' But for
the Ottawa, not a Saganaw would have escaped; for the
nations were thirsting for their blood, and the knives
of the warriors were eager to open their scalps. Ask the
chief who sits at the right hand of my father," he again
energetically repeated, "if what the Ottawa says is not
true."
"What the Ottawa says is true," rejoined the governor;
"for the chief who sits on my right hand has often said
that, but for the Ottawa, the small number of the warriors
of the Saganaw must have been cut off; and his heart is
big with kindness to the Ottawa for what he did. But if
the great chief meant to be friendly, why did he declare
war after smoking the pipe of peace with the Saganaw?
Why did he destroy the wigwams of the settlers, and carry
off the scalps even of their weak women and children?
All this has the Ottawa done; and yet he says that he
wished to be friendly with my young men. But the Saganaw
is not a fool. He knows the Ottawa chief had no will of
his own. On the right hand of the Ottawa sits the great
chief of the Delawares, and on his left the great chief
of the Shawanees. They have long been the sworn enemies
of the Saganaw; and they came from the rivers that run
near the salt lake to stir up the red skins of the Detroit
to war.
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