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Graciously； Oh； grandsires； hear； All hail！ All hail！ All hail！
The singing voice was sweet； penetrating； and thrilling； and the song was sad。 At the pauses deep murmurs of sorrow ran through the crowd in the Long House。 Grief for the dead held them all。 When he finished； Satekariwate； the Mohawk； holding in his hands three belts of wampum； uttered a long historical chant telling of their glorious deeds； to which they listened patiently。 The chant over； he handed the belts to an attendant； who took them to Thayendanegea； who held them for a few moments and looked at them gravely。
One of the wampum belts was black； the sign of mourning； another was purple； the sign of war； and the third was white； the sign of peace。 They were beautiful pieces of workmanship； very old。
When Hiawatha left the Onondagas and fled to the Mohawks he crossed a lake supposed to be the Oneida。 While paddling along he noticed that man tiny black； purple； and white shells clung to his paddle。 Reaching the shore he found such shells in long rows upon the beach； and it occurred to him to use them for the depiction of thought according to color。 He strung them on threads of elm bark； and afterward； when the great league was formed； the shells were made to represent five clasped hands。 For four hundred years the wampum belts have been sacred among the Iroquois。
Now Thayendanegea gave the wampum belts back to the attendant； who returned them to Satekariwate； the Mohawk。 There was a silence once more； and then the chosen singer began the Consoling Song again； but now he did not sing it alone。 Two hundred male voices joined him； and the time became faster。 Its tone changed from mourning and sorrow to exultation and menace。 Everyone thought of war； the tomahawk； and victory。 The song sung as it was now became a genuine battle song； rousing and thrilling。 The Long House trembled with the mighty chorus； and its volume poured forth into the encircling dark woods。
All the time the song was going on； Satekariwate； the Mohawk； stood holding the belts in his hand； but when it was over he gave them to an attendant； who carried them to another head chief。 Thayendanegea now went to the center of the room and； standing between the two fires； asked who were the candidates for the places of the dead chiefs。
The dead chiefs were three； and three tall men； already chosen among their own tribes； came forward to succeed them。 Then a fourth came； and Henry was startled。 It was Timmendiquas； who； as the bravest chief of the brave Wyandots； was about to become； as a signal tribute； and as a great sign of friendship； an adopted son and honorary chief of the Mohawks； Keepers of the Western Gate； and most warlike of all the Iroquois tribes。
As Timmendiquas stood before Thayendanegea； a murmur of approval deeper than any that had gone before ran through all the crowd in the Long House； and it was deepest on the women's benches； where sat many matrons of the Iroquois； some of whom were chiefs…a woman could be a chief among the Iroquois。
The candidates were adjudged acceptable by the other chiefs； and Thayendanegea addressed them on their duties； while they listened in grave silence。 With his address the sacred part of the rite was concluded。 Nothing remained now but the great banquet outside … although that was much … and they poured forth to it joyously； Thayendanegea； the Mohawk； and Timmendiquas； the Wyandot； walking side by side； the finest two red chiefs on all the American continent。
CHAPTER VI
THE EVIL SPIRIT'S WORK
Henry slipped forth with the crowd from the Long House； stooping somewhat and shrinking into the smallest possible dimensions。 But there was little danger now that any one would notice him； as long as he behaved with prudence； because all grief and solemnity were thrown aside； and a thousand red souls intended to rejoice。 A vast banquet was arranged。 Great fires leaped up all through the village。 At every fire the Indian women； both young and old； were already far forward with the cooking。 Deer； bear； squirrel； rabbit； fish； and every other variety of game with which the woods and rivers of western New York and Pennsylvania swarmed were frying or roasting over the coals； and the air was permeated with savory odors。 There was a great hum of voices and an incessant chattering。 Here in the forest； among themselves； and in complete security； the Indian stoicism was relaxed。 According to their customs everybody fell to eating at a prodigious rate； as if they had not tasted anything for a month； and as if they intended to eat enough now to last another month。
It was far into the night； because the ceremonies had lasted a long time； but a brilliant moon shone down upon the feasting crowd； and the flames of the great fires； yellow and blue； leaped and danced。 This was an oasis of light and life。 Timmendiquas and Thayendanegea sat together before the largest fire； and they ate with more restraint than the others。 Even at the banquet they would not relax their dignity as great chiefs。 Old Skanawati； the Onondaga； old Atotarho； Onondaga； too； Satekariwate； the Mohawk； Kanokarih； the Seneca； and others； head chiefs though they were of the three senior tribes； did not hesitate to eat as the rich Romans of the Empire ate； swallowing immense quantities of all kinds of meat； and drinking a sort of cider that the women made。 Several warriors ate and drank until they fell down in a stupor by the fires。 The same warriors on the hunt or the war path would go for days without food； enduring every manner of hardship。 Now and then a warrior would leap up and begin a chant telling of some glorious deed of his。 Those at his own fire would listen； but elsewhere they took no notice。
In the largest open space a middle…aged Onondaga with a fine face suddenly uttered a sharp cry： 〃 Hehmio！〃 which he rapidly repeated twice。 Two score voices instantly replied； 〃Heh！〃 and a rush was made for him。 At least a hundred gathered around him； but they stood in a respectful circle； no one nearer than ten feet。 He waved his hand； and all sat down on the ground。 Then； he； too； sat down； all gazing at him intently and with expectancy。
He was a professional story…teller； an institution great and honored among the tribes of the Iroquois farther back even than Hiawatha。 He began at once the story of the warrior who learned to talk with the deer and the bear； carrying it on through many chapters。 Now and then a delighted listener would cry 〃 Hah！〃 but if anyone became bored and fell asleep it was considered an omen of misfortune to the sleeper； and he was chased ignominiously to his tepee。 The Iroquois romancer was better protected than the white one is。 He could finish some of his stories in one evening； but others were serials。 When he arrived at the end of the night's installment he would cry； 〃Si…ga！〃 which was equivalent to our 〃To be continued in our next。〃 Then all would rise； and if tired would seek sleep； but if not they would catch the closing part of some other story…teller's romance。
At three fires Senecas were playing a peculiar little wooden flute of their own invention； that emitted wailing sounds not without a certain sweetness。 In a corner a half dozen warriors hurt in battle were bathing their wounds with a soothing lotion made from the sap of the bass wood。
Henry lingered a while in the darkest corners； witnessing the feasting； hearing the flutes and the chants； listening for a space to the story…tellers and the enthusiastic 〃Hahs！〃 They were so full of feasting and merrymaking now that one could almost do as he pleased； and he stole toward the southern end of the village； where he had noticed several huts； much more strongly built than the others。 Despite all his natural skill and experience his heart beat very fast when he came to the first。 He was about to achieve the great exploration upon which he had ventured so much。 Whether he would find anything at the end of the risk he ran； he was soon to see。
The hut； about seven feet square and as many feet in height； was built strongly of poles； with a small entrance closed by a clapboard door fastened stoutly on the outside with withes。 Th