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HEROES OF CANADA

BASED UPON

"STORIES OF NEW FRANCE"

MISS MACHAR and T. G. MARQUIS

EDITED BY

T. G. MARQUIS, B.A.

TORONTO
THE COPP, CLARK COMPANY, LIMITED

Entered according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year
one thousand eight hundred and ninety-three, by Thb Copp, Clark
CoMPASfY, Limited, in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture.

^ear

k,RK

PREFACE.

As will be seen by the title-page, this volume is based upon
"Stories of New France," published by D. Lothrop Company in
1888. Five of Miss Machar's stories from that book have been,
with her kind permission, shortoned and arranged to suit the
length of the present work. Of the remaining twelve by the
Editor six originally appeared in longer form in *' Stories of New
France." The other six— "The Discovery of America," "The
Story of Br^boeuf," "The Story of Michillimackinac, " "The Last
Siege of Quebec," "The Story of Brock," and "The Story of
Tecumseh" — were specially written for these pages.

T. G. M.
Stratford, Ont.

Sept. 1883.

CONTENTS.

Ohaptir Pjien

I. — Thr Discovery of America l

II. — Story of Jacvjues Cartikr 5

III. — Story OF Port Royal 10

IV. — Story of Champlain 16

V. — Story of Ville Marie db Montrkal 21

VT. — A Canadian Thermopylae 26

VII. — Story of Br^boeuf 33

VIII. — Story of Robert de La Salle 38

IX. — ^Thf, Three War-Parties 46

X. — ^Thb First Great Siege of Quebec 61

XI. — Heroine of Castle Danobrous 66

XII. — ^Thb Exile of the Aoadians fii

Xin. — The Capture of Quebec 67

XrV.— The Story of Fort Miohilumagkinac 73

XV. — The Last Sieob of Quebec 79

XVI.— The Story of Brock 86

XVn. — The Story of Tecumseh 90

STORIES

FROM

CANADIAN HISTORY.

CHAPTER I.

THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.

"Oolumbus ia the real discoverer of America."— fftt/A School Hutory,pagt St5.

Living in an age when the whole world has been traversed, when
there is hardly an island of the sea but has known the foot of the
white man, it is hard to realise what the inhabitants of Europe of
the fifteenth century imagined about the unexplored parts of the
earth. Europe and a part of Asia and Africa made up the then
known world, and the superstitious men and women of the time
believed the places beyond the explored territory to be inhabited
by giants and pigmies, by sea-monsters and land monsters, by men
of strange shape and stranger manners. Even our own Shakespeare
makes Othello when relating his experience to Desdemona speak of

" The cannibals that each other eat,
The Anthropophagi, aud men whose heads
Do grow beneath their shoulders."

Henry FV. the large-minded and noble-hearted King of Portugal,
did much to dispel this darkness. He sent voyager after voyager
forth to examine the coast of Africa, and year by year new capes,
new rivero, new peoples, were discovered, until at last Bartholemew
Diaz reached the Cape of Good Hope, called by him Stormy Cape.
It is a note- worthy fact that on this voyage he was accompanied by
Batholemew Columbus, brother of Christopher.

These discoveries excited the whole maritime world, and many
sailors hoped to be the successful ones in the search for the wealth

STORIES FKOM CANADIAN I1I8TORY.

of the Indies, the kingdom of the legendnry monarch Prester John,
or the land of the Grand Khan.

There was no larger mind or more daring spirit in Europe at this
time than Christopher Columbus, the son of a wool-carder of Genoa.
He spent a few brief years at the University of Pavia, and there
acquired a knowledge of mathematics and an intense love of geo-
graphical science ; but before he was fifteen circumstances compelled
him to earn his own living, and he wont to sea. Tiie many dis-
coveries which were then being made influenced his mind, and ho
brooded over enterprises that the bravest mariners never dreamed
of. It was nothing to him to coast along the African shore. There
he would ever be in sight of known land, but his heart yearned
after something greater than had yet been done.

The broad expanse of ocean that lay far to the west had a secret
that he felt he could discover. There night and day he dreamed
he saw the land of the East, the land of wealth and wonders. To
this land he would go, and every year he lived made him more fixed
in his determination. He married a daughter of Perestrelo, a
famous Portugese navigator, and his father-in-law's books and
charts, which fell into his hands, added fuel to his ambition. He
perused lovingly the works of Paulo Toscanelli, and the famous
** Cosmographia " of Cardinal Aliaco, where wise and accurate
knowledge is almost clouded in a mist of absurd fables of lion-
bodied men and dog-faced women, of monsters of gigantic size, and
of sea serpents and salamanders. Columbus devoured eagerly all
that related to the unknown world, and at length determined to
ask aid to go forth to discover it for himself.

His first appeal was to the King of Portugal, but the king of his
time had none of the enterprise of Henry IV., and so he had to
turn his eyes to the court of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. In
1485 ho began his entreaties, and till 1492 he left no stone unturned
to get a chance to venture out on the unknown seas. He had but
faint encouragement from the court; he was rebuffed by the
wealthy, and called a monomaniac by his fellow-mariners ; but he
had a daring spirit and could not be borne down. When he des-
paired of aid from Spain, he sent his brother to Charles VIII. of
France and Heniy VII. of England to get either to help. The
noble queen Isabella and her ambitious husband saw that Columbus

THE niSCOVKRY OF AMERICA.

was not to bo daunted, and probably fearing that some other nation
would foroHtall Spain, consented to aid hiii;. Throo vohscU
were got ready at Palos ; the '* Santa Maria," a docked voshoI, com-
manded by ColumbuM, and the caravolH, the " PinUi " and " Nina,"
under the conuuand of the Pinzon brothers, merchantH and mariners
who had risked considerable wealtli in fitting out the vessels for the
voyage.

One hundred and twenty men joined the expedition, and on the
third of August, 1492, the vessels sailed from l*alos, with the hopes
and fears, the blessings a^id prayers of the inhabitants following
them long after they had passed out of sight across the ocean.

Columbus' heai-t burned with a conqueror's joy ; for eight years
he had prayed for this chance, and for eight years his " proposition
was a thing for mockery." Labor, study, struggle, defeat, had made
him prematurely gray, but his majestic carriage, fair complexion,
and clear blue eye, pronounced him as he stood on the poop of his
vessel a nuin bom to command men.

The vessels sailed to the south-west until the Canary Islands were
reached, and after some delay they left Gomera, one of the group,
on the sixth of September, and shaped their course to the west,
hoping to discover a new route to the wealth of the East. From
this it will be seen that Columbus was umch in advance of his age,
believing the earth to bo a sphere, while the scholars of his day
laughed such an idea to scorn. However Columbus thought the
world much smaller than it is, and began to look for the promised
land very soon after leaving Gomera.

On the fourteenth of September one of the sailors on the **Nina"
saw several tropical birds rarely seen far from shore, and the whole
of the voyagers began eagerly to scan the horizon, but nothing met
their gaze except the blue waste of leaping waters. On the follow-
ing night a meteor fell from the skies, and, as they watched its fiery
path, they saw in it a warning that they should go no further, and
many were for turning back ; but the heroic Columbus pushed on-
ward, feeling that land was nearing every instant.

Time and again huge floating plains of seaweed were met, and
each time the cry of "land on the starboard bow," "on the lar-
board bow," or *' dead ahead," made all turn their eyes in the direc-
tion indicated, only to meet dis^ippointment. Each day brought

8TORIB8 FROM CANADIAN HlftTORY.

now hnpeH, nnd oacK night they were caNt into (U>H|)Air ; now a flock
of binU ; ngain a cloud-bank ; to-day a pelican, UNually Keen at a
coni{)anitivcly nhort; diHtancu from lan(1 ; to-niorrow a Bca-wecd
island ; — Hocmcd to show that the end of their journey was at
hand.

Two months had {msKed since they left Palos, and they only
Hcemed further fr«»m the goal of their ambitions than when they
started. The sailors were terrified, and crowded round Columbus
Ix-seeching him to return ; but he steeled his heart to their entreat-
ies, lie was attempting what man had never before attempted ; ho
was ha/arding everything ; and with lieroic energy ho had deter-
mined to succeed or perish. At last, on the eleventh of OctoVnir,
signs of land that could not be mistaken came to them over the salt
waters. A table b«jard and a CHr^•ed stick, evidently the work of
n)an, were picketl up, and shortly afterwards a haw-tree branch
with the fruit on it was eayerly drawn c»n board. The olive leaf
was not more welcome to Noah than this broken branch to the
toiling, terrified crew. The horizon was carefully samned, but not
until ten t)'clock at night did Colun>l)us, who was an.xi(ni«ly watch-
ing from the high poop of the " Santa Maria," discern a light that
could bo neither star nor meteor. So«)n all were on the alert, and
o'er Jiiorniiig Ilodrigt> do Tmna, a common sailor on the "Pinta'"
cried out triumphantly "land." No one went to rest, and with the
first signs of daylight a fair island came into view, its beautiful
green slopes bathed in the froah morning sun, and its woods ring-
ing with the songs of tropical birds. The sailors, wild with delight,
rent the air with triumphant shouts, and their pent up, grateful
hearts found veut in a Te Lteum, wh'lv> every eye filled with tears
of joy.

Columbus had the boats manned, and he and his captains in
complete armor were rowed ashore, and took possession in the name
of Ferdinand and Isabella. He named the ishmd San Salvador.
His men stood by him and begged his f(»rgiveness for the trouble
they had caused him on the voyage. He was triumphant, and
could nadily pardon ; and all were as happy as only conquerors can
be. Tho natives watched with awe and delight the figures clad in
armor, particularly Columbus, who wore, as a mark of his position,
a crimson scarf across his breast.

|i'

THE DISCOVERY OP AMERICA. O

From Shu Sftlvadnr tho vessi'lft Haile»l Uj other wlaiula of llio West
Indian group, anti uvciy (iluco CitlunihuK touched at he claimed for
his sovereign. At length, bearing tho j<»}ful tidinga of a new-
world, he set sail for Sjwiin on tho fourth of January. The winter
stonns were sweeping the Atlantic, hut the vesail^ arrived safely on
tho fifteenth of March, On reaching Palos Columbus was given a
royal welcome, and was^ for a time tho hero of Spain. The strange
men, the strange weapons, the strange objects of nature that he
brought with liim, filled all with anuizement. The wonders of the
new land stirred cvtry mind, and rich and poor were eager to ven-
ture all t»n V(»yages of exi)l<»nition.

Although the continent of America was not reached by Columbus
on this voyage he deserves the honor of being its discoverer.
Others only followed in his steps ; and it was mere chance that
kept him from touching on the mainland on his first voyage. The
Cabots, father and son, were great men, but they were mere
imitators. Columbus is truly the Fatlier of America, He crossed
four times in all and made importiint discoveries on each voyage,
suffering much both by land and sea. His name is sUiined by his
having taken part in the slave trade, but tliis was the sin of the
age. Like every great man, ^»e made f'nemies, and they so far
succeeded against him, that on one occasion he crossed the Atlantic
in chains. Poverty came upon him in later years, and at last he
died poor and neglected, in 1506. His body lies in the cathedral of
Havana, a fitting resting place for the man who gave a world to
mankind.

CHAPTER n.
From *' 8ti»y of Jacques dirtier" by Miss A. M. Mnchnr.

" Francis I. sent out from the sea-port of St. Malo, the famous sea captain, Jacques
Cartier."— Z/»</A Schuol llU'oty, jmge .iS/i.

One bright spring morning two little ships glided slowly away
from the harbour at St. Malo, bound on a long and adventurous
voyage. They were manned "by a hundred and twenty men, and
their commands r was Jacques Cartier, a captain specially chosen
by King Francis.

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

Hi'

The little expedition sailed across the wide Atlantic, reaching
Cape Bonavista in Newfoundland about the middle of May. From
thence they explored the cold and sterile shores of Labrador and
shaped their course to the Magdalen Islands. Cartier thought that
there was probably an opening between Newfoundland and Cape
Breton, and began to look for a passage by which he might iaU
westward into the heart of the country. As the sailors rowed their
boats close in shore, coasting along bays and inlets, they could
sometimes see the naked savages moving about on the beach, or
paddling their light birch canoes ; after a time they managed to
hold some intercourse and traffic with them, by means of signs and
little gifts of hatchets, knives, beads, and toys, often having as
many as fifty canoes about them.

Cartier tried in vain all tlie little inlets and rivers opening out of
the Bay of Chaleiirs, and then sailed along the coast of Gasp^ Bay,
Here he landed and set up a large wooden cross, thirty feet high,
carved with three flenrs-de-lvi, and bearing the inscription, ''Long
live the King of Franca ! " By this means he formally took posses-
sion of the land for the king.

This done, Cartier and his men returned to their ships and were
visited afterwards by many of tlie Indians, including the chief, his
brother, and three sons. Cartier treated the chief hospitably,
expressing a great desire to make friends with his people, and
promising to return, bringing many useful articles made of iron to
exchange for furs. Two of the chief's sons were persuaded to
accompany him to France. Then, with good will expressed on all
sides, the French captain sailed away, exhorting the Indians to
respect the cross he had set up on the shore. When he arrived at
home in September, his account of his adventures was eagerly
listened to. The two young Indians he had brought with him were
objects of great interest to the Bretons, and were taught to speak
French, so that they might answer the questions that were asked
on all sides. Cartier received great honors for his discoveries, and
many people in France were most anxious that he should make a
second voyage in order to extend them.

In spite of opposition they succeeded in organizing another and
a better equipped expedition. Great preparations were made
during the winter, and on May 16, 1535, all St. Malo was astir to

JACQUES CARTIER.

■II

see the great religious ceremonial which celebrated the departure of
the little fleet. And in the old cathedral were assembled the
officers and men to hear mass, and to receive absolution and the
paternal blessing of the bishop on their perilous enterprise. Three
days later the flotilla set sail for the setting sun.

It was the f6te of St. Tjawreiice when they entered the gulf, and
Cartier bestowed that name on a small bay opposite the Isle of
Anticosti, from whence it afterwards extended to the whole gulf
and thence to the nwoie river, then called by Cartier the River of
Hochelaga.

Piloted by the young Indians who had accompanied Cartier to
France, they sailed up the St. Lawrence until they dropped anchor
at last on the lee of a fair island, known now as the beautiful
Island of Orleans, whose purple mass divides the river below the
rock of Quebec. A? the ships approached the shore and cast
anchor, the Indians could be seen watching them with great interest
pnd wonder. At first they seemed disposed to fly, but Cartier sent
ashore his two young Indian pilots. Very soon curiosity overcame
fear, and the red men's birch canoes were seen swarming about the
ships.

Cartier's two young Indians could now speak French pretty well,
and acted as interpreters. Next day their old chief Donnai ona
came in state to visit Cartier. He left ten canoes at a safe dista.ice,
and approaching the ships with two others he began a long ora-
tion, inquiring whether the strangers had come for peace or war.
With the help of his interpreters, Cartier succeeded in reassur-
ing him, and invited him into his cabin, where he regaled him
before they parted, the old chief k'.ssing Cartier's arm and placing
it round his own neck, as the greatest mark of respect he could
show him.

From this place Cartier sailed on till he reached the mouth of
the St. Charles. Here the St. Lawrence became a mile wide
strait. On one side were the wooded heights of Point L^vis ; on
the other, rising grand and sheer from the river, the great brown
rock of Cape Diamond. Cartier moored his ships in the St.
Charles, and Donnacona came with a train of five hundred Indians
to welcome him to his village of Stadacona that nestled at the base
of the mighty rock. At this village the French captain and his

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

friends were received with great joy—the men and boys screeching
out welcome, and the squaws dancing knee-deep in the water.

But Cartier had heard that miles away up the mighty river lay a
large Indian town called Hochelaga, the capital of a great country.
Thither he wished to proceed, with his two young Indian guides as
interpreters. He now laid up his two larger vessels in the St.
Charles, and in his smallest vessel, the Hermerillon, he set sail
again on the noble river. The Hermerillon grounded in Lake St.
Peter, and from thence the party proceeded in small boats, till, on
the second of*October they approached the beautiful forest-crowned
slopes of the hill below which lay the renowned Hochelaga. As
they drew near the Indians thronged to the shore, dancing, inging,
and shouting their rude welcome, offering ready gifts of fish and
maize, in return for which they joyfully received beads and knives.
In the early dawn of the third of October Cartier landed with
his men in all the splendor of full dress and martial accoutrement.
They were met by an Indian chief, followed by a numerous train.
The chief made them a long address in his own language, and
received, with much satisfaction, the gifts of hatchets, knives, and
a crucifix. Marching on a little way through the forest, they came
out on the cleared fields of yellow, rustling maize that encircled the
Indian town, of which nothing could be seen at first, but the
protecting palisade.:!.

in the middle of this town was an open square, about a stone's-
throw in width, and here Cartier and his companions held a confer-
ence with the inhabitants, who swarmed out of their huts — men,
women, and children — to survey and touch the mysterious strangers.
But the " braves" called the village to order, sent the women and
children indoors, and squatted round the French in rows. The
ruling chief, a lielpless, paralyzed old man, was carried out on a
deer-skin, and laid down at Cartier's feet. He could only point to
his powerless and shrivelled limbs, silently imploring from the
white strangers the touch in which Indian superstition supposed
a mysterious healing power to lie. Cartier willingly fulfilled the
request, though we are not told whether it did any good ; and the
grateful old man gave him a fillet he wore in token of his thanks.
A throng of sick, lame, infirm, and blind people then crowded
about the French captain to share his healing touch.

lit

JACQUES CAKTIEK. V

Sorely puzzled what to do, Cartier pronounced over his patients
a portion of St. John's Gospel, with a prayer not only for the
healing of their bodies, but of their souls as well. After that there
came what they understood much better — the distribution of gifts.
Before departing Cartier and his friends ascended the beautiful
hill above the village. Delighted with the magnificent view of
broad river and boundless forests and distant cloudlike mountain
he called the hill Mont Boyal — Montreal. Cartier would gladly
have pressed on up the enticing river that lay before him, past the
foaming rapids whose snowy crests he could see flashing to west-
ward, but he had no means of doing so, and the season was growing
late. So, turning his back on the ' ' Royal Mountain, " he and his
companions began to retrace their way to the ships and men they
had left on the St. Charles.

At Stadacona Cartier was again kindly received by Donnacona.
His men had built a palisaded fort round their ships, and Cartier,
thinking it well to be wary in dealing with the savages, whose
friendliness might not last, strengthened the little fort with some
of the guns from his ships.

Now the face of the country was changed indeed. The winds
howled through the leafless forest, great masses of ice began to
drift down the St. Lawrence, and soon a solid bridge of ice was
formed across the river. But a worse foe than cold attacked the
unfortunate explorers. The terrible scurvy broke out among them,
and spread until only three or four healthy men were left to wait
on the sick. Twenty-six died before April, and the survivors,
too weak to break through the ice-bound soil, buried the dead in
the snow-drifts till spring should return. Still Cartier did not lose
his faith in God, who, as he said, "looked down in pity upon us
and sent to us a knowledge of the means of cure."

One of their young guides, who had himself been sufiering from
scurvy and had recovered, told Cartier of the remedy which had
cured him — a decoction from an evergreen called Ameda, supposed
to have been the spruce fir. The sick men eagerly tried it, and
drank it in such quantities, that in six days they had boiled dow n
a tree as large as a French oak ; and very soon all the invalids were
restored t.o health, courage, and hope.
At last the great snow-drifts melted away under the warm spring

••s,

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

sunshine, and the ice slowly broke up, and the blue water, sparkling
in the sunshine, p;laddened the eyes of the imprisoned French.
Cartier and his men joyfully prepared for departure ; but in leaving
the country he committed a base and ungrateful act of treachery.
He wanted to take home some trophies of his enterprise, and as
the chief Donnacona had travelled far and professed to have seen
many wonders, Cartier carried him and some of his braves oflf by
force. This cruel and false act was a foul stain on the honor of
the brave explorer, and, like most such actions, brought its just
recompense in future disaster.

It was five years before Cartier again saw the shores of the New
World ; and then it was without his captives, who had all died in
France. He lied to the Indians about their fates, saying that
Donnacona was dead, but that the others had married grand ladies
in France, and lived there in state like great lords. But the
Indians would not trust them again. A cold, dreary winter fol-
lowed, with justly estranged Indians around them, and bitter cold
chilling their blood and depressing their spirits in this lonely and
savage spot. And as soon as spring returned, the disheartened
"colonists" hastened to set sail to return to France.

Cartier had nothing this time to show, save some quartz dia-
monds, scales of mica, and yellow dust. However, he received a
patent of nobility for his discoveries, and seems to have settled
down quietly in his little manor-house near St. Malo. He was on
the whole, a brave and gallant explorer, and his name must always
he honored as the discoverer of Canada.

CHAPTER III.

From *' Story of Port Royal," by Miss A. M. Machar.

" For the next few years the efforts of the French were directed to establishing a
colony at P )rt Royal,"— High School History, page 326.

The next great attempt to colonize Canada was inspired by the
energetic young explorer Samuel de Champlain. The fierce cold of
the St. Lawrence terrified the French sailors, and so they shaped
their course to the south and settled on a small island in the St.

>il

PORT ROTAL.

Croix River, in New Brunswick. Hero they suffered so much dur-
ing the winter that with the first breath of spring they broke up
their colony and sailed for the sheltered haven of Port Royal.

The winter was milder here, but it did not pass without suffering,
though less from cold than from lack of food. The settlers had
only a hand-mill for grinding their com, and bread was consequently
scarce. De Monts, their lieutenant-general, was away in France,
fighting for the colony against the indifference and prejudices of
even its friends, and the active hostility of its enemies Baron de
Poutrincourt, a leading spirit in the new enterprise, despite urgent
business in France, started for Canada in a ship bearing the curious
name of the Jonas. He brought with him his enthusiastic and
P';etic friend, Marc Lescarbot, who was said to be as able to build
up a colony as to write its history.

After a long and tedious voyage the Jonas sailed into the calm
harbor of Port Royal, and soon reached the spot where, amid the
deep green of the almost unbroken forest, were clustered the
wooden buildings of the little colony. They saw no sign of human
existence till an old Indian appeared cautiously paddling a birch
canoe. Then a Frenchman, armed with his arquebuse, came down
to the shore, and at the same moment a shot rang out from the
little wooden fort. But the white flag at the mast reassured the
two lonely Frenchmen who were left on guard in the absence of
their comrades, gone to look for French fishing vessels and secure
supplies.

The long-imprisoned emigrants leaped on shore, and the lately
silent settlement resounded with the merry voices of the French-
men.

Poutrincourt and Champlain soon started on a voyage of discov-
ery, which occupied two months. It proved very fruitless, and was
at last cut short by the autumn gales.

Lescarbot had, however, remained at Port Royal, where his activ-
ity, energy, and bright, cheery spirit made him ;v most useful
member of the colony. He spurred the others on by example as
well as precept, to cultivate the low meadows by the river, and to
lay out gardens in which he would often work busily till late in the
summer moonlight. He set the colonists to construct a water-mill,
in place of the primitive hand-mill, to make fire-bricks and a fur-

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

nace for preparing pitch and turpentine from the pinea and firs, to
lay out roads in the forest and make charcoal for fuel.

The winter that followed was a cheery one, with a very different
record from that of the miserable winters previously spent by
Frenchmen in Canada. In order to produce a little variety in their
solitary and monotonous life, as well as to secure a regular provision
for their table, Champlain organized the famous Order of the Good
Time [Ordre du Bon Temps], The knights were fifteen in number,
and a Grand Master or Steward was appointed for each day, whose
duty it was to provide for the t^ble of the company.

The bill of fare included moose meat, caribou, deer, beaver, otter,
hares, bears, and wildcats, with ducks, geese, grouse, and plover, as
well as sturgeon, trout, and other varieties of fish. They dined at
noon, with no little pomp and formality ; the fifteen knights each
carrying a dish filed into Poutrincourt's great dark-ceilinged dining-
hall, the Grand Master at their head.

