Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/109

 knocking out their Brains, to revenge their having murder'd our Companions, but I would not consent to it, since they had come confiding in us. I made Signs to them to be gone, which they did as fast as they could, some small Shot we fir'd into the Air making them run, and a Cannon Shot, I pointed towards the rising Ground, where the rest were, put them all to Flight.

These Accidents made us double our Guards, since we were at open War with that crafty Nation, which let slip no Opportunity to surprize us, and therefore Penalties were appointed for such as should be found asleep upon Sentinel; the Wooden-Horse was set up for them without Remission; and by Means of such Precautions we sav'd our Lives.

Thus we spent the rest of the Month, till the Beginning of June. In the mean Time, Monsieur de la Sale had begun to make another Settlement, in the Place he before told us of, looking upon it as better, because it was further up the Country. To that Purpose he sent to us the Sieur de Villeperdry with two Canoes and Orders for the Sieur Moranget to repair to him, if he were recover'd, and that all the Men should march, except 30 of the ablest to make a good Defence, who were to stay with me in the Fort. The rest being seventy Persons, as well Men and Women as Children, set up with the Sieur Moranget; and we being but a small Number remaining, I caused the Fort to be brought into a less Compass, to save posting so many Sentinels.

Our little Company began to take Satisfaction in the Ease of getting and the Nature of our Provisions, which a greater Number has more Difficulty to be supply'd with, and which we had Plenty of, by Means of Hunting and Fishing, those being our principal Employments, and we liv'd well enough contented, expecting to be remov'd. However there were some Malecontents, who resolv'd to desert; but finding a Difficulty to put it in Execution, for that they could