When twilight finally fell, Running Fox and his companions carried the canoe to the river. They launched it and found it water-tight. Then Running Fox paddled slowly along the edge of the shore. They were watchful and alert for danger, but the river appeared free of foes. It was almost dark when they came opposite the spot where they expected to find their friends. Running Fox ceased paddling and imitated the cry of Gokhos, the owl. It was answered from the other side of the river.

"Our friends are waiting," said Yellow Wolf.

Running Fox turned the canoe toward the center of the river. Once beyond the shadows near the shore, they realized that they were in plain sight of any foes who might be lurking in the forest. They kept a sharp watch for the sudden appearance of canoes. When they came within bow-shot of the place where the fire had been, Running Fox again ceased paddling and waited for a signal. He felt quite sure that they had been seen by their friends. In a few moments they heard the call of Gokhos directly ahead of them. Running Fox paddled cautiously toward the shore. Then they recognized the voice of Painted Hawk.

"My brothers, the way is clear," he said.

As they stepped ashore their friends hurried forward to inquire about the canoe. When they learned that it belonged to Spotted Deer they were dumb with amazement.

"It is mysterious," Painted Hawk declared, at last. "I believe Spotted Deer was in this place. How did his canoe get across the water?"

"Have you found signs of Spotted Deer?" Running Fox inquired, quickly.

"We found signs that told us a prisoner was here," said Painted Hawk. "I believe it was Spotted Deer. That is why I called you. When it grows light I will show you those signs. Perhaps you can tell us about it."

"If Spotted Deer is a prisoner it would be foolish to wait," Running Fox declared, impatiently.

"We found many tracks," explained Painted Hawk. "We cannot follow them until it gets light."

"Well, tell us about it," said Yellow Wolf.

"Wait," cautioned Running Fox. "First we must pull this canoe into the bushes. Then we will go and sit down in the woods. See, Mauwallauwin is peeping over the trees. Pretty soon the river will be light. If we stay here in the open, perhaps our enemies will see us."

The others quickly saw the wisdom of his words. The moon was rising above the eastern ridges and they knew that they would soon become conspicuous on the open shore of the river. They dragged the canoe from the water and carried it into the bushes. Then they withdrew into the shelter of the forest. Fearful of making a fire, they seated themselves in a little circle and began to talk.

"My brothers, I will tell you about this thing," said Painted Hawk. "When we came to this place we began to look around for our enemies. We did not find them. Then we came down here near the water and began to look for signs. We saw some tracks around the place where the fire was. We saw the marks of canoes near the water. Then we began to look around. Pretty soon we found some tracks in the woods. Then we found some ashes and black wood behind a rock. We saw where some people had been lying down. Then Turning Eagle found something big. His eyes are sharp. He was looking at a place where some one had been lying down. Then he saw something to tell about. Come, Turning Eagle, tell our brothers about it."

"I will tell you about it," said Turning Eagle. "I was looking around that place where those people had been lying down. I was looking sharp. Then I saw something strange. It looked like it looks when our brother Wisawanik, the squirrel, pulls away the leaves. I looked close at that place. Then I saw some more marks on the ground. They were made by fingers. Then I thought about it. I said, 'Some one was lying down with his hands behind him.' They were in the middle of his back. They were crossed. Then I said, 'That person was a prisoner.' Then I called Painted Hawk and Crooked Foot to look at those marks. They felt good about it. That is all I have to say about it."

"Are you sure about this thing?" Running Fox inquired, eagerly.

"Yes," declared Turning Eagle. "I looked sharp. What I have told you is true."

"Come, we will go to this place," proposed Dancing Owl.

"No, we must not do that," Running Fox told him. "If we go to that place in the dark we cannot see anything. Perhaps we will wipe away many tracks. We must wait until the light comes. Then we will go and find out about it."

"This thing is mysterious," declared Yellow Wolf. "If the Mohawks caught Spotted Deer over here, how did we come to find his canoe on the other side of the water?"

For some moments the Delawares remained silent. They seemed unable to answer the question. The circumstances were confusing. At last, however, Dancing Owl spoke.

"My brothers, I saw those big fires near the water," he told them. "I went up close. Then I saw the Mohawks. I saw them go up the river. I did not see anything of Spotted Deer."

"Turning Eagle, did those people who were here go back to the river?" Running Fox asked, anxiously.

"I cannot tell you that," said Turning Eagle. "We found many tracks. Some were going toward the woods. Some were going toward the river. They were all mixed together. But I will tell you that some tracks went away into the woods. Yes, I believe those people went away toward the-place-where-the-sun-sleeps. We tried to follow those tracks. Then it got dark and we could not see them."

Running Fox was greatly impressed by the announcement. His mind was filled with interesting possibilities. He began to doubt that the Mohawks had carried Spotted Deer up the river. The uncertainty gave him hope. Still he was unable to guess what had become of his friend. Having found his abandoned canoe it was evident that misfortune of some sort had overtaken him. For the moment Running Fox felt helpless to solve the mystery of Spotted Deer's strange disappearance. His one hope was that Spotted Deer was still alive.

