probably of disease and hostilities with the Indians, is
not recorded. The narrative of the great explorer, as it
is translated by Hakluyt, closes with the following
ominous sentences:

'And when we were arrived at our fort, we understood by
our people that the savages of the country came not any
more about our fort, as they were accustomed, to bring
us fish, and that they were in a wonderful doubt and fear
of us. Wherefore our captain, having been advised by some
of our men which had been at Stadacona to visit them that
there was a wonderful number of the country people
assembled together, caused all things in our fortress to
be set in good order.' And beyond these words, Cartier's
story was never written, or, if written, it has been
lost.



CHAPTER IX

THE CLOSE OF CARTIER'S CAREER

Great doubt and uncertainty surround the ultimate fate
of Roberval's attempted colony, of which Cartier's
expedition was to form the advance guard. Roberval, as
already seen, had stayed behind in France when Cartier
sailed in 1541, because his equipment was not yet ready
for the voyage. Nor does he seem to have finally started
on his expedition for nearly a year after the departure