The Miamis being allies of
the Shawnees, and on their way to join one of their war-parties, they
could not (even on account of their peculiar relations with the Huron)
act as their enemies in any way; consequently the Huron did not expect
or ask their assistance. But while they were prevented from aiding him
in the least, in his attempt to rescue the captive, the claims which he
had upon their gratitude were such, that he well knew they would
carefully avoid throwing any obstacle in his way, and would act as
neutrals throughout the affair, believing, however, that it was not
inconsistent with such a profession to carry him even in sight of the
Shawnee village itself. Beyond that it would be as if these five
Miamis were a thousand miles distant.
All this time, it may well be supposed, that Lieutenant Canfield was no
uninterested spectator of the interview between his Huron friend and
the Miamis. When they made their appearance upon the rock, he believed
that Oonomoo had been captured. He was about to seek his own safety in
flight, but he was struck by the apparently good feeling of the
conference. Their words being in the Miami tongue, he could not
distinguish their meaning, but from their sound, judged them to be
friendly in their nature. Still, there could be no certainty, and he
was in a torment of doubt, when he was startled by hearing the Huron
call his name. At first he determined not to answer, thinking his
friend had been compelled to betray him by his captors.
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