Chapter IV. The Red Chiefs

by Joseph A. Altsheler

　　Henry awoke only once, and that was about half way betweenmidnight and morning, when his senses, never still entirely, evenin sleep, warned him that something was at the door. He rosecautiously upon his arm, saw a dark muzzle at the crevice, andbehind it a pair of yellow, gleaming eyes. He knew at once thatit was a panther, probably living in the swamp and drawn by thefood. It must be very hungry to dare thus the smell of man.Henry's hand moved slowly to the end of a stick, the other end ofwhich 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.There was a yelp of pain, and the boy heard the rapid pad of thebig cat's feet as it fled into the swamp. Then he turned over onhis side, and laughed in genuine pleasure at what was to him atrue forest joke. He knew the panther would not come, at leastnot while he was in the hut, and he calmly closed his eyes oncemore. The old Henry was himself again.

　　He awoke in the morning to find that the cold rain was stillfalling. It seemed to him that it had prepared to rain forever,but he was resolved, nevertheless, now that he had food and thestrength that food brings, to begin the search for his comrades.The islet in the swamp would serve as his base-nothing could bebetter-and he would never cease until he found them or discoveredwhat had become of them.

　　A little spring of cold water flowed from the edge of the isletto lose itself quickly in the swamp. Henry drank there after hisbreakfast, and then felt as strong and active as ever. As heknew, the mind may triumph over the body, but the mind cannotsave the body without food. Then he made his precious bear meatsecure against the prowling panther or others of his kind, tyingit on hanging boughs too high for a jump and too slender tosupport the weight of a large animal. This task finishedquickly, he left the swamp and returned toward the spot where liehad seen the Mohawks.

　　The falling rain and the somber clouds helped Henry, in a way, asthe whole forest was enveloped in a sort of gloom, and he wasless likely to be seen. But when he had gone about half thedistance he heard Indians signaling to one another, and, buryinghimself as usual in the wet bushes, he saw two small groups ofwarriors meet and talk. Presently they separated, one partygoing toward the east and the other toward the west. Henrythought they were out hunting, as the Indians usually took littlecare 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 thesewere traveling directly south. He was quite sure now that histheory was correct. They were sending out hunters in everydirection, in order that they might beat up the woods thoroughlyfor game, and his own position anywhere except on the islet wasbecoming exceedingly precarious. Nevertheless, using all hiswonderful skill, he continued the hunt. He had an abiding faiththat his four comrades were yet alive, and he meant to prove it.

　　In the afternoon the clouds moved away a little, and the raindecreased, though it did not cease. The Indian signs multiplied,and Henry felt sure that the forest within a radius of twentymiles of his islet contained more than one camp. Some greatgathering must be in progress and the hunters were out to supplyit with food. Four times he heard the sound of shots, and thricemore he saw warriors passing through the forest. Once a woundeddeer darted past him, and, lying down in the bushes, he saw theIndians following the fleeing animal. As the day grew older thetrails multiplied. Certainly a formidable gathering of bands wasin progress, and, feeling that he might at any time be caught ina net, he returned to the islet, which had now become a veritablefort for him.

　　It was not quite dark when he arrived, and he found all as it hadbeen except the tracks of two panthers under the boughs to whichhe had fastened the big pieces of bear meat. Henry felt amalicious satisfaction 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 journeyin the night. He examined his powder carefully to see that noparticle of it was wet, counted the bullets in his pouch, andthen examined the skies. There was a little moon, not too much,enough to show him the way, but not enough to disclose him to anenemy unless very near. Then he left the islet and went swiftlythrough the forest, laying his course a third time toward theIndian camp. He was sure now that all the hunters had returned,and he did not expect the necessity of making any stops for thepurpose of hiding. His hopes were justified, and as he drew nearthe camp he became aware that its population had increasedgreatly. It was proved by many signs. New trails converged uponit, and some of them were very broad, indicating that manywarriors had passed. They had passed, too, in perfectconfidence, as there was no effort at concealment, and Henrysurmised that no white force of any size could be within manydays' march of this place. But the very security of the Indianshelped his own design. They would not dream that any one of thehated race was daring to come almost within the light of theirfires.

