CHAPTER XIV. THE NORTH-WEST COMPANY FORMED. Hudson's Bay Company aggressive--The great McTavish--The Frobishers--Pond and Pangman dissatisfied--Gregory and McLeod--Strength of the North-West Company--Vessels to be built--New route from Lake Superior sought--Good will at times--Bloody Pond--Wider union, 1787--Fort Alexandria--Mouth of the Souris--Enormous fur trade--Wealthy Nor'-Westers--"The Haunted House" 116 CHAPTER XV. VOYAGES OF SIR ALEXANDER MACKENZIE. A young Highlander--To rival Hearne--Fort Chipewyan built--French Canadian voyageurs--Trader Leroux--Perils of the route--Post erected on Arctic Coast--Return journey--Pond's miscalculations--Hudson Bay Turner--Roderick McKenzie's hospitality--Alexander Mackenzie--Astronomy and mathematics--Winters on Peace River--Terrific journey--The Pacific Slope--Dangerous Indians--Pacific Ocean, 1793--North-West Passage by land--Great achievement--A notable book 124 CHAPTER XVI. THE GREAT EXPLORATION. Grand Portage on American soil--Anxiety about the boundary--David Thompson, astronomer and surveyor--His instructions--By swift canoe--The land of beaver--A dash to the Mandans--Stone Indian House--Fixes the boundary at Pembina--Sources of the Mississippi--A marvellous explorer--Pacific Slope explored--Thompson down the Kootenay and Columbia--Fiery Simon Fraser in New Caledonia--Discovers Fraser River--Sturdy John Stuart--Thompson River--Bourgeois Quesnel--Transcontinental expeditions 133 CHAPTER XVII. THE X Y COMPANY. "Le Marquis" Simon McTavish unpopular--Alexander Mackenzie, his rival--Enormous activity of the "Potties"--Why called X Y--Five rival posts at Souris--Sir Alexander, the silent partner--Old Lion of Montreal roused--"Posts of the King"--Schooner sent to Hudson Bay--Nor'-Westers erect two posts on Hudson Bay--Supreme folly--Old and new Nor'-Westers unite--List of partners 148 CHAPTER XVIII. THE LORDS OF THE LAKES AND FORESTS.--I. New route to Kaministiquia--Vivid sketch of Fort William--"Cantine Salope"--Lively Christmas week--The feasting partners--Ex-Governor Masson's good work--Four great Mackenzies--A literary bourgeois--Three handsome demoiselles--"The man in the moon"--Story of "Bras Croche"--Around Cape Horn--Astoria taken over--A hot-headed trader--Sad case of "Little Labrie"--Punch on New Year's Day--The heart of a "vacher" 155 CHAPTER XIX. THE LORDS OF THE LAKES AND FORESTS.--II.