hear, now
catching the broad flare of the flames on their stalwart, erect forms
and flashing fire-locks, now obscured in the fluctuating shadow. The
pale-faced group listened, too, scarcely moving a muscle, for by long
familiarity with the sound, they understood something of the general
drift of the Cherokee language, which, barring a few phrases, they could
not speak.

There had been only a very bloody skirmish,--since known as "Grant's
defeat,"--but no fight at Fort Duquesne, not even a formal defence of
the works. The French had surely forgotten General Braddock! They had
forgotten the fleeing red-coated _Unaka_[A] soldiers who, three years
before, had been beaten near there with such terrible slaughter, and
their chief warrior, the great Braddock, himself, had been tamed by
death--the only foe that could tame him!--and lay now somewhere in those
eastern woods. He pointed vaguely with his hand as he spoke, for
Braddock's grave had been left unmarked, in the middle of the military
road, in order that, passing over it without suspicion, it might not be
rifled and desecrated by those savage Indians who had fought with such
furious efficiency in the French interest.[3]

Willinawaugh paused, and all his braves muttered in applause "Ugh! Ugh!"

To the warlike Cherokee the event of a battle was not paramount. Victory
or defeat they realized was often the result of fortuitous circumstance.
Courage was their passion. "We cannot live without war," was their
official reply to an effort on the part of the government to mediate
between them and another tribe, the Tuscaroras, their hereditary
enemies.

But upon this second attempt on Fort Duquesne the British had only to
plant their flag, and repair the dismantled works, and change the name
to Fort Pitt. For in the night the French had abandoned and fired the
stronghold, and finally made their escape down the Ohio River. In all
good faith, however, the Cherokees had marched thither to help the
Virginians defend their frontier,--far away from home! So far, that the
horses of a few of the warriors had given out, and finding some horses
running wild as they came on their homeward way through the western
region of Virginia, these braves appropriated the animals for the
toilsome march of so many hundred miles, meaning no harm; whereupon a
band of Virginians fell upon these Cherokees, their allies, and killed
them! And his voice trembled with rage as he rehearsed it.

For all her