1633.J THE .JESUITS THWARTED. 51 



robes whom yon are about to carry to your country. 

 If you do not defend them, the French will be 

 angry, and charge you with their death. But if 

 you do, then the Algonquins will make war on 

 you, and the river will be closed. If the French 

 captain will not let the prisoner go, then leave the 

 three black-robes where they are ; for, if you take 

 them with you, they will bring you to trouble." 



Such was the substance of Le Borgne's harangue. 

 The anxious priests hastened up to the fort, gained 

 admittance, and roused Champlain from his slum- 

 bers. He sent his interpreter with a message to 

 the Hurons, that he wished to speak to them before 

 their departure ; and, accordingly, in the morning 

 an Indian crier proclaimed through their camp that 

 none should embark till the next day. Champlain 

 convoked the chiefs, and tried persuasion, promises, 

 and threats ; but Le Borgne had been busy among 

 them with his intrigues, and now he declared in the 

 council, that, unless the prisoner were released, 

 the missionaries would be murdered on then* way, 

 and war would ensue. The politic savage had two 

 objects in view. On the one hand, he wished to 

 interrupt the direct intercourse between the French 

 and the Hurons ; and, on the other, he thought 

 to gain credit and influence with the nation of the 

 prisoner by effecting his release. His first point 

 was won. Champlain would not give up the mur- 

 derer, knowing those with whom he was dealing 

 too well to take a course which would have pro- 

 claimed the killing of a Frenchman a venial of- 

 fence. The Hurons thereupon refused to carry the 



