Whatever this religious ceremony--for such I supposed it to be--may have symbolized, it was finally concluded by the entire party uniting in a fierce chant.

As grim silence settled once more throughout the black interior, the old war-chief, appearing taller than ever in the weird light, and rendered peculiarly repulsive by the bandages wrapping his wounds, rose to his feet, commencing an impassioned address.
No word spoken was intelligible to us, yet I knew so well the nature and customs of savages as to experience little difficulty in deciding the purpose of this harangue.

Without doubt the fellow demanded an immediate sacrifice in payment for the loss inflicted on their tribe.
With this conception as guide I noted his continually pointing toward us, one after another, as if singling us out as special subjects for denunciation, perhaps for torture, as with each he seemed to associate a peculiar term, repeating it again and again with changing cadence, as if thus to force its dread significance more firmly home into the minds of his listeners.

The word I distinguished most frequently had the sound "_ca-tah_," which became associated in my thought as some special form of torture to which he desired us sentenced.

Nor did I fail to remark in this connection, my every faculty alert and strained to grasp the slightest revealment, that, whenever the orator's baleful glance rested upon the shrinking woman, his lips uttered another word, his silent audience nodding as though in assent to each demand.
One followed another, no doubt in accordance with rank.