1690.] PRECAUTIONS OF FRONTENAC. 251 



chamber of the chateau where he sat in solitary 

 state. A disinterested spectator might see the 

 humor of the situation ; but the council felt only 

 its vexations. Frontenac had gained his point : 

 the enemy had surrendered unconditionally. 



Having settled this important matter to his satis- 

 faction, he again addressed himself to saving the 

 country. During the winter, he had employed 

 gangs of men in cutting timber in the forests, hew- 

 ing it into palisades, and dragging it to Quebec. 

 Nature had fortified the Upper Town on two sides 

 by cliffs almost inaccessible, but it was open to 

 attack in the rear ; and Frontenac, with a happy 

 prevision of approaching danger, gave his first 

 thoughts to strengthening this, its only weak side. 

 The work began as soon as the frost was out of 

 the ground, and before midsummer it was well 

 advanced. At the same time, he took every pre- 

 caution for the safety of the settlements in the 

 upper parts of the colony, stationed detachments 

 of regulars at the stockade forts, which Denonville 

 had built in all the parishes above Three Rivers, 

 and kept strong scouting parties in continual move- 

 ment in all the quarters most exposed to attack. 

 Troops were detailed to guard the settlers at their 

 work in the fields, and officers and men were en- 

 joined to use the utmost vigilance. Nevertheless, 

 the Iroquois war-parties broke in at various points, 

 burning and butchering, and spreading such terror 

 that in some districts the fields were left unfilled 

 and the prospects of the harvest ruined. 



Towards the end of July, Frontenac left Major 



