paladin of the woods failed not to accept.

"The companions now remaining to him were the Montagnais. In their
camp on the Richelieu, one of them dreamed that a war party of
Iroquois was close upon them; on which, in a torrent of rain, they
left their huts, paddled in dismay to the islands above the Lake
of St. Peter, and hid themselves all night in the rushes. In the
morning they took heart, emerged from their hiding-places,
descended to Quebec, and went thence to Tadousac, whither
Champlain accompanied them. Here the squaws, stark naked, swam out
to the canoes to receive the heads of the dead Iroquois, and,
hanging them from their necks, danced in triumph along the shore.
One of the heads and a pair of arms were then bestowed on
Champiain,--touching memorials of gratitude, which, however, he
was by no means to keep for himself, but to present to the King.

"Thus did New France rush into collision with the redoubted
warriors of the Five Nations. Here was the beginning, and in some
measure doubtless the cause, of a long suite of murderous
conflicts, bearing havoc and flame to generations yet unborn.
Champlain had invaded the tiger's den; and now, in smothered fury,
the patient savage would lie biding his day of blood."




MARQUETTE'S DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI

(1673)