"Who are these Six Nations, whose name sounds so pow'ful big up
here?" asked Long Jim.

"Their name is as big as it sounds," replied Henry. They are the
Onondagas, the Mohawks, Oneidas, Senecas, Cayugas, and
Tuscaroras. They used to be the Five Nations, but the Tuscaroras
came up from the south and fought against them so bravely that
they were adopted into the league, as a new and friendly tribe.
The Onondagas, so I've heard, formed the league a long, long time
ago, and their head chief is the grand sachem or high priest of
them all, but the head chief of the Mohawks is the leading war
chief."

"I've heard," said Paul, "that the Wyandots are kinsmen of all
these tribes, and on that account they will listen with all the
more friendliness to Timmendiquas."

"Seems to me," said Tom Ross, "that we've got a most
tre-men-je-ous big job ahead."

"Then," said Henry, "we must make a most tremendous big effort."

"That's so," agreed all.

After that they spoke little. The last coals were covered up,
and the remainder of the food was put in their pouches. Then
they sat on the leaves, and every one meditated until such time
as he might have something worth saying. Henry's thoughts
traveled on a wide course, but they always came back to one