I went into his camp upon a peaceful mission.
He seized and held me a prisoner. I was rescued by my comrades, although
they inflicted no harm upon any of the men of Captain Alvarez. He has
sought in every way to destroy us, and because he was the beginner of
violence and because he is planning a great treason and war upon Kentucky,
we took his boat and have come to New Orleans for the sole purpose of
appearing before you."
Alvarez burst into a sneering laugh and Braxton Wyatt, as a matter of
course, imitated him, but Bernardo Galvez asked in a grave tone:
"What do you mean by a great treason? No, Don Francisco, wait! Let him
speak! It is their right."
"I mean," said Paul boldly, "that he expects to become Governor General of
Louisiana in your place. It is not the policy of Spain to attack us. Yet
Red Eagle and Yellow Panther, the head chiefs of the powerful Shawnee and
Miami nations were in his camp, and he has agreed to help them with
Spanish soldiers and Spanish cannon in a raid upon Kentucky."
"This is an extraordinary statement," said Bernardo Galvez. "Your proof?"
"Yes, your proof!" sneered Alvarez, and Braxton Wyatt sneered, too.
"This man," said Paul, pointing to the renegade, "is from Kentucky.
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