The making of a man

by W. D. Flatt

Finally the day arrived for the departure. As could be anticipated, the family all went to the dock for the last farewell, and even the faithful collie which Robert had raised from a pup was there and appeared to understand in his own way that his master and chum was leaving, probably never to return. Robert patted the dog, who wagged his tail and looked up at his master with affection in his eyes. Outside the family, many of their school chums, both boys and girls, were present, and the tears in their eyes readily indicated their feelings. The young people had been, as it were, one big family, and the hearts of the others were touched when they realized that two of their chums were leaving them. This again gave evidence of the standing of the young men in the community. Their sterling deeds and kindly words had made a host of friends for them. They had no enemies and, of course, the preacher, the school teacher, and other people of standing in the community were present to sympathize and to be near the two young men who were so loved and respected. As the moments passed before the vessel’s cables were drawn in all had said their farewell but the mother. She sobbed bitterly and clung to her sons, and apparently could not console herself for allowing them to leave the fireside of their home. The boys in turn caressed their mother, moistening her cheeks with their tears, and spoke many cheery words, assuring her they would write to her often and would do their best to return some day when the bright future they anticipated had been realized. The mother’s last words were: “Remember your Bibles, boys. I wish you would read them often and get to know the good things in them well. Don’t forget that God will be with you just as well across the sea as He would here. It doesn’t matter where you are, in the wilderness or by the lakes, He will stay with you night and day just the same, and if you love and serve Him truly there will not be any doubt about the future for all of us.” After a moment, when she was again able to control herself, she went on: “If it should happen that I do not see you again at our home here, my lads, I will be waiting for you in a better place up yonder.”

The happenings on the dock had had an interested watcher. The captain of the vessel, a bluff old tar who had witnessed many similar partings, was naturally interested in the crowd which had gathered on the dock to say farewell to the two stalwart youths. As the mother clung to the boys past the moment of departure, he hadn’t the heart at once to give the order to cast loose, and when finally the order came it was not in the gruff voice which usually prevailed, and as the vessel slowly drew away from the dock he doffed his cap to the mother and, in a voice still showing his feeling, called out:

“Don’t worry, mother. Your boys will be safe on my ship.”

CHAPTER II.
THE VOYAGE.

Trans-Atlantic voyages in those days were not made with the same comfort nor by any means in the same time that are occupied now. The young men who have been coming to Canada in recent years board a ship in Liverpool on Friday and land at Montreal on Friday or Saturday. Nothing of the kind, however, was expected by the travellers on the Hudson’s Bay Company’s vessel. Even now we know how uncertain and even hazardous a voyage into the great northern inland sea—for in those days the most direct passage to the Company’s Western posts was by way of Hudson Bay—can be at certain seasons of the year. In those days, when the trip was made on a small sailing vessel, they started out with the anticipation of a voyage which might occupy six months, or even a year, and with this was the chance that the ship might be caught in the endless fields of ice which occupied the straits for so long a season and never reach its destination. The vessel was one of the Company’s regular ships, which was scheduled to make one trip each year and carry the annual mail, which arrived at the Western headquarters of the Company during the year. Her cargo was comprised of supplies for the various camps and trading-posts, and these materials were distributed from Fort Churchill and Port Nelson, on the Hudson Bay coast, to the inland stations which had been established from these bases. Ammunition, guns, traps, various kinds of food, heavy blankets and clothing constituted the greater part of the cargo, but along with these was carried a substantial supply of the trinkets which greatly pleased the Indians in those days and which were used for trading purposes. On their return journey the ships were loaded with furs which had been caught in the interior during the winter and forwarded to the Company’s stations, from which they had been in turn packed to the Hudson Bay ports.

In addition to the regular crew the ship’s company comprised a score or more picked young men from the Orkneys and other sections of northern Scotland. Favors were not very much known among these men of the sea, and usually the Company’s young men were left pretty much to themselves. The captain’s attention, however, had been specially drawn by the mother’s affectionate farewell to Robert and Will and, as might be expected, his heart had been warmed toward the youths. By reason of this, though it was not understood by the young men, they were given a favored spot for their sleeping quarters and were placed rather nearer amidships than usual. To anyone who crossed in the early days on one of these small sailing vessels it will be at once apparent how much comfort this, as compared with other locations, would mean to the two lads.

