He
did not seek now to practice the Indian stoicism and repress his
feelings. His eyes, blazing with indignation, looked straight into those
of Girty, with a gaze so stern and accusing and so full of contempt that
the renegade, unable to withstand it, lowered his own eyes.

Braxton Wyatt had seen this little passage, and Henry's triumph of the
moment increased his hatred. He longed to say something, to taunt him
with his position, something that his ignoble soul was not above, but he
did not dare to do it just then. He and his fellow renegades wished to
sway the Wyandots to a purpose of theirs, and any interruption now of
the ceremonies, which, in fact, were a sacred rite, would bring fierce
anger down upon his head.

Henry remained about four hours in the crowd, and then, an old man,
whose dignity and bearing showed that he held a chief's rank, tapped him
on the shoulder.

"Come," he said in fair English, "I am Heno, and you are our prisoner."

Henry had learned already that Heno in Wyandot meant Thunder, and he
answered cheerfully.

"Very well, my good Thunder, lead on, and I'll follow."

The old chief gravely led the way, and the throng opened out to let them
pass. Henry glanced back at the two swaying lines of women, now engaged
in one of their minute-long chants, and he wondered at the illimitable
patience of the red race, to whom time seemed nothing.

Unless some great movement, like a sudden attack by an enemy or the
necessity of a forced march, interfered, the warriors would go in and
out of the council house for three days, when all except the leader and
one attendant warrior would go forth to their lodges, which would be
swept clean for them, and which would be decorated with twigs of cedar
or pieces of scalps to satisfy the ghosts of departed friends. But
Timmendiquas and his attendant would remain three more days and nights
in the council house to complete their purification. When they emerged
the medicine bag would be hung before the lodge door of Timmendiquas.
Unless the village was removed, it would hang there a month, and the
people would sing and dance before it at intervals.

As Henry passed through the throng, following close behind old Heno,
many admiring glances were bent upon him by the great little red nation
of the Wyandots. These children of the wilderness knew the value of a
tall, straight figure, powerful shoulders, a splendid chest and limbs
that seemed to be made of woven wire. Here