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I folded my arms and stared at the Mohawks
"Clan ties are close, national ties closer, but strongest and closest of all, the six iron links that forue! Why do you punish no can you punish now? Is it well to break the oldest League law to punish those who have broken the law of the League?"
A Mohawk sacheue itself was broken; but ere he could finish I stopped hi allthat the Great League was broken, glorying in its endurance, calling on every nation to uphold it And instantly, although not a muscle moved nor a as uttered, I felt that I had the council withthehed at the neutrality of the Tuscaroras, at the half-hearted attitude of the Onondagas; I reater portion of the Oneida nation
"It is a passing fancy, a whim The battle-breeze fro the Long House, scattering you for the n to the traditions of the Iroquois I tell you to let the tea, nor Oneida And when the storain fro House a new roof, and raise new lodge-poles, lest the sky fall down and the Confederacy lie in ashes forever!"
I had ended A profound hush followed, broken by a loord of approval, then another, then another Excited, scarcely knohat I had done, incredulous that I alone had actually stemmed the tide, and, in a breath, overturned the entire plan of the Butlers and of the demoralized Iroquois, I seatedheavily, alert for a sound that ue had been received
Muttered expressions of approval, an emphatic word here and there, and not an orator to dispute h, until the clans had deliberated, I could not know the Federal verdict But gradually it dawned on me that I had at least stopped themyself With a thrill of joy I heard the Seneca spokesman call for the youth to be raised in place of the dead chief; with a long-drawn breath of relief I saw the ancient belts brought, and listened to the reading of the archives from them