slave, with a design to pass into the country of the Miamis.

I was also preparing to pass on the river the next day, and every thing was dispos'd for my departure. Having spent the rest of the day with much uneasiness, the next morning I was putting my small cargo on board, when about nine a clock I espy'd coming towards me the Sieur Cousture, my lieutenant, in the country of the Akancéas, where both the Caveliers, viz. the uncle and the nephew refresh'd themselves for some time: indeed at first I was very glad to see him, but in a moment after he threw me into a terrible consternation: I iinmediately enquir'd of him where he left M. de la Salle? M. de la Salle, (said he,) do not you know that he is dead? How, (cry'd I,) is M. de la Salle dead? 'Tis too true, (reply'd he,) he is certainly dead; for he was assassinated by his own party, in the territories situated between the Palaquessons and the Nouadiches. "Hey! what d'ye say? (said I) is it possible? Why! M. Cavelier his own brother but now took leave of me, and was so far from telling me any thing of this matter, that he gave me a letter under his hand, and did not seem to shew the least mark of grief or concern." Sir, (said he,) I had the information from his own mouth; his tears, and those of his nephew, were too evident a proof of the truth of what they asserted; and I am very sorry that I should be the first that came to bring you so bad news. I was extremely surpriz'd at this answer, and quite overwhelm'd with grief, insomuch, that for a while I was not able to speak nor weep; neither did I know how to dispose of my self: however, some moments after I rose up, and spoke to this effect; M. de la Salle, my only protector, is dead, (as you say,) and murder'd too by his attendants! O heavens! can this be? But may I know who are those miscreants that durst imbrue

their hands in the blood of so excellent a patron? They are two ruffians, (reply'd M. Cousture,) nam'd Dan and Lancelot. Ah! wicked wretches, (said I,) by what motive, or rather by what demon were they excited to commit so execrable a fact? Then I entreated him to tell me all that he knew concerning that matter. "Alass! sir, (said he,) not to trespass too long on your patience, I shall proceed to give you an account of every particular circumstance of his death, as it was related to me.

M. de la Salle being recover'd of a very danger ous disease, repair'd to his last colony at fort St, Lewis, and departed from thence March 26, A. D. 1686, with a design to visit his old plantations, accompany'd with about thirty persons; among whom were his brother, his two nephews, the two Lancelots brothers; Dan; a savage nam'd Chaouanou; two English free-booters; and one Hieus, a German by nation.

'On the first day of their march, M. de la Salle perceiving that the younger Lancelot, being still weak after his recovery from a violent fit of sickness, was not able to follow the rest of the company, determin'd to send him back to the bay; neither could he be prevail'd upon by any means to alter his mind, notwithstanding the earnest entrea ties made by his brother, that they might not be parted; insomuch that young Lancelot was at last oblig'd to return to the place appointed. These proceedings which appear'd to be arbitrary and imperious, were hard to be digested by a man of courage. In the mean while it unfortunately happen'd that this young man was met on the road by certain savages, who cut his throat, and the news was brought the same day to his elder brother, who could not restrain the excess of his grief. He immediately laid the blame on M. de la Salle, and from that very moment, being transported with

rage and passion, he swore his destruction. After having given himself up for some time to complaints and lamentations, he suddenly stifled his indignation, designing to let it break forth again with greater vehemency upon some favourable opportunity. Therefore he follow'd the rest of the company; but after two months march, their provisions failing between the territories of the Palaquessons and the Noadiches; Dan and Lancelot made an agreement to go a hunting in the woods, and sollicited the Sieur de Moranget to accompany 'em. The unfortunate gentleman, without mistrusting any thing, condescended by way of complaisance, to grant their request. But the two ruffians, who being excited as well by envy, upon account of his singular merits, as by the implacable hatred that they bore his uncle, had long ago form'd a design upon his life; having now insensibly drawn him aside, reek'd their malice upon him, to which purpose they gave him a blow on the head with a hatchet, of which he died two hours after, like a good christian, heartily forgiving his enemies; of whose revenge this was the first effort.

"The day being ended, and M. de la Salle not seeing his nephew return, nor his companions, spent the night in a strange perplexity: the next day he went himself to the place where he judg'd that they might have been, and was soon follow'd by Father Anastasius, his brother, and his lacquey, neither was much time spent ere he found the person whom he sought for. For being arriv'd in a meadow, situated on the side of the river Mississipi, he espy'd Lancelot's footman thro' the grass, which was very high, and instantly ask'd him what was become of De Moranget his nephew? The. villain impudently answer'd that he might go look him on the bank; and indeed the body of that

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unfortunate young gentleman lay extended there, and two vulturs were fluttering over it, to get their prey. In the mean while those two perfidious wretches lay hid in the grass, with their fusees ready cockt; and as M. de la Salle was drawing near the footman to chastise him, he was shot in the head with three balls which Lancelot had discharg'd against him; whereupon he fell to the ground with his face all over bloody. Father Anastasius and his brother having heard the report of the gun, immediately ran to him, and found him dying, but not as yet altogether destitute of sense and knowledge. Neither did their grief hinder 'em from assisting him at his last gasp, at least with respect to the salvation of his soul: for he had time and strength sufficient to make his confession, and to offer up himself to God, as it were a solemn sacrifice. This was the last effect of their rage, and the tragical end of our illustrious hero, and of your good friend."

These last words struck me to the very heart, insomuch, that I had no strength left to complain: I continu'd dumb and unmoveable for some time; but at last the violence of my grief causing me to come out of my consternation by the means of a suddain flood of tears; "O heavens! (said I,) shall I never see M. de la Salle again? Alass! what hope, what help is there now left me? What will become of all those blooming families, of which he was the common father, the main support, and the only consolation? What a desperate condition are they in? How many brave undertakings are now spoil'd, and how many persons are ruin'd by the loss of one single man? Alass! is it possible that a person so venerable for his virtue; and so useful to France, upon account of his great discoveries; or that a man so universally respected and beloved, even by the most barbarous people, should

be massacred by his own followers? Is there any punishment severe enough for these murderers; I say, for those wretched caitifs! But where shall we find 'em? Oh! that I could discover 'em, and bring 'em to condign punishment. Their business is already done, (then said Cousture,) those villains are already punish'd, if their death may be thought sufficient to expiate their guilt. After what manner (said I) did the earth open to swallow 'em up, or did Heaven strike 'em dead with thunder? No, sir, (reply'd he,) their comerades did 'em justice. These profligate wretches, after they had perpetrated that horrid fact, determin'd in like manner to destroy all the rest, that they might not leave any witnesses of their crime; but the two English men feigning to espouse their interest, and to justifie their wicked action, obtain'd a pardon for the brother, and the nephew that surviv'd their kinsman, with leave to bury the two dead bodies.

Whilst these two afflicted relations, and the good monk were employ'd in performing their last devoirs to the deceased, those perfidious villains ran to seize on the rest of M. de la Salle's effects; the whole cargo consisting in ten horses, some pieces of linnen-cloth and merchandizes, to the value of about 2,000 crowns. As soon as they had taken possession of all the goods, the rest of the company was oblig'd to make a vertue of necessity, and to joyn with 'em. The brother and the nephew, who had redeem'd their life by silence, and by a voluntary resignation of every thing, were likewise forc'd to follow the torrent. Afterwards they arriv'd at the village of the Nouadiches, among whom dwelt certain French men, who had deserted M. de la Salle in his life-time. These people perceiving the arrival of this new company, very well arm'd, and moderately accoutred, were no less