Spirit Lake

By Shannon Manary

Father Louis Hennepin and the La Salle expedition to the Upper Mississippi have been recorded in our history books, but in Spirit Lake, we see the expedition from the view of those who lived it: the intrepid French-Canadian voyageurs. Risking their lives to explore the Upper Mississippi, these men sought fame and glory, but found treasures much greater—a newfound respect for the land and its native people, and even love. Lake Mille Lacs, known at the time as Spirit Lake, is the beautiful setting of this novel, which will enchant readers young and old alike.

• Language: English
• Publisher: North Star Press of St. Cloud
• Release date: Jun 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9780878399482

Book preview

Spirit Lake

Shannon Manary

North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.

St. Cloud, Minnesota

Copyright © 2013 Shannon Manary

Cover art: Voyageurs at Dawn, Frances Anne Hopkins

All rights reserved.

Print ISBN: 978-0-87839-677-1

eBook ISBN: 978-0-87839-948-2

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

First edition: June 2013

Published by

North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.

P.O. Box 451

St. Cloud, MN 56302

Table of Contents

Introduction

1: Expedition to the Illinois

2: Fort Broken Heart

3: Journey into the Unknown

4: Contact with the Dakota

5: Destination Mdewakan

6: Prayers to Wakan Tanka

7: Meeting White Spirits

Introduction

This is a story about the French explorers of the seventeenth century whose expeditions led the way for future generations of Europeans to map and settle the interior of North America. Regardless of their motives, the men were surely very brave. To set forth boldly into the unknown and unchartered wilderness had to be a very scary proposition. They gambled their lives for a chance at riches, or in the case of the missionaries, for the purpose of saving the souls of the native populations.

This book primarily follows the adventures of three Europeans in particular. But it also sheds light on the Native American lives, customs and relationships as well. The Indians had the same amount of disagreements, politics and lust for trade as the newcomers, and a lack of unity that ultimately led to the demise of their way of life. To help understand the French mindset, please allow me to provide a brief history of France’s exploration history that led up to our story.

Within a dozen years after Columbus’s first voyage to the new world, French fishermen were taking cod and mackerel off the coast of Newfoundland. Francis I, who ruled France from 1515 to 1547, did not want to leave all the exploration of these new lands and waters to England, Spain and Portugal. He dispatched Italian born Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524 in hopes of finding the fabled passage to Cathay (China). Verrazano sailed from the Carolinas to Labrador, becoming perhaps the first European since the Vikings to visit the northern part of North America. He mapped the coastline and spent many days at the future site of New York City. But, he did not find the Northwest Passage.

However, Verrazano’s report on the riches of North America encouraged the monarch to fund further voyages. Ten years later, in 1534, Jacques Cartier, under a royal commission, sailed across the Atlantic and was the first to map the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River. Cartier made three voyages to the new land from 1534 to 1542. He met a tribe that had villages at modern day Montreal and Quebec City. Not much is known about the Indians that Cartier encountered. History calls them the St. Lawrence Iroquois. However, there’s no definitive proof that they were Iroquois. But Cartier and his men found out that the tribe’s word for village was Kanata. He, therefore, named this new world the Country of the Canadas.

No permanent settlements in North America were established by the French until Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608 (the tribe that Cartier met were gone). He remained Quebec City’s administrator for the rest of his life, and was, thusly, named The Father of New France. He was integral to opening up the French trade in North America, especially the fur trade.

During the 1600s the French built many forts along the St. Lawrence River and then the Great Lakes, as well as on many inland rivers. They had made friends with the various Indian tribes living close to their settlements, such as the Huron (Wendot), Algonquins, Montagnais, and the Etchemin, all of whom showed their propensity for trading furs.

When the French arrived, the Huron (an Iroquoian people themselves) and their allies were already at war with the Iroquois Confed­eration (Haudenosaunee), who lived to the south. In 1609, when Champlain discovered the lake that now bears his name, he also engaged in one of the first battles against the Iroquois. This set the tone for French-Iroquois relations for the next 100 years.

Increased Huron-French trade inflamed the Iroquois even more. Supplied with firearms and prodded by the English, the Iroquois intensified the war. The Huron-Iroquois War became an extension of English-French hostilities, and vice-versa. France’s native allies thought that being close to the French would protect them from the fierce Iroquois Confederation. It did at first. But ultimately it led to even more danger.

