to the woods, Black Robes! There is yet time,"
the Indian converts urged Brebeuf; but the lion-hearted stood
steadfast, though Lalemant, new to scenes of carnage, turned white and
trembled in spite of his resolution.

{89} "Who would protect the women if the men fled like deer to the
woods?" demanded Brebeuf, and the tigerish yells of the on-rushing
horde answered the question.

[Illustration: BREBEUF]

Before day dawn had tipped the branches of the leafless trees with
shafted sunlight, the enemy were hacking furiously at the palisades.
Trapped and cornered, the most timid of animals will fight. With such
fury, reckless from desperation, cherishing no hope, the Hurons now
fought, but they were handicapped by lack of guns and balls. Thirty
Iroquois had been slain, a hundred wounded, and the assailants drew off
for breath. It was only the lull between two thunderclaps. A moment
later they were on St. Louis' walls and had hacked through a dozen
places. At these spots the fiercest fighting occurred, and those
Iroquois who had not already bathed their faces in the gore of victims
at St. Ignace were soon enough dyed in their own blood. Here, there,
everywhere, were Brebeuf and Lalemant, fighting, administering last
rites, exhorting the Hurons to perish valiantly. Then the rolling
clouds of flame and smoke told the Hurons that their village was on
fire. Some dashed back to die inside the burning wigwams. Others
fought desperately to escape through the broken walls. A few, in the
confusion and smoke, succeeded in reaching the woods, whence they ran
to warn Ste. Marie on the Wye. Brebeuf and Lalemant had been knocked
down, stripped, bound, and were now {90} half driven, half dragged,
with the other captives to be tortured at Ignace. Not a sign of fear
did either priest betray.

One would fain pass over the next pages of the Jesuit records. It is
inconceivable how human nature, even savage nature, so often stoops
beneath the most repellent cruelties of the brute world. It is
inconceivable unless one acknowledge an influence fiendish; but let us
not judge the Indians too harshly. When the Iroquois warriors were
torturing the Hurons and their missionaries, the populace of civilized
European cities was outdoing the savages on victims whose sins were
political.

While the Jesuits of Ste. Marie were praying all day and night before
the lighted altar for heavenly intervention to rescue Brebeuf and
Lalemant, the t