The man standing amidships,
Godefroy said, was Captain Gillam, Ben's father; but the gentleman with
gold-laced doublet and ruffled sleeves sitting back in the sheets was
Governor Brigdar, of the Hudson's Bay Fur Company, a courtier of Prince
Rupert's choice.
The clumsy boat grounded in the shallows, and a soldier got both feet
in the water to wade. Instantly M. Radisson roared out such a
stentorian "Halt!" you would have thought that he had an army at his
back. Indeed, that is what the party thought, for the fellow got his
feet back in the boat monstrous quick. And there was a vast bandying
of words, each asking other who they were, and bidding each other in no
very polite terms to mind their own affairs.
Of a sudden M. Radisson wheeled to us standing guard.
"Officers," he shouted, "first brigade!--forward!"
From the manner of him we might have had an army under cover behind
that bush.
All at once Governor Brigdar's lace handkerchief was aflutter at the
end of a sword, and the representative of King Charles begged leave to
land and salute the representative of His Most Christian Majesty, the
King of France.
And land they did, pompously peaceful, though their swords clanked so
oft every man must have had a hand ready at his baldrick, Pierre
Radisson receiving them with the lofty air of a gracious monarch, the
others bowing and unhatting and bending and crooking their spines
supple as courtiers with a king.
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