The Day after our Arrival, one of the _Indians_, who had conducted us, having been sick ever since he eat the raw Beef Suet, I mention’d before, died, and his Companions took away and bury’d him privately. We gave them the promis’d Reward, and the Part belonging to the Dead Man, to be deliver’d to his Relations. They stay’d some Time in the Fort, during the which, we took extraordinary Care of them, and at last they return’d to their own Homes.
As far as we could gather by half Words dropp’d there by one or other at the Fort, Something had been done there prejudicial to the Service of Monsr. _de la Sale_, and against his Authority, and therefore some dreaded his Return, but more especially a _Jesuit_ was in great Consternation. He was sick, Monsieur _Cavelier_, Father _Anastasius_ and I went to visit him. He enquired very particularly of all Points, and could not conceal his Trouble, which we would not seem to take Notice of.
Our Design being to make the best of our way to _Canada_, in Order to set out Aboard the first _French_ Ships that should Sail for _France_, we enquired how we were to proceed, and met with several Difficulties. The Navigation on that River was very Dangerous,[117] by Reason of the Falls there are in it, which must be carefully avoided, unless a Man will run an inevitable Hazard of perishing. There were few Persons capable of managing that Affair, and the War with the _Iroquois_ made all Men afraid.
However the Sieur _Boisrondet_, Clerk to the late Monsr. _de la Sale_, having told us he had a Canoe, in which he design’d to go down to _Canada_, we prepared to make use of that Opportunity. Care was taken to gather Provisions for our Voyage, to get Furs to barter as we pass’d by _Micilimaquinay_. The Visits of two Chiefs of Nations, call’d _Cascasquia_ _Peroueria_ and _Cacahouanous_ discover’d by the late Monsieur _de la Sale_, did not interrupt our Affairs, and all things being ready on the 1st, we took Leave on the 18th, of those we left in the Fort. Monsieur _Cavelier_ writ a Letter for Monsieur _Tonty_, which he left there to be delivered to him, and we repair’d to the Lake to imbark.
[Sidenote: _M._ Cavelier, _&c. set out and returns again_.]