Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/106

 Monsieur de la Sale's Affliction. A Spaniard and a French Man stole away and fled, and were never more heard of. Four or five others follow'd their Example, but Monsieur de la Sale having timely Notice, sent after them, and they were brought back. One of them was condemn'd to Death, and the others to serve the King ten Years in that Country.

When our Fort was well advanc'd, Monsr. de la Sale resolv'd to clear his Doubts, and to go up the River, where we were, to know whether it was not an Arm of the Missisipi, and accordingly order'd fifty Men to attend him, of which Number were Monsr. Cavelier, his Brother, and Monsr. Chedeville, both Priests, two Recolet Fryars, and several Voluntiers, who set out in five Canoes we had, with the necessary Provisions. There remain'd in the Fort about an hundred and thirty Persons, and Monsr. de la Sale gave me the Command of it, with Orders not to have any Commerce with the Natives, but to fire at them if they appear'd.

Whilst Monsr. de la Sale was absent, I caus'd an Oven to be built, which was a great Help to us, and employ'd my self in finishing the Fort, and putting it in a Posture to withstand the Indians, who came frequently in the Night to range about us, howling like Wolves and Dogs; but two or three Musquet Shots put them to Flight. It happen'd one Night, that having fir'd six or seven Shot, Monsieur de la Sale who was not far from us, heard them, and being in Pain about it, he return'd with six or seven Men, and found all Things in a good Posture.

He told us he had found a good Country, fit to sow and plant all Sorts of Grain, abounding in Beeves and wild Fowl; that he design'd to erect a Fort farther up the River, and accordingly, he left me Orders to square out as much Timber as I could get, the Sea casting up much upon the Shore. He had given the same Orders to the Men he had