ings, and to
range along the coast as near the shore as was safe.

La Salle's party soon reached the shore, and landed upon a very
beautiful meadow. But they had no time for exploration. The freshening
wind rolled in such a surf that there was great danger that their boat
would be swamped. They were compelled hastily to reembark, and return
to the ship. Slowly the vessels coasted along the uninviting shore,
looking in vain for any inlet or any river's mouth.

On the 2d of January, 1685, a dense fog settled down over the sea and
the land, so enveloping the ships that no object could be seen at the
distance of a few yards.

La Salle ordered cannon occasionally to be fired on board the Aimable,
to let the other two vessels know where he was. As there was scarcely a
breath of wind, there was no necessity that the fleet should be
scattered. When the fog the next day was dissipated, the Joli was not
in sight. Toward evening, however, the ship was again seen. In a few
days they discovered an inlet, which La Salle carefully examined from
the mast-head. He judged it to be the Bay of Appalachicola, then called
Espiritu Santo, on the Florida coast. They therefore pressed on
westerly, hoping soon to reach the Mississippi.

To make it sure that he should not pass the mouth of the river, which,
flowing through very low and marshy soil, was designated by no
landmark, La Salle desired to send a party of thirty men ashore to
follow along the coast. But the wind rose, and the surf dashed so
violently upon the muddy banks, that a landing could not be effected.
Slowly the fleet moved along until the 13th, when it was found
necessary to land to take in water. A shallop was sent ashore, with
five or six seamen, well-armed. There was no inlet, and no creek to
afford any protection, and the surf still rolled in heavily.

Though the dense forest spread its gloom far and wide around, there
opened before them a small meadow of but a few acres, green, treeless
and smooth as a floor. The boat was directed toward that spot. When
within a gun-shot of the land, a troop of about a dozen savages, tall,
stalwart men, entirely naked, emerged from the forest, and came down to
the water's edge. The surf was so high that there was much danger that
the boat would be swamped in an attempt to land. The seamen therefore
cast anchor, to consider what was to be done.

When the savages saw that they were at a standstill, they made friendly
signs, inviting th