ON THE TRAIL
It was barely light when the anxious Delaware scouts hastened to the river to study the tracks at the spot where the fire had been. Running Fox spent only a few moments at that place. Then he moved along at the edge of the water. He soon found the marks of several canoes, and stopped to examine them. There were many tracks on the shore. It was evident that the skillful young scout had found a clew. He crouched low to the ground and studied the footprints with great care. His companions watched hopefully. Then he suddenly left them, and went farther along the river. He coursed to and fro between the woods and the water like an eager wolf on the trail of game. At last he disappeared into the forest. His friends waited patiently. They believed he was working out some clew which he had discovered at the spot where the canoes had been lifted from the water. It was a long time before he returned. Then they saw him approaching slowly along the edge of the woods. He appeared to be following a trail. In a few moments he called his friends. As they joined him he crouched and pointed to several moccasin tracks which were scarcely discernible on an open patch of ground.
"My friends, I have found out about this thing," Running Fox said, as his eyes flashed excitedly. "Come, we will go back where those canoes were, and I will tell you about it."
When they arrived at that spot, Running Fox again stooped to examine the tracks. He seemed to be studying them even more carefully than before. Several times he measured them with his hands. Then he rose and smiled confidently at his friends.
"Yes, my brothers, I know about this thing," he said. "I will tell you about it. I believe Spotted Deer was brought here in one of those canoes. See, here are the tracks of some one who stepped out of one of those canoes. He stood here by himself. Those other tracks are all around him. I believe the warrior who stood alone was a prisoner. Those other people stood around to look at him. I believe that prisoner was Spotted Deer. I believe some one brought him across the water in a canoe. My brothers, I do not believe the Mohawks had anything to do with it."
His friends exclaimed in surprise. If Spotted Deer had been brought there in a canoe, they believed it must have been the Mohawks who had brought him. It was some moments before they recovered from their astonishment. Then they began to question Running Fox.
"Who do you believe brought Spotted Deer here?" Painted Hawk asked him.
"The Shawnees," said Running Fox.
"Dancing Owl saw Mohawks in those canoes," Crooked Foot reminded him.
"Yes, I believe the words of Dancing Owl," declared Running Fox. "Now you must listen close. When I saw these tracks I knew there was a prisoner in one of those canoes. I believe it was Spotted Deer. Turning Eagle says some people took him away toward the-place-where-the-sun-sleeps. I believe it was the Shawnees. Then I said, 'The Shawnees must have come in those canoes. That prisoner got out of one of those canoes. Dancing Owl saw the Mohawks take the canoes away. How did it happen? I will try to find out about it.' Then I went along the river. I looked sharp. Pretty soon I found a track. Then I found another. Then I found some more. They were coming this way. They kept close to the woods. I saw where some one had been standing. Then I said, 'These people stopped here to watch something. They were cautious. I believe they were scouts.' I followed up those tracks. I went fast. Pretty soon I came to a place where two canoes had been pushed into the bushes. Then I began to think about it. Now I will tell you what I found out.