his rude little convent on the St. Charles; and the Fathers, springing in
joyful haste from their slumbers, embraced their long absent Superior
with ejaculations of praise and benediction.




CHAPTER V.

1633, 1634.

THE HURON MISSION.


PLANS OF CONVERSION.--AIMS AND MOTIVES.--INDIAN DIPLOMACY.--
HURONS AT QUEBEC.--COUNCILS.--THE JESUIT CHAPEL.--LE BORGNE.--
THE JESUITS THWARTED.--THEIR PERSEVERANCE.--THE JOURNEY TO THE HURONS.--
JEAN DE BREBEUF.--THE MISSION BEGUN.


Le Jeune had learned the difficulties of the Algonquin mission. To
imagine that he recoiled or faltered would be an injustice to his Order;
but on two points he had gained convictions: first, that little progress
could be made in converting these wandering hordes till they could be
settled in fixed abodes; and, secondly, that their scanty numbers,
their geographical position, and their slight influence in the politics
of the wilderness offered no flattering promise that their conversion
would be fruitful in further triumphs of the Faith. It was to another
quarter that the Jesuits looked most earnestly. By the vast lakes of the
West dwelt numerous stationary populations, and particularly the Hurons,