“Yes.”
“It may not be easy. Denonville doesn’t know the Iroquois as you and I do. He is elated now about his victory,––he thinks he has settled the question of white supremacy. If I were to tell him to-morrow that he has only made a bitter enemy of the Senecas, and that they will not rest until they wipe out this defeat, do you suppose he would believe it? You have given a pledge to the Iroquois that is entirely outside of the Governor’s view of military precedent. To tell the truth, Menard, I don’t believe he will like it.”
“Why not?”
“He doesn’t know the strength of the Five Nations. He thinks they would all flee before our regulars just as the Senecas did. Worse 386 than that, he doesn’t know the Indian temperament. I’m afraid you can’t make him understand that to satisfy their hunger for revenge will serve better than a score of orations and treaties.”
“You think he won’t touch La Grange?”
“I am almost certain of it.”
“Then it rests with me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I gave another pledge, d’Orvilliers. If the Governor won’t do this––I shall have to do it myself.”
Save for a moment’s hesitation Menard’s voice was cool and even; but he had stopped walking and was looking closely at the commandant.