The enemy made no pursuit, but forced marches were kept up for twenty-five or thirty leagues.  The weather now grew cold, as it was past the middle of autumn.  The fight at the fort of the Onondagas had taken place on October 10, and eight days later there was a snowstorm, with hail and a strong wind.  But, apart from extreme discomfort, the retreat was successfully accomplished, and on the shore of Lake Ontario they found the canoes intact.

It had been Champlain’s purpose to spend the winter at Quebec, and when the Hurons were about to leave the east end of Lake Ontario for their own country he asked them for a canoe and an escort.  Four Indians volunteered for this service, but no canoe could be had, and in consequence Champlain was forced reluctantly to accompany the Hurons.  With his usual patience he accepted the inevitable, which in this case was only unpleasant because he was ill prepared for spending a winter among the Indians.  After a few days he perceived that their plan was to keep him and his companions, partly as security for themselves and partly that he might assist at their councils in planning better safeguards against their enemies.

This enforced residence of Champlain among the Hurons during the winter of 1615-16 has given us an excellent description of Indian customs.  It was also the means of composing a dangerous quarrel between the Hurons and the Algonquins.  Once committed to spending the winter among the Indians, Champlain planned to make Huronia a point of departure for still further explorations to the westward.  Early in 1616 there seemed to be a favourable opportunity to push forward in the direction of Lake Superior.  Then came this wretched brawl of Hurons and Algonquins, which threatened to beget bitter hatred and war among tribes which hitherto had both been friendly to the French.  Accepting his duty, Champlain gave up his journey to the far west and threw himself into the task of restoring peace.  But the measure of his disappointment is found in these words: 

If ever there was one greatly disheartened, it was myself, since I had been waiting to see this year what during many preceding ones I had been seeking for with great toil and effort, through so many fatigues and risks of my life.  But realizing that I could not help the matter, and that everything depended on the will of God, I comforted myself, resolving to see it in a short time.  I had such sure information that I could not doubt the report of these people, who go to traffic with others dwelling in those northern regions, a great part of whom live in a place very abundant in the chase and where there are great numbers of large animals, the skins of several of which I saw, and which I concluded were buffaloes from their representation of their form.  Fishing is also very abundant there.  This journey requires forty days as well in returning as in going.

Thus Champlain almost had a chance to see the bison