CHAPTER IX
AT DETROIT
Henry missed nothing as he went on with the warriors. He saw many lodgesof Indians, and some cabins occupied by French-Canadians. In places theforest had been cleared away to make fields for Indian corn, wheat andpumpkins. Many columns of smoke rose in the clear spring air, anddirectly ahead, where he saw a cluster of such columns, Henry knew thefort to be. Timmendiquas kept straight on, and the walls of the fortcame into view.
Detroit was the most formidable fortress that Henry had yet seen. Itswalls, recently enlarged, were of oak pickets, rising twenty-five feetabove the ground and six inches in diameter at the smaller end. It hadbastions at every corner, and four gates, over three of which were builtstrong blockhouses for observation and defense. The gates faced the fourcardinal points of the compass, and it was the one looking towards thesouth that was without a blockhouse. There was a picket beside everygate. The gates were opened at sunrise and closed at sunset, but thewickets were left open until 9 o'clock at night.
This fortification, so formidable in the wilderness, was armed in amanner fitting its strength. Every blockhouse contained foursix-pounders and two batteries of six large guns each, faced the river,which was only forty feet away and with very steep banks. Inside thegreat palisade were barracks for five hundred men, a brick store, aguard house, a hospital, a governor's house, and many other buildings.At the time of Henry's arrival about four hundred British troops werepresent, and many hundreds of Indian warriors. The fort was thoroughlystocked with ammunition and other supplies, and there were also manyEnglish and Canadian traders both inside and outside the palisade.
The British had begun the erection of another fort, equally powerful, atsome distance from the present one, but they were not far advanced withit at that time. The increase in protective measures was due to amessage that they had received from the redoubtable George Rogers Clark,the victor of Vincennes and Kaskaskia, the man who delivered theheaviest of all blows against the British, Indian and Tory power in theNorthwest. He had said that he was coming to attack them.
Henry asked no questions, but he watched everything with the mostintense curiosity. The warriors of Timmendiquas stopped about threehundred yards from the palisade, and, without a word to anyone, began tolight their camp fires and erect lodges for their chiefs. Girty,Blackstaffe, and Wyatt went away toward the fort, but Henry knew wellthat Timmendiquas would not enter until messengers came to receive him.Henry himself sat down by one of the fires and waited as calmly as if hehad been one of the band. While he was sitting there, Timmendiquas cameto him.
"Ware," he said, "we are now at the great post of the King, and you willbe held a prisoner inside. I have treated you as well as I could. Isthere anything of which you wish to complain?"
"There is nothing," replied Henry. "Timmendiquas is a chief, great alikeof heart and hand."
The Wyandot smiled slightly. It seemed that he was anxious for the goodopinion of his most formidable antagonist. Henry noticed, too, that hewas in his finest attire. A splendid blue blanket hung from hisshoulders, and his leggings and moccasins of the finest tanned deerskinwere also blue. Red Eagle and Yellow Panther, who stood not far away,were likewise arrayed in their savage best.
"We are now about to go into the fort," said Timmendiquas, "and you areto go with us, Ware."
Four British officers were approaching. Their leader was a stocky man ofmiddle age in the uniform of a colonel. It would have been apparent toanyone that the Wyandot chief was the leader of the band, and theofficers saluted him.
"I am speaking to Timmendiquas, the great White Lightning of theWyandots, am I not?" he asked.
"I am Timmendiquas of the Wyandots, known in your language as WhiteLightning," replied the chief gravely.
"I am Colonel William Caldwell of the King's army," said the chief, "andI am sent by Colonel de Peyster, the commandant at Detroit, to bid youwelcome, and to ask you and your fellow chiefs to meet him within thewalls. My brother officers and I are to be your escort of honor, and weare proud of such a service."
Henry saw at once that Caldwell was a man of abundant experience withthe Indians. He knew their intense pride, and he was going to see thatTimmendiquas and the other chiefs were received in a manner befittingtheir station among their own people.
"It is well," said Timmendiquas. "We will go with you and Ware will gowith us."
"Who is Ware?" asked Caldwell, as Henry stood up. At the same time theEnglishman's eyes expressed admiration. The height and splendid figureof the youth impressed him.
"Ware, though young, is the greatest of all the white warriors," repliedTimmendiquas. "He is my prisoner and I keep him with me until Manitoutells me what I shall do with him."
