"Brother: We have heard. The Three Ensigns of our nation have heard."
(A belt.)
"Brother: We all bear patiently this great wrong done us by Colonel Cresap. We are patient because Sir William asks it of us. But under these tall pines around us lie hatchets, buried deep among the pine-trees' roots. See, brother! Our hands are clean. We have not dug in the earth for hatchets."
(A belt of seven.)
"Brother: We pray that our elder cousin, Lord Dunmore, will remove from us his agent Greathouse. We pray that no more spirits be sold to the Cayugas. We pray this because we cannot resist an offered cup. We pray this because we drink—and die. It is death to us, death to our children, death to our nation."
(A black belt.)
"Brother: Bear our belts to our Father, Sir William Johnson, and to our elder cousin, Lord Dunmore. Intercede with them that they may heed our prayers."
(A bunch of three.)
"Brother: Depart in health and honour, bearing these sacred belts of peace—"
A frightful scream cut him short; scream after scream arose from the hidden lodges.