“My father is right,” replied the Indian, with an appearance of embarrassment, which, whether natural or feigned, had nothing suspicious in it.  “The great chief of the Ottawas has been foolish, like an old woman.  The young chiefs of his tribe will laugh at him for this.  But the Ottawa chief will come again, and the other chiefs with him, for, as my father sees, they all wish for peace; and that my father may know all the nations wish for peace, as well as their head men, the warriors of the Ottawa, and of the Shawanee, and of the Delaware, shall play at ball upon the common, to amuse his young men, while the chiefs sit in council with the chiefs of the Saganaw.  The red skins shall come naked, and without their rifles and their tomahawks; and even the squaws of the warriors shall come upon the common, to show the Saganaw they may be without fear.  Does my father hear?”

“The Ottawa chief says well,” returned the governor; “but will the pale friend of the Ottawa come also to take his seat in the council hall?  The great chief has said the pale warrior has become the second chief among the Ottawas; and that when he is dead, the pale warrior will lead the Ottawas, and take the first seat in the council.  He, too, should smoke the pipe of peace with the Saganaw, that they may know he is no longer their enemy.”

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?”