The Indian hesitated, uttering merely his quick ejaculatory “Ugh!” in expression of his surprise at so unexpected a requisition.  “The pale warrior, the friend of the Ottawa, is very sick,” he at length said; “but if the Great Spirit should give him back his voice before the chiefs come again to the council, the pale face will come too.  If my father does not see him then, he will know the friend of the Ottawa chief is very sick.”

The governor deemed it prudent not to press the question too closely, lest in so doing he should excite suspicion, and defeat his own object.  “When will the Ottawa and the other chiefs come again?” he asked; “and when will their warriors play at ball upon the common, that the Saganaw may see them and be amused?”

“When the sun has travelled so many times,” replied Ponteac, holding up three fingers of his left hand.  “Then will the Ottawa and the other chiefs bring their young warriors and their women.”

“It is too soon,” was the reply;. “the Saganaw must have time to collect their presents, that they may give them to the young warriors who are swiftest in the race, and the most active at the ball.  The great chief of the Ottawas, too, must let the settlers of the pale flag, who are the friends of the red skins, bring in food for the Saganaw, that a great feast may be given to the chiefs, and to the warriors, and that the Saganaw may make peace with the Ottawas and the other nations as becomes a great people.  In twice so many days,” holding up three of his fingers in imitation of the Indian, “the Saganaw will be ready to receive the chiefs in council, that they may smoke the pipe of peace, and bury the hatchet for ever.  What says the great chief of the Ottawas?”

“It is good,” was the reply of the Indian, his eye lighting up with deep and exulting expression.  “The settlers of the pale flag shall bring food to the Saganaw.  The Ottawa chief will send them, and he will desire his young men not to prevent them.  In so many days, then,” indicating with his fingers, “the great chiefs will sit again in council with the Saganaw, and the Ottawa chief will not be a fool to bring the pipe he does not want.”

With this assurance the conference terminated.  Ponteac raised his tall frame from the mat on which he had been squatted, nodded condescendingly to the governor, and strode haughtily into the square or area of the fort.  The other chiefs followed his example; and to Major Blackwater was again assigned the duty of accompanying them without the works.  The glance of the savages, and that of Ponteac in particular, was less wary than at their entrance.  Each seemed to embrace every object on which the eye could rest, as if to fix its position indelibly in his memory.  The young chief, who had been so suddenly and opportunely checked while in the very act of pealing forth his terrible war whoop, again looked up at the windows of the block house, in quest of those whom his savage instinct had already devoted