His tone was final. Caldwell was a clever man, skilled in forestdiplomacy. He saw that nothing was to be gained, and that much might belost by opposing the will of Timmendiquas.
"Of course he comes with you if you wish it, White Lightning," he said."Now may we go? Colonel de Peyster awaits us to do you honor."
Timmendiquas inclined his head and he, with nine other chiefs, includingYellow Panther and Red Eagle, and with Henry in the center, startedtoward the fort. The British officers went with Colonel Caldwell,marching by the side of Timmendiquas. They approached the western gate,and, when they were within a few yards of it, a soldier on top of thepalisade began to play a military air on a bugle. It was an inspiringtune, mellow and sweet in the clear spring air, and Caldwell looked upproudly. The chiefs said not a word, but Henry knew that they werepleased. Then the great gate was thrown open and they passed between twofiles of soldiers, who held their rifles at attention. The music of thebugle ceased, the great gate closed behind them, and the Indians andtheir escort marched on towards an open square, where a corps of honor,with the commander himself at their head, was drawn up to receive them.
Henry's gaze turned at once towards the commander, whose name filled himwith horror and detestation. Arent Schuyler de Peyster had succeeded toHamilton, the "hair buyer," captured by George Rogers Clark and sent inchains to Virginia. He had shown great activity in arming and incitingthe Indians against the settlers in Kentucky, and Henry hated him allthe more because he was an American and not an Englishman. He could notunderstand how an American, Tory though he might be, could send his ownpeople to fire and the stake, and doom women and little children to ahorrible death.
Arent Schuyler de Peyster, born in the city of New York, was now a manof middle years, strongly built, haughty in manner, proud of his familyand of his rank in the army of the King. He was confident that the royalarms would triumph ultimately, and, meanwhile he was doing his best tocurb the young settlements beyond the Ohio, and to prevent the rebelextension to the West. Now the expedition of Bird had gone forth fromDetroit against Kentucky and he was anxious to send another and greaterone which should have as its core the Wyandots, the bravest and mostdaring of all the western tribes. He had never seen Timmendiquas before,but he was familiar with his name, and, after a single glance, it wasimpossible to mistake him. His roving eye also saw the tall white youth,and, for the present, he wondered, but his mind soon turned to hiswelcome to the warlike chief.
A salute of four guns was fired from one of the batteries in thebastion. Then Colonel de Peyster greeted Timmendiquas and after him, theother chiefs one by one. He complimented them all upon their bravery andtheir loyalty to the King, their great white father across the ocean. Herejoiced to hear of their great deeds against the rebels, and promisedthem splendid rewards for the new deeds they would achieve. Then, sayingthat they had marched far and must be hungry and tired, he invited themto a feast which he had prepared, having been warned by a runner oftheir coming.
Timmendiquas, Red Eagle, and Yellow Panther heard him in silence andwithout a change of countenance, but the eyes of the other chiefssparkled. They loved blankets of brilliant colors, beads, and the manygaudy trinkets that were sold or given away at the post. New rifles andfresh ammunition, also, would be acceptable, and,
in order to deservethan in increasing quantities, they resolved that the next quest forscalps should be most zealous.
Having finished his address, which had been studied carefully, dePeyster nodded toward Henry.
"A new recruit, I suppose," he said. "One who has seen the light. Truly,he is of an admirable figure, and might do great service in our cause.But he bears no arms."
Henry himself answered before Timmendiquas could say a word, and heanswered all the more promptly, because he knew that the renegades,Girty, Wyatt and Blackstaffe had drawn near and were listening.
"I am no recruit," he said. "I don't want to die, but I'd sooner do itthan make war upon my own people as you and your friends are doing,Colonel de Peyster, and be responsible for the murder of women andchildren, as you and your friends are. I was at Wyoming and I saw theterrible deeds done there. I am no renegade and I never can be one."
The face of the well-fed Colonel flushed an apoplectic purple, andBraxton Wyatt thrust his hand to the butt of the pistol in his belt, butGirty, inured to everything, laughed and said:
"Don't take it so hard, young man."
"Then tell us who you are!" exclaimed Colonel de Peyster angrily.
Now it was Timmendiquas who replied.
