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Updated: June 8, 2025
So Piskaret softly placed his bundle of scalps where he might find it instantly, on a sudden threw aside the birch-bark door-flap, struck terribly with his club, yelled his war-cry that all might hear, grabbed his bundle of scalps and ran hard for the forest. From every lodge the Iroquois poured in pursuit.
Whereupon, after granting them a little time, Piskaret crept out, killed every one of them, added their six scalps to his package, and having rested until day, sped north, with his dreadful trophies, to report at the island of Allumette. That this is a true story of the famous Adirondack warrior Piskaret may be proved by the old French chronicles of those very times.
Naturally, Piskaret might feel much satisfied with himself, that he had followed the teachings of the priests and had spared the enemies who had fallen into his hands. The two captives were permitted to move about freely. After a while they were sent up-river to the trading-post and fort of Three Rivers, where there was another Iroquois.
The happy Father Jesuit bade everybody feast and make merry, to celebrate the double victory of Piskaret. The governor of this New France hastened up from Quebec, hopeful that at last a way had been opened to peace with the dread Iroquois. Clad in his brilliant uniform of scarlet and lace, he sat in council at the mission house, to receive Piskaret and the captives.
With him sat the Father Jesuit, the head of the mission, and around them were grouped the Christian Algonkins. The two Mohawks were brought in, and by a long speech Piskaret surrendered them to the governor. Governor Montmagny replied, praising him for his good heart and gallant deed and of course rewarding him with presents, also.
At night-fall there were but six Iroquois left on his trail, and these were about worn out. Now in the gathering darkness, noting his enemies falter, Piskaret sprang aside to a hollow tree and hid himself again. The tired Iroquois straggled near, and when they lost the trail they willingly quit, in order to roll in their bear-skins and sleep until the light of morning.
Before they could gain shelter, of their seven four had been killed, two had been captured, and there was only one who escaped. No time was to be lost. The sounds of the battle probably had been heard. "We have done well," said Piskaret. "Now we may run." So they launched their canoes, and with two prisoners and eleven scalps they plied their paddles at best speed for the Richelieu.
And now a squad of French soldiers, hurrying in from Quebec, added to the excitement with a volley of salute. Piskaret landed, proud not only that he had again whipped the Iroquois, but that he had acted like a Christian toward his captives. He had not burned them nor gnawed off their finger tips.
They had claimed the River Ottawa, in which was the Allumette Island upon which Piskaret and the Adirondacks had lived. The Ojibways were known as the "Puckered Moccasin People," from the words meaning "to roast till puckered up." Their tanned moccasins had a heavy puckered seam. The name Ojibwa, rapidly pronounced, became in English "Chippeway." As Chippeways and Chippewas have they remained.
Le Berger was one of those who had been made prisoners by Piskaret, and treated kindly by the French. In 1648, he voluntarily came to Three Rivers, and gave himself up to a party of Frenchmen. He was converted, baptized, and carried to France, where his behavior is reported to have been very edifying, but where he soon died.
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