“Do the Washington Americans come to build a big house?”
“Not yet,” said Robert. “A man named Gist is come to open the trail and look upon the land for the Americans.”
“The men of Onas say that the Long Knives of Virginia are coming to settle upon the lands,” Bright Lightning informed. “We shall be driven off. The hearts of the people in Logstown are turning bad.”
And that was so. When Christopher Gist drove his pack horses down the valley to Logstown he was met with black looks and mutterings.
“You will never get home safe,” said Delawares and Shawnees, and even some of the Mingos. “You are here to spy upon the land, and steal it with settlers.”
The Pennsylvania traders stationed here laughed, and encouraged the talk. But Gist acted boldly.
“I am come with a message from the great King across the water,” he answered. “He has sent me to his children. I visit all the Indians to bid them to a great council with their other father, the Governor of Virginia, at Logstown this next spring.”
“I think you had better go on,” Scarouady said to Gist. “Your words shall be spoken by me to Tanacharison, but the forest is better for you than Logstown.”
“I think so, myself,” replied Gist. “I will catch up with Croghan.”
“The Miami have sent a peace belt to the Governor of Pennsylvania, and have told him that their friendship for the English will last while the sun and moon run round the world,” stated Scarouady. “Croghan and his men are safe. You should be safe, for you bear peace words from the King our father and from the Governor of Virginia. But to make you safe I will send with you this boy, whose name is the Hunter. Tanacharison is his father. When the Wyandot and the Shawnee and the Miami see that Tanacharison has lent his son to you they will not dare to harm you. Besides, the boy was born in that country. He knows the trails and maybe he will see his mother again on White Woman’s Creek. A warrior should not forget his mother.”