　　Henry had but one fear just now, and that was dogs. If theIndians had any of their mongrel curs with them, they wouldquickly scent him out and give the alarm with their barking. Buthe believed that the probabilities were against it. This, so hethought then, was a war or hunting camp, and it was likely thatthe Indians would leave the dogs at their permanent villages. Atany rate he would take the risk, and he drew slowly toward theoak opening, where some Indians stood about. Beyond them, inanother dip of the valley, was a wider opening which he had notseen on his first trip, and this contained not only barkshelters, but buildings that indicated a permanent village. Thesecond and larger opening was filled with a great concourse ofwarriors.

　　Fortunately the foliage around the opening was very dense, manytrees and thickets everywhere. Henry crept to the very rim,where, lying in the blackest of the shadows, and well hiddenhimself, he could yet see nearly everything in the camp. The menwere not eating now, although it was obvious that the hunters haddone well. The dressed bodies of deer and bear hung in the barkshelters. Most of the Indians sat about the fires, and it seemedto Henry that they had an air of expectancy. At least twohundred were present, and all of them were in war paint, althoughthere were several styles of paint. There was a difference inappearance, too, in the warriors, and Henry surmised thatrepresentatives of all the tribes of the Iroquois were there,coming to the extreme western boundary or fringe of theircountry.

　　While Henry watched them a half dozen who seemed by their bearingand manner to be chiefs drew together at a point not far from himand talked together earnestly. Now and then they looked towardthe forest, and he was quite sure that they were expectingsomebody, a person of importance. He became deeply interested.He was lying in a dense clump of hazel bushes, flat upon hisstomach, his face raised but little above the ground. He wouldhave been hidden from the keenest eye only ten feet away, but thefaces of the chiefs outlined against the blazing firelight wereso 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, andtheir heads shaved, all except the defiant scalp lock, into whichthe feather of an eagle was twisted. Their bodies were draped infine red or blue blankets, and they wore leggins and moccasins ofbeautifully tanned deerskin.

　　They ceased talking presently, and Henry heard a distant wailingnote from the west. Some one in the camp replied with a cry inkind, and then a silence fell upon them all. The chiefs stooderect, looking toward the west. Henry knew that he whom theyexpected was at hand.

　　The cry was repeated, but much nearer, and a warrior leaped intothe opening, in the full blaze of the firelight. He was entirelynaked save for a breech cloth and moccasins, and he was a wildand savage figure. He stood for a moment or two, then faced thechiefs, and, bowing before them, spoke a few words in the Wyandottongue-Henry knew already by his paint that he was a Wyandot.

　　The chiefs inclined their heads gravely, and the herald, turning,leaped back into the forest. In two or three minutes six men,including the herald, emerged from the woods, and Henry moved alittle when he saw the first of the six, all of whom wereWyandots. It was Timmendiquas, head chief of the Wyandots, andHenry had never seen him more splendid in manner and bearing thanhe was as he thus met the representatives of the famous SixNations. Small though the Wyandot tribe might be, mighty was itsvalor and fame, and White Lightning met the great Iroquois onlyas an equal, in his heart a superior.

　　It was an extraordinary thing, but Henry, at this very moment,burrowing in the earth that be might not lose his life at thehands of either, was an ardent partisan of Timmendiquas. It wasthe young Wyandot chief whom he wished to be first, to make thegreatest impression, and he was pleased when he heard the low humof admiration go round the circle of two hundred savage warriors.It was seldom, indeed, perhaps never, that the Iroquois hadlooked upon such a man as Timmendiquas.

　　Timmendiquas and his companions advanced slowly toward thechiefs, and the Wyandot overtopped all the Iroquois. Henry couldtell by the manner of the chiefs that the reputation of thefamous White Lightning had preceded him, and that they hadalready found fact equal to report.