By the mid-1600s the French and Iroquois were in a bitter war, as the Iroquois were now being supplied by both the English and Dutch. After a long struggle, the French were able to negotiate a treaty with the Iroquois. However, this didn’t stop the Iroquois from attacking other tribes. The Iroquois had driven many of these tribes further west and south.

The French knew their alliance with the Iroquois wasn’t secure. They dared not roam too far from their forts alone for fear of capture or death by the Iroquois. A quick death was preferred, as the Iroquois had a reputation for brutally torturing their captives. Catholic missionaries wit­nessed the Iroquois dismember and slowly burn their victims. It was said that they made their children eat pieces of the prisoner’s flesh to ensure that they would grow up to be brutal and fierce.

However, they also had a reputation as a democracy, and as a melting pot. The Iroquois, at this time, were actually a confederation of the Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, and Oneida tribes. They truly were a united nations. When they conquered a tribe, they would capture the children and incorporate them into their society, thereby repopulating their numbers reduced by war and disease.

The French, driven by conquest and desiring riches, kept on exploring beyond the Great Lakes. They wanted to befriend all the Indian tribes, but for various reasons. The missionaries wanted to convert the Indians, profiteers wanted to trade for the furs, and the king wanted to claim more land in the interior for France.

The Indians were great hunters. They traded beaver pelts to the French in return for glass beads, knives, hatchets, alcohol, and tobacco. The beads and iron works were called trinkets, because they cost so little to produce. There were tremendous profits to be made in the beaver trade. Europe’s hunger for this fur was insatiable.

The French, however, were eager to explore this new land for other riches too. They were always looking for gold. However, due to a lack of success, they started to explore other metals as well. They wanted to find the source of all the copper the Indians were trading.

The French were also anxious to find a passage through the con­tinent. Many of the tribes talked of a great river that flowed into the Great Lake (which was what the Indians called the sea). Could this be the same river that the Spaniard De Soto had discovered in 1541? Or did this river flow to the Gulf of California? Regardless, the French wanted to know if this river was navigable all the way to whatever sea it flowed into.

Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet are said to be the first Europeans to reach the upper Mississippi in 1673. They set out from Green Bay, down the Fox River. They then portaged to the Wisconsin River, which flows into the Mississippi. They paddled as far south as the Arkansas River, but turned back when they started to see Indians with Spanish trinkets. They feared an encounter with the Spanish would be dangerous. They might never get back to Canada to report their discoveries.

However, they did make it back, enabling the French to fill in large empty spaces on their maps. They were also credited with determining that the Mississippi did indeed flow into the Gulf of Mexico. But they wondered where the Missouri River led. Was this a way to California and the Vermil­lion Sea (Pacific Ocean)?

On the way back to Canada, they traveled up the Illinois River and encountered the Peoria tribe of the Illinois Confederation, who were descen­dents of the great Cahokia mound builders. Father Marquette had a mission built near their village, hoping eventually to convert the Peoria. However, converting this tribe to Catholicism proved to be very difficult.

News of this exploration reached another Frenchman, Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle. La Salle, was born into a very wealthy family, but when he joined the Jesuits he took a vow of poverty, requiring him to renounce his inheritance. However, after seven years he requested his release, citing moral weaknesses.

He came to New France in 1666 as a nearly destitute colonist. However, he was granted a seigneurie on the western end of the island of Montreal. He named it Lachine, which meant China, presumably referring to his desire to find the Northwest Passage.

He built a trading post, sold land grants and learned the languages of the local Indians. A Mohawk told him about a great river called the Ohio. After receiving his permission from the governor, he sold his holdings on the island to finance an expedition. His expedition made it as far as present-day Louisville.

In 1673 La Salle built a fort on Lake Ontario, naming it after Governor Frontenac. With Frontenac’s support, La Salle received a fur-trade concession, permission to establish frontier forts, and also a title of nobility. Using Fort Frontenac as a base, the newly titled Sieur de la Salle was free to undertake expeditions to explore to the west and southwest to develop a vast fur-trading empire.

La Salle was anxious to travel to the new lands. However, he had to watch his back as there was competition within the French fur-trading industry. In the rush for profit, the French would undermine other French explorations and deals with the Indians. They had no qualms about endangering one another for the sake of money. This created chaos and competition with the Indian tribes as well. Even tribes that were at peace with each other were driven to periodic warfare. They all wanted to trade with the French. Jealousies ran rampant in both the Indian and French worlds.

