“Yes. I went with the red-coat captain to hunt for him and Washington on the trail to Venango two winters ago.”
“I can see you are a brave boy and speak the truth,” said Langlade, smoothly. “You will be a warrior.” And he asked of the Buck:
“You are Oneida. You have a father?”
“Wah!” the Buck uttered proudly. “I tell no lies. My father is a great chief of the Oneida Mingo. He is Scarouady. The Ottawa and Huron have heard of him.”
“Scarouady!” The word was repeated. Yes, the French Indians had heard of Scarouady.
“It is well,” said Langlade. “We do not wish to war with Tanacharison and Scarouady. The French father has sent for them, and we wait for them to come. If they have listened to lies and have thought of taking up the hatchet for the English, that shall be forgotten. Onontio is generous, and loves the Mingo like he loves the Delaware, the Shawnee, the Ottawa and the Huron. All are his children. Now you shall stay and see what manner of men the men of Onontio are. Then when you go back safe, the Seneca and the Oneida will know.”
“When we go back safe,” remarked the Buck, a little later, to the Hunter. “Wah! That may not be for a long time.”
That sounded like sense. Following Langlade’s pleasant speech, as if they had received orders the Ottawas and the Hurons were very friendly indeed. They offered food, and dry moccasins, and even the haughty Pontiac wheedled the two “young warriors from our brothers.” Now all the talk was of the strong French and of the weak English, and of the love of Onontio for the Senecas and Oneidas, and of the presents to be had at Fort Duquesne, and of the French traders who were so much more generous than the English traders, and of the foolishness of depending upon the English anyway. The English had been driven out forever; the white flag of the King of France was greater than that red flag of the English King; all the Ohio Country belonged to the French and to their brothers the Indians.
“Our two young brothers shall come with us to the French fort and see, so that they may understand,” the Ottawas and Hurons prated.
“We thank the Ottawa and Huron, but the fort at Dekanawida is far and we must go to Aukwick,” the Buck answered. “We have seen the strength of Onontio and will go in the morning and tell the Mingo chiefs at Aukwick.”