evidently believed the story, for he gave them ’two casks of rum, some paint and money to make up their loss,’ and they left him well satisfied.  On Lake Erie, stories of the hostility of the Indians multiplied.  They were ready to revolt; even before leaving Niagara, Johnson had it on good authority that the Indians ’were certainly determined to rise and fall on the English,’ and that ’several thousands of the Ottawas and other nations’ had agreed to join the dissatisfied member ’of the Six Nations in this scheme or plot.’  But Johnson kept on his way, confident that he could allay dissatisfaction and win all the nations to friendship.

When Sir William reached Detroit on September 3 he was welcomed by musketry volleys from the Indians and by cannon from the fort.  His reputation as the great superintendent of Indian Affairs, the friend of the red man, had gone before him, and he was joyously received, and at once given quarters in the house of the former commandant of Detroit, Beletre.  On the day following his arrival the Wyandots and other Indians, with their priest, Father Pierre Potier (called Pottie by Johnson), waited on him.  He treated them royally, and gave them pipes and tobacco and a barbecue of a large ox roasted whole.  He found the French inhabitants most friendly, especially Pierre Chesne, better known as La Butte, the interpreter of the Wyandots, and St Martin, the interpreter of the Ottawas.  The ladies of the settlement called on him, and were regaled ’with cakes, wine and cordial.  He was hospitably entertained by the officers and settlers, and in return gave several balls, at which, it appears, he danced with ‘Mademoiselle Curie—­a fine girl.’  This vivacious lady evidently made an impression on the susceptible Irishman; for after the second ball—­’there never was so brilliant an affair’ at Detroit before—­he records in his private diary:  ’Promised to write Mademoiselle Curie my sentiments.’

While at Niagara on his journey westward Johnson had been joined by Major Henry Gladwyn, to whom Amherst had assigned the duty of garrisoning the western forts and taking over in person the command of Fort Detroit.  Gladwyn had left Niagara a day or two in advance of Johnson, but on the way to his new command he had been seized with severe fever and ague and totally incapacitated for duty.  On Johnson fell the task of making arrangements for the still unoccupied posts.  He did the work with his customary promptitude and thoroughness, and by September 10 had dispatched men of Gage’s Light Infantry and of the Royal Americans from Detroit for Michilimackinac, Green Bay, and St Joseph.