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Show 30 Tin; LILY .AI'i[ Tlllo: TOTF.~r. to those who had been little favored of fortune in tl~e crowdc<l world of civilization; and, with the feeling of a fit·st frcslmc!'-S in their hearts, and, while in t!Jc pcrform:mcc of dutie!'l wl1ich were equally necessary to their s..'lfcty, and new to their experience, the whole prospect before them was beheld through that ro~"-colorcd atmosphere which tl1c fancy f'O readily flings before the mind, beguiling the soberer thought into forgetfulness. During this period they toiled successfully upon their fortifications. They raised the partt.J)Ct, tlJCy moulllcd tho cannon for defence; built rude dwellings within tllC walls, and iu their boumllcss contiguity of shade, with the feeling that they 'vcrc in some sort" JUonarchs of all they beheld;" tl1cy felt neither loneliness nor fcm·. Their homes built, their fortifications complete, tl1cy proceeded, in small detachments to explore tho n"ighhoring stream3 nnd woods. 'fhcy had, so far, finished all their tasks without mooting with tho natives. They did not shrink from this meeting. They IJOW desired it from motives of policy. They had no reason to h..:lie\'C, from the specimens of tl1o red-men whom tllf'y had already encountered, that they flhould have any difficulty in soothing any nf 1h'1 tribes; and they were justifieU in suppofling that the imJWO~:• hm already made upon those whom they met, would operate fin•fl:-ahly upon their future intercourse. Boldly, thou, our Frcnclunen darted into tho adjacent. forest.~, g:lthcring their g-.nne and p1·ovisions in the Sfl.me grounds with the prop1·ietors. But the latter were never to be seen. They were shy of the st.rangcrs1 or they had not yet discovered their settlement. One day, l10W~ ever, a fortunate cbance enabled a party of the Huguenots to discover, and to circumvent an Indian hunter, upon whom thcycnmo suddenly in the forests. At first the poor fellow was exceedingly dismayed at the encounter; but, subduing his fears, he submitted 'filE COI..OKY UNDER ALDERT. 31 with a good. grace to the wishes of hi 'I captors, and was conducted to the fo.-trcss. H ere he was treated with com~ideration, and made happy by se\'l'rnl trifles which were given him. His confidence wa.-1 finally won, nnd his mouth was opened. lie became co!',\municativc, nnd describ..:d l1i.i people and their territories. ] rc a\·owcd himself the !'ubject of a great monarch, whom he called Audul!ta,"-a name, in which, under tho corruptions of a French prouunciation, we recognize the well-known modern namo of ]~disto. ] [c described tho bouudarie~f empire belonging to this forest chieftain; and gave a general and not incorrect idea of the whole surrounding country. Captain Albert was exceedingly delighted with llis acquisition. It wns important that he should open an intercourse with tho natives, to whose mai:r.':l-ficlda nod supplies of venison his necessities required he should look. He treated the hunter with liberality and comtesy, dismissing him nt night-full with many presents, of n. kind most grateful to the savngo taste. These hol'lpitalitics nnd gifls1 it wns not doubted, would pnve the way for nn intercourse equally profitable nnJ plensrmt to both tJlC parties. Suffering a. few days to elapse after the departure of the hunter, Albert prepared to follow his directions, and explore the settlements of King Audusta. lie did so, and was received with great kindness by the stately savage. The Indian hunter had mado n. favorable report of the Frenchmen, and Audusta adopted them as his friends nnd allies. Jic promised them })rovisions and assist.:mce, and the • The no.me in Cltnrlevoix h written Andusta, but this is mO!It probably an error of the pre~il. Laudonniere in Hnckluyt uniformly use!l the or· thography whiell we adopt, al}d which furnishe!l a coinciden~ so really striking in the preservation or a name eo nearly the same in sound, to thi• very day, in the &ame region. |
