The Iroquois
regarded his grief with sardonic scorn; but they misjudged the manhood
below the old priest's tears. Ragueneau asked leave to speak. They
grunted permission. Springing up, he broke into impassioned, fearless
reproaches of the Iroquois for their treachery. Casting one belt of
wampum at the Onondaga chief's feet, the priest demanded pledges that
the massacre cease. A second belt was given to register the Onondaga's
vow to conduct the women and children safely to the Iroquois country.
The third belt was for the safety of the French at Onondaga.
The Iroquois were astonished. They had looked for womanish pleadings.
They had heard stern demands coupled with fearless threats of
punishment. When Ragueneau sat down, the Onondaga chief bestirred
himself to counteract the priest's powerful impression. Lounging to
his feet, the Onondaga impudently declared that the governor of Quebec
had instigated the massacre. Ragueneau leaped up with a denial that
took the lie from the scoundrel's teeth. The chief sat down abashed.
The Council grunted "Ho, ho!" accepting the wampum and promising all
that the Jesuit had asked.
Among the Thousand Islands, the French who had remained behind to
gather up the baggage again joined the Onondagas. They brought with
them from the Isle of Massacres a poor Huron woman, whom they had found
lying insensible on a rock. During the massacre she had hidden in a
hollow tree, where she remained for three days.
Pages:
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69