e.
Moranget was the nephew of La Salle. The valet and the Indian were his
devoted friends. Their death could not be concealed. It was certain
that La Salle would not allow it to go unavenged. Though punishment
might be postponed until they should emerge from their long and
perilous journey through the wilderness, there could be no doubt that
as soon as they should reach a French military post they would all die
upon the scaffold.

They decided to return to the camp, enlist a few others on their side,
kill La Salle, and others of his prominent friends, when unsuspicious
of danger; and thus involving all the rest in their own criminality,
effectually prevent any witnesses from rising against them. Probably in
some degree tortured by remorse, and trembling in view of the task
which they had undertaken, they remained for two days, the 18th and
19th, where they were, ostensibly employed in jerking the meat.

La Salle, not knowing how to account for this long absence, became
uneasy. He decided to go himself, taking a few others with him, to
ascertain the cause. To his friends he expressed serious apprehensions
that some great calamity had happened. M. Joutel was left in charge of
the camp, and La Salle, with Father Douay and another companion, set
out in search of the lost ones.

Father Douay gives the following account of the tragic scene which
ensued:

"All the way La Salle conversed with me of matters of piety, grace,
and predestination. He expatiated upon all his obligations to God,
for having saved him from so many dangers during the last twenty
years that he had traversed America. He seemed to me to be
peculiarly penetrated with a grateful sense of God's kindness to
him. Suddenly I saw him plunged into a deep melancholy, for which
he himself could not account. He was so troubled that he no longer
seemed like himself. As this was an unusual state of mind with him,
I endeavored to rouse him from his lethargy.

"Two leagues after, we found the bloody cravat of his valet. He
perceived two eagles flying over his head. At the same time he
discerned some of his people on the edge of the river. He
approached them, asking what had become of his nephew. They
answered incoherently, pointing to a spot where they said we should
find him. We proceeded some steps along the bank, to the fatal spot
where two of his murderers were hidden in the grass, one on each