"My friends, I will tell you how I feel about this thing," said Yellow Wolf. "Spotted Deer has disappeared. We have found his canoe. Something bad must have happened to him. Dancing Owl saw the Mohawks in this place. He did not see Spotted Deer in their canoes. Painted Hawk and Crooked Foot and Turning Eagle are good scouts. They have found many tracks over here. Turning Eagle says there was a prisoner here. I believe his words. Now, my friends, we cannot tell who left those tracks. I believe they were Mohawks. We cannot tell about that prisoner. Perhaps it was Spotted Deer. Perhaps it was some one different. We cannot tell about those big fires. Now you see if we cannot tell about these things it will be hard to know what to do. Come, Running Fox, you are the leader, tell us about it."

"Yellow Wolf, what you say is true," replied Running Fox. "It is hard to know about this thing. I will tell you how I feel about it. I do not believe the Mohawks took Spotted Deer up the river. Dancing Owl was watching. He did not see him. Turning Eagle has sharp eyes. I believe what he tells us is true. I believe that prisoner was Spotted Deer. If he was with the people who slept at this place, then they must have taken him away. Turning Eagle says they went away toward the-place-where-the-sun-sleeps. My friends, perhaps those people were not Mohawks. The Shawnees live over there beyond the hills. Perhaps those people were Shawnees. Perhaps they came over here to hunt. Perhaps they caught Spotted Deer. Perhaps they are going to the Shawnee village. When it gets light we will try to find out about it. Now I cannot tell you any more."

"Running Fox, your words are good," said Painted Hawk. "I believe those people who went away on foot were Shawnees. I cannot tell about Spotted Deer. You found his canoe on the other side of the water. I believe he was over there. Perhaps the Mohawks caught him over there. Perhaps they did not come down where Dancing Owl was watching. Dancing Owl says he heard the call of Gokhos. It was up the river. Perhaps the people who caught Spotted Deer were calling the warriors at the fires. Perhaps the Mohawks followed Spotted Deer down the river. Perhaps they made those fires so that he could not pass. I do not know about this thing. This is how I feel about it."

"My brothers, I have listened to the words of Yellow Wolf, and Running Fox and Painted Hawk," said Crooked Foot. "Now I will give you some words. We must try to find out the best thing to do. I will tell you how I feel about it. I believe the Mohawks were here and I believe the Shawnees were here. I believe the Mohawks went away in canoes. I believe the Shawnees walked away. I saw those marks on the ground. I believe there was a prisoner lying in that place. If it was Spotted Deer, then I believe he went away with the Shawnees. That is all I have to say about it."

Then the Delawares became silent. Having failed to come to a definite conclusion regarding the disappearance of their tribesman, each of them was meditating upon the possibilities suggested by his friends. They realized that only daylight could give them a clew to the mystery.

"Well, I see that we feel different about this thing," Running Fox told them. "There is no use of talking any more. We must wait until the light comes. Then we will go and look sharp at those tracks. If they tell us that Spotted Deer was taken away by the Shawnees, we will know what to do. If we cannot tell about it then we must separate. Some of us must go to the Mohawk village. Some of us must try to follow the people who walked away. My friends, that is all I can tell you about it."

"We will wait until it gets light," agreed his friends.

A moment afterward Running Fox rose and walked away. His heart was heavy with grief and he wished to be alone. He made his way to the edge of the timber and seated himself at the base of a giant pine. The great, black forest was hushed in slumber. The night was glorious. The air was sharp and still. The heavens were sprinkled with stars. The river sparkled in the moonlight. Running Fox was unimpressed. His mind was filled with thoughts of Spotted Deer.

"It is bad," he kept telling himself.

Convinced that Spotted Deer had been captured by either the Mohawks or the Shawnees, Running Fox realized that each moment of delay lessened the chance of saving him. The thought that Spotted Deer might be depending upon him drove him into a frenzy of despair. He saw little chance of overtaking his foes before they reached their village, and then he feared he might be too late to help his friend. His courage weakened at the thought. Spotted Deer had been his loyal friend and companion since early boyhood, and a strong affection existed between them. They had shared many perilous adventures and each had risked his life to save the other. Now, when he believed Spotted Deer was in urgent need of assistance, Running Fox felt powerless to help him. The thought overwhelmed him with grief. Rising to his feet, he spread his arms toward the sky and offered an earnest, impassioned appeal to Getanittowit, the Great One.

After he had finished his appeal, Running Fox stood for a long time staring anxiously into the heavens. Then a star swept across the sky and dropped into the west. The superstitious young warrior accepted it as a good omen. He believed that his prayer had been answered.

"Getanittowit has sent me a sign," he said. "Now I will find Spotted Deer."