The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-10-12
THE MISSISSIPPI
, BUBBLE .
By EMERSON 1IoUGH
Author Of 'The Story of the Cowboy"
Tho Girl at the Hallway House. ''Etc.
Copyright. 1904 by Emerson Roughly
CHAPTER xxv111.-coSr1suEp.

Indeed those Of the Iroquois who had
remained at home clamored continu-
ally that some of the prisoners should
be given over to them. Thus, in doubt,
uncertainty and terror the party passed
through the villages, moving always
eastward, until at length they arrived
at the fortified town where Teganisoris
made his home, spot toward the foot
OF Lake Ontario, and not widely re-
moved from that stupendous cataract
which, from the beginning of earth,
had uplifted its thunderous diapason
here In the savage wilderness-On
eagrea, object of superstitious awe
among all the tribes.
Time hung heavy on the hands of
the sayages. 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 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 Of
fer to the Grea. 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 mer-
chants of the lower settlements now
and again left that trail, and came to
NOOK upon the tremendous scene Of
Hhe great falling of the waters. Here
where the tumult assembled up to
heaven, and where the white-blown
Ereaths 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 a body,
pitching 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
-r 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, hest
tating and fearing. Monsieur" said
Pierre Noir. turing at last to Law,
1T grieves me to speak, yet tits best
tor you to know the truth. 1t Is to be
you or Monsieur Pembroke. They will
not have me. They say that is must
be ono of you two great chiefs. for
that you Were nrave. your hearts were