From afar came the dull, heavy rumble of a waterfall.[6]

There was a rush of the twelve foremost canoes to reach the landing and
cross the _portage_ before the thinning mist lifted entirely. Twelve
boats had got ashore when the fog was cleft by a tremendous crashing of
guns, and Iroquois ambushed in the bordering forest let go a salute of
musketry. Everything was instantly in confusion. Abandoning their
baggage to the enemy, the Algonquins and French rushed for the woods to
erect a barricade. This would protect the landing of the other canoes.
The Iroquois immediately threw up a defence of fallen logs likewise,
and each canoe that came ashore was greeted with a cross fire between
the two barricades. Four canoes were destroyed and thirteen of the
Indians from the Upper Country killed. As day wore on, the Iroquois'
shots ceased, and the Algonquins celebrated the truce by killing and
devouring all the prisoners they had taken, among whom was the magician
who had given them warning. Radisson and Groseillers wondered if the
Iroquois were reserving their powder for a night raid. The Algonquins
did not wait to know. As soon as darkness fell, there was a wild
scramble for the shore. A long, low trumpet call, such as hunters use,
signalled the Algonquins to rally and rush for the boats. The French
embarked as best they could. The Indians swam and paddled for the
opposite shore of the river. Here, in the dark, hurried council was
taken. The most of the baggage had been lost. The Indians refused to
help either the Jesuits or the French, and it was impossible for the
white _voyageurs_ to keep up the pace in the dash across an unknown
_portage_ through the dark. The French adventurers turned back for
Montreal. Of the white men, Radisson and Groseillers alone went on.

Frightened into their senses by the encounter, the Algonquins now
travelled only at night till they were far beyond range of the