y of Winnipeg. A stone's throw further north along the bank of Red
River, Fort Douglas was afterwards built, around which circles much of
this Romantic Settlement Story.

This spot was the centre of the First Settlement of Rupert's Land and to
this first party peculiar interest attaches.

There can only be one Columbus among all the navigators who crossed from
Europe to America; there can only be one Watt among all the inventors
and improvers of the steam engine; only one Newton among those who
discuss the great discovery of the basal law of gravitation.

There can be only one first party of those who laid the foundation of
collective family life in what is now the Province of Manitoba--and what
is wider--in the great Western Canada of to-day. There may have been not
many wise men, not many mighty, not many noble among them, but the long
and stormy voyage which they made, the dangers they endured on the sea,
the marvellous land journey they accomplished, and their taking "seisin
of the land," to use William the Conqueror's phrase, entitles them to
recognition and to respectful memory.

CHAPTER VI.

"THREE DESPERATE YEARS."

Pioneering to-day is not so serious a matter as it once was. To the
frontiers' man now it involves little risk, and little thought, to
dispose of his holding, and make a dash further West for two or three
hundreds of miles across the plains. When he wishes more land for his
growing sons, he "sells out," fits up his commodious covered wagon,
called "the prairie schooner," and with implements, supplies, cattle and
horses, starts on the Western "trail." His wife and children are in high
spirits. When a running stream or spring is reached on the way he stops
and camps. His journey taken when the weather is fine and when the
mosquitoes are gone is a diversion. The writer has seen a family which
went through this gypsy-like "moving" no less than four times. At length
the settler finds his location, has it registered in the nearest Land
Office and calls it his. With ready axes, the farmer and his sons cut
down the logs which are to make their dwelling. The children explore the
new farm lying covered with its velvet sod, as it has done for
centuries; they gather its flowers, pluck its wild fruits, chase its
wild ducks or grouse or gophers. Health and homely fare make life
enjoyable. Subject to the incidents and interruptions of every day,
which follow humanity, it seems to them a continual picn