m were
grouped the Christian Algonkins.

The two Mohawks were brought in, and by a long speech Piskaret
surrendered them to the governor. Governor Montmagny replied, praising
him for his good heart and gallant deed--and of course rewarding him
with presents, also.

The two Mohawks thought that their torture was only being postponed a
little, until the French were on hand to take part in it. To their
minds, the council was held for the purpose of deciding upon the form
of torture. They had resolved to die bravely.

But to their great astonishment, the governor told them that their
lives were spared and that they were to be well treated.

Rarely before, in all the years of war between the Iroquois and other
nations, had such a thing occurred. To be sure, now and then a captive
had been held alive, but only after he was so much battered that he was
not worth finishing, or else had been well punished and was saved out,
as a reward for his bravery.

So the big man, of the two captives, rose to make a speech in reply to
the offer by the governor. He addressed him as "Onontio," or, in the
Mohawk tongue, "Great Mountain," which was the translation of the name
Montmagny.

"Onontio," he said, "I am saved from the fire; my body is delivered
from death. Onontio, you have given me my life. I thank you for it.
I will never forget it. All my country will be grateful to you. The
earth will be bright; the river calm and smooth; there will be peace
and friendship between us. The shadow is before my eyes no longer.
The spirits of my ancestors slain by the Algonkins have disappeared.
Onontio, you are good: we are bad. But our anger is gone; I have no
heart except for peace and rejoicing."

He danced, holding up his hands to the ceiling of the council chamber,
as if to the sky. He seized a hatchet, and flourished it--but he
suddenly flung the hatchet into the wood fire.

"Thus I throw down my anger! Thus I cast away the weapons of blood!
Farewell, war! Now I am your friend forever!"

Naturally, Piskaret might feel much satisfied with himself, that he had
followed the teachings of the priests and had spared the enemies who
had fallen into his hands.

The two captives were permitted to move about freely. After a while
they were sent up-river to the trading-post and fort of Three Rivers,
where there was another Iroquois. Having suffered cruel torture he had
been purchased by the French commander of the post.

Thi