LOUISIANA, 



75 



He was not yet far from the fhore, when, caft- 

 ing his eye towards the bay, he faw the Flute 

 manoeuvring in fuch a manner as to beat againft 

 the rocks •, his bad luck, fays Joutel in his re- 

 lation, prevented his returning to avoid that 

 misfortune. He continued his journey towards 

 the Indian village, where his people had been 

 carried to •, and when he came there, he heard a 

 cannon fired. He took this as a fignal to give 

 him notice, that the Flute was loft \ and his 

 conjed:ure proved true. 



Thole who were witnelTes to this accident 

 plainly took it to be the effeft of a premeditated 

 defign of M. de St. Aigron^ who commanded 

 that vefTel. This lofs had many difagreeable 

 confequences, as it contained the ammunition 

 utenlils, tools, and in general all that is necef- 

 fary to a new fettlement. M. de la Salle haften- 

 ed to the place where the Ihip was loft, and 

 found every body in a total inadion. He beg- 

 ged M. de Beaujeu to lend him his boat and ca- 

 noe, which he obtained very eafily. 



He began with faving the crew ; next he got 

 the powder and flower, afterwards the wine and 

 brandy •, he brought on ftiore about thirty bar- 

 rels : had the boat of the Flute been able to 



affift 



