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

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CHAPTER XII.1679, 1680.LA SALLE ON THE ILLINOIS.The St. Joseph. — Adventure <strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>. — The Prairies. Famine. — The Great Town <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Illinois. — Indians. —Intrigues. — Difficulties. — Policy <strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>. — Desertion.— Ano<strong>the</strong>r Attempt to poison <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>.On <strong>the</strong> third <strong>of</strong> December <strong>the</strong> party re-embarked,thirty -three in all, in eight canoes, 1 <strong>and</strong> ascended <strong>the</strong>chill current <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> St. Joseph, bordered with drearymeadows <strong>and</strong> bare gray forests. When <strong>the</strong>y approached<strong>the</strong> site <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> present village <strong>of</strong> South Bend, <strong>the</strong>ylooked anxiously along <strong>the</strong> shore on <strong>the</strong>ir right t<strong>of</strong>ind <strong>the</strong> portage or path leading to <strong>the</strong> headquarters<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Illinois.The Mohegan was absent, hunting;<strong>and</strong>, unaided by his practised eye, <strong>the</strong>y passed <strong>the</strong>path without seeing it. <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> l<strong>and</strong>ed to search<strong>the</strong> woods. Hours passed, <strong>and</strong> he did not return.Hennepin <strong>and</strong> Tonty grew uneasy, disembarked,bivouacked, ordered guns to be fired, <strong>and</strong> sent outmen to scour <strong>the</strong> country. Night came, but not<strong>the</strong>ir lost leader. Muffled in <strong>the</strong>ir blankets <strong>and</strong>1 Lettre de Duchesneau d , 10 Nov., 1680.

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