him with black,
glittering eyes.

"The Shawnees would destroy the white villages, and would seek the help
of all the tribes that know them," continued Gray Beaver.

Then Big Fox spoke.

"It is true," he said gravely and slowly, "that the Shawnees would wish
the white settlements destroyed, every house burned, and every warrior,
squaw, and child killed, that the forest might grow again where they live,
and the deer roam again unafraid."

Big Fox paused, and for the first time looked away from the council fire.
His piercing gaze swept the circle of the Miamis, and every man among them
drew a deep breath. There was something extraordinary in this belt bearer,
a majesty and magnetism that all of them felt, and they hung upon his
words, listening intently.

"The Shawnees are warriors," resumed Big Fox, "and they do not fear
battle. They went last year against the white settlements, and they went
alone. The Miamis know that."

There was a deep murmur of assent.

"The Shawnees are wise as well as brave," resumed Big Fox. "Their old
chiefs have talked over it long. It is a great war trail upon which we
would go, and he who would travel far and long should prepare well. The
white men are brave. From their wooden walls last year they beat us off,
and many Shawnees fell afterwards in the battle with them in the forest."

Big Fox paused, and swept the circle again with his glittering eyes. As
before, every man among them drew a deep breath when that hypnotic gaze
fell upon him. But they were hearing words that they had not expected to
hear, and after the tremendous gaze had passed there came a faint murmur
of surprise. But Big Fox did not seem to notice it. Instead he continued:

"The winter is at hand. Already the dead leaves fall, and soon the bitter
winds will sweep the forests and the prairies. The warrior would go forth
to battle, chilled and stiff. The gun would fall from his frozen hands."

Again he paused and looked straight at Gray Beaver. The old chief stirred
in his furred robe beneath that piercing gaze.

"We would not go forth to war until we are ready for war, until the season
is ripe for war," resumed Big Fox. "When we would strike, we would strike
with all the strength of all the allied tribes, that nothing of the white
man might be left. We would send to Canada for more rifles, more powder,
and more bullets, and to do all these things it must be long before we go
on the great war trail. So I bring you,