STORY M i 1- 'm W. CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY DATE DUE nn fl\r .^ -i!^-^ ^ss=^, •^iSifew -mt" '^^^f-'^^.n -^JU 1 ' GAYLORD PHINTEO INU.S.A. CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 924 087 978 601 \H\ Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924087978601 OUR EMPIRE STORY •NO MAN WAS SAFE, NO LIFE WAS SURE' OUR EMPIRE STORY STORIES OF INDIA AND THE GREATER COLONIES TOLD TO BOYS AND GIRLS BY H. E. MARSHALL AUTHOR OF *OVH ISLAND STORY,' 'sCOTLANd's STORY,' ETC., ETC. WITH picturp:s ky J. R. SKELTON SIXTH IMPRESSION LONDON : T. C. & E. C. JACK, Ltd. 35 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.G., & EDINBURGH PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN AT THE PRESS OF THE PUBLISHERS. (£ TO FRKD AND ARNOLD ABOUT THIS BOOK 'The Empire upon which the sun never sets.' We all know these words, and we say them with a somewhat proud and grand air, for that vast Empire is ours. It belongs to us, and we to it. But although we are proud of our Empire it may be that some of us know little of its history. We only know it as it now is, and we forget perhaps that there was a time when it did not exist. We forget that it has grown to be great out of very small beginnings. We forget that it did not grow great all at once, but that with pluck and patience our fellow-countrymen buUt it up by httle and by little, each leaving behind him a vaster inheritance than he found. So, ' lest we forget,' in this book I have told a few of the most exciting and interest- ing stories about the building up of this our great heritage and possession. But we cannot ' Rise with the sun and ride with the same, Until the next morning he rises again.' We cannot in one day gird the whole world about, following the sun in his course, visiting with him all the many countries, aU the scattered islands of the sea which form the mighty Empire upon which he never ceases to ViJ viii OUR EMPIRE STORY shine. No, it will take us many days to compass the journey, and little eyes would ache, little brains be weary long before the tale ended did I try to tell of all 'the far-away isles of home, where the old speech is native, and the old flag floats.' So in this book you will find stories of the five chief portions of our Empire only, that is of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India. But perhaps some day, if you greet these stories as kindly as you have greeted those of England and of Scotland, I wUl tell you in another book more stories of Our Empire. The stories are not aU bright. How should they be ? We have made mistakes, we have been checked here, we have stumbled there. We may own it without shame, perhaps almost without sorrow, and still love our Emj ire and its builders. Still we may say, ' Where shall the watchful sun, England, my England, Match the master-work you 've done, England, my own ? When shall he rejoice agen Such a breed of mighty men As come forward, one to ten, To the song on your bugles blown, England — Down the years on your bugles blown ? ' H. E. MARSHALL. Oxford, 1908, CONTENTS CANADA CHAr 1 HOW LIEF THE SON OF ERIC THE RED SAILED INTO THE WEST II. WESTWARD ! WESTWARD ! WESTWARD ! in. HOW A BRETON SAILOR CAME TO CAN.'.DA . IV, THE STORY OF HENRY HUDSON . V. THE FATHER OF NEW FRANCE . VI. THE FOUNDING OF QUEBEC VII. HOW A BOLD ANSWER SAVED QUEBEC . VIII. HOW THE UNION JACK WAS HOISTED UPON THE FORT OF ST. LOUIS .... IX. THE FEAST OF EAT-EVERYTHING X. A KNIGHT OF NEW FRANCE XI. THE BEGINNING OF THE HUDSON BAY COMPANY XII. THE ADVENTURES OF LA SALLE . XIII. THE ADVENTURES OF LA SALLE CONTINUED . XIV. COUNT FRONTENAC XV. THE STORY OF MADELEINE DE VERCHERES . XVI. THE WAR OF THE BOUNDARY LINE XVII. THE PATH OF GLORY .... XVIII. FOR THE EMPIRE XIX. THE STORY OF LAURA SECORD . 1 6 16 23 29 S3 37 42 £0 66 60 68 76 79 86 92 99 103 OUR EMPIRE STORY CHAr. XX. RED RIVER SETTLEMENT XXJ. LOUIS RIEL LIST OF KINGS AND GOVERNORS rAGa 109 116 120 AUSTRALIA I. 'THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SI.'N' II. THE FOUNDING OF SYDNEY . in. THE ADVENTURES OF GEORGE BASS AND MATTHEW- FLINDERS .... IV. A LITTLE REVOLUTION V. THE FIRST TRAVELLER IN QUEENSLAND , VL THROUGH THE GREAT UNKNOWN . VII. 'THE TRACTS OF THIRST AND FURNACE' VIIL THE FINDING OF GOLD IX. THE BUSHRANGERS LIST OF KINGS AND GOVERNORS . ^L^ ' . 126 . 130 D MATTHE\1 . 136 , 143 . U8 . 166 ' 163 . 167 . . 174 . 180 NEW ZEALAND I. HOW A GREAT WHITE BIRD CAME TO THE SHORES II. THE APOSTLE OF NEW ZEALAND . III. HONGI THE WARRIOR IV. HOW THE MAORIS BECAME THE CHILDREN OF THE GREAT WHITE QUEEN .... V. 'THE HEAVENLY DAWN' AND 'THE WILD CABBAGE LEAF' MAKE WAR VI. THE FLAGSTAFF WAR VII. THE WARPATH VIII. THE STORMING OF THE BAT'S NEST . . . IX. THE TAMING OF THR WU.D CABBAGE LEAF 183 188 196 200 206 211 216 222 226 CONTENTS XI ^ '^'^' PAGB X. THE KING OF THE MAORIS . . , .229 XI. TO THE SOUND OF THE WAR-SONG . . .233 XII. THE HAU HAUS AND TE KOOTI . . . ,238 LIST OF KINGS AND GOVERNORS . . . .242 SOUTH AFRICA I. EARLY DAYS 246 II. THE COMING OF THE DUTCH . . . .250 III. THE COMING OF THE FRENCH . . . ,256 IV. THE COMING OF THE BRITISH . . . . 2G2 V, THE REBELLION OF SLACHTER'S NEK . . .269 VI. THE GREAT WITCH DOCTOR . . . .273 VIL ABOUT THE BLACK NAPOLEON . . . .278 VIII. THE GREAT TREK 283 IX. DINGAAN'S TREACHERY 289 X. THE WAR OF THE AXE 296 XL THE WRECK OF THE 'BIRKENHEAD' . , .302 XII. THE FOUNDING OF TWO REPUBLICS . . .307 XIII. THE STORY OF A FALSE PROPHET . . .311 XIV. A STORY ABOUT A PRETTY STONE . . .316 XV. FACING FEARFUL ODDS 322 XVL UPON MAJUBA'S HEIGHT 331 X\'II. THE GOLD CITY 335 XVni. WAR AND PEACE 338 LIST OF KINGS AND GOVERNORS . . . .342 INDIA I. ALEXANDER THE GREAT INVADES INDIA . . 347 n. HOW BRAVE MEN WENT SAILING UPON UNKNOWN SEAS ........ 361 xii OUR EMPIRE STORY CHAP. III. SUCCESS AT LAST .... IV. DUTCH AND ENGLISH V. THE FIRST BRITISH AMBASSADOR GOES TO THE COURT OF THE EMPEROR OF INDU VI. THE HATRED OF THE DUTCH . VII. THE FRENCH IN INDIA .... VI n, THE SIEGE OF ARCOT .... IX. THE BLACK HOLE X. THE BATTLE OF PLASSEY . XI. TIMES OF MISRULE XII. WARREN HASTINGS, FIRST GOVERNOR-GENERAL Xm. WARREN HASTINGS— WAR .... XIV. TIPPOO SULTAN XV. WARRIOR CHIEFTAINS .... XVI. THE MUTINY OF VELLORE .... XVII. THE GHURKAS XVIII. THE PINDARIS AND THE LAST MARATHA WAR XIX. THE FIRST BURMESE WAR XX. THE SIEGE OF BHURTPORE XXI. SATI AND THAGS XXIL THE FIRST AFGHAN WAR XXIII. THE SIKHS XXIV. THE MUTINY— DELHI XXV. THE MUTINY— CAWNPORE XXVI. THE MUTINY— LUCKNOW XXVII. THE EMPRESS OF INDIA LIST OF KINGS AND GOVERNORS INDEX LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 'NO MAN WAS SAFE, NO LIFE WAS SURE' . . Frontitpieee AT FAGE 'THESE CRUEL MEN MEANT TO TURN HUDSON ADRIFT ON THE ICY WATERS' 18 'ALONE ACROSS THE TRACKLESS SNOW' ... 64 'SLIPPING AND STUMBLING, THE MEN WENT ON' . . 96 'DRIVING A COW BEFORE HER, LAURA SECORD PASSED THE AMERICAN SENTRIES' 108 'NATIVES GATHERED ROUND THEM' . . . .136 'ALL DAY LONG THE SOUND OF THE PICK AND THE • RUMBLE OF THE CRADLE WERE HEARD' . 170 'THE COACH WOULD BE "HELD-UP" AND ALL THE PAS- SENGERS ROBBED' 178 'COOK TOLD THE MAORIS THAT HE HAD COME TO SET A MARK UPON THEIR ISLANDS' , . . ,184 'SHOUTING THEIR WAR-CRY, THE BRITISH CHARGED THE BREACH' 220 'WHERE NOW THE GREAT CITY OF CAPE TOWN STANDS, THEY SET UP THEIR TENTS AND HUTS' . . .260 'THE BULLOCK- WAGONS WOUND SLOWLY OVER THE BILLOWY PLAINS' ...... 286 XIV OUR EMPIRE STORY 'BESIDE THEM STOOD THE WOMEN QUIETLY LOADING GUNS' 292 'THUS DID A HUNDRED MEN KEEP THREE THOUSAND SAVAGES AT BAY' 32r, 'SIR THOMAS STOOD BEFORE THE MOGUL' . . .370 'CLIVE FIRED ONE OF THE GUNS HIMSELF' . . .390 'TIPPOO SULTAN'S BODY WAS FOUND BURIED BENEATH THOSE OF HIS FOLLOWERS ' 422 'CRUSHED BY ROLLING STONES, MOVTN DOWN BY VOLLEYS OF MUSKET-SHOT, THE MEN FELL IN HUNDREDS' . 458 •THE BOATS STUCK IN THE MUD AND WERE AN EASY MARK' ........ 472 'BRITISH SOLDIERS WERE SEEN FIGHTING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE STREETS' 476 LIST OF MAPS CANADA ...... THE SETTLEMENTS OF NORTH AMERICA AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND . SOUTH AFRICA . INDIA ...... 98 124 182 244 346 '.^ CANADA Note. — Except the verses from Grey's Elegy at the end of Chapter xvii. all the poetiy in this part of the book is by Canadian authors. OUR EMPIRE STORY CHAPTER I HOW LIEF THE SON OF ERIC THE RED SAILED INTO THE WEST Many hundred years ago, Lief, the son of Eric the Red, stood upon the shores of Norway. His hair was fair and long, and his eyes as blue as the sea upon which he looked. And as he watched the sea-horses tossing their foam-manes, his heart longed to be out upon the wild waves. For Bjarne the Traveller had come home. He had come from sailing far seas, and had brought back with him news of a strange, new land which lay far over the waves towards the setting of the sun. It was a land, he said, full of leafy woods and great tall trees such as had never been seen in Norway. Above a shore of white sand waved golden fields of corn. Beneath the summer breeze vast seas of shimmering grass bowed themselves, and all the air was scented with spice, and joyous with the song of birds. ' I will find this land,' cried Lief Ericson, ' I will find this land and call it mine.' All day long he paced the shore, thinking and longing, and when the shadows of evening fell he strode into his father's hall. A 2 OUR EMPIRE STORY Eric the Red sat in his great chair, and Lief, his son, stood before him. The firelight gleamed upon the gold bands round his arms and was flashed back from his glittering armour. ' Father,' he cried, ' give me a ship. I would sail beyond the seas to the goodly lands of which Bjame the Traveller tells.' Then Eric the Red poured shining yellow gold into the hands of Lief, his son. ' Go,' he cried, ' buy the ship of Bjarne and sail to the goodly lands of which he tells.' So Lief bought the ship of Bjarne the Traveller, and to him came four-and-thirty men, tall and strong and eager as he, to sail the seas to the new lands towards the setting sun. Then Lief bent his knee before his father. ' Come, you, O my father,' he cried, * and be our leader.' But Eric the Red shook his head. ' I am too old,' he said. Yet his blue eyes looked wistfully out to sea. His old heart leaped at the thought that once again before he died he might feel his good ship bound beneath him, that once again it would answer to the helm under his hand as his horse to the rein. ' Nay, but come, my father,' pleaded Lief, ' you will bring good luck to our sailing.' • Ay, I will come,' cried Eric the Red. Then rising, the old sea-king threw off his robe of state. Once again, as in days gone by, he clad himself in armour of steel and gold, and mounting upon his horse he rode to the shore. As Eric neared the ship the warriors set up a shout of welcome. But even as they did so his horse stumbled and fell. The king was thrown to the ground. In vain he tried to rise. He had hurt his foot so badly that he could neither stand nor walk. HOW LIEF SAILED WEST 8 ' Go, my son,' said Eric sadly, ' the gods will have it thus. It is not for me to discover new lands. You are young. Go, and bring me tidings of them.' So Lief and his men mounted into his ship and sailed out toward the West. Three weeks they sailed. AH around them the blue waves tossed and foamed but no land did they see. At last, one morning, a thin grey line far to the west appeared like a pencil-streak across the blue. Hurrah, land was near I On they sailed, the shore ever growing clearer and clearer. At length there rose before them great snow-covered mountains, and all the land between the sea and the hills was a vast plain of snow. ' It shall not be said that we found no land,' said Lief ; ' I will give this country a name.' So they called it HeUaland. Then on again they sailed. Again they came to land. This time it was covered with trees, and the long, low sloping shore was of pure white sand. They called it Markland, which means Woodland. Again they sailed on, until at length they came to a place where a great river flowed into the sea. There they made up their minds to stay for the winter. So they cast anchor and left the ship and put up their tents upon the shore. Then they built a house of wood in which to live. In the river they found fish in great plenty, and in the plains grew wild corn. So they suffered neither from cold nor hunger. When the great house was finished. Lief spoke : ' I will divide my men into two bands,' he said. ' One band shall stay at home and guard the house. The other shall walk abroad and search through the land to discover what they may.' So it was done. Sometimes Lief stayed with the men 4 OUB EMPIRE STORY at home. Sometimes he went abroad with those who explored. Thus the Northmen passed the winter, finding many wonderful things in this strange new land. And when spring came they sailed homeward to tell the people there of all the marvels they had seen and all that they had done. Then the people wondered greatly. And Lief they called Lief the Fortunate. Afterwards many people sailed from Greenland and from Norway to the fair new lands in the west. This land we now call North America, and the parts of it which Lief discovered and called Hellaland and Markland we now call Labrador and Nova Scotia. So it was that five hundred years before Columbus hved, America was known to these wild sea-kings of the north. CHAPTER II WESTWARD! WESTWARD! WESTWARD! Many hundreds of years passed. Amid strife and war- fare the wild Northmen forgot about the strange country far in the West which their forefathers had discovered. They heard of it only in the old, half-forgotten tales which the minstrels sometimes sang. They thought of it only as a fairy country — a land of nowhere. Then there came a time when all the earth was filled with unrest. The world, men said, was round, not flat, as the learned ones of old had taught. Then, if the world was round, India might be reached by sailing west as easily as by sailing east. So brave and daring men stepped into their ships and sailed away toward the setting sun. They steered out into wide, unknown waters in search of a new way to lands of gold and spice. Columbus, the great sailor of Genoa, sailed into the west, and returned with many a strange story of the countries which he had seen and claimed for the King of Spain. Then there came to England a sailor of Venice, called John Cabot. If the King of Spain might find and claim new lands, he asked, why not the King of England too ? So one fair May morning the little ship named the Matthew sailed out from Bristol harbour. Crowds of people came to see it as it spread its white wings and sped away and away into the unknown. Followed by 6 OUR EMPIRE STORY the wishes and the prayers of many an anxious heart it glided on and on until it was but a speck in the distance, and the sailors turning their eyes backward, saw the land dwindle and fade to a thin grey streak and then vanish away. They were alone on the wide blue waters, steering they knew not whither. To the West they sped, week by week. A month passed. Still there was no sign of land. Six weeks, seven weeks passed, still no land. Master John Cabot walked apart on the deck, his sailors looked askance at him. Would their faith hold out ? he asked himself. How much longer would they sail thus into the unknown? These were days of danger and dread. For Master John well knew that the passion of man's heart and the mad- ness of famine and despair, were more to be feared than the howl of the winds and the anger of the waves. But at length one bright June morning there came a cry from the sailor on the outlook, ' Land a-hoy.' Master John Cabot was saved. He had reached at last the port of his golden hopes. They still sailed, the tide running gently and bearing them onward, and so on the 24th of June 1497 a.d., John Cabot landed on ' New-found-land.' Where he landed he planted a cross with the arms of England carved upon it. The flag of England fluttered out to the sound of an English cheer as the brave sailor claimed the land for Henry vii., King of England and France, and lord of Ireland. Cabot called the country St. John's Land, because he first came there on St. John's Day. The exact spot is not known, but it is thought to have been either at Cape Breton or at some point on the coast of Labrador. After staying a little time, Cabot and his men set sail again, and turned their vessel homeward. The country that they had found seemed fertile and fruitful. But WESTWARD! WESTWARD 1 WESTWARD 1 7 it was not the land of gold and spice, of gems and silken riches which they had hoped to find. So they returned with empty hands, and but little guessing upon what a vast continent they had planted the flag of England. They returned, little knowing that the people of England would carry that flag across the continent to the sea beyond, and that in days to come state should be added to state till the great Dominion of Canada was formed. But although Cabot returned with empty hands, the King of England received him kindly. He was, how- ever, 'a king wise but not lavish.' Indeed, he liked but little to spend his gold. So as a reward he gave Cabot £10. It does not seem much, even when we remember that £10 then was worth as much as £120 now. Still, Cabot had a good time with it. He dressed himself in silk and grandeur, and walked about the streets, followed by crowds who came to stare and wonder at the man who had found * a new isle.' Later, the king gave Cabot £20 a year. Not much more is known about his life, but it is thought that he, with his son Sebastian, sailed again — perhaps more than once — to the ' Isle beyond the Seas.' CABOT ' Over the hazy distance, Beyond the sunset's rim, For ever and for ever Those voices called to him, Westward ! westward ! westward ! The sea sang in his head, At morn in the busy harbour, At nightfall in his bed — Westward ! westward ! westward i Over the line of breakers, Out of the distance dim. For ever the foam-white fingers Beckoning— beckoning him. OUR EMPIRE STORY All honour to this grand old Pilot, Whose flag is struck, whose sails are furled, Whose ship is beached, whose voyage ended ; Who sleeps somewhere in sod unknown. Without a slab, without a stone. In that great Island, sea-impearled. Yea, reverence with honour blended. For this old seaman of the past. Who braved the leagues of ocean hurled. Who out of danger knowledge rended. And built the bastions, sure and fast. Of that great bridge-way grand and vast. Of golden commerce round the world. Yea, he is dead, this mighty seaman ! Four long centuries ago. Beating westward, ever westward. Beating out from old Bristowe, Far he saw in visions lifted, Down the golden sunset's glow. Through the bars of twilight rifted, All the glories that we know. Yea, he is dead ; but who shall say That all the splendid deeds he wrought, That all the lofty truths he taught (If truth be knowledge nobly sought) Are dead and vanished quite away ? Greater than shaft or storied fane Than bronze and marble blent. Greater than all the honours he could gain From a nation's high intent. He sleeps alone, in his great isle, unknown, With the chalk-cliffs all around him for hia mighty graveyard stone. And the league-long sounding roar Of old ocean, for evermore Beating, beating, about his rest. For fane and monument.' Wilfred Campbell. CHAPTER III HOW A BRETON SAILOR CAME TO CANADA Years passed on. England did little more than plant h er flag in the New World, as the lands beyond the seas came to be called. Now and again indeed the English tried to found colonies. But the settlers sickened and died, and the attempts failed. Sir Humphrey Gilbert, half-brother of the famous Raleigh, was among the gallant captains who sailed the seas and claimed strange lands in the name of the great Queen Elizabeth. He landed upon the shores of New-found-land — the island which is still called by that name to-day. There he set up the royal arms of England, and, with solemn cere- mony, taking a handful of soil in his hand, Sir Humphrey declared the land to be the possession of Elizabeth, Queen by the Grace of God. So Newfoundland became a British possession, and thus claims to be the oldest of all our colonies. Meanwhile Spain and Portugal were busy gathering wealth and glory in the New World. But the King of France thought that he too should have a share. He sent a message to the King of Spain asking him if it was true that he and the King of Portugal meant to divide all the world between them without allowing him a share as a brother. ' I would fain see in father Adam's will where he made you the sole heirs to so vast an inheritance,' he added. 'Until I do see that, I shall 10 OUR EMPIRE STORY seize as mine whatever my good ships may happen to find upon the ocean.' So the French King sent men to explore America. And all that they explored he called New France, taking little heed to the fact that the flag of England had already been planted there. Many daring men sailed forth with the French King's orders, but Jacques Cartier, a Breton sailor, is perhaps the most famous. He made four voyages to the New World, and brought back many wonderful tales of the things he had seen there. He told how he had met with wild and savage folk with dark skins. They painted their bodies in strange fashions, and their only clothes were the skins of beasts. Their black hair was drawn up on the top of the head and tied there like a wisp of hay, and decorated with bright feathers sticking out in all directions. These men were the Red Indians of North America. They are not really Indians at all. But when the first people found America they thought that they had reached India by sailing west, and they called the natives Indians. We have called them so ever since. Cartier told too of great beasts like oxen which had two teeth like the tusks of elephants and which went in the sea. Strange fish he saw, ' of which it is not in the manner of man to have seen,' some with the head of a greyhound and as white as snow, some that had the shape of horses and did go by day on land and by night in the sea. Besides these tales of strange beasts and men, Cartier told of a fairy city of which he had heard. This city was called Norumbega. The Indians believed that some- where beyond the rivers and the mountains it lay full of untold wealth and splendid with starry turrets and HOW A SAILOR CAME TO CANADA 11 glittering gem-strewn streets. There the sun shone for ever golden, the air was sweet with the scent of richest spices through which rang, all day long, the song of birds. And when they heard of it, many left their homes and sailed away to seek this city of Delight. Cartier himself sailed many a league. He went where no white man had been before. But he never found the Golden City. The wild people were not unfriendly. They looked in wonder at the strange men with pale faces who came to their country in winged boats. For although the Indians had canoes made of birch bark, in which they travelled up and down their rivers and great lakes, they had never before seen a boat with sails. It was while Cartier was exploring that Canada received the name by which we know it. ' Cannata,' said the Indians pointing to their village of huts. Cartier thought that they meant that the country was called Cannata. So he called it Cannata or Canada. But the Indians had only meant to show the pale face their village, and the word in the Indian language really means a village. Upon the shores of the Bay of Gasp^, where Cartier landed, he raised a great cross of thirty feet in height. To the cross-bar he nailed a shield on which were carved three Jleiors-de-Iis, the emblem of France. Above the shield, in large letters, were carved the words, ' Long live the King of France.' When the cross was planted in the ground Cartier and his men joined hands, and, kneel- ing round it in a circle, prayed. About them stood the astonished, wondering Indians. They were a little ill- pleased that these pale strangers should raise this unknown sign upon their land without leave. But they 12 OUR EMPIRE STORY could not guess that in years to come, before the sign of the cross, before the foot of the white man, the red man should vanish away as snow before the sun. Cartier was kind to the Indians. They grew to love him, and when, upon his second voyage, they heard that he meant to leave them and explore inland they were very sorry. Perhaps, too, they did not want any other Indians to have the beads and ribbons and pretty things which Cartier gave them in exchange for their furs. So they did all they could to prevent him from going. They even tried to frighten him. Three Indians dressed themselves as evil spirits. They painted their faces black, stuck great horns a yard long upon their heads, and covered themselves with black and white dogskins. Then in a war canoe they came paddling down the river, howling dismally all the time. When they came in sight the other Indians began to shriek and howl too. They ran to Cartier and told him that these were spirits which had been sent by their god to warn him not to go up the river as he intended. ' If you go, O Pale Face, fearful things will come upon you,' they said. 'Wind and storms, ice and snow, will bar your way. None will return alive. Our god will lead you into the spirit land.' But Cartier was not at all afraid. He laughed at the Indians. ' Your god is powerless,' he said. ' My God is all powerful. He Himself has spoken to me, and He has promised to keep me safe through every danger.' So Cartier started on his journey and travelled up the river, now called the St. Lawrence, to an Indian village named Hochelaga. There he climbed a hill and looked around upon the fair country. As far as the eye could reach land rolled before him. Over dark forest and wild prairie, over lake and hill and valley swept his wondering HOW A SAILOR CAME TO CANADA 18 gaze. He followed the grand and shining river, as it wound its way along, until it was lost in the dim distance. It was not indeed the fairy land of which he had heard, but it was very splendid. ' It is Mount Royal,' he said. And to-day it is stiU called Mount Royal, for that little Indian village has grown into the great city of Montreal. When Cartier returned to France after his first voyage to Canada, he took with him two Red Indians, sons of a great Indian chief. This he did so that they might learn French and be able, on their return, to translate for him all that was said. Many times Cartier sailed to Canada. With him he brought men and women, so that they might settle in the land, and making their homes there, form a New France over the seas. But few people wanted to leave their comfortable homes and go to live in a far and unknown land. So, to get men enough, Cartier was obliged to take them out of the prisons. As might have been expected, people who had been put in prison for their evil deeds did not make good colonists. They met besides with many troubles. They suffered from sickness, cold and hunger. Many of them died, and at last those who were left sailed back again to France. And so Cartier's attempt at making a colony ended. Awake, my country, the hour of dreams is done ! Doubt not, nor dread the greatness of thy fate. Tho' faint souls fear the keen confronting sun. And fain would bid the mom of splendour wait ; Tho' dreamers, rapt in starry visions, cry ' Lo, yon thy future, yon thy faith, thy fame ! ' And stretch vain hands to stars, thy fame is nigh. Here in Canadian hearth, and home, and name. This name which yet shall grow Till all the nations know Us for a patriot people, heart and hand Loyal to our native earth, our own Canadian land ! 