428 THE LAST OF THE HURONS. [1650, 



tiation. His apparent frankness completelj^ de- 

 ceived them ; and they insisted that he himself 

 should go to the Huron village, while his compan- 

 ions remained as hostages. He set out accordingly 

 with three of the principal Iroquois. 



When he reached the village, he gave the whoop 

 of one who brings good tidings, and proclaimed 

 with a loud voice that the hearts of their enemies 

 had changed, that the Iroquois would become their 

 countrymen and- brothers, and that they should 

 exchange their miseries for a life of peace and 

 plenty in a fertile and prosperous land. The 

 whole Huron population, full of joyful excitement, 

 crowded about him and the three envoys, who were 

 conducted to the principal lodge, and feasted' on the 

 best that the village could supply. Etienne seized 

 the opportunity to take aside four or five of the 

 principal chiefs, and secretly tell them his suspi- 

 cions that the Iroquois were plotting to compass 

 their destruction under cover of overtures of peace ; 

 and he proposed that they should meet treachery 

 with treachery. He then explained his plan, which 

 w^as highly approved by his auditors, who begged 

 him to charge himself with the execution of it. 

 Etienne now caused criers to proclaim through the 

 village that every one should get ready to emigrate 

 in a few days to the country of their new friends. 

 The squaws began their preparations at once, and 

 all was bustle and alacrity ; for the Hurons them- 

 selves were no less deceived than were the Iro- 

 quois- envoys. 



During one or two succeeding days, many mes- 



