CHAPTER XIX--THE ATTACK ON THE DELAWARE CAMP
When Running Fox and his companions returned to the camp they foundeverything in readiness for an attack. As there was no stockade aboutthe village, the Delawares had hastily thrown up a number of barricadesmade of logs and stones. Inside of the camp were several largebrush-piles to be lighted if the Mohawks attempted to enter the campunder cover of the darkness. Water had been brought from the river, andtwo boys had been selected to climb to the roof of each lodge as soon asthe fighting began to watch for fire-arrows.
Running Fox went to Black Panther and gave him a full account of thefight with the Mohawks. The Delaware chief seemed much pleased, and saidthat if the Mohawks had not been intercepted and held up they would havereached the village before he had a chance to prepare for defense.
"My son, you have done a good thing," he told Running Fox.
Soon afterward the scouts who had been sent across the river came intothe camp, and said that they had seen nothing of their foes.
"That is good," declared Black Panther. "Now we know that the Mohawksare all together."
The Delawares had little fear that the Mohawks would begin their attackbefore dark, still they determined to be ready for any emergency.Therefore, as the sun sank slowly toward the hilltops they gathered inthe center of the camp to receive their final instructions from thewar-chief.
"My brothers, I have little to tell you," said Black Panther. "You knowwhat has happened. Now the Mohawks have come to fight us. Running Foxhas broken the power of their great chief, Standing Wolf. I believe wewill be able to overcome him. We must all be brave. We must keep ourenemies outside of the camp. Pretty soon our brothers, the Minsi, willcome to help us. No matter what happens we must keep fighting until theyget here. Do not let anything make you afraid. If we win this greatbattle, the Mohawks will never trouble us again. I have finished."
When Black Panther finished speaking the Delawares stationed themselvesalong the edge of the camp to watch for their foes. The night was welladvanced, however, before they heard anything to rouse their suspicions.Then they heard the Mohawks signaling on two sides of the camp. It wasevident, therefore, that there were either two distinct war-parties, orelse the Mohawks had separated to attack the village on two sides.
The Delawares waited calmly at their posts, each man grimly determinedto avenge the long list of tribesmen who had died at the hands of thosefierce and implacable foes. The signals soon ceased, and then for a longtime all was still. The Delawares waited in trying suspense. A littlegroup of warriors huddled behind each barricade, and between them, atthe edge of the camp, were others to close the gaps. Black Panther andthe war-leaders moved back and forth between them.
The stillness was suddenly broken by a piercing yell, and a moment laterit was answered by another on the other side of the camp. Then theMohawks began their attack. They rushed toward the village shoutingfiercely, but the Delawares faced them without a tremor. They waiteduntil their foes were within a few bow-lengths of them, and then theyrose and met them with such a deadly volley of arrows that the astoundedMohawks recoiled in confusion.
Then the Delaware war-cry rang triumphantly through the night, and theMohawks rallied at the sound. Roused to a fury by the stubbornresistance of their foes, they fought with a reckless daring thatcarried them to the very edge of the camp. There they met the Delawaresin a fierce hand to hand encounter. Although they had a tremendousadvantage in numbers the Mohawks found themselves outfought at everypoint of contact with their courageous foes. Strive as they might, theywere unable to gain a foothold in the camp. They heard the familiarvoice of Standing Wolf urging them to victory, but it had suddenly lostits power. The Mohawks began to realize that the fight was going againstthem. Aware that they were wasting themselves in vain, they suddenlybecame demoralized, and retreated in wild disorder.
The Delawares were frantic with delight. They had beaten back theboastful Mohawks for the first time since Standing Wolf had begun tomake war upon them. Still they dared not become too hopeful, for theyfeared that their success might prove to be only temporary. They hadlittle doubt that the Mohawks would speedily renew the attack, and theyknew that next time the fortunes of war might again turn in their favor.However, their temporary victory gave them confidence, and theydetermined to fight even harder when the Mohawks resumed the battle.They believed that the sacred medicine-trophy had already made theminvincible.
"My brothers, we have beaten off the boastful Mohawks, but we are notthrough," cried Black Panther. "Do not feel too sure. They will comeagain. Next time they will fight harder. They are much stronger than weare. Yes, I believe there are three Mohawks for every Delaware. But Isaw some Oneidas and Onondagas. It is a great war-party. We must fightvery hard to keep alive until help comes. Now we must watch."
