Then the real labor of the season began. At first the Indians were inclined to take matters easy. Like others, they misjudged Robert by reason of his youthful appearance and believed that it would not be difficult to take advantage of him. They soon found, however, that underneath his kindliness lay a characteristic determination such as they had not found very often, a characteristic which enabled him to see that each man did his duty so far as he could. Pete, again, had his part in this. He knew the hearts of the red men. He had helped some of them when they had been in trouble, and he knew that, contrary to the belief of many white men, if his brethren were treated kindly and justly they could be counted on to do their part.
It wasn’t an easy task, this one which Robert had set for himself and Pete. Those of us who know something of camping will appreciate some of the difficulties. Leaving their own camp, with the thermometer a score of degrees below zero, they made their way, sometimes with a dog-team, sometimes on snowshoes when the snow was too deep for the dogs, from camp to camp, waiting until the Indians returned from their circle of traps. Here encouragement was given, there admonishment. Here a man had to be dealt with severely, there a word of praise cheered another on to further efforts. Many and many a day the two travelled forty to fifty miles on foot. Many and many a night they slept without other protection than a clump of bushes or a snow-bank. Never a night went by, however, but that Robert got on his knees for at least a little time before going off to sleep to say a word for the God he served. When circumstances permitted a fire he spent a few minutes with his Bible, though reading was difficult with the varying light of the crackling branches. This had far-reaching effects, for after one or two rounds of his men their respect for Robert became so great that almost without exception the trapper with whom they spent the night listened attentively and bowed with the lad and Pete when the time came for the evening devotions. It had its effect in another way, too, when the red men appreciated what influence this sort of thing had on Robert’s life, and that it had a great deal to do with making him the courageous, just and kindly youth he was. They realized that he was a man whom they could safely follow and appreciated that he could be counted on to repay in full their best efforts. Thus it was perhaps not surprising that new life was kindled in the men. They were being treated as they never had been before, and the ingathering of furs was most encouraging.
Robert was delighted with the splendid skins which came to view on his rounds. Particularly pleased were the Indians when they were able to show him a black or a grey fox, skins which, in those days, though not so much as now, were highly prized.
For five months this strenuous life continued. Then, as the trapping season began to draw to a close, each Indian left his camp, tied up his furs with his blanket, and met at a previously decided point for the return journey to Fort Garry. Robert and Pete had gained some idea during their winter’s travelling of how the work was going, but the success of the party became more in evidence as the red men gathered together. The success of Robert’s policy was at once noticeable. Not one of the Indians but had had a successful season. The hardships had been borne cheerfully, largely because of the fact that unusual encouragement had been given, and it was a happy band which made their way back to Fort Garry. How successful this policy had been was only demonstrated when the trappers from the other districts had brought in their returns and when the final checking showed that this band had more than doubled the efforts of any similar band in other districts. As can be imagined, Factor Donald was exceedingly well pleased, and he made his pleasure practical by inviting Robert and Pete to dine with him in the Company’s offices. In addition to this he had a special dinner spread for the Indian band in their own camp in the Company’s quarters. This experience had taught Donald a lesson. It was being forced into his understanding that these Indians had worked with an energy and with a spirit which had not previously been seen among the Company’s trappers, because they had been handled with a spirit of kindly interest and had been treated as brothers rather than as slaves.
After the success of his first winter it was not surprising that the following year Robert was given charge as a sort of Sub-Factor of all the trappers sent out from the Fort, and while they were gathered at the Company’s quarters he talked to them night after night before the various expeditions started, throwing into them the same spirit he had been able to give to his band the previous winter. The men who had been out with him did good missionary work also. They told of his treatment of them, how interested he had seemed to be in their work, of his cheerfulness under difficulties, and how he had worked just as hard, if not harder, than any of them. Lastly, they did not forget to tell of the prayers and the Bible reading, which had seemed to have its own effect. This year, too, new territory was again opened up. More Indians were employed, and, as a result of Robert’s efforts, the season was very much more successful than any had been previously. All this was, as may be expected, very pleasing to the Company’s officers at headquarters. Fort Garry, from a condition of backwardness, had jumped in two years’ time to one of the most profitable posts in Canada. Donald, of course, was given credit for the improved conditions. As a matter of fact, the greater part of this was due to Robert and Pete. However, efforts of this kind cannot long remain unnoted, and from various sources other than Donald something of the lad’s part in these successful operations found their way to headquarters, and after a little time he was placed in a position of further responsibility and with an increased wage. As he had anticipated, back in his Orkney home, his efforts had not been in vain. Thus far efficiency, reliability and faithfulness to duty had been his watchword. Coupled with this was the continued thought of helpfulness to others. While his promotion was naturally very pleasing, he was not ready to accept this as entirely the result of his own efforts, and in consequence made a strong plea with the Company’s Factor on behalf of his friend Pete. At first Donald demurred, but the young man had made his methods and his policy so successful that his plea finally carried, and ultimately a letter was written the head office, not only recommending an increase in Pete’s salary but also that all the trappers be given a larger allowance for the furs they brought in. Robert waited for the year which necessarily passed before a reply could be received, and then the long-looked-for letter came which agreed to the increase, largely by reason of the splendid returns which had been made by the Fort Garry trappers.
