Part 11 (1/2)
”In order,” says he, ”that they should not suspect anything by my sudden absence, I told them I was obliged to take a short trip into the country on friendly family matters. _I myself made good use of this time to go to London._”
He arrived in the English capital on the 10th of May, and immediately paid his respects to Mr. Young. The project for regaining possession of York Factory was canva.s.sed. Radisson estimated that there would be between fifteen and twenty thousands beaver skins in the hands of his nephew, awaiting s.h.i.+pment. The partners appeared more than satisfied, and Radisson met with a most cordial reception. He was a.s.sured that the Company had entire confidence in him, and that their greatest regret was that there had been any misunderstanding between them. They would, it was declared on their behalf, make all amends in their power.
For a few weeks the Hudson's Bay bushranger found himself a lion. He was presented to the King in the course of a _levee_. Charles listened with the greatest a.s.sumption of interest to the adventurer's account of himself, and to his a.s.severations of loyalty and good will.
Radisson in the evening was taken to the play-house in the suite of his Royal Highness, and there by his bizarre attire attracted almost as much attention amongst the audience as the play itself.
”To the Duke's Play-house,” writes John Selwyn to his wife, ”where Radisson, the American fur-hunter, was in the Royal box. Never was such a combination of French, English and Indian savage as Sir John Kirke's son-in-law. He was not wont to dress so when he was last here, but he has got him a new coat with much lace upon it, which he wears with his leather breeches and shoes. His hair is a perfect tangle. It is said he has made an excellent fortune for himself.”
[Sidenote: Radisson's departure for Hudson's Bay.]
After a number of conferences with the partners, Radisson finally departed from Gravesend on May 17. Three s.h.i.+ps set sail, that in which Radisson was embarked being named the _Happy Return_. The elements being favourable, the little fleet reached the Straits more speedily than usual. The chief figure of this expedition, who had never borne a part in any joint enterprise without being animated by jealousy and distrust, found here ample scope for the exercise of his characteristic vices. During nearly the entire period of the voyage he evinced a perpetual and painful apprehension that one of the other s.h.i.+ps carrying officials and servants of the Company would, with malicious intentions, arrive before him.
His first concern on awaking in the morning was to be a.s.sured that the companion vessels were in sight, and although the _Happy Return_ was the most sluggish sailor of the trio, yet to such good purpose were plied the bushranger's energies and promises that her commander's seamans.h.i.+p made her a capital match for the others.
But just before their destination was reached contrary winds, currents and ma.s.ses of floating ice brought about a separation, and Radisson began to be a.s.sailed more than ever by the fear that the English servants would arrive on the ground, overwhelm his nephew and the other French without his a.s.sistance, and thus frustrate all his plans for claiming sole credit. And in truth this fear was very nearly justified. Twenty leagues from Port Nelson the s.h.i.+p got blocked amidst the ma.s.ses of ice, and progress, except at a raft's pace, became out of the question. In this dilemma, Radisson demanded of the captain a small boat and seven men. His request being granted, it was launched, and after undergoing forty-eight hours' fatigue, without rest or sleep, the entrance to Nelson River was reached. Imagine Radisson's surprise, as well as that of his companions, on beholding two s.h.i.+ps at anchor, upon one of which, a complete stranger to them, floated the Royal Standard of England.
[Sidenote: The presence of the French made known.]
It was the English frigate which had entered at Port Nelson. The other s.h.i.+p was the _Alert_, commanded by Captain Outlaw, having brought out the Company's new Governor, William Phipps, the previous season.
Radisson boldly headed his boat for this vessel, and when he drew near, perceived Bridgar's successor, with all his people in arms, on the quarter-deck. The Governor, in a loud voice, instantly demanded to know who Radisson was. Upon his making himself and his allegiance known, they decided to permit him to board the Company's s.h.i.+p. The bushranger first made it his care to be informed how the land lay, and he was inwardly rejoiced to learn that the Governor and his men had not dared to land, out of fear for the French and Indians, who were considered hostile to the English interests. This was precisely the situation Radisson most desired; a thought seems to have struck him that after all, his nephew, Chouart, might prove intractable, and by no means so easily won over as he had antic.i.p.ated. It therefore behooved him to act with adroitness and circ.u.mspection. Taking with him two men, Radisson proceeded up country in the direction of the abandoned York Factory, hourly hoping that they might discover something, or at least they should make someone hear, or see a friendly Indian, by firing musket shots or making a smoke. The attempt was not fruitless, as he tells us, for after a while they perceived ten canoes with Indians coming down the river. ”At first,” he says, ”I thought some Frenchmen might be with them, whom my nephew might have sent to discover who the new arrivals were.” Upon this supposition Radisson severed himself from his comrades, and going to meet the savages he made the usual signs to them from the bank, which the Indians at first seemed to respond to in no amiable spirit. Albeit, on addressing them in their own tongue, he was immediately recognized, the Indians testifying by shouts and playful postures to their joy at his arrival. He quickly learned from them that his nephew and the other Frenchmen were above the rapids, four leagues from the place where they then were. They had expected Groseilliers would accompany Radisson, and when they expressed surprise that this was not the case, Radisson did not scruple to tell them that Groseilliers awaited him at a short distance.
