to sail down the river to-morrow. It remains for M. La Salle to
sail when he is ready. He has said nothing to me of his designs.
As he is constantly changing his plans, I know not whether the
provisions will be enough for the enterprise. He is so jealous,
and so fearful that some one may penetrate his secrets, that I
have refrained from asking him any questions.

"I have already informed you how disagreeable it was for me to be
under the orders of M. de la Salle, who has no military rank. I
shall however obey him, without repugnance, if you send me orders
to that effect. But I beg that they may be such that he can impute
no fault to me should he fail to execute what he has undertaken. I
am induced to say this because he has intimated that it was my
design to thwart his plans. I wish you would inform me what is to
be done in regard to the soldiers. He pretends that, on our
arrival, they are to be put under his charge. My instructions do
not authorize this pretence. I am to afford all the aid in my
power, without endangering the safety of the vessels."

The ministry paid no attention to these complaints. They probably
decided to leave the commanders to settle such questions among
themselves. The four vessels sailed from Rochelle on the 24th of July,
1684. They had advanced but about one hundred and fifty miles when a
violent tempest overtook them. The Joli lost her bowsprit. Consequently
the little squadron returned to Rochefort. Having repaired damages, the
fleet again set sail, on the 1st of August.

La Salle and his _suite_, if we may so speak of his chosen companions,
were on board the Joli, which Captain Beaujeu commanded. On the 8th of
August the fleet passed Cape Finisterre, the extreme northwestern point
of Spain. On the 20th they reached the island of Madeira. Captain
Beaujeu wished to land here, to take in a fresh supply of provisions.
La Salle said, emphatically, "No!"

"We have," he said, "an ample supply of both food and water. To anchor
there will cause us a delay of six or eight days. It will reveal our
enterprise to the Spaniards. It was not the intention of the king that
we should touch at that point."

Beaujeu was compelled to submit. But he was very angry and sullen. His
sub-officers and sailors were also angry. Time was nothing to them, and
they were anticipating grand carousals in port. Sharp words were
interchanged, and the qu