Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter 4, 1880

LARCjE number of Indian lodges are clustered on the banks of the St. Lawrence. They are those of the Huron and .Algonquin allies of Champlain, assembled preparatory for an expedition; and he must now conform to the demands of Indian custom. Hefore they start he must join them in the war-dance, and partake of the dog-feast. He is to be their great war-chief, and well did he prove worthy of the leadership. The night presents a weird-like scene. The camp-fires light up the rrgged banks and sombre forests, the picturesque canoes and groups of wigwams; and in its red glare hundreds of hideously painted savages, making the woods echo with their discordant yells, are writhing thrnugh the contortions of the war-dance; while Champlain and his I-'rench companions, clad in steel armor, look like appariti.nis from the spirit-land.

beautiful lake now called Champlain, after its illustrious discoverer. For a distance he proceeded in a small sail vessel, the Indians accompanying in their canoes. Arriving at a portage, the vessel is sent back, and Champlain, with two of his followers, join the Indians at the portage. The canoes are taken from the water, and the stalwart savages, carrying them on their shou-lders, file through the forest trail to the smooth waters above the rapids. Here they re-embarked, and after a day's paddling, the lovely scenery of the tranquil lake, with its green islands resting like emeralds on its crystal waters, greets the delighted vision of Champlain. They were in an uninhabited country - the hunting-grounds of the dangerous Iroquois, whose fortified \'illages were on its western border.

At night they encamped on the shores of the lake, taking the usual Indian precaution of first reconnoitering the surroundings. The Indians now determined to abandon day traveling, and changing their tactics, remained hid in the woods during the daytime, and at night were paddling on their way. During one of these nocturnal voj'agcs, thc\' di'^covered some dark objects on the water, which they soon found to be a number of Iroquois canoes. The inmates of these also discovered their enemy, and took to the shore, and with yells which made the forest resound, commenced to throw up a barricade of trees, which they felled for the purpose. Champlain "Iind his allies remained on the lake, but approached quite near them. The Indians on both sides agreed to put off the fight till nKjrning, and jiasseil the night in mutual menaces, and boastings of their prowess.

When daylight dawned, Champlain and his two companions put on their steel armor, and with swords and guns, each took a separate canoe, in which they were kept hidden from the enem\-. Champlain's allies now landed in battle array, and the Iroqilois, some two hundred warriors, came filing out of the b^^rricade to meet them. The Algonquins now opened up their ranks for Champlain and his two followers to pass to the front. They did so, and stood revealed to the astonished gaze of the Iroquois, who regarded them as apparitions. Champlain levelled his piece, loaded with five bullets, and as the report echoed through the woods, two war-chiefs fell to the ground. The Iroquois were dumfounded and the allies sent a shower of arrows into their midst. The former rallied from their consternation, and returned the discharge with great spirit. But when Champlain and his Frenchmen began firing their pieces with deadly rapidity, the Iroquois fled in uncontrollable terror. The Algonquins fell upon their retreating foe, killing many and taking others prisoners. Champlain was horrified at their atrocious cruelty to their captives, but he endeavored in vain to restrain their ferocity, and turned heart-sick from the repulsive scene of savage brutality,

This was a sweet victory for the Algonquins, and they must now return to their respective villages with their prisoners to e.xult over the spectacle of the discomfiture and torture of the latter. Champlain was accompanied by them to Quebec. He had taught the Iroquois a lesson, and they had now found a foeman worthy of their valor.

Champlain now returned to France and recounted to the King the results of his observation and the information gained of the country, and in the Spring of 1610 he came back to Quebec, and in that year had another engagement with the Iroquois.