"He is my prisoner," he said. "He is the most valiant of all theKentuckians. We took him after a great struggle in which he overthrewmany of our young men. I have brought him as a present to you atDetroit."
Did the words of Timmendiquas contain some subtle irony? De Peysterlooked at him sharply, but the coppery face of the great chief expressednothing. Then the diplomacy which he was compelled to practiceincessantly with his red allies came to his aid.
"I accept the present," he replied, "because he is obviously a finespecimen of the _genus_ rebel, and we may be able to put him to use. MayI ask your name, young sir?"
"Ware--Henry Ware."
"Very well, Master Ware, since you are here with us, you can join in thelittle banquet that we have prepared, and see what a happy family theKing's officers and the great chiefs make."
Now it was de Peyster who was ironical. The words of Henry aboutrenegades and Wyoming and the slaying of women and children had stunghim, but he would not show the sting to a boy; instead, he would let himsee how small and weak the Kentuckians were, and how the King's men andthe tribes would be able to encompass their complete destruction.
"Timmendiquas has given you to me as my prisoner," he said, "but for anhour or two you shall be my guest."
Henry bowed. He was not at all averse. His was an inquiring mind, and ifde Peyster had anything of importance to show, he wished to see it.
"Lead the way, Catesby," said the commandant to a young officer,evidently an aide.
Catesby proceeded to a large house near the north end of the court.Colonel de Peyster and Timmendiquas, side by side, followed him. Theothers came in a group.
Catesby led them into a great room, evidently intended as a publicbanquet hall, as it had a long and wide table running down its center.But several large windows were opened wide and Henry conjectured thatthis effect--half out of doors--was created purposely. Thus it would bea place where the Indian chiefs could be entertained without feelingshut in.
Colonel de Peyster evidently had prepared well. Huge metal dishes heldbear meat, buffalo meat and venison, beef and fish. Bread and all theother articles of frontier food were abundant. Four soldiers stood byas waiters. De Peyster sat at the head of the table with Timmendiquas onhis right and Simon Girty on his left. Henry had a seat almost at thefoot, and directly across the table from him was the frowning face ofBraxton Wyatt. Colonel Caldwell sat at the foot of the table and severalother British or Tory officers also were present. The food was servedbountifully, and, as the chiefs had come a long distance and werehungry, they ate with sharp appetites. Many of them, scorning knives andforks, cracked the bones with their hands. For a long time the Indianspreserved the calm of the woods, but Colonel de Peyster was bland andbeaming. He talked of the success of the King's army and of the Indianarmies. He told how the settlements had been destroyed throughoutWestern New York and Pennsylvania, and he told how those of Kentuckywould soon share the same fate. A singular spirit seemed to possess him.The Americans, patriots or rebels, as they were variously called, alwayshated the Tories more bitterly than they hated the English, and thishatred was returned in full measure.
Now it seemed to Henry that de Peyster intended his remarks largely forhim. He would justify himself to the captive youth, and at the same timeshow him the power of the allied Indians, Tories, and English. He talkedquite freely of the great expedition of Bird and of the cannon that hecarried with him.
"I don't think that your palisades will stand before heavy cannon balls,will they, Ware?"
"I fear not," replied Henry, "and it is likely that many of our peoplewill suffer, but you must bear in mind, Colonel de Peyster, thatwhenever a man falls in Kentucky another comes to take his place. We arefighting for the land on which we stand, and you are fighting for analien ruler, thousands of miles away. No matter how many defeats we maysuffer, we shall win in the end."
De Peyster frowned.
"You do not know the strength of Britain," he said, "nor do you know thepower of the warriors. You say that you were at Wyoming. Well, you haveseen what we could do."
Girty broke into a sneering laugh at Henry and then seconded the wordsof his chief.
"All we want is union and organization," he said. "Soon our own troopsand the red warriors will form one army along the whole line of the war.The rebel cause is already sinking in the East, and in another year theKing will be triumphant everywhere."
Girty was a crafty man, something of a forest statesman. He had giventhe Indians much help on many occasions and they usually deferred tohim. Now he turned to them.
"When Colonel Bird achieves his victories south of the Ohio, as he issure to do," he said, "and when Timmendiquas and his great force marchesto destroy all that is left, then you, O chiefs, will have back yourhunting grounds for your villages and your people. The deer and thebuffalo will be as numerous as ever. Fire will destroy the houses andthe forests will grow where they have been. Their cornfields willdisappear, and not a single one of the Yengees will be found in yourgreat forests beyond the Beautiful River."
