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Show 266 TJIE LILY AND 'J'IIE TOTE~!- Frenchmen entered tllC dwelling, held nothing more formidable than tho earthen pipe, and tho long tubulatcd reed which he busied himself in inserting within the bowl. Two of his attendant warriors retired nt tho same moment. These, J,audonnicrc did not think proper to nrrcst, though couzl3cllcd to do so by D'Eriach. lie knew not thnt they h:1d been despatched by the wily P~racoussi for the purpo~ of gathering his powers for rcsist~mcc. Laudonnicrc appeared in the royal wigwam with but ten companions. }~arty others had been dispersed by D'Erlach at proper points around the villat,"C. Of their proximity tho king knew nothing. His eye took in, at a single glance, the persons of his visitors; and a sligh~ smile, thaL lookctl dcri.8h'e, was seen to overspread bisvis:tgc. It wns with something like good hu1nor in his tones that he gave them welcome. A page at the same time brought forth n. basket of wicker-work, which contained a la1·ge collection of pipes of all sorts and sizes. Another basket afforded a sufficient quantity of dried leaves of the tobacco and vanilla. The Paraeoussi nodded to his guests ns the boy presented bolh bnskets, and J .. nudooniere, with two others of his compnny, helped themsch·es to pipes and weed. TLus far ~othing had been said but" Ami," and "Bonjour." 'fhe welcome of the Indi .. ns was simple always, and a word sufficed among them as amply as the most studied and verbose compliment. 'l'he French had learned to imitate them in this respect, to be sparing of words, and to restrain the expression of their emotions, particularly when these indicated wnnt or suffering. But the necessities of our Frenchmen were too great and pressing, at tho present time, to be silenced \vholly by convention; nud when, as if in mockery, a small trencher of parched corn was set I CAPTI\'I1'Y OF THE CltEAT PAIIACOUSSI. 267 before them, with a vessel of water, the impatience of L audonnicro broke into utterance. "Pnracoussi Utina," S.:lid he, "you have long known the want which has preyed upon our people," "1\'fy brother is hungry," replied Utina, with a smile more full of acorn than sweetness-" let my brother cat. Let his young men cat. There is never famine :unong the people of Utina." "And if there bono want among tho people of Utina, wherefore is it that ho suffers tho French to want? Why has he forgotten his allies? Did not my young men fight tho battles of Utiua against tho warriors of tho mighty Potanou ? Did not many captives grace tho triumph of Utina? Has the Paracoussi forgotten these scniccs ? W!Jy docs he turn away from his friends, and show himself cold to their necessities?" u Why will my pale brother be talking?" said the other, with a most lordly ai.r of indilfcrcncc. " The people of Utina have fought ngaim.t the warriors of llotanou for more than a hundred winters. l\'Ty French brother~ but a child in the land of tho red-people. What docs he know of the triumphs of my warriors? lJe s:~w them do battle once with the tribes of Potanou, nnd he makes account because ho thou fought on behalf of my people. My people have fought with tho people of Potanou more than a hundred battles. Our triumphs have been \vitnessed by every bird that flies, every beast that runs, every fish that swims, bet\- rcen the villages of Potnnou and the strong house of the Frenchman where he starves below. What more will our pale brother say, being thus n. child among the red-men ?" "Why parley with the savage?" said Alphonse D'Erlaob, " if you mean to take him ? I care not for his insolence which |
