The Border Watch

forest had been cleared away to make fields for Indian corn, wheat and pumpkins. Many columns of smoke rose in the clear spring air, and directly

It had bastions at every corner, and four gates, over three of which were built strong blockhouses for observation and defense. The gates faced the four cardinal points of the compass, and it was the one l

way and with very steep banks. Inside the great palisade were barracks for five hundred men, a brick store, a guard house, a hospital, a governor's house, and many other buildings. At the time of Henry's arrival about four hundr

e. The increase in protective measures was due to a message that they had received from the redoubtable George Rogers Clark, the victor of Vincennes and Kaskas

o anyone, began to light their camp fires and erect lodges for their chiefs. Girty, Blackstaffe, and Wyatt went away toward the fort, but Henry knew well that Timmendiquas would not enter

d you will be held a prisoner inside. I have treated you as we

nry. "Timmendiquas is a chief,

too, that he was in his finest attire. A splendid blue blanket hung from his shoulders, and his leggings and moccasins of the fine

e fort," said Timmendiquas, "an

le age in the uniform of a colonel. It would have been apparent to anyone tha

the great White Lightning of t

known in your language as White Li

the commandant at Detroit, to bid you welcome, and to ask you and your fellow chiefs to meet him within

He knew their intense pride, and he was going to see that Timmendiquas and the ot

iquas. "We will go with yo

same time the Englishman's eyes expressed admiration. T

ors," replied Timmendiquas. "He is my prisoner and I keep h

orest diplomacy. He saw that nothing was to be gained, and

White Lightning," he said. "Now may we go?

n a few yards of it, a soldier on top of the palisade began to play a military air on a bugle. It was an inspiring tune, mellow and sweet in the clear spring air, and Caldwell looked up proudly. The chiefs said not a word, but Henry knew that they were pleased. Then the great gate was thrown open and th

ers Clark and sent in chains to Virginia. He had shown great activity in arming and inciting the Indians against the settlers in Kentucky, and Henry hated him all the more because he was an Ameri

he young settlements beyond the Ohio, and to prevent the rebel extension to the West. Now the expedition of Bird had gone forth from Detroit against Kentucky and he was anxious to send another and greater one which should have as its core the Wyandots, the bravest and most daring of all the w

their bravery and their loyalty to the King, their great white father across the ocean. He rejoiced to hear of their great deeds against the rebels, and promised them splendid rewards for the n

loved blankets of brilliant colors, beads, and the many gaudy trinkets that were sold or given away at the post. New rifles and fresh ammunition, al

ich had been studied carefully,

the light. Truly, he is of an admirable figure, and mig

e answered all the more promptly, because he knew that the renegad

your friends are doing, Colonel de Peyster, and be responsible for the murder of women and children, as you and y

and Braxton Wyatt thrust his hand to the butt of the pistol i

it so hard

are!" exclaimed Colo

immendiquas

uckians. We took him after a great struggle in which he overthrew man

arply, but the coppery face of the great chief expressed nothing. Then the diplomacy

ously a fine specimen of the genus rebel, and we may be

Henry

oin in the little banquet that we have prepared, and see what

children had stung him, but he would not show the sting to a boy; instead, he would let him see how small and weak

s my prisoner," he said, "but for a

an inquiring mind, and if de Peyster had anyt

id the commandant to a youn

of the court. Colonel de Peyster and Timmendiquas, s

ng down its center. But several large windows were opened wide and Henry conjectured that this effect-half out of door

att. Colonel Caldwell sat at the foot of the table and several other British or Tory officers also were present. The food was served bountifully, and, as the chiefs had come a long distance and were hungry, they ate with sharp appetites. Many of them, scorning knives and forks, cracked the bones with their hands. For a long time the Indians preserved the calm of the woods, but Colonel de Peyster was bland and beaming. He talked of

to the captive youth, and at the same time show him the power of the allied Indians, Tories, and Engli

ades will stand before heavy c

er, that whenever a man falls in Kentucky another comes to take his place. We are fighting for the land on which we stand, and

ster f

do you know the power of the warriors. You say that you

laugh at Henry and then seco

arriors will form one army along the whole line of the war. The rebel cause is alrea

