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

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CHAPTER XIX.1681.LA SALLE BEGINS ANEW.His Constancy; his Plans; his Savage Allies; he becomesSnow-blind. — Negotiations. — Gr<strong>and</strong> Council. — <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>'sOratory. — Meeting with Tonty. — Preparation. — Departure.In tracing <strong>the</strong> adventures <strong>of</strong> Tonty <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> rovings<strong>of</strong> Hennepin, we have lost sight <strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>, <strong>the</strong>pivot <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> enterprise. Returning from <strong>the</strong> desolation<strong>and</strong> horror in <strong>the</strong> valley <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Illinois, he hadspent <strong>the</strong> winter at Foil; Miami, on <strong>the</strong> St. Joseph,by <strong>the</strong> borders <strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong>ke Michigan. Here he mighthave brooded on <strong>the</strong> redoubled ruin that had befallenhim, — <strong>the</strong> desponding friends, <strong>the</strong> exulting foes ;<strong>the</strong>wasted energies, <strong>the</strong> crushing load <strong>of</strong> debt, <strong>the</strong> stormypast, <strong>the</strong> black <strong>and</strong> lowering future. But his mindwas <strong>of</strong> a different temper. He had no thought butto grapple with adversity, <strong>and</strong> out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fragments ,/<strong>of</strong> his ruin to build up <strong>the</strong> fabric <strong>of</strong> success.He would not recoil; but he modified his plans tomeet <strong>the</strong> new contingency.His white enemies hadfound, or ra<strong>the</strong>r perhaps had made, a savage ally in<strong>the</strong> Iroquois. Their incursions must be stopped, or

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