side. Black Snake's arrows are true, and the cries of our enemies will
fill the forest, while every squaw can deck her lodge with scalps."

With an appealing glance at the circle of Chiefs, Black Snake modestly
retired and they held their talk.

According to their customs, captives were either adopted by the captors
and enjoyed all of the rights and privileges of the tribe and
confederacy, or sentenced to death, attended by all of the horrors of
savage torture. If adopted, the nation knew no difference between her
own or adopted children. In the former council by the falling waters the
Chiefs had concluded to adopt Grey Eagle and his braves; therefore the
women had an undisputed right to select him as one of the candidates for
War Eagle's successor, which nomination was ratified by the Chiefs. The
women being undecided between the rival candidates, left the final
decision as before mentioned, to skill or chance. It was more through
chance than skill that Grey Eagle won, for both were well-drilled,
powerful warriors. But he had fairly won the two prizes, and the
conclusion the Chiefs came to was this:

Their great Manitou had evidently sent him to them for some wise
purpose. A human sacrifice must be made, as had long been their custom,
for the Manitou's good gifts and to redeem Black Snake from the power of
the evil one, this sacrifice must be made while the moon was the
brightest, which was the present time. It was that the bright light
might more fully reveal the brilliant path of the just. As those sent as
an offering to the Manitou would go direct to the happy home above,
freed from all trouble forever, when the selection was once made they
would become reconciled, and make themselves believe it a great favor
bestowed and cause of rejoicing. The subject for the sacrifice was most