The nostrils of the chiefs dilated. A savage fire, the desire forscalps, began to sparkle in the dark eyes of the wilderness children. Atthis crucial moment of excitement Colonel de Peyster caused cups to bebrought and wine to be passed. All drank, except Henry and the greatchief, the White Lightning of the Wyandots. De Peyster himself felt theeffect of the strong liquor, and Girty and Wyatt did not seek to hideit.
"There is fire in your veins, my children," exclaimed de Peyster. "Youwill fight for the King. You will clear the woods of the rebels, and hewill send you great rewards. As a proof of what he will do he gives youmany presents now."
He made a signal and the soldiers began to bring in gifts for thechiefs, gifts that seemed to them beautiful and of great value. Therewere silver-mounted rifles for Timmendiquas, Red Eagle, Yellow Panther,and also for another Shawnee chief of uncommon ferocity, Moluntha. Theireyes sparkled as they received them, and all uttered thanks exceptTimmendiquas, who still did not say a word. Then came knives, hatchets,blankets--always of bright colors--beads and many little mirrors. TheIndians were excited with the wine and the variety and splendor of thepresents. A young chief, Yahnundasis, a Shawnee, sprang from the tableand burst into a triumphant chant:
The great chief beyond the seas Sends us the rifle and the knife; He bids us destroy the hated Yengees, And the day of our wrath has come.
We search the forest for white scalps; The cannon, the great guns will help us, Not a foe in Kentucky will be left, None can escape the rage of the warriors.
He sang other verses in the Shawnee tongue, and all the while he wasgrowing more excited with his chant and leapings. He drew his tomahawkand swung it in a glittering circle above his
head. The red and blackpaint upon his face, moistened by his own perspiration, dripped slowlyupon his shoulders. He was a wild and terrible figure, a true exponentof primitive savagery, but no one interfered with him. In the minds ofthe renegades he awoke corresponding emotions.
Caldwell at the foot of the table looked inquiringly at de Peyster atthe head of it, but de Peyster raised neither hand nor voice to staydance and song. It may be that the wine and the intoxication of so wilda scene had gone to his own head. He listened attentively to the song,and watched the feet of the dancer, while he drummed upon the table withhis forefingers. One of the chiefs took from his robe a small whistlemade of the bone of an eagle, and began to blow upon it a shrillmonotonous tune. This inflamed the dancer still further, and he grewwilder and wilder. The note of the whistle, while varying but little,was fierce, piercing, and abundant. It thrilled the blood of red men andwhite, all save Timmendiquas, who sat, face and figure alike unmoving.
Yahnundasis now began to gaze steadily at Henry. However he gyrated, hedid not take his eyes from those of the captive youth. Henry's bloodchilled, and for a moment stopped its circulation. Then it flowed in itswonted tide, but he understood. Yahnundasis was seeing red. Like theMalay he was amuck. At any moment he might throw the glittering hatchetat the prisoner. Henry recognized the imminence of his danger, but hesteeled his nerves. He saw, too, that much depended upon himself, uponthe power of the spirit that radiated from his eyes. Hence, he, too,looked steadily into the eyes of Yahnundasis. He poured all his nervousstrength and force into the gaze.
He felt that he was holding the dancing chief in a sort of a spell bythe power of a spirit greater than that of Yahnundasis. Yet it could notlast; in a minute or two the chief must break the charm, and then,unless someone interfered, he would cast the tomahawk. Obviously theinterference should come from de Peyster. But would he do it? Henry didnot dare take his eyes from those of Yahnundasis in order to look at theTory Colonel.
The savage now was maddened completely with his song, the dance, andthe wine that he had drunk. Faster and faster whirled the hatchet, butwith his powerful gaze deep into the eyes of the other, Henry stillsought to restrain the hand that would hurl the deadly weapon. It becamea pain, both physical and mental, to strain so. He wanted to look aside,to see the others, and to know why they did not stop so wild a scene. Hewas conscious of a great silence, save for the singing and dancing ofthe Indian and the beating of his own heart. He felt convinced now thatno one was going to interfere, and his hand stole towards one of thelarge knives that had been used for cutting meat.
