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Updated: June 9, 2025
Ben Gillam and his father were in collusion with the inland pirates to get peltries from the Indians before Governor Brigdar came; and the inlanders, whoever they were, had concealed both themselves and the furs. I handed the paper back to M. Radisson. "We must stir, lad we must stir," he repeated. "But the marsh is soft yet. It is unsafe to cross."
M. Groseillers sprang to his feet muttering of treachery from Governor Brigdar of the Hudson's Bay Company, and put himself in front of the intruders so that Ben could not see. But the poor fellows were so frozen that they could only mumble out something about the Prince Rupert having foundered, carrying half the crew to the river bottom.
"'Tis the misfortune of my staff not to speak English," explains Pierre Radisson suavely with another bow, which effectually shut any of our mouths that might have betrayed him. "Doubtless your officers know Canary better than English," returns Governor Brigdar; and he would have us all in to drink healths. "Keep your foot in the open door," Pierre Radisson whispered as we passed into the house.
Haul away! But she understood when she saw me save her from the jam before I saved myself." And Jack Battle stood away arm's length from his Indian wife and laughed his pride. "And by the time we'd got to the bay you'd gone, but Jean Groseillers sent us to the English ship that came out expecting to find Governor Brigdar at Nelson. We shipped with the company boat, and here we be."
The man standing amidships, Godefroy said, was Captain Gillam, Ben's father; but the gentleman with gold-laced doublet and ruffled sleeves sitting back in the sheets was Governor Brigdar, of the Hudson's Bay Fur Company, a courtier of Prince Rupert's choice. The clumsy boat grounded in the shallows, and a soldier got both feet in the water to wade.
M. Radisson ordered us ashore for rest. Fourteen days were we paddling, portaging, struggling up the north river before we came in range of the Hudson's Bay fort built by Governor Brigdar. Our proximity was heralded by a low laugh from M. de Radisson. "Look," said he, "their ship aground in mud a mile from the fort. In case of attack, their forces will be divided. It is well," said M. Radisson.
Then he signalled for us to come. I had almost concluded he meant to capture Governor Brigdar on the spot; but Pierre Radisson ever took friends and foes unawares. "Your Excellency," says he, with the bow of a courtier, "this is Captain Gingras of our new ship." Before I had gathered my wits, Governor Brigdar was shaking hands.
And the next morning we embarked, young Jean Groseillers remaining with ten Frenchmen to hold the fort; Brigdar and Ben aboard our ship instead of going to the English at the foot of the bay; half the prisoners under hatches in M. Groseillers's ship; the other half sent south on the raft a plan which effectually stopped that conspiracy of Ben's.
To Governor Brigdar and his four refugees M. de Radisson was all courtesy. "And how comes Your Excellency to be out so late with ten men?" he asked, as we supped that night. "We heard that you were here. We were coming to visit you," stammered Governor Brigdar, growing red. "Then let us make you so welcome that you will not hasten away!
See here" drawing me to the table apart from the others "here we are on the lower river," and he marked the letter X on a line indicating the flow of our river to the bay. "Here is the upper river," and he drew another river meeting ours at a sharp angle. "Here is Governor Brigdar of the Hudson's Bay Company," marking another X on the upper river. "Here is Ben Gillam!
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