At War with Pontiac | Page 9

children. They have sunk deep into my heart,
where their refreshing shall ever be as that of cool waters."
In the first faint flush of the coming dawn two dusky figures slipped,
with the silence of shadows, from among the buildings of Tawtry
House, sped across the open, and vanished in the blackness of the forest.
At the same time Truman Flagg, well satisfied with the act just
performed, though wondering as to what would be its results, returned
to his own lodging, flung himself on his couch of skins, and was
quickly buried in slumber.
He was awakened some time later by the voice of his employer, calling,
"Come, Flagg! Turn out! the sun is all of two hours high, and here you
are still sleeping. You ought to be ashamed of yourself."
As the hunter emerged from his cabin, yawning and stretching, the
major continued: "I am on my way to visit our guests, or prisoners, as I
suppose we must now call them, and want you to act as interpreter.
Whether guests or prisoners, we must not allow them to starve, and if
they are half as hungry as I am at this moment, they must feel that they
are in imminent danger of it."
The honest soldier was amazed to find the door of the tool-house
unlocked, and still more so to discover that the place was empty. "What
does it mean?" he cried angrily. "Have we a traitor among us? or is it
witchcraft? Surely no human being, wounded so nigh unto death as was
that Indian but a few hours since, could have effected an escape
unaided."
"You forget that the squaw was with him," suggested the hunter.
"True; though how she could have unlocked the door passes my
understanding. Are you certain that you locked it after admitting her?"
"I am sartain," replied Truman Flagg, "for I tried it afterwards."
A prolonged, though unavailing, search was made through all the

buildings and the adjacent forest that morning. While it was in progress
the major appeared greatly chagrined at the turn of events; but his
outward demeanor concealed an inward satisfaction that he had not
been obliged to abuse the laws of hospitality, by treating his guests as
prisoners.
As for Mrs. Hester, she rejoiced so openly at their escape that the
hunter was finally emboldened to confess to her his share in it, and
deliver the message of the Indian woman.
CHAPTER V
A BABY LOST AND RECOVERED
In the scouting of that morning Truman Flagg took an active part, and
he alone of all who were out discovered the trail of the fleeing Ottawas.
Following it far enough to assure himself that no unfriendly forest
ranger had run across it, he turned his steps in the direction of the
Seneca village. Here, although he was received with a certain coolness,
arising from his participation in the incident of the previous evening, no
affront was offered him, and he had no difficulty in acquiring the
information he desired. Thus he was able to report to Major Hester, on
his return to Tawtry House, that Mahng not only lived, but was in a fair
way to recover from his injury, and that by means of swift runners the
grievance of the Indians had already been laid before Sir William
Johnson.
This report was confirmed on the following day, by the appearance of a
delegation of Seneca chiefs, who brought a note from the governor, and
demanded that Major Hester deliver to them the Ottawa captive. Sir
William's note, though extremely courteous, was very firm, and
contained an unmistakable order for restoration to the Senecas of their
lawful prisoner. It also chided the major for interfering between Indians,
at a risk of disturbing the friendly relations between the English and
their Iroquois neighbors.
With the reading of this note an angry flush mantled the soldier's
bronzed cheeks, and he seemed on the point of expressing his feelings

in forcible language. Controlling himself with a visible effort, and
bidding Truman Flagg interpret his words, he replied to the chiefs as
follows:--
"Brothers: I have listened to your demand and find it a just one. The
talking-paper of the white chief bids me deliver to you a prisoner
known as Songa the Ottawa. The orders of the white chief must be
obeyed, as I would obey this one were it possible to do so, but it is not.
Listen. As I walked before my lodge, a stranger, whom I had never
seen, ran from the forest and fell at my feet. He was bleeding from
many wounds, and exhausted from long running. An enemy followed,
and sought to kill him; when my son, a little child, threw himself across
the stranger's neck and saved his life. Was not that