CHAPTER IV. THE RED CHIEFS
Henry awoke only once, and that was about half way between midnight andmorning, when his senses, never still entirely, even in sleep, warnedhim that something was at the door. He rose cautiously upon his arm, sawa dark muzzle at the crevice, and behind it a pair of yellow, gleamingeyes. He knew at once that it was a panther, probably living in theswamp and drawn by the food. It must be very hungry to dare thus thesmell of man. Henry's hand moved slowly to the end of a stick, theother end of which was a glowing coal. Then he seized it and hurled itdirectly at the inquisitive head.
The hot end of the stick struck squarely between the yellow eyes. Therewas a yelp of pain, and the boy heard the rapid pad of the big cat'sfeet as it fled into the swamp. Then he turned over on his side, andlaughed in genuine pleasure at what was to him a true forest joke. Heknew the panther would not come, at least not while he was in the hut,and he calmly closed his eyes once more. The old Henry was himselfagain.
He awoke in the morning to find that the cold rain was still falling. Itseemed to him that it had prepared to rain forever, but he was resolved,nevertheless, now that he had food and the strength that food brings, tobegin the search for his comrades. The islet in the swamp would serve ashis base-nothing could be better-and he would never cease until he foundthem or discovered what had become of them.
A little spring of cold water flowed from the edge of the islet to loseitself quickly in the swamp. Henry drank there after his breakfast, andthen felt as strong and active as ever. As he knew, the mind may triumphover the body, but the mind cannot save the body without food. Thenhe made his precious bear meat secure against the prowling panther orothers of his kind, tying it on hanging boughs too high for a jump andtoo slender to support the weight of a large animal. This task finishedquickly, he left the swamp and returned toward the spot where lie hadseen the Mohawks.
The falling rain and the somber clouds helped Henry, in a way, as thewhole forest was enveloped in a sort of gloom, and he was less likely tobe seen. But when he had gone about half the distance he heard Indianssignaling to one another, and, burying himself as usual in the wetbushes, he saw two small groups of warriors meet and talk. Presentlythey separated, one party going toward the east and the other toward thewest. Henry thought they were out hunting, as the Indians usually tooklittle care of the morrow, eating all their food in a few days, nomatter how great the supply might be.
When he drew near the place he saw three more Indians, and these weretraveling directly south. He was quite sure now that his theory wascorrect. They were sending out hunters in every direction, in order thatthey might beat up the woods thoroughly for game, and his own positionanywhere except on the islet was becoming exceedingly precarious.Nevertheless, using all his wonderful skill, he continued the hunt. Hehad an abiding faith that his four comrades were yet alive, and he meantto prove it.
In the afternoon the clouds moved away a little, and the rain decreased,though it did not cease. The Indian signs multiplied, and Henry feltsure that the forest within a radius of twenty miles of his isletcontained more than one camp. Some great gathering must be in progressand the hunters were out to supply it with food. Four times he heardthe sound of shots, and thrice more he saw warriors passing throughthe forest. Once a wounded deer darted past him, and, lying down in thebushes, he saw the Indians following the fleeing animal. As the day grewolder the trails multiplied. Certainly a formidable gathering of bandswas in progress, and, feeling that he might at any time be caught in anet, he returned to the islet, which had now become a veritable fort forhim.
It was not quite dark when he arrived, and he found all as it had beenexcept the tracks of two panthers under the boughs to which hehad fastened the big pieces of bear meat. Henry felt a malicioussatisfaction at the disappointment of the panthers.
"Come again, and have the same bad luck," he murmured.
At dusk the rain ceased entirely, and he prepared for a journey in thenight. He examined his powder carefully to see that no particle of itwas wet, counted the bullets in his pouch, and then examined the skies.There was a little moon, not too much, enough to show him the way, butnot enough to disclose him to an enemy unless very near. Then he leftthe islet and went swiftly through the forest, laying his course a thirdtime toward the Indian camp. He was sure now that all the hunters hadreturned, and he did not expect the necessity of making any stops forthe purpose of hiding. His hopes were justified, and as he drew near thecamp he became aware that its population had increased greatly. It wasproved by many signs. New trails converged upon it, and some of themwere very broad, indicating that many warriors had passed. Theyhad passed, too, in perfect confidence, as there was no effort atconcealment, and Henry surmised that no white force of any size couldbe within many days' march of this place. But the very security of theIndians helped his own design. They would not dream that any one of thehated race was daring to come almost within the light of their fires.