The voice of Yahnundasis rose to a shriek and he leaped like asnake-dancer. Henry felt sure that the tomahawk was going to come, butwhile he yet stared at the savage he caught a glimpse of a tall,splendidly arrayed figure springing suddenly upright. It wasTimmendiquas and he, too, drew a tomahawk. Then with startling quicknesshe struck Yahnundasis with the flat of the blade. Yahnundasis fell as ifhe had been slain. The tomahawk flew wildly from his hand, and darkblood from his broken crown mingled with the red and black paint on hisface. Timmendiquas stood up, holding his own tomahawk threateningly, anangry look darting from his eyes.
"Take him away," he said, indicating Yahnundasis, in a contemptuoustone. "To-morrow let him nurse his bruised head and reflect that it isnot well to be a fool. It is not meet that a warrior, even be he achief, should threaten a prisoner, when we come to a feast to talk ofgreat things."
As a murmur of assent came from the chiefs about him, he resumed hisseat in dignified silence. Henry said nothing, nor did he allow hiscountenance to change, but deep in his heart he felt that he owedanother debt to the Wyandot chieftain. De Peyster and Caldwell exchangedglances. Both knew that they had allowed the affair to go too far, butboth alike resented the stern rebuke contained in the words ofTimmendiquas. Yet each glance said the same, that it was wise todissimulate and take no offense.
"You have spoken well, as usual, Timmendiquas," said Colonel de Peyster."Now as you and the other chiefs are rested after your long march wewill talk at once of the great things that we have in mind, since timeis of value. Colonel Bird with the cannon has gone against Kentucky. AsI have already said we wish to send another force which will seek outand destroy every station, no matter how small, and which will not evenleave a single lone cabin unburned. Colonel Caldwell will command thewhite men, but you, Timmendiquas, and the allied tribes will have thegreater task and the greater glory. The King will equip you amply forthe work. He will present a rifle, much ammunition and a fine blanket toevery warrior who goes. Rifles, blankets and ammunition are all in ourstorehouses here in Detroit, and they will be distributed the moment theexpedition starts."
The renegades clapped their hands. Most of the chiefs uttered cries ofapproval and shook their tomahawks in exultation, but Timmendiquasremained silent.
"Does it not appeal to you, Timmendiquas?" said de Peyster. "You havebeen the most zealous of all the chiefs. You have led great attacksagainst the settlers, and you have been most eager in battle."
Timmendiquas rose very deliberately and speaking in Wyandot, whichnearly all present understood, he said:
"What the Colonel of the King says is true. I have fought many timeswith the Kentuckians, and they are brave men. Sometimes we have beatenthem, and sometimes they have beaten us. They have great warriors,Clark, Boone, Kenton, Harrod and the tall youth who sits here, mycaptive. Let not the colonel of the King forget that with Clark at theirhead they crossed the Ohio, took Vincennes and Kaskaskia and him whowas then the commander of Detroit, Hamilton, now held prisoner in a farland beyond the mountains."
De Peyster's face flushed darkly, and the other white men moveduneasily.
"The things you tell are true, Timmendiquas," said de Peyster, "but whatbearing do they have upon our expedition?"
"I wish to speak of many things," resumed the chief. "I am for war tothe end against those who have invaded our hunting grounds. But let notColonel de Peyster and Caldwell and Girty forget that the villages ofthe Indians lie between Kaintuckee and Detroit."
"What of it?" said de Peyster. "The Kentuckians reduced so low will notdare to come against them."
"That we do not know," said Timmendiquas. "When we destroy the men inKaintuckee others come to take their places. It is the duty of theWyandots and all the allied tribes to look into the future. Listen, OColonel of the King. I was at Wyoming in the East when the Indians andtheir white friends won a great victory. Never before had I seen such ataking of scalps. There was much joy and feasting, dancing and singing.It was the Iroquois, the great Six Nations who won the victory, and theythought that their Aieroski, who is our Manitou, would never forsakethem. They swept the whole valley of Wyoming and many other valleys.They left the country as bare as my hand. But it was not the end."
Timmendiquas seemed to grow in stature, and he looked fiercely into theeyes of the English officers. Despite themselves de Peyster and Caldwellquailed.
