Running Fox

wolf hiding under the top of a fallen tree, and they rushed upon it and killed it with their war-clubs. Well pleased with their victory, the young Delawares spent some time chanting war-son

ee, and as Running Fox moved cautiously about the tree-trunk the crafty little creature moved with him, so that he was unable to surprise it. At last, however, Running Fox took his bow and stirred the leaves on the opposite side of the tree. It was an old hunting tri

as he held up the prize. "See, Spotted Deer, I have killed a chief who wears

rd the river. As they neared the water they climbed to the top of a hardwood ridge to reconnoiter. They k

es," said Running Fox. "Many of our people have bee

as Woakus, the fox,"

ailed to discover anything to arouse their suspicions, they soon resumed their way into the north. The day was more than half gone when Running

place over there?" he inquir

it," replied

hat big tree

I se

ning Fox. "It begins over there on that side where you see those rocks, and it begins on

w about them," re

them. He told them that he was going to jump down into the water. Well, when they heard that they began to laugh some more, because they thought he would surely be killed. Then some of the Mohawks began to climb up the rocks. When the Delaware saw them coming he gave a loud shout and jumped away from the rocks. He made a great noise when he fell into the water, and a white cloud flew high up into the air. Well, the Mohawks began to watch the water. They watched a

ed Spotted Deer. "Whenever I pass that place

there were several other tribes of the great Iroquois nation who wandered into that country to hunt and fish with their tribesmen. These visitors were mostly Oneidas and Onondagas, whose villages were comparatively near the Mohawks, but the fierce Cayugas and the still fiercer Senecas occasionally came from the lakes and mountains far away tow

est to find a safe hiding place in which to spend the night. They were making their way carefully over a r

owe, the Frightener,

must approach it with caution, for they knew that its bite was very deadly. Running Fox picked up several stones, and advanced carefully into the t

ner.' Well, I am not afraid of you. Your war-cry does not frighten me. I have killed some of your people. No

the rattlesnake made no attempt to strike, and Running Fox tossed one of the stones within a hand-breadth of it. The snake instantly lowered its head and flattened its body against the ground-it wa

very mad about it. You are making a great noise. Perhaps it would frighten the women and children. Is

n unexpected maneuver, and the reckless young Delaware barely escaped. He struck savagely with his bow, and hit the reptile a stunning blow behind th

Fox, as he rejoined Spotted Deer. "Wischalowe

foolish," repl

eneath them. Night came swiftly after sunset in that dense stand of timber, and the lads missed the cheery glow of the little camp-fire, for they believed that it would be foolhardy to run the risk of lighting it. They sat close toge

ind, is singing the sleep

"Come, we will pile up some of this long gr

ew in great abundance at that spot, and made couches of them. Th

thing for one of us to wat

er here," said Spotted Deer. "We have no

nning Fox. "Well, we will

utiously upon his elbow, and spent many moments looking and listening for signs of danger. Spotted Deer was slumbe

not see anything, and I do not hear anything, but I feel something

it, and yet he did not know how to interpret it. Then he thought he heard something moving through the ferns. He held his breath to listen, but the silence was unbroken. At last,

thing is wrong," Runn

, however, and even the murmurs in the tree-tops had died away. Running Fox felt that he was being watched. A few moments later his suspicions were verified, as a pa

cautioned Running Fox,

?" Spotted Deer in

g is watching us," declared Running Fox

have followed us," w

different," replied R

Then they caught the momentary flash of a pair of eyes. The next

f," declared Spotted Deer. "Perh

unning Fox. "The eyes are differe

an angry dog. Then they again saw t

ives in this place," Spotte

s the sound I heard in my dream. Now I will tell you what to do. I will shoot my arrow. Then if Quenisehqu

ed Deer. "See, there are

rang through the night. A moment later a long dark form crouched before them. They he

Running Fox, as he p

r sprang. It missed him by less than a bow-length, and disappeared into the night. They hear

d," said S

Fox. "Quenischquney is very

lence continued, Running Fox began to grow uneasy. He feared that the

ld be very bad. I must follow him and kill him. Yes, I must take his claws, and wear them as the mysterious Medicine Creatures tol

rous thing to do," pr

lied Running Fox. "I must not

h you," propos

lare of its eyes. They went forward very slowly, about a bow-length apart. It was very dark, and they realized that they must depend more upon their ears than their eyes to warn them of danger. After every third or f

Quenischquney is dead,"

too sure," Runni

heir arrows. The growling continued, and they heard the ferns rustling, but they were unable to locate the panther. They knew it was clo

"Quenischquney is crouching down in the high

ver there where we hear

a long black shadow pass before him, heard a short angry snarl, and then the quick startled voice of Spotted Deer. For an instant the suddenn

unning Fox!" scre

ife!" cried

e panther. He plunged his flint

For some moments he thrashed wildly about in the ferns, coughing and snarling furiously. Then he became still. The lads approached cautiously, and sa

u?" Running Fox asked Spotted Deer. "

k my knife into his throat, and he could not bite me. Yes, I am bloody, but most of it came from

on his arms and the upper part of his body, but Running Fox hurried him to the spring and soon stopped

ur body to tell about when we get bac

ou killed Quenischquney

to the dead panther and cut off the claws. Then they sang medicine-songs, and dan

finally, "It will soon be light. Com

Quenischquney will not trouble