"The time is not yet ripe, such was the word given to me by Foot-in-His-Mouth. Many of the Indians are not yet ready for the war." "Bah! we shall never be ready!" cried the other red man in disgust, and turned away. For the rest of the day Flat Nose waited impatiently for the coming of Bevoir and Jacques Valette. When at last he saw them approaching he ran to meet them. As best he could he related what he had seen and heard at the Indian village. Jacques Valette listened in moody silence, but ere Flat Nose had finished a crafty look came into Jean Bevoir's face. "Ha, it will be a master stroke!" he cried, in French. "A master stroke--if only I can get this Dave Morris in my power! Flat Nose did well to tell me." "Perhaps we shall burn our fingers," growled Jacques Valette, who was none the brighter for having drank several glasses of liquor that afternoon. "No, no, Jacques! Not if we keep our wits about us. I must find out why they have made him their prisoner!" "And what think you to do then?" asked Valette, exhibiting some interest at last. "Think? Can you not see? If Pontiac will only turn the youth over to our tender mercies, we shall hold all of the Morrises in our power." "I see not how." "Jacques, you are growing stupid. 'Tis as clear as glass. We are becoming hard pressed. Glotte has disappeared and Bergerac has deserted us and gone over to the enemy--" "He should have his neck wrung for him!" muttered Valette. "I agree. He has most likely told them everything. The English are in power--" "But not for long, Jean, not for long!" "About that I am not so sure. The news from France would seem to point to the fact that our country will give up everything for the sake of peace. Half of the red men are already the friends of the English, and more will follow, if France does nothing to aid Pontiac and his followers." "Pontiac is strong--he will strike a terrible blow when all his plans are complete." "I think that myself. But he is not yet ready, and when he is, he may find the English too strong for him. And if Pontiac fails, what will become of us? We shall be hunted down, smoked out, tracked to our final stopping place--and hanged!" "You are a true comforter, upon my word!" "I am not one to throw dust into my own eyes, Jacques. Can I not see what is taking place around us? Even many of our old friends shun us, not only our own countrymen, but also the Indians. They see how the wind is blowing." "With this Dave Morris in your power, what will you do?" questioned Jacques Valette after a pause, during which Jean Bevoir began to walk up and down nervously. "With him in our power, we shall be safe. Yes, we may even dictate terms to James Morris, the father. He will do anything to save his son--his only child." "You mean that you will make him promise not to prosecute us?" "Yes, and more, perhaps." "What more?" Jean Bevoir closed one eye suggestively.