with other minor chiefs and the mass of the warriors. A little
apart stood Timmendiquas and his Wyandots. He, too, was absorbed
in the ceremony so sacred to him, an Indian, and he did not
notice the tall figure of the strange Shawnee lingering in the
deepest of the shadows.

The head chiefs, walking solemnly and never speaking, marched
across the clearing, and then through the woods to a glen, where
two young warriors had kindled a little fire of sticks as a
signal of welcome. The chiefs gathered around the fire and spoke
together in low tones. This was Deyuhnyon Kwarakda, which means
"The Reception at the Edge of the Wood."

Henry and some others followed, as it was not forbidden to see,
and his interest increased. He shared the spiritual feeling
which was impressed upon the red faces about him. The bright
moonlight, too, added to the effect, giving it the tinge of an
old Druidical ceremony.

The chiefs relapsed into silence and sat thus about ten minutes.
Then rose the sound of a chant, distant and measured, and a
procession of young and inferior chiefs, led by Oneidas,
appeared, slowly approaching the fire. Behind them were
warriors, and behind the warriors were many women and children.
All the women were in their brightest attire, gay with feather
headdresses and red, blue, or green blankets from the British
posts.

The procession stopped at a distance of about a dozen yards from
the chiefs about the council fire, and the Oneida, Kathlahon,