MR. Woolsey, his interpreter,
and two hired men comprised this settlement at the time. One small house and
a roofless stable were the only improvements. Mr. Woolsey had begun here
within the year, and his difficulties had been neither few nor small. Any
Indians who might look upon this place as a home in the future were now
either moose-hunting in the north, or out on the plains after buffalo.
The reason for establishing
at this place was like that at White-fish Lake, to be somewhat out of the
way of the contending tribes; and it was thought that thirty-five or forty
miles into the wooded country north of the northernmost bend of the
Saskatchewan would give some respite from the constant danger and dread
which was a condition of this western country at that time.
Father's plan was that Mr.
Woolsey should accompany us out to the rendezvous, already arranged for with
Mr. Steinhauer and his people, and as most of Mr. Woolsey's Indians were out
on the plains, he expected to see the people of both missions as also the