he Mississippi, enjoyed a reputation
which caused them to be called "the Iroquois of the West." Immediately
they surrounded the Frenchmen with a hideous clamor. Hennepin held up
the calumet; but one of them snatched it from him. Then he offered
some fine Martinique tobacco, which somewhat mollified them. He also
gave them two turkeys which were in the canoe. But, for all this, it
was evident that the Sioux were about to treat their prisoners with
their wonted ferocity. In fact, one of the warriors signified to the
friar in dumb show that he was to be brained with a war-club. On the
spot he hastened to the canoe and returned loaded with presents which
he threw down before them. This had the effect of so far softening the
savage breasts that the prisoners were given food and were allowed to
rest in quiet that night.

In quiet, indeed, but not sleeping, we may be {299} sure, for can a
more trying situation be imagined than that of knowing that one's life
or death is under debate, while one has not a chance to say a single
word of defence or argument? Some of the Indians, they gathered,
favored killing them on the spot and taking their goods. Others
contended that when they all wished to attract French traders to come
into their country and bring guns, blankets, and other such
commodities, it would be unwise to discourage them by killing these
prisoners.

Imagine the Frenchmen's joy, when, in the early morning, a young
warrior in full paint came to them, asked for the pipe which had
previously been rejected, filled and smoked it, and then passed it to
his companions to do the same. This pipe was the famous calumet, which
we have seen to be so efficacious in the case of Joliet and Marquette.
Smoking it was an intimation to the Frenchmen that there was to be
peace. They were also informed that they would be taken by the Sioux
to their village.

Shortly afterward the friar had a comical experience. When he took out
his breviary and began to read his morning devotions in a low tone, the
savages gathered around him with looks {300} of terror and frantically
signed to him to put away the book. They mistook it for some kind of a
fetish, that is, an object inhabited by a powerful spirit, and his
muttering they supposed to be a magic incantation. Then a happy
thought struck him. He began to sing the service in a loud and
cheerful voice. This delighted the savages, who fancied that the book
was teaching him to s