oined　in　a　savage　dance　that　would　remain　forever　photographed　on　the　eye　of　Paul　Cotter。　　As　they　jumped　to　and　fro；　hundreds　of　them；　waving　aloft　tomahawks　and　scalping　knives；　both　of　which　dripped　red；　they　sang　their　wild　chant　of　war　and　triumph。　　White　men；　too；　as　savage　as　they；　joined　them。　　Paul　shuddered　again　and　again　from　head　to　foot　at　this　sight　of　an　orgy　such　as　the　mass　of　mankind　escapes；　even　in　dreams。
  The　darkness　thickened；　the　dance　grew　wilder。　　It　was　like　a　carnival　of　demons；　but　it　was　to　be　incited　to　a　yet　wilder　pitch。　　A　singular　figure；　one　of　extraordinary　ferocity；　was　suddenly　projected　into　the　midst　of　the　whirling　crowd；　and　a　chant；　shriller　and　fiercer；　rose　above　all　the　others。　　The　figure　was　that　of　Queen　Esther；　like　some　monstrous　creature　out　of　a　dim　past；　her　great　tomahawk　stained　with　blood；　her　eyes　bloodshot；　and　stains　upon　her　shoulders。　　Paul　would　have　covered　his　eyes　had　his　hands　not　been　tied　instead；　he　turned　his　head　away。　　He　could　not　bear　to　see　more。　　But　the　horrible　chant　came　to　his　ears；　nevertheless；　and　it　was　reinforced　presently　by　other　sounds　still　more　terrible。　　Fires　sprang　up　in　the　forest；　and　cries　came　from　these　fires。　　The　victorious　army　of　〃Indian〃　Butler　was　beginning　to　burn　the　prisoners　alive。　　But　at　this　point　we　must　stop。　　The　details　of　what　happened　around　those　fires　that　night　are　not　for　the　ordinary　reader。　　It　suffices　to　say　that　the　darkest　deed　ever　done　on　the　soil　of　what　is　now　the　United　States　was　being　enacted。
  Shif'less　Sol　himself；　iron　of　body　and　soul；　was　shaken。　　He　could　not　close　his　ears；　if　he　would；　to　the　cries　that　came　from　the　fires；　but　he　shut　his　eyes　to　keep　out　the　demon　dance。　　Nevertheless；　he　opened　them　again　in　a　moment。　　The　horrible　fascination　was　too　great。　　He　saw　Queen　Esther　still　shaking　her　tomahawk；　but　as　he　looked　she　suddenly　darted　through　the　circle；　warriors　willingly　giving　way　before　her；　and　disappeared　in　the　darkness。　　The　scalp　dance　went　on；　but　it　had　lost　some　of　its　fire　and　vigor。
  Shif'less　Sol　felt　relieved。
  〃She's　gone；〃　he　whispered　to　Paul；　and　the　boy；　too；　then　opened　his　eyes。　　The　rest　of　it；　the　mad　whirlings　and　jumpings　of　the　warriors；　was　becoming　a　blur　before　him；　confused　and　without　meaning。
  Neither　he　nor　Shif'less　Sol　knew　how　long　they　had　been　sitting　there　on　the　ground；　although　it　had　grown　yet　darker；　when　Braxton　Wyatt　thrust　a　violent　foot　against　the　shiftless　one　and　cried：
  〃Get　up！　　You're　wanted！〃
  A　half　dozen　Seneca　warriors　were　with　him；　and　there　was　no　chance　of　resistance。　　The　two　rose　slowly　to　their　feet；　and　walked　where　Braxton　Wyatt　led。　　The　Senecas　came　on　either　side；　and　close　behind　them；　tomahawks　in　their　hands。　　Paul；　the　sensitive；　who　so　often　felt　the　impression　of　coming　events　from　the　conditions　around　him；　was　sure　that　they　were　marching　to　their　fate。　　Death　he　did　not　fear　so　greatly；　although　he　did　not　want　to　die；　but　when　a　shriek　came　to　him　from　one　of　the　fires　that　convulsive　shudder　shook　him　again　from　head　to　foot。　　Unconsciously　he　strained　at　his　bound　arms；　not　for　freedom；　but　that　he　might　thrust　his　fingers　in　his　ears　and　shut　out　the　awful　sounds。　　Shif'less　Sol；　because　he　could　not　use　his　hands；　touched　his　shoulder　gently　against　Paul's。
