While paddling along he noticed that man tiny black, purple, and white shells clung to his paddle.

Reaching the shore he found such shells in long rows upon the beach, and it occurred to him to use them for the depiction of thought according to color.

He strung them on threads of elm bark, and afterward, when the great league was formed, the shells were made to represent five clasped hands.

For four hundred years the wampum belts have been sacred among the Iroquois.
Now Thayendanegea gave the wampum belts back to the attendant, who returned them to Satekariwate, the Mohawk.

There was a silence once more, and then the chosen singer began the Consoling Song again, but now he did not sing it alone.