For a moment affairs looked threatening.
Cartier's boat was surrounded by seven canoes filled with painted, gibbering savages.

But the French had a formidable defence.

A volley of musket shots fired by the sailors over the heads of the Indians dispersed the canoes in rapid flight.

Finding, however, that no harm was done by the strange thunder of the weapons, the canoes came flocking back again, their occupants making a great noise and gesticulating wildly.

They were, however, nervous, and when, as they came near, Cartier's men let off two muskets they were terrified; 'with great haste they began to flee, and would no more follow us.' But the next day after the boat had returned to the ships, the savages came near to the anchorage, and some parties landed and traded together.