e, conferred upon France a territory more than three
times as large as the kingdom of France itself.

CHAPTER XII.

_The Return Voyage_.

The Numerous Alligators. Destitution of Provisions. Encountering
Hostile Indians. A Naval Battle. Visit to the Village. Treachery of the
Savages. The Attack. Humane Conduct of La Salle. Visit to the Friendly
Taensas. Severe Sickness of La Salle. His Long Detention at Prudhomme.
The Sick Man's Camp. Lieutenant Tonti sent Forward. Recovery of La
Salle. His Arrival at Fort Miami.

There was no game to be taken in the vast swamps at the mouth of the
river. The provisions of the voyagers were nearly exhausted. They,
however, chanced to find an abandoned Indian camp, where there was a
small quantity of strips of the flesh of some animal, dried in the sun.
As they were eagerly eating it, the Indians who accompanied them
informed them that it was human flesh. It is needless to say that they
could eat no more; though the savages, who devoured it with much gusto,
declared that it was exceedingly delicate and savory.

On the 10th of April, the next day after the ceremony of annexation,
they commenced their toilsome ascent of the river on their voyage back.
Enormous alligators were often met with, sunning themselves on the
sand-bars. The sharp-shooters soon learned where the bullet would
strike a vulnerable point. For several days they lived mainly on wild
potatoes and the flesh of alligators. The country was so low, and so
bordered with almost impenetrable canes, that they could not hunt
without making long delays. At length they reached the blackened ruins
and the mouldering dead of Tangibao. The desolation remained complete.
None had returned.

It was a matter of the utmost importance, apparently of absolute
necessity, that they should lay in a store of corn. There was so much
uncertainty as to hunting, that they might be many days without food,
and thus perish. But a pint of corn, pounded into meal and baked in the
ashes, would afford a hungry man a very nutritious dinner. And if so
successful as to take some game, this bread gave great additional zest
to the repast.

On the thirteenth day, as they were slowly paddling against the stream,
they saw, far away in the north, a great smoke, apparently from Indian
fires. It was evidently not far from the region where the Quinnipissa
Indians had so fiercely attacked them, but a few days before. Much
apprehension was felt lest they s