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

460 THE INNOCENT AND THE GUILTY. [1687.from the Illinois on hearing of the approach of LaSalle.The season was late,and they were eager to hastenforward that they might reach Quebec in time toreturn to France in the autumn ships. There wasnot a day to lose. They bade farewell to Bellefontaine,from whom, as from all others, they had concealedthe death of La Salle, and made their wayacross the country to Chicago. Here they weredetained a week by a storm; and when at lengththey embarked in a canoe furnished by Bellefontaine,the tempest soon forced them to put back. On this,they abandoned their design, and returned to FortSt. Louis, to the astonishment of its inmates.It was October when they arrived; and, meanwhile,Tonty had returned from the Iroquois war,where he hdd borne a conspicuous part in the famousattack on the Senecas by the Marquis de Denonville. 1He listened with deep interest to the mournful storyof his guests. Cavelier knew him well. He knew,so far as he was capable of knowing, his generousand disinterested character, his long and faithfultents, tools, provisions, and merchandise for the Indians ; and italso asks for La Salle's maps and papers, and for those of Beaujeu.On their part, it pursues, the Jesuits will engage to make a completesurvey of the river, and return an exact account of its inhabitants,its plants, and its other productions.1Tonty, Du Lhut, and Durantaye came to the aid of Denonvillewith a hundred and eighty Frenchmen, chiefly coureurs de bois, andfour hundred Indians from the upper country. Their services werehighly appreciated; and Tonty especially is mentioned in thedespatches of Denonville with great praise.