The Rivals of Acadia | Page 3

should they give chase to one of our
peaceable boats, in that rude manner? But, thank heaven!" he added,
joyfully, "it is now safe; see! my mother has this moment sprung on
shore, with her frightened band of damsels and children! ah! I think
they will not now admire the gallant Frenchmen, as they did last
summer, when La Tour's gay lieutenant was here, with his compliments
and treaties!"
"I begin to think yonder vessel is from the same quarter," said Arthur,
thoughtfully; "Mons. de la Tour, perhaps, wishes to renew his alliance
with us, or seeks aid to carry on his quarrel with Mons. d'Aulney, his
rival in the government of Acadia."

"God forbid!" said a deep, rough voice, which proceeded from the
helmsman, "that we should have any fellowship with those priests of
the devil, those monks and friars of popish France."
"Spoke like an oracle, my honest fellow!" said Gibbons, laughing; "it is
a pity that your zeal and discernment should not be rewarded by some
office of public trust."
"Truly, master Gibbons, we have fallen upon evil days, and the
righteous no longer flourish, like green bay trees, in the high places of
our land; but though cast out of mine honorable office, there are many
who can testify to the zeal of my past services."
"I doubt not there are many who have cause to remember it," returned
Gibbons, with a smile; "but bear a little to the leeward, unless you have
a mind to convert yonder papists, by a few rounds of good powder and
shot."
This short dialogue was broken off, by an unexpected movement of the
French, who, after lingering, as in doubt, at some distance from the
island, suddenly recommenced rowing towards it, and at the same time
struck up a lively air on the bugle, which floated cheerily over the
waves. Soon after, their keel touched the strand, close by the
pleasure-boat, which was safely moored, and deserted by every
individual. The principal officer then leaped on shore, and walked
leisurely towards the house of governor Winthrop. Stanhope also
landed in a short time, and, with Mr. Gibbons, proceeded directly to the
governor's. The mansion exhibited no appearance of alarm; the
windows were thrown open to admit the cooling sea-breeze, children
sported around the door, and cheerful voices within announced, that the
stranger, who had just preceded them, was not an unwelcome guest. He
was conversing apart with Mr. Winthrop, when they entered, and they
instantly recognized in him, a lieutenant of M. de la Tour, who had, on
a former occasion, been sent to negociate a treaty with the magistrates
of Boston. He was believed to be a Hugonot, and, on that account, as
well as from the personal regard which his conduct and manners
inspired, he had been treated with much attention, during the time that
he remained there. Mons. de Valette,--so he was called,--had been

particularly intimate with the family of Major Gibbons, a gentleman of
consideration in the colony, and he quickly espied his lady in the
pleasure-boat, which he discovered in the bay. Gallantly inclined to
return her civilities, he endeavoured to overtake her, with the intention
of inviting her aboard the ship, quite unconscious that she was flying
from him in terror. But the formidable array of armed shallops, with the
assemblage of people on shore, at length excited a suspicion of the
truth, and he determined to follow the lady to her retreat, to explain the
motives of his conduct. His apology was graciously accepted, and the
late alarm became a subject of general amusement.
De Valette also improved the opportunity, to prepare governor
Winthrop for the object of La Tour's voyage to Boston. M. Razilly,
governor-general of the French province of Acadia, had entrusted the
administration to D'Aulney de Charnisy, and St. Etienne, lord of La
Tour. The former he appointed lieutenant of the western part of the
colony, the latter of the eastern; they were separated by the river St.
Croix. La Tour also held possession in right of a purchase, confirmed
by the king's patent; and, on the death of Razilly, which happened at an
early period of the settlement, he claimed the supreme command. His
pretensions were violently disputed by D'Aulney; and, from that time,
each had constantly sought to dispossess the other; and the most bitter
enmity kept them continually at strife. Both had repeatedly
endeavoured to obtain assistance from the New-England colonists; but,
as yet, they had prudently declined to decide in favor of either, lest the
other should prove a dangerous, or at least an annoying enemy. La Tour
was, or pretended to be, a Hugonot,--which gave him a preference with
the rulers of the Massachusetts; they had shewn a friendly disposition
towards him, and permitted any persons,