226 AN INDIAN COUNCIL. 



The night passed without incident: nothing occurred 

 to create a suspicion of foul play; but of course 

 Gladwin and his officers were all on the alert, intently 

 watching the course of events; further questioning of 

 the girl had elicited that next day the Indians were 

 to assemble, ostensibly to play a game of ball, something 

 resembling our " Hockey, " which used in former times 

 to be a favourite game among the Indians. Catlin, 

 in his " American Indians " gives a full description of 

 it. At the hour indicated many warriors were seen 

 stalking towards the fort, wrapped in their blankets. 

 Never had there been a moment when the steady 

 stoical " sang-froid" of the British officer was more 

 severely tried, or when calmness and judgment were 

 of greater moment. Inside the fort, the whole garrison 

 was drawn up under arms, and the soldiers awaited 

 the result with that splendid courage and calmness 

 which has always been a characteristic of British troops. 



Gladwin ordered that Pontiac and his warriors were 

 all to be admitted, according to the ordinary way in 

 time of peace, and as if nothing unusual had occurred; 

 and at 10 o'clock, the great war chief duly made his 

 appearance, accompanied by his treacherous followers, 

 all closely wrapped in coloured blankets. 



There is nothing out of the common in this: it is 

 the usual practice of Indians when attending a council, 

 which we have ourselves witnessed on more than one 

 occasion. Each man wrapped in his blanket just in 

 this way, files in silent and dignified, and takes his 

 seat without a word being spoken ; and on this occasion 

 it seems, they rigidly adhered to the conventional 

 custom, which both before and since had always been 

 observed. 



