l, the historian of the expedition from the time it sailed from
France until its close, led this party.

The march was commenced on the 5th of February. Each man carried his
pack upon his own shoulders. They kept along as near as possible to the
sea. The first night they encamped on a slight eminence, where a large
fire was built to signalize to the vessels their position. For a week
they thus journeyed along, through marsh and prairie and forest,
building each night their signal fires. During all this time they
caught no sight of their vessels. On the 13th they came to the banks of
a wide creek or bayou, which they had no means of crossing.

The carpenters were immediately set to work in building a boat. The
next day, while thus employed, the Joli and the Belle hove in sight.
The short twilight of the tropics was then passing into night. A
signal-fire was built, and seen by those on the ships. The next
morning, the slow-sailing Aimable, which bore La Salle and his
companions, appeared. La Salle landed and visited the encampment.
Having sounded the creek, he decided to bring the three vessels in, and
to send a boat to explore inland, hoping that the creek might prove to
be the mouth of some river. The channel was carefully staked out for
the entrance of the vessels, safe anchorage chosen, and orders were
issued for the three to enter at the next high tide. La Salle would
give the signal from the shore, when they were to move.

Captain Beaujeu sent back the insolent answer, "I can manage my own
vessel without any instructions from Monsieur La Salle."

As this message arrived, a party of the ship's company, who had been at
some distance from the camp, came running in, much alarmed, saying that
quite an army of savages was approaching. La Salle instantly called all
his force to arms, that he might be prepared for any emergence. Though
earnestly desirous of peace, he yet deemed it important to show a bold
front. In imposing military array, with muskets loaded, and the beating
of drums, he led his band of about one hundred and fifty men, to meet
the Indians.

Both parties halted and faced each other, neither knowing whether the
other wished for peace or war. La Salle directed ten of his men to lay
down their arms, and advance toward the Indians, making friendly signs,
and endeavoring to invite an unarmed party to meet them. The whole body
at once threw down their arms, consisting of bows and javelins, and ran
forward jo