He seems to have reached the encampment at Cap Rouge at the very moment when an Indian assault was imminent.

We know, indeed, that the attack, which, from certain allusions in the narrative, seems presently to have been made, was warded off, and that Cartier's ships and a part at least of his company sailed home to France, falling in with Roberval on the way.

But the story of the long months of anxiety and privation, and 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..