father, that I want her to cook the provisions for me and my red
children more faithfully than she has done. If she wishes to fight
with me and my children, she must not burrow in the earth like a
ground-hog. She must come out and fight fairly."

Between-the-logs answered valiantly, in behalf of Chief Crane the wise
man:

"Brothers! I entreat you to listen to the good talk I have brought.
If you doubt what I have said about the force of the Americans, you can
send some of your people to examine it. The truth is, your British
father tells you lies and deceives you.

"And now, father, I will bear your message to my American father. You
compare the Americans to ground-hogs. I must confess that a ground-hog
is a hard animal to fight. He has such sharp teeth, such a stubborn
temper, and such unconquerable spirit, that he is truly a dangerous
animal, especially when in his own hole. But, father, you will have
your wish. Before many days you will see the ground-hog floating on
yonder lake, paddling his canoe toward your hole; and then you may
attack him to suit yourself!"

This council was held at Brownstown, beside Lake Erie, south of
Detroit. Nobody cared anything about the Prophet--he was no warrior.
But an invitation was sent to Tecumseh, in Canada, across the Detroit
River.

"No," he answered. "I have taken sides with the king, my father, and
my bones shall bleach upon this shore before I will recross that stream
to join in any good words council."

The Wyandots privately told Between-the-logs that the most of them were
being held prisoners by the British; but that they accepted the belt
from Head Chief Crane, and would return to the Americans as soon as
possible. And they did.

Tecumseh, however, had made up his mind. He was an honest enemy.
There never was anything half-way about Tecumseh. His promised army of
five thousand warriors had shrunk to less than one hundred; only thirty
of these were with him, but he set about getting more.

The Prophet his brother was down at the Fort Wayne agency in Indiana.
"Open Door" had partly explained away his failure in the battle of
Tippecanoe. His wife, he said, had touched his medicine and spoiled
its power, before the battle, and he had not known.

Tecumseh sent a rider with word for the Prophet to remove all the
Indian women and children to the Mississippi, and to bid the warriors
strike Vincennes. He himself would join, if he lived, in the country
o