ing George was going to take their
hunting-grounds away and give them to others. And who were these
newcomers? They were people who had been driven out of their own
country for their badness. They had fought against the great white
chief, George Washington, who had been so good to the Indians, and had
sent them many presents during the war. These strangers had been
defeated, and thousands of them had already arrived in ships, and were
coming up the river to take possession of the hunting-grounds. The
Indians would be driven out. They would die, because the newcomers
would kill all the moose, deer, and caribou, cut down the trees, and
destroy the fish on the various streams. These were some of the things
they would do, and the Indians would have no hunting-grounds, so they,
their wives and their children would starve. Would the Indians allow
this? Would they let these bad men come in and take their lands? No,
they must fight, drive these people out, and keep the country which was
theirs by right. And now was the time to fight, before too many
strangers arrived.

This in brief was Flazeet's long harangue. It made a deep impression
upon the Indians, and they voiced their sentiments by occasional grunts
of approval. So excited did several become when the speech was ended,
that they leaped to their feet, and inflamed by the words and the rum,
they were ready to march at once against the strangers. But Flazeet
told them to wait, as the newcomers were many and well armed. It would
be necessary to move slowly, and to be very careful. And, besides,
there were Indians who would stand by the treaty which had been made
with King George at the mouth of the river, and they would have to
fight against them. This matter must be kept a profound secret, and
when they did attack, it must be swift and deadly.

With considerable difficulty Flazeet managed to calm the warlike
natives. Then more rum was passed around, followed by much talking and
squabbling. All this was most gratifying to Flazeet, and especially
interesting to the two couriers concealed among the bushes. Pete's
great body quivered with excitement, and Dane could hardly control
himself. How he longed for a score of tested men, that he might spring
upon the rebels, and give them the surprise of their lives.

When at length the excitement had subsided, Gab Rauchad rose slowly to
his feet. He was a wiry little half-breed, with a cunning, fox-like
face.