occasion with serious consequences to the Company's interests, as I
had never seen any of the Indians of that quarter before, and knew
very little of their mode of trading. It was a fortunate circumstance
for myself that I understood the language sufficiently well to
converse with the natives, otherwise my situation would have been
disagreeable in the extreme. I remained alone until the latter end of
July, when I was joined by an English lad, whom I induced by the
promise of high wages to leave his former employers (lumbermen) and
share my solitude.

The history of my predecessor being rather singular, a few words here
regarding him may perhaps not be considered out of place. He commenced
his career as a hired servant, or Voyageur, as they are termed in the
country, and was thirty years of age before he knew a letter of the
alphabet. Being a man possessed of strong natural parts, and great
bodily strength withal, he soon distinguished himself as an under
trader of uncommon tact,--his prowess as a pugilist also gave him a
very decided advantage in the field of competition. Endowed with such
qualifications, his services were duly appreciated by the traders, and
he knew full well how to turn them to his own advantage. He served all
parties alike; that is, he served each in turn, and cheated and
deceived them all.

After the organization of the North-West Company, he entered their
service; and returning to the same quarter, Temiscamingue, where he
had wintered for his last employer, he passed the post unperceived,
and falling in with a band of Indians, whom he himself had supplied
the preceding autumn, told them he still belonged to the same party,
and traded all their furs on the spot. The North-West Company gave him
charge of a post, when his subtle management soon cleared the country