Another time, having talked a long time upon our belief with a squad of them, who had returned to seek food for [80] their wives and children, I advised them, in case they could not find anything, to fall upon their knees and to address themselves to him who has made Heaven and earth, to promise him they would believe in him if he would relieve them; they promised that they would do so; we gave them for this purpose a little Image of our Lord Jesus Christ, and instructed them in the way in which they were to place it in the time of their great need, and in some prayers they were to make to him whom it represented, giving them strong hope that they would be helped. I placed this Image in the hands of a certain one named _Sakapouan_, of whom I have spoken above. He promised me that he would do everything just as we had directed; but the wretch did not keep his promise, for he never dared produce this Image, lest [81] he should be sneered at by his Companions; yes, he even laughed with the others about what we had preached to them. And indeed God chastised him, for he fell sick and was obliged to come seeking the French; we asked for the Image and he returned it. When asked why he had not prayed to the Son of the All-powerful, "I went away," he replied, "with the good will to pray to him; I felt a strong hope that he would give us something to eat, I had even kept in mind the best of all the prayers thou hast taught us; but, when I arrived at our cabins, I was afraid that if I brought out the Image they would make sport of me, and that he who has made all would be angry with me, and make us die." In one word, these people are restrained by worldly considerations. It was in vain I told him that if he had been faithful in [82] the midst of these mockeries, if he had not clung to these mockers, God would have given him powerful assistance; "It is necessary," he said "to talk to our Captains." And, in fact, one who could gain them could gain all. I am always retracing my footsteps, in saying, that one who knew the language perfectly, so that he could crush their reasons and promptly refute their absurdities, would be very powerful among them. Time will bring all things; God giving his blessing, _Populus qui est in tenebris videbit lucem magnam_. Or pour vuider tout cét article; ie demanday à ce Sauuage, quelle estoit ceste Oraison qu'il preferoit aux autres. Tu nous dis plusieurs choses, me fit-il, mais ceste priere m'a semblé la meilleure de toutes. _Mirinan oukachigakhi nimitchiminan_: donne nous auiourd'huy nostre nourriture: donne nous à manger; [83] voyla vne excellente Oraison, disoit-il. Ie ne m'estonne pas de ceste Philosophie; _Animalis homo, non percipit ea quæ sunt Spiritus Dei_. Qui n'a iamais esté qu'à l'escole de la chair, ne sçauroit parler le langage de l'esprit.