Henry had but one fear just now, and that was dogs. If the Indians hadany of their mongrel curs with them, they would quickly scent himout and give the alarm with their barking. But he believed that theprobabilities were against it. This, so he thought then, was a war orhunting camp, and it was likely that the Indians would leave the dogsat their permanent villages. At any rate he would take the risk, andhe drew slowly toward the oak opening, where some Indians stood about.Beyond them, in another dip of the valley, was a wider opening whichhe had not seen on his first trip, and this contained not only barkshelters, but buildings that indicated a permanent village. The secondand larger opening was filled with a great concourse of warriors.
Fortunately the foliage around the opening was very dense, many treesand thickets everywhere. Henry crept to the very rim, where, lying inthe blackest of the shadows, and well hidden himself, he could yet seenearly everything in the camp. The men were not eating now, although itwas obvious that the hunters had done well. The dressed bodies of deerand bear hung in the bark shelters. Most of the Indians sat about thefires, and it seemed to Henry that they had an air of expectancy. Atleast two hundred were present, and all of them were in war paint,although there were several styles of paint. There was a differencein appearance, too, in the warriors, and Henry surmised thatrepresentatives of all the tribes of the Iroquois were there, coming tothe extreme western boundary or fringe of their country.
While Henry watched them a half dozen who seemed by their bearing andmanner to be chiefs drew together at a point not far from him and talkedtogether earnestly. Now and then they looked toward the forest, andhe was quite sure that they were expecting somebody, a person ofimportance. He became deeply interested. He was lying in a dense clumpof hazel bushes, flat upon his stomach, his face raised but little abovethe ground. He would have been hidden from the keenest eye only ten feetaway, but the faces of the chiefs outlined against the blazing firelightwere so clearly visible to him that he could see every change ofexpression. They were fine-looking men, all of middle age, tall, lean,their noses hooked, features cut clean and strong, and their headsshaved, all except the defiant scalp lock, into which the feather ofan eagle was twisted. Their bodies were draped in fine red or blueblankets, and they wore leggins and moccasins of beautifully tanneddeerskin.
They ceased talking presently, and Henry heard a distant wailing notefrom the west. Some one in the camp replied with a cry in kind, and thena silence fell upon them all. The chiefs stood erect, looking toward thewest. Henry knew that he whom they expected was at hand.
The cry was repeated, but much nearer, and a warrior leaped into theopening, in the full blaze of the firelight. He was entirely naked savefor a breech cloth and moccasins, and he was a wild and savage figure.He stood for a moment or two, then faced the chiefs, and, bowing beforethem, spoke a few words in the Wyandot tongue-Henry knew already by hispaint that he was a Wyandot.
The chiefs inclined their heads gravely, and the herald, turning, leapedback into the forest. In two or three minutes six men, including theherald,
emerged from the woods, and Henry moved a little when he saw thefirst of the six, all of whom were Wyandots. It was Timmendiquas, headchief of the Wyandots, and Henry had never seen him more splendid inmanner and bearing than he was as he thus met the representatives of thefamous Six Nations. Small though the Wyandot tribe might be, mighty wasits valor and fame, and White Lightning met the great Iroquois only asan equal, in his heart a superior.
It was an extraordinary thing, but Henry, at this very moment, burrowingin the earth that he might not lose his life at the hands of either, wasan ardent partisan of Timmendiquas. It was the young Wyandot chiefwhom he wished to be first, to make the greatest impression, and he waspleased when he heard the low hum of admiration go round the circle oftwo hundred savage warriors. It was seldom, indeed, perhaps never, thatthe Iroquois had looked upon such a man as Timmendiquas.
