Father pushes on for home in advance--Hard times for the
"tenderfeet"--A plunge into icy water--My brother David gallops into
camp--His high spirits prove infectious--Kindness of the Hudson's Bay
Company--Oxen sent to help us in to Victoria--A mutinous
camp-follower--My threat of a sound thrashing subdues the
mutineer--Our long journey is ended--Adieu to my readers.
We spent a quiet Sabbath on the shore of the lake, resting and
worshipping. As some of the new-comers were quite songful, we
enjoyed listening to and learning some of the beautiful hymns that
had come in vogue since we left older Canada. Early Monday morning
we were astir. Father, taking with him Mrs. Campbell and her two
children and one of my boys, started on to make a flying trip home.
Mrs. Campbell was glad to make a change from slow to fast travel, and
I also was glad to see the lady and her children go, for this meant
very much earlier starting for the rest of the party. Father had
said to me, "The stock is in good shape, John; you can push from
here." And push we did, sometimes too much so for the taste and
convenience of the green hands amongst us. Already the later autumn
was upon us with its cold nights, and to turn out long before
daylight and prepare breakfast and harness up, and be rolling on
sometimes hours before sunrise, was anything but pleasant to flesh
and blood not inured to that kind of life.
As with the "Ancient Pilgrims," murmurings and scoldings were
frequent; but notwithstanding we continued to start early and drive
late, and made good time westward. I well remember coming to
Jackfish Creek early one morning. The crossing was rough with big
boulders, and there was about an inch of ice on the water. I rode my
horse several times through the ford to smash up the ice, and called
to my cart driver to dismount and take his "lead" horse by the head
and wade in, thus lessening the chances of an upset while passing
through. Setting the example myself, I took the lead ox by the head,
and wading beside him, passed him and his load safely over. But
certain of our tenderfeet were afraid to step into the cold water,
and the result was almost disastrous to some of the carts and loads.
One of these gentlemen, having at last to jump down into the middle
of the creek, made a misstep and fell full length into the ice and
cold water; and not until then did he see that someone knew better
than he did. He was a funny-looking specimen as he picked himself up
out of the icy stream, and in a little while, when he was standing
beside the big camp-fire warming himself, I said to him, "You richly
deserved your ducking, young man; the next time do what you are told,
and it will be better for you."
[Illustration: "He was a funny-looking specimen as he picked himself
up out of the icy stream."]
Early and late we rolled up the north bank of the Saskatchewan, those
of our company capable of estimating the natural advantages of a new
country filled with admiration for the rich and lovely region we were
traversing. Doubtless a trans-continental railroad will come along
some day, and cross and recross this very trail we were using.
Thousands of prosperous homes will dot these plains and fill these
valleys with that stronger and more permanent life for which they are
so richly endowed by nature's God. The whole land from Carlton to
Victoria is one great ready-made farm.
From the north branch of the Saskatchewan, extending a hundred miles
north and then west up its whole length, is to be found one of the
richest portions of Canada. And we were rolling steadily through
this. Every hour a new scene, every turn a fresh view; the strength
and endurance of our stock testifying to the quality of the natural
grasses, the mud and dust on our wheels evidencing the wealth of
soil, and the altitude and the large percentage of sunshine vouching
for the pureness of atmosphere and healthy condition of climate.
This is my sixth trip through this part of the North-West
Territories, and as I felt in the morning of my first acquaintance
with this immense garden, I now, as the sunlight of my growing
knowledge of its many resources is rising and enlarging, am fully
convinced as to its great wealth of soil and grass, its water and
timber and climate, not to speak of the mineral developments which in
all probability will come in the future.
On the twelfth day after father left us, while breakfasting on the
bank of Saddle Lake Creek, having come some eight miles already that
morning, we were delighted to have my brother David gallop into our
camp, bringing us word from home. Father had made a marvellously
quick trip, and the whole settlement was now looking for our coming.
David not only brought us news from home, but his jovial noise and
wild western boisterous fun put new life into the tenderfeet of our
party, who had begun to think the distance without end and the
hardships too much to bear, and were constantly reverting to the
"onions and garlic of former Egypts." Moreover, his coming lightened
my work, for now the roads were newer and the necessity of careful
driving more constantly with us. By noon of the thirteenth day of my
taking over the party we had surmounted the worst place on the road,
crossed the valley, pulled up the precipitous banks of the White Mud
River, and were at our dinner, when an Indian came to us with several
fresh oxen.
