At War with Pontiac | Page 5

do it. He's the pluckiest Injun
ever I see, and I've trailed, fust and last, most of the kinds there is. Ef
he warn't, I wouldn't be fussin' over him now, for his tribe is mostly
pizen. But true grit's true grit, whether you find it in white or red, and a
man what values hisself as a man, is bound to appreciate it whenever its
trail crosses his'n."
"A sentiment in which I must heartily concur," assented the major. "A

brave enemy is always preferable to a cowardly friend. But is this
Indian an enemy? To what tribe does he belong?"
"Ottaway," was the laconic answer.
"Ottawa!" exclaimed the major, greatly disconcerted. "Why, the
Ottawas are the firmest allies of France and the most inveterate enemies
of the English. Are you certain he is an Ottawa?"
"Sartain," replied the hunter, with a silent laugh at the other's evident
dismay. "And not only that, but he's the best fighter and best man in the
whole Ottaway tribe. They call him Songa, the strong heart, and I
consate Sir William would be passing glad to exchange one hundred
pounds of the king's money for his scalp to-morrow."
"Why don't you earn it, then?" asked, the other. "Surely one hundred
pounds could not be gained more easily, nor is it a sum of money to be
despised even by an independent American woods-ranger like
yourself."
For answer the hunter rose slowly to his full height, and, holding a
candle above his head, so that its light shone full on the proprietor's
face, regarded him intently for a score of seconds.
"You don't mean it, Major Hester! Thank God, you don't mean it! for
your face belies your words, and proves you to be an honest man," he
said at length. "Ef I thought you meant what you just said, and was one
to tempt a poor man to commit a murder for the sake of gold, I would
never again sit at your table, nor set foot in your house, nor look upon
your face, nor think of you save with the contempt an honest man must
always feel for a villain."
"No, Truman. I did not mean what I said," replied the major, holding
out a hand that was heartily grasped by the other. "I spoke out of
curiosity to hear your reply, though I might have known it would have
the ring of true steel. Now I must return to my wife, and if you will join
us, after you have done what you can for this poor fellow, we will
consult concerning the situation, for it is no light thing to hold Songa

the Ottawa as prisoner in one's house."
CHAPTER III
TRUMAN FLAGG'S STORY
Truman Flagg was a son of one of those hardy New England families
which, ever pushing into the wilderness in the extreme van of
civilization, were the greatest sufferers from the forays of French and
Indians, who every now and then swept down from Canada, like packs
of fierce Northern wolves. In one of these raids his parents were killed,
and the lad was borne away to be adopted among the Caughnawagas,
who dwelt on the St. Lawrence, not far from Montreal. With these
Indians he lived for several years, and having a natural taste for
languages, acquired, during this time, a fair knowledge of the tongues
of most of the Northern tribes, as well as a smattering of French. He
also became well versed in woodcraft, and so thoroughly Indian in
appearance and habit that when he was again captured by a marauding
party of Maquas, or Mohawks, it was not detected that he was of white
blood until he was stripped for the ordeal of the gantlet, in an Iroquois
village. His identity being thus discovered, his latest captors washed
from him his Caughnawaga paint, repainted and reclad him in Mohawk
fashion, and treated him in all respects like a son of the tribe. Having
thus exchanged one form of Indian life for another, Truman Flagg
remained among the Iroquois long enough to master their languages,
and receive the name of Honosagetha, or the man of much talk. Finally,
he attracted the attention of Sir William Johnson, and became one of
the general's interpreters, as well as a counsellor in Indian affairs. After
awhile the forest ranger so fretted against the restraints of civilization
and town life, as he termed that of the frontier settlement clustered
about Johnson Hall on the lower Mohawk, that when Major Hester,
searching for an experienced guide and hunter, offered him the position,
he gladly accepted it. Since then, save when his services were required
as a messenger between Tawtry House and the river settlements, he had
been free to come and go as he pleased, provided he kept