CHAPTER V--WOLVES
The following day found the Delawares too stiff and sore from theirbattle with the rapids to proceed with their journey. They limped as faras the spot where they had hidden their robes, and made no attempt to gofarther. Besides, they had lost a number of their arrows in the river,and they spent the day making others to replace them. Toward evening asRunning Fox was stalking several grouse that had alighted in a tree, hesuddenly came upon a number of tracks that immediately claimed hisattention. Dropping to his knees he examined them with great care. Thenhe rose and hastened to tell Spotted Deer, whom he had left resting upona couch of hemlock boughs.
"Spotted Deer, if you feel strong enough you must rise and follow me,"said Running Fox. "I have found something to show you."
"I will go," declared Spotted Deer, rising stiffly to his feet.
They soon reached the spot where Running Fox had discovered the tracks,and Spotted Deer examined them with much interest.
"This is strange," he said after a few moments. "These tracks look likethe tracks of big dogs. How did they get here? Are we near a camp?"
"No, Spotted Deer, these are not dog tracks," said Running Fox. "That iswhat I took them for when I first saw them. Then I knew different. Theseare the tracks of Timmeu, the wolf."
"It is true," replied Spotted Deer.
They noted that the tracks were several days old, and that the trailturned toward the north. It was also apparent that there had been agoodly number of wolves, for the lads saw tracks of various sizes. Thatnight as they sat beside a small fire broiling the grouse which RunningFox had killed their thoughts turned to the wolf pack.
"I have heard the hunters tell about those wolves," said Running Fox."They are very large and very fierce. They have fought with many of ourpeople. My father killed some of them when he was hunting along theriver."
"Why are they down in this country?" inquired Spotted Deer. "This is notthe time for them to come down here. I have heard the hunters say thatin the time of growing things they travel far beyond the country of theMohawks."
"What you say is so," replied Running Fox. "When it is cold our peoplehave found them down near our village. I do not know how they come to behere now."
"Perhaps we shall see them," Spotted Deer suggested, hopefully.
"No, I do not believe it," said Running Fox.
The next day they resumed their journey at daylight. They had quiterecovered from their trip through the rapids, and excepting a few minorcuts and bruises showed little evidence of the rough treatment whichthey had received from the river. They felt that they had escaped with avery light penalty for their foolishness, and they were very grateful toGetanittowit. However, they agreed that they would be more careful inthe future.
"Pretty soon we will come to dangerous country," said Spotted Deer, asthey continued up the river.
"Yes, we must keep a sharp watch for our enemies," replied Running Fox.
They traveled through a splendid forest of massive oaks and chestnuts,and they saw many signs of game. At one place they again saw wolftracks, but they were many days old and the lads gave them littlethought. Then they came upon a well-worn trail leading away from theriver, and as it showed fresh deer tracks they determined to follow it.It soon led them to a shallow pool in the center of an open marshyswale. From the numberless footprints, and the manner in which theground had been pawed, they knew at once that the place was a naturalsalt-lick. They also knew that animals of all sorts frequented suchplaces, and as the day was less than half spent they determined to spendsome time watching for game.
"Perhaps we shall see some of the creatures that appeared in my dream,"said Running Fox.
The wish was soon gratified, for they had barely concealed themselves atthe edge of the woods when they heard something approaching. Theywatched closely, and in a few moments a splendid buck appeared on theborder of the marsh.
"Achtu," whispered Spotted Deer.
"Sh," cautioned Running Fox, as he prepared an arrow.
The wind was in their favor, and they had little fear of beingdiscovered. The deer made a splendid picture as it stood silhouettedagainst the vivid green background of the forest. It was a big, gracefulcreature, with horns still sheathed in the soft moss-like covering whichprotects them until they complete their growth in the autumn. The buckspent some moments listening, and sniffing for signs of danger. Then,satisfied that all was well, he started toward the pool. At that moment,however, the wind veered and brought him the danger scent. For onefleeting instant he halted with his head raised in alarm. Then, havinglocated the danger, he wheeled and sprang toward shelter. Two arrowssped after him. One flew high and stuck in a sapling, but the otherburied itself in his side. Then with a great bound he disappeared intothe woods. The lads heard him crashing away in mad flight, and theylooked at each other with disgust.
"That was bad work," said Running Fox. "I was not ready. The wind fooledus."
"My arrow is sticking in that tree," laughed Spotted Deer.
