210 THE COUNCIL. [1763, April. 



around this dusky council-house, the fire in the 

 centre shedding its fitful light upon their dark, 

 naked forms, while the pipe passed from hand to 

 hand. To prevent interruption, Pontiac had sta- 

 tioned young men as sentinels, near the house. He 

 once more addressed the chiefs ; inciting them to 

 hostility against the English, and concluding by the 

 proposal of his plan for destroying Detroit. It 

 was as follows : Pontiac would demand a council 

 with the commandant concerning matters of great 

 importance ; and on this pretext he flattered him- 

 self that he and his principal chiefs would gain 

 ready admittance within the fort. They were all 

 to carry weapons concealed beneath their blankets. 

 While in the act of addressing the commandant in 

 the council-room, Pontiac was to make a certain 

 signal, upon which the chiefs were to raise the 

 war-whoop, rush upon the officers present, and 

 strike them down. The other Indians, waiting 

 meanwhile at the gate, or loitering among the 

 houses, on hearing the yells and firing within the 

 building, were to assail the astonished and half- 

 armed soldiers ; and thus Detroit would fall an 

 easy prey. 



In opening this plan of treachery, Pontiac 

 spoke rather as a counsellor than as a commander. 

 Haughty as he was, he had too much sagacity to 

 wound the pride of a body of men over whom he 

 had no other control than that derived from his 

 personal character and influence. No one was 

 hardy enough to venture opposition to the proposal 

 of their great leader. His plan was eagerly 



