ernor. The Company of One Hundred
Associates had given place to the Company of the West Indies. This
trading venture had been organized under the direct patronage of the
king.[1] It had been proclaimed from the pulpits of France.
Privileges were promised to all who subscribed for the stock. The
Company was granted a blank list of titles to bestow on its patrons and
servants. No one else in New France might engage in the beaver trade;
no one else might buy skins from the Indians and sell the pelts in
Europe; and one-fourth of the trade went for public revenue. In spite
of all the privileges, fur company after fur company failed in New
France; but to them Radisson had to sell his furs, and when the revenue
officers went over the cargo, the minions of the governor also seized a
share under pretence of a fine for trading without a license.

Groseillers was furious, and sailed for France to demand restitution;
but the intriguing courtiers proved too strong for him. Though he
spent 10,000 pounds, nothing was done. D'Avaugour had come back to
France, and stockholders of the jealous fur company were all-powerful
at court. Groseillers then relinquished all idea of restitution, and
tried to interest merchants in another expedition to Hudson Bay by way
of the sea.[2] He might have spared himself the trouble. His
enthusiasm only aroused the quiet smile of supercilious indifference.
His plans were regarded as chimerical. Finally a merchant of Rochelle
half promised to send a boat to Isle Percee at the mouth of the St.
Lawrence in 1664. Groseillers had already wasted six months. Eager
for action, he hurried back to Three Rivers, where Radisson awaited
him. The two secretly took passage in a fishing schooner to Anticosti,
and from Anticosti went south to Isle Percee. Here a Jesuit just out
from France bore the message to them that no ship would come. The
promise had been a put-off to rid France of the enthusiast. New France
had treated them with injustice. Old France with mockery. Which way
should they turn? They could not go back to Three Rivers. This
attempt to go to Hudson Bay without a license laid them open to a
second fine. Baffled, but not beaten, the explorers did what
ninety-nine men out of a hundred would have done in similar
circumstances--they left the country. Some rumor of their intention to
abandon New France must have gone abroad; for when they reached Cape
Breton, their servants grumbled so lou