"
All this time the runner had stood near at hand straight as an
arrow. Presently Edwards suggested that the Wyandot was waiting to
be questioned, and accordingly he asked the Indian if he had
anything further to communicate.
"Huron--go by--paleface." Here he held up both hands and shut his
fists several times, evidently enumerating how many white men he had
seen. "Here--when--high--sun."
With that he bounded lightly past them, and loped off with an even,
swinging stride.
"What did he mean?" asked Jim, almost sure he had not heard the
runner aright.
"He meant that a party of white men are approaching, and will be
here by noon. I never knew an Indian runner to carry unreliable
information. We have joyful news, both in regard to your brother,
and the Village of Peace. Let us go in to tell the others."
The Huron runner's report proved to be correct. Shortly before noon
signals from Indian scouts proclaimed the approach of a band of
white men. Evidently Girty's forces had knowledge beforehand of the
proximity of this band, for the signals created no excitement. The
Indians expressed only a lazy curiosity. Soon several Delaware
scouts appeared, escorting a large party of frontiersmen.
These men turned out to be Captain Williamson's force, which had
been out on an expedition after a marauding tribe of Chippewas.
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