There was a silent struggle going on in her
heart. She had formed a strong attachment for the white people, and she
was also devoted to her own race.
"To-morrow," she said at length, "Pontiac will come to the fort with
sixty of his chiefs. Each will be armed with a gun, which will be cut
short and hidden under his blanket. The chief will ask to hold a
council. He will then make a speech, and offer a belt of wampum as a
peace-offering.
"As soon as he holds up the belt, the chiefs will spring up and shoot
the officers, and the Indians outside will attack the English. Every
Englishman will be killed. The French inhabitants will be spared."
Gladwyn made immediate preparations to avoid the danger which threatened
them. The soldiers were put under arms. Orders were given to have them
drawn up in line on the arrival of the Indians the following day.
The next morning Indian canoes approached the fort from the eastern
shores. They contained Pontiac and his sixty chiefs. At ten o'clock the
chiefs marched to the fort, in fantastic procession. Each wore a colored
blanket, and was painted, plumed, or in some way gaily ornamented.
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