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Henry and some others followed； as it was not forbidden to see； and his interest increased。 He shared the spiritual feeling which was impressed upon the red faces about him。 The bright moonlight； too； added to the effect； giving it the tinge of an old Druidical ceremony。
The chiefs relapsed into silence and sat thus about ten minutes。 Then rose the sound of a chant； distant and measured； and a procession of young and inferior chiefs； led by Oneidas； appeared； slowly approaching the fire。 Behind them were warriors； and behind the warriors were many women and children。 All the women were in their brightest attire； gay with feather headdresses and red； blue； or green blankets from the British posts。
The procession stopped at a distance of about a dozen yards from the chiefs about the council fire； and the Oneida； Kathlahon； formed the men in a line facing the head chiefs； with the women and children grouped in an irregular mass behind them。 The singing meanwhile had stopped。 The two groups stood facing each other； attentive and listening。
Then Hahiron； the oldest of the Onondagas； walked back and forth in the space between the two groups； chanting a welcome。 Like all Indian songs it was monotonous。 Every line he uttered with emphasis and a rising inflection； the phrase 〃Haih…haih〃 which may be translated 〃Hail to thee！〃 or better； 〃All hail！〃 Nevertheless； under the moonlight in the wilderness and with rapt faces about him； it was deeply impressive。 Henry found it so。
Hahiron finished his round and went back to his place by the fire。 Atotarho； head chief of the Onondagas； holding in his hands beautifully beaded strings of Iroquois wampum； came forward and made a speech of condolence； to which Kathlahon responded。 Then the head chiefs and the minor chiefs smoked pipes together； after which the head chiefs； followed by the minor chiefs； and these in turn by the crowd； led the way back to the village。
Many hundreds of persons were in this procession； which was still very grave and solemn； every one in it impressed by tile sacred nature of this ancient rite。 The chief entered the great door of the Long House； and all who could find places not reserved followed。 Henry went in with the others； and sat in a corner； making himself as small as possible。 Many women； the place of whom was high among the Iroquois； were also in the Long House。
The head chiefs sat on raised seats at the north end of the great room。 In front of them； on lower seats； were the minor chiefs of the three older nations on the left； and of the three younger nations on the right。 In front of these； but sitting on the bark floor； was a group of warriors。 At the east end； on both high and low seats； were warriors； and facing them on the western side were women； also on both high and low seats。 The southern side facing the chiefs was divided into sections； each with high and low seats。 The one on the left was occupied by men； and the one on the right by women。 Two small fires burned in the center of the Long House about fifteen feet apart。
It was the most singular and one of the most impressive scenes that Henry had ever beheld。 When all had found their seats there was a deep silence。 Henry could hear the slight crackling made by the two fires as they burned； and the light fell faintly across the multitude of dark； eager faces。 Not less than five hundred people were in the Long House； and here was the red man at his best； the first of the wild； not the second or third of the civilized； a drop of whose blood in his veins brings to the white man now a sense of pride； and not of shame； as it does when that blood belongs to some other races。
The effect upon Henry was singular。 He almost forgot that he was a foe among them on a mission。 For the moment he shared in their feelings； and he waited with eagerness for whatever might come。
Thayendanegea； the Mohawk； stood up in his place among the great chiefs。 The role he was about to assume belonged to Atotarho； the Onondaga； but the old Onondaga assigned it for the occasion to Thayendanegea； and there was no objection。 Thayendanegea was an educated man； be had been in England； he was a member of a Christian church； and be had translated a part of the Bible from English into his own tongue； but now he was all a Mohawk； a son of the forest。
He spoke to the listening crowd of the glories of the Six Nations； how Hah…gweh…di…yu （The Spirit of Good） had inspired Hiawatha to form the Great Confederacy of the Five Nations； afterwards the Six； how they had held their hunting grounds for nearly two centuries against both English and French； and how they would hold them against the Americans。 He stopped at moments； and deep murmurs of approval went through the Long House。 The eyes of both men and women flashed as the orator spoke of their glory and greatness。 Timmendiquas； in a place of honor； nodded approval。 If he could he would form such another league in the west。
The air in the Long House； breathed by so many； became heated。 It seemed to have in it a touch of fire。 The orator's words burned。 Swift and deep impressions were left upon the excited brain。 The tall figure of the Mohawk towered； gigantic； in the half light； and the spell that he threw over all was complete。
He spoke about half an hour； but when he stopped he did not sit down。 Henry knew by the deep breath that ran through the Long House that something more was coming from Thayendanegea。 Suddenly the red chief began to sing in a deep； vibrant voice； and this was the song that he sung：
This was the roll of you； All hail！ All hail！ All hail！
You that joined in the work； All hail！ All hail！ All hail！
You that finished the task； All hail！ All hail！ All hail！
The Great League； All hail！ All hail！ All hail！
There was the same incessant repetition of 〃Haih haih！〃 that Henry had noticed in the chant at the edge of the woods； but it seemed to give a cumulative effect； like the roll of thunder； and at every slight pause that deep breath of approval ran through the crowd in the Long House。 The effect of the song was indescribable。 Fire ran in the veins of all； men； women； and children。 The great pulses in their throats leaped up。 They were the mighty nation； the ever…victorious； the League of the Ho…de…no…sau…nee； that had held at bay both the French and the English since first a white man was seen in the land； and that would keep back the Americans now。
Henry glanced at Timmendiquas。 The nostrils of the great White Lightning were twitching。 The song reached to the very roots of his being； and aroused all his powers。 Like Thayendanegea； he was a statesman； and he saw that the Americans were far more formidable to his race than English or French had ever been。 The Americans were upon the ground； and incessantly pressed upon the red man； eye to eye。 Only powerful leagues like those of the Iroquois could withstand them。
Thayendanegea sat down； and then there was another silence； a period lasting about two minutes。 These silences seemed to be a necessary part of all Iroquois rites。 When it closed two young warriors stretched an elm bark rope across the room from east to west and near the ceiling； but between the high chiefs and the minor chiefs。 Then they hung dressed skins all along it； until the two grades of chiefs were hidden from the view of each other。 This was the sign of mourning； and was followed by a silence。 The fires in the Long House had died down somewhat； and little was to be seen but the eyes and general outline of the people。 Then a slender man of middle years； the best singer in all the Iroquois nation； arose and sang：
To the great chiefs bring we greeting； All hail！ All hail！ All hail！
To the dead chiefs； kindred greeting； All hail！ All hail！ All hail！
To the strong men 'round him greeting； All hail！ All hail！ All hail！
To the mourning women greeting； All hail！ All hail！ All hail！
There our grandsires' words repeating； All hail！ All hail！ All hail！
Graciously； Oh； grandsires； hear； All hail！ All hail！ All hail！
The singing voice was sweet； penetrating； and thrilling； and the song was sad。 At