From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 73
The information he gathered from these men was valuable to him and the Virginia authorities.
As soon as the half-king returned, Washington called upon him with his interpreter, making known his
business, and inviting him to his own tent. The chief cordially accepted the invitation, and he accompanied
him on his return.
"I understand that you have visited the French commander, to whom I am going," remarked Washington, "and
perhaps you can give me some information about the ways and distance."
"The nearest and levelest way," answered the half-king, "is now impassable on account of many deep and
miry savannas."
"Then we must adopt the next best way," suggested Washington.
"Yes; and that is by the way of Venango, at the confluence of French Creek and the Alleghany," said
Tanacharisson.
"How great is the distance?"
"You cannot get to the nearest fort in less than five or six nights' sleep, good travelling."
"How were you received at the fort?" continued Washington, anxious to make the most of his informant.
"General Pierre Paul was alive then, and he received me sternly," replied the chief.
"In what way did he show his sternness?" Washington asked.
"By his abrupt inquiry, 'What did you come here about?' And he ordered me, in an insolent way, to declare my
business."
"And what did you tell him?" urged Washington.
"I made this speech to him," the half-king answered with a smile; and he proceeded to rehearse his address to
the French commander. As Washington preserved the speech of Tanacharisson, together with the French
general's reply, we furnish the remainder of the interview from that valuable document:
"Fathers, I am come to tell you your own speeches, what your own mouths have declared.
"Fathers, you, in former days, set a silver basin before us, wherein there was the leg of a beaver, and desired
all the nations to come and eat of it,--to eat in peace and plenty, and not to be churlish to one another; and that
if any such person should be found to be a disturber, I here lay down by the edge of the dish a rod, which you
must scourge them with; and if your father should get foolish, in my old days, I desire you may use it upon me
as well as others.
"Now, fathers, it is you who are the disturbers in this land, by coming and building your towns, and taking it
away unknown to us, and by force.
"Fathers, we kindled a fire a long time ago at a place called Montreal, where we desired you to stay, and not to
come and intrude upon our land. I now desire you may dispatch to that place; for be it known to you, fathers,
that this is our land, and not yours.
"Fathers, I desire you may hear me in civilness; if not, we must handle that rod which was laid down for the