ng fort on Lake Nipigon,
north of Lake Superior. With his great project of western exploration
always in mind, he eagerly accepted the offer. For three or four years
he remained in command of the Nipigon post, faithfully discharging his
duties as a fur-trader, but with his mind always alert for any
information that might help him later to discover a way to the Western
Sea.

One day there came to him from the Kaministikwia river--on which the
city of Fort William now stands--an Indian named Ochagach. According
to his own story, Ochagach had travelled far towards the setting sun,
until he came to a great lake, out of which a river flowed westward.
He said that he had paddled down this river until he reached a point
where the water ebbed and flowed. {16} Through fear of the savage
tribes that inhabited the shores of the river, he had not gone to its
mouth, but he had been told that the river emptied into a great salt
lake or sea, upon the coasts of which dwelt men of terrifying mien, who
lived in fortified towns; he had been told that these men wore armour
and rode on horseback, and that great ships visited the towns which
they had built on the coasts.

Ochagach's story made a deep impression on La Verendrye. Not that he
accepted the whole account as true. He knew too well the wild
imagination of the Indian, and his delight in telling marvellous tales
to the white men. But the river that flowed westward and fell into a
great sea answered so closely to his own dream, and seemed on the whole
so probable, that he was persuaded of the truth of the story. He
determined, therefore, to surrender his command of the Nipigon post and
to equip an expedition for the discovery of the Western Sea, which now
seemed to be within comparatively easy reach. To do this, he must
obtain the permission and support of the governor-general of Canada,
the Marquis de Beauharnois. He therefore set out for Quebec, taking
with him a rough map which Ochagach had drawn for him. This map {17}
professed to make clear the position of the countries which Ochagach
declared that he had visited.

The governor at Quebec was keenly interested in these plans for western
discovery, and wrote immediately to the French king, urging that La
Verendrye should be provided with one hundred men and the necessary
supplies and equipment. But King Louis at this time was deeply engaged
in European wars and intrigues and could not spare any money for the
work of