UP THE GREAT RIVER 13

amid the arctic ice-floes. The cause of the fiery
nose seems more likely to have been spirits than
tobacco, for Hudson was well acquainted with the
effects of strong waters. At one stage of his jour-
ney he was responsible for an incident which may
perhaps have given rise to the Indian legend of the
mysterious potations attending the first landing
of the white men. , Hudson invited certain native
chiefs to the ship and so successfully plied them
with brandy that they were completely intoxicated.
One fell asleep and was deserted by his comrades,
who, however, returned next day and were re-
joiced to find the victim professing great satisfac-
tion over his experience.

The ship had now reached the northernmost
bounds of her exploration and anchored at a point
not exactly determined but not far below Albany.
Hudson sent an exploring boat a little farther, and
on its return he put the helm of the Half Moon
about and headed the red lion with the golden
mane southward. On this homeward course, the
adventurers met with even more exciting experi-
ences than had marked their progress up the river.
At a place near the mouth of Haverstraw Bay at
Stony Point the Half Moon was becalmed and a
party of Mountain Indians came off in canoes to