"Galisonnière! That is a distinguished name. Was there not a Governor
General of Canada who bore it?"
"A predecessor of the present Governor General, the Marquis Duquesne. It gives me pride to say that the Count de Galisonnière was my uncle."
Robert saw that he had found the way to young Galisonnière's good graces through his family and he added with the utmost sincerity, too:
"New France has had many a great Governor General, as we of the English
colonies ought to know, from the Sieur de Roberval, through Champlain,
Frontenac, de Beauharnais and on to your uncle, the Count de
Galisonnière."
Willet and the Onondaga gave Robert approving looks, and the young
Frenchman flushed with pleasure.
"You have more courtesy and appreciation for us than most of the Bostonnais," he said. "I would talk further with you, but conversation is carried on with difficulty under such circumstances. Suppose we run into the first cove, lift your canoe aboard, and we'll take you to Montreal, since that's our own port of destination."
Robert agreed promptly. He wished to make a good impression upon de Galisonnière, and, since the big boat was now far safer and more comfortable than the canoe, two ends would be served at the same time. Willet and the Onondaga also nodded in acquiescence, and a mile or two farther on they and the canoe too went aboard de Galisonnière's stout craft. Then the sail was set again, they steered to the center of the stream and made speed for Montreal.
CHAPTER VIII
GUESTS OF THE ENEMY
Captain Louis de Galisonnière proved to be a genial host, pleased with his guests, pleased with himself, and pleased with the situation. Brave and alert, he had also a certain amount of vanity which Robert had tickled. It was not for nothing that he was a nephew of Count de Galisonnière, once Governor General of Canada, rank and birth counting for so much then with the French nation, and it was not for nothing, either, that he had won his captaincy by valiant and diligent service of his own. So it afforded him great satisfaction to be hospitable now, and also to patronize slightly these men from the south, with whom in all probability New France would be at war before another year had passed. It was well also to impress the Onondaga, whom his vigilant mind recognized at once as a youth of station. None knew better than de Galisonnière the power and importance of the Iroquois, and how they might tip the scale in a great war between the French and British colonies.