ened to the stake, and the fire kindled.
After suffering without flinching for a long time, he laughed at his
captors, and told them they did not know how to make an enemy eat fire.
He called for a pipe and tobacco. Excited by his bravery, they gave it to
him. He sat down on the burning coals, and commenced smoking with the
utmost composure; not a muscle of his countenance moved. Seeing this, one
of his captors sprang forward and cried out that he was a true warrior.
Though he had murdered many of their tribe, yet he should live, if the
fire had not spoiled him. The fire had, however, well nigh done its work.
With that, he declared that he was too brave a man to suffer any longer.
He seized a tomahawk and raised it over the head of the prisoner: still a
muscle did not move. He did not even change his posture. The blow was
given, and the brave warrior fell dead.

While among them, Boone also witnessed the mode in which, the Shawanese
make a treaty of peace. The warriors of both tribes between which the
treaty was to be made, met together first, ate and smoked in a friendly
way, and then pledged themselves in a sacred drink called _cussena_. The
Shawanese then waved large fans, made of eagles' tails, and danced. The
other party, after this, chose six of their finest young men, painted
them with white clay, and adorned their heads with swans' feathers; their
leader was then placed on what was called the "consecrated seat." After
this they all commenced dancing, and singing their song of peace. They
danced first in a bending posture; then stood upright, still dancing, and
bearing in their right hands their fans, while in their left they carried
a calabash, tied to a stick about a foot long, and with this continually
beat their breasts. During all this, some added to the noise by rattling
pebbles in a gourd. This being over, the peace was concluded. It was an
act of great solemnity, and no warrior was considered as well trained,
who did not know how to join in every part of it.

Many other strange things were seen by Boone among these people, but
these are enough to show you that he was among a strange people, with
habits very unlike his own. It is not wonderful that he sighed to escape,
when he looked upon their horrid tortures. Independently of his love for
Boonesborough, he did not know but that such tortures might be his at any
moment, when they became excited. Fortunately, as we have seen, he did
escape, and we will now