Within the limits of the settlement were several Indian villages.  Here the light-hearted French-Canadian smoked his pipe and told his story, and the friendly Indian supplied him with game and joined in his merry-making.

In the year 1760, Detroit was taken possession of by the English.  The Indians hated the English, as much as they had loved the French.

Pontiac, the ruling spirit of the forests at this time, was a most powerful and statesmanlike chief.  When he found that his friends, the French, had lost their power, he sought to unite the Indian tribes against the English colonies, and to destroy the English garrison at Detroit by strategy.

He was chief of the Ottawas, but possessed great influence over several other tribes.  Pontiac believed, and that truly, that the establishment of English colonies would be fatal to the interests of the Indian race.

He strode through the forests like a giant, inciting the tribes to war.  He urged a union of all the Indian nations from the lakes to the Mississippi for the common defense of the race.

There lived near Detroit a beautiful Indian girl, called Catharine.  The English commander, Gladwyn, was pleased with her, and showed her many favors, and she formed a warm friendship for him.

One lovely day in May, this girl came to the fort and brought Gladwyn a pair of elk-skin moccasins.  She appeared very sad.

“Catharine,” said Gladwyn, “what troubles you to-day?”

She did not answer at once.  There was a silent struggle going on in her heart.  She had formed a strong attachment for the white people, and she was also devoted to her own race.

“To-morrow,” she said at length, “Pontiac will come to the fort with sixty of his chiefs.  Each will be armed with a gun, which will be cut short and hidden under his blanket.  The chief will ask to hold a council.  He will then make a speech, and offer a belt of wampum as a peace-offering.

“As soon as he holds up the belt, the chiefs will spring up and shoot the officers, and the Indians outside will attack the English.  Every Englishman will be killed.  The French inhabitants will be spared.”

Gladwyn made immediate preparations to avoid the danger which threatened them.  The soldiers were put under arms.  Orders were given to have them drawn up in line on the arrival of the Indians the following day.

The next morning Indian canoes approached the fort from the eastern shores.  They contained Pontiac and his sixty chiefs.  At ten o’clock the chiefs marched to the fort, in fantastic procession.  Each wore a colored blanket, and was painted, plumed, or in some way gaily ornamented.

As Pontiac entered the fort, a glance showed him that his plot was discovered.  He passed in amazement through glittering rows of steel, he made a speech, expressing friendship; but he did not dare to lift the wampum belt which was to have been the signal for attack.  He was allowed to depart peaceably.