The Shawnees moved through the woods in silence. They had abandoned the canoes. Spotted Deer felt certain that they had been alarmed, and were making a stealthy retreat under cover of the night. He wondered if the Delawares had discovered them. The possibility excited him. He began to form reckless plans for escaping if his people should overtake the Shawnees.

Then he suddenly realized that it might have been the Mohawks who had been discovered along the river. In that event he believed he was in equal peril with his captors. Once overtaken by those fierce foes from the north, Spotted Deer feared that the little company would be speedily annihilated. For him, however, death would be preferable to falling into the hands of the Mohawks. Having escaped from their village, with his friend Running Fox who had carried away a priceless medicine trophy, and then killed their famous chief, Standing Wolf, Spotted Deer knew only too well the punishment that would be inflicted upon him. If, therefore, the Mohawks were on the trail of the Shawnees he was as eager as his captors to elude them.

Spotted Deer traveled through the woods with great discomfort. Unable to use his arms, he was powerless to protect himself from contact with tree trunks and undergrowth. A guard led him through the darkness, but made no attempt to save him from the stinging blows from branches which were released by the warriors in advance. Several times Spotted Deer barely escaped having his eyes destroyed. Once he stumbled over a log and fell headlong into the undergrowth. His guard seized the opportunity to attack him. Regaining his feet the hot-tempered young Delaware turned savagely upon his foe, but the Shawnee swept his hand to his knife-sheath and Spotted Deer realized the folly of resistance. At that instant he recognized his assailant as the leader of the company. The discovery increased his hatred for that arrogant foe.

At daylight the Shawnees halted beside a stream. Spotted Deer counted them. There were only eight. He believed that the missing warriors had remained behind to watch their foes. He wondered if their comrades had stopped to wait for them. He finally decided that they expected the scouts to overtake them at that spot.

As the Shawnees loitered beside the stream, they produced rations of dried meat, and ate heartily. One of the warriors beside him held a bone before Spotted Deer, and laughed contemptuously. The Delaware ignored the taunt. He realized that a display of temper would only invite further affronts. The Shawnees were keeping a sharp watch upon him. Despite his helplessness they seemed to be suspicious and fearful that he might attempt to escape. Spotted Deer had hoped that, when darkness passed, they might free his arms, but they showed no intention of releasing him. He suffered intensely, but gave no sign. His agony was forgotten as he fixed his mind on plans for escape.

Then, as he sat watching his captors, he suddenly heard the notes of Gulukochsun, the wild turkey. The experienced young hunter instantly recognized the call as a counterfeit. He realized at once that it was a signal. The Shawnees showed interest. They listened in silence until the call was repeated. Then two warriors disappeared into the woods. Spotted Deer believed they had gone to meet the scouts from the river. It was not long before the latter appeared. There were two. Four warriors still were missing.

The scouts were engaged in conversation with the leader of the company. The Shawnees gathered about them to listen. One, however, remained beside the Delaware. His captors seemed determined to take every precaution against his escape. Spotted Deer would have given much to know what they were saying. His guard seemed equally curious. They talked in low tones, however, and the Shawnee appeared unable to catch their words. His face betrayed his impatience. He evidently disliked the task to which he had been assigned. He began to grumble threateningly at Spotted Deer. The latter treated him with scornful indifference.

Spotted Deer felt certain that the scouts had brought word of considerable importance. The Shawnees gave unmistakable evidence of it. They were talking soberly and shaking their heads. Spotted Deer continued to watch them. He believed that enemies had been discovered along the river. "Were they Delawares or Mohawks?" The question caused him great suspense. If the Shawnees had stolen Mohawk canoes and left them at the river, he feared that his people would be deceived. In that event there seemed little hope for him. Having experienced the discomforts and perils of captivity in the Mohawk camp, Spotted Deer feared that similar trials awaited him at the Shawnee village. For a moment the idea shook his nerve. Then he drove it from his mind with the assurance that his people would come to his aid in time to save him.

In the meantime the Shawnees had ceased talking, and appeared ready to resume their journey. They showed no great haste, however, and Spotted Deer believed they had little fear of being overtaken. Their indifference made him doubt that they had encountered the Delawares. He was certain that the latter would never permit them to withdraw without a fight. It seemed probable, therefore, that the Mohawks had come down the river to recover the canoes. For a moment the thought filled him with fear for the safety of his people. Then he realized that a small force of Mohawk scouts would be unlikely to loiter near the stronghold of their foes. Spotted Deer believed that once in possession of their canoes they would lose little time in withdrawing from the Delaware hunting grounds.

As the Shawnees were crossing the stream the call of the wild gobbler again echoed through the woods. One of the scouts immediately replied. Then the Shawnees waited. In a few moments four warriors appeared. The company was now complete, and the leader gave the word to advance. Spotted Deer was placed between two warriors near the head of the party. He suffered greatly, for his arms were cramped and numb, and the rawhide had cut far into his swollen wrists. Pride, however, enabled him to conceal his agony from his foes.

Toward the end of the day the Shawnees stopped at a spring in the bottom of a wooded ravine. It was evident that they planned to remain there for the night. Spotted Deer grew weak at heart as he thought of the long hours of agony before him. It was gradually sapping his strength. His one fear was that he might collapse. The thought enraged him. He would rather die than appear weak before his foes.

