gan to rattle it in a
not unmusical way. To the sound of the rattle he started a grave and
solemn chant, in which all joined. Then the two lines, still keeping
their straightness and evenness, danced toward each other slowly and
rhythmically. All the time the song went on, the usual monotonous Indian
beat, merely a rising and falling of the note with scarcely any
variation.

The two lines, still dancing, came close together, and then both bent
forward until the head of every warrior touched the head of the girl
opposite him. They remained in this position a full half minute, and a
young warrior often whispered sweet words in the ear of the girl whose
head touched him. This, as Henry learned later, was the wooing or
courting dance of the Wyandots.

Both sides suddenly straightened up, uttered a series of loud shouts,
and began to dance back toward their original position, at the same time
resuming the rising and falling chant. When the full distance was
reached they danced up, bowed, and touched heads again, and this
approaching or retreating was kept up for four hours, or until the sun
set. It became to Henry extremely monotonous, but the Indians seemed
never to tire of it, and when they stopped at darkness the eyes of all
the dancers were glowing with pleasure and excitement.

It was quite dark when Henry returned to the lodge for the second time
that day, but this time old Heno instead of Timmendiquas was his escort
back to prison.

"Play over now," said Heno. "Great work begin to-morrow."

The old man seemed to be full of the importance of what he knew, and
Henry, anxious to know, too, played adroitly upon his vanity.

"If any big thing is to be done, I'm sure that you would know of it,
Heno," he said. "So they are to begin to-morrow, are they?"

"Yes," replied Heno, supposing from Henry's words that he had already
received a hint from Timmendiquas. "Great chiefs reach here to-night.
Hold council to-morrow."

"Ah, they come from all the tribes, do they not?" said Henry, guessing
shrewdly.

"From all between Ohezuhyeandawa (The Ohio) and the Great Lakes and from
the mountains to Yandawezue (The Mississippi)."

"Illinois, Ottawas, Miamis, Shawnees, and Delawares?" said Henry.

"Yes," said Heno, "Illinois, Ottawas, Miamis, Shawnees, and Delawares.
All come to smoke pipes with the Wyandots and hear what we have to say.
We small nation, but mighty warriors. No Wyandot ever coward."

"That is true," said Hen