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

;1685.] THE SHORES OF TEXAS. 375Again Joutel tried to land, and again the breakersrepelled him. He approached as near as he dared,and saw vast plains and a dim expanse of forest,buffalo running with their heavy gallop along theshore, and deer grazing on the marshy meadows.Soon after, he succeeded in landing at a pointsomewhere between Matagorda Island and CorpusChristi Bay. The aspect of the country was notcheering, with its barren plains, its reedy marshes,its interminable oyster-beds, and broad flats of mudbare at low tide. Joutel and his men sought invain for fresh water, and after shooting some geeseand ducks returned to the "Aimable." Nothinghad been seen of Beaujeu and the u Joly ; " the coastwas trending southward; and La Salle, convincedthat he must have passed the missing ship,turned toretrace his course. He had sailed but a few mileswhen the wind failed, a fog covered the sea, and hewas forced to anchor opposite one of the openingsinto the lagoons north of Mustang Island. Atlength, on the nineteenth, there came a faintbreezethe mists rolled away before it, and to his great joyhe saw the " Joly " approaching."His joy," says Joutel, "was short." Beaujeu'slieutenant, Aire, came on board tohaving caused thecharge him withseparation, and La Salle retortedby throwing the blame on Beaujeu. Then came adebate as to their position. The priest Esmanvillewas present, and reports that La Salle seemed greatlyperplexed. He had more cause for perplexity than