The same warriors on
the hunt or the war path would go for days without food, enduring
every manner of hardship. Now and then a warrior would leap up
and begin a chant telling of some glorious deed of his. Those at
his own fire would listen, but elsewhere they took no notice.
In the largest open space a middle-aged Onondaga with a fine face
suddenly uttered a sharp cry: " Hehmio!" which he rapidly
repeated twice. Two score voices instantly replied, "Heh!" and a
rush was made for him. At least a hundred gathered around him,
but they stood in a respectful circle, no one nearer than ten
feet. He waved his hand, and all sat down on the ground. Then,
he, too, sat down, all gazing at him intently and with
expectancy.
He was a professional story-teller, an institution great and
honored among the tribes of the Iroquois farther back even than
Hiawatha. He began at once the story of the warrior who learned
to talk with the deer and the bear, carrying it on through many
chapters. Now and then a delighted listener would cry " Hah!"
but if anyone became bored and fell asleep it was considered an
omen of misfortune to the sleeper, and he was chased
ignominiously to his tepee.
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