Thus the renegade thought, and he felt that success would attend the league about to be formed.
Turkey-foot laughed when he saw the renegade shrink from the task of hunting the young She-wolf alone.
“Come!” said the Indian, stepping toward the door, “the braves are returning to the council-house. Do not forget Turkey-foot’s lodge—when sleep shuts the women’s eyes.”
“I will not forget,” said the renegade, and the following moment, the twain were returning to the council-house.
The braves were not surprised at the inaction that followed the escape of the Terror of the Maumee. By many she was believed to be in league with Watchemenetoc, the Evil Spirit, and the bravest shuddered when they thought of following her into the gloomy recesses of the forests.
Presently, as though it had suffered no interruption, the council was resumed, and again the bitterest of Indian invectives were showered upon Wayne, who then watched the building of Fort Defiance.
Joe Girty joined his brother renegades upon the mats within the circle, and with thoughts far from the tempest that was soon to devastate the lovely Maumee valley, he heard the outbursts of Indian eloquence, that frightened the birds from their frail homes, upon the wooded banks of the shimmering stream.
He owned one desire now, and that was to drive a knife into the heart of the boy whom he had snatched from an Indian’s tomahawk, and created a red chief.
The council at last broke up amid the infernal yells that followed Blue Jacket’s peroration.
The objects of the British and renegades were accomplished. All overtures of peace on the part of the Americans were useless now; every warrior of the allied nations had sworn to resist Wayne to the last, and die upon the hunting-grounds of their fathers.