The Hunters of the Hills

a certain amount of vanity which Robert had tickled. It was not for nothing that he was a nephew of Count de Galisonnière, once Governor General of Canada, rank and

ld be at war before another year had passed. It was well also to impress the Onondaga, whom his vigilant mind recognized at once as a youth of station. None kne

h supplies needed on trips between ports on the St. Lawrence. After providing stools for his guests, he offered them th

scendants of the English in America do not take much t

ly. "The warriors of the Hodenosaunee are able to fight anything else, but strong liquors t

he young Onondaga, being impressed by the digni

rfect English

lbany," said Tayoga. "Lennox was my comrad

noble city, on a noble site, an impregnable fortress, guarded by the most valiant troo

teration of tone. "Our old men speak often of it, when it belonged to our brethren,

fell a little, but he r

s and changes. There is a flux and efflux of all people, includ

de Galisonnière, feeling that it was unwise to pursue the topic, t

er in the world the equal of this gi

r, the Hudson, has much

be

but large and splendid as it is it lacks

ravel on. One makes greater speed here and

t I can take y

ourteous and ready to share with us all they had. You are not the first whom we have met on this

famous La Corne de St. Luc, of whom you have doubtless heard, and at Quebec he

were so fortunate as to meet more of your countryme

Brave officers!" sa

ed of the St. Lawrence, Montreal, and the glories of Quebec to which he hoped he might return soon. He addressed most of his talk to Robert, but he spoke at times to Willet and Tayoga, both of whom responded briefly. The wind meanwhile remained strong, and it was not necessary to use the oars, the large sail carry

ting his expression. "It suits our people, particularly our good Canadian French. Our pries

it," sai

importance to Quebec, the canoe was lifted from the Frontenac,

ert, "we shall be glad to he

of war between England and France, which, of course, would mean war also between the English and French col

as well," said R

them from those who formed a British alliance-but none could be compared with Tayoga, arrayed in the full splendor of a coming chief of the clan of the Bear, of the nation Onondaga, of the League of the Hodenosaunee. Never had he borne himself more haughtily, never had his he

great Iroquois league, and they knew, too, in their secret hearts that he had the superiority which Onondaga, Mohawk and their allied nations claimed. Hence, while their looks sometimes expre

tten language, his memory is long. When we reach Quebec he'll never forget for an instant that it was once Stadac

Robert, "and look who

in the center was one whose shoulder was bound tightly with a great roll of deerskin. In stature he rose far above the other warriors, and he had a thick

e his wound seems to have arrived a

yoga to the torture with himself as torturer, and yet he must

o comparisons with us, but Tayoga is an Indian like himself, whom he has fought against, and against whom he has faile

forest, was perfectly clear. Tandakora was dirt under the feet of Tayoga, and Tandakora felt that it was so. His heart burned within him and a twinge through his shoulder added to his anger. Yet he was powerless there in Mon

range that Tayoga should come there. In truth, Monsieur Jolivet was a thrifty man who despised no patronage for which the pay was assured, and since peace still existed between France and Great Britain he was quite willing to entertain any number of Bostonnais at his

er than Robert, and now

orrow morning we take boat for Quebec. We three will occupy one

t in it at once. Then all will be arranged quickly by Lizette and Marie, the ma

of mine that we hate to be parted even for an hour. Tayoga and Mr. Lennox are younger than I am, but they're begi

it in this rough world of ours. But will Monsieur see a young officer who has come from the commandant? Merely a little inquiry about y

ficer, a Frenchman of Canadian birth, entered presently, and with the courtesy characteristic of the French race, a trait that Robert liked, asked for an account of themselves, which was given readily

a magnificent view also, of which he made full use. The evening being warm with a soft and soothing wind, Marie and Lizette set the table in a little garden, in which early flowers were blooming alre

s not often that one can dine at such an inn, with such a view of mountain

sorry we have to quarrel with the French. They're good people, though they haven't been oversqueamish in

t had shown too often that he considered the people of the Hodenosaunee the equals of anybody. Then he took their three rifles, laid the

ld here in America. We're lying in a rocky hollow one day, shooting at people who are shooting at us, and both si

nt transformation," said

n, beef, many vegetables, good white bread and coffee, all prepared in the excellent manner characteristic of Monsieur Jolivet's famous inn. Tayoga

as a great trading post with the Indians, who already brought there vast quantities of furs. It would become one of the greatest and most brilliant jewels in the French crown, second pe

lendor of a vice-regal court, and, anxious to know the larger world, he was more gla

sting a silver light which illuminated almost like the day. They saw lights gleaming in houses, and now and then shadowy figures pa

t, who was deeply interested in the Bostonnais and the proud young Iroquois, talked freely. Under his light and chattering manner lay great powers of perception, and he saw that he had guests of quality, each in his own way. The hunter even was not an ordinary hunter, but, as Monsieur Jolivet judged, a man of uncommon intellectual power, and

