FATHER GABRIEL'S CLOAK

This tired story breaks down in Chapter 1. The heroine, at the age of 6, is, together with the other children of her village, stolen by the Indians because with incredible, sympathy killing stupidity- they had been left alone while their parents, armed with muskets to fend off the rumored Indians, worked the far fields. In Chapter 2, we pick up our girl at the age of twelve, amnesiac and almost minus her French. Discovered by Father Gabriel, a priest travelling with LaSalle's Mississippi expedition, she comes up with her old address in French. When the Iroquois attack, she asks to join the French and leaves without a backward glance. The trek to her old village is dogged by disaster and Father Gabriel's cloak is acquired late along when the priest becomes a victim. Cut up, it provides various necessities for the travellers. When they reach the old village the reconciliation with family takes place mechanically. Once again, the Indian names are jaw crackingly unfortunate, the vocabulary dull and the style undistinguished. The potential interest in Indian adoption is ignored. Save your wampum.