40 LE JEUNE AND THE HUNTERS. [1634. 



made their last march, regained the bank of the 

 St. Lawrence, and waded to the island where they 

 had hidden their canoes. Le Jeune was exhausted 

 and sick, and Mestigoit offered to carry him in his 

 canoe to Quebec. This Indian was by far the best 

 of the three brothers, and both Pierre and the 

 sorcerer looked to him for support. He was strong, 

 active, and daring, a skilful hunter, and a dexterous 

 canoeman. Le Jeune gladly accepted his offer ; 

 embarked with him and Pierre on the dreary and 

 tempestuous river ; and, after a voyage full of hard- 

 ship, during w^hich the canoe narrowly escaped be- 

 ing ground to atoms among the floating ice, landed 

 on the Island of Orleans, six miles from Quebec. 

 The afternoon was stormy and dark, and the river 

 was covered with ice, sweeping by with the tide. 

 They were forced to encamp. At midnight, the 

 moon had risen, the river was comparatively un 

 encumbered, and they embarked once more. The 

 wind increased, and the waves tossed furiously. 

 Nothing saved them but the skill and courage of 

 Mestigoit. At length they could see the rock 

 of Quebec towering through the gloom, but piles 

 of ice lined the shore, while floating masses were 

 drifting down on the angry current. The Indian 

 watched his moment, shot his canoe through them, 

 gained the fixed ice, leaped out, and shouted to 

 his companions to follow. Pierre scrambled up, 

 but the ice was six feet out of the water, and Le 

 Jeune's agility failed him. He saved himself by 

 clutching the ankle of Mestigoit, by whose aid he 

 gained a fu'm foothold at the top, and, for a mo- 



