They could not
recall another time when they had secured so many of these
hideous trophies, and they were drunk with the joy of victory.
Many of the Tories, some in their own clothes, and some painted
and dressed like Indians, took part in it.
According to their ancient and honored custom they held a grand
council to prepare for it. All the leading chiefs were present,
Sangerachte, Hiokatoo, and the others. Braxton Wyatt,
Blackstaffe, and other white men were admitted. After their
deliberations a great fire was built in the center of the camp,
the squaws who had followed the army feeding it with brushwood
until it leaped and roared and formed a great red pyramid. Then
the chiefs sat down in a solemn circle at some distance, and
waited.
Presently the sound of a loud chant was heard, and from the
farthest point of the camp emerged a long line of warriors,
hundreds and hundreds of them, all painted in red and black with
horrible designs. They were naked except the breechcloth and
moccasins, and everyone waved aloft a tomahawk as he sang.
Still singing and brandishing the tomahawks, which gleamed in the
red light, the long procession entered the open space, and danced
and wheeled about the great fire, the flames casting a lurid
light upon faces hideous with paint or the intoxication of
triumph.
Pages:
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264