The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 119 



his race ; "The Great Spirit above directs us so that 

 whatever hath been said or done must be good 

 and right," he said in a spirit of strange fatalism 

 well known to certain creeds, both Christian and 

 heathen. He was careful to dwell on the fact that 

 in addressing the representatives of "the Great 

 Council who watch the Thirteen Fires and keep 

 them bright," he was anxious only to ward off woe 

 from the women and little ones of his people and 

 was defiantly indifferent to what might personally 

 be before him. "As for me my life is short, 'tis 

 already sold to the Great King over the water," he 

 said. But it soon appeared that the British agents 

 had deceived him, telling him that the peace was 

 a mere temporary truce, and keeping concealed the 

 fact that under the treaty the British had ceded 

 to the Americans all rights over the Iroquois and 

 Western Indians, and over their land. Great was 

 his indignation when the actual text of the treaty 

 was read him, and he discovered the double-dealing 

 of his far-off royal paymaster. In commenting on it 

 he showed that, like the rest of his race, he had 

 been much impressed by the striking uniforms of the 

 British officers. He evidently took it for granted 

 that the head of these officers must own a yet more 

 striking uniform ; and treachery seemed doubly odi 

 ous in one who possessed so much. "I assisted the 

 great King," he said, "I fought his battles, while 

 he sat quietly in his forts; nor did I ever suspect 

 that so great a person, one too who wore a red 

 coat sufficient of itself to tempt one, could be guilty 



