360 THE HURON CHURCH. [1648. 



bly rose and danced, as custom required. The last 

 placed a large stone over the closed gulf, to make 

 it doubly secure. 



Now came another series of presents, seven in 

 number, — to restore the voices of all the mission- 

 aries, — to invite the men in their service to forget 

 the murder, — to appease the Governor when he 

 should hear of it, — to light the fire at Sainte 

 Marie, — to open the gate, — to launch the ferry- 

 boat in which the Huron visitors crossed the river, 

 — and to give back the paddle to the boy v^ho had 

 charge of the boat. The Fathers, it seems, had the 

 right of exacting two more presents, to rebuild 

 their house and church, — supposed to have been 

 shaken to the earth by the late calamity ; but they 

 forbore to urge the claim. Last of all were three 

 gifts to confirm all the rest, and to entreat the Jesu- 

 its to cherish an undying love for the Hurons. 



The priests on their part gave presents, as tokens 

 of good- will ; and with that the assembly dispersed. 

 The mission had gained a triumph, and its influence 

 was greatly strengthened. The future would have 

 been full of hope, but for the portentous cloud of 

 war that rose, black and wrathful, from where lay 

 the dens of the Iroquois. 