　　The chiefs, Timmendiquas among them, sat down on logs before thefire, and all the warriors withdrew to a respectful distance,where they stood and watched in silence. The oldest chief tookhis long pipe, beautifully carved and shaped like a trumpet, andfilled it with tobacco which he lighted with a coal from thefire. Then he took two or three whiffs and passed the pipe toTimmendiquas, who did the same. Every chief smoked the pipe, andthen they sat still, waiting in silence.

　　Henry was so much absorbed in this scene, which was at once aspectacle and a drama, that he almost forgot where he was, andthat he was an enemy. He wondered now at their silence. If thiswas a council surely they would discuss whatever question hadbrought them there! But he was soon enlightened. That low farcry came again, but from the east. It was answered, as before,from the camp, and in three or four minutes a warrior sprang fromthe forest into the opening. Like the first, he was naked exceptfor the breech cloth and moccasins. The chiefs rose at hiscoming, received his salute gravely, and returned it as gravely.Then he returned to the forest, and all waited in the splendidcalm of the Indian.

　　Curiosity pricked Henry like a nettle. Who was coming now? Itmust be some man of great importance, or they would not wait sosilently. There was the same air of expectancy that had precededthe arrival of Timmendiquas. All the warriors looked toward theeastern wall of the forest, and Henry looked the same way.Presently the black foliage parted, and a man stepped forth,followed at a little distance by seven or eight others. Thestranger, although tall, was not equal in height to Timmendiquas,but he, too, had a lofty and splendid presence, and it wasevident to anyone versed at all in forest lore that here was agreat chief. He was lean but sinewy, and he moved with greatease and grace. He reminded Henry of a powerful panther. He wasdressed, after the manner of famous chiefs, with the utmost care.His short military coat of fine blue cloth bore a silver epauleton either shoulder. His head was not bare, disclosing the scalplock, like those of the other Indians; it was covered insteadwith a small hat of felt, round and laced. Hanging carelesslyover one shoulder was a blanket of blue cloth with a red border.At his side, from a belt of blue leather swung a silver-mountedsmall sword. His leggins were of superfine blue cloth and hismoccasins of deerskin. Both were trimmed with small beads ofmany colors.

　　The new chief advanced into the opening amid the dead silencethat still held all, and Timmendiquas stepped forward to meethim. These two held the gaze of everyone, and what they and theyalone did had become of surpassing interest. Each was haughty,fully aware of his own dignity and importance, but they met halfway, looked intently for a moment or two into the eyes of eachother, and then saluted gravely.

　　All at once Henry knew the stranger. He had never seen himbefore, but his impressive reception, and the mixture of militaryand savage attire revealed him. This could be none other thanthe great Mohawk war chief, Thayendanegea, the Brant of the whitemen, terrible name on the border. Henry gazed at him eagerlyfrom his covert, etching his features forever on his memory. Hisface, lean and strong, was molded much like that of Timmendiquas,and like the Wyandot he was young, under thirty.

　　Timmendiquas and Thayendanegea-it was truly he-returned to thefire, and once again the trumpet-shaped pipe was smoked by all.The two young chiefs received the seats of favor, and others satabout them. But they were not the only great chiefs present,though all yielded first place to them because of their characterand exploits.

　　Henry was not mistaken in his guess that this was an importantcouncil, although its extent exceeded even his surmise.Delegates and head chiefs of all the Six Nations were present toconfer with the warlike Wyandots of the west who had come so fareast to meet them. Thayendanegea was the great war chief of theMohawks, but not their titular chief. The latter was an olderman, Te-kie-ho-ke (Two Voices), who sat beside the younger. Theother chiefs were the Onondaga, Tahtoo-ta-hoo (The Entangled) ;the Oneida, 0-tat-sheh-te (Bearing a Quiver) ; the Cayuga,Te-ka-ha-hoonk (He Who Looks Both Ways) ; the Seneca,Kan-ya-tai-jo (Beautiful Lake) ; and the Tuscarora,Ta-ha-en-te-yahwak-hon (Encircling and Holding Up a Tree). Thenames were hereditary, and because in a dim past they had formedthe great confederacy, the Onondagas were first in the council,and were also the high priests and titular head of the SixNations. But the Mohawks were first on-the war path.