The colonists wore much assisted by an old chief called Member-
tou, who became their staunch friend and ally. He was, unlike the
Indians generally, bearded like a Frenchman, atid was said to have
been a cruel and treacherous warrior, notwithstanding his kindness
to the French. But the busy life of the colony suddenly came to
an unexpected close.

One fine spring morning Membertou's keen eyes discovered a
distant sail. The colonists hailed the sight gladly, supposing it to
be the long expected vessel of De Monts. But it was a bearer of
bad news. The discontented traders who had been shut out of the
fur trade had combined, by money and influence, to secure the
withdrawal of De Monts' patent of monopoly. This was a death-
blow to the colony, as the projects of the company would no longer
bear the expense of it ; and Port Royal must be abandoned.

There was nothing for Poutrincourt to do but to prepare for leav-
ing his Acadian domain. No one showed more sorrow for the sad
necessity than old Membertou, who had built a palisaded village
near Port Royal, in order to be near his kind and generous friends.
He wept at taking leave of the Frenchmen, who generously be-
stowed on the Indians ten hogsheads of meal and all the crops that
stood ready for the sickle.

In October the whole of the little colony was on its way tc

PORT ROTAL.

France, Poutrincourt. alone cherishing the determination to return
to the place which he claimed as his own.

Nearly four years passed away, however, before the watching
Indians espied tlie welcome gleam of Poutrincourt's returning sail.
He had to find a wealthy ally in order to meet the necessary ex-
penses, after the loss of his trading monopoly ; and when this was
done he had to bear many other vexatious delays. The Jesuits
were now very powerful at court, and very zealous about the work
of converting the Indians. Poutrincourt was very unwilling to
admit them into his colony on account of their political views, and,
though he could not keep them out, he managed at least to postpone
the arrival of P^re Biard, the chosen pioneer of the mission. He
himself set out in February, 1610, in a bark loaded with supplies
for Port Royal, and after a long passage, once more entered the
beautiful harbor, and received a joyful welcome from the aged
chief, who was said to be over a hundred years old.

Poutrincourt desired to show the Jesuits that he too was in
earnest in the Indian mission, and a priest whom he had brought,
named La Fleche, at once began to instruct Mcmbertou and his
tribe. The old man was a willing pupil, and ere long he had con-
fessed his sins and renounced the service of the devil, whom, as he
said, he had served for a hundred and ten years. He and his entire
family — twenty-one in all — were baptized on the shore, in presence
of the whole colony, while the Te Deum was chanted and a peal of
cannon celebrated this first baptism in the Canadian wilderness.
The new converts received the names of the royal family of France.

Two Jesuit fathers, Pere Biard and Pere .Enemond Massd,
ardently desired to come to Canada and at length gained the object
of their desire. They set sail for Port Royal, and after a very long
voyage, and meeting many huge icebergs, they reached at last the
new and stiange land in which they so desired to plant the Cross
beside the Lily of France. Shortly after their arrival the old Saga-
more, Membertou, died. His death-bed had been faithfully
attended by the Jesuit Fathers, who had jjersuaded him to forego
his natuifal desire for burial beside his heathen forefathers, so that
he might give, even in death, this evidence that he had fully
accepted the Christian faith.

The wliite men sadly missed the old chief during the dreary

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

winter that soon closed around them. There was no Lescarbot or
Ohamplain to plan little festivities or *' spectacles, " no knightly
Ordre du Boa Temps to provide g(t<»d cheer for their table. Provi-
sions ran very low, and they had to economize their stores by
putting each man on a small daily allowance of food. OccaHionally
some one from Membertou's household would bring them a present
of game, and then all would be gaiety and good cheer, and courage
would return to their drooping hearts.

The winter wore slowly and drearily away, and the two Fathers
did their best to console their disconsolate countrymen. But the
life of the Jesuits at Port Royal, as well as the existence of the
little colony itself, was nearly at an end. The Jesuits in France
were now ready to take possession of their gi'oat territory of North
America, and in the spring of 1G13 a sliip from Houfleur, bringing
two more Jesuits, arrived at Port Royal, and carried off the Fathers
Biard and Mass^ to find a new site for their Mission.

After exploring the coast for some distance they selected a site
near Mount Desert, where they pitched their tents and planned
houses and fields. But here they had to meet a new and unex-
pected obstacle. The King of France was not the only monarch
who claimed all North America as his own. King James of Eng-
land made the same claim, to the exclusion of all others. And
against this powerful rival monopoly would not hold. Before the
party had had time to break ground for building their houses, an
armed vessel, with blood-red flag, bore down upon them " swifter
than an arrow." It was the ship of Samuel Argall, one of the
unscrupulous adventurers of the time.

There was no time to organize a defense. Saussaye, the cowardly
French captain, fled to the woods, and after a slight resistance, the
ship, tents, and stores were seized by Argall.

Taking his own ship and that captured from Saussaye, Argall
steered northward on an errand of still more sweeping destruction.
He first landed at Mount Desert and levelled its unfinished de-
fenses, then steered for St. Croix, and did the same to all that
remained of that deserted post.

He had lost so much time in searching for St. Croix, and in find-
ing an Indian to guide him to it, that he now nearly gave up
designs he had on Port Royal, and P^re Biard endeavored to induce

CHAMPLAIN.

him to do no. But unhappily he persevered, entered the beautiful
harbor and descended upon the unsuspecting httle colony. There
was no attempt at resistance. The English seized all the stores,
plundered the buildings, killed or carried off all the animals they
found, and then burned the whole settlement to the ground. They
then de8trt)yed the harvest also, and having thus completed the
devastation, returned to tlieir ships,

Bfiron Poutrincourt, ignorant of these events, returned in the
following spring to Port Royal, to find his domain laid wjisto, his
buildings in ashes, and his son, with the other settlers, wandering
shelterless in the woods. Even ho was at last driven to despair by
tliis calamity, and, losing heart and hope, returned finally to Franco.
There he fell, some years later, sword in hand, leading the royal
forces into battle, a brave and gallant leader, who at least deserved
the success he failed to grasp.

But though Port Royal as a colony was ruined, the French still
kept a foothold in Aculia. Poutrincourt did not altogether desert
Port Royal, and the traders' huts at least kept the spot from re-
turning to utter solitude. New France was by no means crushed
in the ruins of Port Royal. But this high handed act of destruc-
tion, committed in time of peace between the two great nations who
were contending for the prize of the great continent, was but the
beginning oi a long and bitter conflict — the fruitful souice of misery
and death, until it ended at last with the ebbing lives of Montcalm
and Wolfe on the blood-dyed Plains of Abraham.

CHAPTER IV.

From ^^ Story of Champlain,*' by Miss A. M. Machar.

"This led to the founding^ of the city of Quebec at the foot of the cliff Cape
Diamond."— If i^fc Sohool Uistory, page SS6

In 1608 Champlain and Pontgrav^ sailed up the St. Lawrence,
passing the green island of Orleans and the white fall of Mont,
morency, till the bold promontory of Quebec rose above the winding
river.

RTORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

The view of (lark, unbroken forest, winding river, and purple hills,
was a churming one even then ; and, here in the shadow of the
great rock, Chaniplain determined to found his settlement. The
place was called, by the wandering Algonquins, Quebec or Kebec —
a word meaning a strait — and Champlain kept the old name. In a
short time he had built a sort of wooden fortress, surrounded by a
loopholed gallery, and enclosing three buildings. A tall dove-cote,
like a belfry, rose from tlie courtyard, and a moat, with two or three
primitive cannon, completed its defenses ; a magazine being built
close by. Chani[)lain hud his garden too, and enjoyed cultivating
his roses as well as his vegetables.

In September, Pontgrav^ went to France leaving Champlain with
twenty-eight men to brave the terrors of the winter, so fatal to the
parties of Cartior. The cold did not seem quite so severe, possibly
because Champlain and his men were better housed and fed. Tet
nevertheless, out of the twenty-eight, eight only survived till spring,
the rest having fallen victims to the inevitable scurvy which had
broken out towards the close of the winter.

At last the dreary winter was over, and it was a welcome sight
when a sail rounded the Isle of Orleans, bringing Pontgrav^'s son-
in-law, with the news that he Itimself was at Tadousac. Thither
Champlain hastened to meet him and discuss an intended voyage
of discovery. It was his cherished hope to realize the dream of a
short passage to India and China, and he desired as ardently to
gain influence over the Indians and convert them to the true faith.
To these aims his life was devoted.

But to his exploring zeal there was a formidable barrier. These
vast forests were infested by a ferocious Indian tribe called the
Five Nations or Iroquois, warlike and powerful, whose toma-
hawks were ever ready for action, and to whom an explorer must
almost certainly fall a victim, sooner or later. The Huron and
Algonquin tribes pleaded with him, not in vain, to help them to
overcome these strong foes. And he naturally believed that if he
could do them this service he would gain over them great influence
which he could use to promote both his cherished projects. He
had little idea, however, of the power and numbers of the savages
whoso enmity he so rashly provoked.

It was about the middle of May, 1609, that Champlain set out

OHAMPLAIN.

•ut

with a war party of Montmagnais, bent on ascending, under
their guidance, the Riviire dea Iruquois, as the River Richelieu was
then called. The eager explorer soon found how little he could
depend on the aid of his new allies. They encamped for two days
on the way, and quarrelled, the greater number going back in dis-
gust to their homes. He found, too, that the ascent of the stream
was barred by rocky ledges, over which the white surging mpids
dashed with furious force. Ho was obliged to send home his own
boat and men, keeping only two Frenchmen with him, while the
Indian warriors carried their canoes through the tangled forest to
the smooth stream above.

At lact, however, Champlain had the satisfaction of entering the
beautiful lake that still bears his name. Its shores were the hunting
grounds of the fierce Iroquois, and the valley of New York State
beyond it was dotted with the palisaded villages that formed their
strongholds. To pass from Lake Champlain to Lake George and
thence by portage to the Hudson, and attack the Mohawks in their
home, was the plan of the Indian warriors, provided they did not
meet the enemy on the way.

But at Crown Point this expedition of red men discovered at
nightfall, through the dusk, a flotilla of the Iroquois canoes. Dark
as it was the enemies recognized each other with savage war-cries.
The Iroquois landed close by and labored all night, as Champlain
could see, at the work of entrenching themselves behind a barricade
made of trees felled on the spot. Champlain's allies lashed their
canoes together with poles and danced and shouted till morning
broke.

The three Frenchmen lay concealed, each in his canoe, till the
critical moment approached. When the attacking canoes reached
the shore and their owners landed, Champlain could see some two
hundred tall, strong Indian warriors advancing from the forest to
meet them. As they approached the attacking Indians called for
their gallant defender, who came forward before the astonished
Iroquois in the imposing garb of a French soldier, and fired his
arquebuse. As its report resounded tn o of the Iroquois warriors
fell. The savages replied with a yell and showers of arrows, but
shots in rapid succession soon broke their advance into a retreat, and
they fled in terror and oonfusion.
C

% !l

STORIES PKOM CANADIAN HISTORY.

Satisfied with this successful skirmish, and probably fearing speedy
vengeance, the party turned their canoes toward home. At the
mouth of tb3 Richelieu the expedition broke up, and Champlain
sailed for Tadousac.

Champlain soon sailed for France with Pontgrav^, where they
spent the winter, and early in the following spring returned to
Canada. Champlain had various schemes for exi)luting expeditions
ready to carry into action. One of these was to go with the Hu-
rons to see the great lakes and near them the copper mines, which
they had promised to show him. They met, accordingly, at a ren-
dezvous on the Hichelieu. But while tliey were preparing for a
dance and a feast, a canoe came, swiftly paddled toward them,
bearing the news that a battle was going on in tlie forest between
Algonquins and TnMpiois, OliHinplain and his friends pressed on
through the forest jungle as best they might, stumbling over fallen
trees and entangling vines, wading through swamps, until at last
they came to the scene of action.

Champlain was woundv^d in the battle that followed ; but he fought
on undaunted, and again won the day for his Indian allies, who re-
joiced that a heavy blow had been dealt to their enemies. The
tumultuous savages celebrated their success with songs and dances,
and then, decorated w'tli ghastly scalj)s, set out for home in their
canoes, without a thought of following up the blow tliey had struck.
Neither did Champlain insist on their guiding him on to the great
lakes he had set out to reach. For startling tidings from France
seemed, for a time, to drive these projects from hi.s mind.

Henry the Fourth had fallen beneath the dagger of Ravaillac.
This wiis sad news for the hop^s of Quebec. Champlam must
hasten home, to look after the interests of his colony.

When he returned in the following spring he chose a site for a
new trading-post at the foot of the beautiful Mont Royal, where he
thought he could establish a trade with the great tribes of the in-
terior as they came down from the Ottawa. Not far from the place
where had once stood the Indian town of Hochelaga, on a spot now
covered by the massive stone warehouses of Montreal, he cleared a
site for his trading-post, and built a wall of bricks of his own
manufacture, to preserve it from damage by the "ice-shove" in
the spring.

CHAMPLAIN.

or a
CO he
in-
)lace
now
•ed a
own
ill

At this appointed rendezvous a band of Hurons were the first to
arrive, paddling their canoes down the dashing surges of the
Lachiue rapids. They invited Champlain to visit their country,
buy their beavers, bi.ild a fort, and teach them the true faith.
Champlain promised to protect them from their enemies, and went
to visit them at thuir camp on Lake St. Louis, from whence they
conveyed him down the rapids in their canoes.

Shortly after this Champlain again went to France, where he
remained until the spring of 1013. When he returned to Canada
he ascended the Ottawa on anotlior exploring expedition, to wliich
he was lured by the false report of a young Frenchman who had
volunteered to winter with the Indians. This young man brought
to France a wonderful story of having ascended a northern river
from the interior, and having discovered the shore of the eastern
sea. Champlain believed him, and hastened to Canada to follow up
the welcome discovery. He, with four Frenchmen and two Indians,
set out from Mont Royal in two small canoes, which they dragged
with great laf)or up the foaming rapids near Carillon, and reached
the calmer stream which sweeps on between high hills to the
present capital of Canada. They lighted their camp-fires at night
on the shore, passed the snowy cascade of the Rideau, and drew up
their canoes below the point where the great caldron of the Chau-
diere sends up its clouds of boiling spray.

Paddling on over Lake Chaudiere they reached at last the settle-
ment of the Ottiiwa chief Tessouat, with its maize fields and bark
wigwams. Here he found, to his great vexation, that the young
Frenchman's story was a lie, and that he had never gone farther
than the settlement of Tessouat. Disappointed and disheartened,
Champlain returned to Montreal, and, magnanimously leaving the
deceiver unpunished, sailed in a trading ship for France.

Two years after this he returned to Canada, and set out once more
to explore the region of the Ottawa. He reached the limit of his
former journey, and pressed onward, till he reached the shore of
Lake Nipissing. After exploring this region he kept his steady
way westward until, p;*,ddling down French River, he came out on
the great expanse of Lake Huron. Exi)loring its shores for a
hundred miles, he left his canoe somewhere near Thunder Bay,
and followed an Indian trail through the forest till he met the

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

welcome sight of the broad fields of maize and pumpkins that
surrounded the palisaded villages and long bark lodges of the great
Huron nation.

Champlain continued his journey to the capital of the Hurons,
Cahiagu^, near Lake Simcoe, and then followed the devious chain
of lakes and rivers till he came out at last on the shore of Lake
Ontario. Crossing it to what is now the American shore, Cham-
plain, with a Huron army which had followed him from Cahiagu^,
pursued his way into tho country of the Iroquois.

An attack on one of their towns failed through the uncontrollable
rashness and stupidity of the undisciplined Indians. Champlain
was wounded, and the crestfallen Indians would not renew the
attack but retreated in despondency. They refused to escort
Champlain to Quebec, and he found himself obliged to spend the
winter with them in the country northeast of the present city of
Kingston. He joined his hosts in their deer-hunts, and once lost
himself in the forest, in which he wandered shelterless for days and
nights. He shared their marches through mud and slush, or on
snow-shoes through the snow-clad forests. Finally, he returned to
Cahiagu^. After settling a quarrel between the Indians and ex-
horting them to keep peace among themselves, and the alliance
with the French, and getting a promise from the Nipissings to
guide him to that northern sea which he still hoped to reach, he
began his long and circuitous journey homeward.

This was the last of Champlain's long voyages of discovery. He
had penetrated into the depths of the wilderness far beyond where
any white man had gone before him. He seems to have begun to
feel the futility of wasting his time and risking his life in the skir-
mishing forays of the savages, which led to no result. At all
events, he now applied his whole strength to fostering the struggling
life of his little colony, whose growth was so weak and slow. At
Quebec he lived and worked until his active life, so devoted to New
France, closed on Christmas day, 1635. The whole colony mourned
with good cause, for the brave leader and true knight who had
entered into his well-earned rest.

TILLS MARIE DE MONTREAL.

I He

here

un to

skir-

t all

New

rned

had

CHAPTER V.

From ** Story of Villc Marie de Montreal " by Miss A. M. Machar.

"Out o( this interest came the founding of Montreal as a MisHion, in 1642." — High
School History, page S30.

The little settlement of Quebec, so carefully tended by Champlain
amid so many difficulties and disasters, Imd grown veiy slowly since
his death. His successor, M. de Montmagny, a Knight of Malta,
was a fairly good governor, and although without Champlain's
enthusiastic devotion, he tried to do his duty towards the settle-
ment and the Mission.

But there were, as yet, very few settlers at Quebec. The new
Company of the Hundred Associates had undertaken to send out
from France two thousand colonists. But it was not easy to induce
many to go to settle in that savage country. Only the self-sacri-
ficing enthusiasm of those devoted men and women wha left their
homes for the sake of converting the Indian, proved stionger than
even the love of gain, and kept life and spirit in the li ttle colony.
It was to this enthusiastic missionaiy devotion that Montreal owed
its origin.

A tax-gatherer of Anjou, named Dauversiere, and a jriest named
D'Olier, the founder of the Seminary of the Sulpitians, v ere inspired
with an ardent enthusiasm for establishing an Indian Mission on
the island of Montreal. They soon found wealthy friends willing
to help to found a mission at this central spot which might throw its
light far into the surrounding darkness.

Forty men were sent out to clear and cultivate the land and
entrench themselves securely on the spot ; while the founders
occupied themselves in collecting mission workers. They found an
admirable leader in a brave soldier and Christian knight, Paul de
Maisonneuve. A devoted lady named Mademoiselle Mance had
also become deeply interested in the proposed plan, and resolved to
join the mission. There were delays in the start, and the party
reached Quebec too late to proceed to Montreal that season.

At last the icy barriers of winter broke before the soft breezes of
April, and tho deep blue of the river greeted the lon|;ing eyes of

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

1 1

the colonists. Early in May, all were embarked in a little flotilla,
consisting of a pinnace, a flat-bottomed barge with sails, and two
row boats.

On the seventeenth of May, 1G42, the little expedition drew near
the forest clad slopes of the stately Mont Royal, and as they
approached it, a hymn of grateful praise went up from all the boats.
Maisonneuve was the first to spring to shore. The tents and
baggage were soon landed, and then an altar was erected in a
pleasant spot near the river. This was tastefully decorated by the
ladies of the party with the wild flowers that grew in such abundance
around them. Then the whole party gathered about it — M. Vin-
cent, the Superior of the Jesuits, in his rich ecclesiastical robes ; the
Governor, Montmagny, in his state dress ; the tall soldierly figure
of Maisonneuve ; the ladies with their female attendant, and all the
sailors, soldiers, and artisans. Each knelt in solemn silence as the
ceremony of high mass was performed by M. Vincent.

Next day everybody was early astir and hard at work. The men
began to fell the great forest trees, and very soon all tlie tents were
surrounded by palisades, and the altar was sheltered by a little
chapel of birch-bark. In a short time small wooden houses took
the place of the tents, and the little settlement had some visible
existence. The first experiences of the colonists hero were all
pleasant ones, with charmirg summer weather, with a fair landscape
spread around them, rich in noble outlines of distant hills and dense
masses of forest.

But that summer of 1642 was an exciting one in the eventful
history of New France. The hatred of the fierce Iroquois tribe had
been silently smouldering ever since Champlain had unhappily
commenced his warfare with them thirty-two years before. They
declared that they would sweep away not only the Algonquins and
Hurons, but the French also, and carry off the "white girls" (the
nuns) to their villages. The colonists were harrassed by sudden
attacks on passing boats and canoes, or stealthy descents on French
traders, or on the settlers near Quebec and Three Rivers, while
crafty ambuscades were laid for the Hurons also, as they brought
their furs to the trading posts.

With the frosts of December came the first great troubles to the
settlement of Ville Marie. The swollen river, dammed up by the

VILLE MARIE DE MONTREAL.

accumulating ice, rose rapidly and threatened to sweep away their
whole summer's work. Powerless to stop the advancing flood, the
colonists had recourse to prayer.

Maisonneuve raised a wooden cross in front of the flood and
vowed to plant another cross on the mountain summit as a thank-
offering for deliverance. The advancing river stayed its course just
as the waves were threatening to sap the powder-magazine ; and as
it soon began to recede, the colonists felt that they were safe.
Maisonneuve at once prepared to fulfill his vow. A path was
cleared through the forest to the top of the mountain, and a large
wooden cross was made and blessed for the purpose. On the
sixteenth of January a solemn procession ascended the newly-made
pathway, headed by the Jesuit Du Peron followed by Maisonneuve,
bearing on his shoulders the heavy cross which had taxed even his
strength to carry up the steep and rugged ascent. When the cross
had been set up, the leaders received the sacrament on the summit
of Mont Rt^yal.

The winter — little less severe than the winter of Quebec — was
passed by the colonists in tolerable comfort. Still it was with
gladness that they again saw the snows melt away and give place to
the fresh foliage and flowers of spring. In the following August
they had the joy of welcoming a vessel fiom France which brought
them new helpers — Louis D'Aillebout, a brave and devout gentle-
man who afterwards succeeded M. de Montmagiiy as Governor of
Canada, with his wife and her sister, both as zealous as himself, to
devote thoir all to the Canadian Mission.

A lady in France had contributed a large sum of money for the
equipment of a hospital, which was built accordingly, though as yet
there were no patients, and provided with all the necessary furniture,
linen, and medicines. Mademoiselle Mance was duly installed in
it, to wait for the Indian patients whose bodies and souls were to
be cared for within its walls. Meantime, she and the other ladies
made pilgrimages to the mountain cross, to pray for the success of
their work. Sometimes fifteen or sixteen of the settlers would join
in these pilgrimages. They seized every opportunity of gaining an
influence over the Indians who came near Ville Marie. Their
efforts were crowned with some apparent success, and among their
professed converts was numbered a chief famed for his savage and

1?^ "

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

It !

■\

crafty nature — Le Borgne. He was christened by the name of
Paul, and presented with a gun, as an encouragement to others to
follow his example.

The French did all they could, however, to stimulate the Indians
to the more peaceful pursuits of agriculture, giving them implements
for tilling the ground and showing them how to use them. But the
dreaded Iroquois were perpetually lurking near, ready to harass
and destroy.

A party of Hurons, coming down in June to sell their furs, were
startled by finding at Lachine a rough Indian fort, held by a large
party of Iroquois. The Hurons, to save themselves, turned traitors
to their French friends, and professed great friendship for the
Iroquois, telling them all they knew about Ville Marie, and assuring
them of an easy victory if they would attack it. The Iroquois were
very ready to do this, and sent out a party of their warriors, who
surprised six French laborers hewing wood near the fort, killing
three and taking the others prisoners. The treachery of the
Hurons, however, returned upon their own heads, for the Iroquois
fell upon them unawares, and killed or captured all but a few
fugitives, who fled to Ville Marie, where the unsuspected traitors
were kindly received and sheltered.