The increased pay worked wonders. Those who had seen the Indians at work previously thought that they had done about all that could be expected of them in the first year under Robert’s supervision. The red men realized, however, that in addition to the kind treatment they had been receiving their efforts had been duly rewarded in a financial way, and they worked in consequence as Indians had never been known to work before. Pete, too, was naturally very much delighted at the reward which had finally come to him for his faithful service. However, it had another effect. Although Pete was still hearty and able, he was getting along toward the age of seventy, and the severe hardships he had undergone, as well as the accident he had suffered when guiding Robert to Fort Garry, had begun to tell on him. With the Company’s allowance he had sufficient to retire from such active duties as had been keeping him engaged for so many years and to take life easier. Thus, after a time, Robert was forced to part with his first and best friend of the wilderness. Pete did not forget the principles of right living Robert had taught him by precept and example, however, and became something of a missionary among his Indian brothers.
Robert spent two more seasons very successfully in the Fort Garry district, and then realized one day that the old contract under which he had enlisted in the Company’s service was no more binding. And with the realization that he could be free if he wished naturally came new thoughts and a new outlook. Robert felt that he had a good deal to be thankful for. During the four years of his experience with the Company he had not been ill for a single day. He had had many narrow escapes, through which he seemed to be guided by an unseen hand. The life, too, seemed to exert something of a fascination over him, and he had grown to regard the Indians very highly for the good qualities which were apparent when they were properly treated. Other thoughts, however, came to him at times, since he still forwarded half of his pay to his parents in Scotland, it was only natural that he should think of them at times, and sometimes touches of home-sickness came to him, feelings which those of us who have experienced will appreciate took more spirit and character to bear than other kinds of illness. While his mind wandered off and across the sea his thoughts turned, as a real man’s ideas will, to other things, and at times he dreamed dreams of a real home such as he might expect to have some time in the future where he would have a helpmeet who would be sympathetic and whose burdens he might have a chance of sharing.
CHAPTER V.
STIRRING ADVENTURE IN THE NORTH.
Nowadays two brothers in the Canadian West who had any esteem for one another could communicate in several ways and would probably write each other very frequently. It was natural that at times Robert’s thoughts should turn to his brother Will, but aside from occasional stories which came to him through the Indians and other employees of the Company, no definite word had been received. Once or twice, it is true, he had written to his brother, but in those days and in a country so vast there was no certainty of mail delivery, and it appears probable that the letters were never delivered. The same conditions prevailed in regard to other youths who had made up the original party from Scotland.
In his fifth year in the new land, at a time when such an arrangement would be convenient, Robert secured leave of absence with the idea of travelling north to visit his brother. He journeyed by foot and by dog-sled to one of the northernmost forts, fully twelve hundred miles from Fort Garry, finding occasional news of his brother as he passed from fort to fort on his journey. When he arrived at his brother’s headquarters, however, he was told by the Factor that Will had been sent on a prospecting tour into new territory. Robert was anxious to follow his brother, and would have done so had he not been assured by the Factor that it would be a practical impossibility to reach him, since Will had already been away two months and was expected to be away fully six months more. While Robert was sadly disappointed his trip had not wholly been in vain, for he learned from the Factor’s lips, as he had not been able in any other way, how successful his brother also had been, how his services had been appreciated by the Company, and how through heroism, faithful service and obedience he too had been given due promotion.