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Show 284 TIH: L!J.Y .AND TilE TOTEM. heads wl1ich had been shorn for war, were to be seen w:wing in the wind. 1'hcsc were si;.;ns, too well understood by JH'C\·ious experience, of a thrcntt'ncd and sleepless hostility It was soon found tlmt tho l)arncoussi either could not or would not comply with !Jill engagements. IIo sent a small supply of grain to the licutcuaut, but said that more could not be provided except by a surrender of the hostages. 'fhc Frenchmen were required to bring the captives to the ''illagc, when and where they should be furnisl1cd witl1 the full amount of tlw promised ransom. Satisfied that all this was mere pretence, indicating purposes of treachery, the Frenchmen were yet too much straitened by want to forego any enterprise w!Jich promised them provisions. They, accordingly, set forth for the place appoint-ed, in two separate bodies,marehing so that they might support each vther promptly, under the several let~ds of D'F.rlach t~nd Ottigny. The former hold the advance. The village of Utiua was six French leagues from the river where they loft their barque, and tho route which they were compelled to pursue was such aa cx:poacd them frequently to the perils of ambuscade. But so vigii:lnt was their watch, so ready were they with matches lighted, and so close was the custody in which they kept their hostages, that the Indians, whom they beheld constantly flitting through the thickets, dared never make any atU!mpt upon them. They reached tho village in safety, and immediately proceeded to the dwelling-house of Olata Utina, raised, flS befo1·e described, upon an artificial eminence. JTorc they fouud assembled all the chiefs of the nation; but the Paracoussi was not among them. He kept aloof, and was not to be seen at present by the E'rcncbmcn. His chiefs received their visitors with smiles and great professions ; but, as their own pro~ verb recites, when the enemy smiles your scalp is in danger. CAPTJ\"1'1"\" 01' Tilt GI:I::AT PARACOUSSI. 2RG 'J'hcy pointed to grct~t sacks of mil and beans which had already been accumulated, nnd still tl10y showed the li'rcnchmen where hourly came other of tlJcir subjects adding still more to the pile. "Hut wherefore," they demanded, "wherefore come our white brethren, with the fire bum in~ in tl1eir harquebuses? See they not that it causes our women to be afraid, and our children to tremble in their tenor. Let our brethren put out this fire, wl1icL makes them dre:ad to come nigh with their peace-offerings, nud know us for a fJ·ienU, under whose tongue there is no serpent." 'l'o this D'Erlnch replied-" Our red brothers do themselves wrong. They do not fear the fire in our haJ·quebu.!!es. 'fhcy know not its danger. The Frenchmen have always forborne to show them the power that might make them afraid. But this power is employed only against our enemies. Let the chiefs of the people of the Parncous.~i Utina show themselves friends, and the thunder w!Jioh we carry shall only send its fearful bolt.s among the foes of Utina, the people of Potanou, and the warriors of the great mountain of Apalatchy. "If we Me thus friends of tho Frenchmen, why do they keep our beloved men in bondage? Arc these the ornaments proper to n. wanior and a great chief among l1is people?" 'l'hey pointed as they spoke to the fetters which embraced tho logs and nrms of tho hostages, who S.."Lt in one corner of tho council-llouse. " Our red brothers have but to speak, and these chains fall from the limb.'i of their \\"Oil beloved chiefs." "IIch !-We speak !-Let them fnll !" "Speak to your people that these piles be complete," pointing to the grain. "'l'hey l1n>e lJcntU. Sec you not they OOlite?" |