws. As it drew near Running Fox saw around white spot, half as large as his hand, directly behind itsshoulder. It immediately fired the imagination of the superstitiousyoung Delaware. He believed that Getanittowit had placed that mark uponthe bear to guide the Delaware arrow.
Running Fox had been so absorbed in watching the approach of the giantthat for the moment he had forgotten all about the mother bear and hercubs. Now he heard her growling and gnashing her teeth. He had expectedto see her dash away at the first sight of the intruder, but she showedno such intention. Instead she gave every evidence of disputing theright of ownership which the big bear apparently intended to assert.Running Fox looked upon her with admiration as she stood there snappingher jaws, and growling defiance at the huge brute that threatened her.For a few moments the big bear stood watching her in surprise. He seemedpuzzled by her unexpected show of resistance. Then it roused hisfighting spirit, and he rushed forward roaring furiously.
As the cubs dashed for the timber, squealing with terror, the motherbear prepared to meet the attack. She appeared scarcely more than halfthe size of the monster that had attacked her, and yet she seemed quiteas fierce and eager to fight as he. When the big bear came within rangeshe rushed at him, and he reared and attempted to fall upon her. She wastoo quick, however, and as he crashed down she rushed in and closed herjaws upon a hind leg. Wheeling with the agility of a panther, he snappedviciously at her neck, but she released her hold and jumped tuck in timeto save herself. Then he rushed at her in blind fury, and knocked heroff her feet. Turning upon her back, she clawed him like a wildcat.Snarling, biting and tearing, the maddened beasts fought with a furythat meant destruction to the vanquished. It soon became evident thatthe mother bear was doomed to defeat. The tremendous bulk and strengthof her antagonist made him invincible. He was inflicting terriblepunishment upon his courageous foe, and it seemed only a matter ofmoments before he would have her completely at his mercy.
However, it was at that stage of the encounter that Running Fox joinedin the fray. Completely carried away by the fierceness of the fight, thelad jumped to his feet and shot his arrow at the big bear. In hisexcitement, however, he missed his aim, and the arrow struck about ahand-width above the white patch behind the shoulder. The bear twistedabout and snapped off the shaft close to its body. Then both bearscaught sight of him, and immediately ceased fighting. For a moment, asthey stood glaring at him and snarling, it looked as if they intended tounite in attacking their common enemy. Then, as Running Fox drove asecond arrow into the body of the giant, the latter rushed forwardalone. At that instant the cubs began whimpering at the edge of theforest, and the mother bear, weak and suffering from a score of uglywounds, ambled painfully off to join them. As the great bear cameroaring down upon him the young Delaware realized that he was fightingfor his life, and the thought steadied him. Twice more he sent hisarrows tearing into the great muscular body, but they seemed to havelittle effect. The infuriated bear stopped just long enough to snap atthe feathered shafts, and then it made a final rush at its foe. However,during that momentary delay Running Fox had fitted another arrow to hisbow. He held it until the bear was only a few paces away, and then, asit rose unsteadily upon its hind legs, he uttered the shrill Delawarewar-cry and drove the arrow deep between its fore legs. The giantcrashed to the ground, and the excited lad immediately rushed forward tostrike it with his war-club. At that moment, however, the bear suddenlyrecovered and struggled to its feet. The surprised young hunter almostcollided with it. It struck savagely at him, but he jumped aside, andshot an arrow into the fatal mark behind the shoulder. It finished thefight. The bear sank slowly to the ground, and lay still. This time,however, Running Fox was more cautious, and he remained at a safedistance until the last signs of life had vanished. Then he ran eagerlyforward and began to cut off the great curved claws.
By the time Running Fox had finished his task darkness had alreadyfallen, and as he was a considerable distance from the river hedetermined to remain where he was until daylight. Then he suddenlythought of the wounded mother bear. He feared that she was too badlyhurt to travel far away, and he had already seen enough of her temper tomake him cautious about risking an encounter in the dark. He left theplateau, therefore, and spent the night farther down the ravine.
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