1644.] EXPLOIT OF MAISONNEUVE. 275 



himself, and his followers held aloof to give him 

 the opportunity. He pressed close upon Maison- 

 neuve, who snapped a pistol at him, which missed 

 fire. The Iroquois, who had ducked to avoid the 

 shot, rose erect, and sprang forward to seize him, 

 when Maisonneuve, with his remaining pistol, shot 

 him dead. Then ensued a curious spectacle, not 

 infrequent in Indian battles. The Iroquois seemed 

 to forget their enemy, in their anxiety to secure 

 and carry off the body of theh chief; and the 

 French commander continued his retreat unmo- 

 lested, till he was safe under the cannon of the 

 fort. From that day, he was a hero in the eyes of 

 his men.^ 



Quebec and Montreal are happy in their found- 

 ers. Samuel de Champlain and Chomedey de 

 Maisonneuve are among the names that shine with 

 a fair and honest lustre on the infancy of nations. 



1 Dollier de Casson, MS. Vimont's mention of the affair is brief. 

 He says that two Frenchmen were made prisoners, and burned. Bel- 

 mont, Histoire da Canada, 1645, gives a succinct account of the fight, and 

 indicates the scene of it. It seems to have been a little below the site of 

 the Place d'Armes, on which stands the great Parish Church of ViUe- 

 marie, commonly known to tourists as the " Cathedral." Faillon thinks 

 that Maisonneuve's exploit was achieved on this very spot. 



Marguerite Bourgeoys also describes the affair in her unpubHshed 

 writings. 



