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diff --git a/33772.txt b/33772.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..50e3e4b --- /dev/null +++ b/33772.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2454 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hawk Eye, by David Cory + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hawk Eye + +Author: David Cory + +Release Date: September 20, 2010 [EBook #33772] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HAWK EYE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Patrick Hopkins and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +- Illustration captions in {brackets} have been added by the transcriber +for reader convenience. + +- The position of some illustrations has been changed to better fit with +the context. + +- Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. In all +other cases spelling, hyphenation, and capitalization have been retained +as in the original publication, except for the following: + +- Page 108, "re-loaded" changed to "reloaded", consistent with +other instances (As Hawk Eye reloaded his gun). + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: {Cover.}] + + + + +[Illustration: {Left inside cover. Family sitting outside tepee.}] + + + + +[Illustration: THE SHAFTS SPED TO THEIR MARKS AND TWO BIRDS FLUTTERED +AND FELL TO EARTH.] + + + + + HAWK EYE + + + BY + DAVID CORY + _Author of_ + "LITTLE INDIAN," and others + + + [Illustration: {Hawk Eye with rabbit.}] + + + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS NEW YORK + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1938, BY + GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC. + _All Rights Reserved_ + + + + + _Printed in the United States of America_ + + + + +FOREWORD + + +There is a secure immortality and a depth of intuition in the utterance +of Wordsworth, the peer of nature's poets, when from his pastoral reed +he strikes the notes: + +"The child is father of the man." + +Nothing could be more insistently and persistently true of the Indian +child--the girl to be the mother of warriors, the boy to become a hero +and the father of future "braves." + +It goes back, all of it, to a heredity born of three vital and +vitalizing forces. The Indian holds with steadfastness and devotion to +his many and weird ceremonies, but these all lead him back to the +supreme, piloting force of his life, his unfailing faith in the Great +Mystery. + +The altar stairs to the spirit world are hills, buttressed by granite; +trees that talk with the winds--whispers from the spirit world; the +thunder of the waterfall--the voice of the Great Mystery; stars--the +footprints of warriors treading the highways of the Happy Hunting +Ground. In all of these he sees God. + +Falling into communion with this happy philosophy of life, the glory of +Indian motherhood crosses our path--and there are few things more +beautiful. When the day of expectation dawns upon her, she seeks the +solitude of all the majesty in which from childhood she has seen the +footprints of God--revels, communes, rehearses to herself the heroism of +the greatest hero of her tribe, and all that the impress of it may be +felt upon the master man, the miracle of whose life has been entrusted +to her to work out. + +For the first two full years of his life, a spiritual hand guides his +steps. There, in struggle and patience and self-denial, he must learn +all of nature's glad story. + +His grandparents then take him into their school. He learns to ride +before he can walk; he is taught the use of the bow and arrow, which +means hitting the mark, keenness of vision, a steady aim, precision, so +that when the crisis comes he is ready--an ample reason for the brave, +effective and self-reliant conduct of the Indian soldier on the fields +of France in the World War. + +Deep breathing in the open air, giving full lung power; self-denial, +giving strength of limb and endurance in the race; fellowship with all +of nature's winsome and wild moods; a discerning will power; a steadfast +reliance upon the guiding hand of the Great Spirit, empower the Indian +boy to stand on all the high hills of history and challenge any militant +force that may confront him. + +The sphere is complete; Boy: Mother: God. + + [Illustration: Signature, Joseph K Dixon] + + Leader of the Rodman Wanamaker Historical + Expeditions to the North American Indian + + + + +ACKNOWLEDGMENTS + + +Any writer who adds to the number of books on that ever fascinating +subject, the American Indian, must owe thanks to many authors who have +written about the Indians. My special thanks, for information concerning +the customs and legends of the Sioux, are given to: + +Joseph Kossuth Dixon, author of _The Vanishing Race_, + +George Bird Grinnell, author of _When Buffalo Ran_, + +Charles A. Eastman, author of _Indian Boyhood_, + +Lewis Spence, author of _The Myths of the North American Indians_. + +Grateful acknowledgment is made, also, of valuable information found in +the _Thirty-Second Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology_. + + DAVID CORY + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I WILD GEESE 13 + + II PLANS AND PELTS 20 + + III LOADING THE CANOES 28 + + IV JEALOUS SLOW DOG 34 + + V HAWK EYE'S OFFERING 40 + + VI THE BEAR 47 + + VII THE KILL 51 + + VIII THE PELT IS REMOVED 57 + + IX THE RAPIDS 61 + + X THE BEAVER DAM 67 + + XI TOEPRINTS IN THE SAND 76 + + XII ACROSS THE PRAIRIE 83 + + XIII THE BOYS ARE TAKEN PRISONERS 89 + + XIV HAWK EYE'S REVENGE 96 + + XV TWO GOOD SHOTS 102 + + XVI OHITIKA IS WOUNDED 108 + + XVII THE TRADING POST 113 + + XVIII JOURNEY'S END 120 + + + + +HAWK EYE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WILD GEESE + + +Slow Dog, Medicine Man, looked out of his lodge. Wild geese were honking +overhead. To the Indian it meant the return of spring. + +"I must be the first to kill one," muttered Slow Dog. Entering his +lodge, he presently came out with bow and arrows. Hastening toward a +bend in the river which formed a sheltered cove, he hid among a clump of +willow bushes and waited in the hope that the birds might come down to +feed. + +Slow Dog was not the only one to notice the geese, however. Two boys, +one about fifteen years of age, the other, close to thirteen, had also +heard the honking. + +"Get your bow and arrows," cried Hawk Eye, the elder, darting into his +tepee. The younger boy, Raven Wing, ran to his lodge for his weapons. In +a few minutes both were hurrying to the river. + +"There's Slow Dog hiding in the bushes," whispered Raven Wing. "He +wishes to be the first to bring one to earth." + +"Leave him there," answered Hawk Eye, noticing that the flock, headed by +an old gander, had slightly altered its course. "The geese are making +for the lake." Breaking into a run, the boys headed for Big Stone Lake, +from whose southern boundary issued the "sky-tinted waters" of the +Minnesota River. + +As they hurried through the timber belt that bordered the river's edge, +Raven Wing remarked, "they may come down in the marsh." + +Ice still lay thick upon the lake, but on the shallower waters it had +begun to melt under the increasing warmth of the sun. + +"Can they see us?" asked Hawk Eye as Raven Wing, who was in the lead, +stopped at the further end of the grove. + +"No. We have yet time to run across this open space," answered the +younger boy. + +On reaching a thicket of willows, the boys halted; then crept in to +almost the edge of a frozen stretch of swamp. + +"Here they come!" whispered Raven Wing. As the flock settled on the +marshland, Hawk Eye fitted an arrow to his bow. "I'll take the one close +to the leader," he said. Almost simultaneously Raven Wing let fly his +arrow. The feathered ash wood shafts sped to their marks and two birds +fluttered and fell to earth. Alarmed at the fall of their comrades, the +flock rose in the air, but before they could get beyond arrow range, two +more birds dropped to earth. + +"We've outwitted Slow Dog," chuckled Hawk Eye, as he made his way over +the half-frozen ground to pick up his birds. + +"He must return empty-handed," laughed Raven Wing, retrieving his +arrows from the birds he had slain. "What do you intend to do with your +first kill?" he asked. + +"Give it to Old Smoky Wolf," answered Hawk Eye. "The goose first slain +in the Spring is always made the occasion for a feast." + +"I will give mine to my stepfather, Black Eagle," said Raven Wing. "He +will be our chief when Old Smoky Wolf takes the trail of departed +warriors." + +"Because you have outwitted him, Slow Dog will now bear another grudge +against you," went on Hawk Eye. + +"Perhaps it were better had I not seen the geese," sighed Raven Wing. "I +would not be the cause for further trouble between him and my +stepfather." + +"Slow Dog would find one if it suited his fancy," said Hawk Eye. "He has +a tongue with two ends, like a serpent's. But he has no need to look for +an excuse. He has not forgotten that it was you who discovered the +buffalo herd during the great blizzard and so saved us all from +starvation. Had you not done so, he would have succeeded in convincing +many that the famine had been sent by the gods to punish us all for +allowing your mother to hunt with the men. You, he hates. But for you, +he might have persuaded the tribe to elect him chief in place of Old +Smoky Wolf." + +"He hates Black Eagle," said Raven Wing, sadly. + +"Because he knows our warriors will choose Black Eagle to succeed Old +Smoky Wolf," added Hawk Eye. + +As the boys neared camp, Slow Dog came out of the bushes by the river +bank. A scowl spread over his face on seeing the dead geese. "He is a +great hunter when the birds fly down to be killed," he sneered. + +[Illustration: SLOW DOG CAME OUT OF THE BUSHES BY THE RIVER BANK.] + +"Had they not changed their course, your arrow would have slain one," +answered Raven Wing, quietly. + +Slow Dog turned on his heel and walked to his tepee. The two boys +continued on their way. Presently they halted beside Old Smoky Wolf's +lodge. At the sound of approaching footsteps, the aged chief had bade +his wife go out to greet whoever the visitors might be. + +Hawk Eye handed her one of the birds he had slain. "'Tis the first goose +brought to earth. Hawk Eye would present it to our chief," explained the +boy. As he and Raven Wing were about to turn away, Old Smoky Wolf +appeared in the doorway of the lodge. He gravely thanked Hawk Eye on +learning of the gift. + +"You both shall come to the feast," he added kindly. The boys thanked +him and as they turned away, a smile spread over Old Smoky Wolf's +wrinkled face. + +"My tribe are not women. A brave is no stranger in my village. These +boys will become great hunters. At the sound of their moccasins the +beaver will lie down to be killed," grunted the old chief. + +[Illustration: {Hunter and buffalo.}] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +PLANS AND PELTS + + +The sun grew warmer. The snow melted and trickled in little rivulets +down to the river. Crocuses bloomed and red-winged blackbirds cried amid +the yellowing willows in the bottoms. At last the ice broke in the river +and the waters rushed madly along between its banks. + +The hunters, who had been industrious all winter, gathered together the +pelts of the animals they had killed. Buffalo robes and deer skins, +together with pelts of minks, martins, foxes, wolves, beavers, bears, +fishers, otters and raccoons. Thousands of muskrat skins were also made +up into bundles. + +The packs were loaded into canoes and the hunters set off down stream +for the trading post at Mendota. + +Raven Wing and Hawk Eye watched the canoes for some time. When the last +frail craft had turned the bend in the river, Raven Wing said to Hawk +Eye, "Let us make the trip also, and take our pelts to the trading +post." + +[Illustration: RAVEN WING AND HAWK EYE WATCHED THE CANOES FOR SOME +TIME.] + +"Will your stepfather allow you to go on so long a trip?" asked Hawk +Eye. + +"I can but ask him," answered Raven Wing. + +"We will go, you and I, if he agrees," said Hawk Eye. "I have no father +to ask permission of. Besides, I am two years older than you. My mother +I know will give her consent." + +Presently both boys were on their way to their lodges. Bending Willow, +Raven Wing's mother, looked up as her son stood before her. + +"I would like to take the pelts I have cured from my winter's hunting to +the trading post. Hawk Eye plans to go also and we can make the journey +together," he announced in a low voice. + +Bending Willow regarded the tall, strong boy for several minutes before +she answered him. + +"I have no objection, son," she answered quietly. "But you must receive +permission from your stepfather." + +"Will you speak a good word for me?" said Raven Wing. + +"I will, my son," answered Bending Willow. "I know that you will be +careful. You are strong and tall for your years. You are a fine hunter; +you know the river; your canoe is well made." + +As she finished speaking, Black Eagle strode up. + +"The hunters are well on their way," he said. "The last canoe is now out +of sight." + +"Raven Wing wishes to take his pelts to the trading post," announced +Bending Willow. + +Black Eagle turned to his stepson. "You wish to go?" he asked. + +"Yes," replied the boy. "Hawk Eye will go with me. He has many fine +skins, also." + +"You have had no experience as a trader," said Black Eagle. "The pale +faces at the post will offer you foolish trinkets for your good pelts. +They may even make you dull and foolish with their minne wauken, +(firewater) and when your eyes are heavy-lidded and your mind falters, +strip you of your pack." + +"I will learn by watching our hunters when they offer their pelts," +answered Raven Wing. "I will not be deceived by trinkets, nor will I +taste the firewater." + +"I see no reason why he should not go," said Black Eagle after a silence +of several minutes. "How does his mother look upon this adventure?" he +added, turning to Bending Willow. + +"He must go some time. I am willing," she answered simply. + +"Hawk Eye goes with you?" asked Black Eagle. + +"He is now asking permission of his mother," replied Raven Wing. + +[Illustration: {Bending Willow.}] + +"When do you plan to go?" inquired Bending Willow. + +"At once," said Raven Wing. + +"That is wise," said Black Eagle. "The boys will easily catch up to the +hunters if they ply their paddles with vigor." He did not add that there +was safety in numbers, not wishing to needlessly alarm Bending Willow. +He could see that she was concerned over the adventure, although she +tried to hide her feelings. + +The matter being settled, Raven Wing strode over to Hawk Eye's lodge. +Since the death of Running Deer, Hawk Eye had taken his father's place +with credit. Being two years older than Raven Wing, he naturally had had +more experience. Notwithstanding his advantage, in age he was no taller +nor stronger than the younger boy. + +As Raven Wing neared the tepee, he heard Hawk Eye's mother, Light +Between Clouds, say in a low voice; + +"You are my only support since the death of Running Deer." + +"Sure, Mother," answered Hawk Eye, "but you would not have me always +remain in our village. Hawk Eye is now a man; he has a mother in his +wigwam, but he need not ask her permission to go on the hunt." + +"'Tis a long journey to the trading post," answered Light Between +Clouds. "You have had no experience at bargaining with the palefaces. +Why not wait and go with the next band of trappers? There will be +another party setting out soon." + +"They will merely trade in my pelts with their own and I shall have +nothing to say," cried Hawk Eye. "Besides, I would like to gain +experience first-hand. I am strong. I can handle my father's gun with +the best of the hunters. I am a boy no longer. Comes another snow and I +shall be a warrior." + +[Illustration: {Canoe on the river.}] + + + + +CHAPTER III + +LOADING THE CANOES + + +"You are my only son," sighed Light Between Clouds, gazing lovingly upon +the stalwart form of Hawk Eye. "You are the main support of your sister +and me. I am loath to give my consent. It is a long journey to the +trading post at Mendota." + +"Black Eagle, my stepfather, is willing that I should go," broke in +Raven Wing. + +"And what does Bending Willow say?" inquired Light Between Clouds. + +"She agrees with my stepfather," answered Raven Wing. + +"Then you have my permission to go," said Light Between Clouds, turning +to Hawk Eye. "And may the Great Spirit look kindly upon your adventure." +Without further words, she turned on her heel and walked toward a +nearby lodge. + +"So your mother is willing that you should go," said Raven Wing. + +"Yes, she has given her consent, as you have heard," answered Hawk Eye. + +"Why did she leave us so suddenly?" asked Raven Wing, doubtfully. + +"She has gone for moccasins, I think," replied Hawk Eye. "My grandmother +is skilful at making them; she always keeps a supply on hand." + +"You have more pelts than I have," remarked Raven Wing, lingering a +moment to watch Hawk Eye deftly pack the skins in several bundles of +convenient size. + +"We will need two canoes; yours and mine," said Hawk Eye. "But should +one be damaged during the trip, we can get along with one. We must lose +no time in starting." + +"I will be ready as soon as you are," answered Raven Wing. He returned +to his lodge, gathered together his pelts, which were already packed in +several bundles, and carried them down to the river. Hawk Eye, having +more experience, attended to the loading of the frail vessels. + +During the loading and packing, Ohitika, Hawk Eye's favorite dog, +watched the proceedings in silence. Except for an occasional wag of his +tail, he stood still, showing no impatience. + +"I would like to take Ohitika," said Hawk Eye. "He is my favorite dog, +my friend. My father found him in a deserted Chippeway village five +years ago. He was but a puppy then, his mother and the rest of the +litter had been killed by wolves, and father discovered him lying in an +old woodchuck hole. Father bundled him in his blanket and brought him +home to me. I named him Ohitika because he was so brave even as a pup. +At first he was my playmate, but he has become my hunting companion. I +hate to leave him behind. But to make room for him it will be necessary +to place one of my packs in your canoe." + +[Illustration: {Bow and arrows.}] + +"That can easily be done," answered Raven Wing. "I have fewer packs than +you." + +"I shall take my father's gun, also," went on Hawk Eye, as he +transferred a bundle of pelts to Raven Wing's canoe. "I am glad that I +have learned to use it. It is a fine gun, as Running Deer, my father, +often said. He was not given to boast of his prowess as a hunter, but +always claimed it was due to his gun that he rarely missed the mark." + +"I must have a gun," cried Raven Wing. "A fine gun, like yours. Do you +think my stock of pelts will bring me one?" + +"If you are clever at trading," answered Hawk Eye with a chuckle. "And +if not," he added kindly, "you shall have some of mine to fill in." + +When the last pack had been carefully loaded, Hawk Eye looked critically +at his work. "You have displayed much skill," observed Black Eagle, who +came up at that moment. + +"I took pains to watch the hunters load their craft at sunup," said Hawk +Eye. + +"Safe carriage depends on good loading as well as skill with the +paddles," said Black Eagle. "Be sure you re-load as well after making +portage below Lac Qui Parle. You will come to a succession of rapids +after leaving the lake behind you." + +Black Eagle might have said more had not Bending Willow at that point +arrived with a bundle. + +"I have brought you maple sugar," she explained, handing the package to +Raven Wing. "'Tis some that I had on hand from the sugar camp." + +[Illustration: {Map of Minnesota.}] + +As she finished speaking, Light Between Clouds came running toward them. + +"These dried buffalo tongues will come in handy should you not find +plenty of game," she cried, giving the bundle to Hawk Eye. + +Sensing that the departure was at hand, Ohitika waited no longer, but +leaped lightly into his master's craft. Stepping into their canoes, the +boys raised their paddles, then dipped them into the water and made for +the middle of the river. