1643.] PILGRIMAGE. 263 



The summer passed prosperously, but with the 

 winter their faith was put to a rude test. In 

 December, there was a rise of the St. Lawrence, 

 threatening to sweep away in a night the results 

 of all their labor. They fell to their prayers ; and 

 Maisonneuve planted a wooden cross in face of the 

 advancing deluge, fu'st making a vow, that, should 

 the peril be averted, he, Maisonneuve, would bear 

 another cross on his shoulders up the neighbor- 

 ing mountain, and place it on the summit. The 

 vow seemed in vain. The flood still rose, filled 

 the fort ditch, swept the foot of the palisade, and 

 threatened to sap the magazme ; but here it stopped, 

 and presently began to recede, till at length it had 

 withdrawn within its lawful channel, and Villemarie 

 was safe.^ 



Now it remamed to fulfil the promise from which 

 such happy results had proceeded. Maisonneuve 

 set his men at work to clear a path through the 

 forest to the top of the mountain. A large cross 

 was made, and solemnly blessed by the priest; then, 

 on the sixth of January, the Jesuit Du Peron led 

 the way, followed in procession by Madame de la 

 Peltrie, the artisans, and soldiers, to the destined 

 spot. The commandant, who with all the ceremo- 

 nies of the Church had been declared First Soldier 

 of the Cross, walked behind the rest, bearing on 

 his shoulder a cross so heavy that it needed his 

 utmost strength to climb the steep and rugged 



1 A little MS. map in M. Jacques Viger's copy of Ze Petit Registre dt 

 la Cure de Montreal, lays down the position and shape of the fort at this 

 time, and shows thi spot where Maisonneuve planted the cross. 



