I called across the stream to the Indian: "Who are you, brother? What is your nation and what is your clan, and what are you doing on the Sacandaga, with your face painted in black and yellow bars, and fresh oil on your limbs and lock?" He said, in his quiet but distinct voice: "My nation is Oneida; my clan is the Tortoise; I am Tahioni. I am a young and inexperienced warrior. No scalp yet hangs from my girdle. I come as a friend. I come as my brother's ally. This is the reason that I seek my brother on the Sacandaga. Hiero! Tahioni has spoken." And he quietly folded his arms. He was a magnificent youth, quite perfect in limb and body, and as light of skin as the Mohawks, who are often nearly white, even when pure breed. He stood unarmed, except for the knife and war-axe swinging from crimson-beaded sheaths at his cincture. Still, I did not rise or show myself, and my rifle lay level with his belly. I said, in as good Oneida as I could muster: "Young Oneida warrior, I have listened to what you have had to say. I have heard you patiently, oh Tahioni, my brother of the great Oneida nation who wears an _Onondaga name_!" For Tahioni means _The Wolf_ in Onondaga dialect. There was a silence, broken by Nick's low voice from somewhere behind me: "Shall I shoot the Onondaga dog?" "Will you mind your business?" I retorted sharply. The Oneida had smiled slightly at my sarcasm concerning his name; his eyes rested on the rock behind which I lay snug, stock against cheek. "I am Tahioni," he repeated simply. "My mother's clan is the Onondaga Tortoise." Which explained his clan and name, of course, if his father was Oneida. "I continue to listen," said I warily. "Tahioni has spoken," he said; and calmly seated himself. For a moment I remained silent, yet still dared not show myself. "Is my brother alone?" I asked at last. "Two Oneida youths and my adopted sister are with me, brother." "Where are they?" "They are here." "Let them show themselves," said I, instantly bitten by suspicion. Two young men and a girl came calmly from the thicket and stood on the bank. All carried blanket and rifle. At a sign from Tahioni, all three laid their blankets at their feet and placed their rifles across them. One, a stocky, powerful youth, spoke first: "I am Kwiyeh.[5] My clan is the Oneida Tortoise." The other young fellow said: "Brother, I am Hanatoh,[6] of the Oneida Tortoise." [Footnote 5: The Screech-Owl.] [Footnote 6: The Water-Snake.] Then they calmly seated themselves. I rose from my cover, my rifle in the hollow of my left arm. Nick came from his bed of juniper and stood looking very hard at the Oneidas across the stream. Save for the girl, all were naked except for breech-clout, sporran, and ankle moccasins; all were oiled and in their paint, and their heads shaven, leaving only the lock. There could be no doubt that this was a war party. No doubt, also, that they could have slain me very easily where I sat, had they wished to do so.