"I bade your fellows report that I was indisposed!"
"Did the north not agree with Sieur Radisson?" asks the governor dryly.
"Pardieu!—yes—better than the air of Quebec," retorts M. Radisson.
By this the eyes of the listeners were agape, M. Radisson not budging a pace to go ashore, the governor scarce courting rebuff in sight of his soldiers.
"Radisson," says M. de la Barre, motioning his soldiers back and following to our captain's cabin, "a fellow was haltered and whipped for disrespect to the bishop yesterday!"
"Fortunately," says M. Radisson, touching the hilt of his rapier, "gentlemen settle differences in a simpler way!"
They had entered the cabin, where Radisson bade me stand guard at the door, and at our leader's bravado M. de la Barre saw fit to throw off all disguise.
"Radisson," he said, "those who trade without license are sent to the galleys——"
"And those who go to the galleys get no more furs to divide with the Governor of New France, and the governor who gets no furs goes home a poor man."
M. de la Barre's sallow face wrinkled again in a dry laugh.