The guests, to the number of several hundred naked and painted warriors were assembled.

The feast was declared to be ready; a great iron pot or kettle occupied the centre of the tent.

According to the custom of the Indians, the father of the bridegroom was invited to lift the most important dish from the pot, whilst the warriors commenced their wardance around him.

This dish was usually a bear's head, which was fastened to a string left for the purpose of raising it from the pot.
"Let the Black Snake, the great chief of the Mohawks, draw up the head and set it on the table, that his people may eat and make merry, and that his wise heart may be glad;" were the scornful words of the Bald Eagle.
A yell of horror burst from the lips of the horror-stricken father, as he lifted to view the fresh and gory head of his only son, the _happy_ bridegroom of the lovely daughter of the Ojebwa chief.
"Ha!" shouted the Bald Eagle, "is the great chief of the Mohawks a squaw, that his blood grows white and his heart trembles at the sight of his son, the bridegroom of the Beam of the Morning?
The Bald Eagle gave neither sigh nor groan when he plunged the knife into the heart of his child.

Come, brother, take the knife; taste the flesh and drink the blood of thy son: the Bald Eagle shrank not when you bade him partake of the feast that was prepared from his young warrior's body." The wretched father dashed himself upon the earth, while his cries and howlings rent the air; those cries were answered by the war-whoop of the ambushed Ojebwas, as they sprang to their feet, and with deafening yells attacked the guests, who, panic-stricken, naked and defenceless, fell an easy prey to their infuriated enemies.