A savage roar sounded through the night as the bear charged upon the astounded Delawares. It struck down Dancing Owl and then rushed at Running Fox. He shot his arrow and dodged nimbly around a tree. The next instant the enraged bear confronted Yellow Wolf. He, too, drove his arrow into it, and sprang from its path. Then it crashed away into the darkness. For some moments they heard it floundering noisily through the undergrowth, and then the sounds ceased.
"Hi, Machque is mad," laughed Running Fox, as he came from behind the tree.
"I thought he was a Mohawk," said Dancing Owl.
"Did he tear you?" Yellow Wolf asked, anxiously.
"No," replied Dancing Owl. "He tried to strike me but I jumped away. Then he bumped into me and I fell down."
"Well, we all shot arrows into him," said Yellow Wolf. "I believe he went over there and fell down dead."
"Come, we will go over there and find out about it," Dancing Owl proposed, impulsively.
"No, no, that would be foolish," Running Fox told him. "Machque is sly. Perhaps he has gone away. Perhaps he is waiting to fool us. It is black under those big trees. We cannot see him. Perhaps he would kill us. I am not afraid but we have set out to find Spotted Deer. If we let Machque tear us we cannot help our brother. It will soon be light. Then we will find Machque."
"Yes, Running Fox, I see that it is the best thing to do," agreed Dancing Owl.
"We must watch sharp. Perhaps Machque will come back," said Yellow Wolf.