ats,
carrying in all fifty sailors, besides Pontbriand, La Pommeraye, and
other gentlemen, he set out for Hochelaga.

Slowly gliding on their way by walls of verdure brightened in the
autumnal sun, they saw forests festooned with grape-vines, and waters
alive with wild-fowl; they heard the song of the blackbird, the thrush,
and, as they fondly thought, the nightingale. The galleon grounded; they
left her, and, advancing with the boats alone, on the second of October
neared the goal of their hopes, the mysterious Hochelaga.

Just below where now are seen the quays and storehouses of Montreal,
a thousand Indians thronged the shore, wild with delight, dancing,
singing, crowding about the strangers, and showering into the boats
their gifts of fish and maize; and, as it grew dark, fires lighted up
the night, while, far and near, the French could see the excited savages
leaping and rejoicing by the blaze.

At dawn of day, marshalled and accoutred, they marched for Hochelaga.
An Indian path led them through the forest which covered the site of
Montreal. The morning air was chill and sharp, the leaves were changing
hue, and beneath the oaks the ground was thickly strewn with acorns.
They soon met an Indian chief with a party of tribesmen, or, as the
old narrative has it, "one of the principal lords of the said city,"
attended with a numerous retinue. Greeting them after the concise
courtesy of the forest, he led them to a fire kindled by the side of the
path for their comfort and refreshment, seated them on the ground, and
made them a long harangue, receiving in requital of his eloquence two
hatchets, two knives, and a crucifix, the last of which he was invited
to kiss. This done, they resumed their march, and presently came upon
open fields, covered far and near with the ripened maize, its leaves
rustling, and its yellow grains gleaming between the parting husks.
Before them, wrapped in forests painted by the early frosts, rose the
ridgy back of the Mountain of Montreal, and below, encompassed with its
corn-fields, lay the Indian town. Nothing was visible but its encircling
palisades. They were of trunks of trees, set in a triple row. The outer
and inner ranges inclined till they met and crossed near the summit,
while the upright row between them, aided by transverse braces, gave to
the whole an abundant strength. Within were galleries for the defenders,
rude ladders to mount them, and magazines of stones to throw down on th