THE CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC DEFEATED. 227 



Pontiac's men, we are told, were all tall, strong, 

 stately warriors, of peculiarly dignified aspect; but as 

 Pontiac entered, it is said, " he started, and a deep 

 ejaculation half escaped him," for at a glance he saw 

 that his plot was detected, and doomed to failure; for 

 on either side stood ranks of soldiers, and hedges of 

 glittering steel. Pontiac and his chiefs, however, 

 managed to maintain their composure, and filed into the 

 audience chamber in silence, their rigid muscles betray- 

 ing no sign of outward emotion; there they found 

 Gladwin with several of his officers, seated, and waiting 

 to receive them: but as the observant chiefs did not 

 fail to note, all were fully armed with swords and 

 pistols. Pontiac, it would seem, was the first to break 

 the silence. " Why (said he), do I see so many of my 

 father's young men standing in the street with their 

 guns ? " Gladwin haughtily replied that he had ordered 

 the soldiers under arms for exercise and discipline; 

 and after some demur the chief at length sat down. 

 The customary pause ensued, and then Pontiac rose 

 to speak, holding in his hand the wampum belt that 

 was to give the fatal signal. He began by professing 

 strong attachment to the English: "he had come," he 

 said, " to smoke the pipe of peace, and to brighten 

 the chain of friendship." Gladwin and his officers 

 watched him with unruffled composure: and at one 

 moment Pontiac is said to have raised the belt, as if 

 actually about to give the signal of attack; at this 

 instant Gladwin is alleged to have slightly signed with 

 his head: the sudden clash of arms resounded from 

 the passage, while the roll of the drums, beating the 

 charge, filled the council chamber with their din. 

 Pontiac stood as one confounded, and some of the 



