"La Durantaye and Du Luth, with Tonty, are to meet us there. You will instruct them to move on to Niagara, and there await further orders. We shall sail around the east end of the lake and along the south shore." "The Iroquois will follow your movements." "We intend that they shall. They will not know where our final landing place will be, and will have to keep their forces well in hand. And it will prevent them from uniting to attack Niagara." "What then?" "We will leave a strong guard at La Famine with the stores, and strike inland for the Seneca villages." "And now what part am I to play in this?" Major Provost leaned back in his chair. "You, Menard, are to represent the Governor. You will move in advance of the troops. At Frontenac it will be your duty to see first that the way is clear to getting the two divisions to the meeting place at La Famine, and to see that d'Orvilliers has the fort ready for the troops, with extra cabins and stockades. Then the Governor wishes you and d'Orvilliers to go over all the information the scouts bring in. If you can decide upon any course which will hold back the other tribes from aiding the Senecas, act upon it at once, without orders. In other words, you have full liberty to follow your judgment. That ought to be responsibility enough." Menard stretched his arms. "All right, Major. But when my day comes to taste the delights of Quebec, I hope I may not be too old to enjoy it." "The Governor honours you, Menard, with this undertaking." "He honoured De Sevigne with a majority and turned him loose in Quebec." "Too bad, Menard, too bad," the Major laughed. "Now I, who ask nothing better than a brisk campaign, must rot here in Quebec until I die." "Are you not to go?" "No. I am to stay behind and brighten my lonely moments drilling the rabble of a home guard. Do you think you will need an escort?" "No; the river from here to Frontenac is in use every day. I shall want canoemen. Two will be enough." "Very well. Let me know what supplies you need. You mistake, man, in grumbling at the work. You are building up a reputation that never could live at short range. Stay away long enough and you will be a more popular man than the Governor. I envy you, on my honour, I do." "One thing more, Major. This galley affair; what do you think of it?" "You mean the capture at Frontenac? You should know better than I, Menard. You brought the prisoners down." "There is no doubt in my mind, Major, nor in d'Orvilliers's! We obeyed orders." Menard looked up expressively. "You know the Iroquois. You know how they will take it. The worst fault was La Grange's. He captured the party--and it was not a war party--by deliberate treachery. D'Orvilliers had intrusted to him the Governor's orders that Indians must be got for the King's galleys. As you know, d'Orvilliers and I both protested. I did not bring them here until the Governor commanded it." "Well, we can't help that now, Menard."