British officers to retain their swords.

For three hours the cannon had thundered over Lake Erie on that
fateful day, but, after the opening encounter, the manoeuvres of
the ships were lost to those on shore in the heavy clouds of smoke
that hung over the water. When these had cleared away, a scene
was revealed that contrasted sadly with that disclosed by the
lifting of the morning mist. Crippled and dismantled, the brave
ships, whose sails had swelled so proudly in the morning breeze,
now made their way towards Put-in-Bay.

The Indians, marvelling at the roar of the guns, watched intently
the heavy smoke of battle drifting over the lake. When the thunder
had ceased and the sky was clear they eagerly inquired as to the
result of the fight; and Tecumseh demanded the reason for the
vessels sailing in the direction of the American shore. Procter,
fearing that the news of defeat might cause the chief and his
warriors to desert, craftily explained that his vessels had beaten
the Americans, but had gone to refit and would return in a few
days. But Tecumseh's keen eyes soon detected signs on land which
aroused his suspicions, for hasty preparations were being made for
retreat. He was indignant at what seemed to him the cowardice of
Procter, and demanded to be heard in the name of all his warriors.
At a council of war held on September 18 the great orator delivered
his last powerful speech. With flashing eye and rapid gesture he
thundered forth to Procter:

Father, listen to your children! You have them now all before you.

The war before this, our British father gave the hatchet to his
red children, when our old chiefs were alive. They are now dead.
In that war our father was thrown on his back by the Americans;
and our father took them by the hand without our knowledge; and
we are afraid our father will do so again at this time.

Summer before last, when I came forward with my red brethren
and was ready to take up the hatchet in favour of our British
father, we were then told not to be in a hurry--that he had
not yet determined to fight the Americans.

Listen! When war was declared our father stood up and gave us
the tomahawk, and told us that he was then ready to strike the
Americans; that he wanted our assistance, and that he certainly
would get us back our lands, which the Americans had taken from us.

Listen! You told us at that time to bring forward our families