of Hudson Bay from the St.
Lawrence. The watershed was a small plateau with two lakes, one of
which emptied north, the other, south. As they approached Lake
Mistassini, the Lake Indians again opposed their free passage down the
rivers.

"You must wait," they said, "till we notify the elders of your coming."
Shortly afterwards, the French met a score of canoes with the Indians
all painted for war. The idea of turning back never occurred to the
priest. By way of demonstrating his joy at meeting the warriors, he
had ten volleys of musketry fired off, which converted the war into a
council of peace. At the assemblage, Albanel distributed gifts to the
savages.

"Stop trading with the English at the sea," he cried; "they do not pray
to God; come to Lake St. John with your furs; there you will always
find a _robe noire_ to instruct you and baptize you."

The treaty was celebrated by a festival and a dance. In the morning,
after solemn religious services, the French embarked. On the 18th of
June they came to Lake Mistassini, an enormous body of water similar to
the Great Lakes.[13] From Mistassini, the course was down-stream and
easier. High water enabled them to run many of the rapids; and on the
28th of June, after a voyage of eight hundred leagues, four hundred
rapids, and two hundred waterfalls, they came to the deserted houses of
the English. The very next day they found the Indians and held
religious services, making solemn treaty, presenting presents, and
hoisting the French flag. For the first three weeks of July they
coasted along the shores of James Bay, taking possession of the country
in the name of the French king. Then they cruised back to King Charles
Fort on Rupert's River.[14] They were just in time to meet the
returned Englishmen.

Governor Bayly of the Hudson's Bay Company was astounded to find the
French at Rupert's River. Now he knew what had allured the Indians
from the bay, but he hardly relished finding foreigners in possession
of his own fort. The situation required delicate tact. Governor Bayly
was a bluff tradesman with an insular dislike of Frenchmen and
Catholics common in England at a time when bigoted fanaticism ran riot.
King Charles was on friendly terms with France. Therefore, the
Jesuit's passport must be respected; so Albanel was received with at
least a show of courtesy. But Bayly was the governor of a fur company;
and the rights of the company must be respected. To