“My father is a great warrior,” returned the Indian; “and if his arm is full of strength, his head is fall of wisdom.  The chiefs will no longer hesitate;—­they will enter the strong hold of the Saganaw, and sit with him in the council.”

He next addressed a few words, and in a language not understood by those upon the walls, to one of the younger of the Indians.  The latter acknowledged his sense and approbation of what was said to him by an assentient and expressive “Ugh!” which came from his chest without any apparent emotion of the lips, much in the manner of a modern ventriloquist.  He then hastened, with rapid and lengthened boundings, across the common towards his band.  After the lapse of a minute or two from reaching them, another simultaneous cry arose, differing in expression from any that had hitherto been heard.  It was one denoting submission to the will, and compliance with some conveyed desire, of their superior.

“Is the gate of the Saganaw open?” asked the latter, as soon as his ear had been greeted with the cry we have just named.  “The Ottawa and the other great chiefs are ready;—­their hearts are bold, and they throw themselves into the hands of the Saganaw without fear.”

“The Ottawa chief knows the path,” drily rejoined the governor:  “when he comes in peace, it is ever open to him; but when his young men press it with the tomahawk in their hands, the big thunder is roused to anger, and they are scattered away like the leaves of the forest in the storm.”  “Even now,” he pursued, as the little band of Indians moved slowly round the walls, “the gate of the Saganaw opens for the Ottawa and the other chiefs.”

“Let the most vigilant caution be used every where along the works, but especially in the rear,” continued the governor, addressing Captain Blessington, on whom the duty of the day had devolved.  “We are safe, while their chiefs are with us; but still it will be necessary to watch the forest closely.  We cannot be too much on our guard.  The men had better remain concealed, every twentieth file only standing up to form a look-out chain.  If any movement of a suspicious nature be observed, let it be communicated by the discharge of a single musket, that the drawbridge may be raised on the instant.”  With the delivery of these brief instructions he quitted the rampart with the majority of his officers.

Meanwhile, hasty preparations had been made in the mess-room to receive the chiefs.  The tables had been removed, and a number of clean rush mats, manufactured, after the Indian manner, into various figures and devices, spread carefully upon the floor.  At the further end from the entrance was placed a small table and chair, covered with scarlet cloth.  This was considerably elevated above the surface of the floor, and intended for the governor.  On either side of the room, near these, were ranged a number of chairs for the accommodation of the inferior officers.