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +JEALOUS SLOW DOG + + +From his tepee Slow Dog gloomily watched the departure of Raven Wing and +Hawk Eye, and his roving eye fell on the graceful figure of Bending +Willow, who was waving a brave farewell to her only son, now fast +becoming a young brave. + +Bending Willow was the daughter of a haughty chief of the Spirit Lake +and Leaf Dweller Sioux, and was considered the most beautiful woman in +the tribe. When widowed at the age of twenty, she had bravely assumed +the care and bringing up of her son. + +Slow Dog had early realized that if he married her his influence in the +tribe would be greatly increased, and resenting her preference to +cherish in widowhood the memory of her husband, had been a persistent +although an unsuccessful suitor. + +The day had come, however, when Slow Dog's tepee grew lonely, and many +hours had been spent near that of Taopee, whose fat daughter did +beadwork while Slow Dog played on a reed flute. In due course of time a +pony, two guns and some blankets had secured the bride, who, veiled with +a blanket was taken to her lover's lodge and left there by a friend. + +From then on Slow Dog was busy with practical things, for the +father-in-law's family must be provided with game for a year, or until a +little papoose should swing from a lodge pole. Notwithstanding that his +lodge was no longer lonely, the heart of Slow Dog still yearned for the +beautiful Bending Willow. + +In the early part of the previous autumn Bending Willow had returned +from the wild rice fields where she and the women of the tribe had +reaped a goodly harvest. Assisted by a young squaw named Wadutah, she +had pitched her tepee in one of the villages of the Sisseton Sioux along +the southern shore of Big Stone Lake. + +Black Eagle, a great warrior and a wise counsellor, was generally +regarded as the successor to Old Smoky Wolf when the aged chief should +take the trail of departed warriors. Out of deference to the memory of +his friend, Lone Star, Black Eagle had long refrained from approaching +Bending Willow, whom he had always admired. But just before the winter +season had set in, he had pressed his suit and Bending Willow had +consented to become his wife, for she, too, had often marked the prowess +and wisdom of her husband's companion. A marriage feast had been +celebrated and she had entered Black Eagle's lodge. + +Slow Dog had long coveted the leadership of the tribe. He had plotted +secretly to overthrow the rule of Old Smoky Wolf, but his efforts had +been in vain. Black Eagle's popularity had been greatly increased by +his marriage, which only added to the jealousy of Slow Dog. + +[Illustration: {Canoe on the river.}] + +"With Bending Willow in his lodge, Black Eagle will prove a worthy +successor to Old Smoky Wolf," Slow Dog had often heard old squaws +remark, nodding their gray heads over their beadwork. + +Slow Dog had not joined the braves, women and children who had gathered +at the river bank to speed the departure of the boys. His long-nursed +jealousy kept him away from the crowd of well-wishers. But his keen eyes +noted as Hawk Eye and Raven Wing rounded a bend in the river and were +lost to sight, that Black Eagle had stepped into his canoe and paddled +northward. + +Was Black Eagle merely going to fish in Big Stone Lake, from whose +southern boundary flowed the Minnesota River, he wondered, or was he +bound for the Red River of the North, which flowed from the upper end of +the lake to Hudson Bay? + +Presently Bending Willow returned to her tepee which stood on a point of +high ground overlooking the river. From his lodge Slow Dog could see her +slender form as she busied herself preparing food. Wild thoughts filled +his mind. Some dark night it might be possible to seize her, place her +in his canoe and glide down the river. He pictured her in the frail +craft as he swiftly paddled downstream, past the tepees of the Warpeton +Sioux. He knew every twist and turn of the river. At Mankate, meaning +"Blue Earth" in his language, it turned sharply to the north and east. +Bending Willow should see Mendota, "the meeting of the waters," for +there the beautiful Minnesota completed its long journey of four hundred +miles and mingled its "sky-tinted waters" with those of the +Mich-e-see-be, "Father of Running Waters." + +Not there, however, would he beach his canoe. He would go further; past +the high white cliffs along the shore to Kaposia, and down the +Mich-e-see-be, upon whose western bank dwelt the Medawakantens. Then up +the Canon River to its head waters where stood the villages of the +Wahpekutes, the fourth tribe of the Minnesota Sioux. There he would +dwell with Bending Willow, the Fawn of the Dakotas, the most beautiful +woman of the Sioux nation. + +[Illustration: FROM HIS LODGE SLOW DOG COULD SEE HER SLENDER FORM AS SHE +BUSIED HERSELF PREPARING FOOD.] + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HAWK EYE'S OFFERING + + +Hawk Eye and Raven Wing pointed their canoes to the middle of the river +and bent to their paddles. In spite of its many twists and turns and the +menace of fallen trees floating in the channel, they made good progress. + +The river ran through a narrow valley, with hillsides covered with white +flowers and bottom lands dotted with yellow cowslips. Birds, busy with +their nesting, winged their way through the balmy air. Willows, +cottonwoods, elms and soft maples made a leafy border along the shore. + +Toward late afternoon they came to a widening of the river. + +"Lac Qui Parle," Hawk Eye called back, slowing down that Raven Wing +might come alongside. "I have heard my father say that in the paleface +tongue. It means the 'lake that speaks.'" + +"Black Eagle once told me that the Mich-e-see-be has a great widening +which is called Lake Pepin by the white man. It is bordered by high +bluffs and cliffs so steep that very few cedars can take root," answered +Raven Wing. + +"I have heard my father tell that only low hills guard the Minnesota +until its fringe of trees thickens and it enters the big woods. The +hills change to bluffs that creep closer to the water. At the mouth of +the Blue Earth River there is but a narrow strip of sand. From there on +the Minnesota makes a bend upward toward the land of snow and the rising +sun," said Hawk Eye. + +"It is a long river," said Raven Wing. "We shall have dipped our paddles +many, many times before we come to the trading post." + +"Have you fully decided to exchange your pelts for a gun?" inquired Hawk +Eye. + +"Yes," answered Raven Wing quickly. "I would like one like yours." + +"It is a fine weapon, as I have often told you," Hawk Eye said. "My +father was proud of it. He kept our lodge well supplied with meat before +an Objibway's bullet ended his life." + +"Let us make camp," Raven Wing suggested after a time. "I see a sandy +beach. Up to now the shore has been bordered with great flat rocks." + +"It is too early," Hawk Eye said. "The weather is fine. It is better to +keep to our paddles until sundown. Take care that your canoe does not +grate upon a hidden rock. There are many in the water." + +Raven Wing was glad when his elder companion later turned toward shore +for he was becoming a little tired. It required skill as well as +strength to paddle the heavy laden canoes. + +"My father's grandmother was a Wahpeton Sioux. Her tribe, called the +People of the Leaves, used to build their movable tepees along the +shores of this lake," said Raven Wing. + +[Illustration: {Sioux brave.}] + +"That was many, many years ago. We shall have to sleep beneath a tree," +answered Hawk Eye. + +"My grandfather made his first offering to the Great Spirit here," went +on Raven Wing. "He tossed his most beloved possession, a necklace of +bear claws, into this very lake." + +"It is a beautiful spot for such a ceremony," Hawk Eye said, +thoughtfully. "I have not as yet made my offering to the Great Spirit." + +Raven Wing made no answer. After his father's death his mother had +arranged the ceremony for him. He now wished that she had chosen for +that occasion the spot on which his grandfather had stood. + +As the canoes scraped bottom, Hawk Eye said; "I will here offer my most +valued possession to the Great Spirit." Stepping on shore, he opened a +doeskin pouch that was fastened to his belt. + +"Your necklace of panther claws!" exclaimed Raven Wing as Hawk Eye drew +forth his prize trophy. + +"Yes," Hawk Eye answered, quietly. For a moment he held it in his open +palm for a last look. Close by rose a great boulder of granite. +Clenching his fist about his most beloved possession, he climbed to the +top of the rock and stood facing the lake for some little time. Then, +holding the necklace in his right hand, he cried; + +"O Great Spirit, I implore you to command the Sun, Moon and Stars to +make my path smooth that I may reach the brow of the first hill. + +[Illustration: HE CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF THE ROCK AND STOOD FACING THE +LAKE FOR SOME LITTLE TIME.] + +"O Great Spirit, I implore you to command the Winds, Clouds, Rain and +Snow to make smooth my path that I may reach the brow of the second +hill. + +"O Great Spirit, I implore you to command the Hills, Valleys, Rivers, +Lakes, Trees and Grasses to make smooth my path that I may reach the +brow of the third hill. + +"O Great Spirit, I implore you to command the Birds, Animals and Insects +to make smooth my path that I may reach the brow of the fourth hill. + +"O Great Spirit, make me strong in heart and limb to reach the brow of +the fifth hill, upon whose summit are the Happy Hunting Grounds. + +"O Great Spirit, receive my most precious offering," and he flung the +necklace far out into the lake. + +[Illustration: {Wolf.}] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BEAR + + +On awakening the next morning after a restful night, Hawk Eye said: + +"Fresh meat tastes better than pemmican. I will take my bow and arrows +and see what game I can find. In the meantime you might gather some dry +wood and start a fire." + +After a plunge in the cool waters of the lake, he set out. For some +distance he traveled to the north, and on emerging from the timber, he +came upon a hillside covered with low bushes. He had set an arrow +against the bowstring in readiness for whatever kind of game might +suddenly start up. As he looked about, a rabbit darted across an open +space. But before it could reach cover, Hawk Eye's arrow brought it +tumbling to the ground. + +"Enough for our morning meal," he observed. After retrieving the arrow, +he slung the dead rabbit over his shoulder and started on his way back +to camp. + +As there was no special trail leading toward the water, he followed a +course indicated by several landmarks he had made note of when first +setting out. After crossing an open space, he paused at the edge of the +timber belt that lined the banks of the river. He thought he had heard a +slight noise in the underbrush. As the sound was not repeated, he strode +in among the trees, setting an arrow against the bowstring. Presently he +heard a pounding noise followed by a wheeze, and as he peered among the +tree trunks, he made out the form of a huge black bear. + +Surprised for a moment, the bear halted; then with a grunt took a step +forward. Unprepared for such big game, Hawk Eye dropped into a backward +walk, keeping his eyes fixed upon the animal, which now quickened its +steps. Raising his bow and continuing to step backwards, he aimed an +arrow at the heart of the bear and let fly. With a cry of pain and rage +it tore the barbed shaft from its bleeding side and rushed at him. +Before he could fit another arrow to the string, his heel caught on a +projecting root and he found himself sprawling upon the ground. +Springing to his feet, he attempted to recover his bow which had dropped +from his hand, but before he could pick it up, the infuriated animal was +almost upon him. Avoiding its outstretched paws, he ran toward the +river. + +As he went crashing through the tangled underbrush, he felt for his +hunting knife. Although somewhat relieved at finding it still in his +belt, he knew that his strength and skill would be unequal to the task +of slaying the ferocious animal. His principal hope lay in reaching the +spot where Raven Wing had kindled the fire for their morning meal. Once +there ahead of the bear he could rely on Raven Wing and the loaded gun +he had left with him. + +Soon, however, this hope disappeared. The bear was gaining on him. Due +to its great weight it easily crashed through the thick underbrush and +tangled vines that impeded his own progress. + +Closer came the great lumbering animal and he could almost feel its hot +breath upon his neck as he fought his way through a dense thicket toward +the river. + +Continuing on as best he could he came to an open space, covered with +wide flat rocks. A short distance ahead rose a giant boulder. Scattered +about its base lay a number of big rocks. Leaping upon one of them, he +managed to jump to a narrow ledge upon the almost perpendicular side of +the great boulder. From there he worked his way up to its flat-topped +surface by clinging to crevices and projecting pieces of granite. