[Sidenote: _Consult to murder Monsr._ de la Sale.]
This Slaughter had yet satisfy’d but one Part of the Revenge of those Murderers. To finish it and secure themselves it was requisite to destroy the Commander in Chief. They consulted about the safest Method to effect it, and resolved to go together to Monsieur _de la Sale_, to knock out the Brains of the most resolute immediately, and then it would be easier to overcome the rest. But the River, which was between them and us, being much swollen, the Difficulty of passing it made them put it off the 18th and 19th. On the other Hand Monsieur _de la Sale_ was very uneasy, on Account of their long Stay. His Impatience made him resolve to go himself to find out his People and to know the Cause of it.
This was not done without many previous Tokens of Concern, and Apprehension. He seem’d to have some Presage of his Misfortune, enquiring of some, whether the Sieur _Liotot_, _Hiens_ and _Duhaut_ had not express’d some Discontent; and not hearing any Thing of it, he could not forbear setting out the 20th, with Father _Anastasius_ and an _Indian_, leaving me the Command in his Absence, and charging me from Time to Time to go the Rounds about our Camp, to prevent being surpriz’d, and to make a Smoke for him to direct his Way in Case of Need. When he came near the Dwelling of the Murderers, looking out sharp to discover something, he observed Eagles fluttering about a Spot, not far from them, which made him believe they had found some Carrion about the Mansion, and he fired a Shot, which was the signal of his Death and forwarded it.
The Conspirators hearing the Shot, concluded it was Monsieur _de la Sale_, who was come to seek them. They made ready their Arms and provided to surprize him. _Duhaut_ passed the River, with _Larcheveque_. The first of them spying Monsieur _de la Sale_ at a Distance, as he was coming towards them, advanc’d and hid himself among the high Weeds, to wait his passing by, so that Monsieur _de la Sale_ suspecting nothing, and having not so much as charg’d his Piece again, saw the aforesaid _Larcheveque_ at a good Distance from him, and immediately ask’d for his Nephew _Moranget_, to which _Larcheveque_ answer’d, That he was along the River. At the same Time the Traitor _Duhaut_ fired his Piece and shot Monsr. _de la Sale_ thro’ the Head, so that he dropp’d down dead on the Spot, without speaking one Word.[93]