fired off, the Indians stared marvellously at the floating fort. With
the aid of tow-lines and sails the Niagara River was with difficulty
ascended, and on the 7th of August, 1679, the first vessel that ever
sat upon the lakes entered Lake Erie. The day was beautifully calm, and
the explorers chanted _Te Deums_, and fired off guns, to the no small
consternation, perhaps amusement, of the Senecas. In four days they
sailed through the lake, and entering the River Detroit they sailed up
it to Lake St. Clair, and in twelve days more Lake Huron was entered.
In that lake storms and calms were alternately encountered. On one
occasion the wind blew so strongly, that La Salle's man of war was
driven across to Saginaw Bay. But worse weather was yet in store for La
Salle. A tempest swept over the lake, and topmasts and yards were let
go by the run. There was neither anchorage nor shelter, and La Salle
and all his crew, now terribly frightened, prayed and prepared for
death. Only the pilot swore. He anathematized the fresh water. It was
bad enough to perish in the open ocean, but something terrible to be
drowned in a nasty fresh water lake, to be devoured, perhaps, by an
ichthyosaurus. Prayers and curses seemingly had produced the desired
effect; indeed, the pilot's anathematizing was prayer; but such prayer
is not by any means to be recommended. It would be as well to curse as
only to pray when fear is excited. Prayer, doubtless, often is, but
never ought to be, the effect of fear. Prayer should be the holy
offering up of reasonable desires to the Creator, and in times of
danger there should be confidence in the Creator as all powerful, and
in ourselves as the instruments of the Creator. However, favored with
less adverse winds, the exploring expedition reached Michillimacinac,
and anchored in 60 fathoms, living on delicious trout, white fish, and
sturgeon. From thence entering Lake Michigan, they proceeded to an
Island at the mouth of Green Bay, where La Salle loaded his ship with
furs and sent her back to Niagara. The cargo was rich. It was valued at
50,000 livres. The blaspheming pilot and five men were sent off with
the vessel, but whether the craft foundered in Lake Huron or was
piratically visited by the Indians, she was no more heard of. Two years
elapsed before La Salle or Father Hennepin learned the fate of the
"Cataraqui" and her blasphemous pilot. They perseveringly pushed their
way down the Mississippi and reached the At