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE KILL + + +The bear had made straight for the big boulder. Discovering that even by +standing on its hind feet it could not reach the ledge upon which Hawk +Eye had leaped from the nearby rock, it came down on all fours and began +to circle the base of the boulder. On coming to a point where the base +extended for some considerable distance, it managed to climb up the +steep incline by means of its strong claws. At a point further up, +however, the flat surface of the summit projected like the rim of a hat +and forced the panting animal to merely cling to its position. At length +it managed to get one front paw over the edge. At once Hawk Eye stabbed +it with his knife. Roaring with pain, it pulled it down. After a few +minutes it worked its way to one side where the rim was less pronounced +and getting a firm hold on a shelf of rock with its hind feet, again +stretched over a front paw. Before Hawk Eye could use his knife its +other paw came above the rim and its head appeared. Growling and showing +its teeth, it dug the claws of its hind feet into the slanting rocky +side and raised itself. + +Hawk Eye had only his knife. No loose rocks lay upon the flat surface. +Holding it firmly in his fist he began to maneuver for a fatal plunge at +the animal's throat. But the knowing beast kept its head in motion, +making it well nigh impossible for him to avoid her gaping jaws. For +several minutes he attempted to plunge the sharp blade into its throat. +Suddenly the foothold it had managed to maintain with its hind feet gave +way, and in order to avoid plunging down the side of the great boulder, +the bear desperately pressed its chin upon the top of the rim to keep +from falling. + +The animal's mouth now being closed by the pull-down of its body, and +its head held rigid by its weight, Hawk Eye seized the opportunity he +had been waiting for. Advancing cautiously with knife in hand, he came +down on his knees and whipped the sharp blade across the side of its +throat. + +The hold of its front paws weakened, its head slipped off the ledge top, +and its heavy body hurtled to the ground. For a short time the mortally +wounded animal rolled about, moaning and pawing the ground until, with a +final quiver, it lay still. + +[Illustration: ITS HEAVY BODY HURTLED TO THE GROUND.] + +Hawk Eye climbed down the rock and gazed silently at the huge body. + +Then looking up into the sky, he murmured: "O Great Mystery, my heart is +glad that you have aided me to gain a necklace of bear claws. My spirit +sings because you have looked with favor upon the offering of my most +beloved possession." + +Squatting down beside the bear's body, he lifted one of the paws and +carefully examined the great claws before commencing to remove them one +by one with his knife. + +[Illustration: {Campsite.}] + +When all had been cut away, he placed them in the doeskin pouch that +hung at his belt. He also slit the pelt down the belly and cut a number +of juicy steaks. + +"I will return with Raven Wing for the pelt," he thought, as he retraced +his steps to the spot where he had dropped his bow and quiver of arrows. +After some little distance he came upon them and the body of the rabbit +which he had killed. + +As he made his way back to the shore, he noticed that the sun was high +in the heavens. Raven Wing by this time must be wondering what had kept +him away for so long a time. Quickening his steps into a run, he soon +came to their beached canoes. A fire which had been kindled on the sand +had burned down to a heap of dead ashes. He looked about for Raven Wing. +He was nowhere in sight. + +[Illustration: {Bear.}] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE PELT IS REMOVED + + +Hawk Eye set the package of bear meat in one of the canoes and again +looked about. Noticing that his gun had been taken from the canoe in +which he had left it, he concluded that Raven Wing had grown tired of +waiting for him to return. + +Not having tasted food since the previous evening, he took out some +pemmican and commenced to eat. His appetite somewhat satisfied, he stood +up and again looked about him. + +"I may as well go back and skin the bear. Raven Wing may not return for +some little time," he thought. The morning had already slipped away and +by the time the bear's pelt could be removed he realized that the sun +would be low in the sky. So he set off without delay, stopping only at +a tiny spring for a cool drink. + +[Illustration: {Brave hunting.}] + +On nearing the spot where he had first encountered the bear, his ears +caught the sound of some one treading softly. As he slipped behind a +tree trunk and fitted an arrow to his bowstring, he heard Raven Wing's +voice calling. + +"Thought at first you might be the mate of the bear I killed a while +ago," cried Hawk Eye, coming out into the open. + +"What! You say you have slain a bear?" exclaimed Raven Wing, dropping a +couple of prairie chickens which he had shot. + +"Come, I will show you my kill," answered Hawk Eye. + +"I was following your trail from the hillside when I caught sight of you +at the edge of the timber," explained Raven Wing. "From what I now see +of the trail I should judge you were being chased by the bear." + +"I was," admitted Hawk Eye, with a grin. "But it was no laughing matter +at the time, as you will soon see for yourself." + +Presently they came to the rocky, flat open space. As Raven Wing +advanced and caught sight of the animal's huge form lying close to the +base of the giant boulder, he uttered a cry of amazement. + +"What a bear!" he cried. "But look! Someone has already removed the +claws." + +"They are safe in my doeskin pouch," answered Hawk Eye. "I wished to +make sure of a necklace of bear claws before leaving the body." + +"The Great Spirit has rewarded you for sacrificing the necklace of +panther claws," said Raven Wing in an awe-struck voice. + +"He has indeed," agreed Hawk Eye. After a moment's silence Hawk Eye +said, "Help me remove the pelt." + +Without further words both boys set to work. It was no mean job they had +undertaken. They found it necessary to cut down two strong young +saplings with which to turn over the immense body. At length they were +able to tear the hide clear of the carcass. + +As Raven Wing bound it up in a neat, tight roll, he remarked, "I see you +have already taken the choice cuts." + +"They are in my canoe," answered Hawk Eye, wiping his blood-stained +hands on the bear's head. + +"We have another pelt to trade," chuckled Raven Wing, shouldering the +package. "We had better start at once for the river. The sun is low." + +"Yes," answered Hawk Eye. "I do not like the idea of leaving our canoes +for so long a time. Let us make haste." + +[Illustration: {River.}] + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE RAPIDS + + +"Give me the pack," said Raven Wing, after some little distance. Hawk +Eye placed it on the younger boy's shoulder and took the gun which he +had been carrying. Examining it to satisfy himself that it was loaded, +he dropped the barrel into the curve of his left arm. From the brow of +the gentle sloping hill they could see the river bordered by trees +through a narrow valley. + +Great rocks of granite and limestone cropped out everywhere upon the +treeless prairie and were turned a pinkish hue in the glow of the +setting sun. As the sun sank lower in the west the boulders took on many +fanciful shapes. + +"Not so long ago buffaloes roamed this prairie," remarked Hawk Eye. "Now +they graze further toward the land of the setting sun." + +"We will have plenty of fresh meat for our evening meal," said Raven +Wing. + +"Yes, we have more than enough with the prairie hens you shot and the +bear meat," chuckled Hawk Eye. + +"You also killed a rabbit," added Raven Wing. + +On arriving at the beach where their canoes lay, Hawk Eye unrolled the +bear hide and spread it very carefully from one bow to another. + +"At sunrise," he said, "I will scrape it clean with my knife. I think it +will dry in the sun as we paddle and make a good pelt." + +Raven Wing collected an armful of dry wood and started a fire. Before +long both hungry boys were enjoying a hearty meal of prairie hen and +rabbit meat. After a drink at the spring nearby, they spread their +blankets beneath a tree and went to sleep. + +At sunup Hawk Eye set to work on the bear pelt while Raven Wing +re-kindled the fire and prepared their morning meal. When this was +finished, he covered the smouldering embers with fresh earth and +followed Hawk Eye to the beach. Pushing their canoes into the water, +they bent to the paddles. + +[Illustration: {Brave by the campfire.