After this successful raid, the vicinity of Ville Marie was more
than ever infested by the blood-thirsty savages, who would hide,
singly or in large parties, waiting for their prey. In the latter case,
they would send out a few men to try to allure the French to
attack them. But Maisonneuve was a very prudent commandant.
He knew that the wisest plan for his small band was to keep within
the shelter of their fortifications, and that a single defeat would
mean ruin to the whole settlement. So, although his men often
murmured, at being kept in forced inaction, he maintained this wise
policy, until an occasion arose when he thought it best to act
difierently, and by one brilliant exploit he silenced the complaints
of his men and inspired the whole party with renewed courage.

One March morning in 1644, Pilot, a sagacious watch-dog, «3tiented
Indians and rushed towards the fort over the eastward clearing,
barking fun::'; The soldiers crowded about their commander
asking! ' e' v . - i; :.ver to go out to meet this invisible enemy.
Maisc'- -i. • '4J1M eiecl ^iromptly that he would lead them out

VILLE MARIE DE MONTREAL.

himself, and would see if they were as brave as they professed to
be.

Quickly the little band was put in battle array. Guns were
shouldered, and all the available snow-shoes were tied on. At the
head of his troop of thirty men, Maisonneuve crossed the clearing,
and entered the forest beyond, where for some time they saw no
sign of human presence. But after wading for a good way through
the deep snow, they were suddenly saluted with a shower of ar-
rows and bullets from some eighty Iroquois springing from their
ambush.

Maisonneuve ordered his men to take shelter behind the trees
and fire at the enemy. For a time, they stood their ground, though
three oi their men were killed and several wounded. But their
ammunition began to fail, while the Iroquois still pressed them
close with a galling fire which broke the steadiness of the men and
made them begin a retreat. They covered their retreat by turning
frequently to fire, but when they reached the beaten track leading
to the fort, they made such a wild rush that they were mistaken
for enemies by their friends, and, but for an accident, they would
have received a fatal fire.

Maisonneuve gallantly stood his ground to the last, retreating
backward with a pistol in each hard, with which he kept back his
pursuers. The Indians were anxious to take him alive, and there-
fore would not shoot him. The chief wished himself to have the
honor of capturing the French commander, and was in the act of
seizing him, when Maisonneuve shot him dead. This caused such
a confusion among the Iroquois, who rushed to secure the dead
body of their chief, that Maisonneuve escaped during the excite-
ment and was soon safe in the fort. Thenceforward his men
recognized him as a hero, and the wisdom of his generalship was
unquestioned. For some time after this Ville Marie enjoyed com-
parative peace. The scene of this brilliant action of Maisonneuve
is believed to have been what is now the Place d'Armes, close to
the great church of Notre Dame.

But there were still many dark days and bloody struggles in store
for the little settlement. Rumors of raids being planned con-
tinually reached the ears of the settlers, and the outlook for
Montreal as for the whole colony, was just at the darkest point

STORIES FKOM CANADIAN HISTORY.

Rt '

m
m

i \\

when both were saved by h gallant feat of arms, which will be
narrated in another story. It was as heroic as that of the Greeks
at Thermopylae, and like it saved the country for a time by the
vohintery self-sacrifice of a few devoted men.

CHAPTER VI.

A CANADIAN THERMOPYLAE.

"The story of Daulac des Ormeaux recalls the bravest deeds of the best days of the
ancient Greeks and Romana." —High School History, page 330.

During the latter part of the winter of 1660, the little settlement
of Montreal wa.s kept in perpetual excitement by rumours of the
warlike designs of the Iroquois. Hunters, trappers, and friendly
Indians were all agreed as to the vast numbers of these irrepressible
savages who were wintering in Canada, far from their villages to the
south of Lake Ontario, in order to be ready for their murderous
and plundering raids just as soon as the French should begin to
break up the soil and sow their spring crops.

Wliile many hearts trembled with fear, there was one young man
in Montreal whose breast burned with the warrior's delight at these
reports, greatly exaggerated as they often were. This young man
was Adam Daulac, Sieur des Ormeaux. Though but twenty-five
years old, he had already seen a good deal of service ; but, while a
soldier in Old France, he had in some way stained his character,
and was longing to wipe out the disgrace by some heroic deed. He
felt that now was the time for action. Having obtained leave from
Governor Maisonneuve to collect a party of volunteers to go forth
to meet the Iroquois before they could reach the settlements, he at
once went to work, and his energy and enthusiasm soon attracted
to his leadership sixteen brave followers.

The inhabitants of Montreal looked upon them as a band of
heroes, and on a bright morning in early spring the people flocked
in crowds to the chapel of the Hotel Dieu to see them make what
would probably be their last confession, and receive the last
sacraments.

Having secured an abundant supply of arms and ammunition for

A CANADIAN THERMOPYLAE.

the undertaking, and a quantity of hominy or crushed com for food,
they took a solemn and tendor farewell of their friends, who
inwardly felt they would never again see their brave defenders.
The seventeen youths then embarked in several large canoes, and
began their arduou^j journey. A week was spent in attempts to
pass the swift waters of Sainte Anne at the head of Montreal
Island. After passing this they toiled across the Lake of the Two
Mountains and up the Ottawa, until the fierce current at Carillon
was reached. Here they took a brief rest, and then began the
heavy labor of poling and hauling their canoes up the rapid torrent.
But tlieir energy soon left this obstacle behind them, and they joy-
ously paddled on till they heard the hoarse roar of the foaming
"LongSault."

These rapids were much more difficult to pass than those of
Sainte A nne or Carillon ; and as the Frenchmen gazed at the
furious waters boiling and seething around boulders and sunken
rocks, they decided that it would not be possible to make the
ascent. They knew that a large party of the Iroquois were
encamped on the Upper Ottawa, and that they would have to shoot
the rapids on their way down ; and so thought it best to wait and
give them a hot reception as soon as their canoes appeared. While
debating this matter, they saw at the foot of the rapid a partially
cleared spot in the midst of which was a rude palisaded fort that an
Algonquin war party had erected in the previous autumn.

Worn out as they were, the Frenchmen gladly took possession of
it, and, after unloading their canoes and hauling them up on the
shore, they stored their provisions and ammunition in the fort.
They were so fatigued by the journey that instead of setting »to
work to repair the fore, much dilapidated by the winter's storms,
they slung their kettles by the shore, partook of a hearty meal,
then wrapped themselves in their blankets and lay down for a much
needed rest.

A few days after this a heroic Huron named Etienne Annahotaha,
with forty followers, and an Algonquin named Mituvemeg, with
several of his tribe, joined Daulac's party, much to the delight of
the little band. Scouts were now constantly sent out to give
timely warning of the approach of the foe. Early one morning
several scouts of Etienne's band rushed into camp with the news

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

t*l

that two canoes were speeding down the rapids. Daulac hastily
concealed a fow of his men near the shore, whore he thought the
Iroquois would land after their exhausting labors, ordering them
to be ready to fire on the foe, and if possible to allow none to escape.

The ambushod i)arty waited patiently for their victims, who were
not long in api)0!iring, their canoes bounding down the seething
water. Daulac had chosen the spot for ambush well, for the Iro-
quois turned their canoes to the sliore just at the point where he
expected them. As they were about to land Daulac's men fired a
too hasty volley, and some of the Indians escaped to the forest before
the Frenchmen had time to pursue them or to re-load their guns.
The Indians who escaped rushed up the Ottawa to warn their com-
panions. Burning for revenge, the whole party straightway broke
up camp, launched their canoes, and paddled swiftly towards the
"L.mgSault."

The French, with their Indian allies, after this attack set to work
to prepare their morning meal, when suddenly they wore interrupted
by the news that a fleet of almost one hundred canoes was already
on its way down the Sault, Scarcely had the alarm been given
when the foremost boats were seen in the distance. For a moment
they all stood watching the canoes as they came skimming, dancing,
shooting, down the turbulent waters, now swiftly gliding over some
calm stretch, then rushing with race-horse speed towards a boulder,
only to be turned aside at the right moment by the skillful paddle
of the steersman ; again plunging down some little waterfall and
sending the spray about their prows like the foam on the mouth of
a spirited charger.

As soon as they began to reach the smooth water at the foot of
the rapids, the anxious watchers left their kettles and dishes on
shore, and rushed into the fort to prepare for the onset. The Iro-
quois on landing saw their slain comrades, and, maddened with
rage, charged upon the fort, but were driven back with considerable
loss. They then endeavored to induce Daulac to surrender, holding
out favorable terms, but he only derided their demands.

Before renewing the assault they built a fort in the forest, to
which they might retreat in case of a second repulse. While they
were thus engaged the French party were not idle. Some busily
plied their axes in cutting down small trees and erecting a double

A CANADIAN THEKMOPTLAE.

row of palisades ; others worked diligently with the pick and
shovel, filling up the space between the two rows with earth high
enough to protect a man standing upright. In the earthwork wore
left twenty loopholes large enong'. to all«)w three niarksnien to use
tlieir nni.skets to advantage at each. .Just as they were throwing
the last shovelful of earth between the palisades, tliey were called
to anus by the savage yells of tlio Inxpiois, who had completed their
fort, and wore returning to the attack. This time tliey were trying
a new plan. They had broken up the canoes of the besieged, and,
Betting fire to the pieces of bark, rushed forward at full speed with
these blazing torches, endeavoring to throw them against the
palisades, and burn out their foes. But the muskets of the fort kept
up an incessant Rre, and torch-bearor after torch-bearer fell dead.
Still their comrades pressed on, but the hot, close fire was too nmch
for them, and they hurriedly retreated, leaving behind them many
dead and wounded.

After a brief rest they renewed the attack, ably led by a daring
Seneca chief, whose spirit so inspired his men that they seemed
likely to reach the palistvdes. But a bullet struck the leader, and
his followers fled. Several of the young Frenchmen, desiring to
show their courage, and strike terror into the hearts of the Iroquois,
volunteered to go out and bring in tlio head of the fallen chief.
Their comrades stood by the loopholes, and every time an Indian
showed himself, poured a volley in his direction. Protected by this
heavy fire, they succeeded in reaching the dead chief, cutting off his
head, and returning to the fort unhurt. With exulting cheers they
set the head up on the most prominent part of the palisades, right
in the face of the enraged enemy. This filled them with savage
determination for revenge. Again they rushed forward to take the
little fort, but again they were repulsed with severe loss. After
this third repulse they felt that, with their present force, it would
be impossible to succeed.

After debating what would be the best course to follow, they
decided to send a canoe to five hundred of their companions
encamped on the Richelieu, to ask them to come at once and to help
them crush the band intrenched in the rude little fort. After their
messengers had departed, a continuous fire was kept up on the fort,
and every now and then they feigned a rush, so as to keep the

STORIRS FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

r I

besieged in a constant state of anxiety, and weary them out with
toil and watching.

The Fronchmon, in the meantime, suffered terribly from hunger
and thirst, cold and want of sloop. The t)nly food they had was
hominy — poor faro for mon constantly at work. In tlioir hasty rush
from tlio shore at the approach of the canoos down tho Sault, they
had failed to bring any of their large kettles, or any supply of
water, and as there was none to bo had about tho fort, the thirst
of the whole party soon became almost unbearable. Besides it was
quite impossible to eat the dry food alone without being almost
choked in the effort.

In despair some of the bravest determined to dare the fire of tho
Iroquois, in order to bring water from tlie river. Collecting all their
small vessels, they boldly sallied forth, under cover of the fire of
their comrade's muskets, and without loss of life succeeded in their
task. Tliis supply, however, was soon exhausted ; and the Iro-
quois, who had not anticipated this rush to the river, had now
posted their men in such a position that it was impossible to repeat
the attempt. Unable to boar the thirst, they went eagerly to
work, and dug vigorously until their hearts were gladdened by the
sight of a little muddy water welling up through the soil.

They had anotlier great misfortune to bear in the desertion of
all the Huron allies excepting Etienne. Among tho Iroquois were
many adopted Hurons, who eagerly besought their kinsmen with
Daulac to desert, and the poor Hurons, stcirved and suffering, know-
ing that sooner or later they must perish if they remained in the
fort, listened to the voice of the tempters, and at every fitting
opportunity leaped over the palisades and fled to the Iroquois, who
received them with shouts of joy. At last Annahotaha and the
Algonquins alone remained with the French. This desertion greatly
weakened the hopes of the little party, now reduced from sixty to
twenty. "Vet when they were again asked to surrender, they boldly
refused, nothing daunted, and firm in their intention of holding out
to the death.

In a few days the five hundred warriors from the Richelieu
joined the besiegers, and the Iroquois now tiiought that the only
thing to be considered was how to win the victory with the least
loss of life. Calling a council, they decided to advance cautiously

A CANADIAN THERMOPYLAE.

last
sly

at first, and when near the palisades to rush on masso, and burst in
on the besieged. They advanced accordingly, ])ut as soon as .my
one showed liimself ho was met with a volley. At last the whole
body made a dash for the palisades, but the French wore prepared
for it, and made such havoc in their ranlcH that they weie forced
to flee.

For three days and nights a series of attacks, without order or
plan, was made on thu fort. Nothing was gained, and not a few of
the Indian warriors fell before the unerring aim of the besieged.
The Iroquois began to look upon them as aided by the Manitou,
and many wanted to give up the seemingly usehss contest and
return to their lodges. But all their bravest warriors cried out
against such a course. A council was called, and the more daring
among them made soul-stirring speeches, calling on their brother
warriors to uphold the honor of their race.

After the spoeclies small sticks were tied up in bundles and
thrown on the ground, and each one willing to risk all, and join in
a determined attack, showed his readiness by picking up a bundle.
Warrior after warrior eagerly stepped forward and seized one, while
grunts of approval rose from their companions. Soon nearly all
were enrolled, few daring to keep back lest they should be regarded
as cowards.

When the task of enlisting volunteers was completed, they went
earnestly to wt)rk to plan an attack. To take the fort by assault
was out of the question ; they therefore decided to remain as much
as possible under cover, until they should reach the palisades. How
to do this puzzled them greatly. At last an Indian, more ingenious
than his fellows, proposed that trees be cut down and large wooden
shields made, behind which the;y could take shelter without much
danger of being struck by the bullets. His suggestion was acted
upon, and busily they plied their hatchets. They then made shields
by binding three or four short logs closely together. Soon the
many hands had enough ready for the braves who were to lead the
attack. After a brief rest, the order was given to advance. Slowly
but surely the chosen ones led on ; while protected by them and
their shields, the rest of the Iroquois followed closely behind.

When the French saw this peculiar, fence-like body advance,
they did not at first know what to make of it, but they were soon

STORIES PROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

roused from their bewilderment, and began a rapid, despairing fire
on the wooden wall, without much effect. Occasionally a shield-
bearer would be seen to fall, but the place of the fallen brave was
quickly filled by those in the rear. They did not waver for an
instant, and when within a few feet of the palisades — casting their
shields from them — they leaped forward, hatchet in hand, and
began hacking and tearing at the palisades, to force their way into
the fort.

The brave little garrison felt that the end had come. As they
had fought like heroes they were ready to die like heroes. When
they had undertaken the expedition, they had determined to take
no quarter ; now they knew they need expect none. Daulac
strengthened them by word aad actions. Eager to repulse the foe,
he crammed a large musketoon — a kind of small cannon — to the
muzzle with powder and shot, and lighting thu fuse, attempted to
throw it over the wall. It struck the top of the palisades, and fell
back into the fort, bursting as it struck the ground. Some of the
Frenchmen were blinded and wounded by the explosion, and, in
their excitement, left tlie loopholes. The Indians, taking advantage
of this, began to fire upon them from the outside. A breach was
soon made through the wall, and eager warriors rushed in, but
equally determined Frenchmen met them, knife and axe in hand.
Their courage had excited the admiration of the savages, and they
were anxious to take them alive, that they might kill them by slow
deaths. Orders were given to capture all alive if possible. Again
and agai- . the Iroquois crowded into the gap, but Daulac's axe and
knife, or those of his companions, went crashing through their
skulls or pierced their breasts till a great heap of dead lay about
the entrance. At last Daulac was struck down, but his men took
his place and kept up the fight.

Maddened by this resistance, the leaders of the Indians gave the
order to fire, and a score of muskets carried death to the survivors
of the heroic party. With fiendish yells the Iroquois leaped into
the fort in search of scalps. Only throe Frenchmen had any life
left, and these were at once burned before the heartless crowd.
Longing for more blood, they turned for revenge upon the Huron
deserters ; and some of them were put to death at the stake, with
the cruelest torture. Others they reserved for a like fate, when

THR STORY OF BRJ^BOCUF.

they should reach tlieir villages. Five of these escaped on the
route, and brought the details of this tragedy to the ears of the
French.

Montreal mourned her heroes ; and well she might. The Iro-
quois were on their way to sweep the French from this continent,
but the heroic stand of Daulao and his men made them dread
meeting a nation of such valor. For many years the name of the
young leader was held in deserved honor ; and whatever may have
been the stain that rested upon his name, he had nobly wiped it out
at last with his life's blood.

CHAPTER Vn.

THE STORY OF BR£b(EUF.

" By far the most Interesting portion of the history of French Canada is the story
of the Jesuit missions among the Indians." — Wgh School History, page St8.

In the latter part of May, 1633, Champlain, after one of his many
voyages across the stormy Atlantic, reached the rocky fortress of
Quebec. This time he brought with him a number of missionaries
who were to spread the Gospel among the benighted Indians.
Among the missionaries was one figure more striking than the
others, Jean de Br^boeuf, a man of a noble family of Normandy. He
was a tall man, with broad athletic shoulders and sinewy limbs.
£)ven in his black robe one could not but feel that he was a bom
soldier. His face, too, wore the stem expression of a man
accustomed to deeds of daring and commanding rather than to the
milder aspect of a preacher of the Gospel of Peace. He had been
in Canada for several years before this time, and in his labors had
found that the Hurons on the shores of the Georgian Bay needed
him most, and that the difficulties of that mission were just what his
daring spirit needed. He now came to Canada anxiously looking
for an opportunity to return to his former field of labor, and to
what was to prove the scene of his martyrdom.

The Hurons came to Quebec in July on their annual visit, with
their canoes laden with furs. A feast was held m their honor, and
at the feast Champlain introduced the three missionaries, Daniel,
D

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

Davost, and Br^bcBuf to the rod men. The Indians had ever found
the *' Black Robes" loving and helpful, and several of the chiefs
welcomed them with stirring speeches. Brdbceuf could speak their
language, and replied with fitting words. The Indians had heard
of him, but his noble bearing, and able, diplomatic address filled all
with unbounded admiration, and many vied for the honor of carry-
ing him in their canoes. The feast broke up, and the Fathers made
preparations for a long and trying journey.

However they met with a disappointment. A difficulty arose
between the French and the Indians, and the latter paddled to their
country refusing to carry the missionaries with them. The Fathers
lost no time, however, for they earnestly went to work at the Huron
language, and spent the long Canadian winter in obtaining a speak-
ing knowledge of it.

Next year when the Hurons came down they took back with them
the missionaries, who with glad hearts faced the journey of nine
hundred miles. The canoes left Quebec and paddled slowly but
steadily up the St. Lawrence till the Ottawa was reached ; and then
began the real difficulties of the way. The rapids of this great
northern river caused them to portage again and again, and not
unfrequently they had to wade waist deep in the boiling flood,
dragging their canoes with them. The Fathers, unaccustomed to
such work, felt it keenly, and even Br^boeuf, strong as a lion, was
almost exhausted. But they bore up manfully and did their share
of the work, helping to carry the canoes past the rapids, or bending
under loads of baggage, as they struggled over rocks or through
dense woods. Nor had they proper food for such exhausting work.
A little corn crushed between two stones and mixed with a Uttle
water was almost the only nourishment they had in the dreary
thirty days journey from Three Rivers to the Georgian Bay. But
the heroic missionaries did not heed the trials and dangers, they
were only anxious to save souls, and at night, as they lay on the
rocks or hard earth and read their breviaries by the camp fire or the
light of the moon, they rejoiced that God had put it into their
power at last to labor in their chosen field.

The canoes bearing them became separated on the journey, and
when Br^boeuf reached his destination on the shores of Thunder
Bay his comrades were nowhere near. The Indians had agreed to

THE STORY OF BR]6bOEUP.

carry him to this spot, and without a word deseited him and went
to their respective villages. But he was not one vo be disheartened.
He hid his baggage in the forest and went in s>;arch of his future
flock. He had spent three years in Toanche, a town not far distont,
but it had been destroyed by fire. He passed by the ruins of this
place, and soon saw before him the roofs of the village of Ihonatiria.

The villagers had probably heard that their old teacher was near
them once more, for when his tall, athletic figure yraa seen emerging
from the thick forest they rushed out to meet him with the wildest
enthusiasm, crying out "Echom has come again," **Echom has
come again ! " He was led in triumph to their vilage, and feasted
and cared for, and here he rested and awaited the arrival of his
companions who were many days longer on the journey.

The Hurons were glad to have the "Black Rol)es" among them
once more, and several of the villages combined to bul'd them a
fitting residence. Before the autumn leaves had s 11 fallen from the
trees a house thirty-six feet long by twenty feet ivide was erected,
and finished in a manner that did credit to its savage builders.
The Jesuits fitted it up as well as possible under the circumstances.
Among other things that they displayed in their abode were some
thf.t filled the Indians with awe. A magnifying glass and multiply-
in^r lens puzzled their untutored senses ; and a hand-mill made them
reverence the ingenuity and skill of the white men. But the most
amazing of all objects was a clock that struck the hours. The
Hurons christened it the "Captain," and were never tired of sitting
waiting to hear it strike. They asked what it ate, and what it said
when it struok. The Fathers put this last question to good pur-
pose, and declared that when it struck twelve times it said "hang
the kettle on," and when four, "get up and go home." The Indians
acted on the answer, and ever after at four o'clock the missionaries
were left alone to worship together, to pray for the success of their
labors, to study the Huron language, and to plan their work.

Their labor was far from being pleasant. They had many diffi-
culties to contend with and much to discourage them. The Indian
sorcerers did all in their power to stir up enmity against them ;
the savages were so deop-rooted in wickedness that they seemed
little higher than the brute, and those that did confess their sins
and receive baptism, too often did it for some present they expected

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

from the scanfc store that the devoted men had brought with them.
But Br^bceuf was not to be daunted, and he went steadily and
cheerily on with his work, helping his weaker comrades to bear up
against their trials.

A difficulty arose during the first summer of their sojourn among
the Hurons. A severe drought had been burning the fields and
withering the crops, and their enemies declared that it was caused
by the red cross on their mission house, that scared away the bird
of thunder. A council was held, and it was decreed that the cross
should be cut down. To save the emblem of their faith the Fathers
offered to paint it white, and when it was done, and the drought
did not cease, the Indians thought that they must try some other
means of bringing rain. The sorcerers exerted themselves to bring
it about, but their efforts were fruitless. At length the missionaries
formed religious processions, and offered up earnest prayers that
the dry time might end ; and as rain came shortly afterwards the
Indians as a people put great reliance in the white "medicine" men,
but the sorcerers hated them with an intenser hatred than at first.

Soon after this small-pox broke out and swept with deadly might
through the whole Huron nation. The Jesuits worked nobly. Night
and day Br^boeuf s commanding form might have been seen, pass-
ing from hut to hut, caring for the sick, nursing them with his own
hands, toiling for the life of their bodies, and earnestly seeking
to save their souls. They besought him to tell them what they
should do to be saved, and Br^boeuf answered, " Believe in God ;
keep his commands ; give up all your superstitious feasts ; re-
nounce your sins, and vow to build a chapel to offer God thanks-
giving and praise." These were difficult things for the Indians to
do, but several whole communities promised, and *or a time
struggled against their savage natures. But an evil day was at
hand for Br^boeuf and his comrades. Their old enemies, the
sorcerers, came among their flock and drew its members away to
the worship of the Indian gods and to the practice of savage, dis-
gusting cures against the disease.

