“We have found each other—it is good,” said Spotted Deer.
“It is good, my brother,” replied Running Fox. “Have you looked around?”
“Yes, I have circled all around this hill; there is no one hiding here,” Spotted Deer assured him.
“Then we will sit down and talk,” said Running Fox.
Running Fox told what he had seen to the eastward, and Spotted Deer listened with great attention. The smoke particularly impressed him. He agreed with Running Fox that it must have been a signal. However, Spotted Deer was not so sure that it had anything to do with the camp.
“Perhaps that smoke was sent up by the Shawnees,” he suggested. “Perhaps a Mohawk scout was talking with the war-party.”
“Well, it may turn out that way, but I feel different about it,” insisted Running Fox. “Now you must tell me what you found out.”
Spotted Deer said that he had gone a considerable distance toward the west without discovering any signs of his foes. Then he had climbed to the top of a mountain to reconnoiter. He had watched a long time when he finally saw what he believed was smoke far away toward the north. He had strained his eyes to make sure, but it faded from the sky before he could convince himself. Then he had set out to meet Running Fox.
“That is what happened,” concluded Spotted Deer.
“Well, we have not done much,” Running Fox declared, gloomily. “I believe the Mohawk camp is close. There is only one thing to do. We must keep moving around until we find it. We will wait here until the next sun comes. Then we will look around some more.”