“And what if we decline?” answered Ensign Ward, standing bravely.
“You will suffer the consequences of your rashness,” replied the French officer. “We will take possession just the same.”
Looking past him they could see great guns being unloaded from the large boats and dragged in shore.
“I must have a little time to think,” said Ensign Ward.
The French officer looked at his watch, and he said:
“It is near two o’clock. By three o’clock you must appear at my commander’s camp with your reply in writing, or we shall proceed against your works.”
Tanacharison broke into a rage and threw the wampum belt upon the ground.
“You tell your captain chief I do not know him. There is his belt. He has no rights here, to order me or the English what to do. This is not French land. It is Iroquois land, and my land. I invited the English to come upon it; I ordered a fort to be built and I laid the first log.”
But the officer only turned upon his heel and strode away, together with Owl and Two Drums.