1 20 TJic Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. 



power, was highly indignant at the audacity of the 

 scheme, and naturally resolved to throw every 

 stumbling block in the path of the adventurous 

 American. But there Avere many retired partners 

 and employes of the North-West Company who 

 considered that they had been badly provided for, 

 or otherwise hardly used, and the emissaries sent 

 out by Mr. Astor found these malcontents eager 

 to forward his views, and, from their intimate 

 acquaintance with the Indians and the trade in 

 general, these were the very men he wanted. 

 Articles were signed, and the Pacific Fur Company 

 was fairly launched, the whole of the capital being 

 advanced by Mr. Astor, whilst the other partners 

 contributed only their time and experience. It was 

 decided that a depot should be established on the 

 Columbia River, for which purpose two parties were 

 to set out, one by sea, the other overland ; my 

 father belonged to the former. Carried away by 

 the prospect of wealth and steady employment he 

 had engaged as head voyageiir — and let me tell you 

 that Mr. Astor was right glad to count Baptiste 

 Lefranc amongst his followers. 



" Mr. McKay, who was the leader of the sea expedi- 

 tion, started by water for New York in a bark-canoe, 

 with a crew of eight Canadian voyageurs, of whom 

 my father was the chief. He was. quite a young 



