Page 179 (1/1)

Suddenly the sonorous voice of the Seneca broke the silence, pronouncing the opening words of the most sacred rite of the Iroquois people: "Now to-day I have been greatly startled by your voice co----"

The deep, solemn tones of the ancient chant fell on the silence like the notes of a sad bell It was, then, to be a double rite Which nation aer brothers mourned a chief? I looked at the Oneida beside me; his proud s hih he were already dead!

The Seneca's voice was sounding in my ears: "Now, therefore, you who are our friends of the Wolf Clan----" I scarcely heard him Presently the "Salute" rolled forth fro the "Karenna"

I laid my hand on the Oneida's wrist; his pulse was cal roll of the dead was called: "Continue to listen, Thou ert ruler, Hiawatha! Continue to listen, Thou ert ruler: That was the roll of you-- You who began it-- You who coue!-- Continue to listen, Thou ert ruler: That was the roll of you----"

The deep cadence of the chanting grew to a thunderous sound; name after na response swelled, cul in a hollow shout Then a pause, and the soleloom

For ten fullof the sas, cast aside his blanket, faced the circle, dark, lean ar words of the Younger Nations: "Yo o-nen o-nen wen-ni-teh onen----"

"No this day--now I come to your door where you mourn I will enter your door and come before the ashes and mourn with you there And these words will I speak to comfort you!"

The music of the voice thrilled me: "To the warriors, to the women, and also to the children; and also to the little ones creeping on the ground, and also to those still tied to the cradle-board This we say, we three brothers

"Now another thing ill say, we younger brothers You mourn I will clear the sky for you so that you shall not behold a cloud And also I give the sun to shine upon you, so that you can look peacefully upon it when it goes down You shall see it when it is going Yea, ye shall look peacefully upon it when it goes down