day Brébouf's commanding form might have been seen, passing from hut to hut, caring for the sick, nursing them with his own hands, toiling for the life of their bodies, and earnestly seeking to save their souls. They besought him to tell them what they should do to be saved, and Brébœuf answered, "Believe in God; keep his commands; give up all your superstitious feasts; renounce your sins, and vow to build a chapel to offer God thanksgiving and praise." These were difficult things for the Indians to do, but several whole communities promised, and for a time struggled against their savage natures. But an evil day was at hand for Brébœuf and his comrades. Their old enemies the sorcerers, came among their flock and drew its members away to the worship of the Indian gods and to the practice of savage, disgusting cures against the disease. It was soon rumored abroad that the Jesuits had cast a spell over the Indians to get them into their power. They were held responsible for the plague, and the objects that had formerly pleased the wondering savages were now looked upon as things to be dreaded. The clock had to be stopped; the religious pictures in the mission-house were turned from with horror, and even a small streamer they had set up was dreaded as a source of the disease. Day by day the antipathy increased, till at last they were shunned, hooted, pelted with sticks and stones, and even their lives were threatened, but Brébeuf bore an undaunted presence and met all their attacks with a calm courage that filled the red men with admiration even in their hate. At length, however, after several councils had met, their death was decreed, and it was only the superstitious dread that the red men had of the great "white sorcerers" that kept the blow from falling. Brébeuf and his companions felt that the end was nigh, and assembled their flock together to a great festin d' adieu, a farewell feast of one expecting death. Their courage in meeting their fate with their eyes open turned the tide in their favor, and, although the sorcerers still kept a large party among the Indians stirred up against them, their lives were never after in danger. In 1640 Brébœuf struggled to found a mission in the Neutral nation, but after four months of effort he returned to the town of Sainte Marie in the Huron country, and among his chosen people he labored for eight years, till he met his death at the hands of the Iroquois. These savages hated the Hurons with a deadly hatred, and in 1648 planned an attack on their towns. They waited for the Huron traders to make their annual descent to the French posts. A sharp fight ensued; all the Hurons were slain or captured, and the victorious enemy rushed on the town of St. Joseph which was soon laid in ashes. Here was slain the noble Daniel, and his body burned in the ruins of his church. Other towns were raided and destroyed, and the Iroquois with scalps dangling from every belt, hurried back to their palisaded homes. In the following March they were once more on the war-path and the populous town of St. Ignace was soon given to the flames. From St. Ignace they impetuously dashed on St. Louis where labored Brébœuf and Lalement In a short time the town was taken and given to the flames. Bréboeuf and his comrade played heroic parts, and died as perhaps martyrs never died before. Brébœuf particularly excited the vengeful spirit of the Indians, who were unable to make him cry for mercy. Above their savage yells his voice rang out exhorting his flock to remain firm in their belief, and to die Christians. So greatly was his spirit admired that the Indians, to gain something of his courage and strength, with savage superstition drank his blood, and their most noted chief ate his heart. So ended the labors of these heroes; and that the Indians of Canada held to the French with such affection was due almost altogether to the struggles and earnestness of perhaps the most devoted and heroic missionaries that the world has ever seen. CHAPTER IV. ADAM DAULAC. The Iroquois Threatening Montreal-Adam Daulac Plans to Save the Colony-Goes Forth with His Heroic Band to Meet the Savages-The Trip Up the Ottawa-Awaiting the Enemy at the Foot of the Long Saut-Joined by a Party of Hurons and Algonquins— Ambushing the Iroquois-A Siege Without a Parallel in Canadian History-The Sufferings of the Besieged-Efforts of the Iroquois to Storm Their Position-Deserted by Their Huron Allies-The Iroquois Send for Reinforcements-The Final Struggle-A Breach in the Wall-Daulac and His Comrades Slain-Mourning at Montreal on News of Their Death-The Colony Saved. 00 often valorous deeds are thought of by themselves; their setting is forgotten and in this way much of their significance is lost. The action of one man may have more influence on the progress of a campaign or even the development of a country than a battle where large armies are engaged. The brave deed of the Canadian pioneer, Adam Daulac, which has come down to us, is related here not merely because it is a heroic incident in the making of Canada, but because it was of vital importance in the life of the young colony. At the time when it took place Canada was threatened with destruction; a scourge similar to that which nearly a century later swept the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia was pressing hard on the frontiers of New France, and it looked as if the efforts of such men as Champlain and Maisonneuve were to be in vain. The scalping knife and the tomahawk of the Iroquois threatened to annihilate the settlements thinly scattered along the St. Lawrence. But the hordes of savages were to be turned back from their career of plunder and murder, not by the trained soldiers sent from old France to protect the colony, but by the gallant conduct of one young Frenchman and a handful of his comrades. The story of their exploit is well worthy of a place in a book dealing with the making of Canada. During the latter part of the winter of 1660, the little settlement of Montreal was kept in perpetual excitement by alarming rumors of the |