"It was not the end," continued Timmendiquas, and his tone was severeand accusing. "The Iroquois had destroyed the rear of the Yengees andgreat were the thanks of the King's men. The mighty Thayendanegea, theMohawk, was called the first of all warriors, but the great chief ofthe Long Knives far away in the East did not forget. By and by a greatarmy came against the Iroquois. Where were the King's men then? Few cameto help. Thayendanegea had to fight his battle almost alone. He wasbeaten, his army was scattered like sand before the wind, and the armyof the Long Knives trod out the Iroquois country. Their great villageswent up in flames, their Council Houses were destroyed, the orchardsthat had been planted by their grandfathers were cut down, their fieldswere deserted, the whole Iroquois country was ruined, and the SixNations, never before conquered, now huddle by the British posts atNiagara and Oswego for shelter."
"It is a great misfortune, but the brave Iroquois will repair it," saidde Peyster. "Why do you tell of it, Timmendiquas?"
"For this reason," replied the chief. "The Iroquois would not have beenwithout a count
ry, if the King's men had helped them as they had helpedthe King's men. Shall we, in the West, the Wyandots, the Shawnees, theMiamis and the others meet the same fate? Shall we go againstKaintuckee, destroy the settlements there, and then, when an avengingarmy comes against our villages, lose our country, because the King'smen who should help us are far away, as the Iroquois lost theirs?"
He folded his arms across his broad chest and, stern and accusing,awaited the answer. De Peyster quailed again, but he quickly recovered.He was a flexible man skilled in diplomacy, and he saw that he mustpromise, promise much and promise it in convincing tones. He noticedmoreover the deep murmur of approval that the chiefs gave to the wordsof White Lightning. Then he in turn rose also and assuming his mostimposing manner said:
"On behalf of the King, Timmendiquas, I promise you the help of his fullstrength. It is not likely that the Kentuckians will ever be able tocome against your villages, but if they do I will march forth with allmy force to your help. Nay, I will send East for others, to Niagara andOswego and to Canada. It shall never be said of us that we deserted thetribes in their hour of need, if such an hour should come. I myselfwould gladly march now against these intruders if my duty did not holdme here."
He looked around the table and his eye encountered Caldwell's. Theofficer instantly saw his cue and springing to his feet he cried:
"What our brave commander says is true, Timmendiquas. I myself and someof our best men, we will fight beside you."
Now the chiefs murmured approval of the words of de Peyster andCaldwell, as they had approved those of Timmendiquas. The great Wyandothimself seemed to be convinced, and said that it was well. Henry hadlistened to it all in silence, but now de Peyster turned his attentionto him.
"I think that we have given enough of our hospitality to this prisoner,"he said, "and since you have turned him over to me, Timmendiquas, I willsend him to a place which will hold him for a while."
Henry rose at once.
"I am willing to go," he said. "I thank you for your food and drink, butI think I shall feel more at home in any prison that you may have thanhere among those who are planning the destruction of my people."
Girty was about to speak, but de Peyster waved his hand, and the wordsstopped unsaid.
"Take him to the jail, Holderness," he said to one of the youngerofficers. "He can wait there. We shall have plenty of time to decideconcerning his fate."
Henry walked by the side of the officer across the court. Holderness wasquite young, ruddy, and evidently not long in America. He looked withadmiration at Henry's height and magnificent shoulders.
"You are from that far land they call Kaintuckee?" he said.
"Yes."
"One of the best of the countries belonging to the Indians?"
"It is a good country, but I do not know that it ever belonged to theIndians. No doubt they have hunted there and fought there for hundredsof years, but so far as I know, they've never lived there."
"Then it belongs to the King," said Holderness.
Henry smiled. He rather liked this ingenuous young man who was not mucholder than himself.
"A country like Kentucky," he replied, "belongs to those who can holdit. Once the French King claimed it, but how could he enforce a claim toa country separated from him by thousands of miles of sea andwilderness? Now the English King makes the same claim, and perhaps hehas a better chance, but still that chance is not good enough."
The young officer sighed a little.
"I'm sorry we have to fight you," he said. "I've heard ugly tales sinceI came about the savages and the white men, too."
"You're likely to hear more," said Henry. "But this I take it is ourjail."
"It is. I'll go in and see that you're as comfortable as possible."
The Border Watch: A Story of the Great Chief's Last Stand Page 11