  〃Paul；〃　he　whispered；　〃I　ain't　sure　that　we're　goin'　to　die；　leastways；　I　still　have　hope；　but　ef　we　do；　remember　that　we　don't　have　to　die　but　oncet。〃
  〃I'll　remember；　Sol；〃　Paul　whispered　back。
  〃Silence；　there！〃　exclaimed　Braxton　Wyatt。　　But　the　two　had　said　all　they　wanted　to　say；　and　fortunately　their　senses　were　somewhat　dulled。　　They　had　passed　through　so　much　that　they　were　like　those　who　are　under　the　influence　of　opiates。　　The　path　was　now　dark；　although　both　torches　and　fires　burned　in　the　distance。　　Presently　they　heard　that　chant　with　which　they　had　become　familiar；　the　dreadful　notes　of　the　hyena　woman；　and　they　knew　that　they　were　being　taken　into　her　presence；　for　what　purpose　they　could　not　tell；　although　they　were　sure　that　it　was　a　bitter　one。　　As　they　approached；　the　woman's　chant　rose　to　an　uncommon　pitch　of　frenzy；　and　Paul　felt　the　blood　slowly　chilling　within　him。
  〃Get　up　there！〃　exclaimed　Braxton　Wyatt；　and　the　Senecas　gave　them　both　a　push。　　Other　warriors　who　were　standing　at　the　edge　of　an　open　space　seized　them　and　threw　them　forward　with　much　violence。　　When　they　struggled　into　a　sitting　position；　they　saw　Queen　Esther　standing　upon　a　broad　flat　rock　and　whirling　in　a　ghastly　dance　that　had　in　it　something　Oriental。　　She　still　swung　the　great　war　hatchet　that　seemed　always　to　be　in　her　hand。　　Her　long　black　hair　flew　wildly　about　her　head；　and　her　red　dress　gleamed　in　the　dusk。　　Surely　no　more　terrible　image　ever　appeared　in　the　American　wilderness！　　In　front　of　her；　lying　upon　the　ground；　were　twenty　bound　Americans；　and　back　of　them　were　Iroquois　in　dozens；　with　a　sprinkling　of　their　white　allies。
  What　it　all　meant；　what　was　about　to　come　to　pass；　nether　Paul　nor　Shif'less　Sol　could　guess；　but　Queen　Esther　sang：
  We　have　found　them；　the　Yengees　　　Who　built　their　houses　in　the　valley；　　　They　came　forth　to　meet　us　in　battle；　　　Our　rifles　and　tomahawks　cut　them　down；　　　As　the　Yengees　lay　low　the　forest。　　　Victory　and　glory　Aieroski　gives　to　his　children；　　　The　Mighty　Six　Nations；　greatest　of　men。
  There　will　be　feasting　in　the　lodges　of　the　Iroquois；　　　And　scalps　will　hang　on　the　high　ridge　pole；　　　But　wolves　will　roam　where　the　Yengees　dwelt　　　And　will　gnaw　the　bones　of　them　all；　　　Of　the　man；　the　woman；　and　the　child。　　　Victory　and　glory　Aieroski　gives　to　his　children；　　　The　Mighty　Six　Nations；　greatest　of　men。
  Such　it　sounded　to　Shif'less　Sol；　who　knew　the　tongue　of　the　Iroquois；　and　so　it　went　on；　verse　after　verse；　and　at　the　end　of　each　verse　came　the　refrain；　in　which　the　warriors　joined：
  〃Victory　and　glory　Aieroski　gives　to　his　children。　The　mighty　Six　Nations；　greatest　of　men。〃
  〃What　under　the　sun　is　she　about？〃　whispered　Shif'less　Sol。
  〃It　is　a　fearful　face；〃　was　Paul's　only　reply。
