army, that had set
forth to wipe Pontiac and his red followers from the face of the earth,
found themselves, as by a miracle, once more behind the sheltering
palisades of the fort, which for many months thereafter they had no
desire to leave.

About this time, the Ottawa chieftain who had won this signal victory,
returned to his village with so moody a brow, that even his own
followers durst not utter their rejoicings in his presence. He had
been so confident of destroying Dalzell's entire force and his plans
had been so well laid, that to have them miscarry through treachery,
aroused his utmost fury. Thus he now proposed to deal with the
traitors in such a manner that there would be no chance of their
example becoming contagious among the warriors who still acknowledged
his authority.

CHAPTER XXXVI

BRAVE DEATH OF THE OLD MAJOR

The evening preceding that night of death and terror was spent quietly
and pleasantly, as was their wont, by Edith and Ah-mo in Major Hester's
room. It was an unusually happy time, for Ah-mo, having received her
father's permission to do so, told them of Donald, his bravery, his
wounds, his captivity, the strange manner in which he had been
identified by the mark of a totem on his arm, his recovery from illness
in the secluded quiet of Pontiac's island, and the glad tidings that,
on the morrow, he would be allowed to visit them.

To both Major Hester and Edith the first knowledge that Donald was a
prisoner came as a shock, but when they reflected upon the kindness
with which they had been treated, and realized, from Ah-mo's account,
that the young ensign was regarded with equal favor by Pontiac, they
became reconciled to the idea of his captivity, and only anxious to
note for themselves his reported recovery from the illness caused by
wounds. So they impatiently watched the passing of the hours that
brought him nearer to them, and beguiled the time by talking of him.
Major Hester told the story of Songa and Mahng, and how the life of the
former had been saved by the baby Donald. With infinite zest he
recalled the kick with which he had repelled Mahng's attack on the
young Ottawa chief, who was now known to all men as Pontiac.

Ah-mo had never before heard of this, and she anxiously wondered if
that Mahng could be the same who was now the leader of one of the
Ojibwa bands.

But the major was still reminiscing, and describing the brave deed of
Songa's beautiful squaw.

"My