Part 12 (1/2)
[12] Relation of Henri de Tonty (cited in Margry, I). ”Comme cette riviere se divise en trois chenaux, M. de la Salle fut descouvrer celuy de la droite, je fus a celuy du mileu et le Sieur d'Autray a celuy de la gauche.”
[13] Abridged from Francis Parkman's version of La Salle's proclamation. The Proces Verbal is a long doc.u.ment.
VII.
AN ADOPTION.
”What does he want?” inquired Tonty.
”He is determined to speak with you, Monsieur de Tonty, from what I can gather out of his words.”
”Let him wait in the mission house, then,” said Tonty, ”until Monsieur de la Salle has ended his business.”
”I have ended,” said La Salle. ”It is time I ordered my men and baggage and canoes out of Fort Frontenac.”
”Monsieur, remain, and let an order from you be taken to the gate.”
”Some of those sulky fellows need my hand over them, Tonty. Besides, there are matters which must be definitely settled before I leave the fort. I have need to go myself, besides the obligation to deliver this runaway girl, on whom her uncle La Salle is always bringing penances.”
Barbe sprung up and put herself in the att.i.tude of accompanying him.
”Mademoiselle,” said Tonty, ”the rain is still falling. If Monsieur de la Salle can carry this hide over you, it will be some protection.”
He took up the buffalo skin, and shook it to loosen any dust which might be clinging to the s.h.a.g.
”Monsieur, you are very good,” she answered. ”But it is not necessary for me.”
”Mademoiselle cares very little about a wetting,” said La Salle. ”She was born to be a princess of the backwoods. Call in your Indian before we go, Tonty. He may have some news for us.”
Tonty spoke to the sentinel, whose fingers visibly held the door, and he let pa.s.s a tall Iroquois brave carrying such a bundle of rich furs as one of that race above the condition of squaw rarely deigned to lift.
His errand was evidently peaceable. He paused and stood like a prince.
Neither La Salle nor Tonty remembered his face, though both felt sure he came from the mission village of friendly Iroquois near Fort Frontenac.
”What does my brother want?” inquired La Salle, with sympathy he never showed to his French subordinates.
”He waits to speak to his white brother with the iron hand,” answered the Iroquois.
”Have you brought us bad news?” again inquired La Salle.
”Good news.”
”What is it?”
”It is only to my brother with the iron hand.”
”Can you not speak in the presence of Monsieur de la Salle?” demanded Tonty.