Then he suddenly realized that it might have been the Mohawks who had been discovered along the river. In that event he believed he was in equal peril with his captors. 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.
Spotted Deer traveled through the woods with great discomfort. Unable to use his arms, he was powerless to protect himself from contact with tree trunks and undergrowth. A guard led him through the darkness, but made no attempt to save him from the stinging blows from branches which were released by the warriors in advance. Several times Spotted Deer barely escaped having his eyes destroyed. Once he stumbled over a log and fell headlong into the undergrowth. His guard seized the opportunity to attack him. Regaining his feet the hot-tempered young Delaware turned savagely upon his foe, but the Shawnee swept his hand to his knife-sheath and Spotted Deer realized the folly of resistance. At that instant he recognized his assailant as the leader of the company. The discovery increased his hatred for that arrogant foe.
At daylight the Shawnees halted beside a stream. Spotted Deer counted them. There were only eight. He believed that the missing warriors had remained behind to watch their foes. He wondered if their comrades had stopped to wait for them. He finally decided that they expected the scouts to overtake them at that spot.
As the Shawnees loitered beside the stream, they produced rations of dried meat, and ate heartily. One of the warriors beside him held a bone before Spotted Deer, and laughed contemptuously. The Delaware ignored the taunt. He realized that a display of temper would only invite further affronts. The Shawnees were keeping a sharp watch upon him. Despite his helplessness they seemed to be suspicious and fearful that he might attempt to escape. Spotted Deer had hoped that, when darkness passed, they might free his arms, but they showed no intention of releasing him. He suffered intensely, but gave no sign. His agony was forgotten as he fixed his mind on plans for escape.
Then, as he sat watching his captors, he suddenly heard the notes of Gulukochsun, the wild turkey. The experienced young hunter instantly recognized the call as a counterfeit. He realized at once that it was a signal. The Shawnees showed interest. They listened in silence until the call was repeated. Then two warriors disappeared into the woods. Spotted Deer believed they had gone to meet the scouts from the river. It was not long before the latter appeared. There were two. Four warriors still were missing.
The scouts were engaged in conversation with the leader of the company. The Shawnees gathered about them to listen. One, however, remained beside the Delaware. His captors seemed determined to take every precaution against his escape. Spotted Deer would have given much to know what they were saying. His guard seemed equally curious. They talked in low tones, however, and the Shawnee appeared unable to catch their words. His face betrayed his impatience. He evidently disliked the task to which he had been assigned. He began to grumble threateningly at Spotted Deer. The latter treated him with scornful indifference.
Spotted Deer felt certain that the scouts had brought word of considerable importance. The Shawnees gave unmistakable evidence of it. They were talking soberly and shaking their heads. Spotted Deer continued to watch them. He believed that enemies had been discovered along the river. "Were they Delawares or Mohawks?" The question caused him great suspense. If the Shawnees had stolen Mohawk canoes and left them at the river, he feared that his people would be deceived. In that event there seemed little hope for him. Having experienced the discomforts and perils of captivity in the Mohawk camp, Spotted Deer feared that similar trials awaited him at the Shawnee village. For a moment the idea shook his nerve. Then he drove it from his mind with the assurance that his people would come to his aid in time to save him.
In the meantime the Shawnees had ceased talking, and appeared ready to resume their journey. They showed no great haste, however, and Spotted Deer believed they had little fear of being overtaken. Their indifference made him doubt that they had encountered the Delawares. He was certain that the latter would never permit them to withdraw without a fight. It seemed probable, therefore, that the Mohawks had come down the river to recover the canoes. For a moment the thought filled him with fear for the safety of his people. Then he realized that a small force of Mohawk scouts would be unlikely to loiter near the stronghold of their foes. Spotted Deer believed that once in possession of their canoes they would lose little time in withdrawing from the Delaware hunting grounds.
As the Shawnees were crossing the stream the call of the wild gobbler again echoed through the woods. One of the scouts immediately replied. Then the Shawnees waited. In a few moments four warriors appeared. The company was now complete, and the leader gave the word to advance. Spotted Deer was placed between two warriors near the head of the party. He suffered greatly, for his arms were cramped and numb, and the rawhide had cut far into his swollen wrists. Pride, however, enabled him to conceal his agony from his foes.
Toward the end of the day the Shawnees stopped at a spring in the bottom of a wooded ravine. It was evident that they planned to remain there for the night. Spotted Deer grew weak at heart as he thought of the long hours of agony before him. It was gradually sapping his strength. His one fear was that he might collapse. The thought enraged him. He would rather die than appear weak before his foes.