Also he might have meant to say that their short, querulous cawing betrayed the presence of Seneca Indians in ambush.
"Or a Mountain Snake," repeated the Siwanois, with a perfectly blank face.

"The red door of the West is still open." "Or a bear," said the Grey-Feather, cunningly slurring the Canienga word and swallowing the last syllable so that it might possibly have meant "Mohawk." The Wyandotte turned good-humouredly to the Mohican, not pretending to misunderstand this subtle double entendre and play upon words.
"You, Sagamore of the Loups," he said, carrying out the metaphor, "are closer to the four-footed people than are we Wyandottes." "That is true," said the Grey-Feather.

"My elder brother, the Black-Snake, wears the two-legged hawk." Which, again, if it was meant that way, hinted that the Hawk was an alien clan, and neither recognized nor understood by the Oneida.

Also, by addressing the Wyandotte as "elder" brother, the Oneida conveyed a broad hint of blood relationship between Huron and Seneca.

Yet, there need have been nothing definitely offensive in that hint, because among all the nations a certain amalgamation always took place after an international conflict.
The Wyandotte did not lose his temper, nor even, apparently, perceive how slyly he was being baited by all except myself.
"What is the opinion of the Loup, O Sagamore ?" he asked lightly.
"Does my brother the Black-Snake desire to know the Sagamore's opinion concerning the cawing of yonder crows ?" The Wyandotte inclined his ugly head.
"I think," said the Mohican deliberately, "that there may be a tree-cat in their vicinity." A dead silence followed.