Running Fox

w of the river. Then they settled themselves to watch for their foes. The mysterious owl calls on the previous night had convinced them that some of th

through the woods on foot

time, but we have not seen any one. I believe the Moha

. Nothing escaped their notice. They stopped suspiciously each time the wind stirred the leaves; they strained their ears to catch a warning in the most familiar sound. The fact that the Mohawk canoemen were p

a common sound in the woods about the Delaware camp, and under other circumstances they would have given little attention to it. However, with the owl ca

wood mouse," laughed Spotted Deer, as he

rtheless they determined to wait until they heard it again. The next time, however, Running Fox thought he detected an unfamil

d Spotted Deer. "No, I do no

said Spotted Deer. "I did not

e woods Running Fox was compelled to acknowledge that h

ulukochsun sounds his war-cr

ing about that," r

e river. The lads looked at each other and nodded significantly. When they heard the call a second time they

g to draw Gulukochsun over th

Running Fox. "A hunter would com

true," agree

lads were filled with suspicion. They began to mistrust that both calls we

ople who talked with the words

I believe they are going to meet down there at the wa

gerous thing; to do

very careful," Ru

first warning of danger. When they finally got within easy bow-shot of the water they concealed themselves in a dense thicket of willows. Then they watched anxiously for their enemies to appear. It was not long before they again heard the turkey c

arp," caution

ew moments he dragged a canoe from the bushes, and paddled rapidly across the river. He had barely landed before another

wks," whispere

heard a bird stirring about noisily in the undergrowth, and they understood why the warrior had looked toward their hiding place. They instantly realized the danger that threatened them, for both warriors were now looking intently toward the willows. The Delawares feared that in another moment their suspicious foes might decide to investigate the sound. Discovery seemed near at hand. They realized that they must do something to quiet the fears of their en

agerly for they would have given much to know what was being said. However, the Mohawks were talking too cautiously to give them a clue. Besides, the Delawares doubted that they would have understood the Iroquois dialect even if they had heard it. Once the warrior who had crossed the river swept his arm toward the west, and the lads believed that he was describing something of importance which he had discovered in th

Fox. "I believe the Mohawks are gathering a gr

the headwaters of the river, and they began to look for several prominent landmarks which had been described to them. Toward evening they saw the first of them, a great granite-topped mountain on the opposite side of the river. They had often heard it mentioned by the Delaware scouts, and they realized that they were close to the great Mohawk trail, which began a

r cover of the darkness. The possibility made them more daring, and they hurried along closer to the river. They had not gone far, however,

at that place until it get

or their fire,"

to do. It would be foolish to go any nearer to them, before it gets light. W

" replied Spotted Deer. "I

wore on, and they heard nothing from their foes, they stole silently to the river. All was black

hore. Then they stole silently through the woods until they were opposite their enemies. Dropping to their hands and knees, they crawled into the fringe of bushes that lined the w

ge," whispered

found one another,

awk scouts. He stood in the shadows watching the river. Then he hastened across the narrow beach, and dropped at

iors who found the can

of Gokhos, then that warrior and his friend were talking with the warriors we fo

ares were somewhat puzzled, however, when the Mohawks carried two canoes to the water, and left the third lying at the edge of the woods. Then three of the warriors entered the two canoes and paddled up the river. The fourth Mohawk, who

ed Running Fox. "They have left that warrior to watch. It is bad. Now

re until the war-party ap

long time before their suspense was ended. Then the Mohawk carried his canoe to the water, and disappeared

hawnees, and that warrior has gone to

it. Perhaps there are more Mohawks behind us. Y

ied up the river on the trail of his companions. When half of the day had passed they reached the headwaters o

a dangerous place. We have lost sight of the Mohawks

atching this place,

softly as Quenischquney, the

north. When they stooped and examined it they found evidence which convinced them that some one had passed ov

that leads to the great Moh

x. "This trail leads to a big lake. Beyond that there

ey saw two of the Mohawk canoemen returning along the trail. They were walking slowly and looking intently at the ground. It looked as if they had dropped something, and had come back to find it. The Delawares were on the verge of panic, for they believed tha

ose warriors, and get

tracks. They had not gone far, however, before they heard the shri

excitedly. "Those warriors have found our trail.

ed from the trail, and in a few moments they heard it answered from the north. They knew that the warriors