Page:Myths of the Iroquois.djvu/73

RMiTH ] will go through the valley. We will meet on the mountain at dusk." So they parted, and Ga-geh-djo-wg., remembering his way, 8i>ed where he guessed he should find some of his old tribe. He fotind, as he expected, a family he knew. In hurried words he explained to them their danger: " The treacherous Illinois are upon you. Warn all the tribe of Senecas: bid them come early and hide along the range above the valley. I will be there with a heron's plume on my crest, and when I stumble it is the signal for the Senecas to attack. Go and tell the word of Gageh-djo-wa. He is true."

Returning to the appointed spot he reported that he had seen nothing, and hastened back to the camp. Then he said: "I remember these hills. I know where the Senecas hide. Give me the bravest warrioi-s and we will go ahead. I can track them to their hiding place. Seel there below rises the smoke of their wigwams. Send two warriors after us at a short distance. We will surprise the Senecas."

Early morning saw the camp in activity, every warrior panting for the scalps he yearned to procure. Little they dreamed that already five hundred Senecas awaited them- in the valley. The march commenced. As they entered the valley Ga-geh-djo-wa gazed anxiously around and delightedly caught sight of a face among the bushes. Now he knew the Senecas hM heeded him. He led his men forward ; then, pretend- ing to miss his footing, he fell. Instantly the war-cry sounded ; the Senecas rushed from their ambush, and he left his treacherous foes and rejoined his own people.

The slaughter was great. All the Illinois warriors but two in the rear were slain. Three hundred scalps revenged the treachery of the Illi- nois. Ga-geh-djo-wa was seized by the jubilant Senecas and borne in triumph to their settlement. Around the fires, as they displayed the scalps of their enemies, they listened to his recital of their cruelty, of his tortures, and of the woman's death. Never again did he leave them. He lived many years, the most esteemied warrior and chief of the Sen ecas, and when he died they buried him with the highest honors they knew, and have kept his name sacred in the legends of the tribe to this day.

An Indian traveler, tired of his uneventful journey, undertook to cre- ate an excitement after the following fashion : An old Indian custom is for runners, or those carrying important news, to announce the fact and gather the people together by crying, in singing tones, ''Goh-weh, goh-weh." This the traveler began doing, and when the crowd called upon him to stop and tell his news, he began, '* As I came through the last village the people were so delighted with my news that they all danced for joy, and shouted and kissed me." This he told so earnestly