Darkness had given way to the soft gray light of dawn when the Mohawksmade their second attempt to enter the village. This time they attackedthe camp on three sides, and the fighting was even fiercer than in thefirst encounter. They were led by Standing Wolf and some of the mostnoted Iroquois war-chiefs, and for an instant the Delawares lostconfidence. The Mohawks were quick to see their advantage, and theyfought recklessly to make the most of it. Rushing to the barricades theystruggled desperately with the gallant men who defended them. In one ortwo places they overwhelmed them by force of numbers, and succeeded inbreaking through the line.
"Come, my brothers, we must fight harder!" shouted Black Panther, as heran boldly along the edge of the camp. "Standing Wolf has lost hispower. Running Fox has found it. Come, drive these boastful enemies fromthe camp!"
Then Running Fox threw himself into the thick of the fight. Gathering alittle company of followers, he led them against the Mohawks who hadreached the edge of the camp. Waving the sacred medicine-trophy, andcalling upon his companions to follow him, he attacked his foes withsuch ferocity that they fell back astounded. Before they could recoverfrom their surprise, the Delawares rallied, and drove them beyond thebarricades.
Then a warning came from the other side of the camp. Again Running Foxled a gallant company to meet the invaders. This time, however, theirtask was more difficult, and for a time the Delawares were unable todislodge their foes. Then in a thrilling hand to hand encounter RunningFox killed the warrior who led the attack, and the Mohawks suddenly losttheir courage, and fell back.
Word of his prowess was instantly spread among the Delawares, and theywere finally convinced that the mysterious Mohawk medicine-trophy wasresponsible for his remarkable success. The thought strengthened theirconfidence, and filled them with such dogged determination that theMohawks were again compelled to fall back before their stubbornresistance.
"Well, my brothers, you have made a great fight," Black Panther cried,enthusiastically. "The Mohawks have found out that we are men. Theytried to get into the camp, but we were too strong for them. Running Foxhas done some great things. It must be that the mysterious MedicineThing is helping him. But we are not through with this fight. I believeit will last a long time. Well, we will not give in. No, we will keepfighting no matter how long it takes. See, the Mohawks have disappearedinto the woods. The full light has come. It is good. I do not believethe Mohawks will begin to fight again until it gets dark. Perhaps theyhave gone away. Well, we will not let them fool us. We will keepwatching."
The Delawares saw nothing further of their foes until near the end ofthe day, and then they again heard them signaling on both sides of thecamp. It was evident that they were preparing to renew the attack. TheDelawares knew what to expect. Still there was not one among them whoshowed the least trace of anxiety. They waited calmly, determined tofight if need be until the last of them was killed.
The attack was renewed at sunset, and the Delawares were astounded tofind that on this occasion their foes were Oneidas and Onondagas. Theyknew at once that the wily Mohawk war-chief had been holding these hardyfighters in reserve, and had called upon them to relieve his ownwarriors when the latter sho
wed signs of weakening before the deadlyresistance of the Delawares.
"Hi, my brothers, the Mohawks have sent others to do what they cannot dothemselves!" cried Black Panther. "Come, we will show these people howto fight!"
Although the unexpected appearance of the new fighting force filled themwith dismay, the Delawares fought as stubbornly as ever. The odds wereall against them, however, and they realized that only the timelyarrival of their tribesmen, the Minsi, could save them from disaster.
CHAPTER XX--VICTORY
Fighting continued at intervals throughout the night, and daylight foundthe exhausted Delawares still keeping weary vigil at the edge of thecamp. They had lost almost half of their number, and they werediscouraged and hopeless. They watched the dawn of the new day withgloomy forebodings, for they feared to imagine what might happen beforeit ended. The Iroquois showed no intention of abandoning the fight, andthe Delawares knew that unless their tribesmen arrived to help them itwould be only a short time before they were finally overcome. They feltsure that the three war-parties would unite for the final attack, andthey knew that there was little chance of holding them off. Each grimDelaware warrior felt defeat and death hovering over him.
