Running Fox

by Frances Trego Montgomery

  CHAPTER XV--A BATTLE WITH THE CHIPPEWAS

  For a long time the lads were kept in continual doubt as to whether theywere to live or die. Then they unexpectedly found a friend in the youngson of one of the Mohawk medicine-men, a man of great influence withStanding Wolf. From that time their uncertainty was set at rest. Theyoung Mohawk made them understand that they were not to be killed. Sometime later, when he had learned to express himself in the Delawaretongue, he told why Running Fox had been spared.

  The Mohawk said that Standing Wolf had determined to kill Running Fox,but the medicine-man interfered. The latter had had a dream concerningthe youthful prisoners, and declared that a great calamity would fallupon the camp if they were put to death. At first Standing Wolf paidlittle attention to him, and prepared to carry out his revenge. However,at the very moment when Running Fox was tied to the torture stakemisfortunes began to fall upon the camp. First an old man fell and brokehis leg. Then a child of one of the women who was participating in theattack on Running Fox died suddenly while the mother was in the act ofbeating the prisoner. As a climax the medicine-bundle fell from itstripod in the sacred lodge, as the warriors were dancing about thestake. Word of the strange coincidences was instantly carried to theMohawk chief, and when the alarmed medicine-man himself rushed up andtold what had happened to the medicine-bundle even Standing Wolf becamefilled with superstitious awe, and immediately altered his decisionregarding the fate of the captive.

  The Delawares showed great interest in the Mohawk medicine-bundle, andasked a number of questions concerning it. They asked in vain, however,for the young Mohawk only shook his head, and pretended to misunderstandthem. Fearing that further questioning might arouse his suspicions, theyimmediately changed the topic of conversation.

  Although Standing Wolf had spared the lives of the Delawares, he usedevery means in his power to annoy and humiliate them. For a long time hecompelled them to go about the village with their hands loosely boundbehind them, so that they were powerless to save themselves from theattacks of the women and children whom he made no attempt to restrain.He also kept them on the verge of starvation, and fed them with the mostunpalatable scraps from the camp. They were warned that if theyapproached nearer than a bow-shot to the doorway in the stockade theywould be killed by the first person who saw them. As they wereconstantly watched, and the entrance to the camp was continually closedand barred with massive logs, the lads thought the warning quiteunnecessary. Then as the days passed they were permitted to wander morefreely about the village. However, they soon realized that to attempt toescape would be the height of folly. Therefore, they continued tocultivate their friendship with the son of the medicine-man in the hopeof eventually learning the secret which had brought them upon theirmission. With that once in their possession, they had implicit faiththat Getanittowit himself would offer them an opportunity to escape fromtheir foes.

  The Delawares had been in the Mohawk camp many days when Winaminge,The-Time-Of-Roasting-Ears, arrived. It was at that season that theIroquois gathered together to celebrate the Green Corn Festival.Sometimes the various Iroquois tribes celebrated the occasion in theirown village, and at other times they traveled to the villages of theirnearest tribesmen. Upon this particular occasion, however, it wasapparent that the Mohawks intended to observe the festival bythemselves. The Delawares watched the preparations with interest, forthey were similar to those which they had observed in their own tribe,and they hoped that before the four days' celebration ended they mightlearn the secret for which they were risking themselves.

  In celebrating the Green Corn Festival the ceremonies were begun eachday soon after dawn, and ended promptly at midday, or when the sunreached the meridian. It was a festival of thanksgiving to Ha-weu-ne-yu,the Great Spirit, for ripening the corn, beans and squashes. On the daybefore the celebration began, the entire tribe gathered in the center ofthe village to confess their wrong deeds, and promise to live betterlives. Strips of white shells, or wampum, were passed from one toanother, and each person held it while acknowledging his misdeeds, andpledging himself to a better life in the future. The wampum was believedto record and preserve each pledge. The women and even the olderchildren were required to join in the ceremony. The Delawares, however,were barred from participating, or approaching within hearing distance.They looked on in respectful silence from the door of their lodge.

  "Well, we have made the vows," the young Mohawk told them at theconclusion of the ceremony. "When the next sun comes we will begin thecelebration."

  The lads would have liked to ask him if the mysterious medicine-bundlewould appear in the ceremony. They realized, however, that any referenceto it might ruin all chance of learning what they wished to know.

  "Running Fox, I believe that these people are about to do a greatthing," said Spotted Deer. "I believe Standing Wolf and the medicine-menwill have much to do with it. If we watch sharp perhaps we will find outsomething about the mysterious medicine-bundle that gives this greatchief his power."

  "Yes, that is true," replied Running Fox. "But we must be very careful.The Mohawks are as cute as Sanquen, the weasel. If they find out what weare after it will be the end of us."

