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No sooner had the company been founded, however, than a similar calamity to that which had destroyed Port Royal, descended upon Quebec. England was as much opposed as ever to sharing with France the North American continent, and just as the famished inhabitants of Quebec were anxiously looking out for a fleet of transports, which was to bring them much-needed supplies, a fleet of six vessels under David Kirke, a Dieppe Protestant in English employ, bore down toward Quebec. With dilapidated defences, and an almost empty magazine, resistance seemed hopeless. The French transports were taken by the English ships on their way, and the long-looked-for supplies were seized or sunk in the river. The conquering squadron then sailed home, leaving the colony to a winter of starvation. By spring they had exhausted everything left to them, and were forced to look for wild roots and acorns to satisfy their hunger.

Champlain even thought of making a raid on the Iroquois to procure food. In July the English vessels returned, and a boat with a flag of truce was sent off to demand capitulation. Anything else would have been useless. The English undertook to convey the French to their homes and very soon the red-cross flag had taken the place of the Fleur-de-lis on the scene of Champlain's long and persevering labors. The blow was a heavy one, but even yet he did not give up his enterprise. He sailed with Kirke's squadron for London where he represented the facts to the French ambassador, who secured from the English king the restoration of New France to its original possessor in fulfilment of a treaty made in the previous April.

In 1632 the French Admiral Caen demanded the surrender of Quebec from Thomas Kirke and the French lily again floated from the heights in place of the English cross. In the following spring Champlain resumed command. Aided by the Jesuit Le Jeune, he maintained an earnest, religious ritual and a strict discipline, which made the colony resemble a vast convent. Faithful to his great aim of converting the Indians to Christianity, he sought to win their regard by every possible kindness. But his active life, so devoted to the interests of New France, was almost over now, and on Christmas Day, 1635, all Quebec mourned, with good cause, for the brave leader and true knight who had entered into his well-earned rest.

CHAPTER III.

PÈRE BRÉBOEUF.

Père Brébœuf a Type of the Best Missionary Spirit in Early Canada-Champlain Brings a Number of Missionaries to Quebec-Jean de Brébœuf of a Noble Family of Normandy— Anxious to Go to the Huron Mission-The Hurons Visit Quebec as Fur Traders-The Missionaries Anxious to Go West with Them-Forced to Spend the Winter in Quebec— Their Desires Gratified in the Following Year-The Arduous Journey to the Huron Country-Brébeuf Welcomed by His Old Pupils-The Savages Build the "Black Robes " a Fitting Residence-The Hurons Amazed at the Striking Clock of the Jesuits-The Indian Sorcerers Stir Up Enmity Against the Missionaries-A Severe Drought Attributed to the Cross on the Mission-House-A Plague of Small-Pox Carries off Many of the Hurons-Brébœuf's Noble Work in this Trying Time-The "Black Robes" Held Responsible for the Plague—Their Death Decreed-Brébœuf's Courageous Conduct-His Effort to Found a Mission in the Neutral Nation-The Iroquois Invade the Country of the Hurons—The Destruction of the Hurons-The Martyrdom of Brébœuf—The Influeuce of the Jesuits on the Life of the Colony of New France.

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Na book dealing with the makers of Canada, it is necessary to consider the early missionaries, who labored to so much purpose among the Indians. That New France was able to maintain an existence during a great part of the seventeenth century was largely due to these noble and self-sacrificing men who did much to hold the Indians in check. But little is known of the early life of any of them. It is not necessary that anything should be known of their parentage; friends, the world, life itself, they were ready to sacrifice for the propagation of Christianity. Several of these men would make worthy subjects for study, but Père Brébœuf is chosen as typical of the best missionary spirit in early Canada.

In the latter part of May, 1633, Champlain, after one of his many voyages across the stormy Atlantic, reached the rocky fortress of Quebec. This time he brought with him a number of missionaries, who were to carry the gospel to the benighted Indians. Among the missionaries was one figure more striking than the others, Jean de Brébœuf, a man of a noble family of

Normandy. He was a tall man, with broad athletic shoulders and sinewy limbs. Even in his black robes one could not but feel that he was a born soldier. His face, too, wore the stern expression of a man accustomed to deeds of daring and commanding, rather than to the milder aspect of a preacher of the Gospel of Peace. He had been in Canada for several years before this time, and in his labors had found that the Hurons on the shores of Georgian Bay needed him most, and that the difficulties of that mission were suited to his daring spirit. He now came to Canada, anxiously looking for an opportunity to return to his former field of labor, and to what was to prove the scene of his martyrdom.