14 OUR EMPIRE STORY O strong hearts, guarding the birthright of our glory, Worth your best blood the heritage that ye guard ! These mighty streams resplendent with our story. These iron coasts by rage of seas unjarred, — What fields of peace these bulwarks well secure ! What vales of plenty those calm floods supply ! Shall not our love this rough, sweet land make sure. Her bounds preserve inviolate, though we die ? O strong hearts of the North, Let flame your loyalty forth, And put the craven and base to an open shame Till earth shall know the Child of Nations by her name ! C. G. D. Roberts. CHAPTER IV THE STORY OF HENRY HUDSON When brave men first sailed across the broad Atlantic they had no thought of finding new lands. What they sought was a new way to the old and known land of India — a new way to the lands of spice and gold. When they reached America, many of those old sailors thought that they had reached India. But when the new land proved not to be India, they said, ' These are but islands. Let us sail beyond them and still reach India.' Not until many voyages had been made, not until the white-winged ships had been turned back again and again from the rocky shores of America, were men con- vinced at last that these were no islands, but a vast continent which barred the way. Then the vision of a new way to India took another shape. Then began the quest for a narrow inlet or passage round or through the great continent. By sailing north-westward it was hoped to find a way which, leading through snow and ice, should at last bring men beneath the glowing sun of India. And thus began the famous quest for the North- West Passage. So it was that Englishmen, instead of making use of the lands which Cabot had found and claimed, almost forgot that claim and gave their lives and spent their gold trying still to find the new way to the land of sunshine. Among the many brave men who sailed the seas in u 16 OUR EMPIRE STORY search of this passage we remember Henry Hudson, because he gave his name to a great inland sea in the north of America, and to the strait leading to it. Hudson sailed four times to the land of snow. He, too, like Cartier, met with Red Indians. On one voyage he gave them presents of hatchets, spades, and stockings. When he returned next time he was very much amused to find that the Indians had hung the spades and hatchets round their necks as ornaments, and had made tobacco- pouches of the stockings. Amid much laughter the Englishmen put handles on the spades and shafts to the hatchets, and showed the simple savages their proper use by digging the ground and cutting down trees. One story told about Hudson is interesting, be- cause it is very like a story found in English history. Perhaps Hudson had read that story when he was a little boy. It is said that once Hudson and his men landed. As usual, the Indians came about them, wondering at the great winged canoes and the pale faces of the men who had come in them. Hudson managed to make himself understood by the savages, and after a time he told them that he wanted some land as he would like to live there. The red men did not wish to give him any land. • Then give me as much as this bullock skin will enclose,' said Hudson, throwing it down. * Yes, you may have that,' said the Redskins grinning and laughing at the white man's jest. Then Hudson and his men began to cut the skin round and round into a long rope no thicker than a child's finger, being careful always not to break the rope When it was finished they spread it out in a great circle enclosing a large piece of land. The Indians were very much astonished when they THE STORY OF HENRY HUDSON 17 saw how clever the white men were. They did not know that it was in this same way that the Britons had been cheated by the Saxons, hundreds of years before. On the 17th of April 1610 A.D., Hudson, in the good ship Discovery, sailed out from the Thames. He had started upon his last voyage from which he was never to return. Up to the north of Scotland steered the brave adventurers, then away to Greenland and the land of ice. When June came, and the birds were singing in the sunshine at home, these daring men were sailing a wintry sea where great ice-mountains floated. These ice-mountains were a terrible danger, for suddenly one would overturn and plunge into the sea. Had the little ship been near, it would have been crushed beneath the falling mass and sunk in the icy waters. So the sailors tried to steer away from them. But ever thicker and faster they gathered around the ship. With despair in his heart but keeping a brave face Hudson sailed on. But still thicker and thicker the cruel, white ice-mountains gathered. They were like a pack of hungry wolves eager to crush the frail little vessel between their angry jaws. At last the ship was so shut in that it could move no more. Then there were murmurs loud and angry among the crew. Hudson came to them. In his heart he never expected to see home again. Still he kept a brave face and tried to encourage his men. He brought his map and showed them that they had sailed further into the land of ice and snow than any Englishman had done before. Was that not something of which to be proud ? ' Now will ye go on or will ye turn back ? ' he asked. ' Would that we were at home, ay, anywhere if only out of this ice, 'they replied. B 18 OUR EMPIRE STORY • AVTiy has the master brought us to die like dogs in this Far North ? ' 'Had I a hundred pounds I would give ninety of them to be at home.' 'But nay,' said the carpenter, 'had I a hundred pounds I would not give ten in such a cause. Rather would I keep my money, and by God's grace would bring myself and it safe home.' And so there was much useless talk and many angry words. But at length, leaving their grumbling, the men set to work to save the ship from the ice, and after much labour and time they cleared the ice-blocks and steered again into the open sea. Then once more they sailed onward escaping many dangers, enduring many hardships. Sometimes they saw land, sometimes there was only the sea around them. They suffered from cold and hunger too. In the ship at starting there was only food enough for six months. Now eight months had passed, it was November, and they were far from home. Their hands and feet were frost-bitten. Many of them fell ill and could work no more. Hudson did all he could. He took great care of the food which was left, and he offered rewards to any of the men who should kill beast, bird, or fish. For they could not hope to live to see home again unless that they found much wild game to help out their scanty store of food. At one time they caught many sea-fowl. At another they could only find moss and such poor plants as grew upon the snowy land. So the winter passed and spring came and their store of food grew less and less. They were fierce, unruly men, those daring sailors, and now they greeted their master with dark and sullen looks. They were starving, and they believed that he TEESE OKUBL MEN MEANT TO TURN HODSON ADRIFT ON THE ICY WATERS.' THE STORY OF HENRY HUDSON 19 had stores of food which he kept hidden from them. So to quiet them Hudson served out a fortnight's bread at one time. But this made matters no better. They were so hungry that they could not make it last. The terrible gnawing pain was such that one man ate his whole fort- night's allowance in a day. Louder grew the murmurs, darker the looks with which the master was greeted. Men met and whispered together in dim corners. They would no longer wait, they would no longer suffer, and at last their wicked plans were made. As Hudson stepped on deck early one June morning, two men seized him, while a third pinned his arms behind. In a few minutes he was bound and helpless. ' Men,' he cried, ' what is this ? What do you mean ? ' • You will soon see,' they replied, ' when you get into the boat.' Then looking over the side Hudson saw the ship's boat ready launched. He understood. These cruel men meant to turn him adrift on the icy waters. But all were not against the master. One man who had a sword fought fiercely. But several of the mutineers threw themselves upon him and soon he too was bound. Another, the carpenter, had been kept prisoner below. Now he broke free and rushed on deck. ' Men,' he cried, taking his stand beside the captain, 'what are you doing? Do you all want to be hanged when you get home ? ' ' I care not,' answered one ; ' of the two I would rather hang at home than starve abroad.' * Come, let be, you shall stay in the ship,' said another. ' I will not stay unless you force me,' boldly replied the carpenter as he faced the sullen, angry men. ' I will rather take my fortune with my master.' 20 OUR EMPIRE STORY ' Go, then,' they said, ' we will not hinder you.' Then the sick and the lame were dragged out of their cabins and thrust into the boat along with Hudson and his son who was but a boy of about sixteen. Only one of the sick they did not send away. He crawled to the cabin door, and there, on his knees, he prayed the mutineers to repent of what they were doing. * For the love of God,' he cried, ' do it not ' ' Keep quiet,' they answered, ' get into your cabin. No one is harming you.' At last, nine wretched men were packed into the little boat. Then the ship moved out of the ice dragging it behind. As they sailed slowly along, Hudson and the other poor fellows were not without hope that the mutineers would relent and take them aboard again. But there was no chance of that. Even while Hudson was still upon the ship, some of the sailors had begun to break open the chests and rifle the stores. Now all law and order was at an end. They seized upon the food like hungry wolves. They sacked the ship as if it had been the fortress of an enemy. There was no thought of taking aboard again the master who had held them in check. As they steered clear of the ice, a sailor leaned over the ship's side. He cut the rope which bound the little boat to the stern. Then they shook out their sails and fled as if from an enemy. Soon they vanished from sight, and the little boat was but a speck upon the cold grey waters. That little boat was never seen again. What became of brave Hudson and his son, of the gallant carpenter who stood by him, and of all the poor sick men thus cast adrift upon the icy waters, will never be known. Let us hope that death came to them quickly, that the TliJfl STORY OF HENRY HUDSON 21 blue waves upon which Hudson had loved to sail were kind to him, and that soon he found a grave beneath them. Where he lies we cannot tell, but the great bay and strait which bear his name are a fitting monument for so gallant a sailor. Of the mutineers few reached home. Some were killed in a fight with savages. Others died from hunger and cold. The sufferings of those who remained were terrible. They had at length little to eat but candles. One of them, who lived to come home and who told the tale afterwards, said that the bones of a fowl fried in candle-grease and eaten with vinegar made a very good dish. At length the wretched men became so weak that they could no longer work the sails. Only one had strength to steer. They were but gaunt skeletons, haggard and pale, when their ship drifted to the coast of Ireland, and they at last reached home. As soon as they arrived in England they were all put in prison. But they were soon set free again. Perhaps the sufferings through which they had passed had been punishment enough even for their ill deeds. Our fathers died for England at the outposts of the world ; Our mothers toiled for England where the settlers' smoke upcurled ; By packet, steam, and rail, By portage, trek, and trail, They bore a thing called Honour in hearts that did not quail. Till the twelve great winds of heaven saw the scarlet sign unfurled. And little did they leave us of fame or land or gold ; Yet they gave us great possessions in a heritage untold ; For they said, ' Ye shall be clean, Nor ever false or mean, For God and for your country and the honour of your queen, Till ye meet the death that waits you with your plighted faith unsold 22 OUR EMPIRE STORY ' We have fought the long great battle of the liberty of man, And only ask a goodly death uncraven in the van ; We have journeyed travel- worn Through envy and through scorn, And the faith that was within us we have stubbornly upborne. For we saw the perfect structure behind the rough-hewn plan. ' We have toiled by land and river, we have laboured on the sea ; If our blindness made us blunder, our courage made us free. We suffered or we throve, We delved and fought and strove ; But born to the ideals of order, law, and love. To our birthright we were loyal, and loyal shall ye be ! ' O England, little mother by the sleepless northern tide. Having bred so many nations to devotion, trust, and pride. Very tenderly we turn With willing hearts that yearn Still to fence you and defend you, let the sons of men discern Wherein our right and title, might and majesty, reside. Bliss Carman. CHAPTER V THE FATHER OF NEW FRANCE While Englishmen were seeking the North-West Pas- sage, Frenchmen were working to found New France, for after Cartier, other men tried to found colonies in the lands beyond the seas. Each failed as Cartier had failed. But at last there came a man who was so deter- mined and so brave that he succeeded in doing what others had not been able to do. This man was Samuel de Champlain,' often called the Father of New France. After the discovery of Newfoundland, sailors had been quick to find out what a splendid place it was for fishing. So men from all countries came to fish in the waters there. Others came to trade with the Indians for furs. But they all came and went again. None thought of making their home in that far-off land. At length a Frenchman, seeing what a lot of money might be made out of furs, disked the King of France to allow him alone to have the fur trade. This is called a monopoly. Alonopoly comes from two Greek words, monos, alone, and polein, to sell. So if you yet a mono- poly of anything it means that you are the only person who is allowed to sell that thing to others. The King of France said this Frenchman might have a monopoly of furs if he would found a colony in New France. To this he agreed, and set sail with some friends. All the other fur merchants of France were, 24 OUR EMPIRE STORY however, very angry, because they knew that if only one man was allowed to buy furs from the Indians and sell them to the French, he would become very rich and they poor. But the colony, which was now founded, did not suc- ceed any better than those before it had done. It was not until Champlain and some other adventurers came to help that things went better. Champlain was a soldier-sailor. He was brave, and wise, and kind too — just the very best sort of man to treat with savages and found a colony. Champlain did not at first go as a leader, but only to help two gentlemen caUed Poutrincourt and De Monts. Soon, however, it became plain that he was the real leader, and later he was made Governor of New France. Champlain and his friends landed first in Acadie. That is the part of the Dominion of Canada which we now call Nova Scotia. On an island at the mouth of the river St. Croix they built their fort, and prepared to spend the winter. But they soon found that they had chosen a very bad place. It was cold and barren. There was neither wood for fires nor fresh water to drink. So after passing a winter of pain and trouble, during which many died, they went over to the main- land, and there built their fort anew. There the city of Annapolis now stands. Then the colonists called it Port Royal. The new colony had a hard struggle. The second winter was almost as bad as the first. The settlers had eaten all the food which they had brought with them from France, and as the ships which they expected with more did not arrive, they began to starve. Then Cham- plain made up his mind to take all his people home to France. For he knew that it would be impossible to itijji i^Aitil^ii uF NEW FRANCE 25 live through another winter without help. Two brave men offered to remain behind to take care of the fort until the others returned, and a friendly old Indian chief promised too to stay near. So good-byes were said ; the little ship sailed out of the bay, and the two brave men prepared to spend the long autumn and winter alone between the forest and the sea, far from any white man, and with only savages near. But about nine days after Champlain had sailed, the old chief saw a white sail far out to sea. The two Frenchmen were at dinner and did not notice it. The old chief stood for a little time watching the white sail as it came nearer and nearer. Then, in great excitement, he ran shouting to the fort, ' Why do you sit here ? ' he cried, bursting in upon the two men. • Why do you sit here and amuse yourselves eating, when a great ship with white wings is coming up the river ? ' In much astonishment and some dread the two men sprang up. One seized his gun and ran to the shore. The other ran to the cannon of the fort. Both were ready to fight as best they might should the strangers prove to be enemies. Eagerly they watched as the ship came on. Was it friend or was it foe, they asked themselves. At last it was quite near. At last they could see the white flag of France, with its golden Jleur-de- lis, floating from the mast. With fingers which trembled with joy, the man at the cannon put a match to the muzzle, and a roar of welcome awoke the echoes of the bay. Right glad were the newcomers to hear it, for they had been anxiously watching the fort which seemed so silent and deserted, and with thunder of guns and blare of trumpets they joyously replied. 26 OUR EMPIRE STORY Soon the little fort was full of busy life again, and Champlain, who had not gone far on his journey, hearing that help had come, turned back to join his friends again. Among the colonists who came in this ship was a lawyer from Paris, called Marc Lescarbot. He was very merry and gay. Always in good spirits himself, he kept others in good spirits too. After the newcomers had settled down, Champlain and some of the men sailed away to explore the country, leaving the others to take care of the fort. They worked hard, felling trees and digging the ground, cutting paths through the forest, and planting barley, wheat, and rye. But when work was done there was plenty of fun, for Lescarbot kept them merry. Among other things he prepared a play with which to greet the travellers when they came back. Champlain returned somewhat weary and disheartened. He had not succeeded in exploring much further than before. The Indians had proved unfriendly, and several of his men had been killed by them. So with the coming of winter he turned back to Port Royal. They arrived there one gloomy November afternoon. But those who had been left behind were watching for them. As Champlain and his men drew near they saw that the whole fort was a blaze of lights. Over the gateway hung the arms and motto of the King of France, wreathed with laurels. On either side hung those of De Monts and Poutrincourt, two of the leaders. The gate, as the travellers came near to it, opened, and out came no less a person than old Neptune, sitting upon a chariot drawn by Tritons. His hair and beard were long, a blue veil floated about him, and in his hand he held his trident, and so with music and poetry he welcomed the travellers from the sea. THE FATHER OF NEW FRANCE 27 After Neptune came a canoe, in which were four savages, each with a gift in his hand. These they pre- sented, each in turn making a speech in poetry. Pout- rincourt, who entered into the game at once, listened to Lord Neptune, his Tritons and savages with drawn sword in hand. Then after he had made a speech of thanks, the Tritons and savages burst into song, and the re- turned travellers passed beneath the wreathed gateway to the sound of trumpets and the roar of cannon. Lescarbot wrote a history of New France in which he tells about all this. He gives there the poetry which was said and sung, not because it is very good poetry, he says, but because it shows that in that unknown country, far from friends and home, they were not sad. Thus the long, cold winter began, but Lescarbot had many devices for making the dark, dreary days pass merrily. He formed all the chief men of the colony into an order which he called the Order of Good Times. Each member was Grand Master of the order for one day. It was his duty to see to the meals during that day. Each Grand Master tried to manage better than the one before. He would hunt and fish and invent all sorts of dainties, so it came about that there was always enough to eat, and plenty of change, and as a result there was not so much sickness nor so many deaths as there had been during the winters before. The officers of the Order of Good Times did every- thing with great ceremony. When dinner-time came the Grand Master marched into the hall wearing his fine chain of office round his neck, a napkin over his shoulder, and a staff in his hand. He was followed by the Brethren, each carrying a dish which he placed upon the table. Then they all sat down to dine. At supper there was much the same ceremony. Then when it was over and the 28 OUR EMPIRE STORY great wood fire burned and roared up the chimney, its flames dancing and flickering and making strange shadows upon the wall, songs were sung and stories were told. And in the circle which gathered round the glowing hearth, many a time a dark-skinned chieftain, gay in paint and feathers, might be seen sitting side by side with the French gentlemen-adventurers, who listened with dehght to the quaint tales he told. Then the wine cup and the pipe went round, and when the last pipe was smoked, the last bowl empty, the Grand Master of the day, his duties done, would give up his chain of office to the Brother who should succeed him. And so with laughter and with song the dark days passed and spring came once more. With spring came bad news. The monopoly had been withdrawn. The colony must be given up. Sad at heart, the colonists left their new home, which they had worked so hard to found, and went back to France. CHAPTER VI THE FOUNDING OF QUEBEC The little colony at Port Royal had to be given up, but in less than a year Champlain was back again. This time he did not go to Acadie but to the St. Lawrence. Up the great river he sailed, until he reached a place called, in the Indian language, Kebec, which means the narrows. There, on 3rd July 1608 a.d., he landed. The first tree was feUed upon that wild and unknown river bank, and on the rocky heights above, the founda- tions of the first house of the town of Quebec were dug. Once again a few brave, white men built their home, and settled down to live far from their friends, among the wild Indians. Th«; Red Indians were divided roughly into two great tribes, the Iroquois and the Algonquins. These two tribes hated each other bitterly and were nearly always at war. Both the Iroquois and the Algonquins were divided into clans or families, each clan having its own name. But in war they all took sides, either with the Iroquois or with the Algonquins. The Iroquois are sometimes called the Five Nations, from the five chief clans of which they were made up. They are also sometimes called the Long House from the shape of their huts. The Red Indians were among the most fierce and cruel of all savages. After a battle they held wild orgies, at which the prisoners were tortured with dreadful cruelty, 30 OUR EMPIRE STORY and which often ended with a sickening feast upon the dead bodies of the enemy. One of the horrible things they did was to scalp their enemies, that is, with their stone hatchets, called tomahawks, they would cut off part of the skin of the head with the hair upon it. The more scalps a warrior could gather the greater and braver was he thought. Often a chiefs cloak would be decorated with a fringe of the scalps which he had taken. Before the Indians went to battle, they would paint their faces and bodies and often shave their heads, but the ' scalp lock ' was always left as a kind of challenge and defiance to the enemy. Champlain was filled with two great ideas ; to found a colony, by means of which the fur trade might be carried on, and to explore and claim for France the vast unknown regions of Canada. He saw that to do this he must be friendly with one or other of the tribes of Indians. The Algonquins had their homes along the St. Lawrence and around Quebec, so Champlain made friends with them, and promised to help them in their battles against the Iroquois. But Champlain did not know then, as he found out later, that the Iroquois were far stronger and more clever than the Algonquins. About a year after the founding of Quebec, Champlain set out with the Algonquins to help them against their enemies, as he had promised. They travelled together, Champlain and two or three Frenchmen in a flat-bottomed boat and the Indians in their canoes, far up the River Richlieu and along the lake since called Lake Champlain. All went well for some time. Then one day the Red Men had a quarrel among themselves, and in hot anger more than half of them went home, leaving only about sixty braves to fight the enemy. These however went on, nothing daunted, every day coming nearer and nearer THE FOUNDING OF QUEBEC 81 the country of the Iroquois. Then they travelled with great caution, paddling up the river during the night, and hiding in the forests the most of the day. At last one even- ing they saw a great crowd of canoes filled with savages coming towards them. These were Iroquois. Each side greeted the other with yells of hatred. They did not, however, begin to fight at once, but spent the night dancing, singing, and shouting insults at each other. When day came Champlain and his few white men lay down in the bottom of the canoes to watch the savages land and begin the fight. Both sides advanced slowly, uttering their horrible war shout or scalp cry, *aw-oh-aw-oh-aw-o-o-o-o-h.' But suddenly the ranks of the Algonquins opened, and Champlain with his loaded gun marched down the centre. The Iroquois, who had never before seen a white man, paused in fear and astonishment. Champlain took aim, fired, and two chiefs fell dead. Then the fear which took hold upon the savages was great indeed. What w^as this awful thunder and lightning which struck men dead in a moment ? They knew not. Never before had they seen such magic. Champlain paused to reload, and one of his men fired. Again a savage fell dead. Then fear was turned into wild terror. The Red Men took to their heels and ran madly to the shelter of the forest, pursued by their shrieking, victorious enemies. So ended the first battle between the French and the Indians. It was fought at a place called Ticonderoga, which means the meeting of the waters, and which after- wards became famous for another great battle. The Algonquins took many prisoners, whom they treated with abominable cruelty. Champlain at last cried out in horror against it, and himself shot one prisoner dead, rather than see him tortured more. 32 OUR EMPIRE STORY To the French this battle was but the firing of a few shots. To the Iroquois it meant the beginning of a bitter hatred, a hatred which was never to be allowed to sleep. Ever after this day they were the enemies of the French and the friends of their old foes, the English. CHAPTER VII HOW A BOLD ANSWER SAVED QUEBEC Quebec was founded, and for many years the little colony struggled on in the face of difficulties. There were many comings and goings between France and New France. Again and again Champlain crossed the sea to plead his cause with king and councillors, with merchant and with prince. But in spite of all his pains and trouble. New France grew but slowly, and after twenty years Quebec was still hardly more than a village. Besides founding a colony, Champlain wished to make the wild Red Indians Christian. ' To save a soul,' he said, 'is of more importance than to conquer a kingdom.' So he brought priests and ministers from France, and tried to teach the heathen about Christ. But already Christian people had begun to quarrel among themselves about religion. They were divided into two parties. Those who kept to the old religion were called Roman Catholics, those who followed the new were called Protestants. In France the Protestants were called Huguenots. At first both Roman Catholics and Huguenots came to New France. But they hated each other. Even on board ship while they were sailing over the sea to teach the heathen to love each other, they would quarrel, and the quarrel often ended in a fight. Then the sailors would gather round to watch, some crying, ' Down with the Huguenots,' others, ' Down with the Papists.' The c 34 OUK EMPIRE STORY sailors thought that it was good fun, but it made Cham- plain sad. ' I know not which was the bravest, or which hit hardest,' he says, ' but I leave you to think if it was very pleasant to behold.' On land things were not much better, and once, when a minister and a priest died at the same time, the sailors buried them in one grave ' to see,' they said, ' whether being dead they would remain in peace, since they could so little agree whilst living.' At last, for several reasons, the King of France forbade any Huguenots to go to New France. This was a pity, for the Huguenots were good merchants, many of them were rich, and they would have been a great help to the new colony. Besides, the Huguenots were ready to go through much toil and to suffer many hardships for the sake of their religion. Had they been allowed to worship God in their own way in the new land, many would have gone there gladly, and the colony would have grown quickly. On the other hand the French Catholics had to be persuaded to go, as they were quite comfortable at home. So the colony grew slowly. At this time the Stuart kings were ruling in Great Britain. They too, like the French king, tried to force all their people to be of one religion. But the people would not be forced, so many of them sailed away over the sea to the New World in the hope of finding freedom. They found it too, for although the Stuart kings were despots at home, they allowed much freedom to the colonies, indeed they paid little attention to them. So it came about that the British colonies grew much faster than the French. And soon the British wanted all the land in North America, even Canada which the French claimed. In the year 1628 France and Britain were at war. HOW A BOLD ANSWER SAVED QUEBEC 85 For the people in Quebec, the winter had been long and hard. Nearly all the food which the colonists had had was eaten, and Champlain was anxiously looking for more from home, when bad news reached him. He heard that British ships were sailing up the river seizing all the French ships they met. A farm upon which Quebec depended for food had been attacked and burned, and all the cattle carried off. This was bad news indeed. As soon as Champlain heard it he prepared for battle. Each man in the fort was given a post. Guns were loaded and the walls strengthened as well as might be. When evening fell every man was ready for the foe. That night all was quiet, but next day a little boat flying a white flag was seen sailing up the river. It brought a letter from Captain Kirke, the leader of the British ships. Calling all his chief men together, Cham- plain read the letter aloud to them. It was very polite. It told how Captain Kirke had been sent by the King of Great Britain to take possession of all the country of Canada. It told how he had already taken many ships, and how, knowing that there was but little food within the walls of Quebec, he had also destroyed the farm. ' And in order that no vessel may reach you, I have made up my mind to stay here till the end of the season so that you may get no more food. Therefore see what you wish to do, if you intend to give up the settlement or not. For, God aiding, sooner or later I must have it. I would desire for your sake that it would be by courtesy rather than by force, to avoid the blood which might be spilt on both sides. • Send me word what you desire to do. ' Waiting your reply, I remain, gentlemen, ' Your affectionate servant, 'David Kikke.' 