and the customs of
the Ohio Valley Indians in this particular were very different from the
ways of those who inhabited the Great Plains.

Every boy, when he attained the age of eight, was left alone in the
forest for half a day with his face blackened. He was compelled to fast
throughout the time, and he must behave like a brave man, showing no
fear of the loneliness and silence. As he grew older these periods of
solitary fasting were increased in length, and now, at eighteen, several
boys in the Wyandot village had reached the last blackening and fasting.
The black paint was spread over the neophyte's face, and he was led by
his father far from the village to a solitary cabin or tent, where he
was left without weapons or food. It was known from his previous fasting
about how long he could stand it, and now the utmost test would be
applied.

The father, in some cases, would not return for three days, and then the
exhausted boy was taken back to the village, where his face was washed,
his head shaved, excepting the scalp lock, and plentiful food was put
before him. A small looking-glass, a bag of paint, and the rifle,
tomahawk, and knife of a warrior were given to him.

While these ceremonies were going on Henry lay in the prison lodge, and
he could not see the remotest chance of escape. He listened at night for
the friendly voice among the leaves, but he did not hear it.
Timmendiquas did not come again, and two old squaws, in place of Heno,
brought him his food and drink. He had no hope that the Wyandots would
spare him after his refusal to leave his own people and become an
Indian. He knew that their chivalry made no such demand upon them. The
hardest part of it all was to lie there and wait. He was like a man
condemned, but with no date set for the execution. He did not know when
they would come for him. But he believed that it would be soon, because
the Wyandots must leave presently to march on the great foray.

The fourth morning after the visit of Timmendiquas the young chief
returned. He was accompanied by Heno and Hainteroh, and the three
regarded the youth with great gravity. Henry, keen of intuition and a
reader of faces, knew that his time had come. What they had prepared for
him he did not know, but it must be something terrible. A shiver that
was of the spirit, but not of the muscles, ran through him. Torture and
death were no pleasant prospect to him who was so young and so strong,
and who felt so keen