. He had given the Indians much help on many occasions

n you, O chiefs, will have back your hunting grounds for your villages and your people. The deer and the buffalo will be as numerous as ever. Fire will destroy the houses and

is crucial moment of excitement Colonel de Peyster caused cups to be brought and wine to be passed. All drank, except Henry and the great chi

ght for the King. You will clear the woods of the rebels, and he will send you

another Shawnee chief of uncommon ferocity, Moluntha. Their eyes sparkled as they received them, and all uttered thanks except Timmendiquas, who still did not say a word. Then came knives, hatchets, blankets-always of bri

chief beyo

e rifle and

estroy the h

of our wra

e forest for

he great guns

n Kentucky

pe the rage o

a glittering circle above his head. The red and black paint upon his face, moistened by his own perspiration, dripped slowly upon his shoulders. He was a wi

attentively to the song, and watched the feet of the dancer, while he drummed upon the table with his forefingers. One of the chiefs took from his robe a small whistle made of the bone of an eagle, and began to blow upon it a shrill monotonous tune. This in

de, but he understood. Yahnundasis was seeing red. Like the Malay he was amuck. At any moment he might throw the glittering hatchet at the prisoner. Henry recognized the imminence of his danger, but he steeled his nerves. H

st; in a minute or two the chief must break the charm, and then, unless someone interfered, he would cast the tomahawk. Obviously the interferenc

e hand that would hurl the deadly weapon. It became a pain, both physical and mental, to strain so. He wanted to look aside, to see the others, and to know why they did not stop so wild a scene. He was conscious of a great silenc

figure springing suddenly upright. It was Timmendiquas and he, too, drew a tomahawk. Then with startling quickness he struck Yahnundasis with the flat of the blade. Yahnundasis fell as if he had been slain. The tomah

se his bruised head and reflect that it is not well to be a fool. It is not meet that a warrior,

in his heart he felt that he owed another debt to the Wyandot chieftain. De Peyster and Caldwell exchanged glances. Both knew that they had allowed the affair to go too

already said we wish to send another force which will seek out and destroy every station, no matter how small, and which will not even leave a single lone cabin unburned. Colonel Caldwell will command the white men, but you, Timmendiquas, and the allied tribes will have the greater task an

fs uttered cries of approval and shook their tomaha

ave been the most zealous of all the chiefs. You have led great at

and speaking in Wyandot, which nea

eaten us. They have great warriors, Clark, Boone, Kenton, Harrod and the tall youth who sits here, my captive. Let not the colonel of the King forget that with Clark at th

d darkly, and the other

iquas," said de Peyster, "but what bea

those who have invaded our hunting grounds. But let not Colonel de Peyster and Caldwel

he Kentuckians reduced so low wil

at Wyoming in the East when the Indians and their white friends won a great victory. Never before had I seen such a taking of scalps. There was much joy and feasting, dancing and singing. It was the Iroquois, the great Six Nations w

ed fiercely into the eyes of the English officers.

ast did not forget. By and by a great army came against the Iroquois. Where were the King's men then? Few came to help. Thayendanegea had to fight his battle almost alone. He was beaten, his army was scattered like sand before the wind, and the army of the Long Knives trod out the Iroquois country. Their great v

Iroquois will repair it," said de Peyst

hall we, in the West, the Wyandots, the Shawnees, the Miamis and the others meet the same fate? Shall we go against Kaintuckee, destroy the settlements there, an

a flexible man skilled in diplomacy, and he saw that he must promise, promise much and promise it in convincing tones. He noticed moreover the d

, but if they do I will march forth with all my force to your help. Nay, I will send East for others, to Niagara and Oswego and to Canada. It shall never be said of us

ntered Caldwell's. The officer instantly saw

, Timmendiquas. I myself and some of o

those of Timmendiquas. The great Wyandot himself seemed to be convinced, and said that it was

oner," he said, "and since you have turned him over to me, Timmend

rose a

but I think I shall feel more at home in any prison that you may have

t de Peyster waved his hand,

f the younger officers. "He can wait there. We shall

ss was quite young, ruddy, and evidently not long in America. He l

far land they call

es

the countries belong

the Indians. No doubt they have hunted there and fought there for

s to the King,"

this ingenuous young man who w

ow could he enforce a claim to a country separated from him by thousands of miles of sea and wilderness? Now the

fficer sigh

d. "I've heard ugly tales since I came a

re," said Henry. "But thi

see that you're as co