That day we traveled a long distance, at least, so it seemed to us. When
nearly overcome with fatigue, we saw from the tow-path an island in the
river, and upon it a small house. Near the shore a man stood beside a
canoe. We made signs to him to come to us, and he immediately sprang
into his canoe and came over. We asked him to take us to the island, and
he cheerfully granted our request, but said we must sit very still, or
we would find ourselves in the water. I did not wonder he thought so,
for the canoe was very small, and the weight of three persons sank it
almost even with the surface of the river, while the least motion would
cause it to roll from side to side, so that we really felt that we were
in danger of a very uncomfortable bath if nothing worse.
We landed safely, however, and were kindly welcomed by the Indian
family in the house. Six squaws were sitting on the floor, some of them
smoking, others making shoes and baskets. They were very gayly dressed,
their skirts handsomely embroidered with beads and silk of various
colors. One of the girls seemed very intelligent, and conversed fluently
in the English language which she spoke correctly. But she did not
look at all like an Indian, having red hair and a lighter skin than the
others. She was the only one in the family that I could converse with,
as the rest of them spoke only their native dialect; but the nun who was
with me could speak both French and Indian.
They treated us with great kindness, gave us food, and invited in to
stay and live with them; said we could be very happy there, and to
induce us to remain, they informed us that the village we saw on the
other side of the river, called St. Regis, was inhabited by Indians, but
they were all Roman Catholics. They had a priest, and a church where
we could go to Mass every Sabbath. Little did they imagine that we were
fleeing for life from the Romish priests; that so far from being an
inducement to remain with them, this information was the very thing to
send us on our way with all possible speed. We did not dare to stay,
for I knew full well that if any one who had seen us went to confession,
they would be obliged to give information of our movements; and if one
priest heard of us, he would immediately telegraph to all the priests
in the United States and Canada, and we should be watched on every side.
Escape would then be nearly impossible, therefore we gently, but firmly
refused to accept the hospitality of these good people, and hastened to
bid them farewell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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