ghtened times, the multitude listened, were
respectful to their teachers, even reverenced them, but did not heed or
obey.

"With regard to conversions," Father Membre writes, "I cannot rely on
any. There is in these savages such an alienation from the faith, so
brutal and narrow a mind, such corrupt and anti-Christian morals, that
much time would be needed to hope for any fruit. It is however true,
that I found many of quite docile character. We baptized some dying
children, and two or three dying persons who manifested proper
dispositions. As these people are entirely material in their ideas,
they would have submitted to baptism, had we liked, but without any
knowledge of the sacrament."

During the summer, the Indians wandered about in large hunting
expeditions. The missionaries accompanied these bands, seeking day by
day opportunities to teach them. Father Membre also visited several
remote tribes. He found much to discourage him. He said that their
blindness and obduracy were quite indescribable.

On the 10th of September, 1680, when the Indians had generally returned
from their hunting parties, and were loitering about in indolent
groups, with nothing to do, an Indian, from an allied tribe, came
rushing almost breathless into the village, with the tidings that a
united army of the Iroquois and the Miamis from the north, five hundred
in number, had already entered their territory, and were on the rapid
march to attack their village by surprise. He also made the astounding
assertion that M. La Salle himself was leading this band of hostile
warriors. There was no foundation for this last statement excepting
that the chief of the Iroquois wore a European coat and hat. This led
the courier to think he was La Salle, whom he had seen similarly
dressed.

The Indians, accepting this statement, of course believed that there
was treachery. Supposing the Frenchmen at Crevecoeur were prepared to
join the invading army immediately upon its arrival, they resolved to
tomahawk them all. The peril of the French was great. The Indians, like
children, were apt to act first and think afterwards. The French were
entirely unprepared for such a sudden change of feeling.

But Lieutenant Tonti, whose presence of mind never forsook him even in
the greatest perils, ran from the fort to the village, and assured the
warriors that La Salle was not with their foes, and that he was ready
to muster his whole force, at the garrison, with their