"Hear!" said Pontiac, elevating his wonderful voice, even as he raised his dusky arm with the air of a king, "these are the friends of Pontiac. Let no Indian lift a hand against them, or dare to follow as they pass over the back trail to the swift water. Where this totem hangs, that cabin is secure from the torch, those inmates safe from the hatchet, the flaming arrow, the knife. So long as Pontiac lives let there be peace between the red men and those who bear the name of Armstrong. I have spoken."
Once again he thrust out his hand, and gravely shook that of each of the whites, not even forgetting Kate. And, in the stirring times to come, when the whole border would ring with the wonderful, masterful ability of this organizer and red leader, perhaps there would arise days of alarm when Bob and Sandy would rejoice to know that the word of a chief may never be broken.
So they took their parting look at the village on the Great Lakes, and plunged into the forest. Not a single brave dared to follow them, so great was their fear and respect for the mighty sachem of the Sacs.
Straight to the meeting-place of the five chestnuts Bob led the way. Unerringly he took his companions there, and at the first signal call Kenton and the other three made their appearance.
"What does this magic mean?" asked the borderer, when he saw who was the companion of the Armstrong boys.
"Sure it makes me think I do be draming!" declared Pat O'Mara, as he wrung the hands of those he loved so well; nor did Kate hesitate to throw her arms about the neck of this faithful friend of her parents, so wild with delight was she to see some one from home.
"Sandy did it," replied Bob, hastily, only too glad to tell what a wonderful change in their fortunes the hasty act of his brother had effected. "He stopped Larue from bringing down a club on the head of Pontiac as the chief sat on a log, lost in thought. And, because of that, Pontiac has called us his friends. This totem flag will warn every red-skinned warrior to injure us at the risk of making the chief his deadly foe. And the Armstrong cabin will never be put to the torch, or a single inmate harmed by an Indian so long as Pontiac lives!"
Loud were the expressions of astonishment on the part of the others. Kenton, who saw himself reflected on a small scale in the quick-tempered Sandy, grasped hold of the boy, and shook him almost fiercely by the hand; after which Pat and Abijah, yes, even the undemonstrative Blue Jacket, followed suit.
"It seems almost too good to be true," cried the delighted Kenton. "Not but that it would have been a great thing for the struggling border settlements if Pontiac had been slain here and now; yet how wonderfully that shot won our cause. But what is this you tell us of Larue? We left him yet a prisoner in the cavern back of the cataract. We must see to that!"
He immediately started for the stream, and, as it would not be much out of their route, as they headed for the far-distant Ohio, both boys were quite willing. Besides, they were curious to learn just how the wily French trapper had slipped his bonds.