Timmendiquas and his companions advanced slowly toward the chiefs, andthe Wyandot overtopped all the Iroquois. Henry could tell by the mannerof the chiefs that the reputation of the famous White Lightning hadpreceded him, and that they had already found fact equal to report.
The chiefs, Timmendiquas among them, sat down on logs before the fire,and all the warriors withdrew to a respectful distance, where they stoodand watched in silence. The oldest chief took his long pipe, beautifullycarved and shaped like a trumpet, and filled it with tobacco which helighted with a coal from the fire. Then he took two or three whiffs andpassed the pipe to Timmendiquas, who did the same. Every chief smokedthe pipe, and then they sat still, waiting in silence.
Henry was so much absorbed in this scene, which was at once a spectacleand a drama, that he almost forgot where he was, and that he was anenemy. He wondered now at their silence. If this was a council surelythey would discuss whatever question had brought them there! But he wassoon enlightened. That low far cry came again, but from the east. Itwas answered, as before, from the camp, and in three or four minutes awarrior sprang from the forest into the opening. Like the first, he wasnaked except for the breech cloth and moccasins. The chiefs rose at hiscoming, received his salute gravely, and returned it as gravely. Thenhe returned to the forest, and all waited in the splendid calm of theIndian.
Curiosity pricked Henry like a nettle. Who was coming now? It must besome man of great importance, or they would not wait so silently.There was the same air of expectancy that had preceded the arrival ofTimmendiquas. All the warriors looked toward the eastern wall of theforest, and Henry looked the same way. Presently the black foliageparted, and a man stepped forth, followed at a little distance by sevenor eight others. The stranger, although tall, was not equal in height toTimmendiquas, but he, too, had a lofty and splendid presence, and itwas evident to anyone versed at all in forest lore that here was a greatchief. He was lean but sinewy, and he moved with great ease and grace.He reminded Henry of a powerful panther. He was dressed, after themanner of famous chiefs, with the utmost care. His short military coatof fine blue cloth bore a silver epaulet on either shoulder. Hishead was not bare, disclosing the scalp lock, like those of the otherIndians; it was covered instead with a small hat of felt, round andlaced. Hanging carelessly over one shoulder was a blanket of blue clothwith a red border. At his side, from a belt of blue leather swung asilver-mounted small sword. His leggins were of superfine blue cloth andhis moccasins of deerskin. Both were trimmed with small beads of manycolors.
The new chief advanced into the opening amid the dead silence that stillheld all, and Timmendiquas stepped forward to meet him. These two heldthe gaze of everyone, and what they and they alone did had become ofsurpassing interest. Each was haughty, fully aware of his own dignityand importance, but they met half way, looked intently for a moment ortwo into the eyes of each other, and then saluted gravely.
All at once Henry knew the stranger. He had never seen him before, buthis impressive reception, and the mixture of military and savage attirerevealed him. This could be none other than the great Mohawk war chief,Thayendanegea, the Brant of the white men, terrible name on the border.Henry gazed at him eagerly from his covert, etching his features foreveron his memory. His face, lean and strong, was molded much like that ofTimmendiquas, and like the Wyandot he was young, under thirty.
Timmendiquas and Thayendanegea-it was truly he-returned to the fire,and once again the trumpet-shaped pipe was smoked by all. The two youngchiefs received the seats of favor, and others sat about them. But theywere not the only great chiefs present, though all yielded first placeto them because of their character and exploits.
Henry was not mistaken in his guess that this was an important council,although its extent exceeded even his surmise. Delegates and head chiefsof all the Six Nations were present to confer with the warlike Wyandotsof the west who had come so far east to meet them. Thayendanegea was thegreat war chief of the Mohawks, but not their titular chief. The latterwas an older man, Te-kie-ho-ke (Two Voices), who sat beside the younger.The other chiefs were the Onondaga, Tahtoo-ta-hoo (The Entangled); theOneida, O-tat-sheh-te (Bearing a Quiver); the Cayuga, Te-ka-ha-hoonk (HeWho Looks Both Ways); the Seneca, Kan-ya-tai-jo (Beautiful Lake); andthe Tuscarora, Ta-ha-en-te-yahwak-hon (Encircling and Holding Up aTree). The names were hereditary, and because in a dim past they hadformed the great confederacy, the Onondagas were first in the council,and were also the high priests and titular head of the Six Nations. Butthe Mohawks were first on-the war path.
