46 The Home of tlie Wolverene and Beaver 



But two such neighbours as the Hudson's Bay 

 and the North-West Companies were hardly Hkely 

 to remain on amicable terms, more particularly as 

 the former regarded their rivals as interlopers on 

 their sacred territory. For years and years the 

 struggle was continued between them, a struggle in 

 which their hot-blooded followers took part, and 

 in which many valuable lives were lost. At last 

 matters became so serious that Government was 

 compelled to interfere, with the result that the rivals 

 became one, under the name of the senior asso- 

 ciation, the Hudson's Bay Company. This desirable 

 event took place in the year 1821, and from then 

 to the date of my story no attempts were made to 

 overthrow the monopoly of this now doubly power- 

 ful association. 



I am conscious that much of the foregoing will 

 prove heavy to the majority of my readers, but 

 nevertheless the subject seemed to me of sufficient 

 interest to warrant its insertion. 



