ouri
territory like dogs for a bone. De la Jonquiere had become governor.
Allied with him was the infamous Bigot, the intendant, and those two
saw in the Western fur trade an opportunity to enrich themselves. The
rights of De la Verendrye's sons to succeed their father were entirely
disregarded. Legardeur de Saint-Pierre was appointed commander of the
Western Sea. The very goods forwarded by De la Verendrye were
confiscated.

[Illustration: "Tepees dotted the valley."]

But Saint-Pierre had enough trouble from his appointment. His
lieutenant, M. de Niverville, almost lost his life among hostiles on
the way down the Saskatchewan after building Fort Lajonquiere at the
foothills of the Rockies, where Calgary now stands. Saint-Pierre had
headquarters in Manitoba on the Assiniboine, and one afternoon in
midwinter, when his men were out hunting, he saw his fort suddenly fill
with armed Assiniboines bent on massacre. They jostled him aside,
broke into the armory, and helped themselves to weapons. Saint-Pierre
had only one recourse. Seizing a firebrand, he tore the cover off a
keg of powder and threatened to blow the Indians to perdition. The
marauders dashed from the fort, and Saint-Pierre shot the bolts of gate
and sally-port. When the white hunters returned, they quickly gathered
their possessions together and abandoned Fort de la Reine. Four days
later the fort lay in ashes. So ended the dream of enthusiasts to find
a way overland to the Western Sea.

[1] The authorities for La Verendrye's life are, of course, his own
reports as found in the State Papers of the Canadian Archives, Pierre
Margry's compilation of these reports, and the Rev. Father Jones'
collection of the _Aulneau Letters_.

[2] The _Pays d'en Haut_ or "Up-Country" was the vague name given by
the fur traders to the region between the Missouri and the North Pole.

[3] Throughout this volume the word "Sioux" is used as applying to the
entire confederacy, and not to the Minnesota Sioux only.

PART III

1769-1782

SEARCH FOR THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE LEADS
SAMUEL HEARNE TO THE ARCTIC CIRCLE AND
ATHABASCA REGION

CHAPTER IX

1769-1782

SAMUEL HEARNE

The Adventures of Hearne in his Search for the Coppermine River and the
Northwest Passage--Hilarious Life of Wassail led by Governor
Norton--The Massacre of the Eskimo by Hearne's Indians North of the
Arctic Circle--Discovery of the Athabasca Country--Hearne becomes
Residen