The French and the Micmacs 225 
     
    
   
   
    
     you to your barbarous enemies? A misfortune which 
     
     those very enemies desire may befall you, and to which 
     
     they would be glad to see you reduced. Consider there- 
     
     fore that it is of the greatest consequence for you not 
     
     to tumble into the pit they are digging for you; and 
     
     such is your real interest. 
     
    

    
     With regard to your preservation, in general and 
     
     particular, ought not all the savages under the protec- 
     
     tion of my sovereign, to be convinced by the facts above 
     
     related, of the shocking extremity to which they would 
     
     be reduced without the assistance of France? But if on 
     
     the other hand you will not make peace without the 
     
     consent of your chief support, you will ever find him a 
     
     bulwark of defence betwixt you and your enemies. 
     
    

    
     Consult your patriarch, who is a man of sense and 
     
     understanding, and has the same paternal bowels for 
     
     you as myself, and though continually employed in the 
     
     care of your souls, still endeavours to procure you all 
     
     the sweets and comforts of life. 
     
    

    
     Could the ashes of your fathers, your mothers, your 
     
     wives, your children, your friends and relations, be 
     
     raised again to life, and become capable of utterance, 
     
     they would speak to you in these words: Never conclude 
     
     a peace without the knowledge and consent of your 
     
     support; be sure you mistrust an enemy who studies 
     
     nothing but your ruin, and who wants to separate you 
     
     from your friends only with a view to surround you, 
     
     and to make you an easier prey. Beware of their pres- 
     
     ents: for there is surely a snake in the grass. They 
     
     would further add: Send two of your people to your 
     
     brethren; let them set off directly and lose no time, but 
     
     acquaint them with the dangerous step they have taken; 
     
     let them open their eyes in regard to what I have been