36 OUR EMPIRE STORY What was to be done ? Yield ? There was but fifty pounds of powder in all the fort, and hardly any food. Seven ounces of peas was all that was served out to each man daily. Weak, pale and thin, the French could not hope to hold out against the British for more than a few hours. But their hearts were stout and strong. Not a man was willing to yield without a struggle. ' If Captain Kirke wants to see us near at hand,' they said, • he had better come, and not threaten us from so far off.' Then Champlain sat down and wrote as bold and polite a letter as that he had received. ' My fort is well furnished with food,' he said. ' It and we are in good condition to resist you. My soldiers and I would deserve severe punishment from God and man did we yield without a fight. We will await you from hour to hour, and when you come will try to show you that you have no claim to our fort. Upon which I remain, sir. Your affectionate servant, Champlain.' The letter was sealed and sent, and each man stood to his post, ready to sell his life as dearly as might be. But boldness won the day. When Captain Kirke read the letter he sat gravely thinking. No man, it seemed to him, who was in great straits would have answered as Champlain had answered. He must have been deceived. He was not strong enough to risk a siege and perhaps a defeat. So up sails, and away sped handsome, swaggering Captain Kirke, down stream. The brave hearts at Quebec waited hour by hour for death which did not come. And at last the good news, that the British had sailed away, was brought to them. They were saved. CHAPTER VIII HOW THE UNION JACK WAS HOISTED UPON THE FORT OF ST. LOUIS By his boldness, Champlain had saved Quebec. But almost at once another misfortune fell upon the brave little garrison. As Kirke sailed down the river he met a fleet of ships bringing food, powder, shot, fresh soldiers and colonists to Quebec. These he attacked and after a desperate fight he captured every one of them. Some of the ships Kirke burned and sank, two he sent back to France with the new colonists who had just come from there, and the rest he carried in triumph to England. Months went on. In those days news travelled but slowly. The little garrison at Quebec knew nothing of what had happened to their ships, and they waited in vain for the promised food from home. The men haunted the woods for roots and berries. They trapped wild animals and fished the river. But soon they had few hooks or lines left and their powder they dared hardly use for killing game. It was a terrible time. The little children in the fort cried with hunger, and their mothers had nothing to give them. At last the famine became so dreadful that some of the settlers left the fort and went to live among the wild Indians until help should come. Then one July morning a ship came sailing up the river. A white flag, in sign of peace, floated from the mast. Champlain, as soon as he saw it, hoisted a white 38 OUR EMPIRE STORY flag upon the fort too. The ship came to anchor. A little boat put off and made for the shore. A young British officer sprang to land and asked to be led to Governor Champlain. He was the bearer of a letter from Kirke's two brothers, Louis and Thomas. ' Sir,' said this letter, ' our brother told you last year that sooner or later he would have Quebec. He has charged us to assure you of his friendship as we do of ours. Knowing very well the extreme need in which you are, he desires that you shall surrender the fort to us. We assure you that you will receive every courtesy from us, and honourable terms.' The state of the garrison was desperate. Yet Champlain would not give in without a struggle. So he sent a priest to talk to Louis and Thomas Kirke. But nothing he could say would move the swaggering, reckless British sailors. • If Champlain gives up the keys of the fortress,' said Louis, * we will treat you well and send you all home to France. If he will not give them up peaceably we will take them by force.' ' Give us fifteen days' grace then,' begged the priest. 'No.' 'Eight days.' 'No sir, not a day. I know well your miserable condition. You are all starving. Your people have gone to gather roots in the forest lest you die of hunger.' • Still give us a few days,' begged the priest. • No, no,' said Thomas, • yield the fort or I shall ruin it with my cannon.' ' I want to sleep within it to-night,' said Louis, ' and if I do not I shall waste the whole country round.' ' Have a care,' said the priest proudly. • You deceive tlUW THE UNION JACK WAS HOISTED 89 yourselves if you think that you can win the fort so easily. There are a hundred men within it well armed and ready to sell their lives as dearly as may be. You may not conquer so easily. You may find defeat and death instead of victory. Once more I warn you. Be careful.' Once again, as a year before, bold words had an effect. Thomas and Louis Kirke hesitated. Could it really be as the priest said ? Was the garrison still so strong ? They were doubtful what to do, so they asked the priest to go aside a little while they talked to their officers. These all agreed that Champlain must be made to give in at once. ' Let him have three hours in which to make up his mind,' they said. So the priest returned to the fort with this sad news. Champlain now saw that it was useless to hold out any longer. Indeed it was worse than useless, for if he yielded without firing a shot the Kirkes had promised that every man should be spared, but if they resisted they need hope for no mercy. Champlain had only fifty men and they were weak and ill. There was not ten pounds of flour left in the fort and hardly any gun- powder. To fight would only mean the throwing away of life. So he decided to yield. But the people were angry. They still believed that they could fight the British. ' Even if we lose the fort,' they said, ' let us show them that we have courage.' ' How can you be so foolish ? ' replied Champlain. 'Are you tired of living? We cannot hope to win. We have no food, no powder or shot, and no hope of getting any. Would you throw your lives away ? ' Truly, how could the strongest fort hold out when within its walls there were neither soldiers, shot, nor food? 40 OUR EMPIRE STORY When at last the bitter talk, this way and that, was over, it was evening, so no more could be done that night. The worn-out garrison spent a last sad night within the fort. The British lay in their ship opposite. Next morning Champlain stepped on board the waiting vessel. There he gave up the keys and signed away his right to the town which he had founded, and cherished, and loved. So without the firing of a shot Quebec became a British possession. The fleur-de-lis of France was hauled down from the Fort St. Louis, as the house which Champlain had built for himself was called, and in its place floated the Union Jack. This is called the first siege of Quebec, although it was really no siege, for not a shot was fired. In their own rough way the conquerors treated Cham- plain with courtesy. They made a list of "all that was found in the fort and gave Champlain a receipt for it. ' As for a list of provisions,' said Kirke, with grim humour, ' we will not need to waste paper and ink upon it. I am not sorry, for it is a great pleasure to us to give you all that you need.' • I thank you,' said Champlain bitterly, ' but you make us pay dearly for it.' Some of the Frenchmen went back to France, others chose to remain with their new masters. Louis Kirke took possession of Quebec and Thomas sailed triumphantly homeward with the spoils of war. But his triumph was short-lived, for as he landed, he was greeted with the news that in April peace between France and Great Britain had been signed. Quebec had been taken in July. It must therefore be handed back to France, as it had been taken unlawfully when the two countries were at peace. But Charles i. did not lightly let go what he had HOW THE UNION JACK WAS HOISTED 41 seized. He was bland and courteous, promised much and delayed much. Meanwhile the British kept posses- sion of Quebec and of Canadian fur trade. Not until three years had come and gone did Champlain once more land upon the shores of his beloved New France as governor. He was then sixty-six years old. As a soldier, as a sailor, as a traveller and explorer, he had suffered all the hardships of life. He had endured bitter cold, scorching heat, wounds and famine, but, in spite of all, he was as eager as ever to fight and labour for New France. If Champlain was glad to return, his people were no less glad to receive him. Frenchmen and Indian alike joined to welcome him home. As the grey-haired governor stepped on shore the air was rent with cheers. Then with drums beating and colours flying they led him up the steep and winding pathway to his old fort of St. Louis. There once more he received the keys which three years before he had given up with so much bitterness of heart. Three years later, after nearly thirty years of labour and hardship, Champlain died. He died as he would have wished, in the service of his country, still Governor of New France. CHAPTER IX THE FEAST OF EAT-EVERYTHING After Champlain came many rulers. Some of them were strong and brave, others were weak and foolish. All of them had to fight against their deadly enemies the Iroquois ; and for many years the story of New France was one of suffering and terror. The hate of the Red Man never rested, and time after time he fell upon the French with savage strength. He swept through the land, leaving behind him a memory of blood and torture. When the whites first came to Canada, the Indians were as wild and ignorant as our forefathers had been when the Romans first landed upon the shores of Britain. In some ways, indeed, the Red Man was more savage, for the Britons in that far-off time had swords of iron and copper. The Red Man knew nothing of metals. His tomahawk was of stone, the head being fastened to a wooden handle by thongs of leather. His arrow heads were of flint. His greatest treasure was * wampum,' that is, beads made of shells. These beads were used for making belts, and a belt of wampum was the grandest present which an Indian could give to any one. The Indian soon found out that for a few skins he could buy shining steel axes and long, keen knives from the Pale faces. For many skins he could buy the magic sticks which spoke death at great distance. And the THE FEAST OF EAT-EVERYTHING 43 Red Man was clever. He learned quickly. Soon he was as good a shot as the white man. Then the rattle and bang of firearms was added to the war-cry of the Indian, and the wonder is that the few white men were not swept from the face of Canada. Indeed, it seemed at times as if it was not the courage of soldiers and settlers, but of the priests, which kept them from being utterly blotted out. Champlain was a very religious man, and many priests had come with him, until Canada had seemed more of a mission than a settle- ment. The early story of Canada is full of the brave deeds of the 'black robes,' as the Indians called the priests. In 1642 Montreal was founded at the place which, a hundred years before, Cartier had called Mount Royal. It was founded, not by traders, but by men with the zeal of saints and the spirit of martyrs. It was founded by men eager to carry the news of the story of Christ to the wild heathen, and both ready and eager to die for the Cross. Some of these brave priests went far into the country, among the tribe called the Hurons, teaching them to be Christian. For many years they lived and worked among them. But the Iroquois, who were the deadly enemies of French and Hurons alike, waged war against these missions. They ravaged and slew, burned and tortured, until the Hurons as a nation were utterly destroyed. The few who remained fled, seeking shelter now with one tribe now with another. But wherever they fled the Iroquois followed, and at last by famine and war, the race was blotted out. Many of the brave priests found the death of martyrs. Those who were left returned sadly to Quebec, taking with them a few remaining Huron converts. They had worked hard and endured much ; and at the end of U OUR EMPIRE STORY fifteen years they had nothing to show for all their suffer- ing and struggle. The Iroquois were fierce, and strong, and treacherous. They cared not what means they used, so long as their enemies were tortured and killed. Now one of the Five Nations pretended that they would be pleased if some of the ' black robes ' would come to live among them, and teach them as they had taught the Hurons. The French could hardly believe that these fierce enemies really wanted to be taught. But they were glad at the thought of peace, and about fifty brave men, ten only of whom were soldiers, resolved to go and live among the Iroquois. They were received with much joy. The savages danced and feasted, smoked the pipe of peace, sang songs, and made speeches, and pretended to be so glad that one of the priests said, ' If after this they murder us, it will be from changeableness and not from treachery.' But he Uttle knew the blackness of the Iroquois heart. Soon the forest rang with the sound of axe and hammer as the Frenchmen, priest and soldier aUke, worked side by side to build their new homes. Mean- while another of the Five Nations heard what the French priests had done, and they were angry and jealous. In their anger they took to their war-canoes, and paddling down the St. Lawrence to the Isle of Orleans they attacked, killed, and took prisoner, the helpless Hurons who were now living there. Before the town of Quebec the whole river was black with canoes filled with naked savages, howling, dancing, and singing. And as they howled and yelled they taunted the gover- nor, making a great show of their prisoners, who were the white men's friends. And the governor, who was weak and fearful, dared do nothing. He dared not fire a shot to protect his red-skinned friends, lest their savage THE FEAST OF EAT-EVERYTHING 45 foes should revenge themselves by attacking the brave priests who had gone to live among the Iroquois. At last, tired of insulting the helpless Frenchmen, and full of scorn and contempt for the white man, the Indians paddled away up the river with their prisoners. Days and weeks went past ; the priests who had gone to Uve among the Iroquois taught, and worked, and prayed. In the great forest this handful of white men lived alone among the prowling savages, ' who came like foxes, fought like lions, and disappeared like birds ' — but strong in their faith they had no fear. At length, however, dark whispers of treachery came to them. Friendly Indians warned them that the chiefs had met in council, and had vowed to kill them all. The black robes found it hard to believe that the men who treated them with such smiling kindness meant to kill them. But they were not left long in doubt, for a dying Indian, repenting of his treachery, told them all the plot. Every man was to be killed before the spring. The J'renchmen now knew that they must escape, and that quickly. But how ? All day long the Indians strolled about, following their every step, watching their every movement, in make-believe friendliness. At night they slept around the gate of the mission, ready to spring awake at the slightest sound. To try to escape through the forest was impossible. There was but one hope, and that was to cross the lake near which the mission was built and sail down the river to Montreal. But to do this they needed boats, and they had only eight canoes, which were not nearly enough to carry them all. The Frenchmen were desperate but not hopeless. Over the mission-house there was a large loft. There the Indians seldom came, and there the priests began in secret to build two large boats. They were soon 46 OUR EMPIRE STORT ready. The next thing was to find, or make, a chance to use them. Among the Frenchmen was a young man of whom the Indian chief had become very fond. One morning he went to the chief pretending to be in great trouble. ' I have had a dream, my father,' he said. ' It has been shown to me by the Great Spirit that I shall certainly die. Nothing can save me but a magic feast.' The Indians believed very much in dreams. They thought that those who did not do as they told them would be sorely punished. So the chief at once replied : ' Thou art my son. Thou shalt not die. We shall have a feast, and we shall eat every morsel.' These magic feasts were called Feasts-of-eat-every- thing. At them each guest was bound to eat aE that was set before him. No matter how much he had eaten, no matter how ill he felt, he was bound to go on until the person whose feast it was said he might stop. As soon as the day was fixed the priests set to work with right good wiU to make a great feast. They killed their pigs, they brought the nicest things out of their stores, they concocted the most tempting dishes. But the chief thing they thought of was to have a great quantity. The evening came. Great fires were lit around the mission-house. About them the Indians gathered. First there were games, dances, and songs. One game was to see who should make the most noise by screaming and yelling. The Frenchmen gave a prize to whoever could yell loudest, so that the savages exhausted themselves trying to win the prize. At last, wearied with their efforts, they all sat down in a circle. Great steaming pots were brought from the fires, and each man's wooden basin was filled. As soon as they were empty they were THE FEAST OF EAT-EVERYTHING 47 filled again and yet again. The Indians were hungry, and they ate greedily. While they gorged the French- men beat drums, blew trumpets, and sang songs, making as much noise as they could. This they did to cover any strange sound that might come from the shade of the forest to the sharp ears of the savages. For in the darkness, beyond the glare of the firelight, a few white men were straining every muscle to carry the heavy boats unseen and unheard to the lake. With beating hearts and held breath, now stopping fearfully, now hurrying onward, they reached the lake. The boats were safely launched. The hours went on, and still the feast did not end. The gorged savages could eat no more. ' Is it not enough ? ' they cried. ' Have pity on us and let us rest. ' ' Nay,' replied the young Frenchman, * you must eat everything. Would you see me die ? ' And although the Indians meant to kill him, perhaps the very next day, they still ate on, for this was a magic feast. It had been ordered in a dream by the Great Spirit whom they must obey. Making strange faces, rolling their eyes wildly, choking, gulping, they ate till they could not move. 'That will do,' said the young man at last. 'You have saved my life. Now you may sleep. And do not rise early to-morrow. Rest till we come to waken you for prayers. Now we will play sweet music to send you to sleep.' Stupid with over-eating, dazed with drink, the savages slept. For a little time one of the Frenchmen played softly on a guitar. Soon loud snores told him that there was no more need of his music, and he crept silently to the boats. Meantime the priests had fastened the doors 48 OUR EMPIRE STORY and windows of the mission-house, and locked the gate in the high fence which surrounded it. Then one by one they ghded stealthily to the boats, until the last man was safe aboard. It was March and still very cold, and now snow began to fall so that their footprints were covered over. The lake was still lightly frozen over, and as the first boat pushed off men leaned from the bow and broke the ice with hatchets. The rowers pulled with all their strength, forcing the boat through the shattered ice. The second boat followed in its track. Last of all came the canoes. Thus they crossed the lake, and reaching the river were soon carried swiftly down stream. On and on they went through the dark night, fleeing from death, and torture worse than death. When the sun rose, shedding pale wintry gleams on dark forest and swift-flowing stream, they were far away. All through the night the Indians slept their sleep of gluttony. When late in the morning they awoke they still felt dull and stupid. But at last arousing them- selves they found that all around was still and silent. No sound came from the mission-house, no smoke rose from its chimney. What could it mean ? FuU of curiosity the Indians pressed their faces against the fence, trying to see through the cracks in the wood. There was nothing to see. A dog barked in the house, a cock crew in the yard. All else was still. At last, impatient to know what was happening within, the Indians climbed the fence, burst open the door, and entered the house. It was empty. Great was the anger of the savages, greater still their astonishment. How could the Black Robes have escaped? they asked themselves. They had no boats, so they could not escape by water. There was no trace of them THE FEAST OF EAT-EVERYTHING 49 on land, so they had not escaped by the forest. There was only one explanation. This was the work of the Great Spirit. The Black Robes and their followers had flown away through the air during the night. And with this thought, fear fell upon the heart of the Red Man. Meanwhile the Black Robes were speeding on their way down the river. On and on they went, hardly pausing for rest, until a month later they reached Quebec. They were saved, but the mission had been an utter failure. CHAPTER X A KNIGHT OF NEW FRANCE * Where a northern river charges By a wild and moonlit glade. From the murky forest marges, Round a broken palisade, I can see the red man leaping. See the sword of Daulac sweeping, And the ghostly forms of heroes Fall and fade.' A. Lampman. The Red Terror grew and spread. There seemed no hope of taming the savage, no safety for the white man but within stone walls. At last the Iroquois began to gather in force, swearing to sweep through Canada and utterly crush their enemies. Then it was that a little band of seventeen brave men went out to fight the savages. They were headed by a young French noble of twenty-five, named Adam Daulac. In olden days, when knights rode forth against fell giants and awful beasts, they spent the night in some quiet church, kneeling in prayer. So now these brave men, who knew that they were going to certain death, knelt for the last time in the little wooden church of Montreal, confessed their sins and received the holy sacrament. Then, after a solemn farewell, with the prayers and blessings of the people ringing in their ears, w A KNIGHT OF NEW FRANCE 51 they rowed slowly up the river and passed from sight. They were knights, as true and fearless as ever laid lance in rest. , Up the stream they rowed, beneath the bending branches of dark and ancient trees, through wild and almost unknown regions, until they came to a ruined and deserted Indian fort. Here they resolved to await the foe, and here they were joined by some thirty friendly Indians. They had not long to wait. Soon a whole fleet of war canoes, filled with two hundred yelling savageSv came leaping down the rapids. The Frenchmen had not expected the enemy so soon. They were taken by surprise, and were outside the fort, cooking their dinner by some fires which they had just lit. So suddenly had the savages come upon them that they had no time even to seize their pots and kettles, but were obliged to leave them behind and run for the fort. The Indians expected an easy victory, but from behind their ruinous fort the Frenchmen met them with such a steady fire, that the savages fell back in confusion. The Indians then began to build a fort opposite the French camp. While they were busy with this, the Frenchmen strengthened and repaired their own fort. They heightened the wooden palings and strengthened them with earth and stones, leaving loopholes all round through which to fire upon the enemy. But before the work was finished the Indians were upon them again. Calmly the Frenchmen awaited the attack. At the word of command their guns rang out. Every shot told, many a savage warrior fell dead, and, seized with a name- less terror, the others fled. But again and again they rallied, again and again they returned to the attack. 52 OUR EMPIRE STORY answering the cannonade of the Frenchmen with a hail of bullets. Then seeing that in spite of all their efforts they could not take the fort by storm, they made up their minds to burn it. With yells of savage glee they seized upon the Frenchmen's boats, smashing them to pieces before their eyes. Of the splintered fragments they made torches, and each man carrying a flaring, smoking light, they rushed to the wooden walls of the fort. But the fire of the Frenchmen was so sharp, their aim so true and deadly, that not a savage got near enough the fort to set it on fire. The fight went on. At length the savage chief was shot. Then fury of revenge and desire of blood maddened the Iroquois. Night and day they howled and yelled around the little fort. Night and day the Frenchmen fought and prayed by turns. Worn by want of sleep, tortured by hunger and thirst, shivering with cold they still fought on. They had nothing to eat but a coarse kind of meal made from Indian corn. They had nothing at all to drink. With blackened tongues and dry, parched throats it became impossible to swallow the meal. Frantic with thirst, a few made a rush for the river. For two hundred yards they ran through the spattering fire of the enemy. They risked death for a few drops of water. For their big kettles and pans had all fallen into the hands of the savages, and they had only cups in which to carry the water, and what they brought back was scarcely enough to wet the lips of the gasping garrison. For seven days the terrible fight lasted. The French- men's supply of shot was growing smaller and smaller. They knew that they could not hold out much longer. The friendly Indians grew weary of the struggle, and they leapt over the wall and fled to join the enemy. So A KNIGHT OF NEW FRANCE 53 the seventeen Frenchmen were left with only five Indians to help them against hundreds. On the seventh day of the siege the air rang with cries more loud and savage than before, and the earth, and river, and sky, seemed to tremble with the echo and re-echo of gun shots. Five hundred more savages had arrived, and their war-cries mingled with the shouts of welcome from their friends. Armed with new courage, the whole force of nearly seven hundred savages rushed to the attack. But every loophole of the fort belched forth fire, and many a Red- skin fell. Half dead though they were with want and weariness, the Frenchmen still fought fiercely. Three more days passed, days of prayer and agony witliin the fort, while without, thrown back again and again by the steady fire, the dark savages surged and yelled. At last the Indians made a yet more determined assault. Protected by huge wooden shields, which covered them from head to heel, they rushed upon the fort with axe and firebrand. In spite of the Frenchmen's fire, the savages were able now to reach the walls. There they hacked and burned trying to make an entrance. The case of the defenders was now desperate. Daulac then made a bomb by setting a slow match to a small barrel of gunpowder. This he tried to throw over the wall, hoping that it would explode among the Indians. But the Frenchmen were weak with famine and weari- ness. They could not throw the barrel high enough. It caught upon the top of the wall, and rolling back, burst within the fort, wounding many and bUnding others, so that for a few minutes they could not see to fight. In the confusion which followed, more Indians crowded to the walls, and they gained possession of the loopholes. One moment showed their savage, triumphant faces in 54 OUR EMPIRE STORY the openings, the next the shining barrels of their guns gleamed there, and a hot rain of bullets showered upon the Frenchmen. Shut within the encircling walls, there was little for them but to die, A moment later the men, who had been hacking at the walls, succeeded in making a breach. Indians poured 'through it, others scrambled over. On all sides the Frenchmen were surrounded. Dearly they sold their lives. Muskets were thrown aside, with sword in one hand and knife in the other they fought the yelling fiends, till the dead lay thick about them. At length the ghastly fight was over, and the last white man fell dead upon the heaps of slain. Thus fighting against fearful odds, died valiant Daulac and his brave followers. Nor did these gallant Frenchmen die in vain. It was a splendid defeat, far more glorious than many a victory. It saved their fellow-countrymen in Canada. ' If seven- teen white men behind a wooden fence can hold seven hundred warriors at bay, what will they not do behind stone walls ? ' the Indians asked. And so, cowed for the time, they turned homewards to mourn their dead and await a day of revenge. CHAPTER XI THE BEGINNING OF THE HUDSON BAY COMPANY After Henry Hudson, many English explorers sailed for Hudson's Bay seeking the North- West Passage. They suffered much and learned little. Then, as if weary with the cruel struggle with ice and snow, these bold adventurers ceased their voyages for a time, and not for forty years did a British ship steer its way among the icebergs of the great