severance 



Open Road — Guides — Railroads — Canals — Bridges 



promise that the price of merchandise at Detroit should be 1906 

 diminished, and he would also give them some brandy." There Se 

 followed a judicious distribution of this potent commodity. 



One is tempted to conjure up the scene. Here were twenty-six 

 laden canoes, not counting Tonty 's own boats. They had come 

 long journeys from remote and widely separated points, and their 

 one objective point was the Englishman's trading place on the 

 Hudson. But no sooner do they come under the blandishments 

 of the Frenchman, and scent the aroma of his brandy-kegs, than 

 these long-cherished plans so arduously followed, are thrown to 

 the winds. They beach their canoes at or near the point of 

 Niagara. A cask of liquor is broached, and Tonty permits the 

 thirsty savages " to buy two or three quarts of brandy each, to 

 take to their villages. But they first agreed that it should be care- 

 fully distributed by a trusty person." 



In spite of these reassuring precautions, the transaction seems 

 somewhat to have burdened his mind, for he thought it well to 

 explain that " he hoped the council would not disapprove of what 

 he had done, nor of the continuance of the same course, as he 

 had no other intention than merely to hinder the savages from 

 going to the English." 



He succeeded fairly well in that purpose. After the distribu- 

 tion of brandy, they all reembarked, seven of the canoes promising 

 to go to Montreal. Tonty sent back with them his trusty inter- 

 preter, L'Oranger, to keep them from changing their minds as 

 they paddled down the lake. " He was only able to conduct six 

 of them to Montreal ; the seventh escaped and went to Orange." 



Meanwhile ten canoes joined the commandant's own retinue; 

 all paddled swiftly up the Niagara to the old landing, made the 

 toilsome portage around the falls and pushed on together for 

 Detroit, where they arrived July 3d. It was a typical move in 

 the game that was being played, and France had gained the 

 point. 



This expedition was notable for its use of the Niagara route. 

 Only a few years before we find Vaudreuil explaining to the 



1255 



