Sept. 1686 Chief return safe, tho' his Journey had not advanc'd his Design. Monsieur de la Sale had not found out his River, nor been towards the Islinois as we had hoped. Only eight Men return'd with him of twenty he carry'd out, and all the visible advantage of that Journey consisted in five Horses, laden with Indian Wheat, Beans and some other Grain, which was put into the Store.
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7 Men lost and 4 desert.
Monsr. de la Sale ask'd me, as soon as he came, whether the Sieurs Clerc, Hurie, Duhaut the younger and two others were come, because they not being able to endure the Fatigue of the Journey, he had given them Leave to return, and hearing they were not, he concluded the Savages had killed them. We were also inform'd, that the Sieur Bihorel, had stray'd and was lost, so that there had been no News of him since; that one of Monsr. de la Sale's Servants had been dragg'd down to the Bottom of the Water and devour'd by an Alligator, and that four others had deserted and abandon'd Monsieur de la Sale, when he was about the Country of the Cenis.
M. de la Sale resolves upon a third Expedition. This was a very dismal and deplorable Account; but the even Temper of our Chief made all Men easy, and he found, by his great Vivacity of Spirit, Expedients, which reviv'd the lowest Ebb of Hope. He rejoiced at the Return and Sight of M. Chedeville, he was pleas'd at the Recovering of his Cloaths and Part of his Papers; and after some Time of Rest, he propos'd to undertake a Journey towards the Islinois, and to make it the main Business, by the Way, to find the Missisipi; but it was thought proper to let the great Heats pass, before that Enterprize was taken in Hand.
In the mean Time, he gave Orders to stake about a Place to make a New Magazine, or Storehouse. He put to that Use the Timber I had caus'd to be cut, and would have more provided for the same Use. Detachments being sent to work, seven or eight of our Men, who were sent with the Sieur Barbier, were discover'd by the Savages, who being superior in Number, made as if they would hem
