“Brothers,” Gautier began, “I come to you with a message from your brother Langlade. The white chief in Quebec has sent a messenger to Langlade to ask the help of his red children in the west. This messenger”—he pointed to Joseph Phipps—“is here. He has brought the belt which I give you. Already we have visited the Ottawas, Sioux, Pottawattamies, Menominees, Chippewas, Winnebagoes. Now we come to ask the help of the bravest of the western nations, the Sacs and Foxes.

“Brothers, the white chief in Quebec asks that many braves be sent to fight for the English against the Americans. It would be a terrible thing for the Sac people, brothers, if the English should not win the war against the Americans, for the Americans are bad. They lie to Indians, break their promises to Indians, steal from Indians whenever they have a chance.

“Brothers, the Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawattamies, Sioux and Winnebagoes have agreed to go to the assistance of the English. They are already assembling at Green Bay. The Sacs and Foxes I have saved for the last not only because they are most important, but because I wish the honor of leading them. It is Langlade’s desire that we set out tomorrow for Green Bay. It is his desire that as many warriors as possible from the great Sac people fight in this war; for if the war is lost, the Americans will steal Sac lands, kill Sac women and children, drive buffalo and elk from Sac hunting grounds and empty every lake and river of its fish. They will make slaves of the Sac people and leave them with nothing—without land, food, canoes, guns, or places to lay their heads.”

Gautier’s eyes stabbed at Doc and Verrieul and me, but we returned his gaze stolidly.

Pahokuk took up the belt Gautier had offered, and gave him a kind reply.

“My friend and brother,” he said, “the Sac people are not united concerning the need of helping white men settle their difficulties. They have too many difficulties, anyway.

“Many of us, brother, believe it will be all the same for the Sac nation, no matter who wins this war, since we see no difference between the English and the Americans. Those who come to trade with us are all alike. Not one of them has ever done us a kindness unless he hoped to get something of much greater value in return. Probably, brother, they will never change. Therefore there seems to be no reason why we should fight for either side in preference to the other. Nor does it seem necessary, brother, for us to travel far to the eastward, looking for trouble, when the Sioux and Pawnees are close at hand, trespassing on our hunting grounds. There is always plenty of trouble near at hand, brother, without going beyond the far horizon to seek it.