I detained the English sailors at the river-front till M. Radisson had
entered the fort and won young Jean Groseillers to the change of
masters. Before the Fur Company's ships came, the English flag was
flying above the fort and Fort Bourbon had become Fort Nelson.
"I bid you welcome to the French Habitation," bows Radisson, throwing
wide the gates to the English governor.
"Hm!" returns Phipps, "how many beaver-skins are there in store?"
M. Radisson looked at the governor. "You must ask my tradespeople
that," he answers; and he stood aside for them all to pass.
"Your English mind thinks only of the gain," he said to me.
"And your French mind?" I asked.
"The game and not the winnings," said he.
No sooner were the winnings safe--twenty thousand beaver-skins stowed
away in three ships' holds--than Pierre Radisson's foes unmasked. The
morning of our departure Governor Phipps marched all our Frenchmen
aboard like captives of war.
"Sir," expostulated M. de Radisson, "before they gave up the fort I
promised these men they should remain in the bay."
Governor Phipps's sleepy eyes of a sudden waked wide.
"Aye," he taunted, "with Frenchmen holding our fort, a pretty trick you
could play us when the fancy took you!"
M.
Pages:
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288