La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

90 LA SALLE AND FRONTENAC. [1673.Frontenac, toimpose respect on the Iroquois, nowset his canoes in order of battle. Four divisionsformed the first line, then came the two flat-boats;he himself, with his guards, his staff, and the gentlemenvolunteers, followed, with the canoes of ThreeRivers on his right, and those of the Indians on hisleft, while two remaining divisions formed a rearline. Thus, with measured paddles, they advancedover the still lake, till they saw a canoe approachingto meet them. It bore several Iroquois chiefs, whotold them that the dignitaries of their nation awaitedthem atCataraqui, and offered to guide them to thespot. They entered the wide mouth of the river,and passed along the shore, now covered by the quietlittle city of Kingston, till they reached the pointat present occupied by the barracks, at the westernend of Cataraqui bridge. Here they stranded theircanoes and disembarked.Baggage was landed, fireslighted, tents pitched, and guards set. Close athand, under the lee of the forest, were the campingsheds of the Iroquois, who had come to the rendezvousin considerable numbers.At daybreak of the next morning, the thirteenth ofJuly, the drums beat, and the whole party weredrawn up under arms.A double line of men extendedfrom the front of Frontenac 's tent to the Indiancamp ; and, through the lane thus formed, the savagedeputies, sixty in number, advanced to the place ofcouncil.martial array ofThey could not hide their admiration at thethe French, many of whom were old