Spirit Lake is a story of the La Salle expedition of 1679-1680 that was launched in search of the Northwest Passage, mapping new lands, converting the Indians to Christianity, and to expand the fur trade. After many setbacks, the La Salle expedition built a forty-five-ton, seven-cannon sailing ship, named Le Griffon, at the mouth of the Niagara River on Lake Ontario. La Salle utilized a well-established Iroquois portage route to navigate the vessel around Niagara Falls and begin their journey on Lake Erie. La Salle remarked that the endless forests showed scant evidence of civilization.

Le Griffon became the first large sailing vessel on the Great Lakes. La Salle figured that this barque would scare the English and impress the Indians so much that they would gladly trade with him. The venture also scared many of the men in the expedition as desertions continued to be an issue. La Salle would occasionally set his lieutenant, Henri De Tonti, out on foot with a team of men to trade with the Indians and gather food.

When Le Griffon arrived in Green Bay, the team of men sent ahead had already traded for enough furs to fill the ship. La Salle ordered the expedition’s gear transferred into canoes to continue their journey, while sending six men back on Le Griffon with the furs. (The ship sank on the return trip).

La Salle’s expedition navigated down the western shore of Lake Michigan to the St. Joseph River. They built a stockade while waiting for a party led by Tonti, who La Salle had sent by land. When Tonti arrived, they all followed the river inland and then portaged to the Kankakee River, which they followed to the Illinois River, a river they nicknamed the Seignelay River because it reminded them of the Seign River in France.

La Salle’s plan was to follow the Illinois River all the way to the great river Marquette and Joliet named the Colbert in honor of the head of the French government under King Louis XIV, a river the Ojibwe called the Misi-Ziibi (Mississippi). Along the way, he hoped to convince the Illinois Confed­eration, the tribe that Marquette and Joliet visited six years earlier, to allow him to build a fort next to their village (near present day Peoria, Illinois).

His team includes the aforementioned Henri De Tonti, a Sicilian, who was La Salle’s best friend and confidant. Tonti had lost his right hand from a grenade in the third Anglo-Dutch War. His nickname henceforth was Iron hand referencing the prosthetic hook that he covered with a glove. There were also forty Frenchmen and half-breeds with various specialties, boat builders, fort builders, soldiers, paddlers, fur trappers and three Francis­can monks. One of these, Father Louis Hennepin, traveled with La Salle all the way from France. La Salle also brought along a trusted Shawnee Indian named Nika (Goose), who was an expert hunter and Algonquin translator.

By the time they got to the Illinois River, the expedition was already in danger of failure as food was scarce and the morale of the men very low. La Salle’s hard-driving personality even resulted in an attempt on his life between the Kankakee and Illinois rivers. His men are cold, tired, hungry, scared and many were angry at their leader for endangering their lives. At this point we join the expedition.

1: Expedition to the Illinois

December 19, 1679

How much longer till we get to an Illinois village?" asked Antoine.

You keep asking that! Why are you so anxious? snapped Michel. We’ll get there soon enough, maybe tomorrow.

No, I’m not anxious at all. The savages could end up slaughtering us.

I’m not worried. The Illinois are already trading with the French. And besides, they want to be our friends. They think we’ll protect them against the Iroquois. Plus we’re with La Salle. He has a way of dealing with these natives. However, when we get to the Mississippi, you’ll have a reason to worry. I’ve heard about tribes there that are as fearsome as the Iroquois, and they’ve had little contact with our countrymen. So we don’t know how they’ll react to us. Why did you join this expedition anyway?

Beaver pelts, gold, and silver, and maybe some glory, answered Antoine with a smile.

Don’t plan on glory. That’ll be reserved for La Salle, or maybe for the Recollects he brought along.

Why did La Salle bring them? Isn’t he a Jesuit?

He was. But he had a falling out. Now he despises the Jesuits. Besides, I think La Salle is more into glory and riches than following his faith these days.

That’s a terrible thing to say Michel! Antoine scolded.

Well if you don’t like what I have to say you can ride in the priests’ canoe next time, retorted Michel half-jokingly.

No thanks, Antoine replied meekly. They make me feel guilty.

Michel laughed and said, Don’t get me wrong, Antoine. I have a lot of respect for La Salle. He’s very fair, and the pay is good. Besides, I don’t begrudge a man for trying to make a name for himself.

