"Thanks, Chief," the young man said with a sigh of relief; "forgive this start of terror which I could not overcome, but on perceiving you I feared lest some misfortune bad happened." "A son must love his mother: my brother's feeling is natural; it comes from the Wacondah. When I left the Village of Flowers, the old greyhead, the companion of my brother's mother, wished to start with me." "Poor ño Eusabio," the young man muttered, "he is so devoted to us." "The Sachems would not consent; greyhead is necessary to my brother's mother." "They were right, Chief; I thank them for retaining him. Have you followed my trail from the village?" "I did." "Why did you not awake me on your arrival?" "Loyal Heart was asleep. Black-deer did not wish to trouble his sleep: he waited." "Good! my brother is a Chief; he acted as he thought advisable." "Black-deer is intrusted with a message from the Sachems to Loyal Heart. He wishes to smoke the calumet in council with him." "Are the reasons that have brought my brother here urgent?" "They are." "Good! my brother can speak, I am listening." Tranquil rose, and threw his rifle over his shoulder. "Where is the hunter going?" the Indian asked. "While you tell Loyal Heart the message I will take a stroll in the forest." "The white hunter will remain; the heart of Black-deer has nothing hidden from him. The wisdom of my brother is great; he was brought up by the Redskins; his place is marked out at the council fire." "But perhaps you have things to tell Loyal Heart which only concern yourselves." "I have nothing to say which my brother should not hear; my brother will disoblige me by withdrawing." "I will remain, then, Chief, since such is the case." While saying these words, the hunter resumed his seat, and said: "Speak, Chief, I am listening." The methodical Indian drew out his calumet, and, to display the importance of the commission with which he was entrusted, instead of filling it with ordinary tobacco, he placed in it _morhichee_, or sacred tobacco, which he produced from a little parchment bag he took from the pouch all Indians wear when travelling, and which contains their medicine bag, and the few articles indispensable for a long journey. When the calumet was filled, he lit it from a coal he moved from the fire by the aid of a medicine rod, decorated with feathers and bills. These extraordinary preparations led the hunters to suppose that Black-deer was really the bearer of important news, and they prepared to listen to him with all proper gravity. The Sachem inhaled two or three whiffs of smoke, then passed the calumet to Tranquil, who, after performing the same operation, handed it to Loyal Heart. The calumet went the round thus, until all the tobacco was consumed.