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

438 THE INNOCENT AND THE GUILTY. [1687.guard as usual ; that there was no use in thinkingabout what had happened, — that what was done wasdone; that they had been driven to it by despair,and that they were sorry for it,and meant no moreharm to anybody. M. Cavelier took up the word,and told them that when they killed M. de la Sallethey killed themselves, for there was nobody but himwho could get us out of this country. At last, aftera good deal of talk on both sides, they gave usour arms. So we stood guard; during which, M.Gavelier told me how they had come to the camp,entered his hut like so many madmen, and seizedeverything init."Joutel, Douay, and the two Caveliers spent asleepless night, consulting as to what they should do.They mutually pledged themselves tostand by eachother to the last, and to escape as soon as they couldfrom the company of the assassins.In the morning,Duhaut and hisaccomplices, after much discussion,resolved to go to the Cenis villages ;and, accordingly,the whole party broke up their camp, packed theirhorses, and began their march. They went fiveleagues, and encamped at the edge of a grove. Onthe following day they advanced again till noon,when heavy rains began, and they were forced tostop by the banks of a river." We passed the nightand the next day there," says Joutel; "and duringthat time my mind was possessed with dark thoughts.It was hard to prevent ourselvesfrom being in constantfear among such men, and we could not look at