“That’s a likely story,” said Bert. “Left the ship behind him?”
“Yes, that’s what he did.”
“It may be so, my friend, but I don’t believe it.”
“It is true,” said Tom. “They found the old boat in the mud there in 1848,—the very ship that Cartier left more than three hundred years before.”
“Oh, of course, if you say so I’ll believe it,” replied Bert.
“He first took possession of the land,” said Bob, “by setting up a cross bearing the arms of France and a Latin inscription, Franciscus primus, Dei gratia Francorum rex, regnat.”
“I’ve read about that inscription, but I don’t know how to read Latin,” said Tom, eagerly. “What does it mean?”
“Ask Bert,” suggested Bob.
“Jock’ll tell you,” said Bert, quickly.
“Bob knows it, and he’ll tell you,” protested Jock, hastily.