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

'1684.] AN OPEN QUARREL. 859like me; but I shall humor him, as I have alwaysdone, even to sailing my ship on dry land, if helikes."A few days later, there was an open quarrel. " M.de la Salle came to me, and said, rather haughtilyand in a tone of command, that I must put provisionsfor three months more on board my vessel. I toldhim it was impossible, as she had more lading alreadythan anybody ever dared to put in her before. Hewould not hear reason, but got angry and abused mein good French, and found fault with me becausethe vessel would not hold his three months' provisions.He said I ought to have told him of itbefore.said I,do ? ' We4And how would you have me tell you,'when you never tell me what you mean tohad still another quarrel. He asked mewhere his officers should take their meals. I toldhim that they might take them where he pleased ;I gave myself no trouble in the matter, having noorders. He answered that they should not mess onbacon, while the rest ate fowls and mutton. I saidthat if he would send fowls and mutton on board,his people should eat them ; but, as for bacon, I hadoften ate it myself. At this, he went off and complainedto M. Dugue* that I refused to embark hisprovisions, and told him that he must livefoion bacon.I excused him as not knowing how to behave himself,having spent his life among school-boy bratsand savages. Nevertheless, I offered to him, hisbrother, and two of his friends, seats at my table and