Next, he chose out Twenty Men, imbark’d on two Canoes he had left, and being come Ashore, caus’d the Canoes to be sunk in the River, and every Man to take up his Bundle, consisting of Arms, Tools, some Utensils for the Kitchin, a few Goods, to trade with the Natives, if he should find any sociable, and so advanc’d into the Country, to try if any Notice could be had of the _Missisipi_.
After several Days March, they came to a good pleasant River, which they afterwards call’d _la Maligne_. Monsieur _de la Sale_ marching at the Head of the Company, and having order’d Monsieur _Moranget_ to keep in the Rear; it happen’d that _Duhaut_ stopping to mend his Snapsack[70] and his Shoes, which were in a bad Condition; the Sieur _Moranget_ coming up, commanded him to March, he desired him to stay a little. _Moranget_ would not, but held on his Way; _Duhaut_ follow’d some Time after, but having stay’d too long, he could not overtake the Company, and found himself about Night fall in a Plain full of Weeds, where there were several Tracks of the Way Cattle had gone, but knew not which of them to take. He fir’d his Piece several Times, without hearing any thing of his Company, and was oblig’d to pass the Night in that same Place.
In the Morning he shot again, spent the Day and Night again in that Place, so that not knowing what to do, he return’d the same Way he had gone, and after a Month’s March, for he travell’d only by Night, for Fear of meeting with the Savages, living upon what he kill’d with much Difficulty and Danger, having before spent all his own Provisions; at length after most unaccountable Hardships and Sufferings, he arriv’d at the Place where the Canoes had been sunk. He took one of them up, with incredible Labour, and too long to relate, and so came to our Habitation of St. _Lewis_. Thus it pleas’d God that he who was to be one of the Murderers of Monsieur _de la Sale_, should come off safe, and surmount almost infinite Dangers.
This Account, which seem’d to carry the Face of Probability, prevail’d with me to receive the Sieur _Duhaut_, and in Reality I could do no otherwise, and I made it my Business to examine into his Behaviour, but could find Nothing to lay to his Charge. We continued some Time longer as we had been before; during the which, I caus’d another little Wooden Structure to be made, of Timber, I had got together, and in it I lodg’d the Women and Maidens by themselves. Having hitherto said Nothing of the Situation of our Dwelling of St. _Lewis_, nor of the Nature of the Country we were in, I will here venture upon a plain but true Description.