Joliet came back from his long journey. He told of the great Mississippi River. La Salle was much excited over the news. La Salle said, "Our people must not only claim this river, but we must also build forts and stations along its shores. Then we can keep off the English and Spaniards." His friends in Canada thought La Salle was the very one to go back to France and tell the king about Marquette's wonderful trip. He went to his own country as soon as possible and stood before his ruler. He painted a fine word-picture of what could be done. The Englishmen and Spaniards had been satisfied to live near the eastern and southern shores of America. They might not always stay there. Now was the chance for the French to enter the heart of the country and make it their very own. The king was delighted at what he heard. He praised La Salle and told the young Frenchman to go back to Canada and work out his plans. La Salle lost no time in obeying the king. As soon as he arrived on the St. Lawrence he went to one of the lakes and began to build a boat. He thought: "Canoes are not strong enough for the great work before me. I must sail as far as possible along the chain of great lakes. Then I shall not be far from 'The Father of Waters'." He and his men worked hard. It was not long before the boat was ready to launch. It seemed very large to the Indians who came to see it start on its first voyage. Never before had such a large boat sailed on the lakes. La Salle had to make his way very carefully, for he knew nothing about these strange waters. He sailed through one great lake and passed safely into the next one. Everything went well. Wherever La Salle stopped, he met friendly Indians. They were ready to trust their visitors, for Marquette had been among them. How good he had been! How tenderly they had loved him! All other white men must be good, too. This was what the Indians thought. The vessel soon reached Green Bay, where Marquette had spent a year among the Red Men. The Indians had many rich and beautiful furs which they were ready to sell. La Salle ordered his men to load the vessel with these furs as quickly as possible. Then they were to sail back to Canada and unload them. He and a few others would go on their way in canoes. Alas! nothing happened as La Salle had hoped. A terrible storm arose soon after the vessel started back. The winds swept over the lake and the little canoes drifted now one way, and now another. Every moment it seemed as though people and boats must be destroyed. After four days, however, the storm went down and the men reached the shore. They were faint from need of food and wet from head to foot. No Indians were to be seen and they could find nothing to eat. As soon as they had dried themselves, they started on again. They hoped to find a village not far away where they could get food. The poor tired men paddled on for some time more but no signs of Red Men nor of their huts could be seen.