We return’d safe to Monsieur _de la Sale_, who was glad to see us, tho’ we had lost one of the Canoes, for want of its being well made fast to the Float; but the Timber we brought was a mighty help towards carrying on his Design, and much fitter than that we had hew’d in the Wood, with so much Labour; so that this Timber occasion’d the raising another Structure contiguous to the former. All was cover’d with Planks, and Bullocks Hides over them. The Apartments were divided, and all of them well cover’d. The Stores had a Place apart, and that Dwelling had the name of St. _Lewis_ given it, as well as the Neighbouring Bay.[67] [Sidenote: _Mr._ le Gros _dies and others_.] The Sieur _le Gros_, who had remain’d aboard the Bark _La Belle_, ever since the first Voyage she made to our former Habitation, was carry’d ashore to the new One, and his Leg still swelling, the Surgeon was apprehensive of a Mortification, and advis’d him to consent to have it cut off. He did so, tho’ with Regret, the Operation was made, but a Fever follow’d immediately, and he liv’d but two Days, dying on the Feast of the Decollation of St. _John Baptist_, much lamented by all Men, and particularly by Monsieur _de la Sale_, to whom he was very serviceable, by reason of his general Knowledge, and his particular Fidelity towards him. Monsieur _Carpentier_, Son to the Master of the Works and the Sieur _Thibault_, both of Roan, and some others, dy’d about the same time. [Sidenote: _River of Bullocks._] Monsieur _de la Sale_ being desirous to take a Progress, to find his fatal _Missisipi_ River, and only expecting the Recovery of his Brother Monsieur _Cavalier_, who was to bear him Company, he began to make some Preparations towards it, and in the mean time, took some small Journeys of four or five Leagues about, but could learn nothing further, than that it was a very fine Country, hem’d in on one Side by a small Mountain, which appear’d at about Fifteen or Twenty Leagues distance; beautify’d with very fine Trees, and water’d by many little Rivers, whereof that, on which we had built our Habitation was the least. We call’d it _la Rivière aux Bœufs_, that is the River of Bullocks, by reason of the great Number of them there was about it. These Bullocks are very like ours, there are Thousands of them, but instead of Hair they have a very long curl’d Sort of Wool.[68] Monsieur _de la Sale_ Studying all Ways to find out the River _Missisipi_, imagin’d it might fall into the adjacent Bay, and resolv’d to go view all the Coasts about it, and to make use of the Bark _la Belle_. Accordingly he order’d me to repair to the said Bark, with five Men and a Canoe, into which he put his Cloaths, and other Effects in several Chests.