The Border Watch

nt ceremonial was at hand, and would be celebrated first. It reminded Henry of the great gathering of the Iroquois before the advance on Wyoming. He was as eager now as then to enter the vi

he said, "I could go into the place without much da

n was then about an hour high, and, a little after twilight, the shiftless one returned wi

een doing, Sol?"

the little brushes an' feathers with which you put it on, too. The people are all driftin' toward the center o' the village, an' without any

shall paint me, Sol, and in an hour I'll b

firmly retained hi

e paints are mine, an' I 'low you to m

is t

mighty Injun metropolis together. Mebbe you'll need me, Hen

uarely in the face. Henry read resolve, and also

it's agreed. Now let's see w

ot colors over chest, shoulders, arms, face and hands. Then Henry painted the shiftless one in the same fashion. They also, but with more difficulty

from Timmendiquas, Wyatt, Girty and those w

ou know how hard it will be on us waiting out here in the wood

Paul," said Henry, "and we'll

Paul, "we'll wai

ng a place for his blanket. The moon was not yet out and the light over the forest was dim, but Paul, Long Jim and Silent Tom could see very di

d swear that you wuz Timmendiquas his very self. I see Ti

derful in me, too, don't you, Saplin'?" said

is most scornful manner, b

rnery Wyandot, who's so lazy he has to be fed by squaws, an' who ef he saw a white man

laughed and he

u didn't like me, an' ef I never come back I guess a

in kind the iron g

s is mighty near to

women and children. There was also the chatter of hundreds of voices, melting into a pleasant river of sound and the two, not even finding the Indian dogs suspicious, advanced boldly across the maize fields. Henry, rememberin

called them, double-barreled-that is, in two sections, a family to each section, but with a common hall in which the fire was built, each family sitting on its side of the fire. But all these were empty now, as men, women and children had gon

t attire of the savage, embroidered leggings and moccasins, and red or blue blankets. From every head rose a bright feather twined in the defiant scalp lock. But the Shawnees and Miamis stood motionless, every man resting the stock of his rifle upon the ground and his hands upon the muzzle. They were guests. They were not to take any part in the ce

light of the fires, and uttered a loud cry, which he repeated twice at short intervals. Meanwhile the torches among the women and children had ceased to waver, and the Shawnees and Miamis stood immovable, their han

ere gorgeously painted in many colors. Mighty men were they. Few among them were less than six feet in height, and all were splendidly built for strength, skill and endurance. They h

ns with the following names in their language: The Bear, the Deer, the Highland Striped Turtle, the Highland Black Turtle, the Mud Turtle, the Large Smooth Turtle, the Hawk, the Beaver, the Wolf, the Snake, and the Porcupine. Th

he circle until all were there, and then a deep murmur

an, that of the Bear, stood Timmendiquas, and Henry and Shif'less Sol had never seen him appear more commanding. Many tall

the Highland Striped Turtle, the Highland Black Turtle, the Mud Turtle, the Large Smooth Turtle, the Hawk, the Beaver, the Wolf, the Snake and the Porcupine. These clans were also incorporated into four phratries, or larger divisions. The first

and warrior. All property and rank descended through the female line. The lands of the village which were communal were partitioned for cultivation by the women. The clan council of five was called the Zu-wai-yu-wa, and the lone man was always deferential in the presence of the four women who had elected him. The men councilors, however, had some privilege. When it became necessary to choose the Grand Sachem of the whole nat

and more they learned later. Now as they watched the im

age richness of their dress. They wore their hair in long dark braids, adorned by shells and small red and blue feathers. Their tunics, which fell nearly to the knee, were made of the finest dressed deerskin, fastened at the waist with belts of the same material, dyed red or blue. As they watched, the little beads on th

een observer and quick to draw inferences, had seen other but somewhat similar ceremonies among the Iroquois. Women had taken

es and the sputtering of the torches, came once more over the great assembly. But a thousand eager faces were turned toward

on. He superintended the erection of the Council House, and had charge of it afterwards. He called the council which met regularly on the night of the full moon, and at such other times as the

the double power of Grand Sachem and military chief. The clan of the Porcupine in which the military chieftainship was hereditary

very center of the ring and shouted

Timmendiquas!

thless silence came again and the eager brown faces were bent yet further forward. Timmendiquas standing motionless hitherto

elight. His figure seemed to grow in height and to broaden. Never before in all the history and legends of the Wyandots had so mighty an honor been confer

an were Dewatire (Lean Deer), Shayantsawat (Hard Skull), Harouy

omen, with the hundreds and hundreds of admiring eyes looking on. He came presently within a few feet of them and stopped. Then Ayajinta (Spotted Fawn), the tallest and most majestic of the women, steppe

diquas. She was a tall woman, but the chief towered nearly a head above her. Neverthe

the war trail, and you have also been first among them in the Council House. You have gone with our warriors far toward the rising sun and by the side of the great kindred nation, the I

on you and admire you for your strength, your courage and your wisdom. Seldom does Manitou give so much to a

ignified interest and approval. But Timmendiquas stood upright,

andots, and also the leader of the war chiefs. We give you the double crown.

rown. Then as he raised his crowned head and looked proudly around the c

Timmendiquas!

the tribe, dressed in tanned deerskin adorned with beads and feathers, streamed int

great Tim

t of gre

f all in

he warrior

the old m

uas, firs

great Tim

the oak on

s the wolf o

beside the g

ee at the soun

uas, firs

n whistles, made from the bones of eagles. The song died, and the girls fli

l. With the firelight about him and the moonlight above him, the figure of Timmendiquas was magnified in every w

renegades, Simon Girty, Braxton Wyatt, and Moses Blackstaffe were admitted. Inside the Council House, which was hung with skins and which much resembled those of the

pe to Timmendiquas, who inhaled the smoke until his mouth was filled. Then, turning from left to right, he slowly puffed out the smoke over the heads of all the chiefs. When the circle was complete, he handed the pipe to the next chief on his l