1763, Mat.] THE PLOT REVEALED. 219 



class in the little community had too deep an inter- 

 est in the preservation of peace, to countenance 

 the designs of Pontiac. M. Gouin, an old and 

 wealthy settler, went to the commandant, and con- 

 jured him to stand upon his guard ; but Gladwyn, 

 a man of fearless temper, gave no heed to the 

 friendly advice.^ 



In the Pottawattamie village, if there be truth in 

 tradition, lived an Ojibwa girl, who could boast a 

 larger share of beauty than is common in the wig- 

 wam. She had attracted the eye of Gladwyn. He 

 had formed a connection with her, and she had be- 

 come much attached to him. On the afternoon of 

 the sixth, Catharine — for so the officers called her 

 — came to the fort, and repaired to Gladwyn's quar- 

 ters, bringing with her a pair of elk-skin moccasons, 

 ornamented with porcupine work, which he had 

 requested her to make. There was something 

 unusual in her look and manner. Her face was 

 sad and downcast. She said little, and soon left 

 the room ; but the sentinel at the door saw her still 

 lingering at the street corner, though the hour for 

 closing the gates was nearly come. At length she 

 attracted the notice of Gladwyn himself; and 

 calling her to him, he pressed her to declare what 

 was weighing upon her mind. Still she remained 

 for a long time silent, and it was only after much 

 urgency and many promises not to betray her, that 

 she revealed her momentous secret. 



To-morrow, she said, Pontiac will come to the 

 fort with sixty of his chiefs. Each will be armed 



1 Gouin's Account, MS. 



