18 THE STORY OF THE TRAPPER 



How could the next party of Xor Westers take him 

 hack into the fold and grant him a partnership osten 

 sibly without the knowledge of the Xorth-West annual 

 council, held in Fort William on Lake Superior? 



Early in August wandering tribes brought news 

 of the Tonquin s destruction, and Astoria bestirred it 

 self to strengthen pickets, erect bastions, mount four- 

 pounders, and drill for war. MacDougall s ]STorth-West 

 training now came out, and he entered on a policy 

 of conciliation with the Indians that culminated in his 

 marrying Comcomly s daughter. He also perpetrated 

 the world-famous threat of letting small-pox out of a 

 bottle exhibited to the chiefs unless they maintained 

 good behaviour. Traders established inland posts, the 

 schooner Dolly was built, and ISTew Year s Day of 1812 

 ushered in with a firing of cannon and festive allowance 

 of rum. On January 18th arrived the forerunners of 

 the overland party, ragged, wasted, starving, with a tale 

 of blundering and mismanagement that must have been 

 gall to MacKenzie, the old NOT Wester accompanying 

 them. The main body under Hunt reached Astoria iu 

 February, and two other detachments later. 



The management of the overlanders had been in 

 trusted to Wilson Price Hunt of Xew Jersey, who at 

 once proceeded to Montreal with Donald MacKenzie, 

 the Xor Wester. Here the fine hand of the North- 

 West Company was first felt. Eum, threats, prom 

 ises, and sudden orders whisking them away prevented 

 capable voyageurs from enlisting under the Pacific 

 Company. Only worthless fellows could be engaged, 

 which explains in part why these empty braggarts so 

 often failed Mr. Hunt. Pushing up the Ottawa in 



