Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/100

 at the opening, by the Water. This last Misfortune happen'd also in the Night. Thus every Thing fell out most unhappily, for had that befallen in the Day, Abundance of Things might have been saved.

Whilst we were upon this melancholy Employment, about an hundred, or an hundred and twenty of the Natives came to our Camp, with their Bows and Arrows. Monsieur de la Sale order'd us to handle our Arms, and stand upon our Guard. About twenty of those Indians mix'd themselves among us, to observe what we had saved of the Shipwreck, upon which, there were several Sentinels, to let none come near the Powder,

The rest of the Indians stood in Parcels, or Pelotons. Monsr. de la Sale, who was acquainted with their Ways, order'd us to observe their Behaviour, and to take Nothing from them, which nevertheless did not hinder some of our Men from receiving some Pieces of Meat. Some Time after, when the Indians were about departing, they made Signs to us to go a Hunting with them; but besides that, there was sufficient Cause to suspect them, we had enough other Business to do. However we ask'd, whether they would barter for any of their Canoes, which they agreed to. The Sieur Barbier went along with them, purchas'd two for Hatchets and brought them.

Some Days after, we perceiv'd a Fire in the Country, which spread it self and burnt the dry Weeds, still drawing towards us; whereupon, Monsr. de la Sale made all the Weeds and Herbs that were about us, be pull'd up, and particularly all about the Place where the Powder was. Being desirous to know the Occasion of that Fire, he took about twenty of us along with him, and we march'd that Way, and even beyond the Fire, without seeing any Body. We perceiv'd that it run towards the W. S. W. and judg'd it had begun about our first Camp, and at the Village next the Fire.