nostota's statesmanlike determination
to sift the matter first, Stuart could not have been torn from among the
tribesmen and dragged to the seclusion of his own great mess-hall, where
the door was closed and barred in their distorted faces as they followed
with their howls. He was required to stand at one end of the grievously
dismantled room and detail his reason for this reserve of the powder.
Had he grounds to suspect any renewal of the English occupancy? Had he
knowledge of forces now on the march in the expectation of raising the
siege of Fort Loudon? Oconostota pointed out the desirability of telling
the truth, with a feeling allusion to the Great Spirit, the folly of
seeking to deceive the omniscient Indian, as the discovery of the powder
sufficiently illustrated, and the discomforts that would ensue to
Captain Stuart, should it be found necessary to punish him for lying, by
burning him alive in his own chimney-place, admirably adapted for the
purpose. Oconostota sat now with his back to it, with all his council of
chiefs in a semicircle about him, on the buffalo rug on the broad
hearth. The Indian interpreter Quoo-ran-be-qua, the great Oak, stood
behind him and looked across the length of the room at Captain Stuart,
the only other person standing, and clattered out his wooden sentences.

Stuart could make no further effort. His capacity to scheme seemed
exhausted. He replied in his bluff, off-hand manner, his bloody head
held erect, that they now had more powder than was good for
them,--witness the bursting of that costly great gun! He had buried the
powder in the hope of further English occupancy of the fort, which he
had, however, no reason to expect; it was only his hope,--his earnest
hope! He had left them spare arms, great guns, ball, powder,--much
powder,--and if he had seen fit to reserve some store he could say, with
a clear conscience, that it was done only in the interests of peace and
humanity, and because of doubts of their good faith,--how well grounded
the blood shed this day upon the plains of Taliquo might testify! His
friends, his comrades, were treacherously murdered under the
safe-conduct of the Cherokee nation. And if he were to die too, he was
fully prepared to show with what courage he could do it.

His eyes flashed as he spoke; they seemed to transmit a spark across the
room to the dull orbs of the interpreter. And what was this? Stuart's
knowledge of the Cherokee language enabled him to d