Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/170

 Sale. He inform'd Duhaut, that one they call'd Hiens, who was also one of our Messengers, and had stayed on the other Side of the River, had heard of Duhaut and the rest altering their Resolution, and that he was not of their Mind. Hiens was a Buccanier, and by Birth a German. Monsieur de la Sale had brought him from Petit Gouave, and he was also accessary to the late Murders.

After we had been some Days longer in the same Place, Hiens arriv'd with the two half Savage French Men and about twenty Natives. He went immediately to Duhaut, and after some Discourse, told him, he was not for going towards the Missisipi, because it would be of dangerous Consequence for them, and therefore demanded his Share of the Effects he had seiz'd upon. Duhaut refusing to comply, and affirming, that all the Axes were his own; Hiens, who it is likely had laid the Design before to kill him, immediately drew his Pistol, and fired it upon Duhaut, who stagger'd about four Paces from the Place and fell down dead. At the same Time Ruter, who had been with Hiens, fired his Piece upon Liotot, the Surgeon, and shot him thro' with three Balls.

These Murders committed before us, put me into a terrible Consternation; for believing the same was design'd for me, I laid hold of my Fire-Lock to defend my self; but Hiens cry'd out to me, to fear nothing, to lay down my Arms, and assur'd me he had no Design against me; but that he had reveng'd his Master's Death. He also satisfy'd Monsieur Cavelier and Father Anastasius, who were as much frighted as my self, declaring he meant them no Harm, and that tho' he had been in the Conspiracy, yet had he been present at the Time when Monsieur de la Sale was kill'd, he would not have consented, but rather have obstructed it.

Liotot liv'd some Hours after, and had the good Fortune to make his Confession; after which, the same Ruter, put