 individual, including even the
women and children, was in his place. The delay had been created by the grave
preparations that were deemed necessary to so solemn and unusual a conference.
But, when the sun was seen climbing above the tops of that mountain, against
whose bosom the Delawares had constructed their encampment, most were seated;
and as his bright rays darted from behind the outline of trees that fringed the
eminence, they fell upon as grave, as attentive, and as deeply interested a
multitude, as was probably ever before lighted by his morning beams. Its number
somewhat exceeded a thousand souls.
    In a collection of so serious savages, there is never to be found any
impatient aspirant after premature distinction, standing ready to move his
auditors to some hasty, and, perhaps, injudicious discussion, in order that his
own reputation may be the gainer. An act of so much precipitancy and
presumption, would seal the downfall of precocious intellect for ever. It rested
solely with the oldest and most experienced of the men to lay the subject of the
conference before the people. Until such a one chose to make some movement, no
deeds in arms, no natural gifts, nor any renown as an orator, would have
justified the slightest interruption. On the present occasion, the aged warrior
whose privilege it was to speak, was silent, seemingly oppressed with the
magnitude of his subject. The delay had already continued long beyond the usual,
deliberative pause, that always precedes a conference; but no sign of
impatience, or surprise, escaped even the youngest boy. Occasionally, an eye was
raised from the earth, where the looks of most were riveted, and strayed towards
a particular lodge, that was, however, in no manner distinguished from those
around it, except in the peculiar care that had been taken to protect it against
the assaults of the weather.
    At length, one of those low murmurs that are so apt to disturb a multitude,
was heard, and the whole nation arose to their feet by a common impulse. At that
instant, the door of the lodge in question opened, and three men issuing from
it, slowly approached the place of consultation. They were all aged, even beyond
that period to which the oldest present had reached; but one in the centre, who
leaned on his companions for support, had numbered an amount of years, to which
the human race is seldom permitted to attain. His frame, which had once been
tall and erect, like the cedar, was now bending under the pressure of more than
a century. The elastic, light step