inland sea. Then again adventurers sailed to the Far North. But this time they came not to explore, but to trade. Prince Rupert, the dashing cousin of King Charles ii., helped to fit out the expedition, and himself became the governor of the new land which was now claimed by the British. And this land was called after him Prince Rupert Land. The adventurers received a charter or writing from King Charles, giving them leave to trade and found colonies wherever they would around the shores of Hudson Bay. The company was called the ' Honourable Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay,' and later it became famous as the Hudson Bay Company. Soon a British fort was built upon the barren shore, and the red flag of St. George fluttered out in the lonely waste. But the French were ill pleased that any man should set foot in the land they wished to own. So the 56 OUR EMPIRE STORY next year the French king sent a gentleman named De Lusson to take possession of the great North- West This gentleman did not trouble to go to the North- West, but upon a hill at the Saulte St. Marie, where the three great lakes meet, he held a solemn ceremony. Here many tribes of Indians were gathered together hideous with paint of various colours, bedecked with feathers and wampum. They were feasted, they danced and played games and smoked the pipe of peace. And at last one sunny day in June they climbed the hill, and upon the top, with much pomp and little understanding what it meant, set their names to a paper. In this paper the great White King claimed the whole of North America from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the coast of Labrador as far west as land might be, for then the west was but a pathless wilderness, no man knowing how far it might reach. It was a wild and strange scene. Gay Frenchmen in bright uniforms, priests in rich robes, half-naked savages gaudy in paint and feathers, aU were there. When the paper was signed, a great cross blessed by the priests was raised, and planted near it was a post carved with the lilies of France. Then kneeling around the cross with bowed bare heads, the Frenchmen sang a Latin hymn — ' The banners of Heaven's King advance ; The mystery of the Cross shines forth.' Prayers were said. Then with drawn sword in one hand, and a sod of earth in the other, De Lusson claimed all the countries, rivers, and streams, both those which were discovered and those which at any time might be discovered, for his most Christian Majesty, the King of France And as he ceased, the silence was broken, the uii:<^Ii\JMlJ\G OF HUDSON BAY COMPANY 57 air rang with cries of God save the King, mingled with the roar of gunshot and the savage yells of Indians. A priest then spoke to the Red Men. He told them that powerful though their chiefs might be, they were as nought to the great White King, whose riches were untold, who walked in the blood of his enemies, and who had slain so many in battle that no man might number them. This he told them to strike awe into their hearts, and greatly marvelling at the power of this fearful unknown white lord, the Red Men scattered to their homes again, uttering wild yells or grunting hoarsely as they went. So once more France and Britain clashed, and France claimed what Britain had taken. Still for some years the Company built forts, traded with the Indians, and grew rich, undisturbed by the French. Then the French too formed a fur-trading company called the Company of the North, and trouble began. Again and again the British forts were attacked and destroyed. Again and again with dogged courage the British returned to them, and rebuilt them. Even when they were not fighting, the French did aU they could to prevent the Red Men trading with the British. But the Red Men soon found out that the British gave them more in exchange for their furs than the French, and so, of course, were glad to trade with them. Nowadays, if we wish to buy anything, we must give money for it. But to a savage, money is of no use, for he has no shops to which he may go to buy things. So in exchange for furs the traders gave the Redskins tobacco, guns, beads, hatchets, gay clothes, and blankets. During the winter the savages would hunt and trap the wild animals and gather great stores of skins, then when spring came, and the frozen rivers melted, they woul4 58 OUR EMPIRE STORY load their bark canoes and paddle away to the Company's forts. They had often to travel hundreds of miles, and the journey was full of difficulties and dangers. In those days, through the wilderness of the Far North, there were no roads at all. The rivers and lakes were the only highways. But upon the rivers there were rapids where the waters rushed in white foam over the river bed. So clever were the Indians in managing their canoes that sometimes they could shoot these rapids, that is row over them. But at other times, when the rapids were more dangerous, they would land, unload their canoes, and carry them and their goods along the river banks, and launch again in the smooth water below the rapids. This was called making a portage. Portage comes from the French word porter, to carry. Sometimes, too, when a river no longer flowed in the direction in which the traveller wished to go, he would unload and carry his canoe over the portage to another river which did flow in the right direction, and there launch anew. Some- times a portage might only be a few yards, sometimes it was several miles. Often the difficulties of travelling were so great that the Indians, worn with hunger and fatigue, became too weak to carry their loads. Then, before they reached the trading fort, they would throw away many of the skins which they had gathered with such skill and care during the winter months, thus losing the reward they had hoped to gain for their labour. But the fort at last reached, all difficulties and dangers of the journey were forgotten. With shouts and firing of guns the Indians landed. Leaving the women to unload the canoes and do the other hard work, the chiefs marched to the fort. There they were received by the white men, and sat in state, while pipes were BEGINNING OF HUDSON BAY COMPANY 59 passed round the circle. Then followed days of drinking and feasting, sometimes of fighting too. For the Red- skin, alas ! loved the ' fire water ' of the white man, and when the heat of it warmed his blood, he cared not what he did. At length came the great day. Dressed in a red coat trimmed with cheap lace, brave in many coloured stockings and feathered hat, the chief and his warriors gathered to smoke the pipe of peace. Its long stem was decorated with bears' and eagles' claws, and bright with feathers, and as it passed around the circle each took a whifF. Then when the tobacco burned low in the bowl, speech began. With much flowery talk, and many flowing words, the furs were exchanged for tobacco and guns. It was a long business, but at length the barter was done. Then the Redskins paddled away again, once more leaving the fort to its wonted stillness, and the traders to pack and store the furs ready to be sent off' when the next ship from home should arrive. Such were the beginnings of the great company which for a time ruled a large territory, and which still exists to this day. It was no easy or safe life, for the French looked upon the whole land as their own. Again and again they attacked the company's posts and swept them away. Again and again the British returned, strengthened their outposts, and pushed their conquests farther and farther into the wilds. At last they gained such a firm footing that neither the rage of the French- man, nor the wiles of the Indian, could dislodge them. CHAPTER XII THE ADVENTURES OF LA SALLE For a long time Canada was under the rule of fur- traders and companies, and it did not prosper well. The whole people did not number two thousand. Most of those lived in Quebec, Montreal, and Three Rivers, and in the forts, scattered and few, stretching inland along the banks of the river St. Lawrence to the great lakes. But in 1663 Canada was made a crown colony, and King Louis xiv. took the ruling into his own hands. Canada was now ruled by a Governor, a Bishop, and a third man called an Intendant. One of the Intendant's chief duties was to look after the money and see that it was properly spent. In a different way he was quite as powerful as the Governor, and the Bishop also had great power. The Sieur de Courcelle was the first governor under the new arrangement. And now, from having utterly neglected the colony, the king began to take a great interest in it. With Courcelles came the Marquis de Tracy, the Viceroy of all King Louis' western colonies and possessions, in order that he might see for himself what the land of New France was like. He brought with him a famous regiment of soldiers called the Carignan-Callieres, from the names of two of their leaders. They were the first real soldiers that had ever so THE ADVENTURES OF LA SALLE 61 come to Canada, Besides the soldiers, the marquess brought many settlers and a great train of servants and courtiers. In a day the population of Canada was doubled. Fresh life seemed to have been poured into the colony. The towns were gay with courtiers in ribbons, lace, and feathers, through the trackless woods marched the brightly-clad soldiers of the line. But though they seemed gorgeous as peacocks, they were brave as lions. Soon the pride of the Iroquois was humbled. The white man was no longer bullied by haughty, half-naked savages, and for twenty years Canada had peace from the Red JSIan. Louis de Baude, Count Frontenac, was one of the greatest of the governors of New France. Next to that of Champlain, his name is perhaps the best remembered in the history of the colony. He was the first man who tried to give the people of Canada freedom. Until Frontenac came, the people had no say in ruling. Now the governor tried to form a parliament. He asked the townspeople to come to talk about the affairs of the colony together with the priests and nobles. But when the French king heard about it, he was very angry. He did not wish the people to be free. He wished to keep all the power in his own hands, and Count Frontenac was forbidden to call his little parlia- ment together again. Although Frontenac was not allowed to do all he wished, he was a very powerful ruler. But he was proud and haughty, and often quarrelled with the Intendant and with the Bishop. The Indians, however, dreaded and respected him more than any other ' Onontio,' as they called the white rulers. Onontio means ' great mountain ' in the Indian 62 OUR EMPIRE STORY 'anguage. One of the governors of New France had ')een called Montmagny. The Indians had been told that in the French language that meant Great Mountain, and from his name they called all the governors who came after him, Onontio or Great Mountain. But never had Onontio been respected as Frontenac was respected. The Indians felt that he was their master. He would not call their great chiefs ' Brother,' as other rulers had done. He called them his children and he was their Great Father. Yet though they feared him, they loved him too, for he would laugh and jest vnth them, play with their children, and give their wives strings of beautiful beads. Then, too, at times he would paint his face and dress himself like an Indian chief, and with tomahawk in hand would lead the war-dance ; or again he would sit by the council fire making speeches as fine as any savage warrior. It was while Frontenac was ruler that the great time of Canadian exploration began. In spite of both French and British colonies, little was known of the vast continent of America. The French forts stretched inland along the river St. Lawrence to the great lakes ; the British crept along the seashore from Florida in the south to Acadie in the north, and were shut out from the great west by the Alleghany Mountains. But what was behind and beyond none knew. The British, when they went to live in the New World became fishermen and farmers, settling down quickly to a peaceful home hfe. Not so the Frenchmen. Priest, soldier, or colonists, each seemed filled with the roving spirit of the forest, the desire for adventure and the thirst for knowledge and conquest. Indeed the desire for a wild and roving life became so strong in some, that they could no longer remain in towns and villages, and THE ADVENTURES OF LA SAI,LE 63 they wandered away into the woods to live among the Indians. They dressed like Indians and married Indian women. They were reckless, fearless men, loving the forests and the lonely lakes and rivers, and instead of taming the Redskins they themselves became almost like savages. In vain the King of France made laws forbidding the young men to wander away and live in the woods. The woods called them, and they could not resist the call. These men became known as ' wanderers of the woods,' or, in the French language, Coureurs de hois. These forest adventurers were great fur-traders. They knew all the haunts and habits of the wild animals. They read the signs of sky and wood as we might read a book. In winter, alone across the trackless snow, they found their way. In summer the pathless forest had no terrors for them. They were warriors and explorers as well as trackers. and traders. Lawless and brave, they were looked upon as outlaws, and sometimes in battles they might be seen fighting for Indians, sometimes for the French. ' Give me freedom, give me space, Give me the open air and sky. With the clean wind in my face Where the quiet mountains lie. I am sick of roofs and floors. Naught will heal me but to roam ; Open me the forest doors, Let the green world take me home. I am sick of streets and noise. Narrow ways and cramping creeds; Give me back the simpler joys; Nothing else my spirit needs. For the road goes up and the road goes down, And the years go over and by, And soon will the longest day be past, Soon I must lay me down.' 64 OUR EMPIRE STORY When these wanderers of the woods came to the towns to sell their furs, they brought with them many wonderful stones of the sights they had seen far in the unknown wilds. Among other things, they talked of a •great water' of which the Indians told wonderful tales. They called it the Mississippi or Father of Waters. Then men began to ask what this great water was. Was it perhaps the fabled passage to the Indies, which many a brave sailor had given his life to find ? If it could be found, would it lead at last to the Vermilion Sea, to China, to the spice lands, and the glories of the East ? Many people set out to find this great water, and at last a priest named Marquette and an explorer named Joliet discovered the Mississippi. They sailed far down it, past where the yellow, angry waters of the Missouri join it. On and on southward they went, until at length they became sure that the great river did not flow across America and fall into the Pacific Ocean as they had thought, but southward into the Gulf of IMexico. Having made sure of this they turned home again with the news of their great discovery. Among the many French adventurers was a man named R^n^ Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle. He is generally called La Salle, and is one of the best known of the Canadian explorers. Like others, La Salle had heard of the great water and was eager to follow it all the way to its mouth. So with a friend called Tonty he gathered a company, and went to explore. Tonty, like La Salle, was brave and fearless, and he was much dreaded by the Indians. He had only one hand, the other having been shot off while he was fight- ing once in Europe. So he had an iron hand made to replace the one he had lost, and he always wore a glove ALONE ACROSS THE TRACKLESS SNOW.' THE ADVENTURES OF LA SALLE 65 over it. Once or twice when the Red Men had been unruly he had brought them to order by knocking them down with this hand. Not knowing that it was of iron, they wondered at his power and strength, and called him a ' medicine man ' and feared him greatly. La Salle was one of the most unlucky of men, and now he had many and terrible difficulties to fight. He had enemies who did their best to hinder and ruin him. His own men even were not true to him, besides which he had to fight with storms, and cold and heat, hunger and thirst, and not least, with savage Indians. But he was so brave and determined that nothing made him give in. Before La Salle began his exploration, he built a ship which he called the Griffin. In it he sailed up Lake Erie and Lake Michigan. It was the first time that a sailing-boat had ever been seen on these great inland seas, and the Indians came to wonder and stare at it in astonishment. La Salle had not much money, so from Lake Michigan he sent the Griffin back to Montreal with a load of furs, giving the captain orders to sell them and return with goods needful for the expedition, as soon as possible. When the Griffin had sailed. La Salle journeyed on with the rest of his men to the head of Lake Michigan, and there he awaited the return of his ship. But the Griffin never came again. In vain La Salle waited and watched for a white sail. No white sail ever appeared. What became of the Griffin will never be known. Somewhere upon the great lakes it was lost, with all the men on board. Not one returned to tell the fate of the others. While La Salle waited and watched in vain for the E 66 OUR EMPIRE STORY return of the Griffin, the good days were passing, winter was coming. At length he gave up hope of seeing his ship again, and made up his mind to go on without the fresh supplies he had sent for. So, through many trials and dangers, suffering from cold and hunger, the little band pushed on. For La Salle, perhaps, the hardest trial of all was that his men did not believe in him. Nearly all were discontented, and many were afraid of the difficulties and dangers of the way. Two, indeed, were so afraid that they ran away. At length La Salle made up his mind to rest for the winter on the banks of the river Illinois. Here he built a fort which he called Fort Cr^ve-Cceur, or Heart-Break. But in spite of the sad name he gave his fort, La Salle showed that he had not quite lost heart, for he began to build another ship to take the place of the Grriffin. But soon La Salle found that he had not many things which were needed for the ship. To get them, some one must return to Montreal, and La Salle resolved to go himself. Taking with him one Indian and four other Frenchmen, La Salle set out on his terrible walk of a thousand miles. Tonty with the rest — some sixteen men — remained be- hind to guard the fort and work at the ship until their leader's return. This journey of La Salle was tiresome beyond be- lief. With the first days of spring the snow began to thaw, and thawing it turned the prairies into wide and endless marshes, in which the travellers sank to their knees, or sometimes even to their waists. They could not walk upon the rivers, for the melting ice was not strong enough to bear them. Neither could they sail down them, for the broken ice would have smashed their frail canoes to pieces. So they scrambled along the THE ADVENTURES OF LA SALLE 67 banks, sometimes forcing their way through forests so dense, that their clothes were torn to rags and their faces so scratched and bleeding that they hardly knew each other. They had to suffer both from cold and heat. The sun at midday blazed upon them, at night the frost was bitter. During the day they were often drenched with rain or half-melted snow, at night their soaking clothes would freeze. At night, wet and weary, they lay down to sleep around their camp fire, in the morning they awoke to find themselves encased in frosted armour. Worn out with the terrible hardships of the journey, one after another the men fell ill. But at length, after more than two months crowded with pain and toil and danger, they reached Fort Frontenac, and found rest and shelter. CHAPTER XTIl THE ADVENTURES OF LA SALLE CONTINUED La Salle's troubles were not ended. At Fort Frontenac he was greeted with the news that a ship from France, laden with goods for him, had been wrecked. This was indeed bad news. But La Salle was not to be daunted. He at once set to work to gather fresh supplies, and made ready to start back to Fort Heart-Break, there to join his friends. Then the worst news of all came. A letter from Tonty arrived to tell La Salle that soon after he had left, nearly all his men had mutinied. They had destroyed the fort, robbed the storehouse, and what they could not carry away they had thrown into the river. They had gone, leaving Tonty and four or five faithful men helpless and alone in the wilderness. La Salle had been eager to set out. Now that he heard this evil news he was more eager still. He felt that there was no time to lose, and that he must find and help his friend at once. But when, after a long and difficult journey, La Salle reached Fort Heart-Break again, there was no sign of any human being. The fort was ruined and deserted, and only the great staring ribs of the unfinished ship were left to show that white men had been there. No sign of Tonty or his faithful few was to be seen. Never for a moment, however, did La Salle give in. THE ADVENTURES OF LA SALLE 69 He spent the winter in making friends with the Indians, and in trying in every way to hear news of Tonty, and at last, when spring came again, the two friends met They had much to tell each other. But it was a tale of sorrow and failure on both sides. Yet La Salle was not beaten, and once more he set out with Tonty on his travels. But now he gave up the idea of building a ship, and the expedition started down the river in canoes. It was the middle of winter before everything was ready. The river was frozen over, so the men made sledges, put their canoes upon them, and in this way dragged them over the ice. As they went southward it became warmer, spring came, and the ice began to melt. The sledges were of no more use, and for a time neither were the canoes, for the river soon became full of broken floating ice, through which it was impossible to paddle. But at length the ice was nearly all melted; they reached a clear and open stream, and, launching the canoes, they sailed swiftly onward. Every day as they sailed they left winter further and further behind. The sun shone pleasantly ; spring flowers nodded to them from the banks ; the drooping trees put on a beautiful soft green. It seemed as if their troubles were over. On and on they floated easily down stream, through the smiling spring land, which no white man had ever before beheld. At last they reached their journey's end, and stood upon the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. On that lonely shore these few white men raised a pillar. Upon it they carved the arms of France and the words, ' Louis the Great, King of France and Navarre, reigns, 9th April 1682.' The white flag of France, with its golden fleur-de-lis, floated out upon the breeze, and the silence was broken for the first time by the sound of guns and the shouts of ' God save the King.' 70 OUR EMPIRE STORY When the sound of the shouting died away, the men raised their voices once again. This time they sang a hymn of praise to God. Then with drawn sword La Salle stood beside the pillar. ' In the name of the most high, mighty, invincible, and victorious Prince, Louis the Great, by the Grace of God, King of France and of Navarre,' he cried, ' I do now take possession of this country of Louisiana, the seas, harbours, ports, bays, and all the nations, peoples, cities, towns, villages, mines, fisheries, streams, and rivers, within the said Louisiana from the mouth of the great river Ohio along the river Mississippi, and all the rivers which flow into it from its source to its mouth at the sea.' Then a cross was raised beside the pillar. Once more the guns rang out, once more shouts of ' God save the King ' awoke the silent echoes of the forest, and men's voices raised a Latin hymn of praise. To France a new kingdom had been added. If you will look on the map you will see what a great region La Salle had claimed. He himself had no idea how great it was. You will see that the British colonies lay like a narrow strip between the AUeghanies and the sea, while the French had claimed all that lay behind ; that is, all the country which is now the United States, as well as the whole of Canada. It was a vast kingdom, and could not be held by France through the mere planting of a pillar. This La Salle well knew, though he himself did not guess how large a tract of land he had claimed. Now he formed a plan by which this kingdom might be held. His plan was to build a town at the mouth of the Mississippi, and forts all along its banks at certain dis- tances. These forts would be resting-places for traders, and would form a barrier against the British, shutting THE ADVENTURES OF LA SALLE 71 them more than ever out from the unknown west. All the trade of Canada could then be borne down the Mississippi to the town at its mouth, which would thus grow into a great seaport. From there white-winged vessels would glide out to all parts of the world, and so great wealth and glory would be added to the crown of France. Such was La Salle's dream. But meanwhile he had to battle his way up stream, back through savage wilder- ness to the dwellings of white men. And it was not until he had passed through many more adventures and dangers that he reached Quebec once more. From there he set sail for France, eager to tell the king of all that he had done, and of all that he hoped still to do. King Louis received La Salle kindly, and gave him the help he asked. Soon four ships set sail from France filled with soldiers, workmen, and colonists, bringing with them all things needful to found a city. La Salle sailed for the Gulf of Mexico, and meant to land at the mouth of the Mississippi, which he had reached before by paddling down the river. But coming to it from the sea was very different from coming to it from the land. La Salle could not find the place, and sailed more than a hundred miles beyond it. When at last they landed, the colonists were already dis- heartened. They had lost two ships : one had run upon rocks, the other had been taken by the Spaniards, who claimed the Gulf of Mexico as their own, threatening with death any who dared to enter it. On the way out, La Salle had quarrelled with his officers. Things from first to last went ill, and so it was with little spirit in the task that the colonists set about building their wooden houses. Two years of struggle, toil, and misery followed the 72 OUR EMPIRE STORY landing. • This pleasant land seemed to us .an abode of weariness and an eternal prison,' wrote one of the com- pany. Sickness and death thinned their numbers, till at the end of these two years, of the two hundred men and women who had set sail, scarcely forty remained. And these were but a ragged and forlorn band. Their clothes were in such tatters that they were glad to make coats of sail cloth; their food was near an end. Gladly would they have left their prison, but they knew not how. In vain they strained their eyes seawards, hoping for the sight of a friendly, fearing to see a Spanish, sail. Sadly they thought of their beloved France, which they had left with such light hearts. They longed to return, but no ship came. They were alone, forsaken, and lost in that far land. At length La Salle made up his mind to try to find his way back to Canada by land, and bring help from there to the forlorn colony. So one morning there was a sad scene within the walls of the little fort, as those who went said farewell to those who stayed. Many tears were shed as last handshakes were given, last good- byes said. Then the little band set out on the long and terrible journey northward. They were a quaint and ragged party. Some wore the clothes they had brought from France, now much patched and darned ; some wore coats of sailcloth ; some the skins of wild animals. They were but iU prepared for their long and perilous journey through prairie and forest, by stream and lake. Yet in the brave, unyielding heart of La Salle, there was still hope. La Salle was brave and strong, and his friends loved him well. But these friends were few. To most people he was cold and haughty, and he made many enemies. Now bitter hate and discontent filled the hearts of some THE ADVENTURES OF LA SALLE 78 of his men. As the difficulties and hardships of the way grew greater, their hatred grew deeper, and at last one morning they shot their leader dead. ' There thou liest, there thou liest, great Bashaw,' cried one, rejoicing as he saw his enemy lie dead upon the ground. The mutineers then stripped the body of all its clothes and left it naked and unburied, a prey to the wild beasts. So he who would have founded a kingdom and made France great among the nations, lies in a nameless, unknown grave. Of what became of his murderers little is known. By man, at least, they went unpunished. No help ever came to the little colony La Salle had left behind him. It was attacked by Indians; nearly all the colonists were killed, the rest scattered. La Salle's brilliant dream ended in nothingness, but he had shown his countrymen the way. Other great men followed him who were more successful, and it seemed for a time as if France would indeed hold the great possessions claimed for her in the New World. CHAPTER XIV COUNT FRONTENAC While La Salle was struggling down the Mississippi, Frontenac, the great Onontio, was having his troubles too. The Indians who had been at peace for so long were growing restless. It needed all Frontenac's cleverness to keep them quiet. And though he kept peace with the