Tonti, in the meantime, who was left at Rock Fort or the Post of the Miamis, near the Illinois village, encountered many disasters. The men left at Crevecœur deserted, and the Iroquois, enemies alike of the Illinois and La Salle, descended the river, and compelled Tonti and the few who remained with him, with the exception of an aged Franciscan, Gabriel de la Ribourd, to flee to Lake Michigan, where they were kindly received by the Potawatomies. La Salle, on his return therefore the following year, with men and stores, and rigging for a new vessel, had the mortification and grief of finding the two forts abandoned. Distressed but not disheartened, the brave adventurer set about to retrieve his fortunes; and having built another fort on the Illinois, which he called St. Louis, set out to find Tonti and his men, in which having succeeded, they all returned to the Illinois. The following winter was actively employed in building a second vessel, in which, early in the following year, 1682, he descended the Illinois, and entering upon the waters of “the Father of Rivers,” was once more on the career of successful achievement. The voyage was happy and prosperous, interrupted only to plant a cabin on the first Chickasa bluff, to raise the cross by the Arkansas, or to plant the arms of France near the Gulf of Mexico. The country was formally claimed for the French monarch, and in honour of him called Louisiana. “The following year La Salle returned for the third time to France, the tidings of his achievement, which had preceded him, having awakened the utmost enthusiasm. Colbert was now dead, but his son Seignelay, minister for maritime affairs, attached no less importance than his father had done to the French affairs in the New World.” Four vessels were, therefore, prepared for the colonisation of the lands bordering the mouth of the Mississippi, on board of which ware 280 persons, of whom 100 were soldiers; with about thirty volunteer gentlemen, two of whom, “the young Cavalier, and the rash passionate Maranget,” were nephews of La Salle; there were also various mechanics and some young women, so confident were the hopes of permanent colonisation.