These had been sent by Mr. Tait, the gentleman in charge of the
Hudson's Bay Post at Victoria, to help us in at the end of our
journey. And right here I want to say that this has been all through
the years my uniform experience with the officers and employees of
the Hudson's Bay Company. I cannot understand the venom and
bitterness with which some missionaries always speak and write about
this old and honorable company.
These fresh oxen were indeed welcome aids to the more jaded and
weaker of our stock, and very soon I had apportioned them to the
several drivers, when the very tall gentleman of our party said he
would take one for his cart. I said, "No, sir! Your horse is all
right for Victoria." But he insisted, and I again refused. Then
came a cry from another tenderfoot that his oxen were lost, and I
jumped on my horse to hunt up the missing cattle. Having found them,
I also found that my tall friend had persisted in taking the ox, and
had him hitched to his cart. This nettled me, and I jumped right at
him, and said, "Unhitch that ox as quick as you ever did anything in
your life;" but the big mutineer simply smiled at me. "I mean it," I
said; "unhitch that ox, or I will thrash you most warmly." And now
his elongated highness saw I was in earnest, and made haste to turn
out the ox. I then gave the animal over to the party to whom I had
given him in the first place, at the same time telling my tall
gentleman that in a few hours I hoped to bring this party to its
destination. After that he could do as he pleased so far as I was
concerned; but until then my word was law.
Early that evening we reached Victoria, and the long wearisome
overland journey was over, the months of continuous travel across
bridgeless streams and lonely stretches of prairie and woodland.
Everybody was thankful.
That same evening, as usual with him, David got up some gymnastics.
And when I had out-run and out-jumped and out-thrown and out-pulled
my long friend, I verily believe he came to the conclusion that he
did well to obey me as he did.
And now that I have seen this spot (where in loneliness and poverty
extreme I began work scarcely six years since) grow into a
flourishing settlement, where Christianity and civilization are to
the front as in no other place in this big western country; and now
also that I am privileged to form one in the small company of
Missionary agents and pioneers here assembled, but which,
nevertheless, is the largest gathering of the kind the Saskatchewan
country has ever yet seen; and furthermore, as I have many more
stirring scenes and incidents to relate at some future time, I will
here and now, in the late autumn of 1868, bid my readers a grateful
adieu.
JOHN McDOUGALL.
* * * * * * * *
Forest, Lake and Prairie
TWENTY YEARS OF FRONTIER LIFE IN
WESTERN CANADA, 1842-1862.
By JOHN McDOUGALL.
WITH 27 FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS BY J. E. LAUGHLIN.
WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, Toronto.
Saddle, Sled and Snowshoe
PIONEERING ON THE SASKATCHEWAN
IN THE SIXTIES
By JOHN McDOUGALL,
Author of "FOREST, LAKE AND PRAIRIE."
WITH 15 FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS BY J. E. LAUGHLIN.
WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, Toronto,
BOOKS RELATING TO THE
Canadian North-West
Manitoba Memories. Leaves from My Life in the Prairie Province. By
REV. GEORGE YOUNG, D.D.
The Selkirk Settlers in Real Life, by REV. R. G. MACBETH, M.A.
The Making of the Canadian West. By REV. R. G. MACBETH, M.A.
The Warden of the Plains. Stories of Life in the Canadian
North-West, by REV. JOHN MACLEAN, M.A., Ph.D.
Life of James Evans. By REV. JOHN MACLEAN, Ph.D.
Across the Sub-Arctics of Canada. Journey of 3,200 Miles by Snowshoe
and Canoe Through the Barren Lands. By J. W. TYRRELL, C.E.
Polson's Probation. A Story of Manitoba. By JAMES MORTON.
History of Manitoba. By ROBERT R. HILL.
Life of Rev. George McDougall. By REV. JOHN McDOUGALL.
Forest, Lake and Prairie. By REV. JOHN MCDOUGALL.
Saddle, Sled and Snowshoe. By REV. JOHN McDOUGALL.
Pathfinding on Plain and Prairie. By REV. JOHN MCDOUGALL.
Overland to Cariboo. By M. McNAUGHTON.
WILLIAM BRIGGS
Publisher
29-33 Richmond St. West, TORONTO
End of Project Gutenberg's Pathfinding on Plain and Prairie, by John McDougall