"Leave that to me, Jacques. The plan is not yet clear in my mind. But one thing is certain: James Morris will do anything to save his son from harm." "But what of that Henry Morris, and that old hunter, Barringford?" "Both will do as James Morris wishes, for one is his nephew and the other a very close friend of the family." "You may not be able to handle Pontiac." "That, of course, remains to be seen. It is possible he may be glad enough to get rid of the prisoner. The game is worth the trying," went on Jean Bevoir. "And if Pontiac will not give Morris up, I have another plan," he added suddenly. "What is that?" "Time enough to speak of it if Pontiac refuses my request, Jacques. But I must not lose time here. Every hour may count. Will you go to the village with me, or remain with Flat Nose?" "I will go along," answered Jacques Valette; and soon the wily pair set out on their mission. CHAPTER XXXI HELD AS A SPY Two hours after Flat Nose left the Indian village several Ottawas came in to announce the coming of Pontiac. At once there was a fresh stir and everything possible was done to give the great chief a proper reception. When he appeared the head of the Wyandot tribe went forward to greet him, and both sat down in front of the main log cabin of the village to smoke and to talk. The conference lasted but a short quarter of an hour, and then Pontiac had himself conducted to the hut in which Dave was a prisoner. "The white young man is sorry to be a prisoner," he said slowly, and gazing searchingly into the young pioneer's eyes. "I am sorry," answered Dave simply. "I do not understand it. Are not the English and the red men now at peace with each other?" "'Tis true, but the white young man has not treated the Indians fairly." "What have I done that was wrong?" [Illustration: "The white man is sorry to be a prisoner," he said slowly] "The white young man has the eyes of a hawk; he has seen into places that are dark and secret. Such sights are not good for him." "If you mean the cave under the waterfall, let me ask, why did you have those guns and pistols, and the powder, that belong to the English, stored there?" "The English owe the poor Indians much--they will not pay. Hence the Indians thought it no more than fair to keep the goods." Not wishing to anger the great chief too much, Dave did not reply to this. "The white young man has the eyes of a hawk and the cunning of a fox," continued Pontiac. "He is no trapper, no hunter, no trader, but a spy." "A spy!" cried Dave, a light breaking in upon him. "So you take me to be a spy?" "And Pontiac is right. 'Tis useless to deny it. The young man would spy upon the Indians and then go and tell the great English general of what he has seen. He is a snake in the grass, close to the trail of Pontiac and his followers." "I am not a spy, Chief Pontiac. My father is a trader and I help him at his trading-post on the Ohio, that is all."