We were still in want of Canoes. Monsieur _de la Sale_ sent to the Camp of the _Indians_ to barter for some, and they who went thither observ’d, that those People had made their Advantage of our Ship-wreck, and had some Bales of _Normandy_ Blankets, and they saw several Women had cut them in two and made Petticoats of them. They also saw Bits of Iron of the Ship that was cast away, and return’d immediately to make their Report to Monsieur _de la Sale_, who said we must endeavour to get some Canoes in Exchange, and resolv’d to send thither again the next Day. Monsieur _du Hamel_, Ensign to Monsr. _de Beaujeu_, offer’d to go up in his Boat, which Monsieur _de la Sale_ agreed to, and order’d Messieurs _Moranget_, his Nephew, _Desloges_, _Oris_, _Gayen_, and some others to bear him Company.
No sooner were those Gentlemen, who were more Hot than Wise, landed, but they went up to the Camp of the _Indians_, with their Arms in their Hands, as if they had intended to force them, whereupon several of those People fled. Going into the Cottages, they found others, to whom Monsieur _du Hamel_ endeavor’d to signify by Signs, that he would have the Blankets they had found restor’d; but the Misfortune was, that none of them understood one another. The _Indians_ thought it their best Way to withdraw, leaving behind them some Blankets and Skins of Beasts, which those Gentlemen took away, and finding some Canoes in their Return they seiz’d two, and got in, to bring them away.
But having no Oars, none of them knowing how to manage those Canoes, and having only some pitiful Poles, which they could not tell the right Use of, and the Wind being also against them, they made little Way; which the Sieur _du Hamel_, who was in his Boat perceiving, and that Night drew on, he made the best of his Way, forsook them and return’d to the Camp.
[Sidenote: _The_ Indians _take Revenge_.]
Thus Night came upon them, which oblig’d those unexperienc’d Canoe Men, being thoroughly tir’d, to go ashore to take some Rest, and the Weather being cold, they lighted a Fire, about which they laid them down and fell asleep; the Sentinel they had appointed doing the same. The _Indians_ returning to their Camp, and perceiving our Men: had carry’d away two Canoes, some Skins and Blankets, took it for a Declaration of a War, resolv’d to be reveng’d, and discovering an unusual Fire, presently concluded that our men had halted there. A considerable Number of them repair’d to the Place, without making the least Noise, found our careless People fast asleep, wrap’d up in their Blankets, and shot a full Volley of their Arrows upon them all together on a Sudden, having first given their usual Shout before they fall on.