La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

1679.] JEALOUSIES. 143ered at the palisaded house which La Motte hadbuilt, a little below the mountain ridge of Lewiston.They were a motley crew of French, Flemings, andItalians, all mutually jealous. La Salle's enemieshad tampered with some of the men; and none ofthem seemed to have had much heart for the enterprise.The fidelity even of La Motte was doubtful."He served me very ill," says La Salle; "andMessieurs de Tonty and de laForest knew that hedid his best to debauch all my men." 1 His healthsoon failed under the hardships ofthese winter journeyings,and he returned to Fort Frontenac, halfblindedby an inflammation of the eyes. 2 La Salle,seldom happy in the choice of subordinates, had,perhaps, in all his company but one man whom hecould fully trust; and this was Tonty. He andHennepin were on indifferent terms. Men throwntogether in a rugged enterprise like this quickly learnto know each other;and the vain and assuming friarwas not likely to commend himself to La Salle's braveand loyal lieutenant.Hennepin says that it was LaSalle's policy to govern through the dissensions of hisfollowers ; and, from whatever cause, it is certain thatthose beneath him were rarely in perfect harmony.eelf, though he lost nothing by the disaster, and had not formedthe design.On these incidents, compare the two narratives of Tonty, of 1084and 1693. The book bearing Tonty's name is a compilation full oferrors. He disowned its authorship.i Lettre de La Salle, 22 Aout, 1682 (Margry, ii. 212).2 Lettre de La Motte, sans date.