to the danger to which they exposed themselves by their
bad behaviour, but on account of the great noise they
made they heard nothing. Seeing that shouting would only
burst my head and that my remonstrances were useless for
putting a stop to the disorder, I did nothing more, but
determined, together with my men, to do what we could
and fire upon such as we could see.'

The fight itself lasted only three hours, and the casualties
of the attacking party were inconsiderable, since but
two of their chiefs and fifteen warriors were wounded.
In addition to their repulse, the Hurons suffered a severe
disappointment through the failure to join them of five
hundred allies who had given their solemn promise. Although
Champlain had received two severe wounds, one in the leg
and another in the knee, he urged a second and more
concerted attack. But in vain. The most the Hurons would
promise was to wait four or five days for the expected
reinforcements. At the end of this time there was no sign
of the five hundred, and the return began. 'The only good
point,' says Champlain, 'that I have seen in their mode
of warfare is that they make their retreat very securely,
placing all the wounded and aged in their centre, being
well armed on the wings and in the rear, and continuing
this order without interruption until they reach a place
of security.'

Champlain himself suffered tortures during the retreat,
partly from his wounds, but even more from the mode of
transportation. The Indian method of removing the wounded