Neither of the men spoke until the canoe touched the shore, and its three occupants sprang out.  Then they bowed politely, though Robert fancied that he saw a trace of irony in their manner, and the elder said in good English: 

“Good evening, gentlemen.”

“Good evening, Messieurs,” said Robert, remembering that he was to be spokesman.  “We are English.”

“I can see readily that two of you are.”

“The third, Tayoga, the son of a great Onondaga chief, is English also at heart.”

The lips of the Frenchman curled ever so little.  Robert saw at once that he challenged his assertion about Tayoga, but he did not seem to notice it, as he expected that his comrades and himself would be guests in the French camp.

“I have mentioned Tayoga,” he said, “but I will introduce him again.  He is of the clan of the Bear, of the nation Onondaga, of the great League of the Hodenosaunee.  I also present Mr. David Willet, a famous scout and hunter, known to the Indians, and perhaps to some of the French, too, as the Great Bear.  My own name is Robert Lennox, of Albany and New York, and I have done nothing that is descriptive of me, but I bear important letters from the Governor of New York to Quebec, to be delivered to the Marquis Duquesne, the Governor General of Canada.”

“That, young sir, is no slight mission,” said the elder man, “and it is our good fortune to speed you on your way.  My friend is the Chevalier Francois de Jumonville, one of France’s most gallant officers, and I am Auguste de Courcelles, a colonel by fortune’s favor, in the service of His Majesty, King Louis.”

“I am sure,” said Robert, “that it is not chance or the favor of fortune that has given you such important rank.  Your manner and presence are sufficient assurance to me that you have won your rank with your own merits.”

De Courcelles laughed a little, but it was a pleased laugh.

“You have a more graceful tongue than most of the English,” he said, “and I could almost believe you had been at court.”

“No nearer a court than Albany or New York.”

“Then, sir, your credit is all the greater, because you have acquired so much with so little opportunity.”

Robert bowed formally and Colonel de Courcelles bowed back in the same manner.

“The roads from Albany to Quebec are but trails,” said de Courcelles, “but I hope your journey has been easy and pleasant.”

Willet gave Robert a warning glance, and the lad replied: 

“Fairly pleasant.  We have met a slight obstacle or two, but it was not hard to remove them.”

De Courcelles lifted his eyebrows a little.

“’Tis reported,” he said, “that the savages are restless, that your English governors have been making them presents, and, as they interpret them, ’tis an inducement for them to take up the tomahawk against our good Canadians.  Oh, don’t be offended, Mr. Lennox!  I have not said I believe such tales.  Perhaps ’tis but the tongue of scandal wagging in this way, because it must wag in some way.”