Just before dark, however, the Shawnee leader freed the wrists of his captive. Then he offered him a generous portion of dried meat. Spotted Deer was unable to take it. His arms were powerless. The Shawnee laughed cruelly at the plight of his foe. He threw the meat upon the ground, and walked away. Spotted Deer turned his back upon it. Then for some time he was unmolested.

It was not long, however, before the Shawnees again bound his arms and feet. This time they drew the rawhide even tighter than before in the hope of forcing an appeal from the courageous young captive. Spotted Deer remained silent. Only the threatening flash of his eyes gave warning of the fierce emotions raging in his heart. When his foes had rendered him powerless, he faced the Shawnee leader and laughed scornfully.

As the Shawnees failed to make a fire, Spotted Deer believed that they feared pursuit. The thought kept him alert. He determined to be ready if his tribesmen should attempt to rescue him. When he was finally forced to lie down in the midst of his foes, he endured his discomfort with a calm fortitude that astonished them. The night was cold and frosty, and a piercing north wind swept through the ravine. The Shawnees wriggled far down into their robes. Spotted Deer, however, was without shelter. The cold soon overcame him. Violent chills swept through him. Sharp, darting pains passed along his limbs. It seemed as if his arms were being twisted from his body. Each moment intensified his agony. There was no way to obtain relief. The night seemed endless. He prayed to Getanittowit to send daylight.

Then Spotted Deer heard something which roused him from his misery. Soft, stealthy footfalls sounded close at hand. He raised himself to listen. At that moment an arm was thrown about his neck, and he was dragged to the ground. A hand was clapped across his mouth, and he felt a knee against his chest. Completely bewildered, Spotted Deer wondered what had happened. He heard the Shawnees whispering excitedly. He believed that they had been overtaken by their enemies, and feared that he would betray them. Had the Delawares come? Spotted Deer listened for the familiar war cry. He feared that it might be the signal for his death. The Shawnees had become silent. They were listening and watching to interpret the peril which seemed to threaten them. Many moments passed. The footfalls had ceased. Spotted Deer wondered if the Delawares were preparing to rush upon their foes. Then he realized that it might be the Mohawks. The possibility filled him with alarm. He was not afraid to die, but he weakened at the thought of falling into their hands.

A moment afterward the suspense was ended. A loud, startled snort sounded through the darkness, and then something bounded away through the undergrowth. The Delaware and the Shawnees both understood. It was Achtu, the deer. The Shawnees laughed nervously. The warrior removed himself from Spotted Deer. There was no longer need for caution. The crisis had passed.

At daylight the Shawnees freed Spotted Deer from his bonds. They gave unmistakable warning that an attempt to escape would end in death. The Delaware, however, was too miserable to make the effort. It was a long time before he could use either his arms or his legs. When he had somewhat recovered, the Shawnees gave him meat. He ate it, for he was weak and hungry. Besides, he wished to prolong the interval of freedom. Meanwhile he searched his brain for a way to outwit his foes. His predicament seemed hopeless.

At sunrise the Shawnees resumed their way toward the west. Spotted Deer was astounded when they left him the freedom of his arms. A great hope rose in his heart. He believed that he might be able to leave clews which would lead his friends to his rescue. The Shawnees had taken his weapons but had left his empty knife-sheath attached to his belt. Spotted Deer found an opportunity to free it without attracting the attention of his foes. A few moments later he dropped it beside the trail. He knew that if his friend Running Fox should find it, he would recognize it at once. Then as he accompanied his captors through the woods he made every effort to leave a plain trail. Several times he appeared to stumble, and each time he cleverly overturned a stone with his foot and broke or bent the bush or limb which he had seized for support. His clumsiness brought angry protests from his guards but they apparently failed to detect the stratagem. Thus throughout the day the wily young Delaware left signs which he hoped his friends might eventually find and follow.

That night the Shawnees seemed more bold. They made a fire, and appeared to be in high spirits. Spotted Deer believed that they were within a day's journey of their village. He missed several warriors and he felt sure that they had gone ahead to announce their exploit in the Shawnee camp. The thought sobered and depressed him. After they had given him meat, the Shawnees again bound his wrists and feet. However, they permitted him to lie close to the fire and the warmth gave him some comfort.

The following day the Shawnees advanced through the woods with far less caution. They talked and laughed and sang, and it was evident that their recent anxiety had passed. Spotted Deer felt sure that they were approaching their village. The thought made him reckless. Although he was closely guarded, his arms were free, and he determined to seize the slightest opportunity for an attempt to escape. He believed that his foes might grow less vigilant as they drew nearer the Shawnee camp, and he hoped to catch them off their guard. He became as alert and watchful as a lynx, ready at any moment to dash into the forest. Before he could act upon the reckless impulse, however, the Shawnees suddenly appeared to have guessed his intentions. They stopped him, and bound his arms behind his back.

For an instant only, Spotted Deer betrayed his anger in his face. Then as his foes began to laugh and jeer he recovered himself. His heart, however, was heavy with despair. It seemed as if his last hope had vanished. He believed that his crafty captors had taken the precaution to render him powerless against the attacks which might be made upon him as he entered the Shawnee village.