It was soon rumored abroad that the Jesuits liad cast a spell
over the Indians to get them into their power. They were held
rMponsible for the plague, and the objects that had formerly pleased
th* wondering savages were now looked upon as things to be

THE STORY OF BLuBOEUF.

dreaded. The clock had to be stopped, the religious pictures in
the mission-house were turned from with horror, and even a small
streamer they had set up was dreaded as a source of the disease.

Day by day the antipathy increased, till at last they were shunned,
hooted, pelted with sticks and stones, and even their lives were
threatened, but Br^boeuf bore an undaunted presence, and met all
their accusations with a calm courage that filled the red men with
admiration even in their hate. At length, however, after several
councils had met, their death was decreed, and it was only the
superstitious dread that the red men had of the great ''white
sorcerers " that kept the blow from falling. Br^boeuf and his com-
panions felt that the end was nigh, and assembled their flock to a
great **festin d'adieu" a farewell feast of one expecting death.
Their courasce in meeting their fate with their eyes open turned the
tide in their favor, and, although the sorcerers still kept a large
party among the Indians stirred up against them, their lives were
never after in danger.

In 1640, Brdboeuf struggled to found a mission in the Neutral
nation, but after four months of effort he returned to the town of
Sainte Marie in the Huron country, and among his chosen people
he labored for the next eight years, till he met his death at the
hand of the Iroquois.

These savages hated the Hurons with a deadly hatred, and in
1648 planned an attack on their towns. They waited for the Huron
traders to make their annual descent to the French posts. A sharp
fight ensued ; all the Hurons were slain or captured, and the
victorious enemy rushed on to the town of St. Joseph, which was
soon laid in ashes. Here was slain the noble Daniel, and his body
burned in the ruins of his church. Other towns were raided and
destroyed, and the Iroquois, with scalps dangling froni every belt,
hurried back to their palisaded homes.

In the following March they were once more on the war-path,
and the populous town of St. Ignace was soon given to the flames.
From St. Ignace they impetuously dashed on St. Louis, where
labored Br^boeuf and Lalemant. In a short time the town was
taken and given to the flames. Br^boeuf and his comrade played
heroic parts, and died as perhaps martyrs never died before.
Br^boeuf particularly excited the vengeful spirit of the Indians, who

STORIES FROH CANADIAN HISTORY.

were unable to make him cry for mercy. Above their savage yells
his voice rang out, exhorting his flock to remain in their belief, and
to die Christians. So greatly was his spirit admired that the
Indians, to gain something of his strength and courage, with savage
superstition drank his blood, and their most noted chief ate his
heart.

So ended the labors of these heroes ; and that the Indians of
Canada held to the French with such affection was due almost
altogether to the struggles and earnestness of perhaps the most
devoted and heroic missionr:if'3 Torld has ever seen.

CHAP'^TT*, vvCT.

From " Story of Robert de la Sail

Tias A. M, Machar.

'The story of Joliet's exploit filled La Sail a with thv^ le,-
•"High School History, page SSU.

to e .{ilore the West.'

Although Champlain had failed to disco CuV u { passage to

China and India, others atill looked with hopeful eyes towards the
west, and this hope, combined with a desire to profit by the fur
trade, and to convert the Indian hordes, created the exploring
spirit in many noble Frenchmen.

Chief among the French explorers in America must stand the
name of Robert Cavalier, afterwards entitled De la Salle. He had
an earnest and devout nature, and early in life joined the Jesuits,
but with a small fortune came to Canada in 1666 to seek with rest-
less energy first the western passage to China, and afterwards to
open up and hold the heart of this continent for his king.

At this time Montreal still lived in terror of the Iroquois, and
the priests of St. Sulpice, who held an undisputed supremacy at
Montreal, were anxious to defend it by a line of outposts along the
river front. Queylus, the superior of the seminary, offered La
Salle a large grant of land close to the rapids of St. Louis, which
he gladly accepted. He at once laid out the area of a palisaded
village, and began to clear the ground and erect buildings, remains
of which may still be found at Laohine, as La Salle's settlement

ROBERT DE LA SALLK.

was soon called, in allusion to his dream of a short western passage
to China.

The Seneca Iroquois, who had so terribly harassed the colony,
were at this time on friendly terms with the French, and some of
them came to visit La Salle at his new home. Taking a fancy to
the adventurous young Frenchman, who hid a burning enthusiasm
under a veil of almost Indian reserve, they told him of a great
river called the Ohio, that rose in their country and flowed at last
into the sea. He eagerly drank in this welcome tale, for he thought
that this great unknown river must flow into the " Vermilion Sea,"
as the Gulf of California was then called, and so would supply the
long-dreamed of western passage to China. To explore this great
river, to find it an easy water-way to the Pacific and the East, and
to take possession of this route "^nd the great surrounding terri-
tories for the King of France, was the magnificent idea that now
took possession of his imagination, and to which — somewhat modi-
fied — the rest of his life was devoted.

He went down to Quebec, and unfolded his project to the
Governor De Courcelles and the Intendant Talon, who readily gave
the endorsement of letters patent for the enterprise. In order to
procure money for the expedition, he sold his seigniory of Lachine,
and bought four canoes with supplies for the journey, for which he
also hired fourteen men. He joined his forces with an expedition
which the seminary was just then sending out, to attempt to found
a Mission among the heathen tribes of the Great West. They set out
in July and journeyed together till September, passing the mouth
of the Niagara and hearing the roar of the great cataract. But,
near the present city of Hamilton, the priests determined to make
their way to the northern lakes, and La Salle parted company with
them, to spend the next two years in exploring alone the interior
of the continent to southward. In the course of these wanderings,
if he did not reach the Mississsippi, he discovered at least the im-
portant streams of the Ohio and the Illinois. But the discovery of
the "Father of Waters" was reserved for two other explorers —
Louis Joliet and Pere Marquette ; the one a hardy and intelligent
trader, the other a humble and devoted missionary.

Shortly after this Frontenac came to Canada as Governor, and in
him La Salle found an able ally ; together they planned Fort Fron-

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

^'1

(

; i

i :

; ^

1 ;

' ■

1 (

tenac, and the wily Governor and enthusiastic explorer got a grip
on the region of the lakes, and on the hearts of the Indians that
no other man seemed able to secure. After establishing Fort
Frontenac the Governor returned to his capital, Quebec, and soon
the canoe of Joliet followed him with the good news that the Miss-
issippi had been discovered.

La Salle's interest was, of course, intensely excited, chiefly by the.
representation that it was possible to go in a bark canoe from Fort
Frontenac, on Lake Ontario, to the Gulf of Mexico, only one "carry-
ing place " being mentioned, at what we know as Niagara Falls.
He found in Frontenac a discriminating and helpful friend ; and he
now received from him the command of the new fort, where he was
to reside while maturing plans of discovery and preparing to ex-
ecute them.

La Salle Lad never meant Fort Frontenac to be anything more
than a step towards industrial colonies in the rich southwestern
wilderness, and a commercial route down the Mississippi to the
Gulf of Mexico ; so Jsr 1667 he sailed for France, and laid before
the king's trusted uiiilister, Colbert, a representation of the dis-
coveries he had made. His memorial was considered, and in
May, 1678, he received a royal patent authorising him to proceed
in the labor of discovery, and to build within five years as many
forts as he saw fit ; and giving him, besides, a monopoly of buffalo
hides.

Having secured several large loans he sailed from Rochelle,
taking with him about thirty men and two lieutenants — La Motte
and Henri de Tonti, an Italian officer who became his most faithful
follower. At Quebec they were met by Father Hennepin, an
adventurous friar, who had for several years been making long
journeys among the villages of the Iroquois — by canoe in summer
and on snow-shoes in winter.

All soon reached Fort Frontenac, and La Motte and Hennepin
sailed westward till they beheld the great cataract of Niagara Fails.
La Motte built a fort on the Niagara River, and was joined by La
Salle, who at once began to build a vessel for the navigation of the
great lakes beyond. In February, needing to go to Fort Frontenac,
he walked all the way thither on snow-shoes, through the snow-
blocked forest and over tho frozen lake. A dog drew his baggage

ROBERT DE LA SALLE.

tf-

on a sled ; and for food the party had only parched com, which ran
out two days before they reached Fort Frontenac.

It was August when he returned Avith three friends to Niagara.
Before that time the now vessel, " The Griffin," had been launched
with firing of cannon and great rejoicings, and anchored well out
in the lake, out of the reach of Indian attacks. In a few days she
was ready for her westward voyage, and after a parting salute
spread her white wings on the blue waters of Lake Erie, which had
never borne a sail before.

Early in September La Salle passed on into Lake Michigan and
anchored at Green Bay. Being exceedingly anxious to raise money at
once, he unhappily determined to send back the Griffin to Niagara
with a valuable freight of furs collected by an advance party ; while
he and his men piu-sued their voyage in four canoes, in which they
carried a heavy cargo, including a forge and tools.

They reached safely the mouth of the St. Joseph, which he called
the Miamis. Here he was joined by Tonti and his men, and here
he looked anxiously for news of the Griffin, which had now had
plenty of time for her return voyage from Niagara, and La Salle
had a dark foreboding as to her fate. But whatever betided he
must push on to his goal.

Early in December the party re-embarked, and the canoes began
to ascend the St. Joseph in what is now the State of Michigan, on
their way to the sources of the Kankakee, one of the heads of the
Illinois, which course, in turn, would lead them to the Mississippi.
On they pressed over the great prairies of Indiana, into the valleys
of Illinois, and at last rested at an Indian village near Peoria Lake.
Six mutinous members of La Salle's band deserted him here — a
desertion that cut him to the heart, and made him feel that in
addition to the difficulties of his enterprise, he had scarcely four
men whom he could trust. It is no wonder that, when, in January,
he built his new fort on a hill above the Illinois River, he called it
Fort Cr^vecoeur — Fort Heartbreak. In addition to other vexations
the loss of the Griffin, which had probably been sunk by her treach-
erous pilot, was new only too certain.

As the lost ship had on board not only a valuable cargo of furs,
but also the rigging and anchors of a vessel to be built for the des-
cent on the Mississippi, it was necessary for La Salle to return all

STORIES PROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

11 1

the way to Fort Frontenac, if he were to persevere in the enter-
prise. He set out, and, after many delays caused by the difficulties
of the way, reached the log cabin on the banks of the Niagara,
where the Griffin had been built, and where some of the men had
been left. Leaving thi'ee of his exhausted followers here he pushed
on through floods of spring rain to Fort Frontenac.

Here there was little but trouble in store for him. His agents
had robbed him, his creditors had seized his property, and the
rapids of the St. Lawrence had swallowed up several richly laden
canoes. He hurried on to Montreal, astonishing both friends and
foes by his arrival, and succeeded within a week in getting the
supplies he needed for the party left at Cr^vecoeur. But just as he
was leaving Fort Frontenac two voyageurs arrived with letters
from Tonti, telling him of the desertion of nearly the whole gar-
rison, after destroying the fort, and plundering and throwing into
the river all the stores they could not carry off. The deserters,
twenty in number, had also destroyed Fort St. Joseph, carried off a
store of furs from Michillimackinac, and plundered the magazine
at Niagara. Some of th(jm had taken refuge on the English side
of the lake, while the rest were on their way to Fort Frontenac,
with the design of killing La Salle himself.

La Salle was always ready for an emergency. He embarked at
once in canoes, with nine of his trustiest men, lay in wait for the
plunderers as they came down by the shore of the lake, and suc-
ceeded in intercepting them all, killing two, compelling the rest to
surrender, and taking them as prisoners to Fort Frontenac. All
his work had now to be begun anew ; but, however the accumulated
disasters may have tried his courage, he could not give way to des-
pair. He must at once go in search of Tonti, and if possible save
him and his handful of men. Taking with him his lieutenant, La
For§t, and twenty-five men, he again journeyed westward by the
shorter route of the Humber, Lake Simcoe, and Lake Huron, till
the western prairies were reached.

The party reached Fort Cr^vecoeur at last to find it ruined
and deserted. Pursuing their course down the stream of the
Illinois, they reached its mouth and glided out on the placid waters
of a broad river. La Salle was at last on the long-dreamed-of
Miisigsippi. But the present load of anxiety left little room for

ROBERT DE LA SALLE.

ined

the

iters

d-of

for

axultation. On an overhanging tree he hung a hieroglypliic letter
for Tonti, should he pass that way. His companions offered to
accompany him if he chose to go on to the sea ; but he would not
abandon the men he had left, nor discontinue his search for Tonti.

Ascending towards Lake Huron by a different branch of the river
the party came upon a rude bark cabin, in which La Salle's quick
eye discovered a bit of wood cut by a saw, a proof, he thought, of
its recent occupation by Tonti and his men.

Through a severe snowstorm of nineteen days' duration, accom-
panied by severe cold, the wayfarers at last reached Fort Miamis,
which had been restored by the men left there. Here La Salle
spent the winter, and in May, 1681, set out to revisit Fort Fronte-
nac, and on his way, to his great joy, found Tonti at Green Bay.

Paddling their canoes a thousand miles farther. La Salle again
reached Fort Frontenac, where he had to do his best to retrieve his
embarrassed affairs. He went to Montreal, and succeeded in
getting new credit by parting with some of his monopolies. Then
he once more set out with a band of thirty Frenchmen, and more
than a hundred Indians, for the southwestern wilderness. His
laden canoes once more paddled slowly along Lake Huron, and
were beached at last, on a gray November day, at Fort Miamis.
Weakened by the desertion of some of his band, he pursued his way
down the Mississippi, holding peaceable interviews with the Indian
tribes on the shore, till at last, on the sixth of April, his canoes
glided out on the shoreless expanse of the Gulf of Mexico. Here
he erected a wooden column bearing the arms of France, and
formally took possession of the whole region he had travelled over
in the name of the King of France.

This work accomplished, he returned to Fort Frontenac, only to
receive a severe blow. Frontenac had been succeeded by Lefebvre
de la Barre, a weak and avaricious old man, who soon made common
cause with his enemies. La Salle's situation soon became intoler-
able ; and bidding a final farewell, as it turned out, to Canada, he
sailed on his las': voyage to France .

In Paris his friends and patrons gained him access to Louis the
Fourteenth, and in a private audience he unfolded his discoveries
and his great designs. He received all the power he asked for, and
four vessels were given him for a voyage to the mouth of the

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

ii't

' ■ 1

Mississippi, und a numerous body of soldiers and colonists for a
proposed colony on this river was mustered at Rochelle.

In July, 1685, the little squadron set sail, and with the loss of
one vessel reached the Gulf of Mexico, where La Salle unhappily
missed the point where the Mississippi flows into the Gulf. He
passed it by some four hundred miles, and at last established his
colony on the shores of Matagorda Bay. To complete the tale of
misfortune, another vessel was wrecked on a reef, and ere long
the large gunship, the Joly, being out of supplies, was obliged to
sail away.

In October La Salle set out in quest of his "fatal river," but in
March he and his men returned exhausted, after fruitless wander-
ings and adventures with savage tribes. This vain journey, added
to the loss of his last vessel, threw him into a dangerous illness.
But on his recovery, still undaunted, he determined to make
another attempt to find his way back to Canada by the Mississippi
and the Illinois, to procure succor for his now destitute colony.
He set out again in April, 1686, with about twenty of his men fitted
out for the expedition with gannents patched with much care, or
borrowed from those who remained in the fort. They were obliged,
however, to return without other result than the exploring of a
magnificent country.

La Salle had long endured undaunted " the slings and arrows of
outrageous fortune. " One other, which released him from all, was in
store for him. In March as he and his party were encamped in the
northern part of Texas, a few of his men set out on a hunting ex-
pedition. A dispute arising about the division of their game, three
of the men were murdered by the rest, who then saw no chance of
safety from punishment, except in the death of their brave leader.

On March 19, 1687, La Salle, uneasy at the long absence of the
hunters, set out in search of them. As he walked on with the
Friar Donay through the Texan wilderness his keen eyes noticed
two eagles circling in the air as if attracted by some carcass. He
fired his gun as a signal to any of his men who might be within
hearing, and immediately after one of the conspirators appeared
and answered his inquiries with ostentatious insolence. La Salle
rebuked him, and unconsciously drew near an ambuscade from
which a traitor called Duhaut fired on him, and the dauntless

THE THREE WAR-PARTIES.

for ft

leader fell deftd. ThuB, by the bullet of a treacherous assassin, was
closed the tragic career of one of the most heroic spirits of a heroic
age, who, against all odds, had pursued for twenty years an object
that seemed ever destined to elude him just as he was on the point
of achieving success. The recital would seem almost too sad, but
for the light of heroic endurance that shines upon his story.

CHAPTER IX.

THE THREE WAR-PABTIES.

" B«ndt of French and their Indian allies made frequent raids in New York and
other colonies."— //ifffc School Hittorg, page SS6.

The French and English colonies had long been quarrelling over
territory and the fur trade, and the struggles of the mother
countries in the Old World gave their children an opportunity of
drawing the sword in the New. Border raids were common, and
wholesale invasions were threatened. Frontenac had be* i absent
from Canada for several years, and on his return in the Autumn of
^89, a rumor that the New Englanders were planning a vast expe-

^on for the following spring reached his ears. With his usual
i.. jmptness of action he determined to strike the fi^^st blow.

Knowing that the English would suppose that t).^) great barriers
of snow-drifts and ice-bound rivers would give them comparative
safety, he determined to take them by surprise. For this pur-
pose he called tog'^ther his best marksmen and tried soldiers, and
planned with some of the friendly Indians a threefold invasion on
the unsuspecting foe.

He permitted no delay in getting up the parties which were to
work such havoc on his enemies, but at once began at Montreal,
Three Rivers, and Quebec, to fit them out for their winter march.
That mustered at Montreal was the first ready, and at once started
for the south. The party vas made up of a motley crowd, number-
ing in all about two hundred and ten men. It was composed
mainly of the savage Senecas, who had lately, through the visits of
De Courcelles and others, the christianizing influence of the Jesuit
missionaries, and the diplomacy of Frontenac, become able allien of
the French.

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

|! >

Next in number to the Senecas were the Coureura du Bois, or
** Runners of the Woods," who were but a step in advance of the
civihzation of their Indian allies. Besides these two classes of men
a number of young French nobles who had come to Canada in
search of adventure and fame found in these expeditions a fitting
opportunity to show their courage, and eagerly joined them.

About mid-winter the party set out from Montreal. They made
a picturesque appearance as they toiled along on their snow-shoes,
the hoods of their blanket coats drawn over their heads, and their
knives, hatchets, and tobacco-pouches, slung at their belts, — braving
the long journey and the bitter-cold just to inflict devastation and
death and then retreat home again. As they travelled southward
spring approached, and with it the march became more and more
difficult. The heavy falls of snow now became slush that clung to
their snow-shoes in such a way as to compel them to abandon their
use. On they plodded through the slush, knee-deep, fearing every
moment that the expedition would have to be abandoned.

At last, on the banks of Lake Champlain, they decided to halt
for a rest, and to consider what would be the best course to pursue.
The Indians, when they learned that their commanders intended
making the strongly fortified town of Albany their destination,
began to murmur, and many of the Goureurs du Bois joined them
in their protests against such a course. Their leaders recognised
the wisdom of directing their march to the nearer and weaker
settlement of Schenectady ; and when they came to a place where
the Albany and Schenectady roads met, took the latter.

The terrible march was continued, making daily but little pro-
gress, until almost within sight of the Mohawk river, on whose
banks Schenectady was built. Suddenly a change in the weather
occurred. The hot March sun that had been melting the winter
snows disappeared behind a cloud ; the warm south wind changed
to a piercing north-easter, and soon the path beneath their feet
hardened under the crisp, frosty air. The change was too sudden.
They were totally unprepared for it, and suffered severely. Th eir
clothes, soaked by the rain water, now hardened about their limbs.
The snow, turned to ice, was almost as difficult to march on as when
there was nothing but slush. To add to their ills, a driving snow-
■tonn came up, beating in their faces and almost blinding them.

THE THREE WAR-PARTIES.

e pro-
whose
leather
winter
langed
}ir feet
sudden.
Their
limbs.
8 when
snow-

Once more their spirits began to droop, and after a night of
dishearteninng suffering, they were thinking that perhaps it would
be better to try to make a friendly approach to Schenectady, when
one of them descried through the storm the bluish white smoke of
a wood fire rising from a hut in the distance. At sight of this the
hopes of all rose, and with eager steps they hastened towards it.

As they approached the snow covered-hut, they moved cautiously,
in order to surprise the inhabitants, and keep them from escaping
and alarming the people of Schenectady. They succeeded so well in
this, that they reached the very door before the inmates — four
Mohawk squaws — were aw^are of their approach. Eagerly the worn
out party crowded into the hut and heaped wood on the fire.
Their feet and hands were almost frozen, and in their efforts to
warm them they made the walls of the hut resound with stamping
and clapping.

A Mohawk village was not far distant, and after a brief rest they
decided to push on to it. The frightened squaws were compelled
to guide them. They arrived at the village just as darkness was
wrapping the ice-bridged river in its embrace, and here a halt was
called. As Schenectady was further down and on the opposite
side, a few men were sent out to reconnoitre. In several hours'
time they returned with a very encouraging report. No one was
on the alert ; not a single sentry could be seen. And they added,
moreover, that sounds of music and laughter were heard within the
palisades, as if the people of the village were enjoying themselves,
in happy ignorance of the impending danger.

This was indeed the case. The inhabitants of Schenectady —
Dutch people now under English rule — through their long freedom
from attack had become careless. There was a division of opinion
in the place, and while the wise few had counseled watchfulness,
the foolish many had laughed them to scorn, thrown both gates
open, and, in mockery of their desire to have sentinels posted,
moulded snow men and set them up at the gates with sticks by their
sides to represent guns. On this very day all Schenectady was
feasting to show how secure they felt themselves, and to remind
them of their fatherland.

On hearing the report of the scouts, the leaders at first deter-
mined to wait until after midnight before bursting in upon the

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

village, but the piercing cold that caused discontent among their
followers changed their intention, and they at once recommenced
their march down the frozen Mohawk. In three hours the walls of
the village were sighted, and the utmost caution was used not to
alarm the inhabitants.

At last one of the gates was reuched. The party now split, the
one half going to the right in single file, the other to the left, until
the two met. When the leaders faced one another, the signal was
given, and a fiendish shout arose from the throats of their followers.
The people of Schenectady, tired with the pleasures of the day,
were wrapped in deep sleep ; but at this cry they sprang in terror
to their feet, fathers and sons rushing for their weapons, mothers
clasping their little ones to their breasts, all feeling that a horrible
moment was at hand. It was too late 1 Many of their doors were
unlocked and the rest were insecurely fastened, so that, before any
of the men could rally to the defence, the enemy were upon them.
The Indians and Coureurs du Bois seemed to have become intoxi-
cated with blood. They spared no one, from the gray-haired
grandsir* to the babe nestling at the breast. At last their com-
manders ordered them to cease their slaughter, but not before
devastation and death had visited almost every house.

A few of the inhabitants escaped to Albany and alarmed their
countrymen, but before a force could reach the scene of slaughter,
the French were hurrying back to Montreal, where leaders and men
were lionized as heroes.

The second war party was but small in numbers, consisting of the
leader Francois Hertel and about fifty soldiers. But it was no less
destructive than the one that destroyed Schenectady. After a rapid
march from Three Rivers they reached Salmon Falls, — a small settle-
ment on the stream separating New Hampshire and Maine, — fell
upon the inhabitants, slew everyone they could get in their power,
and exultingly retreated,

On their way back Hertel fell in with the third party that had
set out from Quebec to attack Fort Royal on Casco Bay, and, eager
for more bloodshed, joined them. This party at first consisted of
one hundred and ten men, but on their frequent halts they had been
joined by many others, anxious to wreak vengeance upon their

THE THREE WAR-PARTIE&

English enemies, until now, as they neared their destination, they
numbered between four and five hundred.

