And this stood them in good stead now, for when others would have detected nothing, they suddenly stopped dead in their tracks, dropped upon their hands and knees, and crept cautiously forward.  Never did panthers move more warily than did those two human sleuth-hounds approach the unsuspecting men gathered from various places for the important council.  From creeping they dropped into crawling, with their bodies close to the ground.  In this manner they ere long came near the water, and not far from where the rebels were assembled.  Here, concealed by night and a thick clump of small fir bushes, they were able to watch all that was taking place, and to hear every word uttered.

Ever since Pete had brought him word of this council a great fear had been tugging at Dane’s heart.  He said nothing, however, about it to his companion, but as he rapidly and anxiously scanned the faces of the men gathered about the big main fire, he breathed a sigh of relief.  The one he feared might be present was not there.  A weight was now lifted from his mind, so he felt in a better mood to spy upon the band before him.

He knew them all, Indians, English-speaking renegades from New England, and half-breeds.  It was a motley gathering, and as he listened to the drifting conversation before the actual pow-wow began, he realised how bitter was the hatred to the English that rankled strong in every breast.  The half-breeds had an old score to settle, and this was another desperate attempt on their part to arouse the dissatisfied natives against the Loyalists.

For a time it was an orderly gathering, and as the men ate of the abundance of food which had been provided, they talked in a quiet manner.  But when the rum, of which there seemed to be no end, was passed around all became more talkative.  They harangued, cursed, and wrangled with one another until it appeared to the concealed watchers that the whole affair would end in a fizzle.  But Flazeet, the half-breed leader, seemed to be perfectly satisfied, and at times a grim smile overspread his dark brutal face.

Leaping at length to his feet, he ordered his companions to be silent.  When he spoke in such a peremptory tone, they knew that it was well for them to obey, so after a little grumbling they settled down to listen to what he had to say.

Flazeet understood the Indian language, and was also well acquainted with the natives, so it was to them he now addressed his words.  He told them first of all of the greatness of their race, and that the Great Spirit had given to their forefathers the land on which they lived.  It was theirs, and no one had any right to take it from them.  But strangers were coming in, and King George was going to take their hunting-grounds away and give them to others.  And who were these newcomers?  They were people who had been driven out of their own country for their badness.  They had fought against the great white