“Ah! and who is in charge?”
“Was it not your will that it be the guide––the Sieur de Artigny?”
“Sacre! but I had forgotten the fellow. Ay! ’tis the best place for him. And are all provisions and arms aboard? You checked them, Le Claire?”
“With care, Monsieur; I watched the stowing of each piece; there is nothing forgotten.”
“And the men?”
“Four Indian paddlers to each boat, Monsieur, twenty soldiers, a priest, and the guide.”
“’Tis the tally. Make room for two more in the large canoe; ay, the lady goes. Change a soldier each to your boat and that of Père Allouez until we make our first camp, where we can make new arrangement.”
“There is room in De Artigny’s canoe.”
“We’ll not call him back; the fellows will tuck away somehow. Come, let’s be off, it looks like dawn over yonder.”