. . . . . " " 22
From an engraving in the John Ross Robertson
Collection, Toronto Public Library.

THE COUNTRY OF LORD SELKIRK'S SETTLERS . . . . . . . " " 48
Map by Bartholomew.

HUNTING THE BUFFALO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " " 58
From a painting by George Catlin.

PLAN OF THE RED RIVER COLONY . . . . . . . . . . . . " " 64
Drawn by Bartholomew.

FORT WILLIAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " " 116
From an old print in the John Ross Robertson
Collection, Toronto Public Library.

SIMON M'TAVISH, FOUNDER OF THE NORTH-WEST COMPANY . " " 118
From a water-colour drawing in M'Gill
University Library.

WILLIAM M'GILLIVRAY, A PARTNER IN
THE NORTH-WEST COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . " " 122
From a photograph in M'Gill University Library.

{1}

CHAPTER I

ST MARY'S ISLE

When the _Ranger_ stole into the firth of Solway she carried an
exultant crew. From the cliffs of Cumberland she might have been
mistaken for a trading bark, lined and crusted by long travel. But she
was something else, as the townsfolk of Whitehaven, on the north-west
coast of England, had found it to their cost. Out of their harbour the
_Ranger_ had just emerged, leaving thirty guns spiked and a large ship
burned to the water's edge. In fact, this innocent-looking vessel was
a sloop-of-war--as trim and tidy a craft as had ever set sail from the
shores of New England. On her upper deck was stationed a strong
battery of eighteen six-pounders, ready to be brought into action at a
moment's notice.

On the quarter-deck of the _Ranger_, deep in thought, paced the
captain, John Paul Jones, a man of meagre build but of indomitable
will, and as daring a fighter as roved the ocean {2} in this year 1778.
He held a letter of marque from the Congress of the revolted colonies
in America, and was just now engaged in harrying the British coasts.
Across the broad firth the _Ranger_ sped with bellying sails and shaped
her course along the south-western shore of Scotland. To Paul Jones
this coast was an open book; he had been born and bred in the stewartry
of Kirkcudbright, which lay on his vessel's starboard bow. Soon the
Ranger swept round a foreland and boldly entered the river Dee, where
the anchor was dropped.

A boat was swung out, speedily manned, and headed for the shelving
beach of St Mary's Isle. Here, as Captain Paul Jones kn