wish to keep them in perpetual wardship. They think more of beaver
skins than of souls, and their missions are pure mockeries." At the
same time he assures the minister that, when he is obliged to correct
them, he does so with the utmost gentleness. In spite of this somewhat
doubtful urbanity, it seems clear that a storm was brewing; and it was
fortunate for the peace of the Canadian Church that the attention of
the truculent governor was drawn to other quarters.




CHAPTER III.

1673-1675.

FRONTENAC AND PERROT.

LA SALLE.--FORT FRONTENAC.--PERROT.--HIS SPECULATIONS.--HIS
TYRANNY.--THE BUSH-RANGERS.--PERROT REVOLTS.--BECOMES ALARMED.--
DILEMMA OF FRONTENAC.--MEDIATION OF FENELON.--PERROT IN
PRISON.--EXCITEMENT OF THE SULPITIANS.--INDIGNATION OF FENELON.--
PASSION OF FRONTENAC.--PERROT ON TRIAL.--STRANGE SCENES.--APPEAL TO
THE KING.--ANSWERS OF LOUIS XIV. AND COLBERT.--FENELON REBUKED.


Not long before Frontenac's arrival, Courcelle, his predecessor, went
to Lake Ontario with an armed force, in order to impose respect on the
Iroquois, who had of late become insolent. As a means of keeping them
in check, and at the same time controlling the fur trade of the upper
country, he had recommended, like Talon before him, the building of a