As they paddled slowly along this lake, keeping time to their songs with the paddles, there suddenly grew out of the distance a great flotilla of canoes with tall prows5, and behind them a range of islands which they had not before seen. The canoes were filled with men—Indians, it would seem, by the tall feathers lifting from their heads. A moment before there had been nothing. The sudden appearance was even more startling than the strange canoe that crossed their track on Lake of the Winds. Iberville knew at once that it was a mirage6, and the mystery of it did not last long even among the superstitious7. But they knew now that somewhere in the north—presumably not far away—was a large band of Indians, possibly hostile; their own numbers were about fourscore. There was the chance that the Indians were following or intercepting8 them. Yet, since they had left the Ottawa River, they had seen no human being, save in that strange canoe on Lake of the Winds. To the east were the dreary9 wastes of Labrador, to the west were the desolate10 plains and hills, stretching to the valley of the Saskatchewan.
Practically in command, Iberville advised watchfulness12 and preparation for attack. Presently the mirage faded away as suddenly as it came. For days again they marched and voyaged on, seeing still no human being. At last they came to a lake, which they crossed in their canoes; then they entered the mouth of a small river, travelling northward13. The river narrowed at a short distance from its mouth, and at a certain point the stream turned sharply. As the first canoe rounded the point it came full upon half a hundred canoes blocking the river, filled by Indians with bended bows. They were a northern tribe that had never before seen the white man. Tall and stern, they were stout14 enemies, but they had no firearms, and, as could be seen, they were astonished at the look of the little band, which, at the command of De Troyes, who with Iberville was in the first boat, came steadily15 on. Suddenly brought face to face there was a pause, in which Iberville, who knew several Indian languages, called to them to make way.
He was not understood, but he had pointed16 to the white standard of France flaring17 with the golden lilies; and perhaps the drawn18 swords and the martial19 manner of the little band—who had donned gay trappings, it being Iberville’s birthday—conveyed in some way his meaning. The bows of the strangers stayed drawn, awaiting word from the leader. Near the chief stood a man seven feet in height, a kind of bodyguard20, who presently said something in his ear. He frowned, then seemed to debate, and his face cleared at last. Raising a spear, he saluted21 the French leaders, and then pointed towards the shore, where there was a space clear of trees, a kind of plateau. De Troyes and Iberville, thinking that a truce23 and parley24 were meant, returned the salute22 with their swords, and presently the canoes of both parties made over to the shore. It was a striking sight: the grave, watchful11 faces of the Indians, who showed up grandly in the sun, their skin like fine rippling25 bronze as they moved; their tall feathers tossing, rude bracelets26 on their wrists, while some wore necklets of brass27 or copper28. The chief was a stalwart savage29 with a cruel eye, but the most striking figure of all—either French or Indian—was that of the chief’s body guard. He was, indeed, the Goliath of the tribe, who, after the manner of other champions, was ever ready for challenge in the name of his master. He was massively built, with long sinewy30 arms; but Iberville noticed that he was not powerful at the waist in proportion to the rest of his body, and that his neck was thinner than it should be. But these were items, for in all he was a fine piece of humanity, and Iberville said as much to De Casson, involuntarily stretching up as he did so. Tall and athletic31 himself, he never saw a man of calibre but he felt a wish to measure strength with him, not from vanity, but through the mere32 instincts of the warrior33. Priest as he was, it is possible that De Casson shared the young man’s feeling, though chastening years had overcome impulses of youth. It was impossible for the French leaders to guess how this strange parley would end, and when many more Indians suddenly showed on the banks they saw that they might have tough work.
“What do you think of it, Iberville?” said De Troyes. “A juggler’s puzzle—let us ask Perrot,” was the reply.
Perrot confessed that he knew nothing of this tribe of Indians. The French leaders, who had never heard of Indians who would fight in the open, were, in spite of great opposing numbers, in warrior mood. Presently all the canoes were got to land, and without any hostile sign the Indians filed out on the centre of the plateau, where were pitched a number of tents. The tents were in a circle, surrounding a clear space of ground, and the chief halted in the middle of this. He and his men had scarcely noticed the Frenchmen as they followed, seemingly trusting the honour of the invaders34 that they would not attack from behind. It was these Indians who had been seen in the mirage. They had followed the Frenchmen, had gone parallel with them for scores of miles, and had at last at this strategic point waylaid35 them.
The conference was short. The French ranged in column on one side, the Indians on the other, and then the chief stepped forward. De Troyes did the same and not far behind him were Iberville, the other officers, and Perrot. Behind the chief was the champion, then, a little distance away, on either side, the Indian councillors.
