enterprise. The scene was very affecting. Nearly all were in
tears. There were but few chances that those then bidding each other
adieu would ever meet again. Those who left, and those who remained,
were alike exposed. La Salle selected twenty men to accompany him.
Among those, were his brother, his ever-faithful Indian attendant, M.
Douay, to whose pen we are indebted for the record of the last
expedition, and M. Joutel, who kept a daily journal of the events of
this journey. M. Douay wrote also quite a minute account of the
expedition. Both of their narratives now lie before me. We have no
reason to doubt the accuracy of either. There were but twenty French
left behind, including seven women and children. La Salle gave them a
parting address. Father Douay writes:

"He made an address full of eloquence, with that engaging way so
natural to him. The whole colony was present, and were all moved to
tears. They were alike persuaded of the necessity of his voyage and
the uprightness of his intentions."

The property left with the colonists consisted of seventy pigs, large
and small, twenty hens and chickens, a few barrels of corn, which was
carefully kept for the sick, a considerable quantity of powder and
lead, and eight cannons, but without balls.

The heroic and devout Father Membre remained as the spiritual guide. M.
Barbier was left with the secular command. La Salle drew up very minute
directions for the administration of affairs during his absence.

"We parted," writes M. Joutel, "in a manner so tender, so sorrowful,
that it would seem that we had a secret presentiment that we should
never again see each other. Father Membre was deeply affected. He said
to me that never before had he experienced a parting so painful."

It was the 12th of January, 1689, when this truly forlorn hope set out
upon its long journey. They took with them the five horses, bearing
some articles of food and such things as they would need for their
night's encampment. The second day of their journey they came to a
plain about six miles wide, which seemed to be covered with buffaloes,
deer, flocks of wild turkeys, and every variety of game. Beyond the
plain there was a splendid growth of trees. Upon entering the grove,
they found that it fringed a small river. Concealed by these trees,
they succeeded in shooting five buffaloes which had come to the river
to drink. They crossed the river on a raft, and camped a mile and a
hal