When our Fort was well advanc’d, Monsr. _de la Sale_ resolv’d to clear his Doubts, and to go up the River, where we were, to know whether it was not an Arm of the _Missisipi_, and accordingly order’d fifty Men to attend him, of which Number were Monsr. _Cavelier_, his Brother, and Monsr. _Chedeville_, both Priests, two Recolet Fryars, and several Voluntiers, who set out in five Canoes we had, with the necessary Provisions. There remain’d in the Fort about an hundred and thirty Persons, and Monsr. _de la Sale_ gave me the Command of it, with Orders not to have any Commerce with the Natives, but to fire at them if they appear’d. [Sidenote: _Returns._] Whilst Monsr. _de la Sale_ was absent, I caus’d an Oven to be built, which was a great Help to us, and employ’d my self in finishing the Fort, and putting it in a Posture to withstand the _Indians_, who came frequently in the Night to range about us, howling like Wolves and Dogs; but two or three[63] Musquet Shots put them to Flight. It happen’d one Night, that having fir’d six or seven Shot, Monsieur _de la Sale_ who was not far from us, heard them, and being in Pain about it, he return’d with six or seven Men, and found all Things in a good Posture. [Sidenote: _Sets out again._] He told us he had found a good Country, fit to sow and plant all Sorts of Grain, abounding in Beeves and wild Fowl; that he design’d to erect a Fort farther up the River,[64] and accordingly, he left me Orders to square out as much Timber as I could get, the Sea casting up much upon the Shore. He had given the same Orders to the Men he had left on the Spot, seven or eight of whom, detach’d from the rest, being busy at that Work, and seeing a Number of the Natives, fled, and unadviseably left their Tools behind them. Monsieur _de la Sale_ returning thither, found a Paper made fast to a Reed, which gave him Notice of that Accident, which he was concern’d at, because of the Tools, not so much for the Value of the Loss, as because it was furnishing the Natives with such Things as they might afterwards make Use of against us. [Sidenote: _Apr. 1685_] [Sidenote: _A Spanish Vessel appears._] About the Beginning of _April_ we were alarm’d by a Vessel which appear’d at Sea, near enough to discern the Sails, and we supposed they might be _Spaniards_, who had heard of our Coming and were ranging the Coast to find us out. That made us stand upon our Guard, to keep within the Fort, and see that our Arms were fit for Service. We afterwards saw two Men in that Vessel, who[65] instead of coming to us, went towards the other Point, and by that Means pass’d on, without perceiving us. [Sidenote: _Plenty of Fish taken._]