Page 175 (1/1)

It was, I should judge, nearly five o'clock e descended by the open stairway to the ground floor I held the ide; she placed her hands on the sill and leaped lightly to the grass I followed Presently the lilac thicket parted and the tall Oneida appeared, leading irl, then, iht beside my horse He was superb, stripped naked to clout and moccasin, head shaved, body oiled and li roll of the dead thundered through the council-house, his name was the fourth to be called--Shononses And never was chief of the Oneida nation raveHouse endures

"Hasin the north?" I asked, studying the painted symbols on his face and body

"The council sits at dawn," he replied quietly

"At dawn!" I exclaimed "Why, we have no time, then----"

"There is time, brother There is always time to die"

"To--die!" I looked at him, startled Did he, then, expect noThere was nothing of fear, nothing of boastfulness, even, in attitude or glance His dignity appalled nificance of his paint flashed upon me

"You think there is no chance for us?" I repeated

"None, brother"

"And yet you go?"

"And you, brother?"

"I aed to take such chances But you need not go, Little Otter See, I free you now Leave me, brother I desire it"

"Shononses will stay," he said i House learn how the Oneidas die"

I shuddered and looked again at his paint It was inevitable; no orders, no coument could now move him He understood that he was about to die, and he had prepared himself All I could hope for was that he had mistaken the temper of the council; that the insolence of a revolted nation daring to present a sacheht be condoned, even applauded by those who cherished in their dark hearts, locked, the splendid hu, no prophesying what action a house divided ht take, what attitude a people ht to frenzy by fraternal conflict, ht assuh, brother ht be looked for from the fierce, proud people whose Confederacy was steadily crues had gone roaring up into flaers, his Continentals, and his Oneidas, passed over their lands in fire!