"My brothers, a new day has come," said Black Panther. "Before it ends Ibelieve our brothers, the Minsi, will come to help us. Pretty soon wewill hear them shouting the war-cry. Then the Iroquois will run likerabbits. We must keep our hearts brave. We have killed many of ourenemies. They tried to get into our lodges, but we beat them back. Nowthey are hiding out there in the woods. Yes, they are afraid to face usin the light. Come, we will let them hear our war-cry."
Roused by the words of their chief, the Delawares rallied from theirgloom and sent their war-cry ringing through the forest. The Iroquoisimmediately answered the challenge, and the Delawares shook their headssoberly. However, as the time passed, and the Iroquois made no furtherattempts against the village, the Delawares began to take heart. Theybelieved that their foes were waiting to make one supreme effort undercover of the night, and they hoped that the Minsi war-party would arrivein the meantime.
Then as the long day finally passed and their tribesmen failed to appearthe Delawares again lost heart. The approach of night filled them withdread. They feared that long before daylight they would be overcome bythe superior numbers of their foes. The possibility staggered them. Theysuddenly realized what it meant. They would be wiped out, destroyed fromthe land, and their women and children would be homeless. The thoughtfilled them with new determination. They pledged themselves to fighteven harder than they had fought before.
As the ominous black shadows finally settled over the camp, theDelawares nerved themselves for their task. They knew that the attackwould come suddenly, at any moment, and the thought kept them in tryingsuspense. Then as the night dragged on and nothing happened, they beganto grow suspicious. They wondered if the Iroquois were stealing silentlyupon them under cover of the darkness. They strained their ears to catcha warning. All was still. The Delawares were bewildered. The uncannysilence strained their nerves. Each moment they expected to hear theterrifying Iroquois war-cry, and see their foes within arm's reach ofthem. Then some one shouted a warning from the end of the camp. Thesuspense was ended. The fight had begun. The Delawares felt relieved.
"Light the fires! Light the fires!" cried the warriors near the point ofattack.
"No, no, not yet!" shouted Black Panther.
Then a streak of fire flashed through the night, and fell into thevillage. It was a fire-arrow. The boys were ordered to the tops of thelodges. A moment afterward the great Iroquois war-party rushed upon thecamp. They had approached close up to the barricades before theDelawares discovered them. Then at the proper signal they rose, andgrappled with them. The Delawares fought desperately, but they werehopelessly outnumbered, and it seemed to be only a matter of momentsbefore the Iroquois would force their way into the camp.
"Light the fires! Light the fires!" screamed the Delawares.
This time Black Panther realized the necessity for it. Then as theflames roared through the piles of dry brush, and flooded the villagewith light, he saw the Iroquois at the edge of the camp. They werefighting recklessly to gain a foothold in the village, but the Delawareswere attacking them like a swarm of angry bees. Onondagas, Oneidas andMohawks had combined, and Standing Wolf himself was leading them. For atime the Delawares held them off, but the odds against them were toogreat, and the Iroquois eventually fought their way into the camp.
For an instant the Delawares faltered. Then they rallied about theirgallant war-chief and fought with the fury of despair. They had gatheredin force at one end of the camp, and the Iroquois were unable todislodge them. The Delawares knew that if they were scattered and drivenfrom the village they would be surrounded and annihilated. Therefore,they determined to stand together until the end.
Running Fox was in a frenzy of despair. He realized that he alone was toblame for the plight of his tribesmen, and the thought drove him todistraction. It seemed as if his perilous journey to the Mohawk camp hadbeen in vain. The mysterious Medicine Creatures had apparently deceivedhim. The sacred medicine-trophy for which he had risked his life seemedpowerless against the famous Mohawk war-chief. Getanittowit appeared tohave turned against him. Instead of aiding his people, the distractedlad believed that he had brought about their destruction. He had foughtwith a recklessness that had astounded both his tribesmen and theirfoes, and still it seemed to have been in vain. Running Fox was besidehimself with grief. In the midst of the desperate encounter be raisedhis arms toward the sky and called upon Getanittowit to help him. "OGetanittowit, see what has happened to me. O Getanittowit, give me powerto help my people. O Getanittowit, send the powerful Medicine Creaturesto aid me," he shouted excitedly.
