Wacousta : a tale of the Pontiac conspiracy (Complete)

ird, the harassed garrison were once more summoned to arms, by an alarm from the sentinels planted in rear of the works; a body of Indians they had traced and lost a

arry intimidation to a disciplined and fortified soldiery. Bows, arrows, tomahawks, war clubs, spears, and scalping knives, constituted their warlike equipments, but neither rifle nor fire-arms of any kind were discernible. Several of their leaders, distinguishable by a certain haughty carriage and commanding gesticulation, were collected within the elevated bomb-proof, apparently holding a short but important conference apart from their peopl

n the form of the last warrior; "looking just as noble as when, three years ago, he opposed himself to the progress of the first English de

letely divested of the haughtiness which formerly characterised his address to his officers. "I

course of our progress through the wilderness, did I wish myself at head-quarters with my company. Never shall I forget the proud and dete

which OTHERS travel," musingly rejoined the governo

e flag," shouted an artillery-man from hi

ibes. One of those who remained, sprang upon an elevated fragment of the ruin, and uttered a prolonged cry, the purport of which,-and it was fully understood from its peculiar nature,-was to claim attention from the fort. He then received from the hands of the other chief a long spear, to the end of which was attached a pie

r!" remarked Captain Erskine. "Ponteac seems to

Blackwater; "for how should he understand any thing of the nature

s curious to know how he would make the attempt to approach us; but certainly never once dreamt of his having re

"even if it be only with a view to gain time. Wentworth, desire o

satisfaction; and in the course of a minute, the tall warrior, accompanied by nearly a dozen

ne, who could not dissemble his admiration of the warrior. "He steps as firmly a

hat one who meditates so deep a treachery, s

must be our interest to encourage. If, as you say, Erskine, the man is really e

ercise over his better feelings. By the by, I see nothing of him among this flag of truce party. It could scarcely be called a violation of faith to cut off such a

ly called up by the allusion made to this formidable and mysterious being, for the attention of all was now absorbed by the approaching Indians. With a bold and confiding carriage the fierce Ponteac moved at the head of his little party, nor hesitated one moment in his course, until he got near the brink of the ditch, and stood face to

a dozen tribes are far behind the path the Ottawa has just travelled; but whe

n. "When the enemies of his great father come in strength, he knows how to disperse them; but when a warrio

o doubt the fact of so much indifference as to himself; "but when it is a great chief who dir

he is strong in his own honour; and he would rather die under the to

sed between him and his followers, and a few indistinct

; "and yet it is long since the Saganaw and the red skin have spoken to each other, except through the

ot blind. The Ottawas, and the other tribes, find the war paint heavy on their skins. They see that my y

taunting language of his enemy, and for a moment there was a fire in his eye that told how willingly he would have washed away the insult in hi

other tribes, ask for peace, but not because they are afraid of war. When they strike the

hen, to ask for peace

ss to give a reply that could reconcile

ur enemies is a loss to our trade. We once exchanged furs with the children of our father of the pale flag. They gave us, in return, guns, blankets, powder, ba

although the arm of the Saganaw is strong,

ey, too, thought themselves beyond the reach of our tomahawks; but they were deceived. In less than a single moon nine of them have fallen, and the tents of my young warriors ar

t the dreadful intelligence thus imparted of the fates of their companions. "But peace," he pursued with dignity, "can only be made in the council room, and under the sacred pledge of the calumet. The g

, speedily recovered himself, and observed emphatically, "It is the great head of all the nations whom my father invites to the council seat. Were he to remain in t

as if he were under the cover of his own wigwam. If the Saganaw could use guile like the fox" (and this was said wit

ift. The short guns of the chiefs of the Saganaw" (pointing to the pistols of the officers) "could not reach us; and before the voice of

naw," returned the governor.-"He shall see that his young men

es, to their feet on the rampart. The Indians were evidently taken by surprise, though they evinced no fear. Th

incurred in venturing under the very walls of their enemies. Fierce yells were uttered; and more than a hundred dusky warriors, brandishing their tomahawks in air, leaped along the skirt of the common, evidently only awaiting the signal of their great chief, to advance and cover his retreat. At the command of

en lie sleeping like beavers in their dams, when the hunter sets his traps to catch them?-did he imagine tha

f strength, his head is fall of wisdom. The chiefs will no longer hesitate;-th

"Ugh!" which came from his chest without any apparent emotion of the lips, much in the manner of a modern ventriloquist. He then hastened, with rapid and lengthened boundings, across the common towards his band. After the lapse of a

with the cry we have just named. "The Ottawa and the other great chiefs are ready;-thei

ith the tomahawk in their hands, the big thunder is roused to anger, and they are scattered away like the leaves of the forest in the storm." "Eve

th us; but still it will be necessary to watch the forest closely. We cannot be too much on our guard. The men had better remain concealed, every twentieth file only standing up to form a look-out chain. If any movement of a suspiciou

o various figures and devices, spread carefully upon the floor. At the further end from the entrance was placed a small table and chair, covered with scarlet cloth. This was considerably e

Erskine had justly designated him, the noble-looking Ponteac trod the yielding planks that might in the next moment cut him off from his people for ever. The other chiefs, following

here!" he said fiercely to the major:-"how is this? The Ottawa and the other chiefs are kings of all t

ken his seat, that he may receive the warriors with becoming honour.

t upon him. At length he nodded his head haughtily and condescendingly, in token of assent; and gathering up his noble form, and swelling out his chest, as if with a

f a fort which it was of such vital importance to their future interests they should become possessed of, yet which they had so long and so unsuccessfully attempted to subdue. As they advanced into the square, they looked around, expecting to behold the full array of their enemies; but, to their astonishment, not a soldier was to be seen. A few women and children only, in whom curiosity had overcome a natural loathing and repugnance to the savages, were peeping fro