Scouts were sent out to examine the country, and reported that,
besides the fort, there were four block-houses protecting the village.
Fort Royal was large and strongly built on a rising ground ; sur-
mounting it there were eight cannon capable of doing good work,
if properly handled. The French leaders determined if possible to
take the place by surprise ; but, unfortunately for this scheme,
several of the Indian scouts met a farmer on the border of the
forest, and forgetting the orders to be careful in no way to reveal
themselves, rushed on him with a savage yell, slew him and carried
oflf his scalp. The yells reached the etirs of the garrison, and every
available man was at once summoned to hold himself in readiness
for an attack, while the frightened villagers rushed to the protection
of the fort.

Portneuf, the leader of this party, had expected that he might
have to lay siege to the fort, and for this purpose had brought
shovels and picks to dig trenches ; with those and many others
obtained from the settlers' houses, his band went to work. Busily
the work went on, and in three days they were almost up to the
wall of the fort.

While they were performing this task, Sylvanus Davis, the com-
mander of the fort, kept up a regular fire from his cannon and
small arms, but on account of the trenches but few of the enemy
were killed. On the enemy's side some worked while others re-
turned the fire of the foe with dead]" efiect. Many of them had
bsen for years constantly using the r^ues in search of furs, and were
marksmen of exceptional skill, so that rarely was a form seen at a
loophole or on the roof, loading and directing the cannon, but a
death cry was speedily heard to follow.

On the fifth day of the siege the English were startled by a bright
light almost under their very walls. On looking out, they saw that
the enemy, by means of long poles, were pushing a platform loaded
with several blazing tar barrels and planks smeared with oil, up to
the palisades that surrounded the fort. This was too much for the
besieged. They felt they could hold out no longer. Davis resolved
to stand firm, but the women and children clung about him urging

^11

STORiES PROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

II )

(

him to save them ; and the men, who knew that it was only a
question of time, begged him to surrender if he could obtain per-
mission for them to depart with their lives.

Davis, knowing that if there were none but Indians in the party
ho could expect but little mercy, under a flag of truce desired to
know if there were any Frenchmen among them. With joy he
learned that the party was commanded by Frenchmen. At once he
agreed to surrender on condition that mercy should be shown to the
garrison, and that all should be allowed to retreat to the next
English village.

Portneuf, without the slightest hesitation, granted his request,
confirming his reply by oath.

Great joy reigned within Fort Royal when they learned that
their lives were to be spared. Speedily preparations were made for
the march. First the men filed out, and Portneuf's awaiting band
received tlieir arms. A s they, one by one, surrendered them, they
had an uneasy feeling that all was not well. The lowering scowls
on the savage faces boded ill for the lives of those at their mercy.
The women and children hurried out next, trembling at the array
of plumed and painted foes whoser very names had for years sent a
chill of terror to their hearts. Scarcely had the last one left the
gate when with heart-appalling yells the Indians fell upon them and
began a brutal slaughter.

Davis cried out against this treachery and demanded why the
French did not interfere. Perhaps they could not ; the Indians in
the party outnumbered the French five to one. For years they had
been at war with the English, and it would have been no easy
matter to keep them now from wreaking their spite on the foe.
However, Portneuf ofiered no such excuse. He told Davis that
both he and the garrison were rebels against James the Seoond,
who had been driven from the Englisli throne, which William,
Prince of Orange, now occupied, and that as rebellious subjects
they deserved no better fate.

When the horrible slaughter was over, Portneuf began his home-
irard march. About the middle of June, this last of the three
famous war parties arrived at Quebec, with Davis and four other
prisoners, the sole survivors of the massacre.

'I
t

THE FIRST GREAT SIEGE OF (; EBEO.

CHAPTER X.

THE FIRST GREAT SIEGE OF QUEBEC.

"Phipe then sailed up the St. Lawrence to take Qnebec."-

Tpage 336.

-High School Hittory,

The havoc wrought by the War-Parties aroused in the English a
spirit of revenge, and they determined to make a united effort to
crush their enemies to the north. No help could be had from the
motherland, and as a preliminary step Sir William Phips was sent
out from Boston to procure funds for the war by ravaging Acadia.

Phips soon returned laden with spoil, and preparations were now
hurried on. A twofold invasion by land and water was planned.
The land force, under Generals Winthrop and Schuyler, was to
march on Montreal by way of Lake Champlain, while the fleet was
to steal up the St. Lawrence and surprise Quebec.

The expedition on Montreal was a total failure, and the troops,
when almost within sight of the enemy's country, beat a hasty and
inglorious retreat to Albany, without striking a blow.

The fleet, under Phips and Major Walley, at least reached its
destination. It looked tolerably imposing with its thirty-two ships,
great and small, the largest carrying forty-four guns, the smallest
being a fishing-smack. Phips was what is usually styled a self-
made man. He had under his command about twenty-two hundred
men, including sailors ; an exceedingly large force when we consider
how few people then inhabited New England, and that thirteen
hundred men were with Winthrop and Schuyler marching on
Montreal.

The soldiers were principally farmers and fishermen, quite un-
accustomed to the use of warlike weapons, and the commanders of
the vessels were ship-owners and ship-captains, who had had ex-
perience neither in the management of artillery nor in the use of
small arms. The militia officers were recruited from the merchant's
desk and the plough, so that they had yet to learn the art of war.
This fleet, with its untutored warriors, sailed from Nantasket on
tiie ninth of August, 1690, followed by prayers for success from
every church and every home ir, New England.

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

ii ;
r i.

Scarcely had Montreal rejoiced over the news that Winthrop and
Schuyler had retired to Albany, when Frontenac, at Montreal, was
told that a fleet was advancing on Quebec. An Abenaqui Indian
had discovered from a woman captured by his tribe that a fleet had
left Boston for Quebec. Being friendly to the French, he deter-
mined to warn them of the impending danger. There was but one
way to do this, and that was by speeding on foot across the country
from his home in Maine to Quebec. Unmindful of the hardships
of the way, only remembering the kindness done to his people by
the French, he eagerly toiled over the many weary miles until he
arrived at the Chateau St. Louis.

As the danger threatening Montreal was removed, Frontenac with
all possible speed hastened to Quebec, eager to reach the rocky
fortress before the foe, and on his way he ordered the commanders
of the various forts to send on their men after him. To his delight
he succeeded in reaching his destination before any of the enemy's
vessels could be seen from the citadel. When the anxious watchers
in Quebec saw him approaching their hearts beat with renewed
hope, and, as soon as he reached the shore, he was met with a royal
welcome ; the warm-hearted Frenchmen forgetting their usual
** Vive le roi,^^ burst out with "Five le Frontetiac,"' and showed
their joy by a most boisterous salute. As the old gray-haired
warrior toiled up Mountain Street — the steep path leading from the
lower to the upper town — he felt the youthful blood surge through
his veins, and as he thought of the threatened attempt to storm
Quebec— his Quebec — his eyes flashed and his lips were firmly
pressed together with the determination to leave his bones on the
rocky heights before he would permit the Fle\(/r-de-lis to be lowered
before the Union Jack of hated England.

With the greatest alacrity he at once began examining the forti-
fications. Prevost, his lieutenant, although he had heard of the
approaching fleet but a short time before, had everything fairly well
secured. The city gates had had large beams strung across them,
and were barricaded with casks of earth ; palisades had been erected
along the St. Charles, extensive entrenchments had been thrown
up, and from every available point the black-lipped cannon loomed
over the river. Frontenac was much pleased with the work done,

THB FIRST GREAT SIEOE OF QUEBEC.

ftS

lirop and
real, was
li Indian
fleet had
he deter-
i but one
B country
hardships
people by
I until he

«nac with
the rocky
mraanders
lis delight
le enemy's
s watchers
\i renewed
ith a royal
heir usual
id showed
;ray-haired
2 from the
ge through
)t to storm
rere firmly
snes on the
36 lowered

g the forti-
lard of the
fairly well
cross them,
leen erected
3en thrown
non loomed
work done,

and in two days after his arrival had everything in readineM to
meet his foes with a strong resistance.

At last the foe came in sight of Quebec, and vessel after vessel
dropped ^nchor in the basin just below the grand old rock. The
sailors and rustic soldiers were filled with misgivings as they gazed
at the frowning heights, and even the sanguine Phips felt his hopes
fall many degrees.

Shortly after the fleet had anchored, Phips despatched an officer
under a flag of truce to Frontenac. As soon as the boat touched
shore the officer was blind-folded and led to the chief. The French
did all in their power to impress him with their strength, leading
him by a very circuitous route, and dragging him over barricade
after barricade, much to the delight of the mirth-loving inhabitants.
As he passed through the garrison the soldiers made as much noise
as possible by clash of weapons and heavy tramp of feet ; and, by
the time he reached the council chamber, he had a greatly exagger-
ated idea of the strength of the garrison. When he was ushered
into the council chamber, men in uniforms glittering with gold and
silver lace gazed at him with haughty disdain.

At last he found courage enough to give Phips' message to
Frontenac, who ordered it to be read aloud in French, for the benefit
of all. The letter was a brief demand in the name of William and
Mary for an unconditional surrender. The closing paragraph ran :
" Your answer positive in an hour, returned by your own trumpet,
with the return of mine, is required upon the peril that will ensue."
The very mention of the names — "William and Maiy" — so hated
by Frenchmen of that time, made Frontenac's blood boil, and when
the English envoy handed him his watch, stating that, as it was now
ten o'clock, Sir William Phips would expect his reply by eleven, he
burst into passionate words of indignation, and in a voice of anger
defied Phips and his armament.

As the thunder of the old man's voice ceased, the walls of the
chateau rang with the applause and approval of his subordinates.
The envoy stood silent and trembling imtil the applause had ceased,
and then timorously requested Frontenac to write his reply.

" No 1 " burst forth the haughty old general j " I will answer
your general only by the mouths of my cannon, that he may leam

U i

.1 ,

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

that a man like me is not to be summoned after this fashion. Let
him do his best and I will do mine ! "

The messenger then returned to the fleet, and his report spread
dismay through all hearts. Their hopes were to have a still severer
shock, for that same day a strong contingent under De Calli^res,
the Governor of Montreal, succeeded in reaching Quebec, and were
welcomed with shouts of joy.

After another day's delay on account of unfavorable weather, the
siege of Quebec began in earnest. Major Walley landed, with about
thirteen hundred men, near the mouth of the St. Charles. Fron-
tenac felt that he had nothing to fear from the landing of these
troops, and did not oppose them until they had formed on the muddy
bunks of the river. But as soon as tliey attempted to advance
French sharp-shooters kept up a continuous fire on them from
sheltered positions.

This was unexpected by the English, and threw them into dis-
order ; however, after a short baptism of fire, they showed the stem
front that Englishmen always have opposed to danger, and calmly
waited their commander's order to charge the foe. At last they
received the command, and, with the impetuous daring of the Briton
rushed on the enemy's position — visible only by puffs of smoke
rising from behind trees and rocks. Volley after volley was poured
into them as they advanced, but, nothing daunted, they continued
their charge until the French turned and fled. When they had
reached a safe distance they halted, took shelter, and renewed the
attack. Walley, seeing it would be useless to charge them again,
called back his men and encamped.

While Walley was doing his poor best on land, Phips dropped
down in front of the citadel and began bombarding it. A steady
cannonade was kept up from both the fleet and the rock, without
doing much harm to either party, until darkness came on, when the
fightmg ceased, only to be begun next morning.

On the second day of the fight the boldness of the English gave
their foes an opportunity of doing good work. The French gunners
were old experiei^^ed soldiers, and all over the fleet torn sails and
falling spars told how eflective was the answer from the '' cannon-
mouths " that Frontenac had spoken of.

THE FIRST GREAT SIEGE OF QUEBEC.

One of the first shots aimed at Phips's vessel, carried away his
flag, and as it fell into the water a great shout rose from Quebec.
It was to the French a sign that the defeat would be to the British
flag and not to their Fleur-de-lis.

/j9 the flag floated down stream several foolhardy Canadians
determined to bring it ashore to hang it below their own. Leaping
into a birch canoe, they bent their ashen paddles as they sped in
the direction of the desired trophy, birt their movements were
observed by the enemy, who began a heavy fire on them. One of
the youths leaped from the canoe, and swimming — now diving,
now sinking, to divert the enemy's aim — succeeded in reaching the
flag, and, with a strong effort, managed to bring it ashore, amid the
exultations of his countrymen.

The English guns were not doing anything like the work of their
opponents. The soldiers, at any time poor marksmen, were ex-
ceptionally so under this heavy fire, and many of their shots fell
harmless into the water, or, striking against the clifi", rolled back in
seeming derision. The expedition had set out ill supplied with
powder, and now the gunners had to use their scanty supplies with
the utmost care ; so much so that many of the balls did not pierce
the houses on which they fell, and but little injury was done Quebec.

Poor Walley and his men had all this time been suffering terribly.
The cold Canadian October weather had settled down upon them,
and, after their retreat, they were forced to realize more and more
the task they had undertaken. As they lay in camp on the muddy
shore, they passed a sleepless night, owing to the intense cold.
Shivering they arose, made another feeble attempt to advance, only
to be repulsed. Sniall-pox had broken out among them, cutting oflf
many. Never was there a more hopeless spectacle ; a large fleet
many miles from home, with but little ammunition, facing an in-
surmountable rock, without any regular plan of attack ; a large
army gathered on the shore, not knowing what to do next, suffering
physically, and tormented by the constant fire of sharpsliooters.

Phips saw no other course open but to recall Walley and then
retreat to Boston. Boats were put ashore, and Walley and his men
re-embarked in the utmost confusion, leaving behind them five
pieces of artillery.

When the inhabitants of Quebec realized that the enemy had

STORIES FUOM CANADIAN HISTORY.

«■

withdrawn, they burst into shouts of exultation. Even those who
hated Frontenao now joined with the others in doing him honor.
A procession was formed in honor of France, of the king, of the
victory, of Frontenac, and of the Saints, to whose intercession they
ascribed the victory. At the head of the procession was borne in
derision the flag that had been shot from Phips' vessel. This re.
joiciiig was kept up all day long ; men, women, and children joining
in the general thanksgiving ; and when the last rays of the sun
faded behind the hills, a huge bon-fire in honor of their white,
haired preserver was lighted on the summit of the rock, its blaze
turning the night into day. Frontenac's heart was overflowing
with joy. He had suffered much in Canada, but this honor from
his children was, he felt, a sufficient reward.

The story is almost finished. The hasty and ill-managed ex-
pedition on its way home suffered even greater damage than it had
done before Quebec. The Gulf and Atlantic were then darkened
with the autumn storms, and many vessels were lost. Hundreds of
the brave fellows were washed ashore on Anticosti, then as now the
seaman's dread. When the fleet at last arrived in Boston, it was
found that between the havoc of battle, disease — particularly the
small-pox— and shipwrecks, they had lost in all about a thousand
men, and had accomplished nothing.

CHAPTER XI.

HEROINE OF CASTLE DANGEROUS.

" These seigneurs generally settled near Quebec, Three Rivers, and Montreal, along
the banks of the St. Lawrence." — High School History, page SSS.

Foremost among the heroines of New France stands Madeleine
Verch^res, the daughter of a seignior living about twenty miles
from Montreal, on the south side of the St. Lawrence. His seigniory
was directly in the way of the Iroquois, as they marched against
the settlers ; and subject as it was to constant attack, it was called
the ' * Castle Dangerous " of Canada. This seigniory, lie the others,

HEROINE OF CASTLE DANGEROUS.

was a large tract of land, partially cleared, on whicli lived the
seignior and his tenant farmers. For protection they all resided in
a fort with four bastions, and a large, strong block-house, connected
with it by a covered passage. In this block-house the women and
children might take refuge, while the men in the fort defended
them, or, in case of their being driven from the latter, the block-
house would serve as a place of refuge for all. To the right and
left of this fortified post, they cleared tracts of land running along
the river, always within a short distance of the stronghold, both
by land and water. In case of a surprise but a few minutes need
elapse before all the men working in the fields could be under cover.

One sunny morning, late in October of 1692, as the farmers were
going, by land or by boat, to their little open patches either to
clear new fields or to break up the soil with their rude ploughs, the
fair young daughter of Seignior Verch^res, a little maid of fourteen
years, came out of the gate of the fort. Accompanied by a servant
she proceeded to the landing place by the river. She was expecting
a visitor. Madame Fontaine, a young French woman from Paris
had lately joined her husband at the settlement ; and since her
arrival Madeleine had enjoyed a few pleasant days of feminine
companionship. She had invited her visitor to remain all day at
the fort, of which she had charge, her father being in Quebec and
her mother on a visit to Montreal.

"Laviolette," she said to the serving man as they stood on the
little pier, *4s that Monsieur Fontaine's boat I see coming down the
river 1"

**Mais Tion, Mademoiselle ; that is one of the men going to his
farm. I do not think Monsieur Fontaine will be here for some
time."

Scarcely had he spoken when the report of a gun in the distance
arrested their attention.

** Laviolette," she exclaimed, *' I wish you would go to that little
hillock, and see if you can find out why that gun was fired."

The man went as directed, while Madeleine anxiously n,waited his
return. In a few minutes he came rushing down the slope, crying
out, **Rmi Mademoiselle ! the Iroquois ! the Iroquois ! "

Turning round, she saw some fifty of the dreaded foe not many
yards off. Offering up a hurried prayer she fled to the fort. As

BTOHIES FUUM CANADIAN HISTUUY.

ii:

(;; «

soon as she was within hearing distance, she bravt'ly began to cry
out "aux amies ! aiix urmos ! " But the inmates were paralysed
with fear, and did not heed her cries. On reaching t.^e gate, she
met two women, loudly lamenting their husbands who had just
been killed ; and Madeleine, knowing that they too wo'old be slain
if they remained outside, promptly ordered them in, and closed the
gate against the advancing foe. With the experience gained from
her brave fatlier and heroic mother, she at once took command,
and hastened to the defence. On examining the walls, she found
Home of the palisades thrown down, leaving spaces through which
the enemy could make an easy entrance. She at once ordered them
to be set up again with all haste, helping the men to carry them
into position herself.

Having filled up the breaches, she hurried to the block-house,
where the ammunition and arms were kept, and found the only two
soldiers in the place hiding, terror-stricken, from the foe. One
of them, named La Bont^, was standing near the powder with a
lighted match in his hand. Madeleine, seeing him, cried out,
*' What are you going to do with that match, La Bontd ? "

"Light the powder and blow us all up and save us from the
fiendish torture of the Iroquois ! " said the man sullenly.

" You are a miserable coward ! " she cried ; and dashing the
match to the ground angrily stamped out the flame. She then
ordered La Bont^ and his comrade Gachet to leave the block-house
and go to the defence of the fort. Inspired by her words, and
awed by her dauntless bearing, they at once obeyed. Throwing off
her bonnet she put on a hat, and taking a gun, said to her two little
brothers — Louis, a boy of twelve, and Alexander, a little fellow of
ten — " Let us fight to the death. We are fighting for our country
and our religion ! Remember that our father has taught you that
gentlemen are born to shed their blood for the service of God and
the King ! " With these words the three young warriors went to
join the other defenders of the fort.

The Iroquois were standing at some distance, parleying as to
what it would be best to do. They did not know that the fort con-
tained but two soldiers, a serving man, two boys, an old man of
eighty, and a number of women and children ; and that the
commandant was a girl of fourteen. Had they known they

HEROINE OF CASTLE DANGEROUS.

as to
\± con-
nan of

,t the
they

would certainly have rushed upon it and inade uhurt work of the
inmates.

Madeleine, knowing that many laborers were in the surrounding
fields and forest, ordered the only cannon of the fort to be fired to
warn them of the danger. When the Iroquois heard the report of
the cannon, and saw the ground torn up by the shower of bullets
that fell near thom, they gave up the idea of talking the strong-hold
by assault, but determined to try to take it by stealth.

Very soon a canoe was seen approaching the landing place, which,
on closer observation, proved to be that of the Fontaine family. The
warm-hearted girl was filled with alarm as she saw them approaching.
If the Iroquois were to observe them they would fall an easy prey.
She tried to devise some way of saving them. At last she deter-
mined to send some one out to warn them, thinking that the Iro-
quois, seeing anyone boldly leave the gate, would imagine it a ruse
to beguile them within range of the muskets, and especially of the
much-dreaded cannon, and would not come to the attack.

She tried to persuade La Bontd and Gachet to go to the river ;
but they feared the scalping knives of the Iroquois too much to
undertake such a task, rnd Madeleine decided to go herself. She
posted her servant Laviolette at the gate, and bravely started for
the river. The Iroquois were misled as she expected, and did not
molest her, and she succeeded in getting the Fontaine family safely
within the fort.

All through the bright October day a careful watch was kept, and
every time an enemy showed himself, a shot followed. An
occasional yell of pain told that the fire was not altogether ineffec-
tual. As the sun was setting a sudden change took place in the
weather. A cold, piercing, north-east wind began to blow, and
dnrk, leaden-hued clouds covered the skies, heralding a snow storm.

ery soon a blinding snow and hail storm came up, and the air grew
■ninously dark. Madeleine, fearing that the Iroquois would try to
nter the fort under the cover of darkness, prepared with a veteran's
foresight to post her sentries. She assembled her little company of
six — the two soldiers, Pierre Fontairo, the old man of eighty, and
her two b -others — and earnestly addressed them in the encouraging
words : Sod has saved us to-day from the hands of our enemies,
but we r t take care not to fall into their snares to-night. As for

-T"

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

me, I want you to see that I am not afraid. I will take charge of i
the fort, witli an old man of eighty, and another who never fired a
gun • "^d you, Pierre Fontaine, with La Bont^ and Gachet, will go
to the block-house with our women and child: dn, because that is the
strongest place. And," she continued, with a look of determination
brightening her young face, "if I am taken, don't surrender, even if
I am out to pieces and burned before your eyes. 1 The enemy cannot
nurt you in the block-house if you make the least show of fight."

After listenini^ to her inspiring Avords the three me, went to the
block-house ; and Madeleine, with her two manly young brothers
and the old man, took up positions on the bastions. Every few
minutes the words "all's well!" were passed from fort to block-
house.

As soon as darkness came on the Iroquois called a council and
began planning a night attack on the palisades. In the middle of
their consultations the cry "all's well ! " was carried to their ears.
So often and regularly was this cry repeated, that they began to
imagine the fort full of watchful soldiers, and had not courage
enough to try to enter it.

For a week the siege continued ; and during that time Madeleine
took but hasty meals, and, like the brave little wamor she was,
contented herself with brief naps at a table, pillowing her head on
her arms folded over her gvin, so as to be ready for action on the
shortest notice. Her two young brothers emulated her in all things,
and never once faltered or displayed signs of fear. The Iroquois
now and then showed themselves, but never found the French un-
watchful, and a hastily discharged musket warned them to keep
carefully under cover.

But the urgently needed succor was already on its way. A few
of the laborers in the fields had managed to escape the foe, and
carried to Montreal the sad news of the massacre, and of the weak
state of Seigniory Verch^res. The Governor, Monsieur de Callieres,
despatched Lieutenant de la Monnerie with forty men to the scene
of conflict. On the seventh day of the siege, about one in the
morning, the boy Alexander heard voices and a splashing of paddles
on the river, and promptly cried out **Quivive!" Madeleine, on
hearing the cry, rose from the table at which she was taking a short
■leep, and went to the bastion. Her brother told her he had heard

THE EXILE OF THE ACADIAN8.

what he thought to be voices speaking their language. Made-
leine, hearing the voices, cried out, " Who are you ? " and the glad
news was carried to her ears, *' We are Frenchmen ; it is La Mon-
nerie who comes to bring you help."

Madeleine, after posting a sentry, opened the gates and went
down to the river to mee*; her countrymen. On seeing Monsieur de
la Monnerie she saluted him with the dignit;y of a soldier, and said :
"Monsieur, I surrender to you my arms.'' The gallant La Monnerie
smiling replied, ** Mademoiselle, they are in good hands ! " Enter-
ing the fort he examined it and found everything in good order.

