filled it with tobacco which he lighted with a coal from the
fire. Then he took two or three whiffs and passed the pipe to
Timmendiquas, who did the same. Every chief smoked the pipe, and
then they sat still, waiting in silence.

Henry was so much absorbed in this scene, which was at once a
spectacle and a drama, that he almost forgot where he was, and
that he was an enemy. He wondered now at their silence. If this
was a council surely they would discuss whatever question had
brought them there! But he was soon enlightened. That low far
cry came again, but from the east. It was answered, as before,
from the camp, and in three or four minutes a warrior sprang from
the forest into the opening. Like the first, he was naked except
for the breech cloth and moccasins. The chiefs rose at his
coming, received his salute gravely, and returned it as gravely.
Then he returned to the forest, and all waited in the splendid
calm of the Indian.

Curiosity pricked Henry like a nettle. Who was coming now? It
must be some man of great importance, or they would not wait so
silently. There was the same air of expectancy that had preceded
the arrival of Timmendiquas. All the warriors looked toward the
eastern wall of the forest, and Henry looked the same way.
Presently the black foliage parted, and a man stepped forth,
followed at a little distance by seven or eight others. The
stranger, although tall, was not equal in height to Timmendiquas,
but he, too, had a lofty and splendid presence, and it was
evident to anyone versed at all in forest lore that here was a
great chief. He was lean but sinewy, and he moved with great
ease and grace. He reminded Henry of a powerful panther. He was