  Suddenly　the　woman；　without　stopping　her　chant；　made　a　gesture　to　the　warriors。　　Two　powerful　Senecas　seized　one　of　the　bound　prisoners；　dragged　him　to　his　feet；　and　held　him　up　before　her。　　She　uttered　a　shout；　whirled　the　great　tomahawk　about　her　head；　its　blade　glittering　in　the　moonlight；　and　struck　with　all　her　might。　　The　skull　of　the　prisoner　was　cleft　to　the　chin；　and　without　a　cry　he　fell　at　the　feet　of　the　woman　who　had　killed　him。　　Paul　uttered　a　shout　of　horror；　but　it　was　lost　in　the　joyful　yells　of　the　Iroquois；　who；　at　the　command　of　the　woman；　offered　a　second　victim。　　Again　the　tomahawk　descended；　and　again　a　man　fell　dead　without　a　sound。
  Shif'less　Sol　and　Paul　wrenched　at　their　thongs；　but　they　could　not　move　them。　　Braxton　Wyatt　laughed　aloud。　　It　was　strange　to　see　how　fast　one　with　a　bad　nature　could　fall　when　the　opportunities　were　spread　before　him。　　Now　he　was　as　cruel　as　the　Indians　themselves。　　Wilder　and　shriller　grew　the　chant　of　the　savage　queen。　　She　was　intoxicated　with　blood。　　She　saw　it　everywhere。　　Her　tomahawk　clove　a　third　skull；　a　fourth；　a　fifth；　a　sixth；　a　seventh；　and　eighth。　　As　fast　as　they　fell　the　warriors　at　her　command　brought　up　new　victims　for　her　weapon。　　Paul　shut　his　eyes；　but　he　knew　by　the　sounds　what　was　passing。　　Suddenly　a　stern　voice　cried：
  〃Hold；　woman！　　Enough　of　this！　　Will　your　tomahawk　never　be　satisfied？〃
  Paul　understood　it　；　the　meaning；　but　not　the　words。　　He　opened　his　eyes　and　saw　the　great　figure　of　Timmendiquas　striding　forward；　his　hand　upraised　in　protest。
  The　woman　turned　her　fierce　gaze　upon　the　young　chief。　　〃Timmendiquas；〃　she　said；　〃we　are　the　Iroquois；　and　we　are　the　masters。　　You　are　far　from　your　own　land；　a　guest　in　our　lodges；　and　you　cannot　tell　those　who　have　won　the　victory　how　they　shall　use　it。　　Stand　back！〃
  A　loud　laugh　came　from　the　Iroquois。　　The　fierce　old　chiefs；　Hiokatoo　and　Sangerachte；　and　a　dozen　warriors　thrust　themselves　before　Timmendiquas。　　The　woman　resumed　her　chant；　and　a　hundred　throats　pealed　out　with　her　the　chorus：
  Victory　and　glory　Aieroski　gives　to　his　children　The　mighty　Six　Nations；　greatest　of　men。
  She　gave　the　signal　anew。　　The　ninth　victim　stood　before　her；　and　then　fell；　cloven　to　the　chin；　then　the　tenth；　and　the　eleventh；　and　the　twelfth；　and　the　thirteenth；　and　the　fourteenth；　and　the　fifteenth；　and　the　sixteenth…sixteen　bound　men　killed　by　one　woman　in　less　than　fifteen　minutes。　　The　four　in　that　group　who　were　left　had　all　the　while　been　straining　fearfully　at　their　bonds。　　Now　they　bad　slipped　or　broken　them；　and；　springing　to　their　feet；　driven　on　by　the　mightiest　of　human　impulses；　they　dashed　through　the　ring　of　Iroquois　and　into　the　forest。　　Two　were　hunted　down　by　the　warriors　and　killed；　but　the　other　two；　Joseph　Elliott　and　Lebbeus　Hammond；　escaped　and　lived　to　be　old　men；　feeling　that　life　could　never　again　hold　for　them　anything　so　dreadful　as　that　scene　at　〃The　Bloody　Rock。〃
  A　great　turmoil　and　confusion　arose　as　the　prisoners　fled　and　the　Indians　pursued。　　Paul　and　Shif'less　Sol；　full　of　sympathy　and　pity　for　the　fugitives　and　hav