"We must be strong," said Spotted Deer. "I believe Running Fox will bring our people."
At daylight they heard the owl-calls around the edge of the swamp. They were repeated many times until the woods rang with the weird chorus. The Mohawks were exchanging signals. The Delawares felt certain that their foes were getting ready to close in.
"Now we must lie close," said Spotted Deer.
They crouched far down into the intricate barricade of tree trunks in the hope of escaping the sharp eyes of the Mohawk scouts. They had little hope that those shrewd foes would fail to notice such a promising hiding place. The great chorus of owl-calls had ceased, but there were other signals rising in various parts of the swamp, and the Delawares knew that the search had begun.
"I saw some one pass over there between those trees," Dancing Owl whispered, excitedly.
"Keep watching," said Spotted Deer.
In a few moments the scout again showed himself between the trees. He was moving toward their hiding place. Then he suddenly discovered the confused jumble of fallen trees. He immediately disappeared behind the trunk of a great spruce.
"That scout is cautious," whispered Turning Eagle. "I was getting ready to kill him."
"Save your arrows," Spotted Deer cautioned him. "We must keep them until the Mohawks rush up to us."
They knew that the Mohawk was watching from behind the tree. The thought kept them motionless. They felt quite certain that he would not pass on without examining the cover. Then they heard him signaling. Their hopes fled. They knew he had become suspicious.