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

1680.] DEPARTURE OF HENNEPIN. 187The friar bade farewell to La Salle, and embracedall the rest in turn. Father Ribourde gave him hisbenediction. "Be of good courage and let yourheart be comforted," said the excellent old missionary,as he spread his hands in benediction over the shavencrown of the reverend traveller. Du Gay and Accauplied their paddles ; the canoe receded, and vanishedat length behind the forest. We will follow Hennepinhereafter on his adventures, imaginary and real.Meanwhile, we will trace the footsteps of his chief,urging his way, in the storms of winter, throughthose vast and gloomy wilds, — those realms offamine, treachery,and death, — that lay betwixt himand his far-distant goal of Fort Frontenac.On the first of March, 1 before the frost was yet outof the ground, when the forest was still leafless, andthe oozy prairies still patched with snow, a band ofdiscontented men were again gathered on the shorefor another leave-taking. Hard by, the unfinishedship lay on the stocks, white and fresh from the sawand axe, ceaselessly reminding them ofthe hardshipand peril that was in store. Here you would haveseen the calm, impenetrable face of La Salle, and/with him the Mohegan hunter, who seems to havevfelt towards him that admiring attachment which hecould always inspire in his Indian retainers.Besidesthe Mohegan, four Frenchmen were to accompanyhim, — Hunaut, La Violette, Collin, and Dautray. 21Tonty erroneously places their departure on the twenty-second2 Declaration faite par Moyse Hillaret, charpentier de barque.