Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/107

 left on the Spot, seven or eight of whom, detach'd from the rest, being busy at that Work, and seeing a Number of the Natives, fled, and unadviseably left their Tools behind them. Monseiur de la Sale returning thither, found a Paper made fast to a Reed, which gave him Notice of that Accident, which he was concern'd at, because of the Tools, not so much for the Value of the Loss, as because it was furnishing the Natives with such Things as they might afterwards make Use of against us.

About the Beginning of April we were alarm'd by a Vessel which appear'd at Sea, near enough to discern the Sails, and we supposed they might be Spaniards, who had heard of our Coming and were ranging the Coast to find us out. That made us stand upon our Guard, to keep within the Fort, and see that our Arms were fit for Service. We afterwards saw two Men in that Vessel, who instead of coming to uss, went towards the other Point, and by that Means pass'd on, without perceiving us.

Having one Day observ'd, that the Water work'd and bubbled up, and afterwards perceiving it was occasion'd by the Fish skipping from Place to Place, I caused a Net to be brought, and we took a prodigious Quantity of Fish, among which were many Dorado's or Gilt-Heads, Mullets and others about as big as a Herring, which afforded us good Food for several Days. This fishery, which I caused to be often follow'd, was a great Help towards our Subsistance.

About that Time, and on Easter-day that Year, an unfortunate Accident befel Monsieur le Gros. After Divine Service he took a Gun to go kill Snipes about the Fort. He shot one, which fell into a Marsh; he took off his Shoes and Stockings to fetch it out, and returning, through Carelessness trod upon a Rattle Snake, so call'd, because it has a Sort of Scale on the Tail, which makes a Noise. The Serpent bit him a little above the Ankle, he was carefully