“Humph!” Jack’s face fell. He had counted on finding Tecumseh and receiving the girl from his hands. Just what to do he did not know. If Tecumseh had gone north to join the British, war must be even nearer at hand than he had supposed. Perhaps it had already begun. Whether it had or not his first duty was to the country; he must make sure that the ammunition reached Fort Wayne safely; all private affairs must wait on that! Yet his anxiety as to the girl was growing fast.
“Let my brother listen,” he said. “A month ago a runner from Tecumseh came to me where I dwelt far away on the big sea water to the south. He sent me this belt”—Jack held out the belt—“and he called upon me as a member of the Panther clan, raised up by his mother, Methoataske, to come to Wapakoneta and receive there at his hands a white maiden, Alagwa by name, a kinswoman of my own, who had dwelt in his lodge since the death of her father, the chief Delaroche. Knows my brother of this maiden?”
Blue Jacket bowed. “I know her,” he said.
Jack resumed. “For her I come,” he said. “But I find Tecumseh gone. Know you where he has placed the maiden?”
Blue Jacket did not answer at once. Apparently he was turning the matter over in his mind. Through the hole in the canvas Alagwa watched him narrowly, hanging on his words quite as anxiously as did Jack. At last he beckoned a boy to his side and gave him instructions in a low voice. Then he turned to Jack.
“The maiden was at Wapakoneta in Tecumseh’s lodge yesterday,” he said. “I would say that she was there still but that another white chief—a chief from the north wearing a red coat—came to me an hour ago from Wapakoneta asking tidings of her.”
“A white chief? In a red coat?” Jack gasped. The redcoat officer could be only Brito, but that he should dare to come down from Canada in the existing state of international affairs took Jack’s breath away. “Did he find her?” he asked. “Where is he?”
“He has not found her. He is still here. I have sent for him.” Blue jacket pointed. “He comes!” he finished.
Advancing through the Indian village came a big man in the uniform of a British officer. Alagwa recognized him instantly as he who had claimed kinship with her only the day before. Easily and gracefully he strode along the path toward the wagon. As he drew near his eyes singled out Jack.
“Ah!” he said, halting. “You have news of the girl, fellow? Let me have it at once!”