Hi-a-de-o-ni. said he, was the’father of the
late chief Young King. He was a Séneca warrior;
a man of great prowess* dexterity, and
swiftness of foot, and had established his reputation
for courage and skill, on many occasions.
He resolved, while thejSenecas were still living
on thé Genesèe river, to make an incursion alone
into the country of theCherokees. He plumed
himself with the idea, that-he could distinguish
himself in this daring adventure, and he prepared
for it, according to the custom of warriors;; They,
never encumber themselves with baggage. He
took nothing but his aim's, and the meal of a
little parched and pounded corn.* The forfeit
gave him his meat.
Hiadeoni reached the confines of the Cherokee
country in safety and alone. He waitetffor
evening before he entered the precincts of a vfr
lage. He found theqjeople' engaged in a dance.
He watched his Opportunity, * and when one of
the dancers went out from the ring into the
bushes, he despatched him with his hatchet. In
this way he killed two men that night, in the
skirts of the woods, without exciting alarm, and
took their scalps and retreated. It was late
when he came to a lodge, standing remote from
the rest, on his course homeward. Watching
here* he saw a young man come out, and killed
him as he had done the others, and took his
scalp. Looking into the lodge cautiously, he
*'One tablespoohfuf of' this minted with sugar arid writer
will sustain n warrior twenty-four hours without merit.
saw it empty, and ventured in with the hope of
find ing some tobacco and ammunition to serve
him on his way home.
While thus busied in searching the lodge, he
heard footsteps at the door, and immediately
threw himself on the bed from which the young
man had-, risen, and covered his face, feigning
sleep. They proved to be the footsteps of his
last victim’s mother. She, supposing him to be
her spn, whom she had h’short time before left
-lying there, said, “ My* spn, I am, going to such
a place, and will not beback till morning.” He
made a sui1 able -«response, and the o Ld woman
went out. Insensibly he fell asleep, and knew
nothing, till morning, ydren the first thing he
heard Was the- motheris voice. She, careful for
her son, was at the fireplace very early, pulling
some roasted squashes out of the. ashes, and after
putting them out, and telling him she left them
for him to eat, she went.away. He sprang up
instantly, and fled; but the early dawn had revealed
his inroad, and he was hotly pursued.
Light of foot, and having the start, he succeeded
in‘reachingand concealing himselfin a remote
piece of woods, where he laid till night, and then
pursued his way towards the Genesee, which, in
due time he reached, bringing his three Cherokee
scalps as trophies of his victory and prowess.
Such are, the traditionary facts which are yet
repeated by the Iroquois,, to console their national
pride in their decline. The incident reminds
one strongly of the classof daring personal