Our interest for the present is with Pontiac. Ten days before the date fixed for the general uprising and attack, he called his warriors together some miles from the fort, and made them a fiery address which aroused them to hurricane ardor. He had chosen as the special object of their attention, Detroit itself. He was allowed to come and go unquestioned, and had used the chance to study every point connected with the fort,--every weak and strong spot. This town was laid out in the form of a square, enclosed on every side by a high palisade, with a wooden bastion at every corner. Upon these bastions several small pieces of artillery were mounted, and there were blockhouses over the gateway. The dwellings, about a hundred in number, were of wood, that would burn furiously if the torch were once applied. The garrison numbered a hundred and twenty men, and a third more could bear arms if necessary. The watchful Pontiac had seen that Major Gladwyn was unsuspicious of his danger, and therefore had taken no precautions. It would seem that the capture and destruction of Detroit would prove as easy as "rolling off a log." The chieftain explained his plan, which had the merit of simplicity, if of nothing else. He would call upon Major Gladwyn with a number of his chiefs and picked warriors, and make the usual Indian address, professing eternal friendship to the white man. At a certain point in his speech, he would present the officer with a wampum belt, but, in doing so, would hold it in a reversed position. This was to be the signal. The moment it was given, each Indian was to whip out from under his blanket, his gun, whose barrel had been shortened, and make an assault. The Ottawas on the outside would also attack upon hearing the firing, and it looked as if nothing could save the garrison. Such most likely would have been the result, had not an Indian woman revealed the whole plot to Major Gladwyn the evening before. He had made every preparation, as Pontiac himself saw the moment he passed through the gate at the head of his sixty warriors. What furious chagrin must have gnawed at his heart when he saw the defeat of his plans! Still, with wonderful self-control, he kept an outward appearance of calmness, greeted Gladwyn with a smile, and placing his party in the form of a semi-circle in front of the officer's quarters, began his speech. Gladwyn knew what the signal was to be. He kept his eyes upon the black orbs of the chieftain, who looked straight into his face. The critical moment came, when, the Ottawa decided after all to give the signal and stake everything upon the result; but the watchful Gladwyn read his purpose, and suddenly raised his hand. He and each of his officers drew their swords, the clicks of the gunlocks were heard in the hush, and the soldiers leveled their muskets at the visitors. Pontiac handed the wampum belt in proper form, and the tense situation was lifted for the time. [Illustration: OUTSIDE THE GARRISON GATES]