Red Man, he could not do so with his white brother. He quarrelled with the Intendant and he quarrelled with the Bishop. At last the quarrels became so bad, that King Louis in anger called both Frontenac and the Intendant home. Frontenac was followed by a governor who could not manage the Indians at all. They grew insolent, he grew frightened. Then King Louis, more angry than ever, ordered him to come home. Again, under the next governor, the troubles with the Indians grew no better but rather worse, till the Iroquois prowled about like wolves, and no white man's life was safe. The French plotted, and the Indians plotted. Treachery was met by treachery, blood was wiped out in blood. The Iroquois' hatred of the French, which for a time th^ seemed to have forgotten, burst out again with wilder fury than before. One stormy August night, amid the lashing of hail and the scream of the wind, the Indian war-whoop was heard by the sleeping settlers of Fort La Chine, not far from 74 COUNT FRONTENAC 75 Montreal. Leaping from their beds they made ready to defend themselves. From all sides yelling, painted warriors poured in upon them. Muskets flashed and roared, tomahawk and hatchet gleamed and fell. Many fled in the darkness, but few escaped the awful vengeance of the Indian. When the sun rose it shone upon the ruined, deserted village in the ashes of which lay the I dead bodies of two hundred men, women, and children. More than a hundred others were led away captive, many of them to be done to death with horrible tortures in the Indian encampment. The people of Montreal were filled with horror, the governor was helpless with fear. For two months the Indians prowled about, ravaging and destroying at will. Then they went off to their own country, carrying their prisoners with them. Before they went they gathered around Montreal, filling the air with hideous yells — giving a yell for every prisoner they had taken, and thus show- ing their scorn of the governor. Besides this fearful Indian warfare, quarrels between the British and the French colonies were every day becoming more bitter. For many years, while the French north of the St. Lawrence had been founding scattered colonies and trying to make the heathen people Christian, the British colonies south of the St. Lawrence had been growing stronger and stronger. The British had not claimed so much land as the French, but there were far more people in the small part that they had claimed, and they held it with far firmer hands. Now there began a struggle between the British and the French for the fur trade, for the possession of the waterways by the rivers and great lakes, and for the friend- ship of the Indians. The Indians had already found out that the British gave them more for their furs than the 76 OUR EMPIRE STORY French. So even those who were friendly with the French were not unwilling to trade with the British. There is no room in this little book to tell of all the quarrels and of the exciting fights which took place when white men fought against each other, and side by- side, with yelhng savages whose faces were painted red and green, or spotted with black and white. They were indeed often painted all over, and naked except for tails of wild beasts hanging down their backs. Upon their heads they wore horns, in their noses and ears iron ornaments, and round their necks chains of beads. They were somewhat terrible friends to have, and very fearful enemies. The Iroquois had nearly wrecked the colonies of New France, when the news came that Frontenac, the great Onontio, was coming back. He was now seventy years old, he was old and grey, but he had not forgotten how to rule. His coming struck terror to the Indian heart. With them he would have made peace, but with the British he waged war. For he believed that they had been to blame for many of the quarrels, and that they had stirred the Iroquois to fight. So against the British Frontenac sent three armies of French and Indians. It was dead of winter when they set out. Shod with snow-shoes, wrapped in fringed blankets, daubed with paint and decked with feathers, French and Indian alike sped over the snow fields. The British were not prepared for war. At one fort the gates were open, the doors unbarred. And so secure did they think themselves that, instead of sentinels, there stood by the gateway two snow men. But in the dead of night, over the silent snow, French and Indian stole. With fierce war-whoops they fell upon the sleeping men. COUNT FRONTENAC 77 The slaughter was awful, and soon the village was a smoking ruin. All three armies were alike successful, if armies they might be called, for they were rather wild marauders. The Indians began again to respect the French and were no longer so insolent. But the British now gathered in strength to repay the blow. Sir William Phips sailed out from New England, attacked and took Port Royal, and once more claimed Acadie for the British. Then the New Englanders decided to take Quebec. And one October morning a fleet of thirty-four British ships, big and little, sailed up the St. Lawrence and anchored before Quebec. A little boat, flying a white flag, put off and made for the shore. In it was an oflScer carrying a letter to Count Frontenac. As he came to shore the Frenchmen met him, and before he was allowed to land they blind- folded him. Then with a soldier on either side he was led through the streets to the governor. Up and down steep and stony pathways he was dragged, followed by a jeering crowd of women and children who laughed aloud as he stumbled over rough places, telling him it was but a game of blind man's buff: At length, bewildered and out of breath, the young officer was led into a room, and the bandage was taken from his eyes. Then he found that he was standing before the governor and his officers. For a moment, dazzled by the sudden light, he gazed in confusion at the crowd of Frenchmen in their gay uniforms, glittering with gold and silver lace. Then recovering himself, he gave the letter which he had brought to Frontenac. This letter, in very proud words, demanded the surrender of Quebec, in the name of William and Mary, 78 OUR EMPIRE STORY King and Queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland. It gave Frontenac one hour in which to return an answer. The letter was read aloud, and when the reading was at an end the British officer pulled out his watch. ' It is ten o'clock,' he said, showing it to the governor ; ' I require your answer by eleven.' ' By heaven ! ' thundered Frontenac, ' I will not keep you waiting so long I Tell your commander that I do not recognise King William, and that the Prince of Orange, who calls himself so, is a usurper. I know no king of Britain but King James. I will answer your general with the mouths of my cannon. Let him do his best, I will do mine.' With the French commander's proud answer ringing in his ears, blindfolded once more, the British officer was led stumbling down the steep streets to his boat. So the siege began. But although Phips was brave, he was leading men little used to war. They had courage enough, but little discipline. They were farmers and fishermen rather than soldiers. They threw av^ay their lives, they wasted their shot against the solid wall of stone upon which Quebec is perched, while the French- men riddled their ships with shot and shell. At last, with splintered masts and torn rigging, the British sailed away. Yet, had they but known it, Quebec had almost been within their grasp. For although there were men enough and powder and shot enough within the walls, food was scarce, and the horror of famine stared the defenders in the face. CHAPTER XV THE STORY OF MADELEINE DE VERCHERES War still went on — war between French and British, between French and Iroquois. The houses in the country were deserted, the fields lay untilled, the people crowded to the towns for safety. Here and there the people of a village would gather and work all together. But while they worked, sentinels were on the watch to give warning at the first sign of danger. Everywhere the red terror lurked. No man was safe, no life was sure. The trader paddling down-stream with his store of furs, the trapper returning from the woods, each knew that he held his life in his hands^ ' The enemy is upon us by land and sea,' wrote Frontenac ; * send us more men if you want the colony to be saved.' Many stories are told of brave deeds done at this time. But one of the most famous is that of Madeleine de Vercheres, a girl of fourteen, who held her father's fort against the Indians for a whole week. It was autumn, and all the settlers at Vercheres had gone to work in the fields some miles from the fort. Two soldiers only had been left on guard. Besides them there was an old man of eighty, some women and children, and Madeleine with her two little brothers of ten and twelve. All seemed peaceful and quiet. But through the thick forest, which already glowed gold and red beneath 80 OUR EMPIRE STORY the autumn sun, Indians were stealing. Thinking that all was safe, Madeleine had gone down to the river which flowed not far from the fort. Suddenly, through the still air, was heard the sound of gun-shots. Hardly had the sound died away when there came a cry from the fort. ' Run, miss, run 1 ' shouted the old man ; ' the Indians are upon us ! ' Madeleine turned. There, not a pistol-shot behind her, was a band of forty-five or fifty Indians. How JNIadeleine ran I Fear seemed to give her wings. But oh, the way was long 1 As she ran, she prayed in her heart, ' Holy Virgin, Mother of God, save me I ' The bullets of forty-five muskets sang and whistled round her as she fled. Would she never reach the fort ? Oh, how far off it seemed ! ' To arms, to arms I ' she shouted, hoping that some one would come out and help her. No one came. At last she reached the gate and fled within. With trembling hands she closed and barred it. For the moment she was saved. But it was only for the moment. Wasting no time, Madeleine ran round the fort to see that all was safe. Here and there logs had fallen out on the palisades, leaving holes through which the enemy might get in. These she ordered to be replaced, herself helping to carry the logs. As soon as that was done she went to the guardroom where the gunpowder and shot were kept. Here she found the two so-called soldiers hiding in abject terror. One had a lighted match in his hand. ' What are you going to do with that ? ' she asked quickly. ' I am going to set the powder on fire and blow us all up,' he answered. • You coward 1 ' cried Madeleine, ' go 1 ' She was only a girl of fourteen, but she spoke so STORY OF MADELEINE DE VERCHERES 81 sternly that the soldier was ashamed. He blew out his match and left the room. Madeleine now threw off the white muslin bonnet which women used to wear in those days. Putting on a steel cap, and taking a gun in her hand, she turned to her two brothers, ' Boys,' she said, ' let us fight to the death. Remember what father has taught you, that gentlemen must be ready to die for their God and their king.' The boys were as brave as their sister, and, taking their guns, they went to the loopholes and began to fire upon the Indians who were now close round the house. Although Madeleine was so calm and brave, the women of the fort were much frightened. They cried pitifully, and so did the little children. Madeleine comforted them as well as she could, and told them that they must not cry, for if the Indians without heard, they would learn how hopeless the state of the fort was, and would attack more fiercely. All day long the fight lasted, and with the darkness of night came a terrible storm. The wind howled round the walls, snow and haU beat against the windows. It was a fearful night, and Madeleine anxiously watching the movements of the Indians, became sure that they were making ready to attack the fort under cover of the darkness and the storm. So Madeleine gathered her little garrison and made a speech to them. ' God has saved us to-day from the hands of our enemies,' she said. ' But we must watch to-night lest we fall into their snares.' Then to each she gave his orders, posting her few men as well as she could round the walls. So all night long the Indians heard the steady tread of sentinels on duty. Every hour from 82 OUR EMPIRE STORY fort and block-house came the cry, 'All's well.' The wily Indians were completely deceived, and thinking that the fort was strongly garrisoned they dared not attack. Towards morning there was an alarm. The sentry nearest the gate suddenly called out, ' Lady, I hear something.' Hurrying towards him, Madeleine peered anxiously through the loophole. Yes, there, against the whiteness of the new-fallen snow, black moving figures could be seen coming close round the house. For a few moments Madeleine watched anxiously. Then soft lowing and snuffling was heard. Madeleine gave a sigh of relief. These were no Indians, but some cattle belonging to the fort which had found their way through the snow to the gate. There were only a few, for the Indians had captured nearly all the herd. ' We must open the gate and let them in,' said some one, ' God forbid,' replied Madeleine, * you do not know the wiles of these Indians. Very likely they are behind the cattle, wrapped in skins and ready to rush in the moment we are silly enough to open the gate.' But after some talk it was decided to risk it. For if they were long besieged they might be glad of the cattle to keep them from starving. Calling her two brothers, Madeleine placed them one on each side of the gate, with their fingers on the triggers of their guns ready to fire. Then the gate was carefully opened. One by one the cattle came in, and the gate was again closed in safety. At last the long night ended. And as the sun rose and the darkness fled, the fears and terrors of the night fled too. STORY OF MADELEINE DE VERCHERES 88 The day passed, and another, and another. The Indians still prowled without, the brave little garrison still kept watch within. Hour by hour Madeleine marched round the posts, always smiling, always speak- ing cheering words, however heavy her heart might be. For the first two days and nights she hardly slept, never laying down her gun or taking off her clothes. And so a week went by. Upon the seventh night Madeleine sat in the guard- room. She was very weary. With her gun lying across her arms, and her head resting upon the table, she fell asleep. Suddenly she started wide awake to hear the tramp of men around the house. Springing up, she seized her gun. ' Who goes there ? ' she called out into the darkness. ' French,' came the reply ; ' it is La Monnerie come to help you.' " Ah, that was good news I Running to the gate, Madeleine threw it open. But even now she did not forget to be careful. Posting a sentinel, she marched out to meet the Frenchmen. ' Sir, you are welcome,' she said, giving La Monnerie, the leader, a military salute. ' I render you my arms.' 'Lady,' replied the captain, bowing low before her, 'they are in good hands.' ' Better than you know, perhaps,' replied Madeleine proudly. La Monnerie and his soldiers marched into the fort. Wonderingly he made a tour of the posts and found all in good order, each ' man ' at his post. It was perhaps the strangest, bravest garrison he had ever seen. Among them were an old man of eighty, and a boy of ten, and their leader was a girl of fourteen. * Sir,' said Madeleine, a little wearily but with a joyful 84 OUR EMPIRE STORY pride, * relieve my men. We have not been off duty for eight days.' ' And this is my little garrisoDj my brothers Louis and Paul ; With soldiers two, and a cripple. May the Virgin pray for us all. But we 've powder and guns in plenty, and we '11 fight to the latest breath, And if need be, for God and country, die a brave soldier's death. ' Load all the carabines quickly, and whenever you sight the foe. Fire from the upper turret and loopholes down below. Keep up the fire, brave soldiers, though the fight may be fierce and long. And they '11 think our little garrison is more than a hundred strong.' So spake the maiden Madeleine, and she roused the Norman blood That seemed for a moment sleeping, and sent it like a flood Through every heart around her, and they fought the red Iroquois A.S fought in the old-time battles the soldiers of Carignan. And six days followed each other, and feeble her limbs became, Yet the maid never sought her pillow, and the flash of the carabine's flame Illumined the powder-smoked faces, ay, even when hope seemed gone. And she only smiled at her comrades and told them to fight, fight on. And she blew a blast on her bugle, and lo, from the forest black Merrily, merrily ringing, an answer came pealing back. Oh, pleasant and sweet it sounded, borne on the morning air. For it heralded fifty soldiers, with gallant De la Monniere. And when he beheld the maiden, the soldier of Carignan, And looked on the little garrison that fought the red Iroquois And held their own in the battle, for six long weary days. He stood for a moment speechless, and marvelled at woman's waya Then he beckoned the men behind him, and steadily they advance. And with carabines uplifted the veterans of France Saluted the brave young captain so timidly standing there. And they fired a volley in honour of Madeleine V.Jtm^ .m:m i*i4 DRIVING A COW B3POEE HEK, LAUEA SEOORD PASSED THE AMERICAN SENTRIES.' THE STORY OF LAURA SECORD 107 path. For a moment it seemed to Laura that her pam and toil had been of no use, and that a death of torture was to be her fate. Then joyfully she saw that the Indians were friendly. In a few minutes she was led before Fitzgibbon. Quickly Laura's story was told, and as the soldier listened, he bowed in reverence before the brave lady. Then with glowing words of thanks and praise ringing in her ears, Laura was led away to a farmhouse near to rest. Quickly Fitzgibbon made his plans. First he sent a messenger hurrying towards Twelve Mile Creek to ask for help. Then he ordered his Indians to scatter through the wood, and watch for the approach of the enemy. The night passed quietly, but as the day dawned, the gleam of steel was seen, the tramp of men heard. As the Americans came on, the Indians, yelling horribly, fired upon them from all sides. They made so much noise, they fired with such deadly sureness, keeping out of sight aU the time, that the Americans believed that there were hundreds against them. For two hours the fight against an unseen foe lasted. Then the Americans began to waver. Their leader was uncertain what to do. Be- lieving himself surrounded, he hesitated whether to go on or to go back. At this moment Fitzgibbon, at the head of his thirty redcoats, appeared bearing a flag of truce. The firing ceased, and after a few minutes' parley the American commander gave in. Fitzgibbon had hardly expected to succeed so easily. Now he scarcely knew what to do. How could thirty soldiers and a few savages guard five hundred prisoners ? But soon two hundred men arrived from Twelve Mile Creek, and his difficulties were at an end. Canada did not forget Laura Secord and her brave deed. Nor did Britain forget her. Years later, when 108 OUR EMPIRE STORY King Edward, then Prince of Wales, visited Canada, he found time, in the midst of balls and parties, to go to see an old woman, and hear from her own lips how, when she was young, she had carried a message through wood and wilderness to save her country from defeat. CHAPTER XX RED RIVER SETTLEMENT FoK two years the war of 1812, as it was called, went on. From beginning to end it was a wicked, useless war, thrust upon an unwilling people. And when at last peace came, neither side seemed to have gained any- thing. The boundary lines were hardly changed, and in the treaty of peace, the pretended causes of the war were not even mentioned. But Canada did really gain something. The popula- tion of Canada was now very mixed. There were French Canadians, United Empire Loyalists, English, Scottish and Irish settlers, and they had often been jealous of each other, and had misunderstood each other. Now that a common danger had drawn them together, they had all joined in fighting for their country, and Canada had shown, as she has shown ever since, that she was ' for the Empire.' Strange to say, too, when the heat of battle was past, the bitterness which had been between America and Canada began to pass away, for each nation had learned to respect his neighbour beyond the frontier. But while the war was going on, a struggle of another kind was taking place in the Great North- West. You remember how the Hudson Bay Company had been founded, and how, in spite of fearful difficulties it had gro^vn and prospered. Soon after the Conquest (that is the conquest of Canada from the French), another IM 110 OUR EMPIRE STORY fur company was formed called the North- West Com- pany, and later still there was a third called the X. Y. Company. Soon aU these three companies began to quarrel, and whenever their men or officers met, there was sure to be fighting. They stole each other's furs whenever they could, and often the skins passed through the hands of all three before reaching the market. Things were in this state when a Scottish nobleman, the Earl of Selkirk, began to take a great interest in the fur trade and in the Hudson Bay Company. From the Company he got a grant of a large piece of land near Lake Winnipeg, and began to form a settlement there. Lord Selkirk brought his settlers from the Highlands of Scotland. They were men and women used to a rough climate and a hard life. But hard as their life had been, they came to a much harder. On the way out they suffered from fever and hunger on board ship. When they arrived they had to pass a winter on the icy shores of Hudson Bay in clothes warm enough perhaps for Scotland, but not half warm enough for the icy north. At last, however, the bitter cold winter passed, spring came, and the settlers journeyed to Red River, where they were to buUd their new homes, and begin life afresh. But the Nor'- Westers were the sworn enemies of the Hudson Bay Company, they were the enemies too of these new settlers. They wanted to keep the North- West to themselves, and they vowed to root out these 'gardeners' and shepherds who came to turn their hunting-grounds into wheat-field and pasture. Besides the Nor'- Westers, Lord Selkirk had another enemy in the M^tis or Bois-Brul^s. These were a race half French, half Indian, the children of the roving Coureurs de Bois. They loved the wild wastes and sohtudes. Their home was the rolling prairie, their roof the sky. They wanted RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 111 no towns and churches, no herds and wheat-fields, and as more and more land was settled by farmers, as trees were felled, and the earth furrowed by the plough, the M^tis retreated to the wilds. Now they gladly joined the Nor'- Westers in ousting the new comers, who wanted to turn yet more of their beloved wUderness into ploughed land. So scarcely had the Scottish settlers arrived when there swooped down upon them an armed company of Nor'- West men, fierce in Indian war-paint, and very terrible to the eyes of these simple Highlanders. The Nor'- Westers succeeded in what they had set out to do. The little band of settlers were so terrified that they fled for refuge to the Hudson Bay Company's fort at Pembina, leaving all their scanty wealth in the hands of the enemy. But Highlanders are not easily beaten. They bided their time, and the next year they returned to Red River, built their houses, ploughed and sowed their land, and settled down in peace. But the peace was not for long. Once again the Nor'- Westers swooped down upon the new colonists. Again, they were scattered, and, where their homes had been, lay a heap of black and smoking ruins. But the struggle was not over. More men came from Scotland, many of the scattered colonists returned, and once more Red River rose from its ashes. Then followed months of hardship and struggle, a fight with cold and hunger, with difficulties and dangers of all kinds. Even to these sturdy Highlanders, bred to hardship and toil, the life proved too dreadful. Many of them gave up the struggle, and fought their way back through wilderness and forest to Canada, or died on the way. Others, false to their friends, took the easier way, and joined their enemies, the Nor'- Westers. 112 OUR EMPIRE STORY But the Nor'-Westers were not content. They had sworn the utter destruction of the colony, and they meant to keep their word. So one June day, three hundred half-breeds, fearfully bedaubed with paint, gay in savage splendour, rode down upon the settlement. The governor and about thirty men went out to meet them. They were quickly surrounded, and he and about twenty of his men were shot dead. Those who were left fled back to the fort, where soon aU was terror and confusion. Children cried out in fear, women wept for their dead, or, stricken and white, awaited they knew not what fate. Two days later, robbed of all they possessed, the remaining colonists left their homes to the flames and the destroyer, and wandered forth again houseless and penniless. But while the Nor'-Westers drank and sang, and rejoiced at the utter downfall of Red River, Lord Selkirk was on his way to avenge his people. With about a hundred men he arrived at Fort William, the chief post of the Nor'-Westers. Forcing the gate he took posses- sion of the town, and the murderers were soon made prisoner and sent to Montreal to be tried. Again the colonists returned to their ruined, forsaken homes, but the summer was gone, and the harvest poor. Famine stared them in the face, and after fearful suffer- ings and long endurance, they once more took refuge at Pembina. In the spring, however, they came back again. This time all seemed to go well. In peace the fields were ploughed and sown. In peace the corn sprang up, grew and ripened. Then one summer afternoon the sky was darkened. The air was filled with the hum and buzz of insects, and a flight of locusts settled on the land. RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 118 They covered the trees and the fields, they swarmed in the houses. At night the earth was smiling and green. In the morning it was a grey wilderness. Once again ruin and famine stared the settlers in the face. The onslaught of wild half-breeds had been easier to bear than this. They at least could be fought. But against this new enemy the stoutest arm, the bravest heart, was helpless. Stricken with despair, many a strong man bowed his head and sobbed as if his heart would break. Once more, with weary feet, the colonists trudged the well-known way to Pembina, there to spend the winter on the charity of the Hudson Bay Com- pany. The next year it was found to be useless to plough or sow, for the locusts still swarmed everywhere, killing each green blade as it sprang to life, and poisoning both air and water with their dying miUions. But the colonists lit great fires which attracted the locusts ; they fell into the fires in thousands, and at last the plague was burned out. The land was sown once more, and after eight years of struggle and disaster Red River Settle- ment began to prosper. Then tired of fighting, the Hudson Bay Company and the North-West Company joined together and shared the fur trade between them. So there was peace. But the struggles of the Red River colonists were by no means over. For many a year their life was full of hardship, but bit by bit they won success. And to-day the great corn prairies of Manitoba stretch mile upon mile. The golden grain ripens in the summer sun, falls beneath the sharp knives of the reaping-machine, and is carried far and wide to give food to the world and bring wealth to Canada. And we look back, and H 114 OUR EMPIRE STORY remember with pride, the Scotsman who first saw that these lands were good for corn-growing, and the brave colonists who would not be beaten, and who returned again and yet again with unconquered courage, until at last they won the battle against misfortune. CHAPTER XXI LOUIS KIEL During the war of 1812 Upper and Lower Canada had been drawn together, French and British forgot their differences and jealousies. But when peace had once more come these differences and jealousies were felt again, and the French especially thought that they had not enough voice in the ruling of the land. Many of them were still very ignorant, being able neither to read nor write. These scarcely knowing what they wanted, but easily led by a handful of clever and discontented men, rose in rebellion. This Rebellion they called the Patriot War. There \vas never any real reason for it, and it was soon over. But it made wise people see that something must be done to prevent such discontent in the future. So it came about that Canada, which, in 1791, had been divided into British Canada and French Canada, was, in 1841, united again. It was decided that there should be only one Parliament, to which both French and British should come in equal numbers. It was also decided that the colony should have ' responsible government.' Respons- ible government means government by those who are responsible, or answerable to, the greater number. They may continue to rule only so long as the greater number of the people wish them to do so. When they can no longer get the greater number to vote for them they lU 116 OUR EMPIRE STORY must cease to rule. Then there is a ' General election,' and people choose again those whom they wish to have power. The Assembly of Upper Canada had met at Toronto, that of Lower Canada at Quebec. The new parliament now met at Kingston, on Lake Ontario, which was between the two, and beautiful romantic Quebec was left lonely on its rock. For the next few years parliament was moved from place to place, no one being able to fix which was best. At last Queen Victoria was asked to settle the question. She chose a little village on the river Ottawa. And there at Ottawa fine new buildings were built, and there the Parliament of the Dominion of Canada has sat ever since. But this union of Upper and Lower Canada did not mean the whole of Canada as we see it marked on our maps to-day. It meant only the two states of Ontario and Quebec. