sent to search for the wanderers. At length they were found,
thoroughly frightened, having passed a very uncomfortable night. The
beauty of this island charmed all who beheld it. They were lavish in
their praises of its luxuriance, its fruits, its game, and its birds of
brilliant plumage.

Again the fleet weighed anchor and, on the 11th, reached Cape
Corrientes, one of the most prominent southwestern points of Cuba. Here
again they ran into a solitary bay, which, in clustering fruits and
vine-draped bowers, and birds on the wing, presented an aspect of
almost Eden loveliness. They tarried but a day. Then, taking advantage
of a breeze fresh and fair, they passed from the Caribbean Sea into the
Gulf of Mexico They had proceeded but about fifteen miles when the wind
changed, and became adverse. For two days, by beating, they worked
their way slowly against it.

Captain Beaujeu took a boat, and came on board the Aimable, and
insisted that the vessels should put back to Cape Antoine, and ride at
anchor there until the wind should prove favorable. La Salle could not
consider this measure judicious. But, weary of contention and anxious
to agree with Beaujeu whenever he could, he reluctantly gave his
consent. They ran back to the land, cast anchor, remained two days in a
dead calm, when suddenly a tropical tempest arose, which was almost a
tornado. The Belle dragged her anchor, and was driven violently against
the Aimable, carrying away her bowsprit, and greatly injuring much of
her rigging. The Aimable would have been sunk had she not cut her cable
and escaped. The anchor was lost.

On the 18th, the wind became fair. Having repaired damages as far as
was in their power, the fleet again set sail. It was ten o'clock in the
morning of a very delightful day. Directing their course northwesterly,
they sailed, with a gentle breeze and occasional calms, nine days'
without seeing land or encountering any event of importance. On the
28th, land was discovered. It was but a few miles distant. It was
evidently the continent of North America, and consisted of a long reach
of low land, fringed with a dense forest, and elevated but a few feet
above the level of the Gulf.

A shallop was speedily equipped, and La Salle, with a few of his chosen
companions and a boat's crew, all well-armed, repaired to the shore to
reconnoitre. Another boat, also similarly equipped, was ordered soon to
follow. The Belle was directed to keep up careful sound