ians in
their canoes came paddling down the stream towards the ships, not,
however, trying to approach them, but keeping some little distance away
as if in expectation of something unusual.

The mystery soon revealed itself. From beneath the foliage of the river
bank a canoe shot into the stream, the hideous appearance of its
occupants contrasting with the bright autumn tints that were lending
their glory to the Canadian woods. The three Indians in the canoe had
been carefully made up by their fellows as 'stage devils' to strike
horror into Cartier and his companions. They were 'dressed like devils,
being wrapped in dog skins, white and black, their faces besmeared as
black as any coals, with horns on their heads more than a yard long.'
The canoe came rushing swiftly down the stream, and floated past the
ships, the 'devils' who occupied the craft making no attempt to stop,
not even turning towards the ships, but counterfeiting, as it were, the
sacred frenzy of angry deities. The devil in the centre shouted a
fierce harangue into the air. No sooner did the canoe pass the ships
than Donnacona and his braves in their light barques set after it,
paddling so swiftly as to overtake the canoe of the 'devils' and seize
the gunwale of it in their hands.

The whole thing was a piece of characteristic Indian acting, viewed by
the French with interest, but apparently without the faintest alarm.
The 'devils,' as soon as their boat was seized by the profane touch of
the savages, fell back as if lifeless in their canoe. The assembled
flotilla was directed to the shore. The 'devils' were lifted out rigid
and lifeless and carried solemnly into the forest. The leaves of the
underbrush closed behind them and they were concealed from sight, but
from the deck of the ship the French could still hear the noise of
cries and incantations that broke the stillness of the woods. After
half an hour Taignoagny and Domagaya issued from among the trees. Their
walk and their actions were solemnity itself, while their faces
simulated the religious ecstasy of men who have spoken with the gods.
The caps that they had worn were now placed beneath the folds of their
Indian blankets, and their clasped hands were uplifted to the autumn
sky. Taignoagny cried out three times upon the name of Jesus, while his
fellow imitated and kept shouting, 'Jesus! the Virgin Mary! Jacques
Cartier!'

Cartier very naturally called to them to know what was the matter;
where