Now and then a warrior would leap up and begin a chant telling of some glorious deed of his.

Those at his own fire would listen, but elsewhere they took no notice.
In the largest open space a middle-aged Onondaga with a fine face suddenly uttered a sharp cry: "Hehmio!" which he rapidly repeated twice.
Two score voices instantly replied, "Heh!" and a rush was made for him.
At least a hundred gathered around him, but they stood in a respectful circle, no one nearer than ten feet.

He waved his hand, and all sat down on the ground.

Then, he, too, sat down, all gazing at him intently and with expectancy.
He was a professional story-teller, an institution great and honored among the tribes of the Iroquois farther back even than Hiawatha.

He began at once the story of the warrior who learned to talk with the deer and the bear, carrying it on through many chapters.