Running Fox

showed his trophies and described his encounter with the bear. When Spotted Deer heard about the peculiar white patch on the bear's shoulder he suggested that

t be the way of it," Spo

They kindled a tiny fire, and broiled the meat on a willow branch. Then, after Running Fox had sung several medicine-songs t

It makes a great noise and jumps up and down. Yes, it looks very mad. I do not like that place. I believe the Bad Water Spirits live there. I have heard my father tell about them. He says that they are very fierce, and

ave heard about it,"

een the rocks and the woods. Pretty soon I saw another. My eyes told me that it was Schawanammek, the great sturgeon. Well, I kept watching and I saw many of those big fish passing along. Then I saw how they came to be in that place. The water was very swift all around that strip of land, but between the rocks and the woods it was not so bad. Well, when I saw

d Running Fox, as his eye

was a terrifying spectacle. As Spotted Deer had said, the river appeared to have been roused into a fury. It raged past in great surging waves that crashed against the rocks and sent drenching showers of spray high into the air. In the calmer reaches the water whirled d

lace," Banning F

rry away," propo

sland which Spotted Deer had described. They had not watched it many moments b

anammek!" Spotted De

ied Running Fox. "Look

t their way through the narrow channel t

ed Deer. "Do you feel strong enough to sw

er he ought to risk himself for the mere sport of killing Schawanammek. It seemed foolhardy for one bound upon an important mission to take unnecessary chances. However, as the great fish continued to show themselves Running Fox began to waver. Then he suddenly realized that Spotted Deer was awaiting his de

hat place, and kill some of those fish," d

" Spotted Deer r

g very fast. We must go farther ahead, before we start to swim. If we get to that place perhaps we cannot

hes, they tied their bows and arrow-cases on their backs and waded into the water. As it reached their knees they began to feel its strength, Each

e. Still they had no thought of turning back. The river swept them along at startling speed, and they swam desperately to get in line with the island. As they neared

swim harder," c

behind him. However, Spotted Deer saw his peril, and was struggling desperately to place himself beyond the path of the boulders. At last his efforts were succes

ed Spotted Deer, as they sat down

e have done a foolish thing

Water Spirits?" inquired Spotted D

we have got ourselves into a trap," declared Running Fox. "It was a

geon. As they watched the river sweeping past them, and heard the angry challenge of the

f those big fish," said Running Fox, at

d find them," prop

-topped rock upon which they seated themselves to watch for sturgeon. As they waited for the first big fish to appear they cast many uneasy glances toward the rapids. They appeared uncomfortably near the lower end of the island.

k!" cried Spotted Deer, as

nd Running Fox also sent an arrow into its body. Then, to the surprise of the excited young Delawares, the sturgeon turne

. "We have lost two good arrows,

od food to Gunammachk, the

t away by the river if Running Fox had not jumped recklessly into the water and seized

er. "Now we must eat some of his flesh. Then we will

l be a good thing to d

lled to eat the fish raw. Then they began to think about leaving th

away from here,"

Deer. "I believe I was very foolish to talk about coming he

oolish thing to do. Perhaps those Bad Water Spirits will kill us. Then our people will sa

that to do that they would have to swim even harder and faster than they swam to reach the island. Running Fox believed that he might be equal to the task, but he had grave misgivings about Spotted Deer. The latter, however, felt quite as confident a

e heard their angry roar growing louder in his ears, and it nerved him to greater efforts. Calling upon Spotted Deer to increase his exertions Running Fox began a furious fight against the current. Strive as he might, however, he was unable to stay his mad flight down the river. The rapids were now only half as far away as they were when he started, and Running Fox began to lose heart. He had gone only a third of the distance between the shore and the island and each bow-length he drift

, show your courage

He fought just long enough to enable Running Fox to

"Do not waste yourself. Let the water

e-caps. Then they swirled down through the raging inferno of water at terrific speed. Monster waves surged over them, huge boulders flashed by within bow-length. Running Fox found it impossible to pick a route, and, terrified and bewildered, he confined his efforts to keeping his head above the surface and left the rest to chance. As for Spotted Deer, he lost sight of his companion as soon as they entered the rapids, and he, too, thought only of keeping from going down into t

irst thought was for Spotted Deer. He was nowhere in sight. What had become of him? There seemed but one answer. He had been pulled down by the Bad Water Spiri

ou!" screamed Running Fox, as he saw the form of

d placed him tenderly on the beach. There was an ugly wound over his eye, and his limbs were bruised and swollen. Running Fox himself was bloody and bruised, but he gave no thought to his wounds. Bending frantically over his friend he worked feveris

nittowit, take pity on me, and give me back my brother, Spotted Deer. See, Ge

used him. Then, when he had given up hope, Spotted Deer sighed and opened his eyes. He stared stupidly at Running Fox, and again lapsed into unconsciousness. Still he was alive, and that was sufficient