The three, each in turn, made suitable replies, and Robert, his gift of golden speech moving him, spoke a little longer than the others.  He made a free use of metaphor and allegory, telling how dear were the prosperity and happiness of the Hodenosaunee to his soul, and he felt every word he said.  Charged with the thoughts and impressions of an Iroquois, the fourteen chiefs were the quintessence of dignity and importance to him, and when they smiled and nodded approval of his youthful effort his heart was lifted up.  Then he, Tayoga and Willet bowed low to these men who in very truth were the keepers of the council fire of the Hodenosaunee, and whose word might sway the destinies of North America, and, bowing, passed on that they might rest in the Long House, as became three great warriors who had valiantly done their duty in the forest when confronted by their enemies, and who had come to do another and sacred duty in the vale of Onondaga.

Young warriors were their escort into one of the great log houses, which in their nature were much like the community houses found at a later day in the far southwest.  The building they entered was a full hundred and twenty feet in length and about forty feet broad, and it had five fires, each built in the center of its space.  The walls and roof were of poles thatched with bark, and there were no windows, but over each fire was a circular opening in the roof where the air entered and the smoke went out.  If rain or storm came these orifices were covered with great pieces of bark.

On the long sides of the walls extended platforms about six feet wide, covered with furs and skins where the warriors slept.  Overhead was a bark canopy on top of which they placed their possessions.  About a dozen warriors were in the house, all lying down, but they rose and greeted the three.  Berths were assigned to them at once, food and water were brought, and Robert, weary from the long march, decided that he would sleep.

“I think I’ll do the same,” said Willet, “and then we’ll be fresh for what’s coming.  Tayoga, I suppose, will want to see his kin first.”

Tayoga nodded, and presently disappeared.  Then Robert and Willet took their places upon the bark platforms and were soon asleep, not awakening until the next morning when they went forth and found that the excitement in the valley had increased.  Tayoga came to them at once and told them that Sanundathawata, the council of repentance, was about to be held.  The dawn was just appearing, and as the sun rose the sachems of the Onondagas would proceed to the council grove and receive the sachems of the allied nations.

“You will wish to see the ceremony,” he said.

“Of course, of course!” said Robert, eagerly, who found that with the coming of a new day he was as much an Iroquois in spirit as ever.  Nor could he see that Willet was less keen about it and the three proceeded promptly to the council grove where a multitude was already hastening.  There was, too, a great buzz of talk, as the Iroquois here in the vale, the very heart of their country, did not show the taciturnity in which the red man so often takes refuge in the presence of the white.