Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/117

 de la Sale, he answer'd he had not. It gave me some Uneasiness, considering I was forbid admitting any Man without an Order in Writing, and I was almost resolv'd to secure him; but the Account he gave me of the Occasion of his returning wholly clear'd him. I admitted him, and he told me the whole Matter as follows.

Monsr. de la Sale, having staid some Time on the Sea Shore, near the Place where the Bark was at Anchor he resolv'd to try the Anchoring Places of the Coasts round about, to know how near the Bark la Belle might come. To that Purpose he sent the Pilot with 5 of the best Men to sound.

The Pilot did as he was order'd, he sounded and observed the proper Places to come near several Coasts. At Night he and his Men being in all likelyhood tir'd, they thought fit to go Ashore and lie upon the Land. They made a Fire, perhaps to dress some Meat; but neglecting to stand upon their Guard, they were surpriz'd, and all six of them kill'd by the Savages; who also broke their Canoe, and thus reveng'd themselves for the Irruption Monsr. de la Sale had lately made among them.

More Time being elaps'd than Monsieur de la Sale had allotted those Men to return, he grew uneasy, and went himself along the Coast, to see if any News could be had of them, and keeping along the Shore, he found the sad Remains of those unfortunate Wretches, whose Carcasses scatter'd about, were torn and almost devour'd by Wolves or Wild Dogs, a Spectacle which went to his Heart.

However this Loss, which afflicted him, and particularly for the Sake of the Pilot, who was an able Man, did not quite cast him down; but exerting himself against his Misfortunes, he caus'd Flesh to be dry'd, and with that and the other Provisions he victuall'd the Bark la Belle. He caus'd it to advance into the Bay, put a good Number of Men on Board to secure it, among whom were Monsieur Chedeville, the Priest, and Planterose of Roan, and order'd them not