The Iroquois, who now learned of the reinforcement, saw that
they had no chance against this strong force and hurriedly made
preparations for departure, taking with them about twenty
prisoners.

La Monnerie sent an elaborate report of Madeleine's heroism to
the Governor of Montreal and to her father, who was on duty at
Quebec. Monsieur de Vercheres obtained leave of absence, and
joining his wife in Montreal, they returned to their home to rejoice
over their two brave little sons and their lion-hearted young
daughter.

CHAPTER XII.

THE EXILE OF THE A0ADIAN8.

" It was decided to remove the Acadians from their homes."- High School Hittory,

page SOS.

In the year 1710 Greneral Nicholson compelled Subercase, Gover-
nor of Acadia, to surrender Port Royal to the British. He changed
the name of the place to Annapolis, in honor of Queen Anne, and
never again did the French flag float over the Acadian capital. This
conquest was final, but peace did not follow.

The English felt that Annapolis was not strong enough to over-
awe the French population, should a general rising occur. To
remedy this weakness they resolved to establish another stronghold
on Chebucto Bay. In 1749 Edward Cornwnllis sailed up the bay
with a fleet carrying two thousand five hundred settlers, and soon

STORIES PROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

the foundation of the present city of Halifax was laid. The Aca-
dians hated the new settlement, and hovered about the outskirts,
applying the torch to some of the newly erected houses, and killing
any unwary settlers who strayed into the woods.

Abbe Le Loutre, who had come to Acadia as a missionary to the
Indians, did all he could to embroil the Acadians with their new
maaters. He feared lest long familiarity with the English might
make them at length willing to submit to the rule of the hated in-
truders, and endeavored to persuade them to leave the peninsula.
Not a few were led, either by force or persuasion, to leave their
farms and seek new abodes on He St. Jean, Cape Breton, or in the
woods of New Brunswick. This was, perhaps, a more cruel exile
than the wholesale one which shortly followed, for the poor French
had no heart to begin life over again in a strange land. Le Loutre
in doing this work was merely acting as a zealous servant for his
masters. La Jonquiere and Louis the Fifteenth.

The first two governors of Nova Scotia — Cornwallis and his suc-
cessor Hobson — were warm-hearted, sympathetic men ; both real-
ized the position of the poor Acadians, and tried to make them
contented and loyal subjects. They gave them assistance in loans ;
they left them in peaceful possession of their farms, and they did nob
ask them to fight with the English against their own countrymen.

The first great breach between the English and the Acadians
occurred at the Isthmus of Chignecto, which was supposed to be tlie
boundary between the French and the English possessions. The
French had encamped on a little hill called Beau S^jour, to the
north of a small stream on the boundary, with a strong force vmder
two officers, Boish^bert and La Corne. On the south side of the
stream lay the quiet hamlet of Beau Bassin, with its numerous and
thrifty villagers.

The French officers encouraged and aided the peaceful farmers to
leave their homes on the English side and come over to the French
territory, and the ever vigilant Le Loutre greatly exerted himself in
helping on this emigration. Besides this, these simple people were
easily led to keep up petty attacks on the English in concert with
their Indian allies. Cornwallis saw that the only way to put an eud
to this annoyance was to occupy Beau Eassin with a strong force,
and to erect a fort to counteract the effect of the troops at Beau

THE EXILE OP THE ACADIAN8.

leii.

Sejour. He, therefore, in the spring of 1760 sent Major Lawrence
with four hundred men to take possession of Beau Bassin. When
Lawrence arrived, he sent his troops ashore, but as La Come came
out to give him battle with a force twice his number, he quickly re-
embarked. In September he returned with a much larger force,
and taking possession of Beau Bassin, erected a palisaded fort,
naming it after himself — Fort Lawrence.

For the next five years the colony was in a troubled and excited
state. The Acadiana longed to come back to their deserted farms,
and would have been gladly welcomed by both Comwallis and Hob-
son, but all their efforts were thwarted by Le Loutre. The next
governor of Nova Scotia was a man of a very different character
from the two first. Governor Lawrence was much sterner than
either of his kindly predecessors. When he came into power Nova
Scotia needed a strong, sure, and perhaps severe hand.

The French ministry and Du Qucsne, the Governor of Canada,
were planning a general rising of the Acadians still left in the
Province and an attack by the French troops en the British colony.
Le Loutre was corresponding with Du Quesne, and to him was
assigned the task of exciting the Acadians to rebellion, while
Vergor, the commandant of Beau Sejour, was to bring his soldiers
to their aid. Governor Lawrence, knowing that the small body of
troops in Nova Scotia would stand a poor chance in case of a general
uprising, determined to go vigorously to work at once and take the
aggressive. He wrote to Shirley, Governor of New England, tell-
ing him of the intended invasion, and especially of the attack
planned on Fort Lawrence, adding that he thought it "high time
to drive them [the Acadians] from the north side of the Bay of
Fundy."

Monckton was the bearer of Lawrence's letter, with authority to
induce Shirley to raise two thousand soldiers in New England *or
attacking Beau Sejour and the surrounding forts. Shirley readily
agreed and commissioned John Winslow to collect the troops.
After many delays, on the twenty-second of May, 1755, the vessels
that were to bear the troops to the scone of conflict were ready for
sea, and they arrived at their destination on tho fifteenth of Juno.

When the sun rose next morning it revealed the fleet lying off
Beau Sdjoi.r, to the great alarm of the commandaivt. He at once

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

i!i

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1 1

I I

called in all the men fit for bearing arms, and sent messengers to
rouse the other forts in his vicinity. Monckton, now in command of
the force sent by Shirley, landed his men, encamped round Fort
Lawrence, and began preparations for the siege. Vergor held out
for a fortnight, but an unexpected incident led him hastily to come
to terms.

One morning, while a party of officers were breakfasting in what
they supposed to be a bomb-proof room, a shell burst in among
them, killing six and wounding others. Vergor began to tremble
for his life, and speedily concluded to call a truce. He ran up a
white flag over the fort, much to the amazement of the besiegers,
who were preparing for a long siege.

A settlement was very quickly arrived at, and the British took
possession of Beau S^jour, changing its name to Fort Cumber-
land.

Governor Lawrence strongly desired to secure the Acadians as
British subjects ; but it was indispensable that they should take the
oath of allegiance to the English king. After Beau S^jour fell, the
whole peninsula was absolutely in the hands of the British. Still
the Acadians stubbornly and stupidly refused to take the oath.
Lawrence saw no other course than the severe one of compelling
them to leave the isthmus altogether. Before doing so, however,
he gave them another chance. He sent for messengers to report
from the people in the various hamlets. No satisfaction was
received. The deputies were even insolent to the governor, who
learned that the Acadians were expecting a French descent on the
province, and that this was why they so obstinately resisted his
commands.

It was plain that even if they did take the oath they could not be
trusted. The council met in Halifax to receive the deputies, and,
after carefully considering the past and present conduct of the
Acadians and the possibility of making them peaceful citizens, they
decided that the only safe course for the colony was to banish them
from the peninsula.

Monckton, then at Beau S^jour, was informed of the decision of
the Council, and ordered to make prisoners of all the adult males
in and about the fort. He at once obeyed orders and summoned
the men and boys to appear. About a third complied; and the re-

THE EXILE OF THE ACADIANS.

mainder fled to the woods and escaped the soldiers sent out to bring
them in.

Colonel Winslow was ordered to perform the same task at the
Basin of Minas, where occurred the sad events so pathetically
pictured in Longfellow's "Evangeline." Major Handfield, in com-
mand of Annapolis, had to perform the same duty in his portion of
the country.

Great care was taken not to alarm the inhabitants of the Basin
of Minas, and the exile from this region was sudden and complete.
Colonel Winslow left Monckton's camp at Beau S^jour on his pain-
ful mission about the middle of August. On the second of Septem-
ber he issued an edict ** to the people of Grand Pr^, Minaa Basin,
River Canard, and other adjacent places, requiring both old and
young men, as well as the lads of ten years of age, to attend at the
church in Grand Prd on the fifth instant, at three o'clock in the
afternoon, that we may impart what we are ordered to them." The
astonished farmers hastened \jO finish their harvest so as to be able
to take a holiday on Friday to obey the summons ; and on Thursday
evening the setting sun saw scarcely any grain in the fields.

On Friday, the little chapel was crowded with anxious faces, and
a death-like silence reigned while Winslow announced to them the
decision of the king as committed to him by Governor Lawrence :
"That all the French inhabitants of these districts be removed;
and that, through his Majesty's goodness, I am directed to allow
you the liberty of carrying with you your money and as many of
your household goods as you can take without overloading the
vessels you go in."

There were four hundred and eighteen men assembled in the
church, — v,hich was now their prison, — when this startling edict
was ai.nounced ; and their heavy hearts could scarcely comprehend
the voice that told them that they should no longer enjoy the
tranquil life of their lovely valleys. They could not realise that
Winslow actually intended to drive them out of Nova Scotia.
They imagined that it was only a new scheme to induce them to
take the oath of allegiance.

Some of the old men begged permission to visit their families
and tell the cause of their imprisonment. Winslow consulted with
his officers, and, in order to show them as much kindness as possible^
F

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

I' ' I

they determined that twenty should each day visit their homes.
Messengers were sent to the friends of the prisoners, telling them
of the position of their relatives and asking supplies of food. All
the millers were permitted to return to their mills and keep them
at work, but strict guard Avas maintained over the rest.

About the middle of the week following their capture, ominous
glances were noticed among the prisoners, and a rising was dreaded.
In order to avoid any such calamity, Winslow determined that fifty
of the men should be placed on board each of five transports lying
a short distance from the mouth of the Gaspereau River. Tlie
prisoners misunderstood the movement and thought it a ruse to get
them on board the vessels that were to bear them away at once.
They refused to go. A squad of soldiers were ordered to fix bayo-
nets and advance on them.

On seeing the cold steel they began to waver, and when Winslow
seized one of the foremost young men by the shoulder he trem-
blingly obeyed. Slowly the whole company followed, praying,
singing, and crying. The women and children, ever near the church,
had heard of the intended embarkation, and as their friends marched
along the dusty road to the river, they met them weeping and
praying, — mothers, sweethearts, and wives — lamenting the dear
ones who they believed were being torn from them.

At length the vessels the English had been awaiting arrived, and
on the eighth of October the cruel exile was begun in earnest.
No sadder scene could be imagined. Weeping mothers carrying
their weeping children, strong sons and daughters wheeUng their
aged parents in carts, all lamenting the forced and cruel removal.
There was now no chance of escape. They must say farewell to
Aeadia. Winslow felt for the inhabitants, and did all he could to
make their lot as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.
He did not permit any of his soldiers to ill-treat them or pillage
their goods, and severely punished those who disobeyed this order.
Great care was taken to embark all the members of families on
board together, and not to add to the miseries of exile that of
separation.

On the twenty-seventh of the month, all were on board whom
the transports could carry, and they put out to sea with their
sorrowful cargo of human souls. This was not the end of the

■ft
■*

THE CAPTURE OF QUEBEC.

gloomy undertaking. Six hundred prisoners were still left behind
at Grand Pr^, and Winslow could not depart till they were shipped
to other lands. Several months elapsed in weary waiting for the
needed transports, and about two days before Christmas, "the last
of the Frenchmen passed Cape Blomidon on the way to the land of
the stranger."

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CAPTURE OF QUEBEC.

i whom
h their
of the

" Quebec surrendered, and Canada prac^'cally ceased to be a Frenrh possession."
—High School History, page 3',6.

In the year 1759 the British determined to make a mighty effort
to get possession of the entire continent of America. Cape Breton,
Acadia, and the Ohio Valley had been won. They would next
attack the three renuiining strongholds ; the forts at Lake Cham-
plain, at Niagara, and, chief of all, Quebec. Generals Amherst
and Johnson were chosen to proceed against the first two points,
and General Wolfe was appointed to the almost superhuman task
of storming the seemingly impregnable rock of Quebec.

Montcalm was in command at the French capital. France at this
time, did not own a cooler head and braver heart than Montcalm's.
England, likewise, had nf)t a truer soldier than young Wolfe. The
encounter was indeed to bo a meeting of heroes, and a long and
severe struggle was expected.

In the spring of the year, the news reached Quebec that the
English fleet was en route for the St. Lawrence. At first the in-
habitants were terror-stricken, as they were not prepared to stand a
long siege, but their fears were dispersed by the arri\ al of a fleet of
eighteen sail, with supplies from Franco.

On the twenty-first of June a portion of Wolfe's fleet arrived in
the north channel of Orleauij Island. Several vain attempts were
made to destroy theni witli fire-ships and fire-rafts. Soon all the
vessels passed the difficult navi'j^ation of tlie St. Lawrence, and
anchored south of the island. The next day v.'as a busy one for
the British soldiers ; boats loaded with troops plied busily between

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

I :

liim

the ships and the island until the entire army was landed and drawn
up on the beach.

On this same day a furious gale arose and lasted for some hours.
While it lasted it drove the ships hither and thither, and in spite of
the utmost vigilance, some were driven ashore and others collided,
causing no small damage. When the storm went down, the French
again dutormined to try the effect of the fire-ships on the invaders.
These ships had been equipped for their present work at enormous
cost. To make their deadly work almost certain, they had been
filled with pitch, tar, and other inflammable material, besides having
on board fire-arms and cannon crammed to the muzzle, together
with every other conceivable explosive.

Vaudreuil, the Governor, appointed Deluche, a distinguished
naval oflicer, to the hazardous tiisk of guiding the fire-ships to the
fleet of the foe, and firing them at the right time. Fortunately for
tho English, Deluche's courage failed him, and he set fire to his
vessel much too soon. One after another the vessels leaped into
flame, and soon the whole river was as light as day. The flames
soon reached the explosives, and the air was tilled with the clash of
loud reports and the whizzing of shot and shell. However, Deluche
had been so hasty in his work that no harm was done to the British
vessels. Some of the fire-ships ran ashore before reaching them,
and others were towed out of the way by the energetic English
sailors, who rowed out and grappled them. One of the fire-ships
blazed so rapidly that its captain and a number of the crew were
burned before they could escape in their boats.

Wolfe determined to begin active hostilities at once. He carefully
considered every available point of attack, and concluded that his
best move would be to take up a position on Point Levis, directly
opposite Quebec. He dispatched General Monckton thither with his
brigade, on the twenty-ninth of June, and on the next day went
over himself and chose tho most commanding point, from which his
cannon might nlay upon the city. As soon as his intention was
discovered, the guns of Quebec poured an iron shower upon his
workmen. Many were killed, but the work of entrenchment was
vigorously continued, and they soon had secured a very strong posi-
tion. An attempt was made to storm their entrenchments, but
without success. When all was ready, the besiegers turned their

THE CAPTURE OF QUEBEC.

guns upon the city. The people fled to the country in terror. In
all directions bursting shells set fire to the houses, and among other
buildings, their revered cathedral was given to the flames. This
fire made the inhabitants realize that a more formidable foe than
Phips was before their walls.

Near the end of July, Admiral Holmes succeeded in passing the
fortress with several vessels, and took up his position above the
city, where he captured several French vessels. As Wolfe had
already begun an attack from the Falls of Montmorency, the French
were now attacked from three points, Montmorency, Levis, and the
river beneath the plateau above Quebec. Montcalm, though vigil-
ant, smiled at the efforts of his foes. He knew his own strength,
but wisely determined to remain on the defensive.

Vaudreuil's fire-ships had been a failure, but he decided to make
another similar efibrt. He had some seventy rafts, boats and
schooners joined together and loaded with guns of all sorts, cram-
med to the muzzles with grenades, bombs, and other explosive
weapons. Tliis "gigantic infernal machine" was carefully directed,
and seemed as if it would utterly destroy the fleet. But British
courage was too much for French ingenuity, and the hardy sailors
gallantly manned their boats, and grappling the blazing raft, towed
it ashore, with bursting cannon and showers of bullets falling about
them. Shout ofter shout went up from their lusty throats, as one
piece of the raft after another struck ground and blazed itself out.
The French turned away in disgust. It was no use to try to in-
timidate such men. The only thing they could do was to keep them
outside of the city, and this at least seemed easy enough.

Wolfe, from the commencement of the siege, had longed to meet
the French in the open field ; but Montcalm knew that his raw
militia were much more serviceable behind entrenchments thun
they could be in a fair, hand to hand engagement ; and so would
run no risks. Wolfe, on his first arrival in the country, had anxiously
looked to the heights above Quebec, and now he once more turned
to the hope of getting up on the broad plains.

On the twentieth of August great sorrow spread through the
British troops. Wolfe, who had exhausted himself by ceaseless toil
and thought, and who was to be seen everywhere strengthening the
weak and encouraging the strong by his hopeful spirit, was seized

-rr-

STORIES FROM CANADEAN HISTORY.

Pi'

^5/

witli illness so severe that lie was conliued to his bed, and lay rest-
lessly tossing with fever in a farmhouRe at Montmorency. He
recovered, liowovor, about the end of the month ; so far, at least,
as to be able to devise another plan of attack.

On the last day of August, he was able to leave the house for
the first time since his illness, and his presence greatly raised the
spirits of the army. Ho had not much hope of success, but he was
determined that they should not have it to say in England that he
had not done his duty. His first task was to concentrate his forces
along the upper bank of the river. He sent up to join Admiral
Holmes all the ships he could spare from his fleet below Quebec.
Seeing that his men at Montmoi-cncy were of no practical. use, he
at once decided on evacuating his position there. Montcalm, ob-
serving this move, sent a force to harass the retreating British
troops. But Monckton, who had been viewing the operation from
Point Levis, dispatched a considerable force to attack Montcalm in
front, compelling him to recall his men ; and the English were thus
enabled to retire without loss.

This work had been too much for the heroic Wolfe, and on the
fourth of September he was again prostrated on a bed of sickness.
This unfoi'tunate event aftected every man in the army. Wolfe,
however, had a will capable of crushing down pain, and overconung
bodily weakness ; and on the following day was once more among
his men, haggard and worn, but as energetic as ever. He at once
began to look for a scaling place. Every cove, bay, and rock was
eagerly scanned with the telescope, and he at length fixed upon »
place where he thought it possible to scramble up. It was evidently
a weak spot in the cliff, for the white tents of a guard could be seen
gleaming in the September sunshine. This was the Anse du Foulon,
perhaps the weakest point anywhere about Quebec. The French
expected that Wolfe would not leave without trying this point. A
strong guard was therefore posted for its protection, under com-
mand of Captain de Vergor of the colony troops. Besides this
guard, the battalion of Guienne was within hailing distance, and
the batteries on the headland of Samos, and on the heights of
Sillery, could work havoc on any approaching boats.

On the twelfth of the month, Wolfe issued his last general orders.
He felt that at length the time had come to strike, and the sooner a

THE CAPTUKE OF QUEBEC.

battle was fought the better. He was confident of success, and his
hopeful spirit inspired both officers and men. They were ready to
follow him anywhere, and knew that if they could but once meet
the enemy in battle the siege would be as good as finished. He had
but eight thousand four hundred men that he could land, and the
enemy numbered double as many.

The first task was to choose an advance party, to undertake the
hazardous feat of scaling the cliff and surprising the guard, so as
to clear the way for the troops. Among such men it was not diffi-
cult to find twenty-four volunteers ready to face even death ; and
Wolfe had soon mustered a party of men as brave as ever led a for-
lorn hope. Seventeen hundred were to go ashore with the scaling
party, to be ready to follow them to the heights in case of success.

On this same day French deserters brought in the welcome news
that during the night supplies were to pass down to Montcalm's
camp under cover of the darkness. Wolfe at once thought that his
boats might seize the opportunity of going down in advance of them,
deceive the sentinels along the river, and gain the Anse du Foulon
without opposition. He had some fear that Montcalm might Buspect
his intention, and so might be in force on the Plains to oppose his
landing. To avoid this, Admiral Saunders, who was in command of
the fleet in the Basin of Quebec, was to storm Montcalm's position,
while he led the attack above the city. At ni^-htfall, Saunders be-
gan a fierce fire on the entrenchments and sent off boats loaded
with men to pretend a landing. Montcalm was completely deceived,
and as the battle grew hot and vigorous, ht called his troops to-
gether to resist what he supposed to be a concentrated attack.

While Saunders was doing such effective work on Montcalm's
entrenchments, Wolfe was patiently awaiting the ebb of the tide.
At two o'clock in the morning two lanterns were raised in the main-
top of his vessel. This was the signal for work, and the boats at
once began to float towards their destination. Wolfe was in one of
the foremost boats, and while he was being rowed ashore he recited
the celebrated poem — Gray's "Elegy in a Country Churchyard " —
saying as he finished, "Gentlemen, I would rather have written
those lines than take Quebec."

As they neared the shore a French sentinel seeing the boats cried
out "Qui vive ! " "France !" was the reply of a Highland officer

STOUlUa FKOM CANADIAN HISTORY.

Nilj

( I

'•I

fftiniliar with tlio French language. After a few words more the
troops passed on unmolested. They wore again challenged at the
headland of Samos, but this, too, they passed in safety, by replying
to the sentinel, "Provision boats ! Don't make a noise ; the English
will hear us 1 " In a few minutes after passing this point they
landed at the Anse du Foulon, and quickly disembarked. The
volunteers at once began scaling the wooded heights, scrambling up
through the rough bushes that clustered thickly on tho steep bank.
De Vergor was not on his guard, but had gone to bed. lie relied
toe much on the difficulties of the ascent. The foe were upon him
before he could dress. He endeavored to escape, but was shot in
the heel and captured. The guard was soon overpowered, and Che
troops below came scrambling up after their victorious comrades.
At day-break, the heights were held, not only by a large force, but
ale ) by several cannon that had been dragged up the difficult pass.
Wolfe at once looked about him for a battle ground, and soon de-
cided on drawing up his troops on the rough plateau known as the
'* Plains of Abraham."

Meantime, in the early September morning, Montcalm, in his
tent, was roused by the startling news of this unforeseen landing
eflFected by his gallant antagonist. With break-neck speed he
galloped to the scene of action, and to his amazement found the
Plains occupied by a strong force. For the first time since the
commencement of the siege he seems to have lost his head and
acted rashly, and to have begun the engagement with undue preci-
pitation. He hoped that Vaudreuil would join him with a strong
force, but in this he was disappointed. He would not wait. His
men were eager for action, and with them he went at once to meet
the foe. His thrilling voice urged on his excited troops to the
charge for the honor of France, and on his spirited black steed ho
galloped from point to point, brandishing his sword and urging his
men to their arduous and perilous task.

The English troops waited steadily the charge of the foe, holding
their ground with admirable steadiness, notwithstanding the haras-
sing fire of skirmishing parties. Wolfe went from company to
company, cheering his men by word and deed. At ten in the morn-
ing he saw that the moment had come for the decisive blow.

The French assembled on a ridge in front of him, and collected

FORT MICHILLIMACKINAC.

their strength for the final charge. In a few momenta the whole
force was in motion, Montcalm, on his black charger, leading the
way. VuUey after volley poured from their ranks as they rushed
on the steady phalanx of the foe. Not an Englishman moved from
his post, save Avhore one fell and a comrade took the vacant place.
When the enemy was within forty paces, the conmiand **Firo"!
rang out, and as one man the whole bi>dy poured a leaden hail into
the advancing ranks. A second almost instantly followed which
made the French troops pause and waver in their advance. A third
volley changed the advance into a retreat. The British troops were
then ordered to "charge" ! and with a true British choer they
drove the sciittered enemy in full flight towards Quebec.

