1087.] IROQUOIS GENEROSITY. 143 



on the part of the Iroquois, which does them signal 

 honor. One of the prisoners at Fort Frontenac 

 had contrived to escape, and, leaping sixteen feet 

 to the ground from the window of a blockhouse, 

 crossed the lake, and gave the alarm to his coun- 

 trymen. Apparently, it was from him that the 

 Onondagas learned that the invitations of Onontio 

 were a snare ; that he had entrapped their rela- 

 tives, and was about to fall on their Seneca 

 brethren with all the force of Canada. The Jesuit, 

 whom they trusted and esteemed, but who had 

 been used as an instrument to beguile them, was 

 summoned before a council of the chiefs. They 

 were in a fury at the news ; and Lamberville, as 

 much astonished by it as they, expected instant 

 death, when one of them is said to have addressed 

 him to the following effect : " We know you too 

 well to believe that you meant to betray us. We 

 think that you have been deceived as well as we ; 

 and we are not unjust enough to punish you for 

 the crime of others. But you are not safe here. 

 When once our young men have sung the war- 

 song, they will listen to nothing but their fury; 

 and we shall not be able to save you." They gave 

 him guides, and sent him by secret paths to meet 

 the advancing army. 1 



1 I have ventured to give this story on the sole authority of Charle- 

 voix, for the contemporary writers are silent concerning it. Mr. Shea 

 thinks that it involves a contradiction of date ; but this is entirely due 

 to confounding the capture of prisoners by Perre at Ganneious on July 

 3d with the capture by Champigny at Fort Frontenac about June 20th. 

 Lamberville readied Denonville's camp, one day's journey from the 

 fort, on the evening of the 29th. {Journal of Denonville.) This would 



