A Jesuit mission, established on the Canadian bank of the river, had been devoted to the conversion of these people, with so much success that nearly all of them were nominal Christians.

For the rest, they lived in their own way, providing for themselves by hunting and fishing, and keeping their national customs and character almost unchanged.

In the mission-house, however, a few children were brought up by the priests with the greatest care,--probably because it was by means of these boys, that they hoped more effectually to civilize the whole tribe.

At any rate, they taught them all that they could have taught Europeans; having them completely in their own hands, there was no difficulty about this, and the more intelligent among them became good scholars.

There was one boy, however, who distinguished himself above the rest, and was naturally the pride and favourite of the mission.