All the Six Nations were divided into clans, and every clan, camping inits proper place, was represented at this meeting.
Henry had heard much at Pittsburgh of the Six Nations, their wonderfulleague, and their wonderful history. He knew that according to thelegend the league had been formed by Hiawatha, an Onondaga. He wasopposed in this plan by Tododaho, then head chief of the Onondagas,but he went to the Mohawks and gained the support of their greatchief, Dekanawidah. With his aid the league was formed, and the solemnagreement, never broken, was made at the Onondaga Lake. Now they were aperfect little state, with fifty chiefs, or, including the head chiefs,fifty-six.
Some of these details Henry was to learn later. He was also to learnmany of the words that the chiefs said through a source of which helittle dreamed at the present. Yet he divined much of it from themeeting of the fiery Wyandots with the highly developed and warlikepower of the Six Nations.
Thayendanegea was talking now, and Timmendiquas, silent and grave, waslistening. The Mohawk approached his subject indirectly through thetrope, allegory, and simile that the Indian loved. He talked of theunseen deities that ruled the life of the Iroquois through mysticdreams. He spoke of the trees, the rocks, and the animals, all of whichto the Iroquois had souls. He called on the name of the Great Spirit,which was Aieroski before it became Manitou, the Great Spirit who, inthe Iroquois belief, had only the size of a dwarf because his soul wasso mighty that he did not need body.
"This land is ours, the land of your people and mine, oh, chief of thebrave Wyandots," he said to Timmendiquas. "Once there was no land, onlythe waters, but Aieroski raised the land of Konspioni above the foam.Then he sowed five handfuls of red seed in it, and from those handfulsgrew the Five Nations. Later grew up the Tuscaroras, who have joinedus and other tribes of our race, like yours, great chief of the braveWyandots."
Timmendiquas still said nothing. He did not allow an eyelid to flickerat this assumption of superiority for the Six Nations over all othertribes. A great warrior he was, a great politician also, and he wishedto unite the Iroquois in a firm league with the tribes of the Ohiovalley. The coals from the great fire glowed and threw out an intenseheat. Thayendanegea unbuttoned his military coat and threw it back,revealing a bare bronze chest, upon which was painted the device ofthe Mohawks, a flint and steel. The chests of the Onondaga, Cayuga, andSeneca head chiefs were also bared to the glow. The device on the chestof the Onondaga was a cabin on top of a hill, the Caytiga's was a greatpipe, and the figure of a mountain adorned the Seneca bronze.
"We have had the messages that you have sent to us, Timmendiquas,"said Thayenda
negea, "and they are good in the eyes of our people, theRotinonsionni (the Mohawks). They please, too, the ancient tribe, theKannoseone (the Onondagas), the valiant Hotinonsionni (the Senecas), andall our brethren of the Six Nations. All the land from the salt water tothe setting sun was given to the red men by Aieroski, but if we do notdefend it we cannot keep it."
"It is so," said Timmendiquas, speaking for the first time. "We havefought them on the Ohio and in Kaintuck-ee, where they come with theirrifles and axes. The whole might of the Wyandots, the Shawnees, theMiamis, the Illinois, the Delawares, and the Ottawas has gone forthagainst them. We have slain many of them, but we have failed to drivethem back. Now we have come to ask the Six Nations to press down uponthem in the east with all your power, while we do the same in the west.Surely then your Aieroski and our Manitou, who are the same, will notrefuse us success."
The eyes of Thayendanegea glistened.
"You speak well, Timmendiquas," he said. "All the red men must unite tofight for the land of Konspioni which Aieroski raised above the sea, andwe be two, you and I, Timmendiquas, fit to lead them to battle."
"It is so," said Timmendiquas gravely.
The Scouts of the Valley Page 4