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Show 272 TilE LILY .AND TilE TOTElt. custom with tlJCm, founded upon su!ftcicnt reasons, at once of fear and suprrstition, must be the custom with the white mf>n also. Accordingly, the queen of Utina, was not to be comforted. ShC' followed him to the river banks, clinging to him to the bst, nnd stood there ringing her hands and filling the air with her shrieks, while the people of Laudonnicrc lifted him into the b:u-k, and pushed out to the middle of the river. It was well for them that this precaution w:LS taken. The warriors of the Parncoussi were already gathering in great numlx:rs. More than five hun· dred of them showed tbem!!clvcs on the banks of the river, en· treating of Laudonnicre to draw nigh that they might behold their prioco. They brought tidings that, taking advantage of his captivity, the inveterate Potauou had suddenly invaded his chief village, bad sacked aud fired it, destroying all the persons whom he encouutered. But Ln.udonniere was properly suspicious, and soon discovered, that, while fi\'e hundred r.rchers showed themselves to him as suppliants, the shores were lined with thrice fi\'e hundred in snug ambush, lying closo for the signn.l of attack. Failing to beguile the li'reneluncn to the land, a few of them, in small canJcs, ventured out to the bark in which tl1eir king was n. prisoner, bringing him food-meal and peas, and their favorite beverage, the co.ssina tea. Small supplies were brought to the Frenchmen also; but without softening their heart!:!. Laudonniere had put his price upon the head of his captive, anJ would 'bate nothing of his ransom. But it so happened, that the lndi:ms were quite as suspicious and inflexible as the Frenchmen. Thry believed tl1at Laudonniere only aimeJ to dra\Y from them their stot·es, and th •n destroy their sovereign. A singular circum~;tanoc, il\ustrnth•c of the terrible relations iu wl1ich all savage tribes must stand toward CAPTIVITY OF TilE GREAT l'ARACOUSSI. 273 each other, even when they dwell together in ncar neighborhood, occurred at this time, and increased the doubts and fears of the people of Utina. As soon a.s it was rumored about that this mighty potentate, whom they all so much dreaded, was a prisoner to the white man, the chiefs of the hostile tribes gathered to the place of Lis captivity, as the inhabitant of the city goes to behold in the menagerie the great lion of Sahara, tho lord of the desert, of whom, when free iu his wild ranges, it shook their hearts only to hear the roar. With head erect, though with chains about his limbs,-with heart haughty, though with hope humblPd to the dust-the proud Paracoussi sate unmoved while they gathered, gazing upon him with a greedy malice that declared along hbtory of scorn and tyranny on the one hand, and hate and painful submission on the otlwr. They walked around the lordly savage, scarcely believing their eyes, and still with a secret fear, lest, in some unlucky moment, he should break loose from his captivity, and resume his weapon for tho purposes of vengeance. Eagerly and camcstly did they plead with Laudonnicre either to put him to dcatl1, or to deliver him to their tender mercies. Among those who came to see and triumph O\'cr his ancient enemy, and, if possible, to get him into his power, was the Pa.racoussi Satouriova, one of Laudonnicrc's first acquaintances, whose power, perhaps, along the territories of May H.iver, wa.s only next to that of Utina. He, as well as the rest of the chiefs, brought bribes of maize and beans, withheld before, in order to persuade Laudonniere to yield to their desires. In this way he procured supplies, much beyond those which were furuished by the people of the prisoner, though still greatly disproportioncd to his wants. The people of Utina, meanwhile, persuaded that their monarch could not escape the sacrifice, and aware of the several and strong !2• |