1690.] HIS BOLDNESS. 203 



to spare; but such was the necessity of saving 

 Michillimackinac, and breaking off the treaty with 

 the Senecas, that when spring opened he sent 

 Captain Louvigny with a hundred and forty-three 

 Canadians and six Indians to reinforce the post 

 and replace its commander, La Durantaye. Two 

 other officers with an additional force were ordered 

 to accompany him through the most dangerous 

 part of the journey. With them went Nicolas 

 Perrot, bearing a message from the count to his 

 rebellious children of Michillimackinac. The fol- 

 lowing was the pith of this characteristic docu- 

 ment : — 



" I am astonished to learn that you have for- 

 gotten the protection that I always gave you. Do 

 you think that I am no longer alive ; or that I 

 have a mind to stand idle, like those who have been 

 here in my place ? Or do you think that, if eight 

 or ten hairs have been torn from my children's 

 heads when I was absent, I cannot put ten hand- 

 fuls of hair in the place of every one that was 

 pulled out? You know that before I protected 

 you the ravenous Iroquois dog was biting every- 

 body. I tamed him and tied him up; but, when 

 he no longer saw me, he behaved worse than ever. 

 If he persists, he shall feel my power. The Eng- 

 lish have tried to win him by flatteries, but I will 

 kill all who encourage him. The English have 

 deceived and devoured their children, but I am a 

 good father who loves you. I loved the Iroquois 

 once, because they obeyed me. When I knew that 

 they had been treacherously captured and carried 



