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This vast wilderness was not an unoccupied land。 In those wild
regions dwelt many savage tribes。 Some of the natives were by no
means without political capacity。 On the contrary； they were long
clever enough to pit English against French to their own
advantage as the real sovereigns in North America。 One of them；
whose fluent oratory had won for him the name of Big Mouth； told
the Governor of Canada； in 1688； that his people held their lands
from the Great Spirit； that they yielded no lordship to either
the English or the French； that they well understood the weakness
of the French and were quite able to destroy them； but that they
wished to be friends with both French and English who brought to
them the advantages of trade。 In sagacity of council and dignity
of carriage some of these Indians so bore themselves that to
trained observers they seemed not unequal to the diplomats of
Europe。 They were； however； weak before the superior knowledge of
the white men。 In all their long centuries in America they had
learned nothing of the use of iron。 Their sharpest tool had been
made of chipped obsidian or of hammered copper。 Their most potent
weapons had been the stone hatchet or age and the bow and arrow。
It thus happened that； when steel and gunpowder reached America；
the natives soon came to despise their primitive implements。 More
and more they craved the supplies from Europe which multiplied in
a hundred ways their strength in the conflict with nature and
with man。 To the Indian tribes trade with the French or English
soon became a vital necessity。 From the far northwest for a
thousand miles to the bleak shores of Hudson Bay； from the banks
of the Mississippi to the banks of the St。 Lawrence and the
Hudson； they came each year on laborious journeys； paddling their
canoes and carrying them over portages； to barter furs for the
things which they must have and which the white man alone could
supply。
The Iroquois； the ablest and most resolute of the native tribes；
held the lands bordering on Lake Ontario which commanded the
approaches from both the Hudson and the St。 Lawrence by the Great
Lakes to the spacious regions of the West。 The five tribes known
as the Iroquois had shown marked political talent by forming
themselves into a confederacy。 From the time of Champlain； the
founder of Quebec； there had been trouble between the French and
the Iroquois。 In spite of this bad beginning； the French had
later done their best to make friends with the powerful
confederacy。 They had sent to them devoted missionaries； many of
whom met the martyr's reward of torture and massacre。 But the
opposing influence of the English； with whom the Iroquois chiefly
traded； proved too strong。
With the Iroquois hostile； it was too dangerous for the French to
travel inland by way of Lake Ontario。 They had； it is true； a
shorter and； indeed； a better route farther north； by way of the
Ottawa River and Lake Nipissing to Lake Huron。 In time； however；
the Iroquois made even this route unsafe。 Their power was
far…reaching and their ambition limitless。 They aimed to be
masters of North America。 Like all virile but backward peoples；
they believed themselves superior to every other race。 Their
orators declared that the fate of the world was to turn on their
policy。
On Frontenac's return to Canada he had a stormy inheritance in
confronting the Iroquois。 They had real grievances against
France。 Devonvine； Frontenac's predecessor； had met their
treachery by treachery of his own。 Louis XIV had found that these
lusty savages made excellent galley slaves and had ordered
Denonville to secure a supply in Canada。 In consequence the
Frenchman seized even friendly Iroquois and sent them over seas
to France。 The savages in retaliation exacted a fearful vengeance
in the butchery of French colonists。 The bloodiest story in the
annals of Canada is the massacre at Lachine； a village a few
miles above Montreal。 On the night of August 4； 1689； fourteen
hundred Iroquois burst in on the village and a wild orgy of
massacre followed。 All Canada was in a panic。 Some weeks later
Frontenac arrived at Quebec and took command。 To the old soldier；
now in his seventieth year； his hard task was not uncongenial。 He
had fought the savage Iroquois before and the no less savage
Turk。 He belonged to that school of military action which knows
no scruple in its methods； and he was prepared to make war with
all the frightfulness practised by the savages themselves。 His
resolute； blustering demeanor was well fitted to impress the red
men of the forest； for an imperious eye will sometimes cow an
Indian as well as a lion； and Frontenac's mien was imperious。 In
his life in court and camp he had learned how to command。
The English in New York had professed to be brothers to the
Iroquois and had called them by that name。 This title of
equality； however； Frontenac would not yield。 Kings speak of 〃my
people〃； Frontenac spoke to the Indians not as his brothers but
as his children and as children of the great King whom he served。
He was their father； their protector； the disposer and controller
of mighty reserves of power； who loved and cared for those
putting their trust in him。 He could unbend to play with their
children and give presents to their squaws。 At times he seemed
patient； gentle； and forgiving。 At times； too； he swaggered and
boasted in terms which the event did not always justify。
La Potherie； a cultivated Frenchman in Canada during Frontenac's
regime； describes an amazing scene at Montreal； which seems to
show that； whether Frontenac recognized the title or not； he had
qualities which made him the real brother of the savages。 In 1690
Huron and other Indian allies of the French had come from the far
interior to trade and also to consider the eternal question of
checking the Iroquois。 At the council； which began with grave
decorum； a Huron orator begged the French to make no terms with
the Iroquois。 Frontenac answered in the high tone which he could
so well assume。 He would fight them until they should humbly
crave peace； he would make with them no treaty except in concert
with his Indian allies； whom he would never fail in fatherly
care。 To impress the council by the reality of his oneness with
the Indians； Frontenac now seized a tomahawk and brandished it in
the air shouting at the same time the Indian war…song。 The whole
assembly； French and Indians； joined in a wild orgy of war
passion； and the old man of seventy； fresh from the court of
Louis XIV； led in the war…dance； yelled with the Indians their
savage war…whoops； danced round the circle of the council； and
showed himself in spirit a brother of the wildest of them。 This
was good diplomacy。 The savages swore to make war to the end
under his lead。 Many a frontier outrage； many a village attacked
in the dead of night and burned； amidst bloody massacre of its
few toil…worn settlers； was to be the res