Montcalm received a shot through the body, in the retreat, but
succeeded in reaching the city, where he died a hero's death.
Wolfe had been three times wounded. The last time a charge
lodged in his breast, and he fell, to rise no more. He was carried
to the rear, where, in reply to his eager * ' Who run ? " the glad
news reached his dying ears, "The French!" A happy smile
passed over his face. But even at that moment his own duty was
not forgotten. **Go, one of you, to Colonel Burton," he said,
"and tell him to march Webb's regiment down to the Charlefi
River, to cut off their retreat from the bridge ! " Then, as he felt
that his work was done, and done well, he turned on his side, with
the words, " Now, God be.praised, I die in peace ! "

CHAPTER XIV.

THE STORy OF FORT MICHILLIMACKINAC.

illected

"A famous Indian chief Pontiao, stirred up the Indian warriors to seize the rude
forte in the West recently handed over by the French to the British."— //i,7A School
History, page Slt7.

Although Quebec fell in September, 1759, Canada was not handed
over to the British till the following year. De Ldvis succeeded
Montcalm as commander of the forces, and with ten thousand men
made a giant eflfort to retake the Gibralter of America. Murray,
who succeeded Wolfe, struggled nobly against a force vastly greater

STORIES FKOM CANADIAN HISTORY,

E' ■ ■

;l:

than his own, until aid came from Britain, and De L^vis was com-
pelled to retreat to Montreal, where he and the governor of Canada,
Vaudreuil, made a final stand.

But it was of short duration, General Murray, with all the
strength he could collect, followed De Levis up the St. Lawrence ;
Colonel Haviland, with three thousand men, hastened from Crown
Point against the fatet^ city ; and General Amherst, with ten thou-
sand soldiers and a nuniuer of InUian allies, advanced from Albany.
These three armies reached Montreal almost simultaneously, and on
the 8th Sept., 1760, sixteen thousand men begni the siege of the
city. Vaudreuil saw how useless it would be to hold out, and wisely
capitulated, surrendering the whole of Canada to the British ; and
soon the flag of England was raised on every fort in the West, from
Montreal to Michillimackinac.

The Indians, with the exception of the Iroquois, had ever shown
more love to the j'^rench than to tlie English, and had great faith in
the power of France. They could not understand this change of
rulers, and did not take kindly t(» it. As one of them expressed it,
they believed, "The King of France Isold and infirm; and that,
being fatigued with making war upon your nation, he is fallen
asleep. During his sleep j^ou have taken advantage of him, and
possessed yourselves of Canada. But his nap is almost at an end.
I think I hear him already stirring, and inquiring for his children,
the Indians ; and when he does awake, what must become of you ?
He will destroy you utterly. Our father, the King of France, em-
ployed our young men to make war upon your nation In this
warfare many of them have been killed ; and it is our custoin to
retaliate until such time as the spirits of the slain are satisfied."

Chief among the red men at this tnne was the famous warrior
Pontiac, a savage of marvellous intell'gence, strength of will, and
diplomacy. He had an overwhelming anibition to rule over the
foi'est tribes as a monarch, and would not at first brook England's
interference in the West. At last, however, thinking it might add
to his own power, he consented to become their ally. But the
English soldiers and traders were veiy unlike their French predeces-
sors in their attitude towards the Indians. WTiere the French
had fraternised with them, adopting their manners and dress, the
British kept aloof, and treated them with scorn and too often iiisuit.

FORT MICHILLIMACKINAC.

For a time they endured it sullenly, but suddenly the smouldering
volcano of wrath burst forth, and the wholu West was overrun w^ith
war-parties. Pontiac took the lead ; and by his strong personality
and diplomacy succeeded in uniting the tribes of the Upper Lakes,
of the Ohio Valley, of Virginia, of Maryland, and of Pennsylvania,
into one confederacy.

He determined to strike the first blow against the British in
person, and as Detroit was the strongest position in the West, in
May, 1763, with a horde of savage warriors, he began the siege of
this fort. Plot after plot was tried without success, and for fifteen
months a siege unparalleled m the history of Tndian warfare con-
tinued, and was only raised when General Pradstreet, vdth a force
of twelve hundred men, came to the rescue of the garrison.

Before beginning his attack on Detroit, Pontiac had sent mes-
sengers to all the tribes in the confederacy to be ready to aid him.
To his western brethern he sent the war-belt of black and purple
wampum, and at a meeting of the Ojibwas and Ottawas, the red
war hatchet, which Pontiac's messengers flung at their feet, was
taken up, and all agreed to enter into the fight against the English.

At this time the British were far from being strong in the West.
They had there three forts in all, Sault Ste. Marie, Michillimackinac,
and Green Bay. But Sault Ste. Marie had been partially destroyed
by fire in the previous winter and had been disbanded. \t Green
Bay there were but seventeen men under Lieutenant Goreii, and the
strength of the force it Michillimackinac was but thirty-five all told.
About them were hundreds of dusky warriors, hating them as only
savages can hate, and within these posts were French-Canadians
who were not to be trusted.

Towards the end of May, the Ojibwas, living on the oeautiful
island of Mackinac, learned that Pontiac had made an attack on
Detroit,, They had been hoping for war, and now that the English
were fully occupied at Detroit and in the East, they felt that the
time had come to strike a blow in their own territory. A tribe of
the Ottawas lived at LArljre Croche on Lake Michigan, but as the
Ojibwas wanted to have all the glory to themselves, they determined
to alodck Fort Michillimackinac without sending word to their
Ottawa friends.

Captain Etherington was in command at the fort, and, like many

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTOIIY,

another British officer in Canada, was totally ignorant of the people
he had to govern. The InJaans seemed so docile and friendly that
he would not believe anything that was said against them, and
although he received frequent warnings that a rising was impend-
ing, he would not heed them, and even went po far as to threaten to
send prisoner to Detroit anyone who brought in further reports on
the subject.

At this time theie was living at Michillimackinac a famous trader
named Henry. He had reached the fort before the English took
possession, and, as he was met with very hostile demonstrations on
his arrival, he well knew how little the savages could be relied on.
Time and again his own life had been in daiiger among them, and
now, as the war-cloud was gathering, he felt that something was
wrong. He had been adopted as a brother by an Ojibwa chief,
named Wawatam, who had taken one of the strange likings, so
common among the Indians, for him. Now, when danger threatened
the settlement, Wawatam and his squaw, who were in the plot and
dared not reveal it, came and besought him to go with them to
Sault Ste. Marie. They dropped various hints about the situation,
but Henry seemed only to grasp them vaguely, and refused to
accompany them ; and the two loving Indians pushed their canoe
from the shore, and paddled away with aching hearts, Henry
reported his interview with Wawatam to Etherington, who treated
it as lightly as he had done all other reports.

The day following was King George's birthday. The British
soldiers had a holiday, the canteen was thrown open, and many of
them went in for a complete day's enjoyment. Near the palisades
was a large encampment of O jib was, and not far off several bands of
Sac Indians had thrown up their rude dwellings. These Indians took
advantage of the holiday to carry out a deep laid plot. Seemingly
in all friendliness their chieft» came to Etherington and offered to
enliven the day with a game of lacrosse between the Objibwas and
Sacs. Etherington, like every British soldier, was a true lover of
sport, and readily consented, not only to 'vitness the game himself,
but to allow his whole garrison to enjoy the contest.

It was a hot afternoon when the rival tribes lined up. They had
a host of spectators. Under the shelter c ". the palisades could be
seen nearly all the solvliers in the garrison in undress uniform, not

PORT MirTlILLIMACKINAC.

lad
be
lot

even having their side-arms with them. Here and there among
tliem were chiefs and warriors who were not taking part in the game,
and by the gates was a concoiu'se of squaws, silent as only squaws
can be when in the presence of warriors. Each was wrapped in a
thick blanket, which she held tightly grasped about her body,
though the day was hot and sultry. The habitans, too, had come
out in holiday attire. Had Etherington been an observant com-
mander he might have noticed that they had lost something of their
gay French lightheartednes ?. The gates were thrown back, and
within the palisades could be seen the houses, with windows and
doors wide open, the very picture of peace.

The contestants were soon at work. The game was not played as
at the present day, with a limited number of men on each side, and
with laws governing almost every movement of :.he player. It was
Sac against Ojibwa, and hundreds took part in it. The aim of each
tribe was to defend its goal when in danger, or to force the ball
through the enemy's when it had the advantage. The game was a
ioi/ 'orous one. The naked savages bounded hither and thither,
y'jl.;ag and leaping, more like demons than men. The spectatord
louuly applauded the play, and the rougher it became the more
thoroughly they seemed to ei?joy it. There was no one to take
account of the " foul play," and if a warrior was not able to "body-
check " an opponent he had little hesitation in knocking him down,
with either his fist or his stick. Backward and forward sped the
ball ; now the Sac goal was in danger, and again the Ojibwas des
paired of the victory. At length the play became centered in the
middle of the field; contest followed contest at close quarters;
tripping, slashing, striking, occurred on all sides. Suddenly an
Indian, seemingly more agile than the others, got the ball on his
stick, eluded his opponents, and, turning rapidly, threw it far out of
the field of play. It . fell close to the gate, and the spectators,
admiring the strength of the throw, forgot to notice the strange
movement of the players.

This was a part of the plot. The whole field made a wild rush
for the ball, even uho goal-keepers leaving their posts to start in
pursuit. In a moment they were among the spectators, and the
yells that had been urging on the game were suddenly changed for
their appalling war-whoops. The squaws had hatchets concealed be-

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

I 1

neath their blankets, and the warriors, seizing these weapon**,
rushed madly on the unprepared garrison. Captain Etherington
and Lieutenant Leslie, who had been betting on the results of the
game, were rudely seized, bound, and liurried to the woods. \Vliile
some of the Indians turned their attention to the soldiers without
the fort, others rushed through the open gates and slew or captured
every Englishman they could find. The attack was over in a
moment, and the strongest point west of Detroit was in the hands
of a howling mob of merciless savages.

A few prisoners were reserved for, perhaps, a worse fate, but they
were afterwards fortunately rescued by the Ottawas, who were
jealous that the Ojibwas had not taken them into tiie plot.

For several days the Indians caroused over their victory, and
then started with their prisoners for Isle du Castor, :iear the mouth
of Green Bay, but when they were ai)proaching L'Arbre Croche a
hundred Ottawas rushed into the lake, seized their canoes, and
took their English prisoners from their hands. So jealous were
they of the Ojibwas that they determined to take the British
back to Michillimackinac, and so, much to the prisoners' sur-
prise, they were soon on the return journey to the scene of the
late massacre.

From Michillimackinac Etherington sent a letter to Gorell at
Green Bay, requesting him to come to his aid " with all your gar-
rison, and what English traders you have with you, and come
with the Indians who give you this, who will conduct you safe to
me."

Gorell was an able soldier and a diplomatic commander. His
rule had won the friendship of the Indians about Green Bay, and
when he called iipon them to aid him many were ready to do so.
On the twenty-first of June, accompanied by his soldiers and ninety
warriors he started for L'Arbre Croche, where Etherington,
Leslie, and eleven so/diers had finally been taken as prisoners.
On the thirtieth he arrived there, and the Ottawas desired
his party to surrender their arms, but Gorell presenled such
determined opposition to this that the Ottawas were afraid to
press their wish.

The only thing now left the English to consider was how to get
out of the West without less of life. Several councils were held,

rrton

the
Aiile
;h()ut
Lured

in a
liands

FORT MICniLLIMACKINAC.

and after much difficulty, and many threats on the part of the
Ojibwas, the few Englishmen left alive in this region stjirted for
Montreal })y way of Lake Huron and the Ottawa, and left the en-
tire upper lake country to the savage hordes, and the few French
settlers who had become rooted to the soil.

tthey
were

y, and
mouth
:oche a
es, and
IS were
British
rs' sur-
^ of the

orell at
our gar-
id come
safe to

His

5ay, and
o do so.
d ninety

rington,
riaoners.
desired
Led such

fraid to

hw to get
3re held,

CHAPTER XV.

THE LAST SIEGE OF QUEBEC.

"The Americans united tiieir forces under Generals Montj;oniery and Arnold, and
advanced against the famous old fortress. — EIi(jh School Hintory, page 351.

The American colonies had drawn the sword against the mother-
land and had determined to drive tlie British from this continent.
Washington, the commander of the forces, knew that while the
British held Montreal and Quebec, they really held the key to this
continent, and s > he despatche I Montgomeiy against Montreal and
the West, and Colonel Benedict Arnold .agiinst Quebec, by the
difficult route of the Kennobec and the Chaudiere. In case Arnold
were unsuccessful in his attempt, Montgomery was to join him, and
the two were to make a united effort to drive the English from the
stronghold Wolfe's courage and perseverance had won.

Arn<dd's march is one of the most remarkable in the history of
war. He embarked on the Kennebec towards the latter part of
September, and struggled for days against that rapid stream^ then
portaged his canoes across the high land to the Chaudiere, and
swept down that turbulent river towards the St. Lawrence, After
thirty days of severe toil, his troops found themselves reduced to
the necessity of killing some dogs they had with them for food,
and some even endeavored to devour the very moccasins they wore.
On the fourth of November they reached a French settlement,
where they procured food; and some of the famished soldiei's ate so
greedily that they died from the efl^ct of their gluttony, and left
their bones to bleach on the line of march. On the eighth, Point

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

■' ^

Levis was reached, and after five days delay they succeeded in cross-
ing the St. Lawrence, and landed unobserved at the very spot where
Wolfe had landed sixteon years before.

Arnold expected that the habitans would eagerly rush to his
banner, but in this he was disappointed. The French had no love
for the British flag, but they found their lot under it much easier
than it had been under France and her governors. Again, they had
less love for the New Englanders : the hated Bostonnais had ever
been their enemies, and so, of the two English speaking masters,
they preferred the out-and-out Englishman. But Arnold and his
men had come far and suffered much, and were eager to have their
reward, so, although they had no encouragement from the inhabi-
tants of Canada, they drew up before the walls of Quebec, and
demanded an unconditional surrender.

When the citizens of Quebec saw the formidable force of the
" Continental " army they trembled for the safety of their city, but
their engineer, Mr. James Thompson, was far from being hopeless.
He had received orders from General Carleton to put Quebec into
a state of defence. Palace, Hope, and St. Louis gates, and the
whole brow of Cape Diamond were fortified without loss of time.
In the Lower Town all the windows facing the river were closed,
loopholes alone being left for musketry. The defences were done
hastily, but Thompson had no doubt that they would keep out the
foe, till General Carleton arrived to take charge of the city, and to
cement the Eu^'-ish and French within the citadel into one grand
resisting forc^

Thompson's hopefulness diffused itself among the citizens, and
when Arnold requested them to open their gates, they treated his
demand with derision, climbing on the waDs and hurling at him the
opprobrious name "Horse Jockey," in reference to his having traded
with them as a horse-dealer on former occasions. Thompson treated
his demand in a more serious way, levelling at hin troops a twenty-
four pounder, that had the effect of showing them that they had
watchful enemies within Quebec. Arnold's force hibd been reduced
by desertion by one-third of its number, and he f^ that, with his
present strength, it would be impossible to storm the city, so he
retreated to Pointe-aux-Trembles to await the arrival of General
Montgomery and his army.

THE LAST SIEGE OF QUEBEC.

crosB-
■where

to his
ao love
I easier
.hey bad
lad ever
masters,

and his
ive their
a inhabi-
jbec, and

ce of the
r city, but

hopeless,
uebec into
s, and the
is of time,
rere closed,

were done
[eep out the

;ity, and to
one grand

citizens, and
' treated his
|ig at hini the
Laving traded
lipson treated
Lps a twenty-
Ihat they had
Ibeen reduced
that, with his

city,

lal of General

In the meantime the British had been suffering in the West. Fort
St. John's, Fort Chambly, and Montreal liad surrendered in rapid
succession, and it was with difficulty that Guy Carleton escaped
from Montreal.

When Montreal fell. Governor Carleton felt that the only hope
of saving Canada from the invading forces was to hasten to Quebec
at once. Captain Bouchette, a hardy Canadian, undertook to pass
him through the American lines. On a pitch dark night in Novem-
ber, the Governor of Canada, accompanied by several trusty officers,
began his flight in a skiff propelled by muffled paddles. Not a word
was spoken ; and the commands were given by signs. Time and
again they were almost discovered as they crept down the river past
the watch-fires of the enemy. So near did they approach the
sentinels at times, that they were compelled to stop paddling
altogether, and to allow their skiff to drift as lifeless as a log down
the stream. Once when in danger of drifting on the shore, they
kept their skiff out in mid-stream by propelling it for nine miles
with their hands. They halted at Three Rivers and went to an
Inn to rest, and the tired Governor, resting his head on his arms,
fell into a much-needed slumber. But he was soon rudely awakened
by the loud talking of American soldiers in an adjoining room. He
despaired of escaping, but Captain Bouchette with great cleverness
snccoeded in passing him and his party through their midst,
and without loss of time their skiff was once more on its way to
Quebec. They soon met and boarded the armed brig "Fell," and
before long a favorable breeze had swept them to their goal. There
was great rejoicing in the city at their arrival, and the shouting and
firing of joy-guns reached Arnold on his retreat to Pointe-aux-
Trembles. Without delay Carleton examined the fortifications, and
soon had everything in a fit state to stand a protracted siege.

On the first of December General Montgomery reached Arnold's
camp, and the men, impatient from their inactivity, met him with
exulting shouts. They clamored to be led against Quebec at once.
Montgomery acquiesced in their wish, and on tho fifth of the month
they were marched along the frozen roads to the city. When it
was reached the American commander at once sent in a fla<y of
truce, but Carleton would have no communication with rebels, and
the siege commenced in earnest.

;■ -t

ii I

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

The Canadian winter had sot in, and although Montgomery was
not prepared for a lengthy siege, he placed several guns on the far
side of the St. Charles, four on Point Levis, and a strong battery of
six pieces before St. John's Gate, and began to bombard the city.
In the meantime his men took possession of the country round
about, and soon from every important point could be seen the crim-
son, or red and black flag of the *' Continental " army.

The inhabitants, particularly the French, began to think that
Carleton would yet have to surrender, and not a few living outside
of the city walls became sympathisers with the rebels. The suburb
of St. Roch was particularly disloyal ; every house sheltered one
or more of the enemy, who kept up a constant series of petty at-
tacks on the city. The famous palace erected by the Intendant
Bigot in this suburb offered an excellent opportunity to the foe,
and they crowded its cupola with riflemen, who succeeded in pick-
ing off several of the British sentries ; but Carleton turned a nine
pounder on this position, and soon the lordly palace, so famous in
the history of New France, was laid in ruins.

All through the month of December the siege lasted with but
little injury being done to either side. The Americans were be-
coming disheartened, and many believed that their long and trying
march had been all in vain. Their only hope lay in attempting to
take the city by assault, and their general decided on adopting this
course. Towards the end of the month the order was given for
every man to hold himself in readiness for a night attack. A gather-
ing storm was to be the signal for assembling, and eagerly the
officers and men watched the heavens for the propitious sign.
Several times they were called out, but the moon swept from be-
hind the clouds just as the advance waa about to be sounded, and
all were sent to their quarters.

At last, on the night of December the thirtieth, leaden clouds
swept down from the north, and all felt that the decisive time had
arrived. The skies grew darker and darker, and at two o'clock on
the following morning Montgomery called out his men, and gave
the officers their orders.

Colonel Livingstone, in command of a regiment of mercenary
Canadians, and Major Brown, with a part of a Boston regiment,
were detailed to make a false attack on St. John's Gate, and if

THE LAST SIEGE OF QUEBEC.

sry was

the far
ttery of
he city.
y round
he crim-

ink that
» outside
Le suburb
ered one
petty at-
[ntendant
) the foe,
d in pick-
led a nine
famous in

i with but
J were be-
and trying
empting to
.opting this
,s given for
Agather-
-agerly the
itious sign.
)t from be-
(unded, and

iden clouds

/e time had

lo o'clock on

In, and gave

If mercenary
in regiment,
(oate, and if

possible to set it on fire. Colonel Arnold at the head of a strong
force was to march round by tlio way of the suburb of St. Roch;
wliile Geuerul Montj^ouiery took upon himself the almost foolhardy
task of leading a baud r(jund the base of the cliff, in face of the
fact that a strong guard was posted in this positicjn. If he and
Arnold were successful, they were to unite their forces at the foot
of Mouutaui Hill, and the forcing of Prescott Gate, and the taking
of the Upper Town would be a comparatively easy task.

Shortly beicve daybreak they moved to the attack. Colonel
Livingstone's command, for some unexplained reason, was alto-
gether unsuccessful, and retreated without even attempting to carry
out their orders. Soim ; scribe it to the depth oi the snow, that
made their advance im|iossible, while others say that the Canadian
mercenaries failed tht Americans at the critical moment.

Montgomery 'ind his men crei)t slowly aloi)<^ the St. Lawrence
from Wolfe's Cove, till they reached the base oi. the cliflf on which
stands the modern citadel. Here, under the frowning heights that
loomed up threateningly through the piercing storm, they found
the narrow passage, known as Pres-de-ville, protected by pickets,
and they were compelled to halt and reconnoitre.

The British had expected an attack from this side, and had not
only protected the pass by pickets, but had erected in it a block-
house in which was a battery of three guns. Here a force of about
fifty men was stationed under Captain Bamsfare, a master of a
transport. On this fateful morning the men were on the alert, and
the presence of the Americans soon became known.

Montgomery went forward with his carpenters to cut away the
palisades, and helped pull them down with his own hands. This
work completed, he and several of his officers, with great foolhardi-
ness, advanced ahmg the pass towards the blockhouse. As they saw
no light they took it for granted that the soldiers there were not
watchful. But this was what the British had hoped for. Captain
Barnsfare gave the command to fire, and Sergeant Hugh Mc-
Quarters, who was in charge of the guns, sent a shower of grape-
shot hurtling along the pass. At the same time the small-arms of
the guard rang out with telling effect. Through the storm several
men were seen to plunge forward and fall, never to rise again.
They were General Montgomery, his two aides-de-camp, and a

ST0RIE8 TROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

number of brave soldiers. His bewildered troops did not oven at-
tempt to carry oS the body of their commander, but beat a hasty
retreat, leaving him to be covered by the thickly-falling snow.
They could n(jt have done otherwise ; for ten minutes the small-
arms, of the soldiers rang out, and in the narrow defile no one
could have shown himself without meeting instant death. So ended
the attack from the Prea-de-Ville side of the city, and it might be
added that the siege itself was virtually at an end, for the hope of
the Americans lay dead in the narrow pass with three death-wounds,
one in the chin, one in the groin, and one through the thigh.

The sound of this conflict had reached the Upper Town, and
every bell in the city was ringing furiously to call the people to
arms. The walls were soon lined with anxious faces, and the
troops of Arnold, now slowly advancing along Sault-au-Matelot
street, through a blinding storm of sleet, had a vigilant foe awaiting
them. Several barricades had been erected to guard this entrance
to the city, and on these they bodily advanced. Arnold was wounded,
and had to retire, but as he was carried to the rear he urged his
brave followers on with cheering words. I»lothing daunted they
bent forward in the face of the stinging blast, and plunged through
gathering snow-drifts till the first barrier was reached. Here, a
short, sharp fight took place, but with heroic dash they entered the
embrasures, and overpowered the guard. They advanced to the
second barrier, but this was more powerfully and skillfully con-
structed, and was guarded by a stronger and more determined force,
and after a desperate struggle they were compelled to meditate a
retreat. But before they could put their thoughts into action,
Captain Laws at the head of two hundred men marched out of
Palace Gate and captured a large body of them. Some of the more
daring, seeing that the retreat was cut off, boldly dashed across the
uncertain ice in the bay of St. Charles, and found safety on the
opposite shore.

Once more the rocky citadel had withstood a siege, for although
Arn(»ld remained in the vicinity of Quebec till spring with p .'me
eight hundred men, it was never again in danger of being captured.

THE STORY OF BROCK.

oven at-
: a hasty
ag snow,
le small-
3 no one
So ended
miglit be
e hope of
h-wounds,

igh.

