Franquet Makes Plans bay

time he rested at Madame Gentil’s set himself the task of planning some other route by which travellers could reach St. Peters with less discomfort than he had en- dured. He traced the course of the stream which fell into the river near the dwelling of Madame Gentil, and in less than a mile came upon a spring from which by many outlets a copious volume of the clearest water boiled up and gathering together formed a brook which stole away in limpid purity between grassy banks to meet the great river below. Hemmed in by ancient trees it was such a spot as a pagan poet would have made the haunt of Naiads or the buskined followers of Diana. The French called it “La Grande Source.” Franquet, after examining the country through which the align- ment would run came to the conclusion that with very little labour a good road could be constructed in an almost straight line from the Grande Source to the height on which the church stood near St. Peter’s Har- bour. He was also assured by residents that the tide made its way up the channel formed by the waters from the Grande Source in sufficient volume to carry shallops at half tide well up toward the fountain head. Here, therefore, in Franquet’s opinion was a site adapted in every way for the shipment of merchandize passing from St. Peters to Port Lajoie, and he sent his plans for all this to the Government, and supported them by vigorous argument.

Having finished his survey of this locality, enough of the sunshine of an August day still remained to show him as the barge floated down the stream, the quiet farm-steadings surrounded with every appearance of comfort and plenty, and the rich fields: of grain that

adorned the banks on either hand. The night was spent at Sieur Gauthier’s.