The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-04-21

| OF Lake ontario, anu llOl WlueIy re-
moved from that stupendous cataract
which, from the beginning of earth,
had uplifted it's thunderous diapason
here in the savage wilderness-Onton-
eagrea, object Of superstitious awe
among all the tribes.
Time hung heavy on the hands Of
| the savages. 1t was winter, and the
parties had all returned from the war
trails. The mutterings arose yet
more loudly among families who had
lost most heavily in the western expe-
ditions. The shrewd mind of Tegani-
SORTS knew that some new thing must
be planned. He announced his decision
at his own village, after the triumphal
progress among the tribes had at
| length been concluded.
Since they have sent us no pres
ents," said he, with that daring di-
plomacy which made him a leader in
red craftsmanship, "let those who
stayed at home be given some prisoner
| in pay for those or their people who
| have been killed. Moreover, let us of
fer to the Great Spirit some sacrifice in
Precipitation; since surely the Great
Spirit is offended" Such was the CON
| clusion of this head man of the Onon-
! dagos. and fateful enough it was to
| the prisoners.
The great gorge through which
| poured the vast waters of the northern
seas was spot not always visited by
| those passing up the great lakes for
| the western stations. 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
passing friars, or the adventurous mcr-
chants 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 assembled up to
heaven, and where the white-boWn
wreaths of mist might indeed, even in
an Imagination better than that Of a
savage, have been construed into actual
forms Of spirits, the Indians had, from
time immemorial, made their offerings
to the genius OF the cataract-strips OF
rude cloth, the skin of the beaver and
the otter baskets woven OF sweet
grasses, and, after the advent of the
white man, pieces of metal or strings
of precious beads. Such valued things
as 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
medicine man in the pursuit Of his in
carnations. 1t was the church, the
wild and savage cathedral of the red
men.
Following now the command Of their
chieftain, the Iroquois left their sta
tionary lodges and moved in body,
pitching a temporary camp at spot
not far from the falls. Here, in a
great council lodge, the older men sat
in deliberation for full day and night.
The dull drum sounded continually,
the council pipe went round, and the
warriors besought the spirits to give
them knowledge. The savage hysteria,
little by little, yet steadily, arose high
err and higher, until at length ii 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, hest
tating and fearing. "Monsieur,' said
Pierre Noir, turning at last to Law,
sit greves me to speak, yet it's best
for you to know the truth 1t is to be
you or Monsieur Pembroke. They will
not have me. They say that it must
be one of you two great chiefs, for