These were his conditions.
All Iroquois slaves that might be captured were to belong to the
Malhominis to be incorporated in their tribe. The other tribes could
divide the plunder, but the Malhominis needed new blood for adoption.
I must agree to that.
He stopped. I was too sick of mind to speak, and my distemper was not
of my wound. I had builded for this moment for two years, and now that
it had come I was going to turn my back on it. More, I was going to
refuse aid to a man who had succored me, had shown me genuine kindness.
Self-pity is contemptible, but I felt it now.
"I cannot lead you," I said dully. "Gather your troops if you like,
and make the attack without me. I cannot be here. To-morrow I must
start for Michillimackinac. You will give me a canoe and a man?"
The lightning filled the tent and lit our faces, and I saw the chief
start back under the blow of my words. He was shocked out of all his
inherited and acquired phlegm. He did not speak, but he rose and
peered into my eyes and I saw bewilderment go and contempt rise to take
its place. To feel the righteous disdain of an Indian! That is an
unusual experience for a white man.
And still he did not reply.
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