rich
reward, either promised or expected. Some of the men he had no chance
to corrupt, for they were aboard the barques, guarding stores till a
shelter could be built. Working among the rest, Duval 'suborned four
of the worst characters, as he supposed, telling them a thousand
falsehoods and presenting to them prospects of acquiring riches.' The
evidence subsequently showed that Champlain was either to be strangled
when unarmed, or shot at night as he answered to a false alarm. The
conspirators made a mutual promise not to betray each other, on penalty
that the first who opened his mouth should be poniarded.

[Illustration: CHAMPLAIN'S DRAWING OF THE HABITATION OF QUEBEC

A Storehouse.
B Pigeon-house.
C Building for storing arms and housing workmen.
D Workmen's quarters.
E Sun-dial.
F Building containing forge and artisans' quarters.
G Outside galleries.
H Champlain's private quarters.
I Main door with drawbridge.
L Walk (10 feet wide) all round the building.
M Ditch surrounding the building.
N Platforms for artillery.
O Champlain's garden.
P Kitchen.
Q Terrace in front of the building on the river-bank.
R The St Lawrence river.

From Laverdiere's _Champlain_ in M'Gill University Library]

{65}

Out of this deadly danger Champlain escaped through the confession of a
vacillating spirit named Natel, who regretted his share in the plot,
but, once involved, had fears of the poniard. Finally he confessed to
Testu, the pilot, who immediately informed Champlain. Questioned as to
the motive, Natel replied that 'nothing had impelled them, except that
they had imagined that by giving up the place into the hands of the
Basques or Spaniards they might all become rich, and that they did not
want to go back to France.' Duval, with five others, was then seized
and taken to Tadoussac. Later in the summer Pontgrave brought the
prisoners back to Quebec, where evidence was taken before a
court-martial consisting of Champlain, Pontgrave, a captain, a surgeon,
a first mate, a second mate, and some sailors. The sentence condemned
four to death, of whom three were afterwards sent to France and put at
the discretion of De Monts. Duval was 'strangled and hung at Quebec,
and his head was put on the end of a pike, to be set in the most
conspicuous place on our fort, that he might serve as an example to
those who remained, leading them to deport themselves correctly in
future, in the discha