de Noyelles, coming home crestfallen.
The supplanter had failed to control the Indians. In one year half the
forts of the chain leading to the Western Sea had been destroyed.
These Chevalier de la Verendrye restored as he passed westward.
Governor Beauharnois had always refused to believe the charges of
private peculation against M. de la Verendrye. Governor de la
Galissonniere was equally favorable to the explorer; and De la
Verendrye was decorated with the Order of the Cross of St. Louis, and
given permission to continue his explorations. The winter of 1749 was
passed preparing supplies for the posts of the West; but a life of
hardship and disappointment had undermined the constitution of the
dauntless pathfinder. On the 6th of December, while busy with plans
for his hazardous and thankless quest, he died suddenly at Montreal.
Rival fur traders scrambled for the spoils of the Manitoba and Missouri
territory like dogs for a bone. De la Jonquiere had become governor.
Allied with him was the infamous Bigot, the intendant, and those two
saw in the Western fur trade an opportunity to enrich themselves. The
rights of De la Verendrye's sons to succeed their father were entirely
disregarded. Legardeur de Saint-Pierre was appointed commander of the
Western Sea. The very goods forwarded by De la Verendrye were
confiscated.
[Illustration: "Tepees dotted the valley."]
But Saint-Pierre had enough trouble from his appointment.
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