His Arrival disconcerted the Execution of our Enterprize. Monsr. _de la Sale_, who was already on his Way, and those who were gone before him, return’d Aboard, and some Hours after, Monsr. _de Beaujeu_ sent his Lieutenant, Monsr. _de Aire_, attended by several Persons, as well Clergymen as others, among whom was the Sieur _Gabaret_, second Pilot of the _Joly_.
Monsieur _d’ Aire_ complain’d grievously to Monsieur _de la Sale_, in the Name of Monsr. _de Beaujeu_, for that said he, we had left him designedly; which was not true, for as I have said, the _Joly_ lay at Anchor A-head of us, when we were separated from her; we fired a Gun to give her Notice of our Departure, as had been concerted, and Monsr. _de Beaujeu_ answer’d it; besides that, if we had intended to separate from him, we should not have always held our Course in Sight of Land, as we had done, and that had Monsieur _de Beaujeu_ held the same Course, as had been agreed, he had not been separated from us.
There were afterwards several Disputes between the Captains and the Pilots, as well Aboard Monsieur _de la Sale_, as Aboard Monsieur _de Beaujeu_, when those Gentlemen return’d, about settling exactly the Place we were in, and the Course we were to steer; some positively affirming we were farther than we imagin’d, and that the Currents had carry’d us away; and others, that we were near the _Magdalen_ River.
[Sidenote: _They pass the Mouth of the_ Missisipi.]
The former of those Notions prevail’d, whence, upon Reflection, Monsieur _de la Sale_ concluded, that he must be past his River, which was but too true; for that River emptying it self in the Sea by two Channels, it follow’d that one of the Mouths fell about the Shoals we had observ’d the sixth of the Month; and the rather because those Shoals were very near the Latitude that Monsieur _de la Sale_ had observ’d, when he came by the way of _Canada_ to discover the Mouth of that River, as he told me several Times.
This Consideration prevail’d with Monsieur _de la Sale_ to propose his Design of returning towards those Shoals. He gave his Reasons for so doing and exposed his Doubts; but his ill Fortune made him not be regarded. Our Passage had taken up more Time than had been expected, by Reason of the Calms; there was a considerable Number of Men aboard the _Joly_, and Provisions grew short, insomuch that they said it would not hold out to return, if our Departure were delay’d. For this Reason Monsieur _de Beaujeu_ demanded Provisions of Monsieur _de la Sale_; but he asking enough for a long Time, Monsieur _de la Sale_ answer’d, he could only give him enough for a Fortnight, which was more Time than was requisite to reach the Place he intended to return to; and that besides he could not give him more Provisions, without rummaging all the Stores to the Bottom of the Hold, which would endanger his being cast away. Thus nothing was concluded, and Monsieur _de Beaujeu_ return’d to his own Ship.