At last the brave and capable Champlain 
     
     sailed from Harfleur in 1608, and reached 
     
     Stadacona or Kebec in safety. Here at the 
     
     foot of the rock where the quaint street Sous 
     
     le Fort has since been made, a settlement was 
     
     . laid out which Champlain called ‘l'Abitation 
     
    

    
     de Kébec,’ and which consisted of three 
     
     lodgings and a store-house, all fenced in and 
     
     ~ surrounded by a ditch. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Champlain made several trips to 
     
     France, each time bringing back missionary-priests and settlers. He 
     
     built a fort on the height above his ‘Abitation,’ on the spot where 
     
     his statue has since been erected. The little colony commenced 
     
     to grow, and soon numbered some fifty people. And now began 
     
     the troubles that were to shake the infant settlement, rumblings of 
     
     more desperate encounters, for a hostile British fleet arrived, and 
     
     Quebec was compelled to capitulate. Champlain again sailed for 
     
     France, where he remained until Charles I. of England gave back 
     
     Quebec to King Louis. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The founder of Quebec at last returned to the beloved home 
     
     of his adoption, where the work of building had to be done a second 
     
     time—fire having destroyed both ‘Abitation’ and fort, as well as 
     
     other buildings. With energy and skill, supported in the main by 
     
     the love and esteem of his fellow colonizers, Champlain toiled on; 
     
     his noble character showing in all he did. To keep on good terms 
     
     with the neighboring Algonquins and Hurons he took part in their 
     
     struggles with the fierce Iroquois, and penetrated inland as far as 
     
     the Georgian Bay and southern shore of Lake Ontario. The greatest 
     
     Vigilance was now more than ever necessary, for the savage Iroquois 
     
     crossed the great lakes in their war canoes, came down the St. Law- 
     
     rence and lurked in the woods, ever ready to cut off and scalp the 
     
     French when found in small numbers. In addition, the inexperi— 
     
     enced Colonists were quite unprepared for the severe winters, and 
     
     they were often on the verge of starvation. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Other serious troubles came. The British appeared in naval 
     
     force, and again Quebec capitulated—Champlain being taken to 
     
     England as a prisoner of war. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The political kaleidoscope now took another turn, and Quebec 
     
     was once more given back to France by Charles I. of England. 
     
    
   
   
    
     34