”But what,” asked Radisson, ”are you doing here? What brings you into this part of the country and in such numbers?”
The savage leader's sudden confusion betrayed him to Radisson. The circ.u.mstance of the Indians voluntarily seeking trade with the English greatly simplified the situation.
”Look you,” said he, heartily, at the same time calling to Captain Geyer, who was in ambush hard by, ”I am glad to find you seeking trade with the English. I have made peace with the English for the love of our Indian brothers; you, they and I are to be henceforth only one.
Embrace us, therefore, in token of peace; this (pointing to Geyer) is your new brother. Go immediately to your son at the fort yonder and carry him these tidings and the proofs of peace. Tell him to come and see me at this place, while the others will wait for me at the mouth of the river.”
It should be mentioned that the chief of this band had previously announced himself as young Chouart's sire, according to the Indian custom. He now readily departed on his mission.
Radisson pa.s.sed an anxious night. The sun had been risen some hours before his eyes were gladdened by the sight of a canoe, in which he descried Chouart. The young man's countenance bore, as well it might, an expression of profound amazement; and at first hardly the bare civilities of relations.h.i.+p pa.s.sed between the pair. Chouart waited patiently for his uncle to render an explanation of the news which had reached him. Silently and slowly they walked together, and after a time the prince of liars, traitors, adventurers and bushrangers began his account of his position.
Radisson states that his nephew immediately acquiesced in his scheme.
A memoir penned in 1702, the year of Radisson's death, by M. Barthier, of Quebec, a.s.serts that the young man received with the utmost disgust, and flatly declined to entertain, his relative's proposals.
He expressed, on the other hand, the greatest grief on hearing the news; for he had begun to believe that it was through their efforts that the dominion of the king had been extended in that region. Now it appeared that this labour had all been in vain. It was only his love for his mother, Radisson's sister, which prevented an open rebellion on the part of Chouart against the proposed treachery.
[Sidenote: Chouart surrenders to Radisson.]
No rupture took place; the stronger and more crafty spirit prevailed.
Chouart surrendered on the following day his command of the fort. He had, he complained, expected a far different fate for the place and his men. The tattered old _fleur de lis_ standard brought by the _St.
Anne's_ captain from Quebec was lowered and the English emblem, with the device of the Company, run up in its stead. All the forces were a.s.sembled and amidst cheers for King Charles and the Honourable Adventurers, the Company's Governor took formal possession.
But the French bushrangers and sailors watched these proceedings with melancholy dissatisfaction, not, perhaps, as much from patriotic motives as from the frailty of their own tenure. They could no longer be a.s.sured of a livelihood amongst so many English, who bore themselves with so haughty a mien.
Radisson proceeded to make an inventory of all the skins on hand, together with all those concealed in _caches_ in the woods. The results showed 239 packages of beaver, or about 12,000 skins, together with merchandise sufficient to barter for seven or eight thousand more. Instructions were now given by Radisson, the Governor remaining pa.s.sive, to have all these goods taken in canoes to the s.h.i.+ps.
It now only remained for the bushranger to accomplish one other object before setting sail with the cargo for England. Radisson speaks of himself as having a secret commission, but no authority can be found for his statement. It involved the retention in the Company's service of his nephew and the other Frenchmen; but even a.s.suming that Radisson were armed with any such instructions, the plan was not likely to enjoy the approval of Governor Phipps, who, if he were at the outset of his term of office determined upon any one thing, it was that Fort Nelson should be cleared of Frenchmen. Exactly how this was to be arranged was not quite clear, especially as there was yet no open rupture between the two authorities. But for such a rupture they had not long to wait. They were destined on the very eve of his departure to be involved in a quarrel.