Michel and Antoine had joined the expedition at the same time. Michel Accault was hired by La Salle because of his knowledge of Native Amer­ican cultures. He spoke many languages and dialects. He was also hired because he came across as confident and capable, a man La Salle could rely on in a time of crises. Being a very good looking dark-haired man, he was sought by many ladies in New France. It was a testa­ment to his bravery and sense of adventure that he even joined La Salle. He could have comfortably stayed in Canada with a beautiful rich woman. But La Salle also had suspicions that Michel was a bit of a scoundrel, and joined the expedition only to escape a jealous husband.

Antoine Auguelle, also known by his surname, Picard du Gay, was hired for his proficiency with a musket and his paddling skills. He was a tall, stocky man with blonde hair. But with his ordinary looks and shyness he didn’t have much luck with the ladies. Antoine was neither overly bright nor brave, which led him to believe that maybe he made a mistake by signing up with La Salle. If not for being befriended by Michel, he would have been constantly picked on by the rest of the expedition, who nicknamed him the Picard for the region in France that he came from. But Michel considered Antoine to be an affable character who made a great sidekick.

Meanwhile in the canoe carrying the Franciscan Recollect missionaries, conversation was taking place regarding the tribe they were about to meet.

Is it true that the Jesuits already visited these Indians? asked Father Louis Hennepin.

His mentor, the elderly Father La Rebourde replied, Yes, Louis, the Jesuits made contact, but had little success. They wrote that the Illinois were tall, robust and well-featured. However, they lacked courage and purpose, and greatly given to licentiousness. We certainly have our work cut out for us. But we’re lucky to have with us many men who speak their language. We should be well able to enlighten them with the teachings of our Lord.

Did the Jesuits ruin the relationship with these Indians? inquired the youngest of the priests, Father Zenoble Mambre.

La Rebourde responded, It’s not clear if they did or not. However, this is a real opportunity to show the king that we are his most capable servants. The response that the senior friar gave only masked the real feelings the Recollects had for the Jesuits. Even though they were all Catholic missionaries, there was a very intense battle for the favor of the court.

The Recollects, were the French version of the Roman Catholic order, the Franciscans. They trained their priests to live a very austere existence and perform very arduous labor, and were ready to give their lives to the Lord. Their commitment to spreading the faith amongst the savages was their prime goal on this mission, although they were also sent to serve the expedition with their blessings and special skill sets.

Father Hennepin was Flemish, originally born in what was Belgium before the army of King Louis XIV captured his hometown. Hennepin became a French citizen and decided his calling was to become a priest. He traveled throughout Europe, visiting the great churches and learning everything he could about his faith. He tirelessly gave sacrament to thousands of dying soldiers in the Franco-Dutch war. His distinguished service caught the eye of his superiors who decided that he would be a benefit to them in New France. Finally in July 1675, Louis’s fondest hopes were realized when he set sail for New France on an expedition led by La Salle.

La Salle and his lieutenant, Henri Tonti, rode in separate canoes side by side discussing their difficulties. Tonti told his friend and leader, Robert, our supplies won’t last another week. We’ve already had a few deserters. Our success depends on keeping all the men we have.

La Salle appreciated Tonti’s openness. I’ve already been told that by a number of men, Henri. I’m worried too, but I know that we have to be close to the Illinois village. They’ll be happy to give us food in exchange for some of our trinkets. We’ll be fine.

La Salle’s comments were meant to assure the other paddlers in the canoes, for he knew that Tonti wouldn’t leave him. However, La Salle did indeed know that the expedition was threatened. He needed to find food quick, otherwise the men would surely turn back and he wouldn’t be able to stop them. He had heard the grumblings since Niagara. After spending another night with no food the complaints would only increase.

December 22, 1679

What the hell is that? shouted Antoine.

Michel looked up to see a buffalo mired in the muck along the riverbank. Quick, grab your musket!

While the rest of the expedition anxiously watched, Antoine raised his gun and aimed it at the helpless beast. When his shot hit, the animal struggled harder to free itself but was still very much alive. Another man fired at it but the buffalo remained upright. Finally a third shot took it down. There were cheers coming from all the canoes as they knew they would have a feast. The group’s spirits were lifted again, until they tried to move the carcass to shore.

Holy God, what are we going to do with it now? Tonti questioned.

La Salle started issuing orders, Tie a rope to it. All you men pull on the rope and you men grab the buffalo.

