The voyage across the Atlantic was safely made. The ships entered the Gulf of Mexico and sailed along its shores. But La Salle could not find the entrance of the Mississippi. He searched long and carefully. Many times he thought it was in sight. Many times he was disappointed.
The food became scarce. One of the ships was wrecked. The men said:
"We had better give up the search and go back to France."
La Salle was left with a few men on the shore of Texas. He still had hopes of finding the mouth of the river.
He wandered about for some time. Even now he was not willing to give up.
One day a very sad thing happened. The brave leader, La Salle, was killed. And he was not killed by the savages, but by one of his own men. They were angry because he had brought them there. This was the only reason they had for doing such a mean and cruel deed.
Such was the end of Robert La Salle.
He did not do all he had hoped to do. Yet he led the way for other Frenchmen, who afterwards settled along the banks of the Mississippi.
"The story has a very sad ending," said Lucy, when Uncle Sam had finished. "I don't like to have a story stop at such a sad place."