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Updated: June 4, 2025
My eyes sought the face of De Tonty, and he nodded gravely. "It can do no harm, Madame," he muttered softly. "Put the paper in De Baugis' hand." I drew it, crumpled, from out the bosom of my dress, rose to my feet, and held it forth to the Captain of Dragoons. He grasped it wonderingly. "What is this, Madame?" "One page from a letter of instruction.
I would have said so, but the court bade me be still." "Ay, they were not seeking such testimony. No matter what you said, Jules, De Artigny would have been condemned it was La Barre's orders." "Yes, Madame, so I thought." "Did the Sieur de Artigny speak?" "A few words, Madame, until M. Cassion ordered him to remain still. Then M. de Baugis pronounced sentence it was that he be shot tomorrow."
Twice he asked me questions, in so kindly a manner as to win instant reply, and once he checked Cassion when he attempted to interrupt, his voice stern with authority. I told the story simply, plainly, with no attempt at equivocation, and when I ceased speaking the room was as silent as a tomb. De Baugis sat motionless, but Cassion stared at me across the table, his face dark with passion.
La Barre is not here to decide this, but I am." He put his hand on De Artigny's shoulder. "Monsieur Cassion charges this man with murder. He is an officer of my command, and I arrest him. He shall be protected, and given a fair trial. What more can you ask?" "You will protect him! help him to escape, rather!" burst out Cassion. "That is the scheme, De Baugis."
But even in that service, he obeyed the orders of La Salle. Now, within these palisades, he is an officer of this garrison, and subject only to me." De Baugis spoke, his voice cold, contemptuous. "You refuse obedience to the Governor of New France?" "No, Monsieur; I am under orders to obey. There will be no trouble between us if you are just to my men.
The truth need not be concealed; not from you, at least, the commander of Fort St. Louis " "Pardon, Madame, but I am not that. La Salle left me in command with less than a dozen men. De Baugis came later, under commission from La Barre, but he also had but a handful of followers. To save quarrel we agreed to divide authority, and so got along fairly well, until M. Cassion arrived with his party.
Tis merely a question of justice to this lad here. I stand for fair trial with Henri de Tonty, and will back my judgment with my sword." They stood eye to eye, the four of them, and the group of soldiers seemed to divide, each company drawing together. Cassion growled some vague threat, but De Baugis took another course, gripping his companion by the arm.
"He impressed me as a man who would obey to the letter, Monsieur; a dark-faced soldier, with an iron jaw. He had lost one arm in battle, and was loyal to his chief." "So I have heard a stronger man than De Baugis?" "A more resolute; all depends on what orders La Salle left, and the number of men the two command." "In that respect the difference is not great.
An hour ago M. Cassion assumed command of the garrison by virtue of a commission he produced from the Governor La Barre, naming him major of infantry. This gives him rank above Captain de Baugis, and, besides, he bore also a letter authorizing him to take command of all French troops in this valley, if, in his judgment, circumstances rendered it necessary.
De Baugis, Cassion, De la Durantaye were upon their feet, but the dragoon first found voice. "Were those words addressed to me, M. de Tonty?" "Ay, and why not! You are no more than La Barre's dog. Listen to me, all three of you. 'Twas Sieur de la Salle's orders that I open the gates of this fort to your entrance, and that I treat you courteously.
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