50 THE HURON MISSION. [1633, 



Loyola and Xavier, inquired if they were okies, or 

 spirits : nor was their perplexity much diminished 

 by Brebeuf s explanation of their true character. 

 Three images of the Virgin next engaged their 

 attention ; and, in answer to their questions, they 

 were told that they were the mother of Him who 

 made the world. This greatly amused them, and 

 they demanded if he had three mothers. "Oh!" 

 exclaims the Father Superior, " had we but images 

 of all the holy mysteries of our faith! They are a 

 great assistance, for they speak their own lesson." ^ 

 The mission was not doomed long to suffer from a 

 dearth of these inestimable auxiliaries. 



The eve of departure came. The three priests 

 packed their baggage, and Champlain paid their 

 passage, or, in other words, made presents to the 

 Indians who were to carry them in their canoes. 

 They lodged that night in the storehouse of the 

 fur company, around which the Hurons were en- 

 camped ; and Le Jeune and De None stayed with 

 them to bid them farewell in the mornmg. At 

 eleven at night, they were roused by a loud voice 

 in the Indian camp, and saw Le Borgne, the one- 

 eyed chief of Allumette Island, walking round 

 among the huts, haranguing as he went. Brebeuf, 

 listening, caught the import of his words. " We 

 have begged the French captain to spare the life 

 of the Algonquin of the Petite Nation whom he 

 keeps in prison; but he will not listen to us. 

 The prisoner will die. Then his people will re- 

 venge him. They will try to kill the three black- 



1 Relation, 1633, 38. 



