60 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



we had not paid him the attention which a 

 chief like him ought to have received; and 

 that we had put a great affront on him in 

 sending him only a small quantity of rum. 

 An artful man like St. Germain, possessing 

 a flow of language, and capable of saying 

 even what he confessed, had the means of 

 poisoning the minds of the Indians without 

 i committing himself by any direct assertion ; 

 and it is to be remarked, that unless Mr. 

 Wentzel had possessed a knowledge of the 

 Copper Indian language, we should not have 

 learned what we did. 



Although perfectly convinced of his base- 

 ness, I could not dispense with his services ; 

 and had no other resource but to give him 

 a serious admonition, and desire him to re- 

 turn to his duty, after endeavouring to 

 work upon his fears by an assurance that I 

 would certainly convey him to England for 

 trial, if the Expedition should be stopped 

 through his fault; to which he replied, " It 

 is immaterial to me where I lose my life, 

 whether in England or in accompanying you 



