your fires.
We have been as brothers, and more than once have I judged between you
and those who would wrong you. I have remembered all this, and have
now come into your camp through the night, without fear and unarmed,
that I might talk with you as friends. Am I not right to do this? In
all the time I have been the White Chief at Dearborn, have I ever done
wrong to a Pottawattomie?"

He paused; but no warrior made reply. A low guttural murmur ran around
the line of listeners, but the bead-like eyes never left his face. He
went on:

"Why should I fear to meet the Pottawattomies, even though word had
come to me that their young men talk war, and seek alliance with our
enemy the red-coats? The Chiefs have seen war, and are not crazed for
the blood of their friends. They will restrain such wild mutterings.
They know that the White Father to the east is strong, and will drive
the red-coats back into the sea as he did when they fought before.
They will ally themselves with the strong one, and make their foolish
young man take up arms for their friends."

Still no one spoke, no impassive bronze face exhibited the faintest
interest. It was as if he appealed to stone.

"Is this not so?"

"The White Chief has spoken," was the cold reply. "His words are full
of eloquence, but Gomo hears nothing that calls for answer. The White
Chief says not why he has come and demanded council of the
Pottawattomies."

A low murmur, expressive of approval, swept down the observant line;
but no man among them stirred a muscle.

"I came for this, Gomo," said Heald, speaking now rapidly, and with an
evident determination to trust all in a sentence and have it over with,
for it was clear the savages were in no mood for diplomatic evasion:
"to ask your guidance and protection on our march eastward on the
morrow. I come to the Pottawattomies as friends; for I fear we may
meet with trouble on the way, from roving bands of Wyandots and Miamis,
and we are greatly burdened by our women and children. It is to ask
this that I and the Long Knife are here."

"You say the White Father is strong, and will drive the red-coats into
the sea: did he at Mackinac?"

"There was treachery there."

"Ugh! Why, if White Father so strong, you leave Fort and go way off?"

"Because just now I can serve him better elsewhere; but we shall come
again."

"My young men have rumor that Detroit go like Mackinac."

"It is untrue; your young men bring f