"Well, we must follow him," declared Running Fox. "My arrow struck toofar back, but perhaps it will make him lie down."
They hastened to the spot where the buck had disappeared, and found anumber of large red splashes upon the leaves. It was evident that thedeer had been hard hit, and they started hopefully on the trail. Thebuck was traveling in great bounds, and bleeding freely. It was notlong, however, before they noticed that he was slackening his speed.
"We will soon come up with him," said Running Fox.
Both lads were well experienced in the art of deer hunting, and theyinstantly recognized the unmistakable signs that promised an earlycollapse. They hurried along the trail, therefore, with high hopes ofovertaking their quarry before the end of the day. The tracks led theminto a vast hemlock swamp, and they advanced with great caution, for itlooked like an ideal hiding place for the wounded buck. They soon sawthat the deer had begun to walk, and at one place they saw that it hadstopped as if preparing to lie down. It had gone on, however, and thelads hurried after it, keeping a sharp watch on all sides lest it shouldsuddenly spring from cover and escape. As they penetrated into thegloomy depths of the swamp they saw many fresh tracks of lynx, and foxesand rabbits, but they paid little attention to them for they knew fromexperience that it was only by constant vigilance that they could hopeto overtake and surprise the animal they sought.
"See, he is growing weak," said Running Fox, as he pointed to a place inthe trail which indicated that the buck had stumbled awkwardly over alog that lay in his path.
Then they saw him lying under a spruce a short distance ahead of them.The buck saw them at the same instant, and struggled to his feet.Running Fox shot his arrow and scored another hit, but as Spotted Deerreleased his bow-string the buck dashed between the trees and vanishedfrom sight.
"He will not run so far this time," prophesied Running Fox.
The trail turned off at a sharp angle, and soon brought them to the edgeof the swamp. They followed it through the woods to a pretty woodlandstream, and there they found the buck lying dead beside the water.
"Well, I have done what the great medicine deer told me to do," saidRunning Fox.
"It is good," replied Spotted Deer.
When they finished skinning and quartering the deer the twilight shadowswere falling upon the forest, and they decided to spend the night besidethe stream. As they were some distance from the river, they believed itmight be safe to make a tiny fire and dry some of the meat to take withthem. They worked at the task until long after darkness had fallen.Then, as they wrapped themselves in their robes, and were preparing tosleep, Spotted Deer suddenly sat up and listened anxiously.
"What is that?" he asked Running Fox.
For a moment or so they heard only the gentle murmuring of the breezethrough the tree-tops. Then, far away in the night, they heard a soundthat thrilled them. It was the hunting cry of the wolf-pack. They hadheard it more than once in the winter near the Delaware village
, andthey recognized it immediately.
"Timmeu has found the blood trail," said Running Fox.
The sounds came from somewhere beyond the swamp, and the lads had littledoubt that the wolves were following the trail of the wounded buck. Thethought stirred them, for they believed that they were about to have anencounter with the savage brutes about which they had heard so manywonderful tales. The sounds soon united in a wild babel that grew louderand more distinct each moment.
"They are coming fast," said Spotted Deer.
"Well, we will wait for them," declared Running Fox. "Come, we willbring in some brush for the fire, so that we can see them."
They hurried to gather several armfuls of dry wood. Then they rakedtogether the embers of their fire, and fanned them into a flame. By thattime it was evident that the wolves were almost through the swamp. Theywere making a great din, and it seemed as if there were many animals inthe pack. The eyes of the Delawares flashed as the wild baying drewnearer.
"Now they are getting close," cried Spotted Deer.
"Yes, they have come out of the swamp," replied Running Fox.
The lads had heard enough about that famous pack to feel sure that theywould be attacked. Still the possibility failed to alarm them. They feltconfident that they would be able to defend themselves, and they wereeager for the fight. Then, as they waited anxiously for the wolves toappear, the commotion suddenly ceased.
"Perhaps the fire has frightened them away," Spotted Deer said,regretfully.
"No, I do not believe it," replied Running Fox. "Timmeu is verycautious. Perhaps they saw our fire. Perhaps they found the man scent.They are sneaking up to have a look at us. I have heard my father tellhow they do that. We must keep a sharp watch."
