236              Life of Father Jogues.
alone had no firebrand or murderous implement in his hand. " Fear not," he said, approaching the victim; " I wish only your good. You are about to die, it is true; if you will invoke with me my God, the Master of Life, Him who created us and wishes to make us happy, your soul will be able to enjoy happiness in another world. Those who refuse to honor Him go with the demons to suffer eternally." These words, uttered gently and with conviction, fell like a soothing balm on the sufferings of the wretched man. " I have heard something like this from Hurons whom we have burned," said the Iroquois; " they were comforted by it even in the flames, awaiting the great happiness of heaven. Is it true that it is really so?" Stephen instructed him in the fundamental truths of religion, and found a heart well disposed for the divine seed. The Iroquois earnestly solicited baptism, and Stephen, braving the indignation of the heathens, who in their rage wished to prolong their victim's sufferings, even after death, poured the saving water on his brow, and heard him pronouncing, till his last sigh, words of consolation, hope, and love.
On another occasion his love for the Faith and the holy energy of his zeal excited admiration. Some boys, only too apt to imitate the impiety of their parents, had pelted with stones the cross which had just been erected with great ceremony in the cemetery. They had even smeared filth over it.
On hearing of this profanation Stephen's heart was roused. He resolved that reparation must be made, and he called a meeting of the chiefs for the purpose. When evening came he went to the top of his cabin, and in a voice of thunder raised the cry customary when an enemy is seen or some great danger menaces a town. The warriors all gathered, fully armed. " Tremble, brethren," he cried, " the enemy is in our town. The cemetery of the Christians has been profaned. God will take vengeance.   Stop your children, or you share their