Vinnie and Magua returned to the village.
They had caught plenty of fish.
Families were gathering for the Corn Festival dances.
Everyone was celebrating!
"Come, Vinnie, we must eat," said Magua.
Baskets of food were passed around.
"This is great!"
Vinnie bit into some corn bread.
He also had some corn soup and roasted corn.
He was so hungry!
Suddenly, Magua groaned.
He held his stomach.
"What's the matter?" asked Vinnie.
"I feel sick," Magua said weakly.
Clan Mother walked over to them.
"What's the matter, Magua?" she asked.
Vinnie explained.
"Call the healers," she ordered.
"Bring them to my house."
Inside the longhouse, Magua lay on a bed by the wall.
Soon, Vinnie heard strange noises.
People were shaking rattles and chanting.
"What's that?" he asked.
"The healers are here," Clan Mother said.
Vinnie heard scratching sounds at the door.
Clan Mother let them in.
People wearing ugly masks danced into the room.
Vinnie almost screamed.
The carved masks were scary.
A large tongue hung out of the mouth of one mask.
The healers called out in screeching voices and jumped around.
Vinnie was afraid.
But Magua did not look frightened.
He only looked sick.
The masked group came closer.
They threw ashes on Magua.
They leaned over him and chanted louder.
"Stay away! He's my friend!" Vinnie shouted.
At that moment, Mandy and Onatah came into the house.
Onatah held their corn husk doll.
"What's going on?" asked Mandy.
She saw the masked dancers around Vinnie and screamed.
"Don't touch him!" she cried.
Mandy ran and stood in front of her brother.
The dancers stopped.
They murmured to each other.
"Vinnie! Mandy!" Clan Mother was angry.
"You should never stop the healers!
It is our tradition.
It is how the sick get well."
Vinnie and Mandy were embarrassed.
"We're sorry," they apologized.
"Clan Mother," Magua called weakly.
He tried to sit up.
"I'm feeling better.
Maybe I ate too much corn bread."
He smiled weakly.
"Clan Mother, what are we to do?" asked one of the healers.
Clan Mother looked at Magua.
"He seems better," she replied.
"You have cured him.
Your magic is good."
The dancers left the house.
"We were very scared," Mandy said.
Clan Mother nodded and said:
"You do not understand the magic of the Iroquois.
That is why you fear."
"I don't know much about your people," said Vinnie.
"But Mandy and I would love to learn."
Clan Mother placed a hand over her heart.
"I will tell you how the Iroquois became the Five Nations.
It was through one man's journey for peace—Deganawidah.
Here is his story."