They listened anxiously, and peered eagerly into the darkness in thehope of locating the wolves. They felt quite certain that the wilybrutes were close at hand endeavoring to learn the strength of theirenemies before exposing themselves. For a long time, however, the alertyoung hunters could find no evidence of them. Then they heard a snarlalmost in front of them. A moment afterward a pair of shining green eyesflashed in the darkness. The next instant they were gone.
"Come, we must put some brush on the fire," said Running Fox.
As the flames flared up and threw a circle of yellow light some distanceinto the woods, the lads fitted arrows to their bows and watched for achance at the wolves. However, it appeared that those crafty beasts werewise enough to keep beyond the glow. The Delawares heard them trottingabout through the undergrowth, but they were unable to see them. Thecaution displayed by the wolves seemed like cowardice to the eager ladswho waited impatiently for them to attack, and they began to doubt someof the stories they had heard concerning their ferocity.
"These animals are not brave," sneered Spotted Deer. "Come, let us runout and chase them away."
"That would be a foolish thing to do," cautioned Running Fox. "We mustnot take any chances. I believe what we have heard is true. Perhaps theyare getting ready to make a big fight. Listen. Do you hear that? It istheir war-cry. Now we must be ready."
A long, quavering howl sounded through the night. It was the rallyingcry, and it was immediately answered by a wild din from the pack. It wasevident that the wolves were growing bolder. They trotted about at theedge of the firelight, and the lads caught fleeting glimpses of dim,shadowy forms slinking through the shadows.
"Perhaps they will get brave enough to fight," laughed Spotted Deer.
"They will fight," Running Fox assured him.
The carcass of the deer was between the lads and the wolves, and itappeared that the latter were preparing to fight for possession of it.Still, it was some time before they grew hold enough to exposethemselves in the firelight. At last, however, one great wolf morereckless than its companions rushed toward the prize. As it came intothe glow Spotted Deer shot his arrow, and the wolf rolled into thehushes, howling dismally. Elated at his success, Spotted Deer raised hisvoice in the Delaware war-cry.
"That was a bad thing to do," said Running Fox. "Perhaps that will reachthe ears of an enemy."
"It is true, Running Fox, I was very foolish," Spotted Deeracknowledged, guiltily.
At that instant the wolves charged in a body, and the lads saw that theywould have all the fighting they desired. They killed several of theleaders, and for a moment the others hesitated. Then they divided andformed a circle, and the Delawares realized that they had beensurrounded. Once roused to the attack, the wolves showed little fear,and the lads soon found themselves engaged in a desperate encounter.Standing back to back to prevent being attacked from the rear, theyfought furiously to keep the ferocious animals from reaching them. Morethan one wolf was stopped in mid-air as it leaped forward to drag themto the ground. Once Running Fox was compelled to use his war-club tocrush the skull of a wolf that had eluded his arrow. A moment later heheard a warning cry from Spotted Deer, and wheeling about he saw thelatter borne to earth by a huge wolf that had two arrows sticking in itsside. Running Fox drove a third arrow into the fatal spot behind theshoulder, and Spotted Deer leaped to his feet unharmed. Then the wolvessuddenly became demoralized, and retreated into the shadows. SpottedDeer was eager to follow them, but Running Fox cautioned against it.
"We have had a hard fight, but we have come out of it," said RunningFox. "If we follow the wolves into the darkness we may be torn topieces."
"Perhaps that is so," agreed Spotted Deer.
They piled more brush on the fire, and kept a sharp watch for anotherattack. However, as the time passed and the wolves failed to appear, thelads believed that they had skulked off. Still it was a long time beforethey dared to leave the fire to recover their arrows from the bodies ofthe wolves they had killed. While they were engaged in the task theyheard savage snarls coming from the darkness, and saw the flash of angryeyes. They realized, therefore, that they were in constant danger ofattack by the wounded wolves that had been unable to retreat with thepack.
"This is dangerous work," said Running Fox. "I believe the best thing todo would be to wait until the light comes."
He had barely uttered the warning, however, when a great black formrushed from behind a rock and attacked him. It snapped savagely at hislegs, but he jumped aside in time to avoid the cruel white fangs. Thenhe wheeled at bay. He saw the hateful green eyes glaring at him throughthe night, and he aimed his arrow a short distance below them. As hereleased the bow-string the wolf attempted to spring at him, but thearrow plunged deep into its chest and ended its life. After that narrowescape the lads decided to withdraw to the fire. They gathered enoughwood to last them through the night, and planned to take turns watchinguntil daylight.