Page:Acadiensis Q2.djvu/328

It seemed that this statement had removed all difficulty and conciliated their minds, and that they were all disposed to execute the orders of Monsieur le Comte de Frontenac, when an obstinate fellow urged that it was absolutely necessary to send a canoe to Boston before undertaking anything in order to learn for certain if their friends had been brought back from Europe. He agreed to go himself and to be back again in twenty days. The great affection he had for a twelve-year-old daughter induced him to make the offer in the hope of seeing her again. This proposition gave pleasure to those who had an interest in the prisoners and to the band of Mataquando, who did not wish for war. Sieur de Villieu, seeing in this the overthrow of his enterprise, presented again what he believed might deter them, but finding them determined to follow that plan he prepared to depart from them and return to the river St. John.

On the next day. the eighth, he beguiled a savage with materials for smoking and with drink, who informed him of the fact that Edgaremet and Mataquando had sold the lands and the rivers of their nation. In order to get at the particulars, he learned from the savage that, having gone with the English on board a frigate of twenty-four pieces, in which was M. Phips, Governor of Boston, they had been received extremely well and feasted. Then the governor led the chiefs into his room, followed by his officers and an interpreter, and two hours later came out and the two savages, approaching the side of the vessel threw their hatchets into the sea, in order, they said, that it might be impossible for them and their posterity ever to get them out again. Afterwards the governor shook hands with them as a sign of friendship, and then they drank each others' health and returned to the room where they had supped. This caused Sieur de Villieu to believe that