“Who am I?” demanded Groseillers, hotly.  “Am I a foe or a friend?  If a foe, why did you suffer me to live?  If a friend, listen what I say!  You know that we risked our lives for you!  If we have no courage, why did you not tell us?  If you have more wit than we, why did you not use it to defend yourselves against the Iroquois?  How can you defend your wives and children unless you get arms from the French!”

“Fools,” cried Radisson, striking a beaver skin across an Indian’s shoulder, “will you fight the Iroquois with beaver pelts?  Do you not know the French way?  We fight with guns, not robes.  The Iroquois will coop you up here till you have used all your powder, and then despatch you with ease!  Shall your children be slaves because you are cowards?  Do what you will!  For my part I choose to die like a man rather than live like a beggar.  Take back your beaver robes.  We can live without you—­” and the white men strode out from the council.

Consternation reigned among the Indians.  There was an uproar of argument.  For six days the fate of the white men hung fire.  Finally the chiefs sent word that the five hundred young warriors would go to Quebec with the white men.  Radisson did not give their ardor time to cool.  They embarked at once.  The fleet of canoes crossed the head of the lakes and came to the Upper Ottawa without adventure.  Scouts went ahead to all the portages, and great care was taken to avoid an ambush when passing overland.  Below the Chaudiere Falls the scouts reported that four Iroquois boats had crossed the river.  Again Radisson did not give time for fear.  He sent the lightest boats in pursuit; and while keeping the enemy thus engaged with half his own company on guard at the ends of the long portage, he hurriedly got cargoes and canoes across the landing.  The Iroquois had fled.  By that Radisson knew they were weak.  Somewhere along the Long Sault Rapids, the scouts saw sixteen Iroquois canoes.  The Indians would have thrown down their goods and fled, but Radisson instantly got his forces in hand and held them with a grip of steel.  Distributing loaded muskets to the bravest warriors, he pursued the Iroquois with a picked company of Hurons, Algonquins, Sautaux, and Sioux.  Beating their paddles, Radisson’s company shouted the war-cry till the hills rang; but all the warriors were careful not to waste an ounce of powder till within hitting range.  The Iroquois were not used to this sort of defence.  They fled.  The Long Sault was always the most dangerous part of the Ottawa.  Radisson kept scouts to rear and fore, but the Iroquois had deserted their boats and were hanging on the flanks of the company to attempt an ambush.  It was apparent that a fort had been erected at the foot of the rapids.  Leaving half the band in their boats, Radisson marched overland with two hundred warriors.  Iroquois shots spattered from each side; but the Huron muskets kept the assailants