principle. Radisson's dream was greeted with joy. _Coureurs_ ran
through the forest, bidding the Mohawks to the feast. Leaving ambush
of forest and waterfall, the warriors hastened to the walls of
Onondaga. To whet their appetite, they were kept waiting outside for
two whole days. The French took turns in entertaining the waiting
guests. Boisterous games, songs, dances, and music kept the Iroquois
awake and hilarious to the evening of the second day. Inside the fort
bedlam reigned. Boats were dragged from floors to a sally-port at the
rear of the courtyard. Here firearms, ammunition, food, and baggage
were placed in readiness. Guns which could not be taken were burned or
broken. Ammunition was scattered in the snow. All the stock but one
solitary pig, a few chickens, and the dogs was sacrificed for the
feast, and in the barracks a score of men were laboring over enormous
kettles of meat. Had an Indian spy climbed to the top of a tree and
looked over the palisades, all would have been discovered; but the
French entertainers outside kept their guests busy.

[Illustration: Chateau de Ramezay, Montreal, for years the residence of
the governor, and later the storehouse of the fur companies.]

On the evening of the second day a great fire was kindled in the outer
enclosure, between the two walls. The trumpets blew a deafening blast.
The Mohawks answered with a shout. The French clapped their hands.
The outer gates were thrown wide open, and in trooped several hundred
Mohawk warriors, seating themselves in a circle round the fire.
Another blare of trumpets, and twelve enormous kettles of mincemeat
were carried round the circle of guests. A Mohawk chief rose solemnly
and gave his deities of earth, air, and fire profuse thanks for having
brought such generous people as the French among the Iroquois. Other
chiefs arose and declaimed to their hearers that earth did not contain
such hosts as the French. Before they had finished speaking there came
a second and a third and a fourth relay of kettles round the circle of
feasters. Not one Iroquois dared to refuse the food heaped before him.
By the time the kettles of salted fowl and venison and bear had passed
round the circle, each Indian was glancing furtively sideways to see if
his neighbor could still eat. He who was compelled to forsake the
feast first was to become the butt of the company. All the while the
French kept up a din of drums and trumpets and flag