CHAPTER IV--IN THE GRIP OF THE RAPIDS
The sun was already above the tree-tops when Running Fox finallyrejoined Spotted Deer at the river. They seated themselves on a fallentree, and Running Fox showed his trophies and described his encounterwith the bear. When Spotted Deer heard about the peculiar white patch onthe bear's shoulder he suggested that it might have been caused by aformer arrow wound. Running Fox scoffed at the idea, however, andinsisted that the mark had been placed there by Getanittowit.
"Yes, I believe that must be the way of it," Spotted Deer agreed,finally.
Running Fox said that they must eat the heart of the bear to comply withthe instructions which he had received in his dream. They kindled a tinyfire, and broiled the meat on a willow branch. Then, after Running Foxhad sung several medicine-songs to pacify the spirit of the bear, thesuperstitious young warriors divided the precious trophy and ate it withsolemn ceremony.
"Now I will tell you something," said Spotted Deer. "After you went awayI began to look around. I walked along beside the water. Pretty soon Iheard a loud noise. Then I came to a place where the water goes veryfast. It makes a great noise and jumps up and down. Yes, it looks verymad. I do not like that place. I believe the Bad Water Spirits livethere. I have heard my father tell about them. He says that they arevery fierce, and are always fighting down there under the water. Yes,that is what makes the commotion. My father has told me that when anyone falls into such a place he is broken against the rocks, and eaten bythose Bad Water Spirits."
"Yes, that is so, I have heard about it," declared Running Fox.
"Well, I stood there a long time watching that place," continued SpottedDeer. "Then I went ahead. Pretty soon I saw a long strip of woods outthere in the middle of the water. I heard many birds singing in thetrees, and I stopped to listen. Then I saw some big rocks sticking outof the water. As I was looking at them I saw a very big fish jumpingalong between the rocks and the woods. Pretty soon I saw another. Myeyes told me that it was Schawanammek, the great sturgeon. Well, I keptwatching and I saw many of those big fish passing along. Then I saw howthey came to be in that place. The water was very swift all around thatstrip of land, but between the rocks and the woods it was not so bad.Well, when I saw those big fish I wanted to spear some of them with myarrows. I said, 'Hi, I will swim out to that place and kill some ofthose fish.' Then I saw how swift the water was, and I heard the noiseof that bad place below. Well, I began to think about it. I said, 'Iwill wait until Running Fox comes back, and then we will talk about it.'Now we will go and see it."
"Yes, let us go," proposed Running Fox, as his eyes lighted withenthusiasm.
As the lads hurried along the river they soon heard the sullen roar ofthe rapids, and their hearts bounded at the sound. Then they came uponthe long stretch of tossing white-caps, and they stopped and looked withsuperstitious awe upon the wild tumult of the waters. It was aterrifying spectacle. As Spotted Deer had said, the river appeared tohave been roused into a fury. It raged past in great surging waves thatcrashed against the rocks and sent drenching showers of spray high intothe air. In the calmer reaches the water whirled down into seethingblack pools which sucked down into their dismal depths whatever thetorrent tossed into them. The Delawares shuddered as they looked uponthem, for they seemed like doors to that weird underwater world wherethe Bad Water Spirits were supposed to dwell.
"That is a bad place," Banning Fox said, solemnly.
"Come, let us hurry away," proposed Spotted Deer.
A short distance beyond the head of the rapids they came opposite thewooded island which Spotted Deer had described. They had not watched itmany moments before they saw a great fish jump from the water betweenthe rocks and the shore.
"See, there is Schawanammek!" Spotted Deer cried, excitedly.
"Yes, I saw him," replied Running Fox. "Look, there goes another."
They watched several large sturgeon fight their way through the narrowchannel that separated the rocks from the island.
"Well, now you see how it is," said Spotted Deer. "Do you feel strongenough to swim out there and kill some of those fish?"
For some moments Running Fox continued to study the water in silence.The river was smooth but swift at that spot, and the head of the rapidswas dangerously near. Their angry roar sounded an ominous warning, andRunning Fox hesitated. He realized that the adventure was filled withperil, and wondered whether he ought to risk himself for the mere sportof killing Schawanammek. It seemed foolhardy for one bound upon animportant mission to take unnecessary chances. However, as the greatfish continued to show themselves Running Fox began to waver. Then hesuddenly realized that Spotted Deer was awaiting his decision, and thelatter's proposal instantly seemed like a challenge. Running Foxbelieved that Spotted Deer might be testing his courage. The possibilitymade him reckless. Under those circumstances he would have tried toreach the island even though he knew that the attempt was certain tocost him his life.
"Spotted Deer, I am going to swim out to that place, and kill some ofthose fish," declared Running Fox. "Will you go with me?"
"Yes, I will go," Spotted Deer replied, quietly.
