1642.] AMBUSCADE. 215 



that is to say, laymen who, from a religious motive 

 and without pay, had attached themselves to the ser- 

 vice of the Jesuits. Goupil had formerly entered 

 upon the Jesuit novitiate at Paris, but failing health 

 had obliged him to leave it. As soon as he was 

 able, he came to Canada, offered his services to the 

 Superior of the mission, was employed for a time in 

 the humblest offices, and afterwards became an at- 

 tendant at the hospital. At length, to his dehght, 

 he received permission to go up to the Hurons, 

 where the sm'gical skill which he had acquired 

 was greatly needed; and he was now on his way 

 thither.^ His companion. Couture, was a man of 

 intelligence and ^dgor, and of a character equally 

 disinterested.^ Both were, like Jogues, in the 

 foremost canoes ; while the fourth Frenchman was 

 with the unconverted Hurons, in the rear. 



The twelve canoes had reached the western end 

 of the Lake of St. Peter, where it is filled with in- 

 numerable islands.^ The forest was close on their 

 right, they kept near the shore to avoid the current, 

 and the shallow water before them was covered 

 with a dense growth of tall bulrushes. Suddenly 

 the silence was frightfully broken. The war-whoop 

 rose from among the rushes, mingled with the 

 reports of guns and the whistling of bullets ; and 

 several Iroquois canoes, filled with warriors, pushed 

 out from their concealment, and bore down upon 



1 Jogues, Notice sur Rene Goupil. 



'^ For an account of him, see Ferland, Notes sur les Registres de N. D. 

 de Quebec, 83 (1863). 



3 Buteux, Narr^ de la Prise du Pert Jogues, MS. This document 

 leaves no doubt as to the locality. 



