Part of them embarked in great wooden canoes, some to ascend, others to descend the river in order to surround us on all sides....

Some young men threw themselves into the water and seized my canoe, but the current compelled them to return to land.

One of them hurled his club, which passed over without striking us.

In vain I showed the calumet (pipe of peace), and made them signs that we were not coming to war against them.

The alarm continued; they were already preparing to pierce us with arrows from all sides when God suddenly touched the hearts of the old men who were standing at the water's edge, who checked the ardour of their young men....