Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/151

 Father Anastasius, who was then by his Side, stood stock still in a Fright, expecting the same Fate, and not knowing whether he should go forwards or backwards; but the Murderer Duhaut put him out of that Dread, bidding him not to fear, for no Hurt was intended him; that it was Despair that had prevail'd with him to do what he saw; that he had long desir'd to be revenged on Moranget, because he had designed to ruin him, and that he was partly the Occasion of his Uncle's Death. This is the exact Relation of that Murder, as it was presently after told me by F. Anastasius.

Such was the unfortunate End of Monsieur de la Sale's Life, at a Time when he might entertain the greatest Hopes, as the Reward of his Labours. He had a Capacity and Talent to make his Enterprize successful; his Constancy and Courage and his extraordinary Knowledge in Arts and Sciences, which render'd him fit for any Thing, together with an indefatigable Body, which made him surmount all Difficulties, would have procur'd a glorious Issue to his Undertaking, had not all those excellent Qualities been counterbalanced by too haughty a Behaviour, which sometimes made him insupportable, and by a Rigidness towards those that were under his Command, which at last drew on him an implacable Hatred, and was the Occasion of his Death.

The Shot which had kill'd Monsieur de la Sale, was also a Signal of the Murder to the Assassins for them to draw near. They all repair'd to the Place where the wretched dead Corps lay, which they barbarously strip'd to the Shirt, and vented their Malice in vile and opprobrious Language. The Surgeon Liotot said several Times in Scorn and Derision, There thou liest, Great Bassa, there thou liest. In Conclusion, they dragged it naked among the Bushes, and left it exposed to the ravenous Wild Beasts. So far was it