The chief waved his hand proudly towards the armed warriors36 behind him, as if showing their strength, speaking meanwhile, and then with effective gesture, remarking the handful of French. Presently, pointing to his fighting man, he seemed to ask that the matter be settled by single combat.
The French leaders understood: Goliath would have his David. The champion suddenly began a sing-song challenge, during which Iberville and his comrades conferred. The champion’s eyes ran up and down the line and alighted on the large form of De Casson, who calmly watched him. Iberville saw this look and could not help but laugh, though the matter was serious. He pictured the good abbe fighting for the band. At this the champion began to beat his breast defiantly37.
Iberville threw off his coat, and motioned his friends back. Immediately there was protest. They had not known quite what to do, but Perrot had offered to fight the champion, and they, supposing it was to be a fight with weapons, had hastily agreed. It was clear, however, that it was to be a wrestle38 to the death. Iberville quelled39 all protests, and they stepped back. There was a final call from the champion, and then he became silent. From the Indians rose one long cry of satisfaction, and then they too stilled, the chief fell back, and the two men stood alone in the centre. Iberville, whose face had become grave, went to De Casson and whispered to him. The abbe gave him his blessing40, and then he turned and went back. He waved his hand to his brothers and his friends,—a gay Cavalier-like motion,—then took off all save his small clothes and stood out.
Never was seen, perhaps, a stranger sight: a gentleman of France ranged against a savage wrestler41, without weapons, stripped to the waist, to fight like a gladiator. But this was a new land, and Iberville could ever do what another of his name or rank could not. There was only one other man in Canada who could do the same—old Count Frontenac himself, who, dressed in all his Court finery, had danced a war-dance in the torch-light with Iroquois chiefs.
Stripped, Iberville’s splendid proportions could be seen at advantage. He was not massively made, but from crown to heel there was perfect muscular proportion. His admirable training and his splendidly nourished body—cared for, as in those days only was the body cared for—promised much, though against so huge a champion. Then, too, Iberville in his boyhood had wrestled42 with Indians and had learned their tricks. Added to this were methods learned abroad, which might prove useful now. Yet any one looking at the two would have begged the younger man to withdraw. Never was battle shorter. Iberville, too proud to give his enemy one moment of athletic trifling43, ran in on him. For a time they were locked, straining terribly, and then the neck of the champion went with a snap and he lay dead in the middle of the green.
The Indians and the French were both so dumfounded that for a moment no one stirred, and Iberville went back and quietly put on his clothes. But presently cries of rage and mourning came from the Indians, and weapons threatened. But the chief waved aggression44 down, and came forward to the dead man. He looked for a moment, and then as Iberville and De Troyes came near, he gazed at Iberville in wonder, and all at once reached out both hands to him. Iberville took them and shook them heartily45.
There was something uncanny in the sudden death of the champion, and Iberville’s achievement had conquered these savages46, who, after all, loved such deeds, though at the hand of an enemy. And now the whole scene was changed. The French courteously47 but firmly demanded homage48, and got it, as the superior race can get it from the inferior, when events are, even distantly, in their favour; and here were martial display, a band of fearless men, weapons which the savages had never seen before, trumpets49, and, most of all, a chief who was his own champion, and who had snapped the neck of their Goliath as one would break a tree-branch.
From the moment Iberville and the chief shook hands they were friends, and after two days, when they parted company, there was no Indian among all this strange tribe but would have followed him anywhere. As it was, he and De Troyes preferred to make the expedition with his handful of men, and so parted with the Indians, after having made gifts to the chief and his people. The most important of these presents was a musket50, handled by the chief at first as though it were some deadly engine. The tribe had been greatly astonished at hearing a volley fired by the whole band at once, and at seeing caribou shot before their eyes; but when the chief himself, after divers51 attempts, shot a caribou, they stood in proper awe52. With mutual53 friendliness54 they parted. Two weeks later, after great trials, the band emerged on the shores of Hudson’s Bay, almost without baggage, and starving.
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1
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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caribou
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| n.北美驯鹿 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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prows
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| n.船首( prow的名词复数 ) | |
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mirage
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| n.海市蜃楼，幻景 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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intercepting
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| 截取（技术），截接 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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bodyguard
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| n.护卫，保镖 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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bracelets
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| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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waylaid
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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quelled
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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41
wrestler
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| n.摔角选手，扭 | |
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42
wrestled
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| v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤 | |
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43
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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44
aggression
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| n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害 | |
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45
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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46
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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47
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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48
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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49
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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50
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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51
divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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52
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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53
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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54
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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