But the first effect of the ceremony was not fortunate.

By a sound instinct the savages took fright; they rightly saw in the erection of the cross the advancing shadow of the rule of the white man.

After the French had withdrawn to their ships, the chief of the Indians came out with his brother and his sons to make protest against what had been done.

He made a long oration, which the French could not, of course, understand.

Pointing shoreward to the cross and making signs, the chief gave it to be understood that the country belonged to him and his people.