the drawbridge may be raised on the instant." With the
delivery of these brief instructions he quitted the
rampart with the majority of his officers.

Meanwhile, hasty preparations had been made in the
mess-room to receive the chiefs. The tables had been
removed, and a number of clean rush mats, manufactured,
after the Indian manner, into various figures and devices,
spread carefully upon the floor. At the further end from
the entrance was placed a small table and chair, covered
with scarlet cloth. This was considerably elevated above
the surface of the floor, and intended for the governor.
On either side of the room, near these, were ranged a
number of chairs for the accommodation of the inferior
officers.

Major Blackwater received the chiefs at the gate. With
a firm, proud step, rendered more confident by his very
unwillingness to betray any thing like fear, the tall,
and, as Captain Erskine had justly designated him, the
noble-looking Ponteac trod the yielding planks that might
in the next moment cut him off from his people for ever.
The other chiefs, following the example of their leader,
evinced the same easy fearlessness of demeanour, nor
glanced once behind them to see if there was any thing
to justify the apprehension of hidden danger.

The Ottawa was evidently mortified at not being received
by the governor in person. "My father is not here!" he
said fiercely to the major:--"how is this? The Ottawa