I like him, and he
shall have the best our house can offer."
Colonel Johnson's mellow laugh rang out again.
"Spoken like a woman of spirit, Molly," he said. "I expected none the
less of you. It's in the blood of the Ganeagaono and had you answered
otherwise you would have been unworthy of your cousin, Daganoweda,
here."
The young Mohawk chieftain smiled. Johnson, who had married a girl of
their race, could jest with the Mohawks almost as he pleased, and
among themselves and among those whom they trusted the Indians were
fond of joking and laughter.
"The wife of Waraiyageh not only has a great chief for a husband," he
said, "but she is a great chief herself. Among the Wyandots she would
be one of the rulers."
The women were the governing power in the valiant Wyandot nation, and
Daganoweda could pay his cousin no higher compliment.
"We talk much," said Colonel Johnson, "but we must remember that our
friends are tired. They've come afar in bad weather. We must let them
rest now and give them refreshment."
He led the way to the light summer house that he had called a
bower. It was built of poles and thatch, and was open on the eastern
side, where it faced a fine creek running with a strong current.
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