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and all the great land known as the North- West Territory were still separate provinces. But gradually these lands joined the union, and now the Dominion of Canada stretches aU across the north of America from sea to sea. Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island, are the names of the provinces which make up the great Dominion. New- foundland alone has a separate government. As time went on and Canada grew into a united whole it was no longer thought well that any province should be ruled by a company, and all the lands belonging to the Hudson Bay Company were brought under the direct rule of the Canadian Government. Since the days of Lord Selkirk Red River had pros- pered. Bit by bit the wild prairie had been reclaimed. LOUIS KIEL 117 It had been ploughed and sown, and now corn-fields waved where lately the bison had roamed. Houses, schools, and churches stood where pine and hemlock tree had towered their dark heads for ages. The wild M^tis had forgotten their hate, and side by side thrifty Scottish settlers and adventurous French half-breeds lived in peace, the one careful and saving, the other careless, passionate and spendthrift. But most of these half-breeds knew, and cared, nothing for Canada. To them the Company was every- thing, and they were content to hve beneath its rule. But when they heard that Canada, not the Company, was to rule in future, they thought that they were being given over to some foreign power. The Mdtis were very ignorant, and it was a pity thai no one was sent to explain to these simple people what was really happening ; it might have saved the shedding of much blood and many tears. No one was sent, and so they rose in rebeUion, led by a man called Louis Riel. Louis Riel, himself a Meti, was a clever, but half- educated man. He thought himself a patriot, and soon had an army of six or seven hundred men behind him. They took possession of Fort Garry, one of the strongest of the Hudson Bay Company's forts. They made many of the settlers prisoners, and proclaimed a new govern- ment, of which Riel was president. Backed by his army the new president did as he liked, taking prisoner and banishing whom he chose. One of the worst things he did was to condemn a young man named Scott to death, because he had spoken scorn- fully of his government. After a mere mockery of a trial, Scott was led out and shot mercilessly by some half- drunk M^tis. 118 OUR EMPIRE STORY The news of this murder rang like a war-cry through all Canada. It roused to indignation every fair-minded Canadian, and Colonel Garnet Wolseley, a young British officer then in Canada, was sent to Fort Garry to put down the rebellion. But when Riel heard of his coming he ran away to the United States, and the rebellion was at an end. This disturbed part of the dominion was now made into the province of Manitoba, and many of the things for which Riel had fought were granted by the Manitoba Act But fifteen years later Riel came agaui, and there was another and far more serious rebeUion. It is diffi- cult to explain all the causes for this rebellion. The M^tis thought that they were being badly treated by the Government. They thought that their land was being taken from them, and that they had not enough power in Parliament. They could get no one to listen to their grievances, so at length they sent to Riel, and asked him to come to help them. Riel came, but this time he seemed more like a madman than a patriot. He called himself ' The Libera- tor,' and said that he was the bearer of a message from God. He lived in a curious fashion, eating chiefly blood boiled in milk, and did many things to try to make people think that he was truly the messenger from God that he said he was. But in spite of his mad antics, or perhaps because of them, Riel had soon a large army of M^tis at his back. And not only M^tis, but Red Men followed him. Tribe after tribe smeared their faces with war-paint, danced the war-dance, and set out to join the rebels. The North- West was full of the nameless horror and terror of the Red Man, as Canada had been long years LOUIS RIEL 119 before. Great and terrible as their names, were some of the chiefs who took part in the war — Big Bear, Wander- ing Spirit, Yellow Mud, Bare Neck, and Man-Who-Wins were some of them — and there were many more with as strange and high-sounding names. As soon as the rebeUion began, the news of it flashed like wild-fire over Canada, and from aU sides volunteers came, eager to fight for their country. For weeks and months the rattle of firearms and the terrible Indian war-cry was heard in the North-West, and all the land was filled with blood and tears. But in the end the rebels were beaten. Riel was taken prisoner, tried, and condemned to death for high treason, for he 'did mali- ciously and treacherously levy and make war against our Lady, the Queen.' With Riel were hanged eight Indians, and a few others were imprisoned. So ended what is known as the Saskatchewan rebeUion. With this rebeUion, war in Canada came to an end, so that since then the country has found time and strength to grow great. And thus we leave a united and peaceful Canada. From that June day, hundreds of years ago, on which John Cabot landed to plant the red cross of St. George upon ' the new isle,' it has grown step by step until it is a mighty Dominion, stretching from sea to sea. It is a nation within a nation, strong and prosperous in itself, and yet a part of our great Empire. 120 OUR EMPIRE STORY LIST OF KINGS AND GOVERNORS KiNoi OF Ghrat Bri- tain AND Ireland. KlNQS OP France. Rulers of Canada. James VI. . . 1603 Henry iv. Louis XIII. . . 1689 . 1610 Samuel de Champlain 1608 Charle* i. . . 1625 Louis iiv. . 1643 Chevalier de Montmagny Chevalier d'Ailleboust . 1636 1648 Commonwealth 1649 Jean de Lanzon . . . Vicomte d'Argenson . . 1661 1658 Charles II. . 1660 Baron D'Avaugour . . Sieur de Mesy .... Chevalier de Courcelles . Comte de Frontenac . . Sieur de la Barre . . . 1661 1663 1666 1672 1682 James ii. , . 1686 Marquis de Denonville . 1686 William and Comte de Frontenac . . 1689 Mary . . 1689 William iii. (alone) . . 1694 Chevalier de Callieres . 1698 Anne . . . 1702 Marquis de Vaudreuil 1703 George I. . . 1714 Louis XV. . 1715 Marquis de Beauharnois 1726 George ii. . . 1727 Comte de la Galissoniere Marquis de la Jonquiere Marquis Duquesne . . Marquis de Vaudreuil BRITISH OOVERNOKS 1747 1749 1762 1766 George iii. . 1760 Louia XVI. Republic . 1774 . . 1792 Lord Amherst .... Sir James Murray . . . Sir Guy Carletoii . . . Major-General Haldoman Henry Hamilton . . . Lord Dorchester . . . (Sir Guy Carleton) 1760 1763 1766 1777 1786 1786 LIST OF KINGS AND GOVERNORS 121 Kings of Great Bbi- I 1 TAIN AND II Kings of France. I Rulers of Canada. I XELAND. Napoleon i. . (Emperor) Louis xvin. . 1804 1814 Gen. Sir R. Prescott . Sir James Craig . . Sir George Prevost Sir J. Sherbrooke . , Duke of Richmoud . 1796 . 1807 . 1811 . i8i(; . 1818 George IT. . 1820 Charles x. 1824 Lord Dalhousie . . Sir James Kempt . . . 1820 . 1828 William lY. . 1830 Louis Philippe 1830 Lord Aylmer . . , Lord Gosford . , . . 1830 , 1836 Victoria . . 1837 Sir John Colborne Lord Durham . . . Hon. C. Poulett . . . 1838 . 1838 . 1839 oovbrnohs-oenehal of | UNITED GANADJ Lord Sydenham . . . 1839 (Hon. C. Poulett) Sir Charles Bagot . . . 1842 Lord Metcalfe . . . . 1843 EarlCathcart . . . . 1846 Earl of Elgin . . . . 1847 Republic . . 1848 Napoleon hi. 1852 (Emperor) Sir Edmund Bond Head . 1864 1 Viscount Monck . . . 1861 QOVEBNOBS-QKNBBAL OF THE DOMINION. Sir John Young . . . 1868 (Lord Lisgar) Republic , . 1870 Earl of DufFerin . . Marquis of Lome . . Marquis of Lansdowue Earl of Derby . . . Earl of Aberdeen . . Earl of Minto . . . . 1872 . 1878 . 1883 . 1888 . 1893 . 1898 Edward vn. . 1901 Earl Grey .... . 1904 George v. . 1910 H.R.H. The Duke Connaught of . 1911 AUSTRALIA Note, --The verses in this part of the book are by Australian writers. CHAPTER I 'THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN' Wise people tell us that the land of Australia is perhaps the oldest in the world. At a time when the wide ocean swept over the continent of Europe, when our little island still lay far beneath the rippling waves, the land of Australia stood above the lone waters. Yet to us Australia is a new discovered country. Long ages ago indeed travellers and learned men told tales of a Great South Land which lay somewhere in the Southern Seas. But no eye had seen that fabled country, no ship had touched that unknown shore. It was a country dim and mysterious as fairyland. On ancient maps we find it marked with rough uncertain lines, ' The Southeme Unknowne Lande,' but how it came to be so marked, how the stories about it first came to be told, and believed, we shall very likely never know. It is hard to tell too, who, among white men, first set foot on this great island. If one of the brave sailors of those far-off times did by chance touch upon its shore, he found little there to make him stay, or encourage him to return. For in those days what men chiefly sought was trade. And in Australia there was no place for trade. It was a great, wide, silent land where there were no towns, or even houses. It was peopled only by a few black savages, who wore no clothes, who had no wants, and who cared for nothing but to eat and drink. 126 OUR EMPIRE STORY But in the seventeenth century, when Holland was mistress of the seas, and the Dutch planted their flag on every shore, they found their way to the Great South Land. It was a Dutchman who discovered Tasmania. He called it Van Dieman's Land in honour of the Governor- General of the Dutch East Indies. But the name was afterwards changed to Tasmania, by which name we know it now. The great Gulf of Carpentaria is named after another Dutchman, and all round the northern, western and southern shores, here and there may be found names to remind us of those old Dutch adventurers. But the name New HoUand which the Dutch gave to the whole land has long since been forgotten. The Dutch did little 'more than discover the coast. They founded no colonies, they buUt no towns, and so their hold on the land was hardly real. They marked New Holland upon their maps, but they knew little about it. No man knew what a vast land New Holland was, or how far stretching were the rolling plains of which they had had only a glimpse. Soon Holland as a great sea power gave way to another which was to become stUl greater. Van Tromp the Dutchman was beaten by Blake the Englishman. And after that the Dutch seem to have lost all interest in the Great South Land. Then in 1699 a British sailor called Dampier set out on a voyage of discovery to the Southern seas. He was more than half a pirate and had led a life of vdld adven- ture. But he was a daring seaman, and had already been to New Holland more than once. And so King William iii. chose him to lead an expedition of discovery. One February day Dampier sailed out from England, and six months later anchored in a bay on the west coast •NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN ' 127 of New Holland, which he called Shark's Bay, because his men killed and ate many sharks there. It is still called Shark's Bay. For some time Dampier cruised along the shores taking note of all that he saw, of the land, the birds, and beasts. Among the birds, Damgier saw gaily coloured parrots and cockatoos, and black swans. Among the beasts, the chief was a curious-looking animal with a long tail and long hind legs upon which it leaped and hopped about. The natives called it Kanguro. He saw a few natives. They were taU, thin, and black, with blinking eyes and frizzled hair. They had no weapons except wooden spears, they wore no clothes, and their houses, which he only saw in the distance, looked to him like haycocks. But some had no houses at aU. ' They lay in the open air without covering, the earth being their bed and heaven their canopy. They had no possessions of any kind. Not soe much as a catt or a dog.' With such people there was no hope of trade, and in those days no one thought of taking possession of a land unless there was some trade to be done. Having cruised about for some time and finding no fresh water, Dampier feared to stay longer, lest his men should fall ill in that desert land. So he steered away to the East Indies and from thence sailed homeward. Many years passed. Now and again a ship touched upon the shores of New Holland but no one took much interest in it. It was a barren, useless land most men thought, a stony desert for the greater part, good enough for the few wild black fellows who lived there, but never a home for white men. Besides this, the British, who were now the great sea power, were busy fighting in India and America, and had little time and few ships to spare for peaceful exploration. 128 OUR EMPIRE STORY But in the long reign of George iii., when after much fighting Britain was at length at peace with all the world, men once more turned their thoughts to peaceful things. Then in 1768 Captain James Cook was sent upon an exploring expedition. James Cook had hat,d a very exciting life, but there is no room to teU about it here. As a small boy he was sent to serve in a draper's shop, but at the age of fourteen he ran away to sea, and from then till now when he was forty, his life had been full of excitement and adventure. In this voyage, Captain Cook sailed all along the eastern coast of Australia, a thing which no white man had ever done. He landed in many places, naming capes, bays, and points, as he passed. One great bay he named Botany Bay, because of the many plants and flowers to be found there. And here he set up the Union Jack, cut the name of his ship and the date of his landing on the trees near, and claimed the land for King George. Cook and his men had many adventures. At one time they were nearly wrecked. The ship struck upon a rock and stack fast. The water began to come in so quickly, that although the men worked hard at the pumps, it seemed as if the ship would sink. But luckily the sea was smooth, and there was little wind, and after much hard work they were able to steer into a safe harbour. Here they ran the ship ashore, and found a hole in the bottom big enough to have sunk it. But by good fortune a piece of coral rock had stuck in the hole, and this had saved. them. Having mejided the ship as best they could they once more set §ail, and at last reached what is now known as Torres Strait, having explored the whole eastern coast of Australia. At Torres Strait Cook landed. Once more he set 'NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN' 129 up the British flag and claimed the whole eastern coast with all its bays, harbours, rivers, and islands, for King George. And to this great tract he gave the name of New South Wales. There in that far-off land, their little ship, a mere speck between blue sky and bluer sea, this handful of Britons claimed new realms for their king. And to attest their claim, volley upon volley of musketry rolled out, awakening the deep silence of that unknown shore. There was none to answer or deny the challenge, and when the noise of cannon died upon the quiet air there was only the sigh of trees, the ripple of waves, and the scream of wild birds to break the stillness. CHAPTER II THE FOUNDING OF SYDNEY After Cook sailed away the great island-continent was left once again to silent loneliness. Cook made other voyages, but did not discover much more of Australia, and for many years few white men touched upon the shores of the Great South Land. Then came the war in which Britain lost all her American colonies. It was a great loss, how great at the time perhaps few knew. But in one way the loss soon began to be felt. The British in those days instead of keeping evil- doers in prison at home, used to send them to work upon the farms or plantations in America. When America was no longer a part of the British Empire, convicts, as such evil-doers were called, could not be sent there. The prisons at home became fuU to overflowing. Something had to be done, and at last it was decided to make use of New South Wales and found a colony there to which convicts might be sent. So on 13th May 1787, the 'First Fleet,' as it after- wards came to be called by Australians, sailed out on its long voyage. In the eight or ten ships there were about a thousand people. Nearly eight hundred of these were convicts, both men and women, the rest were soldiers and marines to guard them, xso THE FOUNDING OF SYDNEY 131 With the fleet, as Governor- General of the new colony, went Captain Arthur Phillip. On the way out the ships stopped at Teneriffe and at Cape Town, where the Dutch Governor received them kindly. Here they took aboard so many cocks and hens, sheep and cattle, that the ships looked more like Noah's arks than anything else. In June 1788 the new colonists arrived at Botany Bay, where it had been decided to found the colony. But Captain Phillip did not think it a good place, and went exploring in a small boat further north until he found the beautiful Jackson Bay. Here Captain Phillip decided to found the new colony. He landed and set up the Union Jack, and gathering round the flagstaff, he and his oflScers drank to the king's health, and to the success of the colony. The convicts were landed, the soldiers were drawn up in line, guns were fired, and Captain Phillip made a speech to the convicts. He told them that now under a new sky, in a new home, they had once again a chance to forget their evil ways, and begin a new life. Once again they had a chance to prove themselves good British subjects. This was the first speech in the English language that had ever been made in that far-off land, and when Captain Phillip had finished, a British cheer rang out. Thus the city of Sydney was founded. Now began a busy time. The stillness of that silent land was broken for ever. AU day long the woods rang with the sound of the axe. All day long the ring of hammer and anvU was heard, the tinkle of the mason's trowel, the sighing of the carpenter's saw. There was everything to do. There were houses to build, roads to cut, harbours to make. The land had first to be cleared 184 OUR EMPIRE STORY rule. He allowed the soldiers to do as they liked, and they very soon became wild, riotous, and drunken. They took everything into their own hands, and soon fiom being merely soldiers, they became the merchants and rulers of the colony. Everything coming into the colony had to pass through their hands. But the thing they traded in most, and made most money out of, was rum. Some free settlers had now come to Sydney, and they were allowed to have convicts to help them on their farms. The officers and men of the New South Wales Corps also took land, and had convict labourers, whom they paid for their work in rum. The soldiers made fi-iends of these convicts, and they drank and gambled together, so that the convicts, instead of becoming better, became worse, and when Governor Hunter arrived, he found that all the good that Governor PhiUip had done was destroyed. The whole colony was filled with riot, disorder, drunkenness, and misery. Captain Hunter tried to put things right again. He tried to stop the trade in rum, but he was not strong enough to do it. The • Rum Corps,' as the soldiers came to be called, had got the upper hand, and they meant to keep it. So during the whole time of Hunter's rule, he had to fight the men and officers of the Rum Corps. This was the darkest time in the whole history of Australia. But dark though it was, it was now that the foundation of Australia's greatness in trade was laid. With the New South Wales Corps there had come out a Captain John MacArthur. He, like so many others, received a grant of land, and began farming. He soon saw that the land was very good for rearing sheep, and began to turn his attention to them. But whereas others thought of rearing them for food, he thought of them for their wool. After a great deal of trouble he got THE FOUNDING OF SYDNEY 135 ' wool-bearing sheep,' first from the Cape, and then from King George's own famous flock of Spanish merino sheep. At this time the British got most of the wool they needed for their great factories from Spain. But Napoleon, who was fighting Britain in every way possible, now tried to ruin their trade by forbidding all the people of Europe to trade with them. When they could no longer get wool from Spain, the British wool trade began to suffer. Then it was that MacArthur stepped in. From his sheep-farm he was soon able to send ship- loads of wool to the factories at home, thus preventing the ruin of British manufactures, and bringing wealth to Australia. From then till now the industry has grown, and now millions of pounds' worth of wool are exported every year. CHAPTER III THE ADVENTURES OF GEORGE BASS AND MATTHEW FLINDERS ' See ! girt with tempest and wing'd with thunder, And clad with lightning and shod with sleet. The strong waves treading the swift waves, sunder The flying rollers with frothy feet. One gleam like a blood-shot sword swims on The skyline, staining the green gulf crimson, A death stroke fiercely dealt by a dim sun, That strikes through his stormy winding-sheet. Oh ! brave white horses ! you gather and gallop. The storm sprite loosens the gusty reins ; Now the stoutest ship were the frailest shallop In your hollow backs, on your high arched manes.' A. Lindsay Gordon. It was not until the town of Sydney had been founded for some years that anything was known of the great island upon which it was built. But at last people became curious to know more about their new home. When Captain John Hunter came out from home as Governor of New South Wales, there came with him two daring young men. The one was George Bass, the ship's doctor, and the other Matthew Flinders, a midshipman. Flinders was only twenty-one, and Bass a few years older. These two soon became fast friends. They both were eager to know more of the land to which they had GEORGE BASS AND MATTHEW FLINDERS 137 come, and about a month after they arrived in Sydney, they set out on a voyage of discovery in a little boat of eight feet long. They called it the Tom Thumb, and the whole crew was themselves and a boy. In this tiny boat they sailed out into the great Pacific, and made for Botany Bay. Here they cruised in and out of all the creeks and bays, making maps of every- thing, and after an adventurous time they got safely back to Sydney. But they were not long content to remain there. Soon they started out again, and again had many adventures. Once they got into such a storm that their little boat was nearly swamped. They themselves were soaked to the skin, their drinking water was all spoiled, and, worst of aU, their gunpowder was wet and useless. So they rowed to shore, meaning to land and dry their things, and look for fresh water. As they landed, several natives gathered round them. Bass and Flinders hardly knew what to do. The natives about were said to be very fierce, if not cannibals. There were about fifty of them, armed with spears and boomerangs, against two white men and a boy, who had no weapons, for their guns were rusty and full of sand, and their gunpowder wet, A boomerang is a native AustraUan weapon made of hard wood. It is made in pecuUar shape, and the black fellows throw it in such a wonderful way that it hits the object it is aimed at, and returns to the hand of the thrower. Although very uncertain what would happen to them, Bass and Flinders put a bold face on matters. They spread out their gunpowder to dry on the rocks while the natives looked on. They next began to clean their guns, but at this the black fellows became so angry and afraid that thev were obliged to stop. 188 OUR EMPIRE STORY As neither could understand the other's language, talk- ing was rather difficult. But the white men made the savages understand that they wanted water, and they were shown a stream not far off where they filled their cask. They would now have been glad to get away, but their gunpowder was not dry. Then Flinders thought of something to keep the savages interested. A few days before he had cut the hair and trimmed the beard of a savage, much to his delight. So now he produced a large pair of scissors and persuaded some of those round to let him play barber. Flinders did not make a very good barber, but that did not matter as the savages were easily pleased. They were very proud of themselves when the cutting and snipping was done, but some of them were very much afraid as the large scissors were flourished so near their noses. Their eyes stared in wild fear, yet all the time they tried to smile as if they liked it, and they looked so funny that Flinders was almost tempted to give a little snip to their ears just to see what would happen. But the situation was too dangerous for such tricks. At last the powder was dry. Everything was gathered and put into the boat, and the three got safely away, well pleased to have escaped while the savages were still in good humour. A few nights after this they were nearly wrecked. They had anchored for the night when a terrible storm arose. The waves dashed high over their tiny boat, there were cliffs on one hand, reefs on the other. They hauled up their anchor as quickly as they could and ran before the gale. Bass managed the sail, Flinders steered with an oar, and the boy bailed. ' A single wrong movement, a moment's inattention, would have sent us to the bottom,' says Flinders. GEORGE BASS AND MATTHEW FLINDERS 139 It was an anxious time, and the darkness of the night added to their danger. But suddenly, when things were so bad that they thought they had not ten minutes more to hve, the boat got through the breakers, and in three minutes the adventurers found themsehes in the calm waters of a Uttle cove. In thankfuhiess for their escape they called it Providential Cove. A few days later, having explored thirty or forty miles of coast, they reached Sydney in safety. It was not long before Bass set out exploring again. This time Flinders could not go, as he had to attend to his duties on board ship. Alone Bass discovered more of the coast, but the greatest thing that he did was to make sure that Tasmania was not joined to Australia, but was a separate island. And the strait between Tasmania and Austraha is called Bass Strait after him. It would take too long to tell of aU that Bass and Flinders did, and of all the adventures they had. After a Uttle, Bass sailed away to South America on a trading expedition, and was never heard of more. It is thought that he was captured by the Spaniards, and made to work as a slave in the silver mines. If that is so, it was a terrible end for this brave sailor who loved the free hfe upon the ocean waves. It is pitiful to think that he, who had felt the sting of the salt spray upon his cheek, and the taste of it upon his hps, had henceforth to toil in a dark, close mine, a broken-hearted captive. Even after his friend had gone. Flinders did a great deal of exploring. He sailed aU round the coasts of Australia in a rotten, httle boat called the Investigator. 