About a week later Conrad came to his wigwam and said, “Go to Ahneota’s lodge. François has a Shawnee brought, vat say you to heem belong.”
This was startling news indeed; François’s revenge!
Rodney lost no time in reporting to the chief, who remarked, “They have been long in coming,” from which it appeared he had expected them.
François, bustling and important, announced a messenger from “our brothers, the Shawnees, who has come for this paleface, a runaway.”
“Let him enter,” replied Ahneota, with dignity.
A villainous looking fellow, accompanied by Caughnega, entered the lodge. Rodney did not recognize him, which was not strange; indeed, he may not have been one of the party that captured the boy.
Having entered, he made formal demand for the return of the captive. To this Ahneota replied: “Our people are at peace with the paleface. They have 100 wronged us, but we wait. Leaves do not fall until the tenth moon. The hatchet is buried. The paleface sits by our fires and smokes the pipe of peace.”
To this the Shawnee responded: “I have come for my prisoner. Our brother would not warm at the fire of the Wyandotte the snake from the lodge of the Shawnee.”
“Do you, my brother, come from the mighty Cornstalk, wise in counsel and fierce in war?”
The Shawnee hesitated, and Ahneota continued: “Has he declared war on the paleface?”