The Road to Frontenac Part 2

Major Provost welcomed Menard heartily, and led him to his office.

"We'll have our business first," he said, "and get it done with."

Menard settled back in the carved oak chair which had for generations been a member of the Major's family. The light mood had left him. Now he was the soldier, brusque in manner, with lines about his mouth which, to certain men, gave his face a hard expression.

"First let me ask you, Menard, what are your plans?"

"For the present?"

"Yes."

"I have none."

"Your personal affairs, I mean. Have you any matters to hold your attention here for the next few weeks?"

"None."

Major Provost fingered his quill.

"I don't know, of course, how your own feelings stand, Menard. You've been worked hard for three years, and I suppose you want rest. But somebody must go to Fort Frontenac, and the Governor thinks you are the man."

Menard made a gesture of impatience.

"There are a dozen men here with little to do."

"I know it. But this matter is of some importance, and it may call for delicate work before you are through with it. It isn't much in itself,--merely to bear orders to d'Orvilliers,--but the Governor thinks that the right man may be able to do strong work before the campaign opens. You probably know that we are to move against the Senecas alone, and that we must treat with the other nations to keep them from aiding the Senecas. No one can say just how this can be done. Even Father de Lamberville has come back, you know, from the Mohawks; but the Governor thinks that if we send a good man, he may be able to see a way, once he gets on the ground, and can advise with d'Orvilliers. Now, you are a good man, Menard; and you can influence the Indians if anyone can."

"You are a little vague, Major."

"You will go to Frontenac in advance of the army to prepare the way.

La Durantaye and Du Luth are already at Detroit, awaiting orders, with close to two hundred Frenchmen and four hundred Indians. And Tonty should have joined them before now with several hundred Illinois."

"I don't believe he'll bring many Illinois. They must have known of the Iroquois war party that started toward their villages. They will stay to defend their own country. They may not know that the Iroquois party was recalled."

"Recalled?" said the Major.

"Yes. Father de Ca.s.son has the news from Father de Lamberville. You see what that means. The Iroquois have been warned."

"I was afraid of it. These new governors, Menard--each has to learn his lesson from the beginning of the book. Why will they not take counsel from the men who know the Indians? This campaign has been heralded as broadly as a trading fair."

"When should I start?" asked Menard, abruptly.

"At once--within a few days." Major Provost looked at the other's set face. "I am sorry about this, Menard. But you understand, I am sure.

Perhaps I had better give you an idea of our plans. You know, of course, that we have three s.h.i.+ps fitting out at Frontenac. Already our force is being got together at St. Helen's Island, by Montreal.

Champigny is engaging canoemen and working out a transport and supply system between Montreal and Frontenac. The force will proceed to Frontenac, and embark from there in the s.h.i.+ps, bateaux, and canoes."

"Is the rendezvous at Niagara?"

"No, at La Famine, on the southern sh.o.r.e of Lake Ontario."

Menard nodded. He knew the place; for by nearly starving there, years before, with the others of Governor la Barre's ill-starred expedition, he had contributed to giving the spot a name.

"La Durantaye and Du Luth, with Tonty, are to meet us there. You will instruct them to move on to Niagara, and there await further orders.

We shall sail around the east end of the lake and along the south sh.o.r.e."

"The Iroquois will follow your movements."

"We intend that they shall. They will not know where our final landing place will be, and will have to keep their forces well in hand. And it will prevent them from uniting to attack Niagara."

"What then?"

"We will leave a strong guard at La Famine with the stores, and strike inland for the Seneca villages."

"And now what part am I to play in this?"

Major Provost leaned back in his chair.

"You, Menard, are to represent the Governor. You will move in advance of the troops. At Frontenac it will be your duty to see first that the way is clear to getting the two divisions to the meeting place at La Famine, and to see that d'Orvilliers has the fort ready for the troops, with extra cabins and stockades. Then the Governor wishes you and d'Orvilliers to go over all the information the scouts bring in.

If you can decide upon any course which will hold back the other tribes from aiding the Senecas, act upon it at once, without orders.

In other words, you have full liberty to follow your judgment. That ought to be responsibility enough."

Menard stretched his arms. "All right, Major. But when my day comes to taste the delights of Quebec, I hope I may not be too old to enjoy it."

"The Governor honours you, Menard, with this undertaking."

"He honoured De Sevigne with a majority and turned him loose in Quebec."

"Too bad, Menard, too bad," the Major laughed. "Now I, who ask nothing better than a brisk campaign, must rot here in Quebec until I die."

"Are you not to go?"

"No. I am to stay behind and brighten my lonely moments drilling the rabble of a home guard. Do you think you will need an escort?"

"No; the river from here to Frontenac is in use every day. I shall want canoemen. Two will be enough."

"Very well. Let me know what supplies you need. You mistake, man, in grumbling at the work. You are building up a reputation that never could live at short range. Stay away long enough and you will be a more popular man than the Governor. I envy you, on my honour, I do."

"One thing more, Major. This galley affair; what do you think of it?"

"You mean the capture at Frontenac? You should know better than I, Menard. You brought the prisoners down."

"There is no doubt in my mind, Major, nor in d'Orvilliers's! We obeyed orders." Menard looked up expressively. "You know the Iroquois. You know how they will take it. The worst fault was La Grange's. He captured the party--and it was not a war party--by deliberate treachery. D'Orvilliers had intrusted to him the Governor's orders that Indians must be got for the King's galleys. As you know, d'Orvilliers and I both protested. I did not bring them here until the Governor commanded it."

"Well, we can't help that now, Menard."

"That is not the question. You ask me to keep the Onondagas out of this fight, after we have taken a hundred of their warriors in this way."

"I know it, Menard; I know it. But the Governor's orders--Well, I have nothing to say. You can only do your best."

They went to the reception room, where Madame de Provost awaited them.