230 TREACHERY OF PONTIAC. [1763, Mat. 



position seemed the more probable ; and be resolved 

 to visit tbe English once more, and convince them, 

 if possible, that their suspicions against him were 

 unfounded. Early on the following morning, he 

 repaired to the fort with three of his chiefs, bearing 

 in his hand the sacred calumet, or pipe of peace, its 

 bowl carved in stone, and its stem adorned mth feath- 

 ers. Offering it to the commandant, he addi'essed 

 him and his officers to the following effect : " My 

 fathers, evil birds have sung lies in your ear. We 

 that stand before you are friends of the English. 

 We love them as our brothers ; and, to prove our 

 love, we have come this day to smoke the pipe of 

 peace." At his departure, he gave the pipe to 

 Captain Campbell, second in command, as a farther 

 pledge of his sincerity. 



That afternoon, the better to cover his designs, 

 Pontiac called the young men of all the tribes 

 to a game of ball, which took place, with great 

 noise and shouting, on the neighboring fields. At 

 nightfall, the garrison were startled by a burst of 

 loud, shrill yells. The drums beat to arms, and 

 the troops were ordered to their posts ; but the 

 alarm was caused only by the victors in the ball 

 play, who were announcing their success by these 

 discordant outcries. Meanwhile, Pontiac was in 

 the Pottawattamie village, consulting with the 

 chiefs of that tribe, and with the Wyandots, by 

 what means they might compass the ruin of the 

 English.^ 



Early on the following morning, Monday, the 



1 Pontiac MS. 



