FOUR DAYS AT DETROIT, 295 



replied that he had just been drilling them io- preserve 

 discipline and that it was moreover a custom with the 

 English to thus honor their guests. These suavely 

 spoken words failed to reassure the chief, who sat 

 down for a few moments without speaking ; but hav- 

 ing recovered his self-possession and assuming with it 

 an habitual expression of stoical defiance, he arose and 

 began his harangue. Gladwyn, he noticed, instead of 

 listening to what was being said, kept his eyes stead- 

 fastly upon the movements of the other Indians, and 

 when the belt of wampum was taken up and the chief 

 beo^an to reverse it in his hands — the sio^nal for attack 

 — Gladwyn made a quick motion and in an instant the 

 dusky semicircle was startled by the grounding of 

 arms and the beating of drums. 



Thus interrupted and foiled, Pontiac took his seat 

 in silence. Gladwyn then arose, and began his speech 

 as though nothing; unusual had occurred ; but after a 

 few moments he changed his tone, accused Pontiac of 

 treachery, and stepping quickly to the nearest Indian 

 threw open his blanket and disclosed the hidden 

 weapon. He then told Pontiac to leave the fort at 

 once, assuring him that he would be allowed to go in 

 safety. The unfortunate result of this act of clemency 

 was very soon felt, for as soon as the Indians were 

 outside of the gates, they turned and fired upon the 

 garrison, thus beginning the terrible siege which was 

 to last fifteen months. 



Autumn approached, and, as the crops were poor, 

 several of the tribes withdrew for the winter, but 

 Pontiac, untiring in his efforts to harass his enemies, 

 remained, sending messages in the meantime to several 

 of the French posts, asking their help. In November 



