62 BR]i:BEur ai^d his associates. [I634-35. 



" When he strikes twelve times, he says, ' Hang 

 on the kettle'; and when he strikes four times, he 

 says, ' Get up, and go home.' " 



Both interpretations were well remembered. At 

 noon, visitors were never wanting, to share the 

 Fathers' sagamite ; but at the stroke of four, all 

 rose and departed, leaving the missionaries for a 

 time in peace. Now the door was barred, and, 

 gathering around the fire, they discussed the pros- 

 pects of the mission, compared their several expe- 

 riences, and took counsel for the future. But the 

 standing topic of their evening talk was the Huron 

 language. Concerning this each had some new 

 discovery to relate, some new suggestion to offer ; 

 and in the task of analyzing its construction and 

 deducing its hidden laws, these intelligent and 

 highly cultivated minds found a congenial employ- 

 ment.^ 



But while zealously laboring to perfect their 

 knowledge of the language, they spared no pains 

 to turn their present acquirements to account. 

 Was man, woman, or child sick or suffering, they 

 were always at hand with assistance and relief, — 

 adding, as they saw opportunity, explanations of 

 Christian doctrine, pictures of Heaven and Hell, 

 and exhortations to embrace the Faith. Their 

 friendly offices did not cease here, but included 

 matters widely different. The Hurons lived in 

 constant fear of the Iroquois. At times the whole 

 village population would fly to the woods for con- 

 cealment, or take refuge in one of the neighboring 



1 Lalemant, Relation des Hurons, 1639, 17 (Cramoisy). 



