The making of a man

by W. D. Flatt

“I realize, sir, that I am under a contract and that you doubtless hold a copy of the contract, which has come from the Company’s headquarters. If this has not come to you I have a copy with me, calling for the best services I can give for a term of years, and will be glad to have you read it. I want to do my full duty, to use my strength and my opportunities for the term of that contract in the best interests of the Hudson’s Bay Company.”

When Donald replied that he had a copy of the contract, Robert spoke again:

“I wish, then, that you would give me instruction as to my duties. If you will not think me bold I should like to make a suggestion. Of course I do not pretend to know anything about the Company’s business, though I have seen something of the territory surrounding the Fort and of the Indians. I believe that if you would give me Pete as a guide and would turn over some entirely new territory to me and let me deal with one hundred Indians, or whatever number you think is necessary to get results from such a territory, I would be willing to stake my future with the Company on the results. I believe the work will speak for itself.”

Donald saw immediately that he had been treating Robert in the wrong way. He realized now that he was dealing really with a man, and a man in whom there was wisdom and courage as well as physical strength. Maturity of mind was also apparent. It was evident that Robert’s words were not spoken in any ordinary way. There was a depth and earnestness to them that the Factor in his more confined nature could not understand. He realized that new territory must be opened up if the yearly output of furs from the Fort Garry district was to be increased, and the suggestion appealed immediately. Even with this, however, he was somewhat reluctant to start such a lad in new territory and to give him control over it. He promised Robert that he would consider the matter.

One difficulty which lay in the way of carrying out this suggested plan was the accident which had befallen Pete. The Indian was shortly able to hobble around on crutches, however, and was apparently making good progress toward complete recovery. Robert was surprised and also delighted a morning or two later when he was again summoned to the office and informed by the Factor that his suggestion had been adopted, that a new territory would be given to him, and that with the assistance of Pete and one hundred and fifty Indians he would be allowed to try his hand. It was not thought advisable, however, that the season’s operations should be begun for at least a month or six weeks’ time, since the Indians, who usually came to the Fort to be outfitted for the season’s trapping, had not yet begun to come in in sufficient numbers. This turned out fortunately for all concerned, for the intervening time was spent to good advantage. Pete, as well as being a good guide, was a good judge of Indians, and since he was at once taken into Robert’s confidence he played his part well in selecting the Indians who were to make up Robert’s party. And this was not by any means an easy matter. While the Indians of the district were, perhaps, as reliable as any in the Canadian North-West, they were Indians, which meant that they were only half reliable, and since they had been handled by previous employees somewhat along the lines suggested by Factor Donald, the results of their labors had not been very satisfactory. Pete made his selections carefully, however, aiming to get men of a good type physically, who could at the same time be expected to respond to just and fair treatment.

THE PARTY TO COVER THE NEW TERRITORY LEAVING
FORT GARRY.

With the choosing of the men and the making of the necessary preparations the six weeks passed rapidly, and one morning the party to cover the new territory was drawn up outside the fort. With Robert and Pete and the Indians were half a dozen dog-sleds with their snapping teams of huskies. On the sleighs were piled the season’s supplies. When these had been exhausted the sleighs would be used to carry back the furs. Pete had seen to it that some of the Indians were familiar with the new territory, and these naturally were given a leading place in the party.

This was a big moment in Robert’s life. It was really the starting-point of his experiences in his new life. From this time onward he was to carry the burden of the responsibility of his party, and this was fully realized. Robert was pleased when Factor Donald condescended to come out and bid him good-bye, to wish the party good luck and a safe return.

The trip of three or four days to the new territory again gave Robert some new experiences. He learned for the first time what it meant to travel through snow with a dog-team, and learned to admire the ease with which the Indians got over the snow-laden trail. Here again Pete was a comfort and aid to him, not only with timely suggestions and advice, but also in the handling of the Indians, who even in this early part of the season showed an unacquaintance with discipline which did not bode strongly for the success of the expedition. When the allotted ground was reached the men were distributed according to a method Robert and Pete had planned so as to most adequately cover the territory. Numbers were prepared which were drawn in turn by each of the Indians, and as the location of the ground corresponding with the number was reached the one who held it dropped from the party when his limits had been defined. Robert and Pete located their camp as near as convenient to the centre of the district with a view to visiting each trapper as often as possible during the winter, to keep tab on the work and to give necessary encouragement or discipline.