Part 20

“My son, sit beside your father who doubted you. Today a miracle has come to pass, and together we will hear how that miracle happened.”

Although he was bubbling over with curiosity to learn what had happened, Flying Owl sat patiently and silently beside his father. Soon it was time for the special meeting. The whole village began to gather in front of the home of the great Chief who had returned to his people. Flying Owl and his father joined the others and sat watching the entrance of the wigwam. Soon a great warrior with a magnificent headdress stepped out. Flying Owl grasped his father’s arm and whispered, “That’s the Seneca Chief I told you about, father!”

“Yes, my son. That is Bear Claw, warrior Chief of our tribe, who has returned to us after we had believed him dead.”

Bear Claw signaled for silence. Then he began speaking with great dignity.

“Many moons ago, when we were at war with our enemies to the north, I fell, wounded by an enemy arrow. Before I could escape, the enemy fell upon me and took me prisoner. I was taken to their village where I was kept under close guard. They did not kill me but made me a slave—a far greater punishment for any Seneca. For many moons I worked in the enemy camp, often being whipped and beaten and spit upon by their warriors and their squaws, and even their children. Two moons ago I escaped and began my long trek homeward. But I moved slowly because the path was long and I was weary. They sent a war party after me to bring me back. So for many suns I hid in the deep forest. I led their war party in a chase, first toward our village, and then away from it. I did not want to come too close to our homes until I was sure they had lost my trail. I knew they would not dare to attack our village because they were a small band, but still big enough to take prisoner any of our people who might have wandered too far away.

“Yesterday I arrived at the secret lake with the only things that I had been able to find and bring with me from the enemy camp—my knife, my bow, and my headdress which they had taken from me when they captured me. Suddenly I saw a Seneca boy fishing. I approached and spoke with him. Last night I slept in the forest until it was late and dark enough to enter our village. The rest of the story you know. But first, before the celebration, I would like to see that young lad I spoke to at the lakeside, the young brave who is called Flying Owl.”

Flying Owl rose and stepped forward to face the Chief.

“You were the first of my people to see me, young brave, and it was the sight of you, fishing in the lake, which first made me feel that I was really home. You are a good fisherman and a bright lad, and I am sure you will become a great warrior. Because you were the first and because you appeared so brave in the face of what might have been great danger, I wish to reward you. Here is the bow which I carried all through my homeward trip. Keep it and remember the Seneca Chief you spoke to the day the fish were biting so well and the sun was warm—the day that happiness once again filled that Chief’s heart.”

“Thank you, Bear Claw,” the boy replied proudly. “May I hope that some day my father and I may go fishing with you at the secret lake?”

Everyone laughed and, most of all, Bear Claw. There was joy in the village for their leader had returned, and a boy had made him welcome.

Transcriber’s Notes

--Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.

--Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard (or amusing) spellings and dialect unchanged.

--In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)