  The Green Corn Festival began at dawn the following day. The Delawareswere awakened by a number of criers, or couriers, who hurried throughthe camp calling the people from their lodges. As the lads reached thedoor of their lodge they saw the Mohawks gathering in the center of thevillage.

  "Come, let us go over there, and see what is going to happen," proposedSpotted Deer.

  "Perhaps that will make the Mohawks mad," suggested Running Fox.

  "Well, that may be true," replied Spotted Deer. "But I am going to seehow near I can get."

  A moment afterward they were hurrying toward the center of the camp.They had not gone far, however, when they encountered a surly lookingold woman who instantly challenged them. Pointing toward the lodge whichthey had just left she made them understand that they were to return atonce. To be ordered about by a toothless old woman was a ratherhumiliating experience for the high tempered young Delawares, especiallyas they saw a number of warriors looking on with great amusement. For amoment, therefore, the lads held their ground. This drove the old womaninto a wild rage, and she immediately seized a stick and began to beatthem. Realizing that further resistance might lead to more seriousconsequences the Delawares began to walk slowly toward their lodge. Theold woman was not satisfied, however, and she tried to make them run. Agreat crowd had gathered to watch her, and the Delawares heard muchjeering and laughing at their expense. Carried away by anger, SpottedDeer suddenly wheeled and sprang at his tormentor, yelling so fiercelythat the old woman dropped her stick and hobbled away as fast as shecould go. The Mohawks were quick to see the humorous side of theincident, and laughed good naturedly.

  "I believe that old woman is a witch," Running Fox declared, angrily,when they reached the lodge. "She made us look foolish. Some time I willkill many Mohawks to wipe that out of my heart."

  "She made me very mad," replied Spotted Deer. "Well, I frightened her,and now all the people are laughing about it. We must watch out. Shewill try to harm us."

  Then their thoughts were diverted by the appearance of Standing Wolf anda number of the principal men of the tribe. They stood in the middle ofthe camp, and the Mohawks formed around them. There was a few moments ofsilence, and then the Mohawk chief addressed his people. The eyes of theDelawares glowed threateningly as they watched him, for he was a cruel,relentless foe whom they had learned to hate.

  "I would like to kill that man," declared Spotted Deer.

  "I believe he bears a charmed life," said Running Fox. "We must find outhow he gets his power before we can kill him."

  "When Standing Wolf had finished speaking he called the father of thelad who had befriended the Delawares, and the medicine-man approachedwith something wrapped in a small black bearskin. Then he drew off therobe, and presented Standing Wolf with what appeared to be a smallbundle of
bird and animal skins.

  "It is the mysterious medicine-bundle!" Spotted Deer whispered,excitedly.

  "Do not talk--watch," Running Fox cautioned him.

  They saw Standing Wolf carefully unfasten the wrappings from themedicine-bundle, and remove a skin of the great white Medicine Owl. Heheld it before him, and raised his face toward the heavens. It wasevident that he was chanting a sacred medicine-song. Then he turnedtoward the four principal points of the compass, and repeated theceremony. The Delawares watched him with fascinated eyes. They believedthat at last the secret of his power had been discovered. Gokhos, themysterious white Medicine Owl, was his lucky talisman.

  "Now I know why Getanittowit put us in this camp," said Running Fox."Yes, I have seen the white robe of Gokhos, the Medicine Owl, and I willnot go away without it."

  "It is wrapped in the mysterious medicine-bundle," Spotted Deer warnedhim. "Much harm may come to us if we open one of those bundles."

  "No, I do not believe it," replied Running Fox. "I must do as itappeared in my dream. Spotted Deer, if we get that mysterious whiteskin, I believe we will become as great as Standing Wolf."

  The thought fired their imagination. They lost all further interest inthe Green Corn Festival, and cared only to know into which lodge themedicine-man carried the sacred bundle. They watched patiently until thefirst day's ceremony ended at midday. Then they sought to keep themedicine-man and his precious burden in sight, but in spite of theirbest efforts he eluded them in the great throng of Mohawks, and theirlong vigil ended in bitter disappointment.

  "I believe we will find it in the lodge of that medicine-man," declaredSpotted Deer.

  "No, I believe it is in the lodge of Standing Wolf," said Running Fox.

  "Well, if that is true perhaps some bad Medicine Creatures will kill usif we go into the lodge," Spotted Deer suggested, solemnly.

  "Well, I cannot help it," replied Running Fox. "When I find out wherethe mysterious medicine-bundle hangs I am going in to get that skin."

  "How will you get away?" inquired Spotted Deer.

  "When I have that big medicine thing I will be able to do anything,"Running Fox assured him.