Do you remember how you felt the first night you were away from home when darkness set in? If so you will realize something of what the two lads of our story felt that night, and their feelings were intensified by the realization that they were on the mighty deep, this thought being impressed by the lapping of the water on the ship’s bows and the realization that the farewell of the afternoon was to be possibly the last one. It is under such conditions that temptation to forget one’s home principles easily finds a place, and the first test was to come at this time to Robert and William. As can be appreciated, the crew of the vessel were largely old salts, who had known only a hard-and-fast life, with all the temptations which come to seafaring men. Since the sleeping quarters of the young men adjoined those of the crew, the type of language which came to the ears of the Company’s young employees when the crew were preparing for sleep can be imagined. For a time the two listened and contained themselves as best they could, and finally Robert spoke. “This is not what we have been taught at home,” he said. “We will kneel together and say our prayers.” And in the midst of this company of rough, inconsiderate men, they offered up a prayer, simple, uncultured, and yet one which meant so much, to the God they had learned to love and trust. The other youths who accompanied them were silent. Most of them had been reared in good homes, but they did not exhibit the courage of Robert and William. While the heroic stand of the two lads—and just how heroic the act was will not be appreciated immediately by many of my readers—did not seem to have much effect on the crew, and some of them had kept on with their oaths and curses, reflecting on the lads themselves, one member, and a leader among the others, had been strongly impressed. As he noted the manly way in which the two lads knelt, adhering to their principles, in the middle of the rough, uncouth crew, in spite of himself his mind turned back to his youthful days, to the old home fireside where he had knelt with mother, father, sisters and brothers; and when he saw the two lads open the Bibles their mother had given them that afternoon he was reminded of the Bible his mother had presented to him forty or fifty years ago. He heard, also, his mother’s last words running in his ears and, as can be imagined, it was some time before he went to sleep. Sandy did not sleep well that night, either. Memories of home and of earlier days and better things persisted, and when he woke a kindlier feeling than usual possessed his heart. He appreciated more than he had done before what it had meant to the two lads to take the stand they had done then, and perhaps because of this, when the ship’s company was called to breakfast, Robert was placed at the head of the table. He was the youngest of the company and could scarcely see why he was given this honor. As could be expected, many of the men fell to immediately, but Robert, again remembering his home principles and feeling that his position gave him some authority, rose and lifting his hand in a commanding way, said: “Men, if you will bow your heads I will ask a blessing.” It might seem that this action would have been likely to stir up trouble, but perhaps by reason of Robert’s steady eye, his earnestness, and his commanding appearance, as well as by his manly act the night before, his wish was obeyed.

Ordinarily, ocean travellers expect to rest and enjoy themselves. The Hudson’s Bay Company, however, provided no such easy means of entertainment for their apprentices, and a distinct programme of instruction and work to be done on the ship had been laid out for them. To provide for this, along with the captain and the other ship’s officers, a man who had seen many years in the Company’s service was included, whose duties were to take charge of the young men on their voyage and make them familiar with the services they would be called on to render in the new field. Thus on the first morning, immediately after breakfast, this instructional work was begun. At first the small things were taken up, and each of the young men was put at a different task. The making of harness for dogs, for instance, was given to one, the repairing of snowshoes to another, the filling of cartridges, cleaning of guns, the handling of traps was taken up by other young men. Some of them were given instruction in the difficult art of doing up a pack and how to carry that pack properly. Others were given hints as to proper cooking in the wilds. Then others were instructed as to how to meet emergencies and as to how energy, resourcefulness and courage could be utilized under the varying conditions of the new service. It was necessary also that each one should have at least some understanding of the Indian dialect. Sketches were shown of the different Indian tribes, bringing out their characteristics so that these should be familiar when they were met with in the forest solitudes. Interesting as this work was, it required not only close but incessant application. However, the young men had been well selected. They were the type of youths who said, “We can, We will!” They were told plainly and bluntly that no weakling could live in the forest solitude, and that it was their duty to be prepared for emergencies of all kinds. As the voyage progressed they were given further instruction in woodcraft and trapping of animals, and how to meet and dispose of the larger animals, such as the grizzly, the silver tip, the mountain lion, the wolf, and others which they would meet in the wilderness.

With the practical side of this instruction came a romance side. At times the Company’s officer very kindly accompanied his instruction with stories of his experiences in the regions unknown to the young men. While he was strict with them, he was patient, and naturally the most of them grew very fond of him. They saw through his stories that in the new life there was to be conflict among ever-changing conditions and that with this adventure came victory—victory not only in things which pertained to the Company’s welfare, but also which extended to the making of their own characters. The lads longed to try their fortune where nature was supreme, where the feet of white men had seldom if ever trod, where the conflict of nature was unceasing.

At first, outside of the learning of these new duties, the voyage passed uneventfully. Half of the anticipated time of passage had gone by. The winds had largely been favorable. It is true that rough seas had been encountered, but these had been expected, and bore with them the usual quota of trial in seasickness, which after a time lost its effect. All on board were well, and as the announcement was made that more than half the distance had been covered and that Hudson Bay might be reached in two or three months, an atmosphere of cheerfulness was everywhere evident.