The making of a man

by W. D. Flatt

STARTING OUT FROM FORT CHURCHILL.

Fort Garry, now Winnipeg, was at that time one of the Company’s rapidly growing posts. The Factor here, Andrew Donald, had written MacTavish, in a letter which had been sent in care of Pete, one of the faithful Indian guides, outlining the growth of the Company’s trade in that Section and asking for assistance. He saw possibilities of materially enlarging the Company’s trade in his territory, and stated that he wanted young men with youth, endurance and enthusiasm, who would be obedient but who would be possessed of indomitable will and unconquered spirit. When considering Donald’s letter MacTavish finally sent for Robert and instructed him that he had been selected for duty at Fort Garry and that he was to leave the following day for the journey of over a thousand miles through the wilderness. Will had been assigned to a post in a region further west. It was natural that keen feelings should stir in the hearts of these sturdy lads when the final time for separation arrived. They had hoped that the situation might be otherwise, but not a word of complaint was heard from either of them.

Duty was their watchword. Discipline and obedience had been faithfully instilled into them by their mother in their earlier days. They knew they were starting out to fulfil their contract. They knew, further, that the Company’s employees were men who did not even flinch when their duty was pointed out to them, and in consequence they obeyed without a whimper. A simple clasp of the hand was the only evidence of their feeling at parting, but this did not by any means give any indication of the regret and longing which burned within. Taking a few steps, Robert turned and cast a lingering glance toward his brother. Then, with a farewell wave of the hand, with faces beaming with love and confidence in the future, they parted to be swallowed up by the vast and unknown regions of the Canadian West. From henceforth the wilderness world was to be their home.

Imagine, you lads of sixteen and seventeen, the feelings of this young man, starting out on a new adventure into unknown country. You lads who are homesick when you spend a week away from home on the farm will appreciate the indomitable spirit that Robert must have possessed at this point in the journey. Put yourself in his place and imagine how you would have felt.

“WITH A FAREWELL WAVE OF THE HAND ... THEY PARTED.”

After a time Robert discovered he had one comforting feature. We have spoken of the Indian guide, Pete, who had been sent from Fort Garry by Factor Donald. Pete had proved himself one of the most trustworthy Indians in the Company employ, and MacTavish had impressed on him especially the character of the youth who was to be with him, and had admonished him not only to see that good care was taken of the young man, but also that he be taught such things as Pete was capable of teaching him. Unknown to Robert, also, Pete was given a note to Donald telling something of the impression he had made on MacTavish and giving an account of his conduct during the voyage. MacTavish had sized the boy up well and knew, as was true, that such a story would never come from the lad himself. Something of the result of the lad’s manly bearing and his influence on various members of the crew during the voyage had been transmitted to MacTavish by the ship’s captain, and this also was included in the note carried by the Indian guide.

Robert soon came to appreciate the strength and the knowledge of the country and its conditions evidenced by his companion. He was exceedingly thankful again for the fact that during the voyage he had picked up enough of the Indian language to be able to converse, though with some little difficulty, with his companion.

Something of the journey the two had undertaken may be appreciated when it is known that they anticipated travelling at least thirty days on foot. While later Robert was to experience the delights of travelling by dog-sled, this was impossible at this season since the winter had not set in as yet. Again, it was a custom of the Company to start their new men out on foot, believing that from the incidents of such a journey they would gain experience such as would be invaluable to them afterward. For instance, it was expected that Pete would teach Robert some of the arts of woodcraft—how to make provision for spending the night on the trail and how to secure a supply of food when such was required. Then, again, Robert encountered another experience which, while it was new, brought to him thoughts of home. To aid in transportation the Company followed the custom of placing canoes at different points on the trail, which eased very much and frequently materially shortened the journey. While Robert was at home on the water, his first experiences with a canoe were rather amusing, and in his first attempts to use his great strength he would frequently have come to disaster had it not been for Pete’s readiness with the paddle. It was not long, however, until he became familiar with the frail birchbark craft, and was able to make the canoe glide through the water in a way even to bring admiration to the eyes of Pete, who naturally was a thoroughly experienced canoeman. So quickly did Robert adapt himself to the conditions met with that Pete began to be proud of his companion and was well satisfied as to their reception at Fort Garry. Robert was so anxious to learn that not only did he keep Pete busy by day, but kept the guide and himself awake sometimes far into the night talking of methods of trapping and of experiences so different to what the lad had been accustomed to in the Old Land. Never so late did they stay awake, however, but that daylight found them awake and ready to proceed on their journey.