'A more deplorable, crazy vessel than the Investigator is perhaps not to be seen,' said the captain who later, with great difficulty, brought her home to England. When Flinders reached Sydney he found that some of the 140 OUR EMPIRE STORY planking was so soft that a stick could be poked through it. It was in such ships that those brave sailors dared the stormy seas ! But Flinders was anxious to reach home, for he had made many maps of the coast, and had filled many note-books, and he wanted to have them published. So he left the Investigator, and sailed home as a passenger in another ship. They had not gone far, however, when one dark and stormy night they were wrecked upon a coral reef. AU night the storm raged, the winds blew, and the waves dashed over the wretched, weary men. But when morn- ing came they saw a sandbank near, and upon this they managed to land, only three men being lost in the storm. Luckily they were able to save most of the food and water out of the wrecked vessel, and were soon settled on their sandbank. They made tents of saUs and spars, planted a flagstaff, and ran up a blue ensign with the Union Jack upside down as a signal of distress. And so they prepared to wait until some passing ship should find them and take them off. But it was by no means a likely place for ships to pass, and after a few days Flinders decided to take one of the ship's boats which had been saved from the wreck, and sail back to Sydney to bring help. They named the little boat the Hope, and one fine morning Flinders, with thirteen other men, set sail. As they launched out they were followed by the cheers and good wishes of their shipwrecked comrades, and one of them, having asked leave of the captain, ran to the flag- staff, tore down the flag, and ran it up again with the Union Jack uppermost. This he did to show how sure they were that the voyage would be a success, and that FUnders would bring help. So it was with cheerful hearts that Flinders and his GEORGE BASS AND MATTHEW FLINDERS 141 brave followers began their long journey of two hundred and fifty leagues in an open boat. And like heroes they bore every hardship which came upon them. The weather became rainy and cold, and they were often drenched to the skin and had no means of drying or warming them- selves. Tossed about on the huge, hollow waves like a cockle shell, in danger from sharks and whales, they yet escaped every perU, and after ten days of hardship and toil they arrived safely at Sydney. Flinders at once went to Government House. Captain King was by this time governor, and he was a good friend to Fhnders, who now found him sitting at dinner. The governor stared in astonishment at the wild, unshorn, ragged man with lean, brown face and bright eyes, who walked into the room. It was some mmutes before he knew him to be his friend Matthew Flinders, who he thought was many hundreds of miles on his way to England. But when he reaUsed who it was, and Ustened to the tale of disaster, his eyes filled with tears. At once the governor agreed to send help to the ship- wrecked men, but it was some days before ships could be got ready, and every day seemed to Flinders a week. He was so afraid that if he did not get back quickly the men on the sandbank would grow tked of waiting, give up hope, and try to save themselves in an open boat, and so perhaps all be drowned before help came. But at length everything was ready. Three ships set sail and safely reached the narrow, sea-swept sandbank, and all the shipwrecked men were rescued. Flinders then went on his way to England with his precious maps and plans, a few only of which had been lost in the wreck. But the ship in which he went was so small and so leaky that it could not carry enough food and water for so long a voyage. Flinders was therefore 142 OUR EMPIRE STORY obliged to stop at every port he came to for fresh sup- plies. The French and British were again at war, and at Mauritius, which then belonged to France, he was taken prisoner, in spite of the fact that he had a passport from Napoleon. Flinders was treated as a spy, and all his journals and maps were taken from him. And now his fate was Uttle better than that of his friend Bass. For seven long years he was kept a prisoner, eating his heart out with desire . for freedom. At last he was set free, and after some more adventures he reached home. But his troubles were not at an end. He now dis- covered that a French sailor had stolen his maps and journal, and that he had pubHshed them in France as his own, having changed all the names which Flinders had given the places into French names. The name AustraUs, which Flinders had been among the first to use, he had changed to Terre de Napoleon — that is, land of Napoleon. And for many a long day Australia was marked in French atlases as Terre de Napoleon. It was a bitter blow. But broken in health and worn with long hardships and imprisonments though he was, Flinders was not yet beaten. He gave up the rest of his life to writing an account of his travels, which he called A Voyage to Terra AustraUs. But, sad to say, upon the very day that it was pubUshed, he died. To the end he was a sailor and adventurer. Almost his last words were, ' I know that in future days of exploration my spirit wiU rise from the dead and foUow the exploring ships.' It was by such men of daring, by such deeds of valour and of long endurance, that the outlines of Australia were traced upon our maps. CHAPTER IV A LITTLE REVOLUTION It was in 1800 that Captain John Hunter was recalled and Captain King took his place. The new governor set himself at once to stop the trade in rum, which was bringing ruin on the Colony. Men sold everything to get it. They bartered away their sheep and cattle and even their growing corn, until they who had been pros- perous farmers became rumed beggars. But in putting down the trade in rum King brought upon himself the hatred of the soldiers who made a great deal of money out of it, and who were very angry to see their gains thus disappear. He had to crush rebellions among the convicts too. The work was not easy, but King was firm, and soon he brought some kind of order out of wild confusion. And although, as he said, he ' could not make pickpockets into good farmers,' he forced them to be less drunken and made them try to work, and so by good behaviour earn freedom. It was during the time of Governor King's rule that the island of Tasmania was first colonised. For sixteen years, in all the wide island-continent, it was only in the few miles round Sydney that the white man had planted his foot and built his home. But French ships were now seen cruising about, and the British began to fear that the French meant to found a colony in Tasmania, which, la 144 OUR EMPIRE STORY since the discoveries of Bass, they knew was not joined to Australia, but was a separate island. So to be beforehand with the French, King sent a lieutenant with a few soldiers, convicts, and freemen, to found a colony there. They landed and began to build a Uttle town, which they called Hobart ToviTi, in honour of Lord Hobart, who was then Secretary of State for the Colonies. The new colony had its troubles and trials just as Sydney had had, but it conquered them all and began to prosper. About this time, too, an attempt was made to found a town near where Melbourne now stands. But these first colonists did not think it a good place for a town. So they left their half-built houses there and went across to Tasmania, and settled down about fifteen miles from Hobart. Thus a beginning was made, and by degrees other towns were founded, and the lonely spaces of Australia began to be peopled by white men. In 1806 Captain Bligh succeeded Captain King as governor. He was a stem, hard man with a fearful temper. He was known as ' Bounty Bligh,' because when he had been captain of the Bounty his men had mutinied and cast him adrift, with eighteen others, in an open boat in the Pacific Ocean. But however stern and cruel Bligh might be, he was a clever seaman. Now, iu this terrible plight, he showed it. With wonderful skill he steered his boat and ruled his men, and after a voyage of almost four thousand miles they reached land safely. This journey of his is one of the wonderful things of the story of the sea. But although Bligh was a good seaman he was not a good governor. He soon made himself hated by nearly every one in the colony. He quarrelled, too, with A LITTLE REVOLUTION 145 Mr. Mac Arthur who, you remember, had brought wool-bearing sheep to the colony and who was now, after the governor, perhaps the chief man in aU Australia. Soon after Bligh arrived MacArthur went to him to talk about his farm and his hopes that sheep and wool would bring wealth to the colony. But Bligh flew into a temper at once. ' What have I to do with your sheep and cattle ? ' he cried. ' You have such flocks and herds as no man ever had before. You have ten thousand acres of the best land in the country. But, by heaven, you shall not keep it ! ' ' Instead of help and sympathy, MacArthur only got angry words. So a quarrel was begun which as the months went on grew worse and worse. The fault was not aU on one side, and these two strong and powerful men did not try to understand each other. At last Bligh put MacArthur into prison for refusing to pay a fine which he considered unjust. He threatened to put six ofl&cers of the 'Rum Corps' in prison too, as they encouraged MacArthur. At this, the barracks was in an uproar. Both men and officers declared that the governor was trampling on their liberty and rights, and that instead of keeping law and order he was upsetting both. They resolved not to suffer it and they rebelled. So about half-past six one midsummer evening, which in Australia, you must remember, is in January, they gathered at the barracks. Then with fixed bayonets, drums beating, and colours flying, they marched to Government House, followed by a crowd of people all eager to see the downfall of the governor. At the gate the governor's daughter tried to stop the soldiers. But she was told to stand aside, and the men K 146 OUR EMPIRE STORY marclied unhindered into the house, for the very sentries had joined the rebels. ' I am called upon to do a most painful duty,' said Major Johnston. ' You are charged by the respectable inhabitants of crimes that make you unfit to rule another moment in the colony. I hereby place you under arrest by the advice of all my officers, and by the advice of every respectable inhabitant of Sydney.' Thus Bligh w^as taken prisoner and his rule was at an end. No one was sorry, for he had no friends. For some weeks he was kept prisoner, then promising that lie would go direct to England, he was allowed to go on board a waiting vessel. But he broke his word and went to Tasmania instead. There he tried to make the colonists receive him back as governor. But although at first they treated him with all due honour, they soon grew tired of him. Bligh was then forced to leave Tasmania as he had left Australia, and for some time he cruised about in his ship. Meanwhile Major Johnston ruled New South Wales. But after a time the news of the revolt reached England. A new governor, Colonel Macquarie, was at once sent out with a Highland regiment to restore order. Mac- quarie was told to make Captain Bligh governor again for twenty-four hours, just to show the mutineers that they could not do as they Hked. Then he was to become governor himself and send home the whole of the New South Wales Corps, and every one who had had a part in the revolt, to answer for their misdeeds. This was done ; and the Rum Corps, which for years had been the greatest power and at times the greatest terror in the colony, went home for good and all. But no very heavy punishment was given to the mutineers. Major Johnston was expelled from the army, but he A LITTLE REVOLUTION 147 returned to Australia and became one of its most im- portant settlers. MacArthur was forbidden to return for eight years, as he had been the chief cause of all the dis- turbance. But at the end of that time he did return, and his name is remembered as one of those who did most for Australia in the early days. As for Bligh, he was made an admiral ; and that, he no doubt felt, made up for all that he had gone through. CHAPTER V THE FIRST TRAVELLER IN QUEENSLAND One day in February 1846 a ship sailed out from Sydney on its way to China. It was a cargo boat, but, as was common in those days, it carried a few passengers too, and with the captain went his wife. A fair wind blew, and all hoped for a quick and pleasant passage. But as the ship sailed on its way the wind became ever stronger and fiercer, until, when a week from home, a terrible storm was brewing, and the ship with bare masts was scudding before the blast. At last the storm calmed and the danger seemed over. But the ship had been driven far out of its course, and a careful watch was kept lest it should run upon some un- known rock or reef For a few days all went weU, then suddenly one night the watchman saw something loom ahead of the ship, whether land or dark cloud he could not tell. Before anything could be done there was a fearful shock, the ship shivered fi'om stem to stem, and then lay stiU. Every one except the watchmen was in bed. The shock made them spring from their beds and rush in terror to the deck. All was black darkness. There was nothing to be seen around but the night and the cruel white-crested waves. In the darkness nothing could be done, and so in shivering misery, the waves lashing over the ship, men waited for the dawn. IM FIRST TRAVELLER IN QUEENSLAND 149 The night seemed long, but at last a cold, grey hght crept into the sky. Then it was seen that aU around the ship sharp points of rock showed above the water. Upon one of these the ship had struck. But nowhere was there the faintest sign of land. As soon as it was light enough, the captain ordered the boats to be lowered. But almost as soon as they reached the water, they were dashed to pieces and swept away by the savage waves. All hope was gone, and the shipwrecked people gave themselves up to despair. But the captain was a man who did not easily give way. He ordered all hands into the cabin, and when they were gathered he bade them pray. And so there knelt together, three pale-faced women and their frightened children, with a handful of brave, rough men who well knew that they had sailed their last voyage upon this earth. But the captain's calm voice and earnest prayer put new courage into the men. They rose from their knees and set to work to make a raft strong enough to live in that wild sea. Long they toiled, cutting and sawing, hammering and lashing spars and planks together. All the time they worked at the risk of their lives, for every wave swept the decks. At last the raft was ready, and with great difficulty launched. What food there was, was placed upon it. But, alas, it was very Httle, for most of the provisions had been washed overboard or spoiled by the salt water. One cask of water, a Uttle brandy, and nine tins of preserved meat, these were all that could be found. And with this httle store the poor wrecked men set sail upon the cruel waste of waters. Including women and children, there were twenty- one people upon the raft. They knew their food would 150 OUR EMPIRE STORY not last long. They had all heard terrible tales of ship- wrecked people, who, when they were starving, had become cannibal and had eaten each other. So now, face to face with death, they each promised solemnly to keep from anythmg so horrible, whatever tortures they might suffer. At first things were just endurable. Three table- spoonfuls of meat a day were served out to each person, and four little drinks of water carefully measured. To help to eke out their stores they caught the sea-birds which now and again alighted upon the raft. These they had to eat raw, but they were looked upon as great dainties. Three weeks passed. Both food and water were nearly done, when a sail came in sight. Eagerly the weak, worn crew waved and signed. The ship was too far away and the sailors did not see them. Hour after hour they watched and beckoned, but the sail grew smaller and smaller, and at last it vanished altogether in the dim distance, and the little raft was left once more alone on the empty sea. The portion of meat, the measure of water, grew less and less day by day, imtil at last one morning there was no more meat, and no more water left. StiU there was no sign of land, still there was nothing all around but the cruel, vacant sea. ' I shall die now,' said one man wearily. And die he did. Remembering their promise the others quickly threw the body overboard. They feared that the terrible pangs of hunger which had come upon them might make them forget. But now, when there seemed nothing but an awful death before them, the poor castaways caught a fish for the first FIRST TRAVELLER IN QUEENSLAND 151 time. Each day after this they caught some fish. Then rain came and eased their terrible, burning thirst. But day by day, unable to endure longer, some of the com- pany died. The children, two of the women, and many of the men each followed one after another. At length, after six weeks of fearful suffering, land came in sight. Although they did not know it, the cast- aways had reached the shores of Queensland. They only guessed that they were somewhere on the coast of Australia. Now when at last the raft reached the land, there were only seven left of all who had set out from the ship. These were the captain, his wife, and five men. They were little more than skeletons, and when they were once more on dry land, they lay down upon the beach and slept from sheer weakness and weariness. Next morning the captain managed to make a fire, at which they cooked some shark which they had caught. It was the first cooked meat they had eaten for more than six weeks. Then they crawled about and found some oysters. But they were aU so sick and faint with hunger and exposure, that they could with difficulty drag them- selves about even in search of food. Now again a sail was seen. With all the strength they had left, they tried to signal to it. But their efforts were in vain. Sitting on the rocks, with despair in their hearts, they watched the ship slowly sail out of sight. Three more of the party died, and there were only four left when, to add to the terrors of the fight with death, a party of black fellows came upon them. They proved, however, in their own way, friendly. They took, it is true, everything the shipwrecked men had left, even to their clothes, lea^dng them almost naked. But they 152 OUR EMPIRE STORY brought them roots to eat, and signed to them to join in their wild dance called a corrobboree This, of course, the white men could not do, and as the black fellows did not seem very pleased at their re- fusal, one of the sailors offered to sing. This greatly deUghted the savages who sat round grimacing, while the four wretched white people stood together and sang, God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Thus were the white people received into the tribe. For two years they Uved with the savages in great misery. They had now enough to eat, it is true, but they had to hve as savages. At the end of three years aU had died except one man called MurreU. He seemed better able to bear the hardships, and for seventeen years he lived among the black fellows, talking their language and living their Ufe, untU he forgot his own tongue and even his own name. But at last, after many weary years, ships began to come, and white men, it was told Murrell, had built a hut not far off. When he heard this news, Murrell decided to try to escape from his fearful hfe. So one day he set off to find the white man's hut. Having lived so many years under the burning sun of Queensland, wearing no clothes, he was very brown and very dirty too. But now when thoughts of his old hfe had awakened in him, he went to a pool and washed himself as white as he could. Round the white man's hut there was a fence, and when MurreU reached it dogs ran out barking and FIRST TRAVELLER IN QUEENSLAND 153 snapping at him. So, to keep them from biting him, he climbed upon the fence and called out as loud as he could. Three men lived in the hut, and at the sound of MurreU's call, one of them came out. He stared at this strange being in wonder. Then, ' Bill,' he cried, ' here 's a naked, yellow man standing on the fence. He isn't a black man. Bring the gun.' ' Don't shoot ! ' cried Murrell, in terror. ' I 'm a ship- wrecked sailor, a British object.' He really meant to say ' subject,' but it was so long since he had spoken English, and he was so frightened and excited, that he hardly knew what he was saying. When the men heard him speak English they put down their gun, and brought him into the hut, listening in astonishment to his story. They gave him some breakfast, but MurreU found that he no longer hked tea ; and bread, which he had not eaten for seventeen years, now seemed to choke him. Murrell was, however, very glad to get back to civilisation once more, but he returned to his black friends to say good-bye to them. And when they under- stood that he was going to leave them for always they were fiUed with grief and cried bitterly. MurreU, too, when he thought of aU the rough kindness they had shown to him these many years, was sorry to say good- bye. But the sight of white men, and the sound of his own language, had awakened all his old longing for home, and he left his black friends. He was taken to Brisbane and made much of. He became a storekeeper, married, and settled down to a quiet life, but the terrible hardships he had passed through had left him weak and feeble, and he did not Uve long to enjoy his new found comforts. Such were the adventures of the first travellers in 154 OUR EMPIRE STORY Queensland. But things have changed. Were a traveller to land now where Murrell was shipwrecked, he would find pleasant homes and smiling pastures. And perhaps on the very spot where, seventy years ago, only the black man hunted, where Murrell wandered naked and miser- able, he might find a train waiting to take him back to Brisbane. CHAPTER VI THROUGH THE GREAT UNKNOWN Up to the time when Macquarie came to govern New South Wales nothing at all was known of Australia in- land. The Blue Mountains, beautiful and rugged, defied every attempt to cross them. Among others, gallant George Bass had tried. But he was less successful by land than by sea and he discovered nothing. But now the colony was growing larger, and the settlers began to feel themselves cramped between the mountains and the sea. They had need of larger pastures to feed their sheep and grow their com, so three young men determined to find out what lay behind the moun- tains. And, taking vdth them food enough to last six weeks, they set out. They had a hard task before them. They had to cut their way through woods where no white man at least had ever passed before. Across dark valleys, up and down steep cliffs, now crawling along narrow ledges, now clambering up rocky heights, they reached at last the western side of the hills. There they saw the land open out in roUrng, fertUe plains, and knew that they had found what meant new life and wealth to the colony. ' The dauntless three ! for twenty days and nights These heroes battled with the haughty heights ; For twenty spaces of the star and sun , These Romans kept their harness buckled on ; 156 OUR EMPIRE STORY By gaping gorges, and by cliffs austere, These fathers struggled in the great old year ; Their feet they set on strange hills scarred by fire ; Their strong arms forced a path through brake and briar ; They fought with nature till they reached the throne Where morning glittered on the great UNKNOWN. There, in the time of praise and prayer supreme. Paused Blaxland, Lawson, Wentworth, in a dream ; There, where the silver arrows of the day Smote upon slope and spire, they halted on their way. Behind them were the conquered hills — they faced The vast green West, with glad, strange beauty graced ; And every tone of every cave and tree Was as a voice of splendid prophecy.' Returning home, the three told the governor of their discovery, and he, after making sure that what they said was true, set convicts to work to make a broad road across the hills. It took two years to make. Many a vaUey had to be bridged over, the solid rock had to be blown up. But at last the great work was finished. Then the colonists led their flocks and herds along the road to the grassy plains beyond, which were soon dotted with homesteads, and the town of Bathurst was founded. After this many travellers set out, eager to fill the great blank of the map of Australia, and it would take many books to tell of aU their adventures. With patient courage and wonderful endurance they found, and marked, and named tract after tract of the vast island, each man stealing his little corner from the Unknown and adding it to the Known. To the great work these pioneers gave their health and money and aU that they had. Some of them even gave their lives, and lie lost for ever in the great, silent land, no man knowing to this day where their bones rest. Australia has no battlefields. Its peaceful soil has never been soaked in the blood of THROUGH THE GREAT UNKNOWN 157 thousands, its blue skies have never been darkened with the smoke of war. No heroes have fallen to the sound of trumpet and of drum fighting for King and Country. But the men who fought with nature, who suffered hunger and thirst, and aU the woes of the desert, who day by day, and hour by hour, showed the courage of endurance, are as well worth remembering as those who, in one quick moment of fervour, thought Ufe well lost for the sake of some great cause. And the names of Hamilton, Hume, Sturt, Eyre, Leichardt, Mitchell, Kennedy and many others stand out in the story of Australia as men who were not afraid to suffer and to die. We cannot foUow aU these explorers, you must read their stories elsewhere. But I wiU teU the story of two, not because they were the greatest or did most, but because they are among the best known, and because they were the first to cross the island-continent from south to north all the way from sea to sea. For when the island had once been crossed from shore to shore there was an end to the wonderful stories that had grown up about the marvels to be found in the middle of it. Some said that there was to be found a great and fertile land, where white people lived in the wealth and luxury of a sort of fairyland ; some again said there were great inland seas, boiling rivers, and mountains of fire to be found there. But when the land had been crossed, these stories were at an end, although there was then, and is still, much to be learned. By the year 1860 the fringes of Australia had been peopled, and although httle was known of the interior, the land was divided into five colonies, broken off from the mother colony of New South Wales. Each of these colonies had a capital and a governor of its own. Victoria had its capital, Melbourne; South Australia its capital. 158 OUR EMPIRE STORY Adelaide ; Western Australia its capital, Perth ; Queens- land its capital, Brisbane. Now the Colony of Victoria decided to send out an expedition to cross the continent. As its leader, an Irishman named O'Hara Burke was chosen. No expense was spared to make the expedition a success. Camels were brought on purpose from India, for they, as is well known, can go for a longer time without water than perhaps any other beast of burden. And one of the worst dangers and difficulties in Australian exploration was the want of water. It is to-day the greatest drawback to AustraUa. The expedition set off from Melbourne in high spirits. Crowds of people turned out to see it start. The mayor made a speech, Burke made another, and amid a storm of good wishes and cheering the long procession of men, laden camels, and horses wound out of sight. But the expedition which had begun so brightly was soon overshadowed. The leader of the camels quarrelled with Burke, and went back to Melbourne saying that no good would ever come of the expedition under such a leader. And indeed, brave though he was, Burke was not a good commander. A man named WiUs was now made second in command, and the expedition continued its way. When Menindie on the Darling river was reached, it was found that some of the men and camels were already knocked up and unable to travel fast. But instead of waiting here to rest for a short time, or going on slowly, Burke, who was hot-headed and eager, divided his party into two. Leaving one half under a man named Wright to come on slowly, he pushed on quickly with Wills and six other men to Cooper's Creek. It is not easy to see what Burke hoped to gain by this, for at Cooper's Creek he arranged to wait for the others. THROUGH THE GREAT UNKNOWN 159 Here there was plenty of grass and water, and while waiting for Wright and his party to arrive, Burke and Wills made many short expeditions, exploring the country round. They found stony deserts and waterless tracts, and nothing very encouraging. In this way a month went past. Then Burke, im- patient at the slowness of Wright, decided to again divide his party. Leaving four men under a leader named Brahe to await Wright, he, with Wills and two others, again set out northward. The men left behind were told to wait three months, and if Burke and Wills did not return they might then give them up as lost and go home. Having made all their arrangements, the Uttle party set out. On and on, day after day, they trudged. Some- times they met with bands of natives who, however, were friendly enough. Sometimes the way lay through stony desert, sometimes through fertile plains, or swamps and thick forest. At last they reached the seashore. But a forest of trees and a thick undergrowth of bushes lay between them and the sea, and although Burke and Wills made gallant efforts to struggle thi'ough it, they were obhged to turn back without having really seen the water or having stood upon the northern shore. It was now two months since they had left Cooper's Creek. They were weary and worn. Their food was nearly at an end. And so they made haste to return, lest the men left at Cooper's Creek should, as they had been told, go home believing their leader to be lost in the wilds. The way northward had seemed hard and long, the way back seemed yet harder. Soon there was nothing left to eat. One camel after another had to be killed for food. The men fell ill, and worn out with hardships, one died. 160 OUR EMPIRE STORY The three remaining gaunt, lean skeletons struggled on. At last they, with two skinny camels, arrived at Cooper's Creek. There was no one there. Upon a tree was a note telling the wretched, weary travellers that the others had left that very morning, and that Wright, who had been left behind at the Darling, had never arrived at aU. It was heart-breaking. Sick and hopeless were the men who that night lay down to sleep in the deserted camp. Burke had mismanaged the expedition badly. Perhaps he knew it, and that made the hardships no easier to bear. Fortunately Brahe and his party had left some food behind them. They had marked a tree with the word ' Dig,' and here the travellers found the buried stores. Now that they had food enough, Wills and the other man, who was called King, proposed that they should rest for a few days until they had regained some strength. But Burke with his impatient spirit would not Usten. He proposed to start off again and try to reach home by going through South Australia instead of back as they had come. He wanted to go by way of Mount Hope- less, which had been reached by another explorer some years before. There was