With Jemmeraie went the Jesuit Messaiger; but their
combined explanations failed to satisfy the merchants of Montreal. De
la Verendrye had now been away three years. True, he had constructed
two fur posts and sent East two cargoes of furs. His partners were
looking for enormous wealth. Disappointed and caring nothing for the
Western Sea; perhaps, too, secretly accusing De la Verendrye of making
profits privately, as many a gentleman of fortune did,--the merchants
decided to advance provisions only in proportion to earnings. What
would become of the fifty men in the Northern wilderness the partners
neither asked nor cared.
Young Jean had meanwhile pushed on and built Fort Maurepas on Lake
Winnipeg; but his father dared not leave Fort St. Charles without
supplies. De la Verendrye's position was now desperate. He was
hopelessly in debt to his men for wages. That did not help discipline.
His partners were not only withholding supplies, but charging up a high
rate of interest on the first equipment. To turn back meant ruin. To
go forward he was powerless. Leaving Jemmeraie in command, and
permitting his eager son to go ahead with a few picked men to Fort
Maurepas on Lake Winnipeg, De la Verendrye took a small canoe and
descended with all swiftness to Quebec. The winter of 1634-1635 was
spent with the governor; and the partners were convinced that they must
either go on with the venture or lose all. They consented to continue
supplying goods, but also charging all outlay against the explorer.
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