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to take possession of the valley.
Of these, one
hundred were soldiers — an ill omen, for successful colonists always defend themselves: about thirty were
volunteers, two of whom—young Cavalier, and the rash, passionate Moranget—were nephews to
La Salle: of ecclesiastics, there were three Franciscans, and three of St. Sulpice, one of them being brother to
La Salle: there were, moreover, mechanics of various skill; and the presence of young women proved the design of permanent colonization.
But the mechanics were poor workmen, ill versed in their art; the soldiers, though they had for their
commander Joutel, a man of courage and truth, and afterwards the historian of the grand enterprise, were themselves spiritless vagabonds, without discipline and without experience; the volunteers were restless with indefinite expectations; and, worst of all, the naval commander,
Beaujeu, was deficient in judgment, incapable of sympathy with the magnanimous heroism of
La Salle, envious, self-willed, and foolishly proud.
Disasters lowered on the voyage at its commencement: a mast breaks; they return: the voyage begins anew amidst variances between
La Salle and the naval commander.
In every instance on the record, the judgment of
La Salle was right.
At
St. Domingo,
La Salle, delayed and cruelly thwarted by
Beaujeu, saw already the shadow of his coming misfortunes.
On leaving the island, they were
more at variance than ever.
They double Cape Anto-
nio; they discover land on the continent; aware of the easterly direction of the
Gulf Stream, they sail slowly in the opposite course.
On the tenth day of January,
1685, they must have been near the mouth of the
Mississippi; but
La Salle thought not, and the fleet sailed
