M. de Vignan, talking with the young Brissac on the voyage, told himwonderful tales of monsters which were, he said, the guardians of the St.Lawrence River. There was, he said, an island in the bay of Chaleurs, nearthe mouth of that river, where a creature dwelt, having the form of awoman and called by the Indians Gougou. She was very frightful, and soenormous that the masts of the vessel could not reach her waist. She hadalready eaten many savages and constantly continued to do so, putting themfirst into a great pocket to await her hunger. Some of those who hadescaped said that this pocket was large enough to hold a whole ship. Thiscreature habitually made dreadful noises, and several savages who came onboard claimed to have heard them. A man from St. Malo in France, the Sieurde Prevert, confirmed this story, and said that he had passed so near theden of this frightful being, that all on board could hear its hissing, andall hid themselves below, lest it should carry them off. This naturallymade much impression upon the young Sieur de Brissac, and he doubtlesswished many times that he had stayed at home. On the other hand, heobserved that both M. de Vignan and M. de Prevert took the tale verycoolly and that there seemed no reason why he should distrust himself ifthey did not. Yet he was very glad when, after passing many islands andnarrow straits, the river broadened and they found themselves fairly inthe St.
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