g ball lying
in the open palm, and then sent a warning look to each hundred, first to
the men and then to the women. These two sides were already bent far
over, waiting to jump.

The stakes, the field, the positions of the players were remarkably like
the modern game of football, although this was wholly original with the
Indians.

The eyes of old Heno came back from the players to the ball lying in the
palm of his right hand and regarded it contemplatively a moment or two.
Then the fingers suddenly contracted like lightning upon the ball, and
he threw it high, perfectly straight up in the air, at the same time
uttering a piercing shout.

Henry saw that the ball would fall almost where Heno stood, but the old
warrior ran swiftly away, and the opposing sides, men and women, made a
dash for it before it fell. The multitude, thrilled with the excitement,
uttered a great shout, and bent forward in eagerness. But no one--not a
player--encroached upon the meadow. Warriors as guards stalked up and
down, but they were not needed. The discipline was perfect. Henry by the
side of Timmendiquas shared in the general interest, and he, too, bent
forward. The chief bent with him.

Young warriors and young girls who made a dash for the ball were about
equal in speed. Wyandot women were not hampered by skirts, and forest
life made them lithe and sinewy. Both were near the ball, but Henry yet
saw nothing to tell which would reach it first. Suddenly a slim brown
figure shot out from the ranks of the women, and, with a leap, reached
the ball, when the nearest warrior was yet a yard away.

There was a great cry of applause, as the girl, straightening up,
attempted to run with the ball through the ranks of the men, and throw
it between the stakes at their side of the field. Two warriors promptly
intercepted her, and now Henry saw why the match between girls and
warriors was not so unequal as it had appeared at first. When the
warriors intercepted the girl she threw the ball over their heads and as
far as she could toward the coveted goal posts. Three warriors ran for
it, but the one who reached it kicked it with all his might back toward
the goal posts of the girls. It fell into a dense throng there, and a
girl promptly threw it back, where it was met by the returning kick of a
warrior. The men were allowed to use only their feet, the girls could
use both hands and feet. If any warrior touched the ball with his hands
he was promptly pu