fire-arms, and
accompany the warriors to repel the enemy. This caused another change
of public sentiment. All looked to the French as their deliverers. In a
few hours several hundred warriors, with the French, were on the march.

The arrow from the bow is but a feeble weapon compared with the bullet
from rifle. The Iroquois, having had much intercourse with the French
in Canada, were many of them supplied with fire-arms. They were allies
of the French, and were very anxious to preserve friendship with them.
The Illinois Indians, being more remote, had not been able to obtain
the efficient European instruments of warfare.

The two parties approached each other; and the Illinois, guided by
Tonti, were placed in a commanding position to resist attack. The
allies were much disappointed in finding their plan of assailing the
village by surprise frustrated. They paused in the march; and the two
armies for some time looked each other in the face, neither venturing
to commence the assault. The result of the battle was at least
doubtful. So many of the Iroquois warriors were armed with muskets or
rifles, and had become so skilful in the use of them that, in Indian
warfare, dodging from rock to rock and from tree to tree, they were
fully equal to the French. Whatever might be the result of the battle,
it was certain that many on each side must be slain.

Lieutenant Tonti called the chiefs of the Illinois around him, and,
after quite an earnest colloquy, induced them to consent that he should
go to the Iroquois chiefs and endeavor to avert hostilities. It was a
perilous enterprise. While some of the Indian chieftains were of much
moral worth, there were many savages who were miserable wretches, and
over whom the chiefs had but very little control.

Lieutenant Tonti, partly from necessity, partly from choice, was
dressed mainly in Indian costume. As the European garments of the
Frenchmen were worn out, they were constrained to supply their place
with deer-skin jackets and leggins, generally painted and fringed after
the fashion of the natives. Thus Lieutenant Tonti, at the council of
the chiefs, in general appearance resembled the rest. But the Christian
Fathers always wore a long black gown. As we have mentioned, they were
called by that name among all the tribes, "The Black Gowns." Their
teachings, their ministerings at the couches of the sick and dying,
their utter renunciation of the character of warriors, and their
self-d