e of Mackinaw Strait, where were the famous
trading-post and mission-station of Michillimackinac.

At Green Bay La Salle found some of his men who had remained faithful
and had collected a large store of furs. This circumstance caused him
new perplexity. He had furs enough to satisfy his creditors, and he
was strongly moved to go back to the colony and settle with them. On
the other hand, he dreaded leaving his party, which would surely be
tampered with by his enemies. Should his strong hand be withdrawn, the
party probably would go to pieces. Finally he decided to remain with
the expedition and to send the "Griffin" back with her valuable cargo
to Fort Niagara and with orders to return immediately to the head of
Lake Michigan. It was an unfortunate decision. The vessel's pilot was
already under suspicion of having treacherously wrecked the vessel
which perished on Lake {236} Ontario. The "Griffin" sailed and never
was heard of again. Whether she foundered on the lake, was dashed on
the shore, or was plundered and scuttled, La Salle never knew. He
believed the latter to have been the case. Her loss was the breaking
of an indispensable link in the chain. But La Salle was still ignorant
of it, and he went on his way hopefully to the head of Lake Michigan.

A hard time the men had in paddling the heavily laden canoes,
subsisting on a scant ration of Indian corn, and at night dragging the
canoes up a steep bank and making their cheerless camp. By the time
that they reached the site of Milwaukee all were worn out.

They were glad enough when they saw two or three eagles among a great
gathering of crows or turkey-buzzards, and, hastening to the spot, they
found the torn carcass of a deer, lately killed by wolves. However, as
they neared the head of the lake, game became more abundant, and La
Salle's famous Mohegan hunters had no difficulty in providing bear's
meat and venison.

Winter was fast setting in, and La Salle was anxious to go on to the
Illinois towns before the warriors should go away on their usual winter
{237} hunting. But he was compelled to wait for Tonty, an Italian
officer of great courage and splendid loyalty who had come out to
America as his lieutenant. With twenty men, he was making his way by
land down the eastern shore. At last he appeared, with his men
half-starved, having been reduced to living on acorns. But where was
the "Griffin"? This was the place appointed for her meeting wi