  The Mohawks devoted the balance of the day to sports and games, and atdark they gathered for the great feast of succotash, which was made ofcorn, beans and squashes. The food was cooked in large clay urns, orbowls, and each member of the tribe helped himself. Before the peoplebegan to eat, however, one of the medicine-men started a weird,melancholy chant, and in a few moments the entire tribe united in amighty chorus. It was a song of thanks to the Great Spirit, forsupplying their wants. At the end of the simple ceremony, the Mohawksproceeded to enjoy themselves. The Delawares looked on with enviouseyes, for in spite of the hilarity and good-will which prevailed at thefeast the Mohawks showed no intention of sending any of the food totheir captives. "Perhaps this would be a good time to look for themedicine-bundle," suggested Spotted Deer. "The Mohawks are all togetherin the middle of the camp, and there will be no one to see us."

  "No, we must not go now," Running Fox told him. "If we leave this lodgethey will know about It. When we go to look for the medicine-bundle wemust know how we are going to get out of the camp."

  The Green Corn Festival continued through the three following days, andeach night the feast was resumed. The last night, however, was largelygiven up to a number of sacred dances which the Delawares were notpermitted to see. While the dances were in progress the lads were bound,and confined in their lodge. An aged warrior sat in the doorway toprevent them from looking out.

  The following day the village was thrown into a turmoil by the return ofseveral Mohawk hunters who said that a large war-party of Chippewas wereapproaching from the north. The Delawares learned the news from theirfriend, the son of the medicine-man. He said that the Mohawks expectedthe Chippewas to attack the village in revenge for the death of a numberof Chippewa hunters whom the Mohawks had surprised and killed some timepreviously.

  "Yes, there will be a big fight," declared the Mohawk. "The Chippewasare very fierce, but my people will kill them. My friends, I warn you tobe very careful what you do. If you try to get away, or try to help theChippewas, you will surely be killed."

  The Delawares instantly realized the significance of his warning, andthey determined to profit by it. They knew that it would be foolhardy toattempt to escape while the camp was besieged by enemies, for it wascertain that the entrances and weak spots would be more closely guardedthan ever. Besides, they had little doubt that if they should fall intothe hands of the Chippewas the latter would mistake them for Mohawks,and kill them at once.

  "This thing is bad for us," said Running Fox. "If this fight goesagainst the Mohawks they will believe that we have brought bad fortuneupon them, and perhaps they will kill us. If the Chippewas break intothe village they will kill us for Mohawks. We must do what we can toshow the Mohawks that we have nothing to do with it."

  The Delawares wisely remained in their lodge, therefore, while theMohawks prepared for battle. Scouts were immediately sent out to locatethe hostile war-party, while a great company of warriors assembled todefend the camp. Standing Wolf and a number of sub-chiefs andmedicine-men hurried to the council-lodge.

  "Now perhaps we will see how this great chief gets his power," saidSpotted Deer.

  "We will try to watch him," replied Running Fox.

  The day was almost ended when the lads saw the scouts enter the camp. Ashort time afterward the young Mohawk came to the lodge, and told theDelawares that the Mohawks expected the Chippewas to attack the villagesome time during the night or early dawn. He also boasted that hispeople had gained a notable victory over the Shawnees, and had sentthem, fleeing toward their own boundaries in a wild panic.

  "The foolish Chippewas have come a long distance to get here, but wewill soon chase them away," declared the Mohawk lad.

  "Perhaps it will not be so easy," suggested Spotted Deer.

  "You will see," laughed the young Mohawk.

  The Delawares awaited the encounter with considerable impatience. Theyhad been warned against leaving the lodge under penalty of death, andthey realized that they would see little of the fight. However, theywere determined to see as much as possible, and as soon as it grew darkthey seated themselves in the doorway of the lodge. The camp wasbrightly illuminated to guard against the Chippewas scaling the stockadewithout being seen. Groups of warriors stood about the barred entrances,and others patrolled the inside of the stockade. Standing Wolf andseveral noted war-leaders stood in the center of the camp to givecommands. The women and children, and even the dogs, were sheltered inthe lodges.

  "See, those warriors are talking about us," said Running Fox.

  Two of the warriors with Standing Wolf were looking toward theDelawares. In a few moments they spoke to the war-chief, and he, too,looked toward the Delawares.

  "We have done a bad thing to show ourselves," Running Fox declared,uneasily.

  The next moment they saw Standing Wolf call one of the fighting men, andpoint at the lodge. The warrior at once turned and walked rapidly towardthe Delawares.

  "Something is going to happen to us," said Running Fox.

  "Come, we will move back into the lodge," proposed Spotted Deer.

  "No!" cried Running Fox. "We will not be frightened into our den likerabbits. We have put ourselves here. Well, we will stay here and meetthis man."

