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Then we drank the health of the King of England, firing our muskets into the roof; and drank to His Most Christian Majesty of France with another volley; and drank to the confusion of our common enemies, with a clanking of gun-butts that might have alarmed the dead. Upon which Pierre Radisson protested that he would not keep Governor Brigdar from the hunt; and we took our departure.
As I was a-telling, look you, though the red spattered the bushes, when I run up he'd vanished into air with a flash o' powder from my musket! 'Twas by the black arts that nigh hanged him in Boston Town " At that, Governor Brigdar claps his hand to the table and swears that he cares nothing for black arts if only the furs can be found. "The furs aye," husks Ben, "if we can only find the furs!
And it was even as he foretold. I find, on looking over the tattered pages of a handbook, these notes: Oct. 6. Ben Gillam and Governor Brigdar this day sent back to New England. There will be great complaints against us in the English court before we can reach London. Nov. 11. Sailed for France in the French frigate. Dec. 18. Reach Rochelle hear of M. Colbert's death. Jan. 30.
He bade me say that he will be here after he meets the shareholders. He goes to present furs to the king this morning." "That will please Lady Kirke," says the young gentleman. "Some one else is back in England," exclaims Rebecca, with the air of news. "Ben Gillam is here." "O-ho! Has he seen the Company?" "He and Governor Brigdar have been among M. Radisson's enemies.
Now there's only need to hold the son! Governor Brigdar must beg passage from us to leave the bay; but who a deuce are those inlanders that Ben Gillam keeps raving against for hiding the furs?" And he flung the mess-room door open so forcibly that Ben Gillam waked with a jump. At sight of Le Borgne the young New Englander sprang over the benches with his teeth agleam and murder on his face.
And when he regained his feet, Governor Brigdar, of the Hudson's Bay Company, stood face to face with M. de Radisson. "A right warm welcome, Your Excellency," bowed M. de Radisson, bolting the gate. "The New Englanders are in safe keeping, sir, and so are you!" The bewildered governor gasped at M. Radisson's words. Then he lost all command of himself.
An our men hold together, we're two to one agen the Frenchies " "Ha," says M. Radisson. "Give you good-morning, gentlemen, and I hope you find yourselves in health." The two heads flew apart like the halves of a burst cannon-shell. Thereafter, Radisson kept Ben and Governor Brigdar apart. Of Godefroy and Jack Battle we could learn naught.
Without more mention of the court, we entered the Company's office, where sat the councillors in session around a long table. No one rose to welcome him who had brought such wealth on the Happy Return; and the reason was not far to seek. The post-chaise had arrived with Pierre Radisson's detractors, and allied with them were the Gillams and Governor Brigdar.
The New Englanders' purpose was easily guessed to lock forces with Governor Brigdar, and while our strength was divided attack us here or at the Habitation. "One fight at a time," says Radisson, summoning to council in the powder-house all hands but our guard at the gate.
Unless a ship from the south end of the bay came to rescue them they were at our mercy. Hastening up the river course we met Governor Brigdar sledding the ice with a dog-team of huskies. "The compliments of the season to Your Excellency!" shouted Radisson across the snow. "The same to the representative of France," returned Governor Brigdar, trying to get away before questions could be asked.
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