In Paris he found attentive listeners to his plans, and even the King’s ministers were interested, so that when La Salle sailed back to Quebec in 1678 he brought a royal decree authorizing him to proceed with his project.  With him came a daring spirit who was to be chief lieutenant and faithful companion in the ensuing years, Henri de Tonty.  This adventurous soldier was later known among the Indians as “Tonty of the Iron Hand,” for in his youth he had lost a hand in battle, and in its stead now wore an artificial one of iron, which he used from time to time with wholesome effect.  He was a man of great physical strength, and commensurate courage, loyal to his chief and almost La Salle’s equal in perseverance.

La Salle’s party lost no time in proceeding to Fort Frontenac.  Even though the winter was at hand, Hennepin was at once sent forward to Niagara with instructions to build a post and to begin the construction of a vessel so that the journey westward might be begun with the opening of spring.  Later in the winter La Salle and Tonty joined the party at Niagara where the fort was completed.  Before spring arrived, a vessel of about forty-five tons, the largest yet built for service on the lakes, had been constructed.  On its prow stood a carved griffin, from the armorial bearings of Frontenac, and out of its portholes frowned several small cannon.  With the advent of summer La Salle and his followers went aboard; the sails were spread, and in due course the expedition readied Michilimackinac, where the Jesuits had already established their most westerly mission.

The arrival of the Griffin brought Indians by the hundred to marvel at the “floating fort” and to barter their furs for the trinkets with which La Salle had provided himself.  The little vessel then sailed westward into Lake Michigan and finally dropped anchor in Green Bay where an additional load of beaver skins was put on deck.  With the approach of autumn the return trip began.  La Salle, however, did not accompany his valuable cargo, having a mind to spend the winter in. explorations along the Illinois.  In September, with many misgivings, he watched the Griffin set sail in charge of a pilot.  Then, with the rest of his followers he started southward along the Wisconsin shore.  Reaching the mouth of the St. Joseph, he struck into the interior to the upper Kankakee.  This stream the voyageurs, who numbered about forty in all, descended until they reached the Illinois, which they followed to the point where Peoria now stands.

Here La Salle’s troubles began in abundance.  The Indians endeavored to dissuade him from leading the expedition farther, and even the explorer’s own followers began to desert.  Chagrinned at these untoward circumstances and on his guard lest the Indians prove openly hostile, La Salle proceeded to secure his position by the erection of a fort to which he gave the name Crevecoeur.  Here he left Tonty with the majority of the party, while he himself started