Hahiron finished his round and went back to his place by the fire.
Atotarho, head chief of the Onondagas, holding in his hands beautifully
beaded strings of Iroquois wampum, came forward and made a speech of
condolence, to which Kathlahon responded. Then the head chiefs and
the minor chiefs smoked pipes together, after which the head chiefs,
followed by the minor chiefs, and these in turn by the crowd, led the
way back to the village.

Many hundreds of persons were in this procession, which was still very
grave and solemn, every one in it impressed by the sacred nature of
this ancient rite. The chief entered the great door of the Long House,
and all who could find places not reserved followed. Henry went in with
the others, and sat in a corner, making himself as small as possible.
Many women, the place of whom was high among the Iroquois, were also in
the Long House.

The head chiefs sat on raised seats at the north end of the great room.
In front of them, on lower seats, were the minor chiefs of the three
older nations on the left, and of the three younger nations on the
right. In front of these, but sitting on the bark floor, was a group of
warriors. At the east end, on both high and low seats, were warriors,
and facing them on the western side were women, also on both high
and low seats. The southern side facing the chiefs was divided into
sections, each with high and low seats. The one on the left was occupied
by men, and the one on the right by women. Two small fires burned in the
center of the Long House about fifteen feet apart.

It was the most singular and one of the most impressive scenes that
Henry had ever beheld. When all had found their seats there was a deep
silence. Henry could hear the slight crackling made by the two fires as
they burned, and the light fell faintly across the multitude of dark,
eager faces. Not less than five hundred people were in the Long House,
and here was the red man at his best, the first of the wild, not the
second or third of the civilized, a drop of whose blood in his veins
brings to the white man now a sense of pride, and not of shame, as it
does when that blood belongs to some other races.

The effect upon Henry was singular. He almost forgot that he was a foe
among them on a mission. For the moment he shared in their feelings, and
he waited with eagerness for whatever might come.

Thayendanegea, the Mohawk, stood up in his place among the great chiefs.
The role he was