Читать книгу Class-Room Plays from Canadian History - Alexander Maitland Stephen - Страница 7

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[Illustration: “Vive le roi de France!” ]

Characters:
	Jacques Cartier	French Soldiers
	A Priest	Indians
Properties:
	A Wooden Cross
	A Cardboard Shield, bearing the inscription, “Vive le roi de France!” and the fleur-de-lis
	Beads, Knives, and Hatchets, and a Cloak in which to carry them
	Skins or Furs
	Two Red Sashes and Two Red Caps

Scene: A clearing in the forest upon the shores of the Bay of Chaleur. A cross stands R. at the back of the stage. To the L. are trees, representing the edge of the forest.

Cartier, followed by a priest and soldiers, enters R. and proceeds to the foot of the cross, where he halts, and turns to his followers.

Cartier.You have done well! This cross will stand until we return. It will be a sign that our king is now the ruler of this new and pleasant land. [Placing his hand upon the shoulder of one of his officers.] But it will be good to be back in St. Malo again. There are many hearts there which have grown weary from waiting to see our good ships bearing up into the harbour; many, too, who have given up the last hope of ever seeing us again.

Priest.Le bon Dieu will comfort them!

Officer.It will comfort them more to see the faces they love. Yes [turning to Cartier], it is a wonderful land which we shall have to tell them about. Only this morning I went inland to gather fresh fruit for our stores. Goodly streams flowed through green valleys, the sun shone brightly upon the hill-sides, where we found berries a-plenty growing in the open places and, in a beautiful lake, our men took a supply of fresh fish of a most delicious kind. There were spots which reminded me of the pretty little gardens of Brittany, so thickly were they overspread by wild roses and other flowers. It is a happy land—a land of hope and good cheer!

Cartier.It was April when our good Philippe Chabot sent us out across the unknown seas. Sailing into the sunset, we have found for him a new kingdom—a real Garden of the Sun. We shall all be rich men after we have returned to France. However, it will be hard to make our townsmen believe the story of all we have seen.

Priest.I have thought of that, my captain. It is, indeed, only too true. We cannot take back with us aught that will tell the tale unless ...

[He pauses, as if hesitating to give utterance to his thought.

Cartier.You have a plan, good Father? May we ask what it is?

All.Yes! Yes! Let us listen to good Father Barbeaux!

Priest.I would have spoken about this before to-day, but I was not sure that it would be pleasing to le bon Dieu. Now, I have prayed and fasted, and I believe it is His blessed will. Will you permit me, my Captain, to take with me to France two of the sons of this savage king? They will be certain proof that we have found this strange land.

Cartier.Ah, but this is not so easily done! A father—even a heathen father—loves his children, and will not readily part with them.

Priest.True. We can but try. They are a very vain people. For some bright bits of raiment or a few glittering baubles, they would sell themselves into slavery.

Cartier.I like not your plan, good Father. I am sorry to displease you, but I fear it cannot be done.

Priest.Fear? Why should we fear if it is His will? [Pointing heavenward.] Look you! I am growing old. You may all come back to this fair land. I am not so sure that I shall return to it. It is my duty to show this people the way of the Cross—to save their souls, and time has not been given me to do this. [Speaks regretfully, in a lower tone.] I had thought to teach these two youths so that they might bring back the story of the Good Shepherd to their kinsmen.

Cartier.I know. You were not thinking of yourself. Well, we shall see what may be done. I do not know the minds of these natives, but they do seem to be children—very simple and kind. Their chief is coming here so that I may have a parting word with him. That was his party which you saw a moment since climbing the path which leads from his village to this place. [Turning to the Officer.] Have you brought the presents for them?

Officer.[Looking at his company.] Where is Jean Marchand? I gave him a goodly store of beads and knives and axes to carry from the ship.

A Soldier.He is coming, sire. But it is a warm day, and ...

Officer.And the rascal stopped to rest, no doubt. Stuffed himself with the salmon which we caught this morning, as if he were not already too fat to be of any use in a fight! But he is a shrewd hand at a bargain, and he will not lose our merchandise.

Enter Marchand, labouring and puffing. He is carrying a large bundle wrapped in a cloak.

Ah, there you are, sirrah!

Jean.I am here, sire ... [Laying down his bundle and wiping the perspiration from his brow with his sleeve.] what there is left of me! Butter on a hot griddle must feel just as I did slipping and sliding on this broiling hill-side. What with these trumpery knives and hatchets digging into my ribs, and the salt sweat dribbling into my eyes, I am useless for the rest of this day.

Officer.That will do, Marchand! We have the king’s business to do. Attention, sirrah!

Jean.Yes, sire!

[Stands erect with the rest of the company.

Enter, L., the Indian Chief, his three sons, and other tribesmen. They are carrying skins of wild animals, which they place upon the ground, kneeling while they offer them to Cartier.

Cartier.Let presents be given to them!

[Jean, assisted by another soldier, unfastens the package, and presents the beads, knives, and hatchets to the Indians. A pantomime, in which Marchand bargains, much to his own advantage, for each skin he receives, may be introduced here.

Cartier.[To the Chief.] I have asked you to be with us to-day because I want you to see this Cross [pointing to the wooden crucifix above his head], and to see the words which I shall place upon it. [To the Officer.] To the centre of the Cross, you will securely fasten that shield with the writing upon it which says that our king is ruler of this land. The Lily of France shall stand guard here until we return.

[The Officer and a soldier nail the shield to the Cross.

Chief.[Starting forward.] No! No! The land belongs to me and to my people. We will not let the white king’s sign stand upon our soil.

Cartier.We are your friends. We will come again in the ships with the white wings, and we shall bring many, many gifts for you much finer than these [pointing to the Chief’s new hatchet and knife]. If we leave no sign so that we may know your country, we cannot come again to see you. [Pointing skyward.] One more sun and we shall come again.

Chief.[Doubtfully.] I do not know. [He fondles his knife and hatchet.] You will bring more and bigger knives, maybe? [Smiling.] Very well! I shall let the big post stand. We will not touch him.

Cartier.[Taking the Chief’s hand.] We are your friends, and our king is your friend too. He will want some word from you, who are a great king in this land. Will you send him your two sons, with pleasant words on their lips, to tell him about your wonderful country? His heart will be glad then, and he will send many big ships with gifts for you. He will send your sons back to you with their arms laden with treasures for you and for your people.

Chief.[Hesitating.] I do not know. [Shaking his head.] I do not know. It is very far, I think, across the great waters. I do not know your country. My sons do not know. You will come back in one sun?

Priest.[Taking, from under his robe, two red sashes and two red caps.] Look! Your sons will be great chiefs before our king. He will know that you, too, are a mighty chief.

[Places sashes and caps upon the Indian boys.

Chief.[Smiling proudly, when the boys stand before him, one upon each side of the Priest.] Ah, very good! Very good! Yes, I will send my sons to visit the Great King. I will trust my white friends.

Priest.Let us all kneel to the good God who has given this land of sunshine to His people!

[All kneel for a moment in silent prayer. Rising with his company, Cartier holds aloft his sword, and his men join in his shout: “Vive le roi de France!”