“How stands Shingis now? Is he friendly to the English?” asked John Davidson, in the Mingo, of Robert.
“The Delawares are of two minds,” answered Robert. “They wait. If the English are strong and give presents, Shingis will be English. If the French are strong and give presents, Shingis will be French. Let Washington talk with him. Who is that fat man with the red nose and the tight shirt? Is he American?”
“Ho ho!” laughed Davidson. “What is that word—American? You see Americans, but you see English, too. That man’s name is Jacob Vanbraam. He is a soldier captain from another white man’s country across the big water which they call Dutch Land. But now he is American-English. He teaches Washington to use the big knife which in English is sword; he speaks the French language and he goes with Washington to talk to the French in the north. We ask Tanacharison to help us on the trail.”
“Wah!” exclaimed the Hunter. “Is Washington a chief?”
“He is a major in the army of Virginia, and commands soldiers.”
“Wah!” uttered Robert. “That is good. He is a man. Tell him I will be a warrior under him, to fight the French. Now I go and tell Scarouady Washington is come against the French, and to make ready.”
Then the Hunter ran for his canoe. When he shoved out, the canoe from John Fraser’s, with two men in it, was coming in to meet Washington. The Hunter paddled across, and got on his horse and went at a gallop, full of news for Logstown.
First he saw Bright Lightning.
“What is it? The French?” she asked.
“It is Washington with men, for Logstown.”