CHAPTER XLIII 



FORT McKAY AND JIAROBIA 



Fort McKay was the last point at which we saw the 

 Chipewyan style of teepee, and the first where the Cree 

 appeared. But its chief interest to us lay in the fact 

 that it was the home of Jiarobia, a capable river-man 

 who wished to go to Athabaska Landing. The first 

 thing that struck us about Jiarobia — whose dictionary 

 name by the way is Elzear Robillard — was that his 

 house had a good roof and a large pile of wood ready 

 cut. These were extremely important indications in 

 a land of improvidence. Robillard was a thin, active, 

 half-breed of very dark skin. He was willing to go for 

 $2.00 a day the round trip (18 days) plus food and a 

 boat to return with. But a difficulty now appeared; 

 Madame Robillard, a tall, dark half-breed woman, 

 objected: "Elzear had been away all summer, he 

 should stay home now." "If you go I will run off into 

 the backwoods with the first wild Indian that wants a 

 squaw," she threatened. "Now," said Rob, in choice 

 English, "I am up against it." She did not under- 

 stand English, but she could read looks and had some 

 French, so I took a hand. 



"If Madame will consent I will advance $15.00 of 

 her husband's pay and will let her select the finest silk 

 handkerchief in the Hudson's Bay store for a present." 



In about three minutes her Cree eloquence died a 



281 



