The Great League!--
Continue to listen,
Thou who wert ruler:
That was the roll of you_----"

The deep cadence of the chanting grew to a thunderous sound; name after
name of the ancient dead was called, and the thrilling response
swelled, culminating in a hollow shout. Then a pause, and the solemn
tones of a single voice intoning the final words of gloom.

For ten full minutes there was not a sound except the faint snapping of
the smoking birch twigs. Then up rose the chief sachem of the Cayugas,
cast aside his blanket, faced the circle, dark, lean arm outstretched;
and from his lips flowed the beautiful opening words of the Younger
Nations:

"_Yo o-nen o-nen wen-ni-teh onen_----"

"_Now--now this day--now I come to your door where you mourn....
I will enter your door and come before the ashes and mourn with you
there. And these words will I speak to comfort you!_"

The music of the voice thrilled me:

"_To the warriors, to the women, and also to the children; and
also to the little ones creeping on the ground, and also to those
still tied to the cradle-board.... This we say, we three
brothers...._

"_Now another thing we will say, we younger brothers. You mourn.
I will clear the sky for you so that you shall not behold a cloud.
And also I give the sun to shine upon you, so that you can look
peacefully upon it when it goes down. You shall see it when it is
going. Yea, ye shall look peacefully upon it when it goes
down...._

"_Now another thing we say, we younger brothers. If any one
should fall, then the antlers shall be left on the grave...._

"_Now another thing we say, we younger brothers. We will gird the
belt on you with the quiver, and the next death will receive the
quiver whenever you shall know that there is death among us, when
the fire is made and the smoke is rising. This we say and do, we
three brothers._

"_Now I have finished. Now show me the man!_"

Slowly the Oneida rose from my side and crossed the circle. Every eye
was on him; he smiled as he halted, sweeping the throng with a tranquil
glance. Then, drawing his blanket about him he stepped from the
sanctuary of the council-ring out into the forest; and after him glided
a Mohawk warrior, with face painted black, in token of his terrific
office.

A dead silence fell upon the council.

The pulse was drumming in ears and throat when I ar