In the pages of our country's early history we find the true story of a heroism that differs from our usual picture of the word. It is the heroism it takes for a man to turn aside from the traditions, beliefs and teachings of his fathers and to lay himself open to ridicule and hatred.

This is the story of Chiwatenwa, the son of a Huron chieftain, who lived in the middle of the 17th century. Failing to find life's meaning in dependence on dreams, the savage ritual dances and magic practices of his tribe, he listened eagerly to the teachings of the white man's God, brought to New France by Father Jean de Brébeuf and his Jesuit companions. Chiwatenwa soon found the real courage to become a Christian and took the name of Joseph.

From that time forward Joseph Chiwatenwa spent his life in helping Blackrobes to spread the new Faith. Many were against him, including his brother Teondechoren, a magician of the fire rite, who long showed his bitter enmity. Eventually others of his tribe were influenced by Joseph's words and actions and some of them were baptized. Nevertheless, he and the Blackrobes lived in continual danger. In thrilling river and forest adventurers, Joseph protected the lives of the French missionaries and of his fellow Christian Indians. In the end he died for his beliefs.

Antoinette Bosco, basing her facts on the Jesuit records, reconstructs Joseph's story in fast-moving narrative and with real feeling for the manner of thinking and speech of her hero.

From the dust jacket