"It will be a hard thing to do," Running Fox warned him. "That water isvery strong. It will carry us along very fast. We must go farther ahead,before we start to swim. If we get to that place perhaps we cannot getaway again. I do not know how it will be. Well, I am going to do thisthing no matter how it comes out."
They walked along the shore until they were several bow-shots above theisland. Then, after they had concealed their robes and moccasins in thebushes, they tied their bows and arrow-cases on their backs and wadedinto the water. As it reached their knees they began to feel itsstrength, Each stride forward made it more difficult to remain upontheir feet. When they had waded in waist-deep they threw themselvesforward and began to swim.
Once started, the lads swam boldly toward the middle of the river. Eachstroke took them into swifter water, and they soon realized theseriousness of their adventure. Still they had no thought of turningback. The river swept them along at startling speed, and they swamdesperately to get in line with the island. As they neared it they weredismayed to see great boulders directly ahead of them. They knew thatunless they could get beyond them they would be swept against them anddestroyed.
"Come, we must swim harder," cried Running Fox.
They redoubled their efforts. Every moment was precious. Running Fox wasthe stronger swimmer, and he began to fear for Spotted Deer who wasseveral bow-lengths behind him. However, Spotted Deer saw his peril, andwas struggling desperately to place himself beyond the path of theboulders. At last his efforts were successful, and he followed RunningFox to the head of the island. They found a shallow place where theymanaged to get upon their feet and scramble safely to the shore.
"Hi, that was a hard fight," panted Spotted Deer, as they sat down torecover from their exertions.
"Spotted Deer, I see that we have done a foolish thing," Running Foxsaid, soberly.
"Are you thinking about those Bad Water Spirits?" inquired Spotted Deer,as he looked toward the rapids.
"No, I am not thinking about those mysterious people, but I believe wehave got ourselves into a trap," declared Running Fox. "It was a hardfight to get to this place, but it will be harder to get away."
The idea sobered them. For the moment they forgot all aboutSchawanammek, the great sturgeon. As they watched the river sweepingpast them, and heard the angry challenge of the rapids, they suddenlyrealized that they had placed themselves in a serious predicament.
"Well, we have come here to kill some of those big fish," said RunningFox, attempting to make light of the adventure.
"Yes, let us go and find them," proposed Spotted Deer.
They moved carefully along the wooded shore of the island until theyreached the narrow channel between the island and the boulders. Thewater was comparatively quiet at that place, and they were able to wadeout to a large flat-topped rock upon which they seated th
emselves towatch for sturgeon. As they waited for the first big fish to appear theycast many uneasy glances toward the rapids. They appeared uncomfortablynear the lower end of the island. The noise seemed much louder. The ladswondered whether they had underestimated the distance between the islandand that long stretch of white-crested waves. Then a sturgeon enteredthe narrow channel, and all else was forgotten.
"Hi, here comes Sehawanammek!" cried Spotted Deer, as he hastilyprepared his bow.
As the great fish swam past the rock Spotted Deer drove his arrow intoit. It floundered helplessly for a moment or so, and Running Fox alsosent an arrow into its body. Then, to the surprise of the excited youngDelawares, the sturgeon turned and flashed down the channel with thecurrent. A few moments afterward they saw it drifting helplessly intothe rapids.
"That is bad," said Spotted Deer. "We have lost two good arrows, andSchawanammek has fooled us."
"Well, we have sent some good food to Gunammachk, the otter," laughedRunning Fox.
It was some time before another sturgeon appeared, and that, too, wouldhave been swept away by the river if Running Fox had not jumpedrecklessly into the water and seized it. Aided by Spotted Deer hedragged it to the island, and pulled it into the bushes.
"Well, we have killed Schawanammek," said Spotted Deer. "Now we must eatsome of his flesh. Then we will be able to swim through the bad placeslike he does."
"Yes, I believe it will be a good thing to do," agreed Running Fox.
Having left their fire-sticks with their robes, the lads were compelledto eat the fish raw. Then they began to think about leaving the island.They had no desire to waste more arrows on such easy game.
"Now we must get away from here," said Running Fox.
"I see that it will be a hard thing to do," declared Spotted Deer. "Ibelieve I was very foolish to talk about coming here. Now I have got youinto a bad place. I do not like that."
"Spotted Deer, I came here because I wanted to show you that I was notafraid. It was a foolish thing to do. Perhaps those Bad Water Spiritswill kill us. Then our people will say, 'Running Fox was not sharpenough to escape from the Mohawks.' I am sorry I came here."
They walked to the head of the island, and looked longingly toward theforest on the river bank. It seemed a long ways off, and the waterlooked very swift. Their task was to reach the shore before the currentcarried them into the rapids. They knew that to do that they would haveto swim even harder and faster than they swam to reach the island.Running Fox believed that he might be equal to the task, but he hadgrave misgivings about Spotted Deer. The latter, however, felt quite asconfident as Running Fox. Before they entered the water Running Fox sangseveral of the medicine-songs which old Sky Dog had taught him for justsuch emergencies. Then, having asked Getanittowit to help them, the ladsbegan their perilous battle with the river.