It took twelve men to finally bring the beast to the river bank. A fire was started while the meat was sloppily cut out, pieces of which were quickly put on sticks and given to the men to cook their own meals. Most of them were so hungry that the meat didn’t spend much time in the fire.

Hey, Picard, I thought you were supposed to be a good shot, said Guy, a pit sawyer. How come you couldn’t kill an animal stuck in the mud?

Antoine gave him an irritated look and responded, Fuck you, I’d like to see you do better.

Hell, my mother could shoot better.

This brought laughter at the Picard’s expense, but he just shrugged it off. They were all too full to fight anyway.

December 25, 1679

On this frosty Christmas morning, the men were treated to the last of the buffalo meat. Luckily for them, the cold temperature had kept the meat fresh. Even with no food left, the priests appeared upbeat as they performed their religious service for the expedition. Most of the men were avid Cath­olics, so they took comfort in the Christmas ceremony. The Fathers celebrated Mass, sung the Te Deum (hymn of praise), blessed the expedition, and lauded glory onto their leader La Salle. They realized that the journey was tenuous, and they were doing their part to keep the men loyal. However, there were some in the expedition still thinking about desertion.

Michel and Antoine were talking to each other when Guy came up to them. Can you two keep a secret? They looked at each and answered Guy in the affirmative. Guy continued, A group of us is ready to go back to Canada. We were thinking that perhaps you would join us. There are already four of us ready to leave. With you two we’d have plenty of manpower to get back home.

Antoine remained silent as Michel responded, No, Guy. I made a commitment when I joined the expedition. Things have been harder than shit, but I’m sticking with it. I think there’ll be a big reward for those that see this to the end.

Guy was shocked. He thought for sure Michel and Antoine would join their desertion. Suit yourselves. But I think La Salle and Iron Hand are going to get everybody killed with their quest for personal glory. Guy walked away angrily when he saw he couldn’t convince them.

I’ll stay with the expedition if you do. But do you really think it’s a good idea to keep going? Antoine asked Michel cautiously.

Hell, yes. Guy’s the one who’ll get men killed. He’s careless. I wouldn’t follow him anywhere.

Perhaps you’re right. I feel safer with La Salle than I would with Guy. He’s an asshole.

December 31, 1679

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, the expedition headed out on the river again. The river looked picturesque on both sides with canyons and cliffs. However, the men weren’t on a sight-seeing trip. They were frightened as they continually watched for Indians on the bluffs. They rounded a bend in the river and came upon a huge Indian village. There was tempered jubilation—they were scared but very hungry.

They found the village strategically placed, at a point in the river where it was very broad and dotted with many beautiful islands. However the Indians were nowhere to be found. The village was eerily quiet as they exited the canoes. The men were all on guard against an ambush.

La Salle was the first to speak, This might be the Illinois village that Marquette and Joliet visited. It’s in a perfect location.

Where do you think they are, Rene? asked Tonti.

La Salle had seen deserted villages before on his travels along the Ohio River. He said, It’s common practice for them to spend the winter hunting in various places. It appears they haven’t been here for a while. We’re going to need food, Henri. Have the men start searching the village.

What about the Indians? Won’t they become hostile if we steal from them?

If we don’t get food soon, they won’t have anyone to attack.

That’s a very good point, Robert. I’ll take half the men with me and the rest can stand guard, Tonti told La Salle.

That sounds good, Henri. While you do that, I’m going to take a couple of men with me to search for the best site to build a fort. La Salle also told Nika to hunt for game while the others scavenged.

Tonti ordered the men to start the search of the Illinois village, which consisted of around 500 cabins shaped like long barrel vaults and covered with double mats of flat rushes. The search went on for hours. The cabins were empty except for blankets, hides, and tools. A couple of hours later, one of the men noticed a mound of dirt partially hidden by a trace of snow. Tonti ordered the men to start digging.

When Tonti saw La Salle arriving back at the village, he shouted, Robert, we’re in luck. We found their corn supply.

This pleased La Salle. He told Tonti, Take only about twenty minots (bushels). No more than that. I’ll find a way to appease the Indians later. Have the cooks start the meal right away. I don’t want us to be weak if the Indians show up.

That comment distressed Tonti somewhat, but being the good soldier he obeyed and instructed the men to do as La Salle had ordered. Nothing would cause the Indians greater displeasure than someone raiding their corn in their absence. They used it for both food and seed until the next harvest. However, the expedition wouldn’t have been able to continue downstream without it.

