The French habitation—­called Fort Bourbon—­had been built on the north shore of Hayes or Ste. Therese River.  Directly north, overland, was another broad river with a gulflike entrance.  This was the Nelson.  Between the two rivers ran a narrow neck of swampy, bush-grown land.  The day that Radisson returned to the newly erected fort, there rolled across the marshes the ominous echo of cannon-firing.  Who could the newcomers be?  A week’s sail south at the head of the bay were the English establishments of the Hudson’s Bay Company.  The season was far advanced.  Had English ships come to winter on Nelson River?  Ordering Jean Groseillers to go back inland to the Indians, Radisson launched down Hayes River in search of the strange ship.  He went to the salt water, but saw nothing.  Upon returning, he found that Jean Groseillers had come back to the fort with news of more cannonading farther inland.  Radisson rightly guessed that the ship had sailed up Nelson River, firing cannon as she went to notify Indians for trade.  Picking out three intrepid men, Radisson crossed the marsh by a creek which the Indian canoes used, to go to Nelson River.[7] Through the brush the scout spied a white tent on an island.  All night the Frenchmen lay in the woods, watching their rivals and hoping that some workman might pass close enough to be seized and questioned.  At noon, next day, Radisson’s patience was exhausted.  He paddled round the island, and showed himself a cannon-shot distant from the fort.  Holding up a pole, Radisson waved as if he were an Indian afraid to approach closer in order to trade.  The others hallooed a welcome and gabbled out Indian words from a guide-book.  Radisson paddled a length closer.  The others ran eagerly down to the water side away from their cannon.  In signal of friendship, they advanced unarmed.  Radisson must have laughed to see how well his ruse worked.

“Who are you?” he demanded in plain English, “and what do you want?” The traders called back that they were Englishmen come for beaver.  Again the crafty Frenchman must have laughed; for he knew very well that all English ships except those of the Hudson’s Bay Company were prohibited by law from coming here to trade.[8] Though the strange ship displayed an English ensign, the flag did not show the magical letters “H.  B. C.”

“Whose commission have you?” pursued Radisson.

“No commission—­New Englanders,” answered the others.

“Contrabands,” thought Radisson to himself.  Then he announced that he had taken possession of all that country for France, had built a strong fort, and expected more ships.  In a word, he advised the New Englanders to save themselves by instant flight; but his canoe had glided nearer.  To Radisson’s surprise, he discovered that the leader of the New England poachers was Ben Gillam of Boston, son of Captain Gillam, the trusted servant of the Hudson’s Bay Company, who had opposed Radisson and Groseillers