Canada

In the following pages is told the history of my native land, as a sagamore of the olden time might tell the legends of the past to the young braves of his tribe gathered round the lodge fire. Though primarily intended for youth, yet there is scarce any one of intelligence and spirit who may not find some entertainment in hearing of the doings of the valiant heroes, the bloodthirsty villains, the virtuous ladies who played their part in the Canadian drama, and then passed for ever away.

Elsewhere I have given the story of Hudson's Bay,[1] and what is recounted here of fur-traders and fur-trading forts owes much, as the reader will expect, to my former book.

[1] The Great Fur Company 1899.

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

CARTIER UNFURLS THE FLAG OF THE LILIES

CHAPTER II

POUTRAINCOURT GOES FORTH TO ACADIA

CHAPTER III

OF THE DOINGS OF GALLANT CHAMPLAIN

CHAPTER IV

ROMANCE OF THE TWO DE LA TOURS

CHAPTER V

THE FOUNDING OF MONTREAL

CHAPTER VI

THE FURY OF THE IROQUOIS

CHAPTER VII

STRANGE DOINGS AT PORT ROYAL

CHAPTER VIII

THE COMING OF FRONTENAC

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CHAPTER IX

"QUEBEC FOR KING LOUIS"

CHAPTER X

KING LOUIS BUILDS A MIGHTY FORT

CHAPTER XI

HOW LOUISBURG SURRENDERED AND WAS GIVEN BACK

CHAPTER XII

THE ACADIANS ARE BANISHED FROM ACADIA

CHAPTER XIII

TERRIBLE FIGHTS OVER THE BORDER

CHAPTER XIV

HOW THE GALLANT WOLFE TOOK QUEBEC

CHAPTER XV

LEVIS AND THE NOBLES RETIRE TO OLD FRANCE

CHAPTER XVI

THE COMING OF THE LOYALISTS

CHAPTER XVII

HOW CANADA'S ENEMY WAS FOILED

CHAPTER XVIII

TRAITORS, REDCOATS, AND REDSKINS

INDEX

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Landing of the Loyalists, 1783 ... Frontispiece

Jacques Cartier and the Redskins

"The Order of a Good Time," 1606

De la Tour refuses to yield his Allegiance, 1630

Maisonneuve covering the Retreat of his Followers, 1644

Dollard strikes his Last Blow, 1658

"My Guns will give my Answer," Frontenac, 1690

Heroic Defence by Madeleine de Verchères and her Brothers, 1692

Wolfe's Army scaling the Cliff at Quebec, 1759

Laura Secord intercepted by the Mohawk Scouts

Meeting of the Nor'-Westers at Fort William, 1816

The Defeat of Louis Riel, Fish Creek, 1885.

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THE ROMANCE OF CANADA

CHAPTER I

CARTIER UNFURLS THE FLAG OF THE LILIES

Nearly four centuries ago, in the spring of the year, the banks of the river Thames from Windsor to Greenwich were lined with a multitude of gaily-dressed lieges. Artisans and their wives, tradesmen and apprentices, farmers in smock frocks, gentlemen in doublets and hose, and ladies in farthingales, all came out to snatch a peep of a brave spectacle. From lip to lip ran the news that at last the royal barge in its crimson and gold trappings had set out from Windsor. Bluff "King Hal," as the people affectionately termed their monarch, and his new queen, Anne Boleyn, were that day making their first voyage together down the Thames to the royal palace at Greenwich.

Glance at this spectacle but a moment, for, if an English reader and more familiar with English than with Canadian history, it will serve to fix the date of my story's opening firmly in your mind. The banks are re-echoing with loyal cheers, the State {2} bargemen are plying their oars and the State trumpeters their trumpets, while poor Anne Boleyn, little dreaming of the fate awaiting her, smiles and nods merrily at the crowds who wave their silken kerchiefs in the sunshine. So this first water pageant of the season passes along.