Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/150

 which was between them and us, being much swollen, the Difficulty of passing it made them put it off the 18th and 19th. On the other Hand Monsieur de la Sale was very uneasy, on Account of their long Stay. His Impatience made him resolve to go himself to find out his People and to know the Cause of it.

This was not done without many previous Tokens of Concern, and Apprehension. He seem'd to have some Presage of his Misfortune, enquiring of some, whether the Sieur Liotot, Hiens and Duhaut had not express'd some Discontent; and not hearing any Thing of it, he could not forbear setting out the 20th, with Father Anastasius and an Indian, leaving me the Command in his Absence, and charging me from Time to Time to go the Rounds about our Camp, to prevent being surpriz'd, and to make a Smoke for him to direct his Way in Case of Need. When he came near the Dwelling of the Murderers, looking out sharp to discover something, he observed Eagles fluttering about a Spot, not far from them, which made him believe they had found some Carrion about the Mansion, and he fired a Shot, which was the signal of his Death and forwarded it.

The Conspirators hearing the Shot, concluded it was Monsieur de la Sale, who was come to seek them. They made ready their Arms and provided to surprize him. Duhaut passed the River, with Larcheveque. The first of them spying Monsieur de la Sale at a Distance, as he was coming towards them, advanc'd and hid himself among the high Weeds, to wait his passing by, so that Monsieur de la Sale suspecting nothing, and having not so much as charg'd his Piece again, saw the aforesaid Larcheveque at a good Distance from him, and immediately ask'd for his Nephew Moranget, to which Larcheveque answer'd, That he was along the River. At the same Time the Traitor Duhaut fired his Piece and shot Monsr. de la Sale thro' the Head, so that he dropp'd down dead on the Spot, without speaking one Word.