144 DEXOXVILLE AND THE SEXECAS. [1687. 



Again the fields about Fort Frontenac were 

 covered with tents, camp-sheds, and wigwams. 

 Regulars, militia, and Indians, there were about 

 two thousand men ; and, besides these, eight hundred 

 regulars just arrived from France had been left at 

 Montreal to protect the settlers. 1 Fortune thus 

 far had smiled on the enterprise, and she now gave 

 Denonville a fresh proof of her favor. On the 

 very day of his arrival, a canoe came from Niagara 

 with news that a large body of allies from the west 

 had reached that place three clays before, and were 

 waiting his commands. It was more than he had 

 dared to hope. In the preceding autumn, he had 

 ordered Tonty, commanding at the Illinois, and 

 La Durantaye, commanding at Michillimackinac, 

 to muster as many coureurs de bois and Indians as 

 possible, and join him early in July at Niagara. 

 The distances were vast, and the difficulties incal- 

 culable. In the eyes of the pious governor, their 

 timely arrival was a manifest sign of the favor of 

 Heaven. At Fort St. Louis, of the Illinois, Tonty 

 had mustered sixteen Frenchmen and about two 

 hundred Indians, whom he led across the country 

 to Detroit; and here he found Du Lhut, La Foret, 

 and La Durantaye, with a large body of French 



give four and a half days for news of the treachery to reach Onondaga, 

 and four and a half days for the Jesuit to rejoin his countrymen. 



Charlevoix, with his usual carelessness, says that the Jesuit Milet had 

 also been used to lure the Iroquois into the snare, and that he was soon 

 after captured by the Oneidas, and delivered by an Indian matron. 

 Milet's captivity did not take place till 1689-90. 



1 Denonville. Cliampigny says 832 regulars, 930 militia, and 300 

 Indians. This was when the army left Montreal. More Indians after- 

 wards joined it. Belmont says 1,800 French and Canadians and about 

 300 Indians. 



