he great banquet outside--although
that was much--and they poured forth to it joyously, Thayendanegea, the
Mohawk, and Timmendiquas, the Wyandot, walking side by side, the finest
two red chiefs on all the American continent.

CHAPTER VI. THE EVIL SPIRIT'S WORK

Henry slipped forth with the crowd from the Long House, stooping
somewhat and shrinking into the smallest possible dimensions. But there
was little danger now that any one would notice him, as long as he
behaved with prudence, because all grief and solemnity were thrown
aside, and a thousand red souls intended to rejoice. A vast banquet was
arranged. Great fires leaped up all through the village. At every fire
the Indian women, both young and old, were already far forward with the
cooking. Deer, bear, squirrel, rabbit, fish, and every other variety
of game with which the woods and rivers of western New York and
Pennsylvania swarmed were frying or roasting over the coals, and the air
was permeated with savory odors. There was a great hum of voices and
an incessant chattering. Here in the forest, among themselves, and in
complete security, the Indian stoicism was relaxed. According to their
customs everybody fell to eating at a prodigious rate, as if they had
not tasted anything for a month, and as if they intended to eat enough
now to last another month.

It was far into the night, because the ceremonies had lasted a long
time, but a brilliant moon shone down upon the feasting crowd, and the
flames of the great fires, yellow and blue, leaped and danced. This was
an oasis of light and life. Timmendiquas and Thayendanegea sat together
before the largest fire, and they ate with more restraint than the
others. Even at the banquet they would not relax their dignity as
great chiefs. Old Skanawati, the Onondaga, old Atotarho, Onondaga, too,
Satekariwate, the Mohawk, Kanokarih, the Seneca, and others, head chiefs
though they were of the three senior tribes, did not hesitate to eat as
the rich Romans of the Empire ate, swallowing immense quantities of all
kinds of meat, and drinking a sort of cider that the women made. Several
warriors ate and drank until they fell down in a stupor by the fires.
The same warriors on the hunt or the war path would go for days without
food, enduring every manner of hardship. Now and then a warrior would
leap up and begin a chant telling of some glorious deed of his. Those at
his own fire would listen, but elsewhere they took no not