CHAPTER I

EARLY SERVICE

Canada has had many brave sons, but none braver than Pierre Gaultier de
La Verendrye, who gave all that he had, including his life, for the
glory and welfare of his country. La Verendrye was born in the quaint
little town of Three Rivers, on the St Lawrence, on November 17, 1685.
His father was governor of the district of which Three Rivers was the
capital; his mother was a daughter of Pierre Boucher, a former governor
of the same district. In those days, when Canada was still a French
colony, both Three Rivers and Montreal had their own governors, while
the whole colony was under the authority of the governor-general, who
lived at Quebec.

At that time Three Rivers was a more important place than it is to-day.
Next to Quebec and Montreal, it was the largest town in Canada. If we
could see it as it was in the days of La Verendrye, we should find it
very {2} different from the towns we know. It was surrounded by a
strong wall and protected with cannon. The town had always a garrison
of regular soldiers, and this garrison was supported in times of
necessity by every man and boy in Three Rivers. Those who lived in the
neighbourhood were also liable to be called upon for the service of
defence. In those days, when the dreaded Iroquois might at any moment
swoop down upon the little settlement, every man kept his gun within
reach, and every man knew how to use it. When the alarm was given,
men, women, and children swarmed into Three Rivers, and the town became
a secure fortress; for the Indians, ready enough to ambush small
parties of white men in the forest or in the fields, rarely dared to
attack walled towns.

In this little walled town Pierre Gaultier de La Verendrye was born,
and spent his boyhood. He was one of ten children, so that he must
have had no lack of companions. We have no exact description of the
home of the governor of Three Rivers, but it was probably much like
that of other seigneurs or landed gentry of New France--a low,
rambling, stone building, with walls solid enough to resist a siege,
perhaps a wing or two, many {3} gables, and a lofty roof. It would be
flanked, too, with many outhouses. It must not be supposed, however,
that the governor of Three Rivers and his family lived in luxury.
People then were obliged to live more simply than they live to-day.
The governor had a salary of 1200 francs a year, or about 240 dollars
of the money of the present day. At