Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-27

for the absent ones who have been killed
by your young men. 1t Is no wonder that
my people are displeased."
Indeed, those of the Iroquois who had re-
manned at home clamored continually that
some OF the prisoners should be given over
to them. Thus, in doubt, uncertainty and
terror the party passed through the VIII
lagos, moving always eastward. until at
length they arrived at the fortified town
where Teganisoris made his home, a spot
toward the foot or Lake Ontario. and not
widely removed from that stupendous cat
aract which from the beginning of earth
had uplifted its thunderous diapason here
in the savage Observation-Disclosures OBJ
ject of superstitious awe among all the
tribes.
Time hung heavy on the hands of the saw
ages 1t was winter, and the parties had
all returned from the war trails. The NUT
terings arose yet more loudly among fam
lilies who had lost most heavily in these
western expeditions. The shrewd mind of
Teganisoris knew that some new thing must
be planned. TIe announced his decision at
his own village, after the triumphal prog
ress among the tribes had at length been
concluded.
"Since they have sent us no presents"
said he, with that daring diplomacy which
made him a leader in red craftsmanship,
'let those who stayed at home be given
some prisoner in pay for those of their
people who have been killed. Moreover,
let us offer to the Great Spirit some sacri-
flee in Precipitation; since surely the Great
spirit Is OHenUeO. SuCn was the COnClu-
sion of this head man of the Onondagos,
and fateful enough it was to the prisoners.
The great gorge through which poured
the vast waters of the northern seas was
a spot not always visited by those passing
up the Great Lakes for the western sta
lions, nor down the lakes to the settlements
of the st. Lawrence. Yet there was trail
which led around the great cataract, and
the occasional coureurs de boiS, or the pass
ing friars, or the adventurous merchants
of the lower settlements now and again
left that trail, and came to look upon the
tremendous scene of the great falling of
the waters. Here where the tumult as
cended up to heaven, and where the white
blown wreaths of mist might indeed. even
in an imagination better than that of a saw
age, have been construed into actual forms
of spirits, the Indians had, from time i'm
memorial, made their offerings to the ge-
MUS of the cataract-strips of rude cloth,
the skin of the beaver and the otter, baskets
woven Of sweet grasses, and, after the ad-
vent of the white man, pieces of metal or
strings of precious beads. Such valued
things these were in rude alteration
placed upon rocks or uplifted scaffolds near
to the brink of the abyss. This was the
spot most commonly chosen by the medi-
cine man in the pursuit of his lamentations.
1t was the church, the wild and savage ca
thedral of the red men.
Following now the command of their
chieftain, the Iroquois left their stationary
lodges and moved in body, pitching
temporary camp at a spot not far from the
falls Here, In great council lodge the
older men sat in elaboration for full day
and night The duh drum sounded contin-
ually, the council pipe went round. and the
warriors besought the spirits to give them
knowledge. The savage hysteria, little by
little, yet steadily. arose higher and higher,
until at length it reached that point of
frenzy where naught could suffice save
some terrible, some tremendous thing
Enforced spectators of these curious and
ominous ceremonies, the prisoners looked
on. wondering, imagining. hesitating and
fearing. Monsieur" said Pierre Noir,
turning at last to Law, 1T grieves me to
speak, yet tbs best for you to know the
truth. It Is to be you or Monsieur Penn
broke. They will not have me. They say