The Black Wolf's Breed

lked on down to the water's edge where my Indian friends, already i

cks I found orders to att

uiet, but in a very different mood from

e to Paris on an errand of the utmost importance to myself and to this colony. I select you for this task, though

mething had evidently occur

we need almost for the asking. The air is full now of rumors of a Spanish war, and a Natchez-Chickasaw alliance. If these things are true we would find ourselves entirely cut off from French supplies, and this colony would literally starve to death. Yes, starve to deat

He pursued the conversation and evidently relieved

tting lies in the hands of my enemies at court. The king, too, is wearied out with this endless drain upon his treasury for money and supplies,

grew earnest

a thousand leagues the silver lilies will signal each other from every hill top; marts of commerce will thrive and flourish; the land will smile with farms and cities, with proud palaces and with granite castles. The white sails of our boats will fleck every lake and sea and river with their rich burdens of trade, pouring a fabulous and a willing wealth into the coffers of the king. Gold and silver mines will yield their precious stores, while from these niggard natives we will wrest

pointed out the confines of his mighty dreamland empire with as mu

face, glorified and transfigured by the allurement

his degenerate grandson of Henry the Great, should think of selling for

so loud, so perempt

er's ears are listening, or where yo

r years I had known Bienville the soldier, the stern and unyiel

the visionary, Bienville the enthusiast, the dreamer of dr

vow they came not here to work, and by the grace of God, work they will not. They declare they are not horses to eat of the corn of the fields, and clamor for their dear Parisian dainties. Against such a petticoat insurrection the gover

t have you learned of the Chicka

of my reconnaissance. Everywhere we found preparations among the allied tribes,

ly marking down the strength and fortifications of each. When I had finished my report we sat for quite a while,

ave my king dare say to me-that I divert the public funds to my own use. I, a Le Moyne, who spend my own private fortune in protecting and feeding these ungrateful people. But we waste ti

ops who would as gladly

dispatches in my brother Serigny's hands immediately upon your arrival. From that t

scholar, he added the easy grace of the courtier. His position at the court of Louis gave him great prestige throughout the colonies; he being a sort of adviser to th

he how much of treachery there was in those about him. Besides that I had no confidence in my lieutenant, and yet hated

und the table and taking me by both shoulders gazed stead

ry one about me. Forgive me, lad, but your old commander's reputa

my eye, yet was not ashamed, for its mate glistened i