1646.] MOHAWK SUPERSTITION. 301 



Lalemant, who had succeeded Yimont as Superior 

 of the missions, held a council at Quebec with 

 three other Jesuits, of whom Jogues was one, and 

 it was determined, that, unless some new contin- 

 gency should arise, he should remain for the winter 

 at Montreal.^ This was in July. Soon after, the 

 plan was changed, for reasons which do not ap- 

 pear, and Jogues received orders to repair to his 

 dangerous post. He set out on the twenty-fourth 

 of August, accompanied by a young Frenchman 

 named Lalande, and three or four Hurons.^ On 

 the way they met Indians who warned them of a 

 change of feeling in the Mohawk towns, and the 

 Hurons, alarmed, refused to go farther. Jogues, 

 naturally perhaps the most timid man of the 

 party, had no thought of drawing back, and pur- 

 sued his journey with his young companion, who, 

 like other donnes of the missions, was scarcely 

 behind the Jesuits themselves in devoted enthusi- 

 asm. 



The reported change of feeling had indeed taken 

 place ; and the occasion of it was characteristic. 

 On his previous visit to the Mohawks, Jogues, 

 meaning to return, had left in their charge a small 

 chest or box. From the first they were distrustful, 

 suspecting that it contained some secret mischief. 

 He therefore opened it, and showed them the con- 

 tents, which were a few personal necessaries ; and 

 having thus, as he thought, reassured them, locked 

 the box, and left it in their keeping. The Huron 

 prisoners in the town attempted to make favor with 



1 Journal des Sup€rieurs des J€suites. MS. ^ Ibid. 



26 