?own, and
people to
(, and the
lU-Matelot
)e awaiting
is entrance
,s wounded,
B urged his
unted they
;ed through
1. Here, a
entered the
iced to the
llfully con-
nined force,
meditate a
into action,
ched out of
of the more
jd across the
afety on the

or although
with p >me
ng captured.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE STORY OF BROCK.

" Brock's tall fltfure and br!j,^ht unifom) had mode him a mark, all too good, (or the
American riflemen."— Z/iV/A School Uistory, page 363.

In the year 1709 throe of the world's military heroes were born,
Napoleon, Wellhigton, and our own Brock. The last named from
his earliest years had set his heart on a military career, and began
his life's work as an ensign at the age of sixteen. In a little more
than seven years his ncjble character and sterling intellect had
advanced him to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of the 49th, a
regiment with which he was to bo identified till the day of his death.

He first saw active service in Holland, where, at the battle of
Egmont-op-Zoe, he acquitted himself with great courage, and where
he narrowly escaped death. Ho was with Nelscm, too, in the Baltic,
and proved himself both a wise soldier and careful commander at
Copenhagen.

But his career began in earnest when his regiment was ordered to
Canada in 1802. A-fter three years service in this countiy he was
made a full Colonel, and returned to England on leave of absence
to visit his friends. But his heart was in Canada, and his stay in
the Old World was to be cut short.

From his arrival in this country he felt that sooner or later the
Americans and British would come to blows, and, while ho was in
England, news came across the waters that made him tremble for
his adopted home. Without delay he sailed for Canada, and on his
arrival began to make the defences as secure as possible. Darker
and darker grew the war cloud, and fearing that in case of an in-
vasion the Americans would make Quebec their first point of attack,
he had it strengthened by every means in his power.

Brock grew in popularity both in Canada and England. Ho was
the idol of his men, and he was deemed such a wo-'thy commander
that in 1808 he was made a Brigadier-General. In 1810 ho was sent
to the Upper Provinces, and established himself at Fort George on
the Niagara frontier. This district was in such close proximity to
the United States that an invasion was to be expected here, and

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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

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STORIES PROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

I'i !

; I

I . j

Brock carefully examined the whole frontier, studying the country,
and making preparations for the struggle that must take place.

In the year after his arrival in the Upper Provinces, Francis
Gore, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, went to England, and
our hero was left in entire control of the Province, being first both
in civil and military affairs.

On the 18th of June, 1812, the long anticipated war was declared,
and seven days later Brock received word of it at F'^rt George.
He at once saw to the defences of the entire West, visiting in per-
son every important point from Niagara to Detroit, The Eastern
frontier, with Kingston as its chief point, was in equally imminent
danger, and this he confided to an able officer, Major-General Shaw.

The blow was not long in falling. On the 12th of July, Brigadier-
General Hull marched into Canada with a strong force, and issued
a proclamation threatening dire vengeance to all who dared resist
his progress, and promising peace and plenty to those who would
aid him. Brock was not in the least alarmed, and replied to his
arrogant threats that England was prepared, not only to defend, but
to avenge, all her subjects, whether red or white. And the province
was prepared to aid him in making good his reply. No sooner was
the invasion known thc^n men from all districts rushed to his stan-
dard, and he soon had more soldiers than he could supply with arms,
and hundreds had to return disappointed to their homes.

Hull had not the success he expected. The Canadians held aloof
from him, and he soon found himself in a foreign country with a
large body of troops, and without means of providing food for them,
except by carrying it long distances. He sent letters by Major
Van Home to the American headquarters, in which he stated his
difficulties, and added further that his army was in a demoralized
condition. Proctor was in command at Amherstburg, and hearing
of Van Home's mission sent out Tecumseh, a brave Shawnee chief,
to intercept him. Tecumseh was successful, and captured not only
a large amount of spoil, but the very important letters that had
been intrusted to Van Home. When news of this disaster reached
Hull, he became alarmed for his own safety on Canadian soil, and
on the 7th and 8th of August withdrew his men to Detroit, aft«r
having wasted a month.

All this irae Brock ' ad been busy making hurried preparations

ountry,
,ce.

Francis
md, and
rst both

Leclared,
George.
I in per-
I Eastern
mminent
'al Shaw.
Jrigadier-
nd issued
,red resist
rho would
lied to his
ef end, but
e province
jooner was
|o his stan-
ith arms,

held aloof
try with a
for them,
by Major
. stated his
iemoralized
nd hearing
[wnee chief,
id not only
s that had
jter reached
m soil, and
stroit, aft«r

[reparations

M.\JOK-(;i:.N KkAL liKOCK.

Fro'/i Bonn/lot's " Sioiy "/ Ch/uk/ii."

I i

! .1

i ll

■ 'i

'■} !

I I.

I i

%ir*

1 .

fHlfi STORY OF BROCK.

at York [Toronto]. On the 6th of August all was ready, and he set
out for Burlington B«»,y. After a severe and fatiguing journey by
day and night, across a rugged country, and in boats that offered no
shelter from the weather, he drew up his squadron of a little over
thrta hundred men at Amherstburg on the night of Auj^ust 13th.
Here h«^ received the correspondence Tecumseh had captured, and
when he learned of the weak state of the American force, he
determined to strike a quick, sure blow.

Hull was at Detroit, and although the fort was a strong one,
Brock hoped to take it by a prompt assault. He sent Tecumswh
with six hundred warriors across the river, and that wily Indian
placed his men so as to cut off all communication with the fort.
The night after the successful passage of Tecumseh's forces was a
dark oue, and, under cover of the darkness, the Canadian boats
plied across the river. At the first groy of morning three hundred
and thirty regulars and four hundred militia, who made up in eager-
ness what they lacked in experienc', were drawn up at Springwell,
four miles below Detroit. Brock summoned Hull to surrender.
The American general took two hours to deliberate, and then sent
bjick a refusal. Without delay the Canadians advanced ; they were
confident of success, and eager for a fight. The main body while
it advanced was ably supported by Tecumseh's braves on the left
flank, and by a small vessel of war, the Queen Charlotte, on the
right.

The untried York volunteers ^ ?re thrown forward as a skirmish-
ing party, and so vigorously and bravely did they do their work that
the Americans hurriedly abandoned a strong outpost, and retreated
to the fort, leaving behind them two twenty-four pounders. They
brought such an exaggerated report of the numbers of the enemy,
that, just when Brock had his men in readiness for an assault, Hull
sent out an officer with a flag of truce, and surrendered without a
struggle. Detroit was won, and with it was given up the whole of
Michigan territory, a ship of war, thirty-three pieces of cannon,
abundant stores, one stand of colors, a military chei^t, and a large
body of troops. News of this victory soon spread through Canada.
Brock's name was on every lip, and all felt that the country was
safe while it had such a brave and dashing commander to lead its
hardy sons to batt^«.

k^j

9 •'

STOBlfiS tROa CANADIAN HISTORY.

Although victorious at Detroit, Brock had great misgivings for
the safety of the Niagara frontier. Brigadier-Qeneral Van Rens-
selaer was stationed there with a strong force, and prompt action
was, in Brock's mind, the only thing that could save Canada at that
point. But an armistice was agreed on between the foes, and Brock
had to go to Niagara, and remain there, deploring the inactivity
that only gave his enemies a chance to concentrate their forces and
get in supplies. But the armistice was of short duration, and early
in October the two peoples were at war once more.

A spy who had ventured into the British camp brought to Van
Rensselaer the false information that Brock had left Niagara for
Detroit. T^^e American general knew the spirit of the man oppos-
ing him, and hoped in his absence to take the strong position known
as Queenston Heights. This spot, one of the most picturesque in
Canada, is a noble plateau rising two hundred and fifty feet above
the turbulent Niagara River. It is to the West what Quebec is to
the East of Canada, a natural fortress that a few brave men might
defend against an army. But Van Rensselaer had a strong force,
and did not hesitate to attempt its capture.

On the 11th of October he made an effort to cross to the Canadian
shore, but utterly failed. Two days were spent in preparations,
and by the 13th all was ready. Early in the morning, before the
autumn sun had risen to glorify the gorgeous foliage of the maples,
the thunder of cannon was heard resounding above the furious roar
of the river. General Van Rensselaer, at the head of a few brave
fellows was attempting the passage. Two companies of the 49th,
and two hundred soldiers of the York militia were energetically
opposing them. An eighteen pounder, on a place of vantage on the
cliff, swept the river with a deadly fire ; but the Americans protected
their men by a strong battery of four pieces, and the first detach-
ment was soon across with but little loss. Busily the boats plied,
and before long thirteen hundred men were drawn up in order of
battle. It was to be a fight to the death. General Van Rensselaer
was no coward, and though wounded in four places, cheered his men
on to the conflict.

Brock was at Fort George. He had been expecting an attack,
and when at daybreak he was aroused by the roar of cannon, he
knew that Queenston Heights were in danger. In a few minutes

• i

igsfor

Bens-

action

li that

Brock

'••u

kctivity

;eB and

d early

to Van

i;'

;a:a for

oppos-

known

* *

)Bque in

b above

)ec is to

M_ ■

a. might

g force,

anadian

rations,

ore the

maples,

)U8 roar

w brave

e 49th,

retically

) on the

>otected

detach-

} plied,

>rder of

isselaer

lis men

attack,

ion, he

ninutes

THE STORT OF BROCK.

he was in the saddle, and galloping furiously to the battle-field. He
did not check his horse until he reached the eighteen-pounder
battery that had been placed to sweep the river, but which was now
useless, since the Americans had crossed. Here he dismounted,
and swept the field with a general's eye. Suddenly the rattle of
musketry above him told that the enemy had gained the height, and
he and his staff were compelled to desert their position.

Captain Wool and a number of American soldiers had scrambled
up a fisherman's path, and had won a position, one hundred and
eighty feet above the river. Lustily they cheered as the Canadians
deserted the gun, and calmly they awaited Williams of the 49th,
who came against them with one himdred men. These were com-
pelled to retire with great loss, but they were joined by others, and
rushed again to the battle, driving the Americans to the margin of
the precipice. Their position was a trying one, and some of the
soldiers attempted to raise a white flag, but Wool tore it down in
great anger, and urged his men on to the fight. Brock was now at
the head of a strong party, and as he gallantly rushed up the height
shouting **Push on the bravo York volunteers," a ball struck him
in the breast, and he felL Unmindful of himself, thinking only of
his adopted country, he begged, with his dying breath, that his
death should be kept from his men.

On pushed the volunteers imder the command of Lieutenant-
Colonel McDonnell, but this noble fellow, too, received a mortal
wound, and the Canadians had to retire to await reinforcement ;
but not before the Americans had lost many brave officers and
soldiers, and so crippled were they that unless help came from the
opposite shore they must either surrender or plunge into the seeth-
ing torrent below.

General Sheaffe, in command at Fort George, was rapidly speeding
to the fight with three hundred regulars, two companies of militia,
and a few Indians. On his way hs was reinforced by a number of
others, and about noon he reached the Heights with eight hundred
men.

The Americans were now encircled by a strong force, determined
to avenge their fallen commander, and by the seething Niagara.
^Iheir friends offered them no assistance, and as the Canadians came
to the final charge they awaited their fate like Spartans. The men

STORIES PROM CANADIAN BISTORT.

were commanded to hold their fire till the enemy were within forty
yards. Soldiers were stationed in the rear of the troops to shoot
down any man who fired before the word was given. Steadily the
foe advanced, and calmly the Americans awaited them ; when they
were almost upon them a deadly, telling fire swept the hill. But
there was no stopping the rush, and in a few minutes the Heights
were won. Some surrendered ; the hill was strewn with dead and
dying, and many brave fellows who would not yield cast themselves
into thti stream, and in their efforts to escape perished in the ruth-
less waters.

The victory was a noble one, but Canada wept over it. Her
heroic Brock was no more, and she deemed the battle dearly bought.
England, too, had recognized his worth, and on the very day of his
death the guns of the Tower of London roared forth rejoicingly
over his victory at Detroit, and his sovereign had made him a
Knight of the Order of the Bath. Even his foes had learned to
respect their brave enemy, and, on the day of his funeral, the
commander of Fort Niagara hoisted his flag at half-mast, and fired
minute guns, shot for shot with the Canadian mourners.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE STORY OP TECUMSBH.

"Proctor fled and left Tecumseh and hia Indiana to uphold the honor of Britiah
urDB."—High School Hittory, page S6B.

In casting the eye back over the pages of Canadian History many
noble savages are seen to stand out as actors in prominent events
in our young country's life. Two strike the reader as being more
closely connected with our past than the others ; and as one of
them, Pontiac, the enemy of the English, has already been treated
at some length in " The Story of Michillimackinac," Tecumseh, our
friend, will form a fitting subject for the closing story of this book.

Tecumseh was bom about the same year as Brock, and was a
member of the Shawnee tribe, living in the valley of the Miami, in

THE 8T0RT OF TB0UM8BH.

»1

BritiBh

many
vents
more
ne of
'eated
our
>k.
Iwas a
in

0M<>. The AinericauR had for years been encroaching on
the indian lands, and from his youth Tecumseh endeavored to put
a stop to their inroads. Before his twenty-fifth year he had several
times faced the " long-knives," as he called the American soldiers,
and had proved himself a valiant foe. In 1794 the Indians suffered
a severe defeat, and were compelled to suiTender a large portion of
their territory. This made Tecumseh an even bitterer enemy to
the Americans than he already was, and with a vigor and intelli-
gence not often seen in a savage he endeavored to form a league
among the Indians to compel the white men to surrender the land
already seized, and to keep them from advancing farther west.

In 1804 his brother, Elskwatawa, announced himself a prophet,
and warned his red brethren that if they wished to regain their old
power they must lead the life of their fathers who inhabited this
continent before the whites appeared among them ; that they must
cast away their woollen garments, and clothe themselves in skins ;
and that they must entirely give up the use of ardent spirits.

The fame of this prophet sook spread through the Indian villages
and a vast concourse of savages came to dwell near one who was
believed not only to be sent by the Great Spirit, but who, it was
held, had the power of working miracles.

It is difiScult to tell whether Tecumseh believed in his brother's
supernatural powers, but at any rate he used the belief of others to
unite all in his confederacy. The authorities, becoming alarmed,
ordered Tecumseh and his brother to change their homes, and they
removed to the Wabash, where the work of uniting the people
went on.

A brief extract from a speech delivered by Tecumseh before a
large assemblage of braves will give some idea of the character of
the man and his aims.

** Brothers, — We are friends ; we must assist each other to bear
our burdens. The blood of many of our fathers and brothers has
run like water on the ground, to satisfy the avarice of the white
men. We, ourselves, are threatened with a great evil ; nothing
will pacify them but the destruction of all the red men.

" Brothers, — We must be united ; we must smoke the same pipe ;
we must fight each others battles ; and, more than all, wo must love

STORIBC FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

' 'I

the Qreat Spirit ; he is for us ; he will destroy our enemies, and
make all his red children happy."

In 1811 the Americans under General Harrison met Teoumseh's
Indians at Tippecanoe in the absence of their chief, and utterly
defeated them. This defeat rankled in the breast of Tecumseh, and
when, in the following year, war was declared between the United
States and Britain, he was one of the first to rush to the British
standard, with him went an immense following, ready to fight to
the death against their lifelong enemies.

Tecumseh was soon to see active service. General Brock was
unable to proceed to the scene of action at once, and so dispatched
Colonel Proctor with a number of men to take command at Am-
herstburg. Proctor, wishing to strike the enemy a blow, sent
across to Brownstown — a village twenty-five miles from Detroit —
a part of the forty-first regiment and a number of Indians under
Tecumseh. Major Van Home was known to be on his way from
Detroit with important papers, and Tecumseh and seventy of his
braves lay in ambush. When the Americans reached their place of
hiding the Indians suddenly sprang upon them, and in the short
battle that followed the troops were completely routed. Many of
them were killed, and the important dispatches were seized by
Tecumseh. In a few days Hull, in command at Detroit, sent a
strong force against the foe at Brownstown, and compelled them
to retreat to their own side of the river.

On the ISth of A agust. Brock reached Amherstburg, and the
Indians, learning that so brave a soldier had arrived, began firing
their guns to show their joy. But powder was scarce, and Brock,
anxious to save it, sent for their chief, — for whom he ever after had
the greatest admiration. Tecumseh came, and after a short con-
versation with Brock saw that the firing ceased.

The chief made such an impression on the General and his stafi
that one of the aides-de-camp. Captain Glegg, has given us a faith-
ful pen-picture of him.

"Tecumseh's appearance was very prepossessing; his figiure light
and finely proportioned ; his age I imagine to be about five and
thirty ; in height, five feet nine or ten inches ; his complexion,
light copper ; countenance, oval, with bright hazel eyes, beaming
cheerfulness, energy, and decision. Three small silver crowns, or

THE STORT OF TECUlfSEH.

•8

d the
firing
Irock,
^r had
con-

stafi
Ifaith-

: light

and

kxion,

^ming

coronets were suspended from the lower cartilage of his aquiline
nose ; and a large silver medallion of George the Third, which 1
believe his ancestor had received from Lord Dorchester, when
Governor-General of Canada, was attached to a mixed colored
wampum string, that hung round his nock. His dress consisted of
a plain, neat uniform, tanned deer-skin jacket, long trousers of
the same material, the seams of both being covered with neatly cut
fringe ; and he had on his feet leather moccasins, much ornamented
with work made from the dyed quills of the porcupine."

On the following day Brock called a council at which about one
thousand Indians were present. Brock spoke lovingly to the red
men, and told them that their great father over the ocean had sent
him to aid them in their fight against the ** long-knives ; " he
finished his speech by saying that he soon hoped to drive Hull from
Detroit. His speech was joyfully received by the warriors, and
with one voice they called upon Tecumseh as a fitting brave to re-
ply to so noted a leader as the English general. Tecumseh replied
with suitable words, and closed an eloquent speech by saying that
all present were ready "to shed their last drop of blood in their
great father's service." Other speeches were made by noted chiefS|
and all only reiterated the words of their leader. Brock was so
deeply impressed by Tecumseh's wisdom that he determined to take
him into his confidence, and after the council was ended he led him
apart with several other chiefs, and told them of a proposed plan to
attack Detroit at once.

Nothing could have pleased Tecumseh better. In Detroit were
the 4th U. S. Infantry, a part of the troops which had laid his
village waste and slaughtered his braves at Tippecanoe.

Brock asked the chief if he could give a description of the country
about Detroit. Without a moment's hesitation Tecumseh took a
piece of birch bark, spread it on the ground, placing a stone on
each comer to keep it in position, and with a scalping knife
sketched upon it an accurate plan of the district, locating hillSf
woods, rivers, roads, and morasses with the skill of a trained
military engineer. Brock was delighted, and deemed that the best
course would be to send Tecumseh and his warriors across the river
to take up a position in the woods before sending over his regulars
and militia. After the capture of the fort, Brook feared that the

STORIES FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

( ?

Indians might fall upon the Americans and slaughter them, but to
a hint of the kind Tticumaeh replied, with great haughtiness, "I
despise them too much to meddle with them." All through the war
he seemed to have not only a restraining hand upon his own toma-
hawk and scalping knife, but to have been able to hold in check his
fellow- warriors when prisoners fell into their hands.

The British leader was so pleased with the conduct of the brave
Shawnee at the capture of Detroit that he took off his silken
scarf, and wound it round the body of his red friend. On the
following day Tecumseh was seen without it. Brock wondered at
this, as the chief had expressed, in his stoical way, great pleasure
at the honor his general conferred on him, — and on inquiring
learned that he had given it to Round-head, n Wyandot chief, who,
he claimed, was an elder and abler warrior than himself.

All through this year he fought bravely, and when Brock fell at
Queenston, he had no sine ^rer mourner than the chief, who had
learned to love him as a worthy brother warrior. After the
general's death, ho lost something of the enthusiastic hope he had
had in the British arms, but he still fought on, never once playing
the coward's part ; and when the war was waged with increased
vigour in 1813, no hero stands out more prominently than this noble
red man.

In this year the British met with severe reverses, and Proctor,
in command at Detroit, was compelled to desert that stronghold and
fall back upon Canadian soil- Tecumseh was with him, and with a
heavy heart joined in the flight till an Indian village, known as
Moraviantown, was reached. Here they received intelligence that
the enemy was rapidly coming down upon them. Proctor had
retreated hastily and with great lack of forethought. The very
bridges he crossed were left standing, and his worn-out troops were
no match on the march for the lightly-armed Kentucky riflemen
that served under General Harrison.

The Americans greatly outnumbered the Canadians, but Proctor
determined to make a stand on the banks of the Thames, and give
them battle. His men were drawn up in a favorable position ; < n
the left flank was the Thames, on the right an impassable cedar
swamp. From the river to the swamp the distance was in all about
five hundred yards, and in the centre of this space Proctor planted

TBI 8T0RT or TECUM8BB.

3ctor,
and

irith a
n as
that
had
very
were

emen

roctor
give
; tn

cedar
bout

uited

the only gun — a s'T-pounder— that he had managed to bring with
him. Tecumseh and his warriors were posted in the swamp, where
the mounted infantry of the Americans could not advance, and
where their trusty rifles miglit work havoc among the foe. When
all was ready, Tecumseh took leave of Proctor with the encouraging
words ''Father ! have a big heart ! " and joined his warriors to
await the signal to begin the fight, which was to be the firing of the
gun.

Never did the warrior present a more heroic picture. His every
movement bespoke the soldier, and as he joined his braves all eyes
looked trustingly to the commander who had for two years led them
through so many hard fought fights. This day was an important
one for him, and while the British officers donned their uniforms
bedecked with gold and silver lace he rolled his handkerchief in the
form of a turban, and as a mark of his rank stuck in it a white
ostrich feather that nodded royally in the breeze as he passed along
the British line.

Proctor seems to have acted with great negligence. He nwaited
the foe without making an effort to entrench or protect his men by
barricades. There were abundant trees about him, and tl,\e two
hours that elapsed before the battle would have given his troops
ample time to erect a protecting barrier.

Stealthily the enemy advanced, sheltering themselves by the treeo
growing along the river bank, till almost on the British line ; and
then charged with great dash. They were met by a bold resistance,
but the British, outnumbered, and exhausted by their trying march,
gave way before the impetuous charge, and the gun was soon in the
hands of the Americans. Proctor saw that all was lost, and left
the field in headlong flight, nor did he stop till he was safe at
Burlington Heights.

While the right division of the foe had been sweeping everything
in the open before them, the left division under Colonel Johnson
were meeting worthy foes in the swamp. They saw that the only
hope of success was to draw the Indians from their strong position
and twenty brave fellows under their Colonel advanced into the
very " jaws of death." Johnson alone lived to return to his sol-
diers. Tecumseh and his braves, overjoyed at this first success,
rushed boldly to the battle and fought with dauntless courage.

STOBIBS FROM CANADIAN HISTORY.

Success seemed to be crowning their efforts, and the foe was slowly
but surely giving ground. Johnson, the commander, was wounded
in four places, and as he reeled in his saddle from loss of blood
Tecumseh dashed through his followers, and endeavored to strike
him down with his tomahawk. The American leader's pistol was in
his hahd, and as the blu^ was about to descend he pointed it at
Tecumseh, pulled the trigger, and the noblest of the red men fell
dead, with four buck shots and a bullet in his breast.

The Indians, led by Tecumseh's son, a boy of seventeen, who
was at his father's side when he fell, fought on bravely, but were
at last compelled to surrender, and the entire field was in the hands
of their foes.

This, however, was not the end of the war. For another year
the bloody and useless struggle continued, and not till the Treaty
of Ghent gave peace to this continent were the Canadians left free
to build up the prosperous Dominion of the present day, that
glories in its heroes, — from Cartier to Tecumseh.

THE END.

-i

e was slowly
w&B wounded
)ss of blood
red to strike
pistol was in
pointed it at
red men fell

enteen, who
ily, but were
in the hands

another year
Ul the Treaty
lians left free
Qt day, that