came and the marshy country was solid with ice, they
resumed their journey, with their sledges laden with venison. Champlain
went on with them from village to village, until he reached the one in
which he had left Brother Le Caron. When spring came, the Frenchmen
traveled homeward by the same circuitous route by which they had come, by
the way of Lake Huron and the Ottawa River.

{142}

Champlain's arrival at Quebec caused universal rejoicing. He was
welcomed as one risen from the grave, for the Indians had reported him
dead, and a solemn service of thanksgiving for his safety was held.

Here closes the most adventurous period of his career. Though his heart
was in the work of exploration, he was destined to spend his remaining
years chiefly in nursing the feeble little colony at Quebec. He had not
only to hold the balance even between monks and traders, but to guard the
puny little colony against frequent Indian outbreaks.

Eighteen years had passed since the foundation of Quebec, and still the
population consisted of only one hundred and five persons, men, women,
and children. Only two or three families supported themselves from the
soil. All the rest were there either as priests or as soldiers or as
traders bent on enriching themselves as quickly as possible and then
returning to France. This was one of the greatest difficulties that
Champlain had to contend with. The French at this time had little
thought of anything else than developing a great trade, whereas the
English colonists, with strong good sense, set themselves to tilling
{143} the soil and to making true homes for themselves and their
children's children. The result was that Canada long remained a sickly
infant, while the English colonies were growing sturdily.

An event that must have deeply tried Champlain was the surrender of
Quebec by his government to the English. He actually spent some time in
London as a prisoner, being treated with great consideration.
Eventually, however, Quebec was restored to its former masters and
Champlain to the governorship.

Thus were spent the last years of his life. He died on Christmas day, in
1635. At his funeral all the little community, Jesuits, officers,
soldiers, traders, and settlers, gathered to pay honor to the dead
"Father of New France."

He was a great soul, his faults chiefly those of a too confiding nature,
always manly and sincere, a brave soldier and a true gentleman,
unselfishly devo