Then a loud mocking laugh rose above the sounds of battle. Running Foxdid not need to look. He knew instinctively that it came from StandingWolf. A moment afterward he saw him fighting recklessly at the head ofhis warriors. As usual be seemed to bear a charmed life. His tribesmenwere dropping on both sides of him, but as yet he was unharmed.
"See, we cannot harm that man!" the Delawares told one another insuperstitious awe. "It is useless to fight him. He will kill us all!"
"No! No! He cannot harm you, for I am going to kill him!" Running Foxcried, hysterically. "See, I have the skin of Gokhos, the great whiteMedicine Owl. My brothers, I have taken away the power from StandingWolf. I have just found out about it. Now you will see something. I amgoing to kill that man. I am going to bring our brothers, the Minsi.Pretty soon you will hear them. Now you must watch me."
The next moment he bounded past his astonished tribesmen, and advancedfearlessly upon the Mohawk chief. The latter shot an arrow at him, butit flew harmlessly past his head. Then, as Running Fox laughed andpointed to the medicine-trophy which hung upon his breast, Standing Wolfuttered a yell of rage and rushed forward, war-club in hand. Before hehad taken two strides Running Fox drove an arrow through his heart.
"See, my brothers, see what I have done!" screamed Running Fox, as hedrove back several Mohawks who had rushed upon him to avenge the deathof their chief.
"It is the Medicine Spirits!" cried the Delawares, as they ran to hissupport.
"Yes, I have the power!" shouted Running Fox. "Come, you must followme!"
He led the Delawares in a furious attack that utterly routed thefaltering Mohawks. The death of their famous chief had demoralized them,and as they saw their comrades falling before the deadly arrows of thewild-eyed young Delaware and his followers they suddenly becamepanic-stricken and fled from the camp.
At that very instant the Delaware war-cry rang through the night and amoment afterward a great company of Minsi fighting men poured into thevillage. They threw themselves upon the bewildered Oneidas and Onondagasand completely overwhelmed them. The Minsi gained a quick and easyvictory, for the superstitious Iroquois believed that some powerfulMedicine Spirit had suddenly come to the aid of their f
oes, and theymade little attempt to resist them. Finding themselves in danger ofbeing speedily annihilated by the fierce fighters who had suddenlyappeared before them, they, too, retreated from the camp in wilddisorder, and sought safety in flight. However, the Delawares weredetermined to make the most of their victory, and they followed theirfleeing foes far into the wilderness, exacting a terrible vengeance forthe many wrongs which they had suffered at the hands of Standing Wolfand his followers.
Late the following day when the last of the Delaware fighting men hadreturned to the camp, Black Panther called upon all to assemble and givethanks for the victory. It was a notable gathering, and the sternDelaware war-chief looked upon his warriors with great pride. Then hiseyes sought out Running Fox, and for a moment he was almost overcome byhis emotion.
"My people, we have won a great victory," said Black Panther. "StandingWolf, the great Mohawk war-chief, is dead. Many of his people havefollowed him. The warriors who escaped are running toward theirvillages. It will be a long time before they come here again. Do youknow how all this came about? Well, I will tell you. It is becauseRunning Fox went into the Mohawk camp, and brought away the skin of themysterious white Medicine Owl. Spotted Deer went with him. Those youngwarriors have done the greatest thing that has ever been done by aDelaware. But Running Fox has done something bigger than that. He haskilled the great chief Standing Wolf. That fierce warrior killed many ofour people. Yes, he killed many of our women and children. He destroyedour crops, and burned our lodges. We wished to live in peace, but hewould not let us. He brought great trouble upon us. Now he will nevertrouble us again. Running Fox has brought it to pass. He is very young,but he has become a great warrior. Yes, he must have a place in thecouncil-circle. I have finished."
The Delawares greeted the announcement with shouts of approval. Theycalled Running Fox and Spotted Deer to stand in the center of the camp,while the great war-party paraded around them, singing the songs ofvictory. Then they suddenly stopped, and raised their voices in thegreat tribute which was only given to the famous war-chiefs of thenation. It was a high honor, and the happy lads strove hard to concealtheir pride as they looked joyfully into each other's eyes.
THE END
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