pe, and yet spreading through her colonies in America, increasing and growing mightier all the time. It was soon a test of eloquence between him and Monsieur Jolivet, in which each was seeking to obtain from the other an expressio

of nations, the nation of light and learning and humanity, and yet it is so. And seated here upon the St. Lawrence we shall build up another Franc

obert, "and such a willingness I claim is a chief merit of us Eng

more spread out his

with the coffee, which is one of the most glorious t

he learned at Albany all

ile and glimpses of the river and the hills were faint. The little garden was enclosed by three walls of darkness, being light

d in the darkness, and an arrow buried to the head of the barb stood out in the rear wall of the inn. The three seized their rifles

will not loose another shaft tonight. If it had not been for his wounded shoulder the

the shedding of blood, but the forest will be a better forest without him. Meanwhile, say nothing, lads. Monsieur Jolivet is coming back,

a minute, and, good observer though he was, he noticed nothing unusual in the appearance of his guests. They carried their rifles in

I have the great room with three beds for you,

, Monsieur Jolivet, and especially the

is hands. "It is Marie who made it. It is the gift

e room which he showed them with so much pride was a large apartment worthy of their praise, having a polished, shining floor of oak, with furs spread here and there upon it, and a low ceiling cro

and the fierce winds rage. But you, messieurs, who live so much in

r Jolivet departed, wishing them a polit

ers will be closed until morning. As Tayoga truly said, he will har

y fastened them. Then they undressed and lay down upon thei

n't try to break them. It wouldn't suit the purposes of the French for a warrior of a tribe allied with them to be

to compose his nerves for a little while. He was perhaps more sensitive and imaginative than his comrades, or the close air may have kept him awake. He could not help feeling that Tandakora was outside trying the fastenings of the shutte

! After our having been sealed up in a

ver the great forests and the mighty river, was pouring into the room in streams, and Tayoga and Willet were facing it, in order tha

"not even to protect my life. I've roamed the free woods for so many ye

ert, "but it makes the world outside look

for the present he could not stay any longer in a house. Robert from his seat could see the end of th

e appeared in the garden and presented them the compliments of the morning. He looked so trim and so gay that he brought with him a cheerful breeze, and the three felt the effect of it, although they wondered

t well," he said, "and

the Bostonnais as it i

adi

is itself, instead of the Province of New York," said Robert

gone into the inn, an

as I have told you before, our Quebec to which you are going is the true glory of New Fr

hat?" ask

lingness, since it takes me where I wish to go. I have also the authority of the commandant to ask your presence as gu

invitation and would go with much pleasure in the Frontenac. After breakfast they sold the canoe and embar

at they could buy and have to row perhaps with their own strength. Moreover, they were already on excell

ir weapons, including Tayoga's bow and arrows, in the cabin, and they sat on deck with de Galisonnière, who looked with pride at the magnificent river which was the

long period," said de Galisonnière, "this region wo

huge 'if'?" aske

sonnièr

le an empire greater than that of France itself. Think of the huge lakes, the great rivers, the illimitable forests, beyond them the p

said Robert, "but I've been th

aughed again and

strange that England and France should fight about American territory, when there's so much of it? Here's a continent that civilized man cannot occupy for many generations.

d on through the tumbling green current they talked earnestly. Willet, sitting near, glanced at them occasionally, but he too had plenty of thoughts of his own, while Tayoga, saying nothing, gazed at the high green southern shore. This, so the old men said, had once been the land of the Mohawks, one of t

onville, whom you met

h, "arrived in Montrea

two or three hours sa

eb

Montreal?" asked Robert, who seemed to detec

reference to de Courcelles. But the knowledge that he had gone on ahead to Quebec troubled him. De Courcelles was not so young and fran

en and they took to the oars. It was a voyage full of variety and interest to Robert. He slept that night

id stone structures, low, steep of roof and gabled, with clustering outhouses, and often a stone mill near by. The churches also increased in numbers, and at one point the Frontenac stopped and took on a priest, a tall strongly

spirit that had marked Jogues and Goupil and those other early priests whom no danger nor Indian torture could daunt. But he was too polite to ask questions, feeling that time w

ance back to the old land. Fran?ois Bigot, the Intendant, does not love him, nor does anyone of the group about Bigot, neither his commissary general, Cadet, nor Pean, the Town Mayor of Quebec, nor Descheneaux, nor the others of that group. It's a gorgeous life that our own court circle leads a

iant Quebec, enveloped in so much color and glamour, might not be so sound within as the English towns to the south,

ing wake. A stone house, larger than usual, showed through the green foliage on the south bank. Father Drouillard gazed

ometimes they come from their revels at Beaumanoir to the Chateau de Mézy, and continue them there. No

averted his face. An hour later the m