"You are a young man, but we will make you old," laughed the Shawnee. "Your arms are already too weak to pull the bow. See how you shake! Are you frightened?"
Sharp words rushed to the lips of Spotted Deer but he kept them back. He realized that an outburst of anger would invite a fresh attack from his foes. As he was completely in their power, he believed it would be folly to antagonize them. He smothered the fierce emotions that raged in his heart, and remained calm. When he had eaten the meat the Shawnees bound his arms, and passed out of the lodge.
Spotted Deer immediately began to think about the Mystery Woman. He wondered if she possessed the strange powers which the Delawares credited to the Medicine People. He had been taught to regard those mysterious people with superstitious fear. The thought that the strange old woman might be one of them caused him considerable uneasiness. Having incurred her hostility, he wondered if she would cast some evil spell upon him. The credulous young Delaware started at the possibility.
As the long day finally came to an end, Spotted Deer wondered if he would be left unguarded through the night. He heard people laughing and singing in various parts of the camp, and smelled the smoke from their fires. A narrow streak of light showed at the doorway of the lodge. He believed the Shawnees were eating the evening meal. A short time afterward he heard the dogs snarling and fighting over the bones which had been thrown to them.
Then some one went through the camp crying out in a loud voice. Spotted Deer knew that it was a courier calling the people to assemble for some particular event. He heard them passing the lodge. The streak of light at the side of the doorway grew wider. It was evident that a large fire had been lighted close by. He heard the crackle of the flames. Soon afterward some one began to speak. Spotted Deer listened closely. He felt quite certain that he recognized the voice of the Shawnee leader. He talked some time, and when he finished speaking, a great shout went up from the company. His words seemed to have found approval. Spotted Deer wondered if he had been the subject of his discourse. Other speakers followed. Then, after a short interval of silence, the shrill voice of the Mystery Woman echoed through the camp. It filled Spotted Deer with a vague, superstitious fear. She spoke in a wild, hysterical manner, and it was not long before he heard sounds which led him to believe that she was rousing the Shawnees against him. When she finally subsided, the night rang with their shouts. Spotted Deer was filled with gloomy premonitions of impending disaster.
When the tumult finally ceased, the night was far spent. Then some one entered the lodge. Spotted Deer stared anxiously toward the doorway. The impenetrable darkness concealed his visitor. The latter approached without making a sound. In a few moments Spotted Deer felt a hand upon his shoulder. It passed down his arm and stopped at his wrists. Having made sure that the binding was secure, his unseen foe then examined the thongs about his ankles. Then he withdrew as noiselessly as he had approached. Spotted Deer wondered if he had gone out. Some time afterward he thought he heard a sigh near the doorway of the lodge. He believed some one was on guard.
CHAPTER VI
A TRYING ORDEAL
At dawn Spotted Deer looked anxiously about the lodge, hoping to see the mysterious visitor who had entered during the night. He had disappeared. The Delaware was alone.