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only to find the waters persistently flowing against them and no
definite news of other waters leading to the Western Sea。 On the
Assiniboine； near the site of the present town of Portage la
Prairie in Manitoba； La Verendrye built Fort La Reine。 Its name
is evidence still perhaps of hopes for aid through the Queen if
not through the King of France。
In 1737 La Verendrye made once more the long journey to Montreal。
His fourteen canoes laden with furs were an earnest of the riches
of the wonderful West and so pleased his Montreal partners that
again they fitted him out with adequate supplies。 In the summer
of 1738 we find him at Fort La Reine； rich for the moment in
goods with which to trade； keen and competent as a trader； and
having great influence with the natives。 All through the West he
found Indians who went to trade with the English on Hudson Bay；
and he constantly urged them not to take the long journey but to
depend upon the French who came into their own country。 It was a
policy well fitted to cause searching of heart among the English
traders who seemed so secure in their snug quarters on the
seashore waiting for the Indians to come to them。
La Verendrye had now a fresh plan for penetrating farther on his
alluring quest。 He had heard of a river to the south to be
reached by a journey overland。 It was a new thing for him to
abandon canoes and march on foot but this he now did and with
winter approaching。 On October 16； 1738； when the autumn winds
were already chill； there was a striking little parade at Fort La
Reine。 The drummer beat the garrison to arms。 What with soldiers
brought from Canada； the voyageurs who had paddled the great
canoes； and the Indians who dogged always the steps of the French
traders； there was a muster at the fort of some scores of men。 La
Verendrye reviewed the whole company and from them chose for his
expedition twenty soldiers and voyageurs and about twenty
Assiniboine Indians。 As companions for himself he took Francois
and Pierre； two of his three surviving sons； and two traders who
were at the fort。
We can picture the little company setting out on the 18th of
October on foot； with some semblance of military order； by a
well…beaten trail leading across the high land which separates
the Red River country from the regions to the southwest。 La
Verendrye had heard much of a people； the Mandans； dwelling in
well…ordered villages on the banks of a great river and
cultivating the soil instead of living the wandering life of
hunters。 Such wonders of Mandan culture had been reported to La
Verendrye that he half expected to find them white men with a
civilization equal to that of Europe。 The river was in reality
not an unknown stream； as La Verendrye hoped； but the Missouri； a
river already frequented by the French in its lower stretches
where its waters join those of the Mississippi。
It was a long march over the prairie。 La Verendrye found that he
could not hurry his Indian guides。 They insisted on delays during
days of glorious autumn weather when it would have been wise to
press on and avoid the winter cold on the wind…swept prairie。
They went out of their way to visit a village of their own
Assiniboine tribe； and； when they resumed their journey； this
whole village followed them。 The prairie Indians had a more
developed sense of order and discipline than the tribes of the
forest。 La Verendrye admired the military regularity of the
savages on the march。 They divided the company of more than six
hundred into three columns： in front； scouts to look out for an
enemy and also for herds of buffalo； in the center； well
protected； the old and the lame； all those incapable of fighting；
and； for a rear…guard； strong fighting men。 When buffalo were
seen； the most active of the fighters rushed to the front to aid
in hemming in the game。 Women and dogs carried the baggage； the
men condescending to bear only their weapons。
Not until cold December had come did the party reach the chief
Mandan village。 It was in some sense imposing； for the Indian
lodges were arranged neatly in streets and squares and the
surrounding palisade was strong and well built。 Around the fort
was a ditch fifteen feet deep and of equal width； which made the
village impregnable in Indian warfare。 After saluting the village
with three volleys of musket fire； La Verendrye marched in with
great ceremony； under the French flag； only to discover that the
Mandans were not greatly unlike the Assiniboines and other
Indians of the West whom he already knew。 The men went about
naked and the women nearly so。 They were skilled in dressing
leather。 They were also cunning traders； for they duped La
Verendrye's friends； the Assiniboines； and cheated them out of
their muskets； ammunition； kettles； and knives。 Great eaters were
the Mandans。 They cultivated abundant crops and stored them in
cave cellars。 Every day they brought their visitors more than
twenty dishes cooked in earthen pottery of their own handicraft。
There was incredible feasting； which La Verendrye avoided but
which his sons enjoyed。 The Mandan language he could not
understand and close questioning as to the route to the Western
Sea was thus impossible。 He learned enough to discredit the vague
tales of white men in armor and peopled towns with which his
lying guides had regaled him。 In the end he decided for the time
being to return to Fort La Reine and to leave two of his
followers to learn the Mandan language so that in the future they
might act as interpreters。 When he left the Mandan village on the
13th of December； he was already ill and it is a wonder that he
did not perish from the cold on the winter journey across hill
and prairie。 〃In all my life I have never；〃 he says； 〃endured
such misery from illness and fatigue； as on that journey。〃 On the
11th of February he was back at Fort La Reine； worn out and
broken in health but still undaunted and resolved never to
abandon his search。
Abandon it he never did。 We find him in Montreal in 1740 involved
in what he had always held in horrora lawsuit brought against
him by some impatient creditor。 The report had gone abroad that
he was amassing great wealth； when； as he said； all that he had
accumulated was a debt of forty thousand livres。 In the autumn of
1741 he was back at Fort La Reine； where he welcomed his son
Pierre from a fruitless journey to the Mandans。
The most famous of all the efforts of the family was now on foot。
On April 29； 1742； a new expedition started from Fort La Reine；
led by La Verendrye's two sons； Pierre and Francois。 They knew
the nature of the task before them； its perils as well as its
hopes。 They took with them no imposing company as their father
had done； but only two men。 The party of four； too feeble to
fight their way； had to trust to the peaceful disposition of the
natives。 When they started； the prairie was turning from brown to
green and the rivers were still swollen from the spring thaw。 In
three weeks they reached a Mandan village on the upper Missouri
and were well received。 It was after midsummer when they set out
again and pressed on westward with a trend to the south。 The
country was bare and desolate。 For twenty days they saw no human
being。 They had Mandan guides who promised to take them to the
next tribe； the Handsome MenBeaux Hommesas the brothers
called them； a tribe much feared by the Mandans。 The travelers
were now mounted； for the horse； brought first to America by the
Spaniards； had run wild on the western plains where the European
himself had not yet penetrated； and had become an indispensable
aid to certain of the native tribes。 Deer and buffalo were in
abundance and they had no lack of food。
When they reached the tribe of Beaux Hommes； the Mandan guides
fled homeward。 Summer passed into bleak autumn with chill winds
and long nights。 By the end of October they were among the Horse
Indians who； they had been told； could guide them to the sea。
These； however； now said that only the Bow Indians； farther on；
could do this。 Winter was near when they were among these
Indians； probably a tribe of the Sioux； whom they found excitedly
preparing for a raid on their neighbors farther west； the Snakes。
They were going； they said； towards the mountains and there the
Frenchmen could look out on the great sea。 So the story goes on。
The brothers advanced ever westward and the land became more
rugged； for they were now climbing upward from the prairie
country。 At last； on January 1； 1743； they saw what both cheered
and discouraged them。 In the distance were mountains。 About them
was the prairie； with game in abundance。 It was a great host with
which the brothers traveled for there were two thousand warriors
with their families who made night vocal with songs and yells。 On
the 12th of January； nearly two weeks later； with an advance
party of warriors； the La Verendr