60 FRANCE A^D ENGLAND IN AMERICA. [1682-1684. 



report had gone abroad that he was dead ; his 

 creditors had seized his property ; and the stores on 

 which he most relied had been wrecked at sea, or 

 lost among the rapids of the St. Lawrence. Still 

 he battled against adversity with his wonted vigor, 

 and in Count Frontenac, the governor of the prov- 

 ince, — a spirit kindred to his o^vn, — he found a 

 firm friend. Every difficulty gave way before him ; 

 and with fresh supplies of men, stores, and ammu- 

 nition, he again embarked for the Illinois. Eound- 

 ing the vast circuit of the lakes, he reached the 

 mouth of the St. Joseph, and hastened with anxious 

 speed to the fort where he had left his followers. 

 The place was empty. Not a man remained. 

 Terrified, despondent, mutinous, and embroiled in 

 Indian wars, they had fled to seek peace and 

 safety, he knew not whither. 



Once more the dauntless discoverer turned back 

 towards Canada. Once more he stood before Count 

 Frontenac, and once more bent all his resources 

 and all his credit to gain means for the prosecution 

 of his enterprise. He succeeded. With his little 

 flotilla of canoes, he left his fort, at the outlet of 

 Lake Ontario, and slowly retraced those intermi- 

 nable waters, and lines of forest-bounded shore, 

 which had grown drearily familiar to his eyes. Fate 

 at length seemed tired of the conflict with so stub- 

 born an adversaiy. All went prosperously with the 

 voyagers. They passed the lakes in safety, crossed 

 the rough portage to the waters of the Illinois, fol- 

 lowed its winding channel, and descended the turbid 

 eddies of the Mississippi, received with various wel- 

 come by the scattered tribes who dwelt along its 



