226 TREACHERY OF PONTIAC. [1763, May. 



they reached the door of the council-house, a large 

 building standing near the margin of the river. 

 On entering, they saw Gladwyn, with several of 

 his officers, seated in readiness to receive them, and 

 the observant chiefs did not fail to remark that 

 every Englishman wore a sword at his side, and a 

 pair of pistols in his belt. The conspirators eyed 

 each other with uneasy glances. " Why," demanded 

 Pontiac, " do I see so many of my father's young 

 men standing in the street with their guns 1 " 

 Gladwyn replied through his interpreter, La Butte, 

 that he had ordered the soldiers under arms for 

 the sake of exercise and discipline. With much 

 delay and many signs of distrust, the chiefs at 

 length sat down on the mats prepared for them ; 

 and, after the customary pause, Pontiac rose to 

 speak. Holding in his hand the wampum belt 

 which was to have given the fatal signal, he ad- 

 dressed the commandant, professing strong attach- 

 ment to the English, and declaring, in Indian phrase, 

 that he had come to smoke the pipe of peace, 

 and brighten the chain of friendship. The officers 

 watched him keenly as he uttered these hollow 

 words, fearing lest, though conscious that his 

 designs were suspected, he might still attempt to 

 accomplish them. And once, it is said, he raised 

 the wampum belt as if about to give the signal 

 of attack. But at that instant Gladwyn signed 

 slightly with his hand. The sudden clash of arms 

 sounded from the passage without, and a drum 

 rolling the charge ffiled the council-room with its 

 stunning din. At this, Pontiac stood like one con- 



