This belt told him to strike in his own interest and in the interest of the French.

He closed his speech by saying that he had sent belts to the Chippewas of Saginaw and the Ottawas of Michilimackinac and of the river La Tranche (the Thames).

Seeing that his words were greeted with grunts and shouts of approval and that the assembled warriors were with him to a man, Pontiac revealed a plan he had formed to seize the fort and slaughter the garrison.

He and some fifty chiefs and warriors would wait on Gladwyn on the pretence of discussing matters of importance.

Each one would carry beneath his blanket a gun, with the barrel cut short to permit of concealment.