}] + +At this point the river was narrow. Again fallen trees blocked the +channel. At times the boys found it necessary to push them out of the +way. Progress was slow, and the sun was well up in the sky by the time +they passed the mouth of a small river called The Last Stream With +Trees. + +"Fearless Bear told me the Minnesota coils like a snake. He spoke the +truth," remarked Hawk Eye. "I have already counted eight turns in less +distance than the eye can reach." + +"The turns do not bother me," answered Raven Wing. "But I have heard +that there are rapids further on. They may cause us trouble." + +"We will make a portage," said Hawk Eye. "We cannot trust our pelts to +the angry waters." + +"Then we must unload the canoes and shoulder the packs," said Raven +Wing. "That will not be easy." + +"It will be hard work," agreed Hawk Eye. + +Instead of going ashore for their midday meal, the boys ate pemmican +while paddling. At sundown they ran the canoes ashore and prepared to +make camp for the night. After a hearty meal of bear meat which had been +well-cooked the day before, they rolled themselves in their blankets and +lay down for the night. For some little time they lay awake listening to +the night noises. But they were weary with paddling, and in spite of the +persistent calls of the whippoorwills, they at length fell into a sound +sleep. + +Hawk Eye was the first to awaken. Seeing Raven Wing still asleep, he +quietly strode down to the river for a bath. As Raven Wing still slept +on, Hawk Eye unpacked some pemmican and ate his morning meal. Presently +Raven Wing awoke and seeing that Hawk Eye was about ready to launch the +canoes, he hurried down to the river to bathe. He would have launched +his own craft had not the elder boy wisely counseled him to first make a +hearty meal. Before long they were both out on the river. + +On coming to the rapids, Hawk Eye grounded his craft on a narrow strip +of sand and unloaded. As soon as Raven Wing had placed his packs upon +the sand, Hawk Eye said; + +"You and I will shoulder my canoe and carry it beyond the rapids." + +Waist-high in the tumbling waters they bore it to quiet water and laid +it on the shore. When Raven Wing's canoe had been safely transported, +they returned for the packs. One by one these were carried through the +rapids without mishap. The canoes were then pushed into the water and +reloaded. Once more the boys took their seats and paddled down stream. + +[Illustration: {Fishing in the river.}] + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE BEAVER DAM + + +During the next few days the boys made good progress. They passed the +Yellow Medicine, Sparrowhawk and Redwood rivers. On the fourth day when +but a few miles above the mouth of the Cottonwood, Raven Wing said: "Let +us go ashore. It is time we ate." + +So they beached the canoes on a sandy shore. Hawk Eye took out pemmican +and dried bear meat from a pack and sat down beside Raven Wing. When +their hunger was satisfied, Hawk Eye said: + +"I think there may be beavers upstream," pointing to a rivulet that +emptied into the Minnesota a short distance from them. "If so, and there +are many, we can come here later on and get pelts. Shall we see?" + +"By all means," agreed Raven Wing. "Let us go at once." + +Picking up their bows and arrows, they started off. Following the +winding course of the stream for a considerable distance they came to a +dam which held back the water and formed a fair-sized lake. + +At once the boys knew that it had been built by beavers. The Musquash, +sometimes called the muskrat, although it ought to be called the +muskbeaver, because it is really a beaver and no rat at all, never +builds dams nor digs canals. It has a flat tail like the beaver and not +at all resembling the tapering tail of water rat. It builds houses, much +like the beaver's, only smaller. + +"We will not forget this spot," chuckled Raven Wing. "We will get many +pelts on our next visit." + +"No one shall learn of its location," added Hawk Eye. "We will get the +pelts for ourselves." + +"The dam is in fine condition," said Raven Wing, who had climbed up upon +it. + +Not a beaver was to be seen, however. The wary animals had dived out of +sight at hearing the boys approach. + +[Illustration: THE WARY ANIMALS HAD DIVED OUT OF SIGHT AT HEARING THE +BOYS APPROACH.] + +"Fearless Bear once told me," remarked Raven Wing, "that hunters rarely +see beavers building a dam. He says that they build at night and that +it is no easy matter for a hunter to watch them." + +"The musquash is easier to hunt," said Hawk Eye. "But he is less than +half the size of the beaver; besides, his pelt is not so valuable." + +"I've seen a beaver caught that weighed almost eighty pounds," said +Raven Wing. "It had beautiful fur and a tail as big as a musquash." + +"No fur on its tail," laughed Hawk Eye. "It's covered with rough scales. +Beaver uses it to scull its way through the water." + +"I wish the dam were larger," said Raven Wing. "Big dam, many beavers." + +"There are plenty of beavers here," said Hawk Eye. "Enough for you and +me unless some hunter comes across it before another snow." + +As Raven Wing stepped off the dam and walked upstream along the bank, he +said; "Fearless Bear told the hunters one night when I was in his lodge, +that he had seen a beaver dam near a great body of water that measured +two hundred and sixty feet long and six feet high." + +"Might not have been so many beavers at work on it," said Hawk Eye. +"Probably it took a long time to build it." + +[Illustration: {Beaver.}] + +As the boys strolled along they noted the number of stumps which were +all that remained of the trees which the beavers had cut down and +divided into short lengths, such as could be carried by mouth when +building the dam. + +"Sharp teeth to cut these trees," remarked Raven Wing. "Some of these +stumps are two feet thick." + +"Did Fearless Bear tell you how the beaver works?" asked Hawk Eye. + +"He supports himself by his tail when he rears on his hind legs to cut +down a tree," answered Raven Wing. "With his teeth he cuts the wood as +neatly as a hunter cuts it with his hatchet. No nibbling like a mouse," +went on Raven Wing, "he makes a neat job, and can even make the tree +fall in the direction he wishes." + +"What else did Fearless Bear say?" asked Hawk Eye. + +"When the beaver has cut the tree into short lengths he drags the +cuttings to the place where he is to build the dam. He brings the +branches, too, in his mouth and rolls stones along the shore to pile on +them and hold them in place. At first the dam is rough and loose, but +the beavers keep constantly at work, smoothing and pressing it down and +stopping all the gaps with clay and pebbles from the bank. As time goes +on it becomes overgrown with grass and bushes and looks as if it were a +natural bank, just like this one," said Raven Wing. + +"After a freshet, beaver must make repairs," remarked Hawk Eye. + +[Illustration: {Brave with headdress.}] + +"Fearless Bear told me he once made holes in a dam and during the night +watched the beavers patch up the damaged places," laughed Raven Wing. + +"I wouldn't care to be a beaver," said Hawk Eye. "It must be tiresome to +live under the ice roof of a pond. I've noticed how the beavers sport +and play when the ice breaks up." + +Raven Wing turned on his heel and pointed to a beaver lodge. It stood +not far from the bank, its roof above the water line. Both boys were +well aware that the beaver builds the doorway to his lodge well below +the freezing line. As they both stood looking at the deserted lodge, +Raven Wing said; "Beaver often has two openings down deep in the water. +Through these hidden entrances he drags branches and pieces of bark up +to his dining room, which being above the water line, is dry and +comfortable." + +"Come," said Hawk Eye. "Let us go back to our canoes now. We have seen +enough for today." + +As they strode toward the Minnesota River, Raven Wing said; "I shall +trade some of my pelts for steel traps. With these we can catch the +beaver more easily than by spears." + +"I will, too," said Hawk Eye. + +"We will not have to bait the traps," went on Raven Wing. "Fearless Bear +tells me to merely rub them with some odor or essence of which the +animals are fond." + +"That will be easy," grinned Hawk Eye. + +Presently they rounded a bend in the little stream and came to the spot +where they had beached their canoes. To their dismay they found that +they had disappeared. + +[Illustration: {Moccasins and headdress.}] + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +TOEPRINTS IN THE SAND + + +For a moment the boys stood silent and uncertain. Hawk Eye was the first +to speak. "Follow me," he cried, and ran down the bank of the little +stream. He soon came to a sandy point where its waters mingled with +those of the Minnesota. + +"Look," he said. "One of our heavy loaded canoes went aground here," and +he pointed to deep marks in the sand. "And here are the toeprints of the +thief who pushed them off." + +"He has gone downstream with them," said Raven Wing. "His canoe was +probably caught in the swift current as it rounded the point and was +carried downstream before he could tow the canoes into the big river, +and his towline tightened across the point and grounded our first canoe +here. Then he came back and pushed it off and around the point." + +"We must follow," said Hawk Eye. Keeping as close to the river as was +possible, the boys set off at an easy lope. Presently they were forced +to change their course, for the willows, cottonwoods, elms and soft +maples that lined the banks made progress slow and difficult. + +Leaving the narrow valley through which the river made continuous twists +and turns, they hurried up the slope and soon found themselves on the +treeless prairie, which stretched far away to the sky. As far as eye +could reach not a tree could be seen. Except for great boulders of +granite and limestone which dotted it here and there, the plain was +covered with grass. + +As they turned to follow a course parallel with that of the river, Raven +Wing thoughtfully remarked: + +"We are not sure that our canoes are being taken downstream." + +"The thief," answered Hawk Eye, "would have to pass many Sioux villages +on the banks of the river if he did otherwise. He will take the pelts to +the trading post at Mendota." + +"Yes, you are right," answered Raven Wing. "Why should he tow our heavy +laden canoes upstream? And how would he account for their possession +should he meet with any of our own people? We are two birds with broken +wings. Paddles and current will carry the canoes faster than we can hope +to run for any length of time." + +"But we must get back our canoes," answered Hawk Eye. + +Raven Wing made no answer. He slowly loosened the leather thong about +his neck and opened a small doeskin bag that hung by a leather thong +about his neck. Squatting down he took out the wing of a crow. + +"I will make medicine," he said. After some little time he replaced the +crow's wing in the doeskin bag and fastened the leather thong about his +neck. + +"The Great Mystery bids me remember how the river runs," he said. + +[Illustration: "THE GREAT MYSTERY BIDS ME REMEMBER HOW THE RIVER RUNS," +HE SAID.] + +"And how does it run?" asked Hawk Eye. + +Tightening its string until the bow was shaped like a half moon, Raven +Wing laid it upon the ground. Placing an arrow, pointed outward, at the +center of the curved ash wood, he said, "This arrow points to the Ever +Summer Land." + +Setting another arrow, with feathered end against the bowstring at a +point half way between the tips, he dropped a pebble beside it and said; +"This arrow points to the Land of Snows." + +When a third arrow, pointed outward, with two pebbles beside it, had +been placed at one tip of the bow, he said; + +"Thither lies the Land of the Rising Sun." + +The fourth and last arrow he laid with stone head pointing outward, at +the other tip of the bow. Then, having placed three pebbles beside it, +he said; + +"Thither lies the Land of the Setting Sun." + +"The Great Mystery is kind," remarked Hawk Eye. + +"He has bid me remember my stepfather's description of the Minnesota's +course," answered Raven Wing. + +"And now what do you propose to do?" asked Hawk Eye. + +"We will make a trail across the prairie towards the rising sun straight +as the flight of an arrow. Come; let us start," answered Raven Wing. + +At once both boys set off at an easy lope. Ohitika bounded ahead, +flushing a flock of ground sparrows which chattered loudly at the +interruption to their grassy nest building. But to the clamor of their +voices and whirring wings the dog failed to see a badger which was +burrowing in the sod. + +As the boys pressed on, larks and blue birds filled the air with song; +prairie wolves skulked away to grove and swale, and rattlesnakes glided +over moist places to rocky shelter. + +High up in the sky a sand-hill crane, northward bound in lonely flight, +sounded a far off call. + +"'Tis a good omen," cried Hawk Eye. + +[Illustration: {Brave.}] + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +ACROSS THE PRAIRIE + + +As the sun rode slowly down the sky and passed the barriers of the +low-hanging clouds, a herd of tiny prong-horned antelopes scampered near +for a closer view of the boys and dog. + +"Down, Ohitika!" Hawk Eye commanded. "We need fresh meat," he added, +turning to Raven Wing. + +"But they are beyond arrow flight," answered the younger boy. + +"They are inquisitive animals," said Hawk Eye. "I will try to bring them +nearer. Let us lie down and see if I cannot attract their attention." + +Both boys dropped to the ground. Hawk Eye fastened a moccasin to one end +of his bow and slowly waved it to and fro. In a few minutes an antelope +came slowly toward them. Pausing now and again, it gradually came within +range. In the meantime Raven Wing had set the head of an arrow against +the string. At length he let it fly. The stricken animal gave a leap +into the air and fell to the ground. Its frightened comrades galloped +away and were out of range before Raven Wing could send out another +arrow. + +[Illustration: HAWK EYE FASTENED A MOCCASIN TO ONE END OF HIS BOW AND +SLOWLY WAVED IT TO AND FRO.] + +The sun was now near its setting, so the boys decided to make camp close +to a great boulder. From a clump of low bushes Raven Wing gathered +enough dry twigs and leaves to make a small fire, and before long strips +of antelope meat were roasting over the flames. The bushes grew around a +tiny spring, at which they drank and satisfied their thirst before they +sat down to eat. + +When the meal was ended, Hawk Eye said: "Let us cut up the choice parts +of the antelope into thin strips. These can be hung from a strip of hide +and allowed to dry in the sun as we journey on." + +For some little time before darkness came down the boys were busy +preparing the meat for drying. + +"We will get up with the sun," said Hawk Eye, as he stretched himself on +the ground. + +At the first pale tint of dawn the boys awoke. After drinking and +bathing at the spring they ate heartily of the portion of well cooked +meat that remained from their evening meal. Taking another long drink at +the spring, they hung their bows from their shoulders and lifted the +leather thong with the strips of meat from the bush tops. + +"The wind and the sun will soon dry the meat," remarked Hawk Eye, taking +hold of one end. Raven Wing grasped the other and they set off over the +short, light green, hair-like grass of the upland. Dew glittered on stem +and flower as the sun rose higher. Now and again the peep of the prairie +chick or the call of the plover came to their ears. As they neared a +rocky ridge a badger slipped into his den. + +At length Raven Wing remarked, "Very soon we should come across a trail +to the river." + +"The trail of the paleface trader Renville?" inquired Hawk Eye. + +"Yes; 'tis wide and well worn by the wheels of his carts and the hoofs +of his oxen," answered Raven Wing. + +As the sun reached the middle of the sky, Hawk Eye stopped. Dropping his +end of the leather thong, he said; + +"We have not yet found the trail. Let us spread apart. I will follow a +line running between the land of Snows and the Rising Sun. You go +forward slantingly toward the Ever Summer Land. But neither of us may go +far without again setting face toward the Rising Sun. By so doing, one +of us may come upon the trail as we journey toward the upward bend of +the river." + +"We must keep within the sound of each other's voice," cautioned Raven +Wing. + +"Yes," agreed Hawk Eye. "I will shoulder the meat. It is by now quite +dry." Making a bundle of the strips, he set off at a slant towards the +north. Raven Wing veered towards the south. + +Before long he halted at a faint, distant call from Hawk Eye. + +"He has come across the trail," said Raven Wing to himself. Turning +toward the north, he broke into a run. As he came to the ridge of a low +swell of ground, he saw Hawk Eye. In a few minutes he stood beside him. + +"You have found the trail," he laughed, perceiving the sunken track made +by cart wheels. + +"Yes, but we must go fast to catch the thief," answered Hawk Eye. "We +must gain a point of vantage on the bank ahead of him. Once there, we +can lay plans to recover our stolen canoes." + +[Illustration: {Deer with antlers.}] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE BOYS ARE TAKEN PRISONERS + + +The sun set and it set again. Raven Wing and Hawk Eye pushed on across +the prairie toward the Minnesota River. They had left the trail and were +veering toward the north. + +"It would not be wise to make the great ford called by the white men +Sioux," Hawk Eye had said. "We must come at a fair distance from there +down the river to a point where the banks are high and the timber +heavy." + +"We will continue to journey through the night until the river is in +sight," answered Raven Wing. + +Hawk Eye grunted in assent. Once only did they pause for water at a +spring in the midst of a clump of cottonwood trees. + +As the sun rose they neared the river and soon after they were camping +not far from a bluff, eating their breakfast beside a small fire, which +sent so thin a column of smoke into the air that it was almost +dissipated before it reached the treetops. + +When the meal was over, Raven Wing said: + +"I will take Ohitika and keep watch over the river while you get some +sleep." Armed with his bow and arrows, he strode off toward the brow of +the bluff. + +Hawk Eye loaded his gun and placed it against a tree, together with +powder horn and bullet pouch. Then, throwing himself at full length on +the green moss beneath the tree, he fell into a sound sleep. + +Scarcely a quarter of an hour had passed when he was startled by the +report of a gun, which was followed by a war cry from Raven Wing and a +series of war whoops. At the same instant, and before he could attempt +to rise, his legs and arms were pinioned to the ground by two Indians. +For a minute Hawk Eye was paralyzed. Then the terrible reality of his +position, the cry of warning from Raven Wing, and the sight of the thong +with which his captors were about to bind him, brought him to his +senses. With a display of strength that surprised his captors, he hurled +them right and left. As one of them struggled to his feet, he received a +blow from Hawk Eye's tomahawk that felled him; the other, fearing for +his life, dodged behind a tree. + +As Hawk Eye glanced quickly around in search of his gun which no longer +rested against the tree, he saw Raven Wing between the tree trunks being +hurried away by two other Indians. As the arrow leaps from the bow Hawk +Eye sprang forward in pursuit. The Indians saw him coming, but having +dropped their guns in the scuffle with Raven Wing, they were unable to +fire at Hawk Eye as he approached. At this point the Indian who had +hidden behind the tree threw a heavy stick which struck Hawk Eye on +the back of the head with such force that he fell, bleeding and +insensible, upon the ground. + +[Illustration: AS THE ARROW LEAPS FROM THE BOW HAWK EYE SPRANG FORWARD +IN PURSUIT.] + +When Hawk Eye recovered from the effects of the blow, he found himself +lying on the cold earth in total darkness, and firmly bound hand and +foot. + +In vain he tried to break the leather thongs. He called loudly for Raven +Wing, hoping his friend had somehow escaped and would come to his aid. +But only echoes of his own voice answered him. The dreadful thought now +flashed across his mind that the enemy had buried him alive in some dark +cave. At length the gray dawn shone in upon him and showed that he was +in a deep hollow in the bluff overhanging the river. + +Again he called to Raven Wing. Scarcely had the echoes of his voice died +away, when a man's figure darkened the mouth of the cave. + +"Raven Wing!" cried Hawk Eye. + +"Slow Dog has heard your call," answered a sneering voice. Bending over +the helpless boy the Medicine Man drew a scalping knife from his belt +and cut the thong that bound his feet and hands, and signed for him to +rise. + +[Illustration: "SLOW DOG HAS HEARD YOUR CALL," ANSWERED A SNEERING +VOICE.] + +With difficulty Hawk Eye stood upon his legs, numbed by long binding. He +said nothing, however, observing that the sneer still played about Slow +Dog's lips. + +"Come," commanded the Medicine Man. Hawk Eye obeyed and followed him to +the timber belt where the struggle of the previous night had taken +place. Presently they came to an Indian camp. There were no tepees, but +the several blankets that lay under the trees indicated where the party +had lain during the night. A Chippeway Indian squatted beside a fire, +holding Hawk Eye's dog by a leash. + +[Illustration: {Equipment.}] + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +HAWK EYE'S REVENGE + + +From the fact that the camp was without tepees or squaws, and the +Chippeway's face was daubed with red paint, Hawk Eye knew that he had +fallen in with a small party on the warpath, but he could not account +for the Medicine Man's presence with the Sioux's hereditary enemy. As he +thought over the matter Slow Dog's detaining hand gripped his shoulder. + +"Son of Running Deer," said the Medicine Man, "I have no cause to +quarrel with you. But between Black Eagle and me there is much bad +blood. You shall return to your village. It is mine no longer. Say to +Old Smoky Wolf that I have become a Chippeway; that I and my Chippeway +brothers will soon pay a visit to his village to take scalps. Say to +Black Eagle that I shall hold his stepson a captive." + +As he finished, Ohitika gave a sudden spring, whipping the leash from +the hand of the Indian beside the fire. Leaping across the ground, he +sprang at Slow Dog's throat. As the Medicine Man raised his foot and +kicked the animal, Hawk Eye dealt him a blow between the eyes and darted +off, followed by the faithful dog. + +On coming to a tree against which were propped two guns, with powder +horns and bullet pouches, he slowed down to pick them up, then dashed +ahead. At a distance of fifty feet or more he saw Raven Wing, bound to a +tree. One of the guns he had captured carried a ramrod sharpened at one +end, and on coming up to Raven Wing, he began to sever the thongs that +bound him with the sharpened point. Before he could finish, however, +Slow Dog, who had followed, sprang upon him. Staggering forward, Hawk +Eye fell to the ground, carrying the Medicine Man with him. + +As Slow Dog attempted to rise, Hawk Eye raised his foot and struck him +so heavily upon the stomach that he fell with a groan and lay writhing +upon the ground. In the meantime, the Chippeway had come up and +springing like an infuriated tiger toward Raven Wing, drove a knife at +the boy's throat. + +Fortunately, Raven Wing's arms were tied in front of him, so that by +raising them he was enabled to ward off the blow. The knife fortunately +merely scratched the fleshy part of his left arm, but in doing so +severed the thong that bound them. With a mighty wrench Raven Wing burst +the thong that Hawk Eye had all but severed, and slipped around behind +the tree. As the Chippeway again rushed after him, Hawk Eye felled him +with the butt of his gun. + +"Follow me!" shouted Hawk Eye, and bounded toward the cave in the bluff, +which was not more than fifty yards distant. A couple of arrows from +the bows of two Chippeway Indians who were returning to camp from an +early hunting trip followed him. The suddenness of his flight, however, +had rendered their hasty aim uncertain, and in another moment he was +around and behind the sheltering cliff. With wild yells the Indians +darted forward in pursuit. + +[Illustration: A COUPLE OF ARROWS ... FOLLOWED HIM.] + +About thirty paces beyond the point of the cliff that hid him for a few +moments from view, was the cave in which he had spent the night. Quick +as thought he sprang up the steep trail to its entrance and darted in. +Crouching behind a ledge of rock close to the entrance, he waited for +the two Indians to appear. Presently he saw one of them peering around +the bend in the cliff wall. Raising his gun to his shoulder, he fired. +The Indian's face disappeared from sight, but whether the bullet had hit +the mark, Hawk Eye could not determine. + +In the meantime Raven Wing, not daring to run into range of the arrows +from the two Indians, had darted into the bushes and made for the rocky +ground in the rear of the camp. In doing so he happened to pass the tree +against which Slow Dog had rested Hawk Eye's gun, with shot-belt and +powder horn. Picking them up, he climbed over the rocks and up to a +wooded ridge that overlooked the cave in which Hawk Eye had sought +shelter. + +From this high point Raven Wing noticed that the bed of dried up water +course led through the bushes towards the cave. Without further delay he +hurried down to it, and sped swiftly along between its high +bush-bordered banks. But, on drawing near to the cave, he was +disappointed to find an open space, without tree or shrub, between it +and the edge of the bushes. + +[Illustration: {Brave with headdress.}] + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +TWO GOOD SHOTS + + +Peering cautiously out between the heavy undergrowth, Raven Wing saw the +two Indians, who had pursued Hawk Eye, crouching behind a boulder on the +opposite side of the open space. He realized that it would be impossible +for him to cross the open ground without being hit by an arrow, and he +also felt reasonably certain that as soon as they were joined by Slow +Dog, they would set off to find him, leaving the Medicine Man to prevent +Hawk Eye's escape from the cave. + +While debating as to what might be the best thing to do, he looked +towards the cave and to his surprise saw Hawk Eye signing to him from +behind a ledge of rock that screened him completely from the view of the +enemy. + +Answering the sign to assure his friend that he had seen him, Raven Wing +made a series of signs which were finally understood by Hawk Eye to mean +that he was to come out and expose himself to the view of the Indians. + +Stepping out of the cave, he uttered a piercing war whoop and darted +back. Slow Dog and his comrades answered with a volley of arrows. This +was just what Raven Wing had expected, and before they could again fit +arrows to their bows, he dashed across the open space and slipped into +the cave, followed by Ohitika. + +Angered at being outwitted by a boy, Slow Dog and the Chippeways rushed +forward across the open space, but before they had covered half its +distance, a bullet from Hawk Eye's gun brought one of the Chippeways +tumbling to earth. Without waiting to pick him up, Slow Dog and his +comrade sought the shelter of the bushes, where they lay concealed. From +the mouth of the cave the boys could see four canoes drawn up on the +beach. As Hawk Eye reloaded his gun, Raven Wing caught sight of an +Indian stealing down towards the canoes. Lifting the gun to his +shoulder, Raven Wing fired and the Chippeway fell face downward on the +sand. + +"Good!" grunted Hawk Eye. "The odds are now with us. However, Slow Dog's +craftiness more than equals ours. If he sees he cannot get us, he will +try to make off with our canoes." + +"But if he ventures on the beach, he knows he will be shot," remarked +Raven Wing. + +"He will wait for darkness," said Hawk Eye. + +"Darkness protects the rabbit as well as the fox," cried Raven Wing. As +he finished, a low exclamation burst from Hawk Eye's lips. "Look!" he +said. "Someone is stealing through the bushes!" + +"The bodies of the two braves still lie upon the ground," said Raven +Wing. "Perhaps the brave we left for dead in the camp has recovered." + +[Illustration: {Brave behind fallen tree.}] + +For some time the boys kept their gaze directed toward the canoes, but +no second brave dared to venture toward them, although they lay only a +few yards distant from the edge of the timber. Slow Dog and his +companion were held at bay by the watchful eyes of the two boys. A +bullet would be their answer to any attempt to reach the canoes. + +The canoes now became the chief object of interest to all concerned. +Slow Dog realized that if the boys should succeed in reaching the +canoes they could escape. This, of course, they could not hope to do as +long as daylight lasted nor even when night should arrive, unless it +were a very dark one, since he and his comrade were armed with bow and +arrows. On the other hand, he knew, now that the boys had possession of +the guns, that it would be almost certain death to venture on the beach +so long as there was sufficient light to enable Hawk Eye to aim with his +gun. + +"Let them make the first move," thought the crafty Medicine Man. + +In the meantime Hawk Eye and Raven Wing were making plans for the coming +of darkness. As the sun's last rays faded away and the night began to +deepen, Hawk Eye moved close to the entrance of the cave. Adjusting his +gun to his satisfaction, he marked its position exactly on the rock so +that, when the canoes should be entirely hidden from sight, he could +make reasonably certain of hitting any object directly in front of +them. And in order to show Slow Dog that he and Raven Wing were still +on the alert, he shortly aimed at the canoes, which were now invisible, +and fired. + +[Illustration: {Tepee.}] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OHITIKA IS WOUNDED + + +Almost instantaneously a death cry rent the air, proving that the bullet +had hit either Slow Dog or his companion. + +"Ugh!" grunted Hawk Eye. "Slow Dog's trick has failed him. The odds are +two to one in our favor." Hardly had he finished speaking when an arrow +struck the ledge of rocks behind which they were crouching. + +"Slow Dog is no mean marksman," said Raven Wing. "We must not be +careless." + +As Hawk Eye reloaded his gun, he noticed, in spite of the gathering +gloom, blood stains upon the stock. For several moments he regarded them +in silence. Then turned to Raven Wing. + +"I think I have a plan that will work well," he said. "Come here, +Ohitika," he cried, squatting down on the floor of the cave. The +faithful dog came fawning to his feet. + +"Smell, smell!" he commanded, placing the blood stained gunstock close +to the dog's nose. + +Ohitika answered with a growl. It was enemy smell to him. He had not +forgotten that Slow Dog had kicked him. + +"Take your gun and hold the dog by the collar," said Hawk Eye to Raven +Wing. Again resting his gun on the ledge of rock, he fired. Before the +echoes of the report had died away, a second arrow entered the cave's +mouth and struck the rock wall in the rear. + +"Come, follow me, before Slow Dog finds time to fit another arrow to his +bow," said Hawk Eye. + +Raven Wing obeyed. When out of the cave, and to one side of the opening, +Hawk Eye seized Raven Wing's loaded gun and gave him his. "Load it," he +said in a low voice, grasping the leather thong about Ohitika's neck to +give Raven Wing the free use of both hands. Then, like three shadows, +the two boys and the dog, glided into the dense darkness. Almost +immediately Hawk Eye released his hold upon the dog and whispered, "Go +get him! Go get him!" + +As Ohitika darted off in the murky darkness, Raven Wing all but tripped +over the body of the Chippeway he had killed. Forgetting the urgent need +to reach the canoes, he felt with his hand for the Chippeway's scalp +lock. Grasping it tightly in his left hand, he deftly circled it at its +base with his knife and tore it away. + +"You are now a warrior," whispered Hawk Eye. + +Groping their way toward the beach, they made as much speed as safety +would permit. Hawk Eye's course proved straight and true and in a few +minutes they heard the river water lapping at the sand. Suddenly, from a +distance, came a series of yaps and barks. Confident that Ohitika aided +by the darkness would be above to hold Slow Dog at bay for a reasonable +length of time, Hawk Eye whispered, "I must find the body of the +Chippeway I killed!" Hardly were the words out of his mouth when he +came upon it stretched over the bow of one of the canoes. + +As he bent over to obtain the highly prized scalp, Raven Wing +noiselessly launched the two enemy canoes and gave them a push to set +them in the current. The paddles, which he had removed before launching, +he laid in his own canoe, but as he was about to set it afloat, Hawk Eye +said; + +"We can't leave the dog." + +"It is the only way out," answered Raven Wing. "Come, push off your +canoe." + +"No," said Hawk Eye. "I will not leave Ohitika." + +For a moment Raven Wing paused. Then, seizing hold of Hawk Eye's canoe, +he dragged it off the beach. As the yelps and barks drew nearer, he +climbed into his. Hawk Eye, stepping slowly into his craft, sat down and +raised his gun to his shoulder. + +Suddenly the barking changed to a yell of pain. + +"Ohitika has been hit by an arrow," cried Hawk Eye, and he fired his +gun into the air. + +"'Twill warn Slow Dog to halt and also enable Ohitika to lay a straight +course to us," went on Hawk Eye. + +As the canoes began to drift away from shore, the sound of a sudden +splash caused Hawk Eye to exclaim in a low voice, "Ohitika is swimming +toward us." + +Laying down his gun, he picked up his paddle and noiselessly dipped it +in the water to check the canoe's progress. + +[Illustration: {Wolf.}] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE TRADING POST + + +There being neither moon nor stars, Hawk Eye could no longer make out +the shore line, but as he softly dipped his paddle, his ears caught the +sound of a faint wheeze close at hand, followed by a muffled bark. +Dropping the paddle, he leaned over the side of the canoe and lifted in +his faithful dog. As he laid the animal down, the feathered end of an +arrow brushed his cheek. Gently feeling with his fingers, he found that +the barb had only slantingly penetrated the fleshy part of the dog's +thigh. A short, deft stroke of his knife made it easy to pull out the +arrow. Picking up his paddle, he turned the canoe midstream, and after a +few strokes came alongside Raven Wing who had been holding his canoe +from floating away with the current. + +"Come in with me," said Hawk Eye in a low voice. "We must keep together +or we may become separated in the darkness." + +Raven Wing climbed into Hawk Eye's canoe and held on to his own while +Hawk Eye bent to his paddle. In a short time they were far down stream. + +At early dawn they came across the two Chippeway canoes. Fastening to +each a long strip of buffalo hide, they easily towed them down the +river. + +It was pleasant paddling as the beautiful Minnesota twisted and turned +in its broad and sunny valley. Cottonwood and willow bordered its banks, +which rolled back in gentle slopes of pale green, dotted with tree +clumps, to the broad prairie. Blooming wild rose vines crept close to +the water which sparkled in the sunshine or reflected the tints of the +sky. + +At its mouth, where it emptied into the Mississippi, the Minnesota +spread out around a great flat island. + +"We will not beach our canoes here," said Hawk Eye. "Fearless Bear +advised me to see the trader on that little island yonder. He is known +to deal justly with the red men. The Sioux call him Walking Wind." + +Running their own canoes gently up on the sandy beach, they pulled the +empty Chippeway canoes a little further up on shore and looked about +them. + +"Come, we will go to the post," said Hawk Eye, pointing to a building +made of native limestone, with shutters and doorways of wood painted +white. + +As the boys drew near, they noticed groups of Indians with their squaws +and Canadian boatmen with pipes in their mouths, gathered in front of a +great wing, which on entering they found to be the company store. +Blankets, traps, sleigh bells, scarlet cloth, beads, silk handkerchiefs +and earbobs lay spread upon long counters. On others, already sorted +and packed for shipment, lay pelts of muskrat, fox, wolf, beaver and +mink, together with skins of deer and hides of buffalo. + +"You need not look for a gun," said Hawk Eye in a low voice, noticing +that Raven Wing paid little attention to the display on the counters. +"You already have Slow Dog's gun; it is a fine one. But you are in need +of powder and bullets, as I am." + +As he finished speaking, a white man of about thirty, tall and muscular, +came forward and asked them in the Sioux language what they wanted. + +Both boys held up their guns and answered that they wished ammunition +for their weapons. + +"What have you in exchange?" asked the trader. + +[Illustration: "WHAT HAVE YOU IN EXCHANGE?" ASKED THE TRADER.] + +"We have pelts; they are in our canoes on the beach," said Hawk Eye. + +"Bring them here and we will trade," smiled the trader. + +As the boys turned to go back to the river, the trader asked; "How +came you by the fresh scalps at your belts?" + +"We killed two thieving Chippeways," answered Hawk Eye. Here he paused, +thinking it best not to mention Slow Dog, for he was a Sioux and the +tribe must not be humiliated by the telling of his treachery. "We took +their canoes. Will you trade also for canoes?" Hawk Eye continued after +a brief silence. + +"I will go with you and look at them," answered the trader. Beckoning to +three Indians, he accompanied the boys to the river. + +"My Indian brothers will help you carry the pelts," he explained as they +went along. + +On arriving at the shore, the trader's eyes glittered as he looked at +the beautifully built Chippeway canoes. "I will take them in trade," he +said. + +"We would rather part with our own canoes," answered Hawk Eye. "We would +be proud to return to our village in our enemy's canoes and with their +scalps at our belt." + +The trader smiled at the boy's words. "In that case I will be content to +take the Sioux-built craft," he said. "The Sioux excels the Chippeway in +horsemanship, but does not equal them in canoe building." + +In the meantime the three Indians had shouldered most of the cargo. When +Hawk Eye and Raven Wing had shouldered the balance, they all set off for +the post. + +The trader had shown much generosity, agreed the boys as later on they +loaded their purchases in the Chippeway canoes. How delighted would be +Light Between Clouds with the scarlet cloth, thought Hawk Eye. Bending +Willow will appear even more beautiful with the necklace of bright beads +at her throat, thought Raven Wing. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +JOURNEY'S END + + +Early the following morning Hawk Eye and Raven Wing pushed off from the +landing and followed up the twisting course of the river. Paddling was +not so easy against the current. + +"We have no need to hurry," remarked Hawk Eye. "We will visit on our +way," and so they stopped to beach their canoes whenever they saw upon +the bluffs the summer houses of poles and leaves which the Sioux erect +in place of the winter tepees of dressed buffalo skin. + +Black Dog gave them a hearty welcome. For several weeks they enjoyed his +hospitality. Further up the river they disembarked at Penichon's +village, where an old warrior who had once gone on the warpath with +Smoky Wolf, made much of them on learning that they were from the band +of his old friend. + +"Say to Smoky Wolf," he commanded, as Hawk Eye and Raven Wing took leave +of the aged brave, "that I predict you will be great warriors." + +Again they beached their canoes on coming to Shakepay's village, the +largest of all. And so it went all the way up the sky-tinted water of +the curving, twisting river. At Lac Qui Parle, their last stopping +place, they visited the village of the Wahpeton Sioux, called the people +of the leaves. + +Here it was that Raven Wing was reminded of the time, many, many years +before, when his grandfather made his first offering to the Great +Mystery. + +"Red Feather was a great warrior," said an old squaw. "I remember when +he was very young that Uncheeda, his grandmother, led him to the top of +a high rock from which to fling his most beloved possession into the +lake." + +"It was a necklace of bear claws, was it not?" asked Raven Wing. + +"Yes, my son it was," answered the old squaw. + +At length the two boys took leave of the friendly Wahpetons. Indian +Summer had come and gone as they rounded the last bend in the river and +saw thin smoke rising from their village fires. + +Ohitika sensed the nearness of old familiar places and began to bark. +The boys bent to their paddles, sending their frail craft along at a +faster pace. + +The sunshine hung like yellow smoke over Big Stone Lake. Bright-colored +leaves, loosed by the wind, scurried along the ground. Only the burr +oaks held valiantly to their raiment. A thin crust of ice lay on the +quiet waters of slough and marshland, but at warm noon, they again +reflected the sky tints of an autumn day. Wild geese honked overhead and +wild ducks winged upward from the watery wild rice fields. + +On a rise of ground overlooking the river stood two squaws. + +"Six moons have waned since our boys left for the trading post," said +Light Between Clouds. + +"You have counted each moon as I have," sighed Bending Willow. "And +since the day Slow Dog disappeared so strangely from our village, my +heart has been filled with dread. He has been no friend to me." + +"He is jealous of Black Eagle," added Light Between Clouds. + +As she finished speaking, Bending Willow started to run down to the +river's edge. "I see two canoes rounding the bend," she called back. +Light Between Clouds ran swiftly after her. + +[Illustration: LIGHT BETWEEN CLOUDS RAN SWIFTLY AFTER HER.] + +Black Eagle, just returning with a young deer which he had killed upon +his back, let it fall upon the ground on seeing Bending Willow running +toward the river. He, too, had been worried over the long absence of his +stepson. As he passed Smoky Wolf's tepee, the aged chief, who was +smoking beside it, looked up. + +"I think Raven Wing and Hawk Eye are coming up the river," cried Black +Eagle as he ran on. + +Old Smoky Wolf slowly rose to his feet. "I, too, must welcome the young +braves," he murmured. In a short time all the men, women and children +were standing upon the bank to await the boys' arrival. + +As the canoes grated upon the sandy beach, Old Smoky Wolf raised his +right arm and shouted, "They come in Chippeway canoes with scalps at +their belts. My village has two more warriors to send upon the warpath." + +THE END + +[Illustration: {Right inside cover. Hawk Eye shoots arrow.}] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hawk Eye, by David Cory + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HAWK EYE *** + +***** This file should be named 33772.txt or 33772.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/7/7/33772/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Patrick Hopkins and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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