“Ah!” suspiciously, “you think he has friends there to hold him innocent.”
“Why should I, Monsieur? Indeed, why should I care but to have justice done? I do not wish his blood on your hands, or to imagine that he is condemned because of his friendship for me rather than any other crime. I know not what friends the man has at the Rock on the Illinois. He was of La Salle’s party, and they are no longer in control. La Barre said that De Baugis commanded that post, and for all I know De Tonty and all his men may have departed.”
“’Tis not altogether true, and for that reason we are ordered to join the company. De Baugis has the right of it under commission from La Barre, but does not possess sufficient soldiers to exercise authority. La Salle’s men remain loyal to De Tonty, and the Indian tribes look to him for leadership. Mon Dieu! it was reported in Quebec that twelve thousand savages were living about the fort––ay! and De Artigny said he doubted it not, for the meadows were covered with tepees––so De Baugis has small chance to rule until he has force behind him. They say this De Tonty is of a fighting breed––the savages call him the man with the iron hand––and so the two rule between them, the one for La Barre, and the other for La Salle, and we go to give the Governor’s man more power.”
“You have sufficient force?”
“Unless the Indians become hostile; besides there is to be an overland party later to join us in the spring, 195 and Sieur de la Durantaye, of the regiment of Carignan-Salliers is at the Chicago portage. This I learned at St. Ignace.”
“Then it would seem to me, Monsieur, that you could safely wait the trial of De Artigny until our arrival at the fort. If he does not feel himself suspected, he will make no effort to escape, and I give you the pledge you ask.”
It was not altogether graciously that he agreed to this, yet the man could not refuse, and I was glad enough to escape thus easily, for it was my fear that he might insist on my yielding much more to preserve De Artigny from immediate condemnation and death. The fellow had the power, and the inclination, and what good fortune saved me, I can never know. I think he felt a certain fear of me, a doubt of how far he might presume on my good nature.
Certainly I gave him small encouragement to venture further, and yet had he done so I would have been at my wit’s end. Twice the words were upon his lips––a demand that I yield to his mastery––but he must have read in my eyes a defiance he feared to front, for they were not uttered. ’Twas that he might have this very talk that he had found me place alone in his canoe, and I would have respected him more had he dared to carry out his desire. The coward in the man was too apparent, and yet that very cowardice was proof of 196 treachery. What he hesitated to claim boldly he would attain otherwise if he could. I could place no confidence in his word, nor reliance upon his honor.
However nothing occurred to give Cassion opportunity, nor to tempt me to violate my own pledge. We proceeded steadily upon our course, aided by fair weather, and quiet waters for several days. So peaceful were our surroundings that my awe and fear of the vast lake on which we floated passed away, and I began to appreciate its beauty, and love those changing vistas, which opened constantly to our advance.