The news spread through the village, and there was much
excitement. Thayendanegea and Timmendiquas came and looked at
the empty hut. Timmendiquas may have suspected how Shif'less Sol
had gone, but he said nothing. Others believed that it was the
work of Hahgweh-da-et-gah (The Spirit of Evil), or perhaps Ga-oh
(The Spirit of the Winds) had taken him away.

"It is well to keep a good watch on the others," said
Timmendiquas, and Thayendanegea nodded.

That day the chiefs entered the Long House again, and held a
great war council. A string of white wampum about a foot in
length was passed to every chief, who held it a moment or two
before handing it to his neighbors. It was then laid on a table
in the center of the room, the ends touching. This signified
harmony among the Six Nations. All the chiefs had been summoned
to this place by belts of wampum sent to the different tribes by
runners appointed by the Onondagas, to whom this honor belonged.
All treaties had to be ratified by the exchange of belts, and now
this was done by the assembled chiefs.

Timmendiquas, as an honorary chief of the Mohawks, and as the
real head of a brave and allied nation, was present throughout
the council. His advice was asked often, and when he gave it the
others listened with gravity and deference. The next day the
village played a great game of lacrosse, which was invented by
the Indians, and which had been played by them for centuries
before the arrival of the white man. In this case the match was
on a grand scale, Mohawks and Cayugas against Onondagas and
Senecas.