"The intoxicating drinks of the white men are not good for the red race," said Tayoga gravely. "The warriors of the Hodenosaunee are able to fight anything else, but strong liquors take away their brains and make them like little children who fly into passions over trifles." De Galisonniere looked with great interest at the young Onondaga, being impressed by the dignity of his manner and the soberness of his speech. "You speak perfect English," he observed. "I learned it in a white man's school at Albany," said Tayoga. "Lennox was my comrade there, just as he has been in the woods." "You will see a much greater town than Albany when you arrive at Quebec. You will see a noble city, on a noble site, an impregnable fortress, guarded by the most valiant troops in the world. For its like you would have to cross the sea to our old land of France." "I have heard much of Stadacona, which you call Quebec," said Tayoga, without any alteration of tone. "Our old men speak often of it, when it belonged to our brethren, the Ganeagaono, known to you as the Mohawks, who never sold or ceded it to anybody." De Galisonniere's face fell a little, but he recovered himself quickly. "That was generations ago," he said, "and time makes many shifts and changes. There is a flux and efflux of all people, including the white, like the ceaseless movement of sand upon a beach." The Onondaga was silent, but Robert saw that he did not unbend, and de Galisonniere, feeling that it was unwise to pursue the topic, turned his attention to the mighty river and its lofty wooded banks. "I don't believe there's another river in the world the equal of this giant French stream of ours," he said. "Our noble British river, the Hudson, has much to say for itself," said Robert. "A grand river, in truth. I have seen it, but large and splendid as it is it lacks the length and size of the St. Lawrence." "It is beyond question a noble stream to travel on. One makes greater speed here and suffers less hardship than in the forest." "I am glad that I can take you to Montreal." "Your hospitality to us, Captain de Galisonniere, is appreciated. I have found French officers courteous and ready to share with us all they had. You are not the first whom we have met on this journey. We encountered far down in our province of New York the Chevalier Raymond de St. Luc." "St. Luc! St. Luc! The very flower of French chivalry! He is a relative of the famous La Corne de St. Luc, of whom you have doubtless heard, and at Quebec he is considered a model of all the qualities that make a soldier and a gentleman." "He made a like impression upon me. Farther north we were so fortunate as to meet more of your countrymen, Colonel de Courcelles and Captain de Jumonville." "I know them both! Brave officers!" said de Galisonniere.