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

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

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CHAPTER XIII.1680.FORT CRfeVECCEUR.Building <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fort. — Loss or <strong>the</strong> "Griffin." — A BoldResolution. — Ano<strong>the</strong>r Vessel. — Hennepin sent to <strong>the</strong>Mississippi. — Departure <strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>.<strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> now resolved to leave <strong>the</strong> Indian camp,<strong>and</strong> fortify himself for <strong>the</strong> winter in a strong position,where his men would be less exposed to dangerousinfluence, <strong>and</strong> where he could hold his groundagainst an outbreak <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Illinois or an Iroquoisinvasion. At <strong>the</strong> middle <strong>of</strong> January, a thaw brokeup <strong>the</strong> ice which had closed <strong>the</strong> river;<strong>and</strong> he set outin a canoe, with Hennepin, to visit <strong>the</strong> site he hadchosen for his projected fort. It was half a leaguebelow <strong>the</strong> camp, on a low hill or knoll, two hundredyards from <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn bank. On ei<strong>the</strong>r side was adeep ravine, <strong>and</strong> in front a marshy tract, overflowedat high water.Thi<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>n, <strong>the</strong> party was removed.They dug a ditch behind <strong>the</strong> hill,connecting <strong>the</strong> tworavines, <strong>and</strong> thus completely isolating it. The hillwas nearly square in form. An embankment <strong>of</strong>earth was thrown up on every side: its declivities

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