over in the same fashion, the assembled Indians rending
the air with shouts of exultation. Donnacona, in true
Indian fashion, improved the occasion with a long harangue,
which Taignoagny interpreted to mean that the little girl
was the niece of the chief and one of the boys the brother
of the interpreter himself, and that the explorer might
keep all these children as a gift if he would promise
not to go to Hochelaga.

Cartier at once, by signs and speech, offered the children
back again, whereupon the other interpreter, Domagaya,
broke in and said that the children were given in good-will,
and that Donnacona was well content that Cartier should
go to Hochelaga. The three poor little savages were
carried to the boats, the two interpreters wrangling and
fighting the while as to what had really been said. But
Cartier felt assured that the treachery, if any were
contemplated, came only from one of them, Taignoagny. As
a great mark of trust he gave to Donnacona two swords,
a basin of plain brass and a ewer--gifts which called
forth renewed shouts of joy. Before the assemblage broke
up, the chief asked Cartier to cause the ships' cannons
to be fired, as he had learned from the two guides that
they made such a marvellous noise as was never heard
before.

'Our captain answered,' writes Cartier in his narrative,
'that he was content: and by and by he commanded his men
to shoot off twelve cannons into the wood that was hard
by the people and the ships, at which noise they were