Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/128



When the Sieur Barbier went out a Hunting, I commonly sent with him some Women and Maids, to help the Hunters to dress and dry the Flesh; but being inform'd that he us'd to slip aside from the Company, with a young Maid he had a Kindness for, and which gave Occasion to some well-grounded Railleries; the said Barbier being told I was acquainted with that Affair, came and spoke to me in private, desiring Leave to marry that young Woman, I made some Difficulty of it at first, advising him to stay till Monsieur de la Sale return'd; but at last, considering they might have anticipated upon Matrimony, I took the Advice of the Recolet Fathers, and of Monsieur Chedeville the Priest, and allowed them to marry. Monsieur ''le Marquis de la Sabloniere'' following this Example, ask'd the same Liberty, being in Love with a young Maid, which I absolutely refus'd, and forbid them seeing one another.

Some Time pass'd in which Nothing happen'd to us worth observing; however, I will mention two Things which befell our Recolet Fathers. One was, That Father Anastasius, being a hunting Bullocks with me, and coming too near one I had shot, and was fallen, the Beast, as much hurt as he was, started up, attack'd and threw him down; he had much ado to get off, and I to rescue him, because I durst not shoot for Fear of killing him. The Bullock being weak, fell again; the Father was deliver'd, but lay ill some Months. The other was, That Father Maximus had writ some Memoirs concerning Monsieur de la Sale's Conduct, condemning him upon several Occasions. I was told of it, found Means to get those Memoirs, threw them into the Fire, and so the Father came off.

About the same Time, most of our Men seeing Monsieur de le Sale did not return, began to mutter. The Sieur Duhaut, who perhaps had been the first Fomenter of those Discontents, back'd the Complaints of the disgusted Party, promis'd them great Matters under his Conduct, and offer'd to supply them with such Effects as he had in Possession, endeavouring, as I suppose, by those Means, to