wo of the players, one from each side, chosen for strength and
dexterity, advanced. They hooked the ball together in their united bats
and thus raised it aloft, until the bats were absolutely perpendicular.
Then with a quick, jerking motion they shot it upward. Much might
be gained by this first shot or stroke, but on this occasion the two
players were equal, and it shot almost absolutely straight into the air.
The nearest groups made a rush for it, and the fray began.

Not all played at once, as the crowd was so great, but usually twenty or
thirty on each side struck for the ball, and when they became exhausted
or disabled were relieved by similar groups. All eventually came into
action.

The game was played with the greatest fire and intensity, assuming
sometimes the aspect of a battle. Blows with the formidable sticks were
given and received. Brown skins were streaked with blood, heads were
cracked, and a Cayuga was killed. Such killings were not unusual in
these games, and it was always considered the fault of the man who fell,
due to his own awkwardness or unwariness. The body of the dead Cayuga
was taken away in disgrace.

All day long the contest was waged with undiminished courage and zeal,
party relieving party. The meadow and the surrounding forest resounded
with the shouts and yells of combatants and spectators. The old squaws
were in a perfect frenzy of excitement, and their shrill screams of
applause or condemnation rose above every other sound.

On this occasion, as the contest did not last longer than one day, the
chiefs never cut down the score of the leading side. The game closed
at sunset, with the Senecas and Onondagas triumphant, and richer by far
than they were in the morning. The Mohawks and Cayugas retired, stripped
of their goods and crestfallen.

Timmendiquas and Thayendanegea, acting as umpires watched the game
closely to its finish, but not so the renegades Braxton Wyatt and
Blackstaffe. They and Quarles had wandered eastward with some Delawares,
and had afterward joined the band of Wyandots, though Timmendiquas gave
them no very warm welcome. Quarles had left on some errand a few days
before. They had rejoiced greatly at the trapping of the four, one by
one, in the deep bush. But they had felt anger and disappointment when
the fifth was not taken, also. Now both were concerned and alarmed over
the escape of Shif'less Sol in the night, and they drew apart from the
Indians to discuss it.