Monsr. _de la Sale_ ask’d me, as soon as he came, whether the Sieurs _Clerc_, _Hurie_, _Duhaut_ the younger and two others were come, because they not being able to endure the Fatigue of the Journey, he had given them Leave to return, and hearing they were not, he concluded the Savages had killed them. We were also inform’d, that the Sieur _Bihorel_, had stray’d and was lost, so that there had been no News of him since; that one of Monsr. _de la Sale’s_ Servants had been dragg’d down to the Bottom of the Water and devour’d by an Alligator, and that four others had deserted and abandon’d Monsieur _de la Sale_, when he was about the Country of the _Cenis_. [Sidenote: _M._ de la Sale _resolves upon a third Expedition_.] This was a very dismal and deplorable Account; but the even Temper of our Chief made all Men easy, and he found, by his great Vivacity of Spirit, Expedients, which reviv’d the lowest Ebb of Hope. He rejoiced at the Return and Sight of M. _Chedeville_, he was pleas’d at the Recovering of his Cloaths and Part of his Papers; and after some Time of Rest, he propos’d to undertake a Journey towards the _Islinois_, and to make it the main Business, by the Way, to find the _Missisipi_; but it was thought proper to let the great Heats pass, before that Enterprize was taken in Hand. [Sidenote: _Oct. 1686_] [Sidenote: _Two Men kill’d._] In the mean Time, he gave Orders to stake about a Place to make a New Magazine, or Storehouse. He put to that Use the Timber I had caus’d to be cut, and would have more provided for the same Use. Detachments being sent to work, seven or eight of our Men, who were sent with the Sieur _Barbier_, were discover’d by the Savages, who being superior in Number, made as if they would hem them in; but each of our Men having taken a Tree upon their Shoulders and fir’d their Pieces, which made one of the Natives drop, the others took him up and withdrew. Yet it was not long before they were reveng’d, for they kill’d us two Men, one of them close by our Dwelling, and the other, who had separated from the rest of the Company to gather Purslain, and could not be reliev’d. There being every Day some Discourse of the Journey to the _Islinois_, Monsieur _de la Sale_ ask’d me one Day, whether I would make one of the Company, and go by the Way of _Canada_ to _France_ for Succours. I assured him I was entirely devoted to his Will, and would faithfully attend him. Then he began by Degrees to provide what he thought necessary for that Expedition. I had two Pair of Sheets, which he took, to make him Linen. Canvas Cloaths were made of the Sails of the Bark _la Belle_. The Sieur _Duhaut_ having Linen, he took some to distribute among several Persons. Thus he hasted on the Expedition of his Design, but an Accident put it off. [Sidenote: _Nov. 1686_]