It was impossible to make any headway directly against the current, andthe lads swam at a sharp angle but with their faces turned up the river.They had not gone far, however, before they saw that they wereexhausting themselves without gaining enough to make the effort worthwhile. Then Running Fox turned and swam directly across the current. Hefound himself sweeping rapidly down the river, and he had grave doubtsof reaching the shore before he drifted into the rapids. Each moment heheard their angry roar growing louder in his ears, and it nerved him togreater efforts. Calling upon Spotted Deer to increase his exertionsRunning Fox began a furious fight against the current. Strive as hemight, however, he was unable to stay his mad flight down the river. Therapids were now only half as far away as they were when he started, andRunning Fox began to lose heart. He had gone only a third of thedistance between the shore and the island and each bow-length he driftedfound him in rougher water. It suddenly dawned on him that it would beimpossible to escape the rapids. For a moment the thought overwhelmedhim, and he was on the point of surrendering. Then he heard a wilddespairing cry behind him. Looking over his shoulder, he saw SpottedDeer turning back toward the island. Running Fox knew at once that theexhausted lad would never reach his goal. Twisting about he swam withthe current to intercept Spotted Deer in his wild plunge down the river.
"Come, Spotted Deer, show your courage!" cried Running Fox.
The challenge roused Spotted Deer to heroic efforts. He fought just longenough to enable Running Fox to get in line with him, and then he ceasedstruggling.
"Come, follow me!" shouted Running Fox. "Do not waste yourself. Let thewater carry you. Watch out for the bad places."
A moment later they were sweeping toward the rapids. Running Fox pickedthe route, and Spotted Deer tried to follow him. There was little chanceto swim. All they could do was to keep themselves afloat, and try tododge the rocks and whirlpools. It was a desperate chance, and the oddswere all against them. However, it was the only chance for life andRunning Fox had decided to take it. When they reached the head of therapids they shot forward into a stifling smother of white-caps. Thenthey swirled down through the raging inferno of water at terrific speed.Monster waves surged over them, huge boulders flashed by withinbow-length. Running Fox found it impossible to pick a route, and,terrified and bewildered, he confined his efforts to keeping his headabove the surface and left the rest to chance. As for Spotted Deer, helost sight of his companion as soon as they entered the rapids, and he,too, thought only of keeping from going down into the clutches of theBad Water Spirits. Gasping, choking and struggling, the unfortunate ladswere carried down the river. Once Running Fox crashed into a boulder,but fortunately it was a glancing blow and he escaped with nothing moreserious than bruises. Spotted Deer drifted into one of the sucking blackpools, and in some miraculous manner was whirled around the edge andthrown back into the current. There seemed no hope that either of theswimmers would escape with his life.
Running Fox, however, finally reached the end of the rapids alive. Whenhe found himself afloat in calm water he could scarcely believe his goodfortune. His first thought was for Spotted Deer. He was nowhere insight. What had become of him? There seemed but one answer. He had beenpulled down by the Bad Water Spirits. Running Fox looked toward therapids, and his eyes glowed savagely. Then he saw something bobbing downthrough the waves, and a great hope entered his heart.
"Fight, Spotted Deer! Fight! I am here to help you!" screamed RunningFox, as he saw the form of his friend sweeping toward the end of therapids.
His words were useless, however, for Spotted Deer could not hear them.As his limp body finally shot into the still water and sank from sight,Running Fox dove after it and brought him to the surface. Then he swampainfully to the shore with him, and placed him tenderly on the beach.There was an ugly wound over his eye, and his limbs were bruised andswollen. Running Fox himself was bloody and bruised, but he gave nothought to his wounds. Bending frantically over his friend he workedfeverishly to expel the water from his lungs. He had seen his peoplerestore more than one unfortunate swimmer, and he had hopes of bringingSpotted Deer back to life. However, his efforts seemed in vain and hecalled hysterically upon Getanittowit for aid.
"O Getanittowit, see what the Bad Water Spirits have done," he cried. "OGetanittowit, take pity on me, and give me back my brother, SpottedDeer. See, Getanittowit, he is sleeping. O Getanittowit, take pity onhim and wake him up."
Then he worked with renewed energy. Still Spotted Deer showed no signsof life. Running Fox was on the verge of collapse. He realized that hewould soon be unable to continue his efforts. The thought roused him.Then, when he had given up hope, Spotted Deer sighed and opened hiseyes. He stared stupidly at Running Fox, and again lapsed intounconsciousness. Still he was alive, and that was sufficient for RunningFox. His strength returned, and he continued his exertions until SpottedDeer regained consciousness. Then, as the latter smiled and whisperedhis name, Running Fox fell exhausted beside him.
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