At twelve o'clock all was ready, and the mass of Indian warriors, painted and armed, moved in loose and disorganized bodies across the plain, and grouped around their chiefs, who, seated on the ground, received for the young men the presents which had been set apart in divisions for every ten. The cloths, blankets, trinkets, and provisions, were first handed over, but when on coming to the ammunition and liquor only one cask of each was, found, the indignation of the whole band, the chiefs excepted, was, as had been expected, excessive. "My Father promised us plenty of powder and plenty of liquor," exclaimed Pee-to-tum, stamping with his feet and gesticulating violently; "Where is it?" "This is all that is left of the stores," exclaimed Capt. Headley. "When we reach Fort Wayne you shall have more." "My Father lies," returned the Chippewa. "Pee-to-tum did not sleep like a lazy hound in his tent last night; he crawled near the fort; he heard the powder barrels knocked in with axes; he heard the rum poured into the river like water. Even to-day," and he pointed with his clenched tomahawk, "the river is red with liquor till it is 'strong grog.' What should prevent us from avenging ourselves for this cheat, by mixing the blood of our father with the same water till it looks like strong rum also?" A terrific yell burst from the surrounding warriors, who all brandished their tomahawks in a menacing manner. "What should prevent you?" said Capt. Headley, suddenly carried out of his usual prudence by the insolence of the ruffian--"what should and will prevent you!" and he pointed to the bastion, which had been manned as on the former occasion, while the burning matches seemed only to await his signal. "Each of those guns contains a bag of fifty bullets, and each bullet can kill its enemy. Now then, have but the courage to lay a hand upon me and you will see the result. See, I am alone--only Mr. McKenzie to witness the act." There was a pause of a few moments, during which low murmurs broke from the younger Indians, and the dark and subtle eye of Pee-to-tum quailed before the bold look of the commanding officer, who continued: