“His men were much exhausted, monsieur.”
“He could have camped at the settlement.”
“Monsieur, I wish to tell you at once that the last families have left the settlement.”
“The Indians are yet there?”
“Yes, monsieur. But our settlers were afraid our Indians would join the other Iroquois.”
“How many men had La Salle with him?”
“No more than half your party, monsieur. There was Jolycœur—”
“I tell you La Salle has no rights in this fort,” interrupted Le Ber. “If he meddles with his merchandise stored here which the government has seized upon, I will arrest him.”
“Yes, monsieur. The Father Louis Hennepin has also arrived from the wilderness after great peril and captivity.”
“Tell me that La Salle’s man Tonty is here! Tell me that there is a full muster of all the vagabonds from Michillimackinac! Tell me that Fort St. Louis of the Illinois hath moved on Fort Frontenac!”