A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

188 ACADIAN CONFLICTS. [1747.Cobequid for the provisions he had collected forthem, and then pushed on towards the river Shubenacadie,which runs from the south intoCobequidBay, the head of Mines Basin. When they reachedthe river they found it impassable from floating ice,which forced them to seek a passage at some distanceabove. Coulon was resolved, however, that at anyrisk a detachment should cross at once, to stop theroads to Grand Prd, and prevent the English frombeing warned of his approach; for though the Acadiausinclined to the French, and were eager to servethem when the risk was not too great, there weresome of them who, from interest or fear, were readyto make favor with the English by carrying themintelligence. Boishdbert, with ten Canadians, putout from shorein a canoe, and were near perishingamong the drifting ice ; but they gained the farthershore at last, and guarded every path to Grand Pr^.The main body filed on snow-shoes up the east bankof the Shubenacadie, where the forests were chokedwith snow and encumbered with fallen trees, overwhich the sledges were to be dragged, to their greatdetriment. On this day, the third, they made fiveleagues ; on the next only two, which brought themwithin half a league ofLe Loutre's Micmac mission.Not far from this place the river was easily passableon the ice, and they continued their march westwardacross the country to the river Kennetcook by waysso difficult that their Indian guide lost the path,and for a time led them astray. On the seventh,