ayugas and
Oneidas and Mohawks that they must not give aid to their brothers, the
Senecas, who have fallen, whose corn and forts and lodges are burned
to ashes and scattered on the winds. It tells the Onondagas that the
Great Mountain is a kind father, that he loves them like his own
children, and will punish the man who wrongs them, let him be white or
red. It tells the Onondagas that the white captain, who has robbed a
hundred Onondaga lodges of their bravest hunters, shall be struck by
the strong arm of the Great Mountain, shall be blown to pieces by the
Voice that thunders from the great water where the seal are found to
the farthest village of the Five Nations. And the chiefs hear the
Voice; they listen with ears that are always open to the counsel of
Onontio. They take his promises into their hearts and believe them.
They know that he will strike down the dog of a white captain. They
refuse aid to their dying brothers, the Senecas, because they know
that the strong arm of Onontio is over them, that it will give them
peace."

He paused, gazing with bright eyes at Menard. There was no reply, and
he continued:--

"The Great Mountain has kept his word. The Onondagas shall know, in
their council, that Onontio's promise has been kept, that the white
brave, who lied to their hunters and sent them in chains across the
big water, has gone to a hunting-ground where his musket will not help
him, where the buffalo shall trample him and tear his flesh with their
horns. Then the Onondagas shall know that the Big Buffalo spoke the
truth to the Long House. And this word shall be carried to the
Onondagas by Teganouan. He will go to the council with the scalp in
his hand telling them that the white children of Onontio are their
brothers. Teganouan sees the Big Buffalo stand with his strong hand at
the door. He knows that the Big Buffalo could call his warriors to
seize Teganouan, and bind him, and bid him stand before the white
men's muskets. But Teganouan is not a child. He sees with the eye of
the old warrior who has fought a battle for every sun in the year, who
has known the white man as well as the redman. When the Big Buffalo
stood in the Long House, Teganouan believed him; Teganouan knew that
his words were true. And now the heart of Teganouan is warm with
trust. He knows that the Big Buffalo is a wise warrior and that he has
an honest heart."

There was a pause, and Menard, his hand still on the latch, stood
motionless