Cardigan

and stood revealed, stark naked save for clout and pouch, truly a superb figure, and perfect, in the Greek sense, barr

im, unconsciously raised his chin and squared his shoulders as though br

he belt-bearer, looking warily around at the empty roo

the Cayuga to send three with each belt. Does my brother bear but a fragment of one

an, haughtily. "Nine of my people s

to be seated, drew up an arm-chair of velve

rative council fire and listened to an orator of tho

n his breast. He spoke of his journey from the Ohio, the loss of the eight who had started with him; all dying from the small-pox within a week. He spoke respectfully of Sir William as the one man who had protected the Six Nations from unjust

speech, drawing from his p

e to burn in this place and on the Ohio, which are our proper fireplaces. With this belt we sweep

of sev

o carrying-place, is the occasion for our coming here. Our nation would not be at rest

and whi

d which path our brother's belts, which we still possess, have long since swept clear. What shall we do? Instead of polishing our knives we have come to our brother Warragh. Instead of seeking our kin the Mohawk and the

belt of f

e nor gesture nor change of colour betraying the surprise, indignation

invading the land of our allies, and the danger we might run should this Cayuga chief go to our

, most splendidly attested to the power and influence of Sir William among these savages whose first instinct

profound reflection they give to all spokesmen who petition them, and they require it in turn, regarding with suspicion and contempt a

of wampum, rose and thanked the Cayuga for his talk, praising him and his tribe for r

el and passed slowly and noiselessly from the room, leaving Sir William st

ing the belts, had fallen a-trembling; he made a feeble gesture for me to be seated, and sank back i

lf, "strong men should be in that mello

een sober and without excess-but hard! ve

he smiled, watching the symp

ough his fingers like smooth shining serpents. "War with the French, war with the Maquas, the Hurons, the Shawane

to the floor, where they twi

red myself in sickness or in health. My eyes are dim; I have used them by day, by starlight, by t

gh snow, through heat, from the Canadas to the Gulf-all my life I have journeyed on bus

his face. He leaned forward towards me, el

s; turnpikes where I followed Mohawk trails; mills turning where the wild-cat squatted, fishing with big flat paws! Lad, you cannot recall it, yet this village was but a carrying-place when I came. Look at it; look from the window, lad! Is it not fair and pretty to the eye? One hundred and eighty families! Three churches

ng, his head sank a little, and

ley hay to me. This is my country-my country first, last, and all the time. I am too old

his knees like a golden robe. The music from the robins in the orchard fille

med to me I could see the very tide of life swelling flesh and muscle into new

ad! 'Tis a long doze awaits us at the journey's end." And he fumbled for his snuff-box and lace hanke

three belts, placing th

dmirably. Mr. Duncan has told me all; it was wisely done. Had you received the Cayuga with less welcome or more

ainted red, in his p

Oh, I know them, Michael, I know them. A painted war-belt flung between that Cayuga and the sachems of my Mohawks wo

the mahogany table

g with the Cayugas in their own lands, held by them in solemn covenant forever inviolate! What does the sorry ass want? A border war, with all this trouble bet

the table again with

ith thousands of savages who, if adroitly treated, will remain neutral and inoffensive. Yet here is this madman Cresap, on the very

olly, Colonel Cresap is throwing into

ort and stared at me w

and then stand by it to the end. As for me, I cannot believe that God would let me live to see such a war; that

d and passed one

I choose-and if the sorrow kills me not-t

r?" I said, in

ly answer

e unquestioned loyalty to the King in all things; that there could be any doubt or hesita

olonel Cresap for endangering the peace betwixt the Indians and the colonies, I came to the frightened conclusion that Sir William's loyalty might

of something, I sat there, my fascinated e

ow named Hancock, and a mischief-making jack-at-all-trades called Franklin. I knew that the trouble concerned taxes, but as all this bother appeared to be about a few pennies, and as I myself never wanted for money, I had little sympathy for people who made such an ado about a shilling or two. Moreover, if the King needed money, the idea

been easily read in my face, for Si

it is principle th

had a way of rounding out my groping thoughts w

ichael. Let the morrow fret for itself, lad. Come, smile a bit! Shall we have a holiday, perhaps the la

you, sir, whatev

smiled, drawing me to

and Felicity and Peter and Esk take rods and bait

hing match!" cr

rize whatever the victor wills-i

enthusiasm when something o

my uniform,

laughter. "'Tis a bolder man than I wh

istols and go a-horse

ame into his face again, and he lifted a belt from the table and studied it dr