166 BRADSTREET'S ARMY ON THE LAKES. [1764. 



the ground, and closely covering them with hides. 

 With the arrival of night, the propitious time for 

 consulting their oracle, all the warriors assembled 

 in the spacious wigwam, half lighted by the lurid 

 glare of fires, and waited, in suspense and awe, the 

 issue of the invocation. The medicine man, or 

 magician, stripped almost naked, now entered the 

 central tabernacle, which was barely large enough 

 to receive him, and carefully closed the aperture. 

 At once the whole structure began to shake with a 

 violence which threatened its demolition ; and a 

 confusion of horrible sounds, shrieks, howls, yells, 

 and moans of anguish, mingled with articulate 

 words, sounded in hideous discord from within. 

 This outrageous clamor, which announced to the 

 horror-stricken spectators the presence of a host 

 of evil spirits, ceased as suddenly as it had begun. 

 A low% feeble sound, like the whine of a young 

 puppy, was next heard within the recess ; upon 

 which the warriors raised a cry of joy, and hailed 

 it as the voice of the Great Turtle — the spirit 

 who never lied. The magician soon announced 

 that the spirit was ready to answer any question 

 which might be proposed. On this, the chief 

 warrior stepped forward ; and, having propitiated 

 the Great Turtle by a present of tobacco thrust 

 through a small hole in the tabernacle, inquired if 

 the English were in reality preparing to attack the 

 Indians, and if the troops were already come to 

 Niagara. Once more the tabernacle was violently 

 shaken, a loud yell w^as heard, and it was apparent 

 to all that the spirit was gone. A pause of anxious 



