"The Miamis have already been approached by Indian runners, and their
young men are restless. It was only because I am the adopted son of
Big Turtle, and a recognized warrior of their tribe, that these have
consented to accompany me; and I fear they may desert at the first sign
of a hostile meeting," he answered gravely. "There is an Indian
conspiracy forming, and a most dangerous one, involving, so far as I
can learn, every tribe north of the Ohio. Now that war with England
has actually been declared, there can no longer be doubt that the
chiefs will take sides with the British. They have everything to gain
and little to lose by such action. The rumor was at Fort Wayne, even
before we left, that Mackinac had already fallen; and if that prove
true, every post west of the Alleghanies is in danger. I fear that
death and flame will sweep the whole frontier; and I frankly
acknowledge, Wayland, my only hope in this expedition is that, by hard
travel, we may be able to reach Chicagou and return again before the
outbreak comes. Tom Burns, an old scout of Wayne's, and a settler in
that country, was at Fort Wayne a month since with an urgent message
from the commandant at Dearborn. I tell you frankly, it will be touch
and go with us."

"Chicagou?" I questioned, for the word was one I had heard but once
before and was of an odd sound.

"Ay! old Au Sable called it the Chicagou portage long before the fort
named Dearborn was ever established there. 'T is the name the French
applied to a small river entering the Great Lake from the west at that
point."

"Have you journeyed there before?"