Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/149

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enough; and the said Sieurs Liotot, Hiens, Duhaut and the rest had laid aside the Marrow-Bones and others to roast them, and eat the flesh that remain'd on them, as was usual to do. The Sieur Moranget found fault with it, he in a Passion seiz'd not only the Flesh that was smoak'd and dry'd, but also the Bones, without giving them any Thing; but on the contrary, threatning they should not eat so much of it, as they had imagin'd, and that he would manage that Flesh after another Manner.

This passionate Behaviour, so much out of Season, and contrary to Reason and Custom, touch'd the Surgeon Liotot, Heins and Duhaut to the Quick, they having other Causes of Complaint against Moranget. They withdrew, and resolv'd together upon a bloody Revenge; they agreed upon the Manner of it, and concluded they would murder the Sieur Moranget, Monsieur de la Sale's Footman and his Indian, because he was very faithful to him.

They waited till Night, when those unfortunate Creatures had supp'd and were asleep. Liotot the Surgeon was the inhuman Executioner, he took an Ax, began by the Sieur Moranget, giving him many Strokes on the Head; the same he did by the Footman and the Indian, killing them on the Spot, whilst his Fellow Villains, viz. Duhaut, Hiens, Teissier and Larcheveque stood upon their Guard, with their Arms, to fire upon such as should make any Resistance. The Indian and the Footman never stir'd, but the Sieur Moranget had so much Vigour as to sit up, but without being able to speak one Word, and the Assasins obliged the Sieur de Marle to make an End of him, tho' he was not in the Conspiracy.

This Slaughter had yet satisfy'd but one Part of the Revenge of those Murderers. To finish it and secure themselves it was requisite to destroy the Commander in Chief. They consulted about the safest Method to effect it, and resolve to go together to Monsieur de la Sale, to knock out the Brains of the most resolute immediately, and then it would be easier to overcome the rest. But the River,