In the
face of this awful revelation, Cartier showed a cheerful
and contemptuous scepticism. 'Their god, Cudragny,' he
said, must be 'a fool and a noodle,' and that, as for
the cold, Christ would protect his followers from that,
if they would but believe in Him. Taignoagny asked Cartier
if he had spoken with Jesus. Cartier answered no, but
said that his priests had done so and that Jesus had told
them that the weather would be fine. Taignoagny, hypocrite
still, professed a great joy at hearing this, and set
off into the woods, whence he emerged presently with the
whole band of Indians, singing and dancing. Their plan
had failed, but they evidently thought it wiser to offer
no further opposition to Cartier's journey, though all
refused to go with him.
The strange conduct of Donnacona and his Indians is not
easy to explain. It is quite possible that they meditated
some treachery towards the French: indeed, Cartier from
first to last was suspicious of their intentions, and,
as we shall see, was careful after his return to Stadacona
never to put himself within their power. To the very end
of his voyage he seems to have been of the opinion that
if he and his men were caught off their guard, Donnacona
and his braves would destroy the whole of them for the
sake of their coveted possessions.
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