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

416 ST. LOUIS OF TEXAS. [1686.with unspeakable yearning, on theFrance they hadleft behind, which, to their longing fancy, waspictured as an unattainable Eden. Well might theydespond; for of a hundred and eighty colonists,besides the crew of the "Belle," less than forty-fiveremained. The weary precincts of Fort St. Louis,with its fence of rigid palisades, its area of trampledearth, its buildings of weather-stained timber, andits well-peopled graveyard without, were hateful totheir sight. La Salle had a heavy task to save themfrom despair. His composure, his unfailing equanimity,his words ofencouragement and cheer, werethe breath of life to this forlorn company ;for thoughhe could not impart to minds of less adamantinetemper the audacity of hope with which he stillclung to the final accomplishment of his purposes,the contagion of his hardihood touched, nevertheless,the drooping spirits of his followers. 1The journey to Canada was clearly their onlyhope; and, after a brief rest, La Salle prepared torenew the attempt. He proposed that Joutel shouldthistime be of the party; and should proceed fromQuebec to France, with his brother Cavelier, tosolicit succors for the colony, while he himself1 " L'egalite d'humeur du Chef rassuroit tout le monde ; et iltrouvoit des resources a tout par son esprit qui relevoit les espe - -rances les plus abatues."— Joutel, Journal Historique, 152." II seroit difficile de trouver dans l'Histoire un courage plusintrepide et plus invincible que celuy du Sieur de la Salle dans lese>enemens contraires ; il ne fut jamais abatu, et il espe'roit toujoursarec le secours du Ciel de venir a bout de son entreprise malgretow les obstacles qui se presentment." — Douay in Le Clerc, ii. 327.