no more Provisions than would suffice to keep us from starving, without giving us Share of any Flesh, tho' they often kill'd.
The Author and others resolve to part from the Murderers. Our Tyrants still holding their Resolution to return to their former Habitation, thought they had not Horses enough, and therefore deputed four of their Number, one of which was the French Man half turn'd Indian, to return to the Village of the Cenis and endeavour to barter for some. At the same Time we agreed together to let those Gentlemen know, that we were too much fatigued to return with them to the said Habitation, and were resolved to remain in the Village of the Cenis. Monsieur Cavelier undertook to be our Speaker, and to desire Duhaut, who was Master of all, to give us some Axes, Knives and Strings of Beads, Powder and Shot, offering to give him a Note of his Hand for the same.
Design of the Murderers. To conclude, Monsieur Cavelier made the Proposal to Duhaut, disguis'd it the best he was able, and Duhaut took till the next Day to return his answer. He consulted with his Companions, and acquainted us, that they would deal handsomely by us, and give us half the Effects and all the Axes, intending to make the most Speed they could, to get to our former Dwelling, and to put in Execution what they had before design'd, as to the Building of a Bark. But in Case they could not succeed, for want of Necessaries, they would immediately return to us and bring F. Zenobius along with them, who would be serviceable to us, because, having been with Monsieur de la Sale upon his first Discovery, he understood the Language of the Nations about the Missisipi River. That whilst they were upon that Journey, we should take Care to gather a Stock of Provisions, and that if they succeeded in building the Bark, they would send us Word, that we might repair to them. Monsieur Cavelier approv'd of all they said, tho' we had other Designs. However it prov'd we were all Mistaken, for Providence had order'd Affairs otherwise.
We stay'd there some Time, expecting those who were
