1087.] THE NETHER POWERS. 113 



of the bell, the swinging of the censer, the 

 sweet odors so unlike the fumes of the smoky 

 lodge-fhes, the mysterious elevation of the Host, 

 (for a mass followed the baptism,) and the agita- 

 tion of the neophyte, whose Indian imperturbability 

 fairly deserted him, — all these combined to pro- 

 duce on the minds of the savage beholders an 

 impression that seemed to promise a rich harvest 

 for the Faith. To the Jesuits it was a day of 

 triumph and of hope. The ice had been broken ; 

 the wedge had entered ; light had dawTied at last 

 on the long night of heathendom. But there was 

 one feature of the situation which in their rejoicing 

 they overlooked. 



The Devil had taken alarm. He had borne 

 with reasonable composure the loss of individual 

 souls snatched from him by former baptisms ; but 

 here was a convert whose example and influence 

 threatened to shake his Huron empire to its very 

 foundation. In fury and fear, he rose to the con- 

 flict, and put forth all his malice and all his hell- 

 ish ingenuity. Such, at least, is the explanation 

 given by the Jesuits of the scenes that followed.^ 

 Whether accepting it or not, let us examine the 

 circumstances which gave rise to it. 



1 Several of the Jesuits allude to tliis supposed excitement among 

 the tenants of the nether world. Thus, Le Mercier says, " Le Diable se 

 sentoit presse de pres, il ne pouuoit supporter le Baptesme soleunel de 

 quelques Sauuages des plus signalez." — Relation des Hurons, 1638, 33. — 

 Several other baptisms of less note followed that above described. Gar- 

 nier, writing to his brother, repeatedly alludes to the alarm excited in 

 Hell by the recent successes of the mission, and adds, — " Vous pouvez 

 juger quelle consolation nous etoit-ce de voir le diable s'armer centre 

 nous et se servir de ses esclaves pour nous attaquer et tacher de nous 

 perdre en haine de J. C." 



10* 