　　All the Six Nations were divided into clans, and every clan,camping in its proper place, was represented at this meeting.

　　Henry had heard much at Pittsburgh of the Six Nations, theirwonderful league, and their wonderful history. He knew thataccording to the legend the league had been formed by Hiawatha,an Onondaga. He was opposed in this plan by Tododaho, then headchief of the Onondagas, but he went to the Mohawks and gained thesupport of their great chief, Dekanawidah. With his aid theleague was formed, and the solemn agreement, never broken, wasmade at the Onondaga Lake. Now they were a perfect little state,with fifty chiefs, or, including the head chiefs, fifty-six.

　　Some of these details Henry was to learn later. He was also tolearn many of the words that the chiefs said through a source ofwhich he little dreamed at the present. Yet he divined much ofit from the meeting of the fiery Wyandots with the highlydeveloped and warlike power of the Six Nations.

　　Thayendanegea was talking now, and Timmendiquas, silent andgrave, was listening. The Mohawk approached his subjectindirectly through the trope, allegory, and simile that theIndian loved. He talked of the unseen deities that ruled thelife of the Iroquois through mystic dreams. He spoke of thetrees, the rocks, and the animals, all of which to the Iroquoishad souls. He called on the name of the Great Spirit, which wasAieroski before it became Manitou, the Great Spirit who, in theIroquois belief, had only the size of a dwarf because his soulwas so mighty that he did not need body.

　　This land is ours, the land of your people and mine, oh, chief ofthe brave Wyandots," he said to Timmendiquas. "Once there was noland, only the waters, but Aieroski raised the land of Konspioniabove the foam. Then he sowed five handfuls of red seed in it,and from those handfuls grew the Five Nations. Later grew up theTuscaroras, who have joined us and other tribes of our race, likeyours, great chief of the brave Wyandots."

　　Timmendiquas still said nothing. He did not allow an eyelid toflicker at this assumption of superiority for the Six Nationsover all other tribes. A great warrior he was, a greatpolitician also, and he wished to unite the Iroquois in a firmleague with the tribes of the Ohio valley. The coals from thegreat fire glowed and threw out an intense heat. Thayendanegeaunbuttoned his military coat and threw it back, revealing a barebronze chest, upon which was painted the device of the Mohawks, aflint and steel. The chests of the Onondaga, Cayuga, and Senecahead 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 agreat pipe, and the figure of a mountain adorned the Senecabronze.

　　"We have had the messages that you have sent to us,Timmendiquas," said Thayendanegea, "and they are good in the eyesof our people, the Rotinonsionni (the Mohawks). They please,too, the ancient tribe, the Kannoseone (the Onondagas), thevaliant Hotinonsionni (the Senecas), and all our brethren of theSix Nations. All the land from the salt water to the setting sunwas given to the red men by Aieroski, but if we do not defend itwe cannot keep it."

　　"It is so," said Timmendiquas, speaking for the first time. "Wehave fought them on the Ohio and in Kaintuck-ee, where they comewith their rifles and axes. The whole might of the Wyandots, theShawnees, the Miamis, the Illinois, the Delawares, and theOttawas has gone forth against them. We have slain many of them,but we have failed to drive them back. Now we have come to askthe Six Nations to press down upon them in the east with all yourpower, while we do the same in the west. Surely then yourAieroski and our Manitou, who are the same, will not refuse ussuccess."

　　The eyes of Thayendanegea glistened.

　　"You speak well, Timmendiquas," he said. " All the red men mustunite to fight for the land of Konspioni which Aieroski raisedabove the sea, and we be two, you and I, Timmendiquas, fit tolead them to battle."

　　"It is so," said Timmendiquas gravely.