now a sheep farm there, and Burke thought it could not be more than one hundred and fifty miles off. It seems to us, reading of it long after, a mad and foolish idea. And so it seemed to Wills and King. But they gave way to their leader and the journey began. It was a dismal failure. They lost their way and, at last worn out and once more starving, were obliged to go back. On this return journey Burke and King became THROUGH THE GREAT UNKNOWN 161 so weak that they could go no farther, and alone, Wills returned to Cooper's Creek to brmg food to his dying comrades. Meanwhile, had they only known it, help had been very near. For Brahe, having at last met with Wright, had returned to Cooper's Creek. But finding no one there, and believing that no one had been there in their absence, they aU started homeward with the news that the others had perished. The news was true enough. But it need not have been true if only things had been better managed. Now, of the three left alone in the wilderness, WiUs was the first to die. A few days later Burke followed him, and King alone was left. He kept himself from utterly starving by eating the seeds of a plant called Nardoo. Then he feU in with some friendly blacks who had already helped the forlorn party. With them he stayed untU he was found and rescued, for he was not left to die unaided. When Wright and Brahe reached home with their sad news, search parties were at once sent out to find the bodies at least of the brave, misguided men. So King was found. But he was pale and thin, more like a skeleton than a living man, and so weak that he could scarcely speak. But after a few days of care and nursing he grew much better, and was able to tell the sorry story of all his pains and hardships. The dead bodies of Burke and WUls were found where they had died, and were buried in the wilds. But afterwards they were brought to Melbourne, where they were buried with great ceremony and a monument in their memory was raised. King received a pension, and the relatives of Burke and Wills were cared for. It is pleasant, too, to know that the kindly blacks were rewarded, although it was only with 162 OUR EMPIRE STORY beads and ribbons, looking-glasses and sugar. To them such things seemed very precious, and they were well pleased. ' Set your face toward the darkness — tell of deserts weird and wide, Where unshaken woods are huddled, and low languid waters glide ; Turn and tell of deserts lonely, lying pathless deep and vast ; Where in utter silence ever Time seems slowly breathing past — Silence only broken when the sun is flecked with cloudy bars, Or when tropic squalls come hurtling underneath the sultry stars ! Deserts, thorny, hot and thirsty, where the feet of man are strange, And eternal Nature sleeps in solitudes which know no change. Weakened with theirlengthened labours, past longplains of stone and sand, Down those trackless wilds they wandered, travellers from a far-off land. Seeking now to join their brothers, struggling on with faltering feet. For a glorious work was finished, and a noble task complete ; And they dreamt of welcome faces — dreamt that soon unto their ears Friendly greeting would be thronging, with a nation's well-earned cheers ; Since their courage never failed them, but with high, unflinching soul Each was pressing forward, hoping, trusting all should reach the goal. Ye must rise and sing their praises, O ye bards with souls of fire. For the people's voice shall echo through the wailings of your lyre ; And we'll welcome back their comrade,thoughoureyes with tears be blind At the thoughts of promise perished, and the shadow left behind ; Now the leaves are bleaching round them — now the gales above them glide. But the end was all accomplished, and their fame was far and wide. Though this fadeless glory cannot hide a nation's grief. And their laurels have been blended with a gloomy cypress wreath. Let them rest where they have laboured ! but, my country, mourn and moan ; We must build with human sorrow grander monuments than stone, Let them rest, for oh ! remember, that in long hereafter time Sons of Science oft shall wander o'er that solitary clime ! Cities bright shall rise about it. Age and Beauty there shall stray. And the fathers of the people, pointing to the graves, shall say : Here they fell, the glorious martyrs ! when these plains were woodlands deep ; Here a friend, a brother, laid them ; here the wild man came to weep.' H. C. Kendalu CHAPTER VII 'THE TRACTS OF THIRST AND FURNACE' As years went on and Australia grew, great farms stretched out from the towns into the wUds. Many a farmer owned a sheep- or cattle-run as big as an EngKsh county, and the yellowing cornfields reached for mUes waving and beautiful in the sunshine. The soil of Australia is in many places so fertile and the climate so good that farming is easy. But the farmers have one great trouble. That is the want of a good water supply. In Australia there are no high mountains to catch the rain clouds. There are no big inland lakes or rivers, and a curious thing about the Australian rivers is that many of them instead of flowing to the sea flow inland. When a drought comes, some of these rivers dis- appear altogether, and sometimes a drought will last for months or even years. The years 1839-1840 were years of terrible drought. The grass became browner and browner, and at last it was burnt up altogether and only the dry, sandy earth re- mained. The leaves withered on the trees and shrivelled up. There was no coohiess anywhere. The wind was hot like the blast of a furnace, and, as it swept through the forests, the leaves hissed and crackled against each other instead of whispering gently with a cool, soft sound. No green thing was to be seen, the still air quivered with heat, and the silent birds fell dead from the branches. 164 OUR EMPIRE STORY The cattle, daily growing thinner and thinner, wandered farther and farther over the plains in search of food and water. As the water pools dried up, the weaker animals sank into the mud and sand left on the edge, and having no strength to struggle out again died there. And there they lay, their dead bodies poisoning the air until the plain was strewn with bleaching bones. Corn, too, ceased to grow, and flour was sold at £100 a ton. Starvation and ruin stared many a farmer in the face. At first they tried to drive their cattle to Sydney to sell them to the butchers there. But as every one wanted to sell, there were not enough people to buy, and the cattle before they reached Sydney were often little more than skin and bone. It was then that a Mr. O'Brien thought of a plan by which something might be saved. He had heard that in Russia, when farmers had too many cattle, they killed them for their fat, for though the butchers in a town could only buy a certain amount of meat, a market foi tallow could always be found, for it could be sent to distant lands. So now factories and places for boiling down sheep and cattle were built both in Sydney and in the country, and to the farmers' great delight they found that they could make a little out of their starving cattle. Valuable cattle were killed merely for their skin and tallow, but it was better to make even a few pounds than nothing at all, and the poor beasts were put out of misery. The meat of course was wasted, but some of it was used as manure for the land. And sometimes a butcher would buy a hundred or two legs of mutton at Id. each, and make a good profit out of them by selling them to his customers for so much a pound. Thus many of the colonists were saved from utter ruin, and able to live until the ram came again. ' THE TRACTS OF THIRST AND FURNACE' 165 When at last the rain did come in a few weeks, the earth was, as if by magic, covered with green once more. Then the cattle, which had wandered in helpless pam, dull-eyed, pitiful skeletons, again became sleek and hvely. But in places the rain came with such sudden fury that the river-beds could not contain it, and great floods were the consequence. Then perhaps what a farmer had saved from the drought would be torn from him by the flood. About ten years later another drought withered the land. Rivers and water-pools disappeared, the earth became a sun-baked desert of clay, where great cracks yawned, and where the cattle wandered ' with the terror of thirst in their eyes. As the summer went on, the air grew hotter and hotter, the sky a brazen bowl. Then in February came a day which in Victoria is remembered as Black Thursday. From the north a hot wind blew with the breath of a furnace. The sky grew dark, and out in the Bass Straits weather-wise sailors furled their sails, and made ready to meet a fearful storm. Hour by hour the wind gathered strength and speed, till by midday it tore shrieking through the bare, scorched trees, howling over the plains, where the bones of hundreds of cattle lay bleaching. Then to the howl and shriek of the wind was added the roar and crackle of fire. As if by magic the whole land was sheeted in flame. On it came like some hungry demon, fierce tongues of fire Ucking the earth, pillars of smoke chmbing the sky. The raging wind tore the lifeless leaves from the trees, the arid grass from the plain, and in a whirl of sparks swept them on to kindle into fresh flame wherever they feU. The fiery monster spared nothing. The great forest trees appeared for a few minutes pillared and arched in flame, then sank together in one huge bonfire. Farm- 166 OUR EMPIRE STORY houses and gardens were swept away, and as the flames rolled on, man and beast fled before them vainly seeking shelter. Wherever water was to be found, there men fled. Standing in the water they waited, blinded and gasping in the smoke-laden air, tUl the column of fire had roUed past. Above the roar of the flames rose the scream and bellow of terrified animals, the thud and patter of a thousand hoofs, as horse and bullock, sheep and kangaroo, all the beasts of field or forest, birds and serpents, and every hving thing, fled before the fiery sword of de- struction. Driven by a nameless terror, panting to escape from an awful death, they fled. AU day long and far into the night the storm of fire lasted, and when morning dawned, the land in its track lay a black ruin of desolation. Many men, women, and children, had died in the flames. Many more lost all that they possessed, and, penniless and disheartened, had to begin life over again, had again to build their homesteads and fence their runs, and find money to buy new tools and a fresh stock of cattle. It was never known how much was lost in this great fire, but those who lived in the country at the time never forgot the havoc it made, or the terrible devastation it left behind. But at length rain came again. Then in a far shorter time than we should believe possible, the land that had been a charred and smoking desert was once more green pasture and corn land, dotted with pleasant homesteads, and Black Thursday was no more than a memory. CHAPTER VIII THE FINDING OF GOLD Near the town of Bathurst there lived a farmer called Hargraves. He had suiFered much from the droughts, and at last, tired of the struggle, he gave up his farm and sailed away to Cahfornia. He went to try his luck at the goldfields which had lately been discovered there. But in Cahfornia Hargraves was no more lucky than he had been in New South Wales. Although others around him made fortunes, he made none. However, as he dug, and shovelled, and toUed in vain, a strange thought struck him. The hills and valleys of California were very hke the hills and valleys of New South Wales, he said to himself. If there was gold to be found in the one, why not in the other ? When this idea had once taken hold of Hargraves he could not get rid of it. So at length he made up his mind to leave his useless toil and go back to Austraha to find out if there was anything in his idea. He had now very little money left, but he managed to get back to Sydney. He arrived there penniless, and had to borrow money in order to hire a horse to take him to the Blue Mountains, for in those days there were no trains. At a lonely inn on the slopes of the mountains he put up his horse. There he found a boy who knew all the creeks and streams about, and, with him as guide, 187 168 OUR EMPIRE STORY Hargraves started out early one morning carrying a trowel and a little tin dish. Soon he came to what he thought was a likely place in which to find gold. Digging up a little of the greyish, sandy soil he went with it to the nearest stream. Here he dipped and dipped his tin in the water until all the sand was washed away. Then, there at the bottom, too heavy to be floated away by the water, lay a few small grains of duU, glowing gold. As time after time Hargraves filled his little tin pan, and saw the tiny grains of precious metal glow at the bottom, his breath came fast, his eyes sparkled, his cheeks glowed with triumph. He knew that he had found what he sought, and that fortunes for thousands lay hidden in the hiUs around him. Tired, but rejoicing, he went back to his inn and wrote down all that he had done, very sure that he had found out something gfreat, not only for himself, but for all Australia. For two months Hargraves remained among the lonely hiUs making quite certain of his discovery. Then he went back to Sydney and wrote a letter to the governor, sajdng that for £500 he would show him places in New South Wales where gold could be found. Many people had pretended to find gold before this. So now the governor was not very ready to beheve Hargraves. However, he said that if Hargraves would first point out the place, he would be rewarded afterwards. This Hargraves agreed to, and in a week there were a thousand people digging and washing for gold in that lonely creek, which, a month or two before, had echoed to the shouts of one man and a boy. The rush to the diggings was tremendous. Farmers left their farms, doctors their patients. Labourers, THE FINDING OF GOLD 169 servants, clerks, workmen of all kinds, thieves and cut- throats, all swelled the stream which poured along the road over the Blue Mountains. It was hardly to be wondered at that people would no longer toil all day long for a few shillings, when, in the same time they might, by scratching the earth a little, win hundreds of pounds. So business came to a standstill, grass grew in the streets, com stood in the fields uncut, even the ships remained idle in the harbour, for the sailors deserted whenever they could, and made for the diggings. But although many who went to the mines made fortunes, others, like Hargraves himself in California, returned in a few weeks disappointed and angry. Others, too, went thinking that they had nothing to do but pick up lumps of gold and carry it home in cart-loads. When these found that they had to work hard, to dig, and shovel, and wash, perhaps for weeks, to live in a tent and ' do ' for themselves, they were disgusted, and they, too> trooped homewards. AU these disappointed people thought that Hargraves had fooled them, and could they have found him they would have gladly killed him. But he kept out of the way. So over the road between Sydney and the diggings there was a constant double stream of people, some going, eager to begin work, others returning, grumbling and discontented. But although some returned disappointed, the rush to the goldfields continued so great that it seemed as if all the other colonies would be emptied of men, and that their whole life would come to a standstill. So to stop the rush of settlers out of Victoria, the government there offered a reward to any one who would find gold in Victoria. Gold was found, and found in far richer quan- tities than in New South Wales. The rush was then 170 OUR EMPIRE STORY turned in another direction, but it still went on. Indeed Melbourne was left at one time with only one policeman on duty. But that did not matter much, as aU the rascals and thieves had gone to the diggings like other people. Some marched along with a pack on their back holding all that they possessed in the world, picnicking on the way, sleeping in the open air. Others, a little better off, had hand-barrows in which to carry their goods, while those still better off rode along on horseback or in light gigs or buggies. But all hurried in one direction, aU had one object — gold. At first it was only the colonists who swarmed to the goldfields, for it was some months before the news reached home. In those days there was no telegraph to Australia, and boats took three months to cross the seas. But when at last the news did reach home, whole ship- loads of men from almost every nation in Europe came thronging to the diggings. There were among them old and young, rich and poor, strong and feeble, and even the lame and the blind. To find the gold there was little skill needed and few tools. A pick, a shovel, a pan, and a cradle were enough. The cradle was a pan on rockers into which the earth containing the gold was put along with water, and rocked about untU all the sand and earth was washed away and only the gold remained, AU over the country new towns sprang up — towns of tents and wooden shanties. There all day long, fi-om dawn to dusk, the sound of the pick and the rumble of the cradle was heard. Then at the sound of a gun all work ceased. The diggers scattered to their tents, fires were lit, and supper was cooked. For a little there was no noise except the clatter of biUies or pans in which tea was boiled, and the hum of talk. Supper over, the men 'ALIi DAY LONG THE SOUND OF THE PICK AND THR RUMBLE OF THE CRADLE WERE HEARD.' THE FINDING OF GOLD 171 sat around the glowing fires smoking and telling tales, and singing songs, while overhead the stars came out and quiet darkness settled aU about them. Then after a time the sounds of song and laughter would cease, and silence would reign over the little town till morning. In those early days many people made great fortunes in a few weeks, or sometimes by some lucky find, in one day. Others returned home as poor as they had set out, and broken in health. And some who made great fortunes spent it as quickly as they had made it. They did all kinds of wUd things simply to get rid of their money, such as buying pianos which they could not use, and having champagne in bucketfuls. Many lumps of gold called nuggets were found, some of them so large that one was enough to make a man's fortune. One caUed the Kerr nugget was found by a black shepherd near Bathurst. He had heard how white men were going almost mad seeking for gold, so while he guarded his sheep, he amused himself by poking about with a stick to see if he also could not find some of the mysterious treasure. And in this way, one day he came upon a lump so large that even he, who knew nothing of the value of it, grew excited. Running back to the farmhouse he burst in upon his master and mistress as they were sitting down to dinner. ' O massa 1 ' he cried, hardly able to speak for excitement and breathlessness, * white man find little feUow, me find big fellow 1 ' When the shepherd had explained what he meant, his master put to his horse and drove off to see this wonder- ful nugget. There, sure enough, was a huge lump of gold sticking out of the ground where every one might see it, and only needing to be picked up. It was truly a ' big fellow,' and so heavy that it had to be broken in two 172 OUR EMPIRE STORY before it could be carried away. It afterwards sold for £4000. But although the Kerr was one of the first large nuggets, it was by no means the largest. Others worth more than double were found later, to which people gave names such as Blanche Barkly, Welcome Nugget, and Welcome Stranger. Soon the tented mushroom towns grew larger and more numerous. Theatres, hotels, and even churches were built. But when a mine became exhausted, or when news of a richer mine reached the diggers, the township would be deserted, and the country sink back to its former peace, only hundreds of little sand heaps being left to show where men had lately toiled Uke a swarm of busy. ants. Things were not always quiet and orderly on the goldfields. The greed of gain and the thirst for gold brought out man's evil passions, and often dark and dreadful deeds were done. Every digger, too, had to pay thirty shillings a month to the government for leave to dig. To the lucky ones who were making fortunes that seemed nothing. To the unlucky ones who toiled for days finding little it seemed a great deal, and they tried to avoid paying it. Upon every goldfield there was a force of police. These police could demand to see a man's licence, and if he had none they carried him off to prison. So many of the diggers came to look upon the poUce as their enemies, and there were often fights between them. But those days have long since passed. Gold digging still goes on in Australia. But it is very different now. The men no longer work with pick and shovel, they no longer make fortunes in a single day. The mines are owned by companies, the men are paid wages like any THE FINDING OF GOLD 178 other miners, and the work is done by machinery with aU the latest improvements and inventions. And the news of the opening of a new mine or the finding of a large nugget no longer drives people from their offices and their desks to seek their fortunes at the diggings. CHAPTER IX THE BUSHRANGERS ' Hunted, and haunted, and hounded, Outlawed from human kin. Bound with the self-forged fetters Of a long career of sin, Hands that are red with slaughter, Feet that are sunk in crime — A harvest of tares and thistles For the pending scythe of Time.' Jennings Carmichael. In the early days of Australia one of the great terrors and dangers of a country life was the bushrangers. ' Bush ' meant all land unknown and unreclaimed beyond the few towns and settlements. It might be ' open bush,' ' thick bush,' or ' scrubby bush ' — it was all bush, whether dark forest with high trees and tangled vines, or great plains of tall, waving grass. And the bush- rangers were the brigands of the wilds — the Robin Hoods of the Australian forests, except that the bushrangers were, as a rule, brutal and bad, and we have come to think that Robin Hood was a good fellow. Bushrangers were at first convicts who had escaped into the wilds. For as convicts were hired out to farmers and others as servants, it was much easier for them to escape than it is for a gang of prisoners working under the eye of a warder. Sometimes as many as thirty or forty would escape in a year. They fled to the woods, 1T4 THE BUSHRANGERS 1T5 often living with the savages and doing dreadful deeds. They thought little of committing a murder for a meal, but many of their wicked deeds were done out of a kind of wild revenge for having been imprisoned. Now and again, however, the Ufe in the bush would prove too hard even for these criminals, and after suffering fearful hardships they would return, begging to be forgiven and taken back. But enough remained to become a terror to the peaceful inhabitants. And at one time, both in Tasmania and in New Couth Wales, the bushrangers became so bad that the settlers worked in the fields with pistols in their belts, and the women in the houses kept loaded guns always to hand. One of the most famous Tasmanian bushrangers was Michael Howe. He was a convict who had been a sailor, and who had been condemned to seven years' hard labour for robbery. But not long after he arrived in Tasmania, Howe escaped and joined a band of bush- rangers. He soon became their chief, and he ruled like a tyrant. He was very haughty, calling himself 'The Governor of the Ranges.' The governor of the colony he called the ' Governor of the Town.' Howe and his gang soon became the terror of the neighbourhood, but although £100 was offered for his head, none dared try to earn it, for most feared him too much, while others admired him. At last an old sailor named Worral, also a convict, determined to win the reward. Helped by two other men, he hunted his prey for many days, and at last tracked him to his hiding-place. He was a strange figure, this wild terror of the hills. Clothed in kangaroo skin, with a haversack and powder-flask across his shoulders, and a long, dark beard flowing over his breast, he faced his enemies. Howe fought well for his Ufe, but the 176 OUR EMPIRE STORY struggle was short, and he fell to the ground. Then hacking off his head, Worral earned it, a ghastly prize, to the governor, much as in days long, long ago men carried the heads of wolves to the king for a reward. Worral received his promised reward, and was sent home a free man, loaded now, not with fetters, but with the thanks both of colonists and governor. Years went on, and convicts were no longer sent to Australia. For as more and more free settlers came, they began to object to the convicts being sent there. Into South AustraUa they had never been allowed to enter. And in 1868, just eighty years after Sydney had been first founded, the last convict-ship sailed for Australia. After that, evildoers were shut up in prisons at home. But although convicts no longer came, bushrangers did not die out. Others took to the wild life. Some- times they were the descendants of these convicts or of ticket- of -leave men, as freed convicts were called, or others who had a grudge against mankind, and hated law and order, and above all hated work. They were wild, fearless men, splendid horsemen, deadly shots. In the great pastures of Australia horses and cattle are not shut into small, fenced fields as at home, but each animal has the initial of its owner branded on its hide. There were men who made a trade of stealing cattle. With a hot iron they changed the letters of the brand, and drove the beasts off to some town far enough away where buyers could be found who would not ask too many questions about where they had come from. These men were called 'cattle-dufFers' or 'bushwhackers.' They often carried on their trade for years, but when they became known, and the police were in search of them, they would take to the bush and become regular bush- rangers. THE BUSHRANGERS 177 Then when gold was found bushrangers became yet more rife. For the gold had to be carried to towns or to the coast to be shipped home. It went always guarded by troops or policemen, but gangs of bushrangers banded together and very often managed to carry off the treasure. Or sometimes the coach, which carried miners and others from the mines to the towns, would be ' held up ' and all the passengers robbed. One of the most dreaded of bushrangers was a man called Daniel Morgan. He was a wild, bad man, and, unlike other bushrangers, he was always alone. He was utterly brutal, and his one desire seemed to be to kill. One day he walked into a farmhouse, alone as usual, with a pistol in either hand and demanded brandy. It was given to him, and then, either from drunkeimess or mere cruelty, he began firing among the men with his pistols. Three of them were so badly wounded that one man asked leave to go for a doctor. Morgan said he might go, but when the farmer was on his horse he repented, and, firing at him from behind, shot him dead. With such doings as these Morgan kept the country- side a-tremble. But at last he came to his end. The dreaded bushranger appeared one evening at a farmhouse called Peachelba, owned by a Mr. MacPherson. He ordered tea, and after tea commanded Mrs. MacPherson to play upon the piano. With trembling fingers the poor lady did her best. But, as you may imagine, at such a time she could not give her mind to piano-playing, and all the thanks she got was to be yelled at and told that she played very badly. All the household had been gathered into the room by Morgan's orders, so that he might have them under his eye and pistoL Only one little child who was ill was allowed to stay in bed. But now the child began to cry, M 178 OUR EMPIRE STORY and Mrs. MacPherson begged to be allowed to send her servant to look after it. Morgan gruffly gave permission, and the servant left the room. Presently the crying ceased, and Mrs, Mac- Pherson, looking out of the window, saw some one rurming from the house. It was the servant. As fast as her feet could carry her she ran to another farm near. Panting and breathless, she rushed into the house and told her news. 'But I must go back,' she added, ' or he wiU miss me.' * AU right,' said the farmer, and the brave servant fled back again and returned to the sick child before any one, except Mrs. MacPherson, knew that she had been out of the house. Quickly the farmer sent messages to the country round about, and by morning twenty-eight men had gathered to surround Peachelba, eager to catch Morgan. It was a long, weary night to the folk at the farm, but at last day dawned. Breakfast over, Morgan picked up his pistols. ' Now, MacPherson,' he said, ' we will go and get a horse.' MacPherson agreed, for he could do nothing else. But as they walked to the yard a man suddenly slipped from behind a tree. He levelled a gun, there was a loud report, and the dreaded Morgan fell to the ground. Then as if by magic men hurried from their hiding-places and surrounded him. A few hours later Morgan died, having hardly spoken except to grumble that he had not been challenged to a fight — had not had a ' fair chance.' A very famous band of bushrangers was a gang called the Kellys. The whole family, both men and women, were a wild, horse-stealing, house-breaking lot. So much feared were they that the country they hved in came to be known as the Kelly district. But they, too, came to ^^g ^^H^J ^m w 03 n ^, T ffi '""i^y w H H t ra ) <1 -'.- d. J ^% 1 4 ; t ■•■ Q 1 2; *■ • -VX ft. ,! 't t> -' "'■ MLu 1 Q : ■■ . -"% »4 't' E,« 1 ^ r B ;^;^ 1^' ►J ''V