intervention of the Recolet Fathers and through our influence, as we deemed it necessary for [12] the good of his soul; and in fact we carried the day over the head of the General of the fleet, who was resolved in any event to send him back to the Tribe whose Interpreter he was. So he arrived here where we are, with the French who were returning from the trading station, resolved to go back to France, the ships being on the point of leaving. The evening before his intended departure, he came to see us at the Reverend Recolet Fathers', to bid us Farewell. The great God showed his Providential designs very propitiously then; while he was with us he was taken with a severe attack of pleurisy and was put to bed, so nicely and comfortably, that the ships were obliged to go back without him, and by this means he remained with us, out of all danger of ruining himself; for it was the fear of this which had caused us to urge his return. You will readily understand that during his sickness we performed every act of charity for him. It suffices to say that, before he recovered from this sickness, in which he expected to die, he assured us that he was entirely devoted to us; and that if it pleased God to restore his health, the Winter would never pass by without his giving us assistance, a promise which he kept in every respect, thank God. Ie me suis peut-estre estendu plus que de raison à racõpter cecy; mais ie me plais tant à racompter les traits de la prouidence particuliere de Dieu, qu'il me se semble que tout le mõde y doit prendre plaisir; & de fait s'il s'en fust retourné en France ceste annee là, nous estions pour n'auancer gueres plus que les Reuerends Peres Recolets en 10. ans. Dieu soit loüé de tout, voila donc à quoy se passa la meilleure partie de l'hyuer. Outre ces occupatiõs ie n'ay point manqué à mon tour d'aller les festes & Dimanches dire la Messe aux François, ausquels i'ay fait exhortation toutes les fois que i'y ay esté: le Pere Brebeuf de son costé en faisoit autant, & auons si bien auancé par la grace de Dieu, que nous auons gaigné le coeur de tous ceux de l'habitation, auons fait faire des confessions generales à la plus part, & auons vescu en tres-bonne intelligence auec le Chef. Enuiron le milieu du Caresme ie m'hazarday de prier le Capitaine de nous donner les Charpentiers de l'habitation pour nous aider à dresser vne petite cabane au lieu que nous auons commencé à défricher, ce qu'il m'accorda auec beaucoup de courtoisie: les charpentiers ne souhaitoient [13] rien tant que de trauailler pour nous; & de fait ils nous auoient donné le mot auparauant: aussi trauaillerent-ils auec tant d'affection, que nonobstant l'incommodité du temps & de la saison (car il y auoit encore vn pied & demy de neige) ils eurent acheué nostre cabane le Lundy de la semaine Saincte, & cependant ils cierent plus de 250.