  As the warrior approached them he began to talk fiercely, and pointtoward the interior of the lodge. The Delawares had little doubt abouthis meaning, and yet they made no attempt to comply with his commands. Amoment later they realized their folly, for the Mohawk raised his bowand shot an arrow directly between them. It was a hint which theythought it well to accept, and they immediately withdrew into the lodge.The Mohawk entered after them, however, and proceeded to bind theirhands and feet. Then, to make matters worse, he tied buckskin bandagesover their eyes.

  "Well, we have got ourselves into this trouble," Running Fox declared,savagely
. "It was foolish to show ourselves to Standing Wolf. Now wewill see nothing. If the Chippewas get into the camp we will be killedlike Moskimus, the rabbit, when we find him in our traps."

  "It is bad," agreed Spotted Deer.

  They lay a long time listening for the sounds of battle. An unusual hushhad fallen upon the camp, and it was evident that the Mohawks also werelistening. Then the notes of Gokhos, the owl, sounded close outside thecamp. In a few moments they heard the logs being drawn from the openingin the stockade.

  "One of the scouts has come into the camp to tell about something," saidSpotted Deer.

  "Listen!" cried Running Fox. "The Chippewas have come."

  The melancholy howl of the timber wolf rang through the forest. It roseon four sides of the camp. Then a wild outburst of yells broke forthclose to the stockade.

  "The fight has begun!" Spotted Deer cried, excitedly.

  For some time the Mohawks and their foes contented themselves withshouting defiance at one another. It was evident that the former feltquite secure behind their log stockade, and had no inclination to riskthemselves in the open. It was not long, however, before the Delawaresheard sounds which led them to believe that the Chippewas intended toforce the fighting. They had apparently kindled fires on all side of thestockade in an effort to burn the village. The possibility was somewhatalarming to the helpless young captives in the deserted lodge. Once thestockade caught fire they knew that it would only be a question ofmoments before the dry bark lodge would be in flames. However, the noisefrom the camp indicated that the Mohawks were quick to realize theperil, and the Delawares had little doubt that they would rush out andattempt to extinguish the fires.

  "Listen, the Mohawks are on the outside of the camp!" Running Fox cried,a few moments later.

  The Delawares heard the fierce Mohawk war-cry ringing through the nighton every side of the village, and they knew that a great fight wastaking place on the other side of the stockade. The village was in wilddisorder. The sounds of battle had alarmed the women and children, androused the dogs, and all of them added their voices to the din. The campwas lighted by the lurid glare of the flames, while dense clouds ofsmoke rolled into the lodges. The Delawares feared that some of them hadalready been set on fire. Then somewhere on the opposite side of thevillage they heard sounds which set their hearts beating wildly.

  "I believe the Chippewas have got into the camp!" declared Spotted Deer."We will see if the great Standing Wolf can drive them out."

  However, in a few moments they heard the triumphant yells of theMohawks, and they knew that the Chippewas had been forced out orovercome. The fight on the outside of the camp seemed to be raging inundiminished fury. Then there, too, the Mohawk war-cry echoedtriumphantly through the night, and the Delawares believed that for themoment at least the Chippewas had been driven off.

  "Well, the Mohawks have won a big battle," said Spotted Deer, as thesounds of conflict gradually subsided.

  "It is good," declared Running Fox. "Perhaps it will help us. I believethe Chippewas have made a hole into the camp. Perhaps we will be able tocrawl out."

  Soon afterward they heard the Mohawk war-party entering the village intriumph. They marched noisily about the camp shouting, and singing theirwar-songs. The Delawares wondered whether they had brought in anyprisoners. Then the young Mohawk entered the lodge, and saw thepredicament of his friends.

  "Hi, my friends, my people have done what I told you about," he cried,as he stooped and took the bandages from their eyes. "We have killedmany Chippewas. All who escaped are running toward their lodges.Standing Wolf ran out and killed three Chippewas at one time. He is agreat man. Perhaps this great victory will make his heart good towardyou. Perhaps he will let you go. Now I will go, and talk with my fatherabout it. Perhaps he will help you."

  "You are a Mohawk, but you are a good friend," Running Fox said, warmly.

  While the Delawares had little hope that the fierce Mohawk chief wouldrelent and give them their liberty, still they realized that an appealin their behalf from one of the powerful Mohawk medicine-men might go along way toward gaining them sufficient freedom to enable them toescape.

  "See, they do not free our hands and feet," said Spotted Deer. "Ibelieve the Chippewas have made an opening into the camp."

  "Well, we must try to do something," declared Running Fox. "Pretty soonit will get light. Then perhaps we can look around, and see what hashappened."