had incurred in building and maintaining Fort Frontenac had not been
wholly paid. The fort and the seigniory were already deeply mortgaged;
yet, through the influence of Count Frontenac, the assistance of his
secretary, Barrois, a consummate man of business, and the support of a
wealthy relative, he found means to appease his creditors and even to gain
fresh advances. To this end, however, he was forced to part with a portion
of his monopolies. Having first made his will at Montreal, in favor of a
cousin who had befriended him, [Footnote: _Copie du testament du deffunt
Sr. de la Salle, 11 Aout_, 1681, MS. The relative was Francois Plet, M.D.,
of Paris.] he mustered his men, and once more set forth, resolved to trust
no more to agents, but to lead on his followers, in a united body, under
his own personal command. [Footnote: "On apprendra a la fin de cette
annee, 1682, le sucees de la decouverte qu'il etoit resolu d'achever, au
plus tard le printemps dernier, ou de perir en y travaillant. Tant de
traverses et de malheurs toujours arrives en son absence l'ont fait
resoudre a ne se fier plus a personne et a conduire lui-meme tout son
monde, tout son equipage, et toute son entreprise, de laquelle il esperoit
une heureuse conclusion."

The above is a part of the closing paragraph of the _Relation des
Descouvertes_, so often cited, and of the excellent guidance of which we
are henceforth deprived. It is a compilation made up from material
supplied by the various members of La Salle's party, on their return to
Canada, in 1681; and the greater portion is substantially the work of La
Salle himself. It is a document of great interest and undoubted
authority.]

The summer was spent when he reached Lake Huron. Day after day, and week
after week, the heavy-laden canoes crept on along the lonely wilderness
shores, by the monotonous ranks of bristling moss-bearded firs; lake and