Bondie nodded. “It is true. The news have just come. Tomorrow Otucka, who lead the Miamis who went with Captain Wells, will take the news to the fort. But that is not all. There is worse to come.”
Stickney caught at the log wall of the building before which he stood. “Worse?” he echoed. “Worse? What worse can there be?”
Bondie shook his head. “There is much worse,” he said. “General Hull have play the coward. He have surrender Detroit and all his men.”
Stickney stared. Then an expression of relief came over his face and he laughed. “Oh! Nonsense!” he exclaimed. “That’s foolishness. Hull surrender! I guess not. Captain Wells and the Fort Dearborn garrison might be cut off, but Hull couldn’t surrender. If the same man told you about Wells, perhaps he’s safe too. Of course you did right to bring me the news and I’m grateful. But it’s all foolishness—just a rumor. Tomorrow we’ll laugh at it.”
“It is no rumor. It is all true. Tomorrow it will be confirm. And even yet that is not all.” Bondie spoke gravely, apparently minding not at all Mr. Stickney’s disbelief in his news. “It was Metea who bring the news from Detroit. It was Winnemac and the Pottawatomies who have kill Captain Wells. Now Winnemac comes to this place with his warriors. Some are here now. In two days the rest will be here. They will attack the fort. In a month the British will come with the big guns to help them. It is true, Monsieur, all true! Sacre nom! Am I one to tell lies? It is all true.”
Stickney dropped weakly into his chair. Bondie’s earnestness and the confirmation which Alagwa’s silence lent had its weight with him. Almost he believed. Shuddering, half from horror and half from illness, he lay silent for a moment.
Then he raised his head. “Have you told Lieutenant Hibbs?” he asked.
Bondie shrugged his shoulders. “Lieutenant Hibbs is a fool,” he said, not angrily, but as one who states a well-known fact. “He speaks with a loud voice, cursing everyone. He will not believe me, no matter what I say. So I come to you.”
Stickney got up. “We must go to him at once,” he said. “Come.” He started down the path toward the fort, then paused and hesitated, glancing at the woman and children beneath the tree. Then he went on. “Poor woman,” he murmured. “Let her be happy a little longer.”
At the gate of the fort the three were compelled to wait while a messenger went to notify Mr. Hibbs that Major Stickney wished to see him on a matter of grave importance. Plainly the captain was not anxious to receive visitors, for it was long before the messenger came back, bringing grudging permission for the three to enter. “The lieutenant’s in the messhall,” he said, carelessly. “He’ll see you there!”