BENEFACTOR 103

influence over them, and I shall write to him. If he
cannot settle the matter, then you will be free to act
as you please.’’ Such was the gist of his pleading,
and the result of it was the solemn-looking envelope
now in the hands of the priest.

That was indeed a most delicate question for him to
tackle. The greatest prudence and not a little tact
were necessary to reach a satisfactory solution of the
problem, as the very thought of a chief being such a
thief was as repugnant to the natives as it was to their
spiritual guide. Yet he was bound to act: the repre-
sentative of aboriginal authority could not remain
under such a cloud.

Father Morice, therefore, called in a meeting of the
head chief (the accused) and all the petty chiefs of the
tribe, stated its object, and suggested that it might be
advisable that the former go of himself to Hazelton and
clear himself of the charge in presence of the Indian
Agent acting as judge.'’

The proposal raised a storm of protests, which, of
course, had been fully expected by the priest. He
wanted to allow the wounded feelings of the notables
an occasion for relief by free expression. He listened
patiently to all the speeches, and God knows they were
long and loud and even abusive of the whites! Then,
assuming the tone of one who speaks with authority,
he showed them how very futile were their threats
against people who were numerous as mosquitoes on a
sultry day, and would not fail to come and burn their
village and, if they could not actually dislodge them
from their mountain fastnesses by the force of arms,
would easily starve them out.

“At any rate,” he concluded, “‘if, as | myself

" 18 An Indian agent has, judicially, the powers of two Justices of the
eace,

".M.—8