[Sidenote: Duhaut _returns from Mr._ de la Sale.]
Thus we spent our Time, till about the Middle of _January, 1686_, when being all, one Evening, in our Mansion, the Sentinel came in to acquaint me, that he heard a Voice towards the River; some men ran thither immediately, and found a Man in a Canoe, crying, _Dominick_, which was the Name of young _Duhaut_, who was with us. The Sight of that made me apprehensive lest some Disaster was befallen Monsr. _de la Sale_. I drew near, and perceiv’d it was _Duhaut_ the Elder, that was return’d.
I ask’d, him whether he had any Letters from Monsieur _de la Sale_, he answer’d he had not. It gave me some Uneasiness, considering I was forbid admitting any Man without an Order in Writing, and I was almost resolv’d to secure him; but the Account he gave me of the Occasion of his returning wholly clear’d him. I admitted him, and he told me the whole Matter as follows.
Monsr. _de la Sale_, having staid some Time on the Sea Shore, near the Place where the Bark was at Anchor he resolv’d to try the Anchoring Places of the Coasts round about, to know how near the Bark _la Belle_ might come. To that Purpose he sent the Pilot with 5 of the best Men to sound.
The Pilot did as he was order’d, he sounded and observed the proper Places to come near several Coasts. At Night he and his Men being in all likelyhood tir’d, they thought fit to go Ashore and lie upon the Land. They made a Fire, perhaps to dress some Meat; but neglecting to stand upon their Guard, they were surpriz’d, and all six of them kill’d by the Savages; who also broke their Canoe, and thus reveng’d themselves for the Irruption Monsr. _de la Sale_ had lately made among them.
More Time being elaps’d than Monsieur _de la Sale_ had allotted those Men to return, he grew uneasy, and went himself along the Coast, to see if any News could be had of them, and keeping along the Shore, he found the sad Remains of those unfortunate Wretches, whose Carcasses scatter’d about, were torn and almost devour’d by Wolves or Wild Dogs, a Spectacle which went to his Heart.
However this Loss, which afflicted him, and particularly for the Sake of the Pilot, who was an able Man, did not quite cast him down; but exerting himself against his Misfortunes, he caus’d Flesh to be dry’d, and with that and the other Provisions he victuall’d the Bark _la Belle_. He caus’d it to advance into the Bay, put a good Number of Men on Board to secure it, among whom were Monsieur _Chedeville_, the Priest, and _Planterose_ of _Roan_, and order’d them not to stir from that Place till they heard from him, and not to go Ashore, unless with a good Guard and necessary Precautions.