The Hurons came to Quebec in July on their annual visit, with their canoes laden with furs. A feast was held in their honor, and at the feast Champlain introduced the three missionaries, Daniel, Davost and Brébœuf, to the red men. The Indians had ever found the "Black Robes" loving and helpful, and several of the chiefs welcomed them with stirring speeches. Brébœuf could speak their language and replied with fitting words. The Indians had heard of him, and his noble bearing, and able, diplomatic address filled all with unbounded admiration, and many vied for the honor of carrying him in their canoes. The feast broke up, and the fathers made preparations for a long and trying journey.

However, they met with a disappointment. A difficulty arose between the French and the Indians, and the latter paddled to their country refusing to carry the missionaries with them. The fathers lost no time, however, for they earnestly went to work at the Huron language, and spent the long Canadian winter in obtaining a speaking knowledge of it.

Next year when the Hurons came down they took back with them the missionaries, who, with glad hearts, faced the journey of nine hundred miles. The canoes left Quebec and paddled slowly but steadily up the St. Lawrence till the Ottawa was reached; and then began the difficulties of the way. The rapids of this great northern river forced them to portage again and again, and not infrequently they had to wade waist deep in the boiling flood, dragging their canoes with them. The fathers, unaccustomed to such work, felt it keenly, and even Brébeuf, strong as a lion, was almost exhausted.

But they bore up manfully and did their share of the work, helping to carry the canoes past the rapids, or bending under loads of baggage, as they struggled over rocks or through dense woods. Nor had they proper food for such exhausting work. A little corn crushed between two stones and mixed with water was almost the only nourishment they had in the dreary thirty days' journey from Three Rivers to the Georgian Bay. But the heroic missionaries did not heed the trials and dangers, they were only anxious to save souls, and at night, as they lay on the rocks or hard earth and read their breviaries by the camp fire or the light of the moon, they rejoiced that God had put it into their power to at last labor in their chosen field.

The canoes bearing them became separated on the journey, and when Brébœuf reached his destination on the shores of Thunder Bay his comrades were nowhere near. The Indians had agreed to carry him to this spot, and without a word deserted him and went to their respective villages. But he was not one to be disheartened. He hid his baggage in the forest and went in search of his future flock. He had spent three years in Toanche, a town not far distant, but it had been destroyed by fire. He passed by the ruins of this place and soon saw before him the roofs of the village of Ihonatiria.

The villagers had probably heard that their old teacher was. near them once more, for when his tall athletic figure was seen emerging from the thick forest they rushed out to meet him with the wildest enthusiasm, crying out "Echom has come again!" "Echom has come again!" He was led in triumph to their village, and feasted and cared for, and here he rested and awaited the arrival of his companions who were many days longer on the journey.

The Hurons were glad to have the "Black Robes" among them once more, and several of the villagers combined to build them a fitting residence. Before the autumn leaves had all fallen from the trees a house thirty-six feet long by twenty feet wide was erected, and finished in a manner that did credit to its savage builders. The Jesuits fitted it up as well as possible under the circumstances. Among the things they displayed in their abode were some that filled the Indians with awe. A magnifying glass and multiplying lens puzzled their untutored senses; and a hand-mill made them

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reverence the ingenuity and skill of the white man. But the most amazing of all was a clock that struck the hours. The Hurons christened it the Captain," and were never tired of sitting waiting to hear it strike. They asked what it ate, and what it said when it struck. The fathers put this last question to good purpose and declared that when it struck twelve times it said "hang the kettle on," and when four, "get up and go home." The Indians acted on the answer, and ever after at four o'clock the missionaries. were left alone to worship together, to pray for the success of their labors, to study the Huron language, and to plan their work.

Their labor was far from being pleasant. They had many difficulties to contend with and much to discourage them. The Indian sorcerers did all in their power to stir up enmity against them; the savages were so deep-rooted in wickedness that they seemed little higher than the brute, and those that did confess their sins and receive baptism, too often did it for some present they expected from the scant store that the devoted men had brought with them. But Brébeuf was not to be daunted, and he went steadily and cheerily on with his work, helping his weaker comrades to bear up against their trials.

To save the emblem

A difficulty arose during the first summer of their sojourn among the Hurons. A severe drought had been burning the fields and withering the crops, and their enemies declared that it was caused by the red cross on the mission-house, that scared away the bird of thunder. A council was held, and it was decreed that the cross should be cut down. of their faith the fathers offered to paint it white, and when it was done, and the drought did not cease, the Indians thought they must try some other means of bringing rain. The sorcerers exerted themselves to bring it about, but their efforts were fruitless. At length the missionaries formed religious processions and offered up earnest prayers that the dry time might end; and as rain came shortly afterwards the Indians as a people put great reliance in the white "medicine men," but the sorcerers hated them with an intense hatred than at first.

Soon after this the small-pox broke out and swept with deadly might through the whole Huron nation. The Jesuits worked nobly. Night and

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