La Salle asked his navigator to determine what latitude they were currently at. He learned that they were at 41 degrees north, 88.5 degrees west. The village would be etched on their map like all of the landmarks they had seen so far. La Salle also told him to mark the rock across the river as the place to build the fort. It’s that huge rock formation with a flat top overlooking the river right over there, La Salle said pointing downriver. We’d be able to see canoes coming from both directions.

The men of the expedition were again happy after eating a big New Year’s Eve meal of corn. La Salle allowed them to drink whisky and stay up till midnight to ring in the year 1680. Afterwards, they slept off their partying in the comfort of the Illinois lodges, most of them not caring if the Illinois showed up. The cabins were the best place they’ve slept in months. They burned a big supply of the tribe’s firewood to stay toasty warm.

January 1, 1680

After Tonti issued the orders, and after another meal of corn for breakfast, the men reluctantly climbed back in the canoes. They really didn’t want to leave the comfort of such a peaceful place. There was plenty of food and no Indians to be seen. However, they all knew it was dangerous to be there, as the Illinois wouldn’t be pleased to find them in their lodgings. But the biggest threat was the Iroquois. Had they found them at the village, they would have killed them instantly for fraternizing with their enemy.

The men noticed smoke downriver and over the banks. As they got closer they saw that fires had been set on the plains. La Salle had the men maneuver his canoe towards Tonti’s canoe, What do you suppose it is, Henri?

I think it might be fires set on purpose to drive the animals towards hunters, replied Tonti.

You might be right. It’s a sign the Illinois must be nearby. Men, keep your eyes open for the Indians, he shouted to the other canoes. La Salle didn’t want to alarm his men anymore than he had to, but their safety was more important than the fear they would desert. However, as they floated downriver, they failed to see any of the Indians who started the fires.

At midday, the men halted their journey to have a New Year’s Day celebration on a secluded bank of the river. They celebrated Mass and wished a Happy New Year to each other. Father La Ribourde added words of encouragement and congratulations to La Salle. I pray that the Lord, our Father, bless this great expedition. May we be successful in exploring this vast wilderness and claiming the land for our beloved sovereign, King Louis XIV, the great Sun King. Men, I beg you to keep your confidence and fidelity in this noble pursuit. We have a great leader in Sieur de La Salle. Keep your faith in God and La Salle and you’ll remain safe and be rewarded in this life and in the hereafter.

After the prayer, the men all cheered. Morale seemed to be restored. This salute put La Salle in a good mood as well, and he ordered the whiskey to be passed around again. At this point La Salle raised his cup and made a toast. Men, by the grace of God we’ve made it deep into Louisiana where only a few of our countrymen have been before. I commend all of you on your spirit and fortitude. You’ve suffered long and hard and deserve the great rewards that will come your way when we get back to Canada. I toast thee, great men of France. The men cheered even more after La Salle was done speaking. But for some it was just a show.

The celebration lasted the rest of the day and into the night. It was dangerous to let them drink, but La Salle felt it was worth it to keep the men in good spirits.

Tonti sat down next to La Salle, Nice toast. I think they like you again.

La Salle responded, Thanks. I think the men needed a day off. Have you heard anymore rumblings, Henri?

I’m told that the pit sawyers are stirring things up again. They’re trying to recruit others to join them in desertion.

La Salle shook his head in disgust. I picked the wrong men for that job. However, we can’t afford to lose them. We don’t have anybody else who can do it.

Tonti agreed but offered encouragement. As soon as we find a suitable place, we’ll put them to work on the boat. They only complain when they have nothing to do.

La Salle saw Guy laughing with his co-conspirators and added, Looks like the whiskey is keeping them occupied tonight. Just look at that bastard acting as if nothing is up. I’m sure he’d knife me in the back if he thought he could get away with it.

Don’t worry. Once we find the Illinois Confederation the trouble-makers will be busy watching their backs.

January 2, 1680

It wasn’t easy to awaken the men the next morning from their New Year’s Day celebration. But they were professionals and forced themselves to quickly gather up the supplies and journey down the river again. Most of them were groggy, crabby and barely awake. However, they had been programmed to paddle and didn’t have to think about it much. Slowly the exercise woke them and they started being more aware of the dangers they faced. Rounding every bend in the river led to anxiety.

By mid-morning they came across a widening in the river which formed a lake (modern day Upper Peoria Lake).

Stay in the middle, ordered La Salle. It’ll give us protection in case we come across hostiles.

The men