cking the flotilla by their leader's express
command.

Neither Major Hester nor Colonel Rogers knew what to make of this
curious behavior on the part of the powerful Indian who had evidently
been determined to oppose their progress. The former could not recall
ever having seen him or held intercourse with him, though, after he
assumed command of Fort Detroit, Pontiac paid him frequent visits, and
always evinced a strong friendship for the honest soldier, who
invariably treated him and his people with consideration and fairness.
Frequently, too, Pontiac complained to the major of the outrages
perpetrated by other English commanders, their brutal soldiers, and the
horde of reckless traders who swarmed through the country. He declared
that if they were continued, the Indians would rise against their
oppressors and sweep them from the face of the earth.

Fully appreciating the state of affairs, but powerless to alter it for
the better, save in his own jurisdiction, Major Hester appealed to Sir
William Johnson, begging him to visit the western country and use his
powerful influence to quiet the growing discontent. This Sir William
did with great pomp and ceremony in 1761, finding himself just in time
to quell, by lavish presents and still more lavish promises, a general
uprising of the Algonquin tribes. The peaceful relations thus
established lasted but a short time, however, and within a year the
aggressions of the whites had become more pronounced, and the situation
of the Indians more desperate than ever. Pontiac had disappeared from
the vicinity of Detroit, and for many months Major Hester had not seen
him. At the same time he was well informed of the cruelties practised
upon the natives, and foresaw that they could not much longer be
restrained from retaliating in their own bloody fashion. Being
unwilling to fight on the side of injustice and oppression, he at
length prayed Sir Jeffry Amherst to relieve him from his command. This
request was granted, and late in 1762 he was succeeded by Major
Gladwyn, an officer with a brave record as a fighter and unhampered by
any troublesome consideration of the rights or wrongs of Indians.
Although thus relieved of his command, certain duties arose to detain
Major Hester for several months at Detroit; and the momentous spring of
1763 found him still an inmate of that frontier post.

CHAPTER VIII

DONALD SETS FORTH ON A PERILOUS MISSION

No rising sun ever witness