Champlain makes it clear that he did not credit Vignau's
tale with the simple credulity of a man who has never
been to sea. He caused Vignau to swear to its truth at
La Rochelle before two notaries. He stipulated that Vignau
should go with him over the whole route. Finally, as they
were on the point of sailing together for Canada in the
spring of 1613, he once more adjured Vignau in the presence
of distinguished witnesses, saying 'that if what he had
previously said was not true, he must not give me the
trouble to undertake the journey, which involved many
dangers. Again he affirmed all that he had said, on peril
of his life.'

After taking these multiplied precautions against deceit,
Champlain left the Sault St Louis on May 29, 1613, attended
by four Frenchmen and one Indian, with Vignau for guide.
Ascending the Ottawa, they encountered their first
difficulties at the Long Sault, where Dollard forty-seven
years later was to lose his life so gloriously. Here the
passage of the rapids was both fatiguing and dangerous.
Prevented by the density of the wood from making a portage,
they were forced to drag their canoes through the water.
In one of the eddies Champlain nearly lost his life, and
his hand was severely hurt by a sudden jerk of the rope.
Having mounted the rapids, he met with no very trying
obstacle until he had gone some distance past the Chaudiere
Falls. His reference to the course of the Gatineau makes
no sense, and Laverdiere has had recourse to the not
improbable conjecture that the printer dropped out a
whole line at this point. Champlain also over-estimates