savages into villages, and his successful attempt at civilization
resulted in the famous "Mission of the Mountain," where he died shortly
after.

Two other missionaries, le Maitre and Vignal, arrived subsequently, and
were killed by the treacherous Iroquois while laboring for their
conversion with incredible self-sacrifice. It is a tradition of these
times, that the savage who killed le Maitre, having wrapped the bloody
head in a cloth, the face of the martyred priest was distinctly
imprinted thereon, and so indelible was the impression that when the
terrified savage displayed the cloth in his native village as a trophy
of the war-path, the features of le Maitre were instantly recognized,
the murderer being cuttingly upbraided for his cruelty by the braves of
his tribe.

It was now several years since the French had established themselves at
Ville-Marie, and during all that time they suffered the most shocking
cruelties from the relentless Iroquois. The earth might be said to have
been constantly wet with the blood of the noblest and best sons of
France, and the survivors, disgusted and disheartened, resolved to
abandon the country. In speaking of this period of horror and dismay,
Jean Mance says, "In 1560 the Iroquois had conquered and almost
exterminated the Hurons, their ancient foes, and full of barbarian pride
and insolence, turned their arms against the colonists, who were an easy
prey, as their attacks were sudden, fierce, and stealthy. They killed
several persons in the suburbs of Ville-Marie, and burned their houses;
even our hospital was not secure from their brutal recklessness, and we
were obliged to fortify it by a garrison. At length people despaired of
being able to protect life or property, and resolved on abandoning the
enterprise. In this extremity I reflected that many souls would be