Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 11, 2025
There seemed to be more light here, although the tree shadows were grim, and the night rested about us in impressive silence. "Here is where the river trail comes down," and Boisrondet made motion to the left. "You should remember that well, Rene." "I was first to pass over it; it leads to the water edge." "Yes; not so easily followed in the night, yet you are woodsman enough to make it.
I am a young woman, a mere girl, and this is my one chance to save myself from hell. I am not afraid of the woods, of exile, of anything, so I am with you. I would rather die than go to him to confess him husband." "The lady is right, Rene," Boisrondet said earnestly. "You must think of her as well as yourself." "Think of her! Mon Dieu, of whom else do I think. Adele, do you mean your words?
The young Sieur de Boisrondet might also be relied on, as well as a Parisian lad named Étienne Renault, and their servant L'Esperance. As for the others, smiths, shipwrights, and soldiers were ready to mutiny any moment. They cared nothing about the discovery of the west.
"It is well the good friars are away making their retreat," said Tonty to Boisrondet and Étienne Renault while they paddled as fast as they could across the river with the Illinois. "Poor old L'Esperance must be making a retreat, too." "I have not myself seen him since last night," Boisrondet remembered.
Yet then I experienced no fear, no shrinking, my every thought centered on the task. Nor was the way long. Suddenly we clambered onto a flat rock, crossed it, and came to the edge of a wood, with a murmur of water not far away. Here Boisrondet paused, and we came close about him.
I realized his purpose in thus diverting suspicion. His pledge of assistance had been given me, and his was the word of a soldier and gentleman. In some manner, and soon before midnight certainly I would receive message from Boisrondet. Yet my heart failed me more than once as I waited. How long the time seemed, and how deadly silent was the night.
M. Cassion holds command by virtue of La Barre's commission, and knows no more of Indian war than a Quebec storekeeper. The garrison numbers fifty men all told; two-thirds soldiers, and a poor lot." "With ammunition, and food?" "Ample to eat, so far as I know, but Boisrondet tells me with scarce a dozen rounds per man. The Iroquois are at the gates, and will attack at daylight." "You know this?"
Straight-way smiths, shipwrights, and soldiers in Crèvecoeur, seizing powder, lead, furs, and provisions, deserted and made their way back to Canada. Boisrondet, the friars, and L'Esperance hurried to tell Tonty; and thus Fort Crèvecoeur and the partly finished ship had to be abandoned. Tonty dispatched four men to warn La Salle of the disaster.
Among them was a man, not strong in person, and disabled, moreover, by the loss of a hand; yet, in this den of barbarism, betraying the language and bearing of one formed in the most polished civilization of Europe. This was Henri de Tonty. The others were young Boisrondet, and the two faithful men who had stood by their commander.
But as I gazed into Cassion's face, smiling with assurance of victory, all my dislike of the man returned, and I shrank back in horror. The sacrifice was too much, too terrible; besides I had faith in the promises of De Tonty, in the daring of Boisrondet. I would trust them, aye, and myself, to find some other way of rescue.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking