ing post in far
Northern wilds. Then the boyhood ambitions reawakened. All France and
Canada, too, were ringing with projects for the discovery of the
Western Sea. Russia was acting. France knew it. The great priest
Charlevoix had been sent to Canada to investigate plans for the
venture, and had recommended an advance westward through the country of
the Sioux; but the Sioux[3] swarmed round the little fort at Lake Pepin
on the Mississippi like angry wasps. That way, exploration was plainly
barred. Nothing came of the attempt except a brisk fur trade and a
brisker warfare on the part of the Sioux. At the lonely post of
Nepigon, vague Indian tales came to De la Verendrye of "a great river
flowing west" and "a vast, flat country devoid of timber" with "large
herds of cattle." Ochagach, an old Indian, drew maps on birch bark
showing rivers that emptied into the Western Sea. De la Verendrye's
smouldering ambitions kindled. He hurried to Michilimackinac. There
the traders and Indians told the same story. Glory seemed suddenly
within De la Verendrye's grasp. Carried away with the passion for
discovery that ruled his age, he took passage in the canoes bound for
Quebec. The Marquis Charles de Beauharnois had become governor. His
brother Claude had taken part in the exploration of the Mississippi.
The governor favored the project of the Western Sea. Perhaps Russia's
activity gave edge to the governor's zest; but he promised De la
Verendrye the court's patronage and prestige. This was not money.
France would not advance the enthusiast one sou, but granted him a
monopoly of the fur trade in the countries which he might discover.
The winter of 1731-1732 was spent by De la Verendrye as the guest of
the governor at Chateau St. Louis, arranging with merchants to furnish
goods for trade; and on May 19 the agreement was signed. By a lucky
coincidence, the same winter that M. de la Verendrye had come down to
Quebec, there had arrived from the Mississippi fort, his nephew,
Christopher Dufrost, Sieur de la Jemmeraie, who had commanded the Sioux
post and been prisoner among the Indians. So M. de la Verendrye chose
Jemmeraie for lieutenant.

And now the explorer was back at Michilimackinac, on the way to the
accomplishment of the daring ambition of his life. The trip from
Montreal had fatigued the _voyageurs_. Brandy flowed at the lake post
freely as at a modern mining camp. The explorer kept military
discipline over h