“‘I have called you in to scold you for your conduct.’
“‘Why so, Mr. ——?’
“‘You remember the cause of the trouble in 1856 that led to our separation?’
“‘Very distinctly.’
“‘Why did you not defend yourself? Why did you not make me a full report?’
“‘I thought, sir, it was your son’s place to lay the matter before you, as the whole trouble had been on his and his wife’s account. I had promised you that I would protect her, and all I did was in fulfillment of that promise. I am glad that you now know the truth of the matter.’
“‘Perhaps you are right; it was my son’s place to tell me; but he was influenced by others and never mentioned it.’
“The old gentleman was very indignant over the affair, and ever after treated me with the greatest consideration.”
LEAVES AMERICAN FUR CO.’S SERVICE.
As has been stated already, this was the last service of Captain La Barge for the American Fur Company. Many years of the most active part of his life had been spent in their interest. They never had a pilot on whom they could more confidently rely, and his careful management of their expeditions was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to them. But their hard and exacting ways, often sullied with open injustice, gave rise to misunderstandings, which on several occasions virtually compelled him to quit their service and finally led to permanent separation.