Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/92

74 Fort Maurepas was in like condition. In May, 1736, La Verendrye's sons, returning from Maurepas, brought him news of the death of his nephew La Jemeraye, which had occurred during the journey. The following month the climax of misfortune was reached in the murder of Verendrye's eldest son.

A second missionary priest, Father Aulneau, whom Verendrye had brought with him the previous fall, proved unequal to the grim life of this new frontier. He demanded to be returned to Michilimackinac and asked that Verendrye's son should accompany him so that he might make the journey with the greatest speed and safety. Verendrye granted the request and also manned and despatched a flotilla of three canoes to obtain supplies, at any cost to himself, for the destitute forts.

The little band set out from Ft. St. Charles in June, 1736. When not more than 20 miles from the post they were ambushed by a Sioux war party and every member of the company was killed. Not long before, some of this tribe had been fired upon and killed by the Crees at Ft. St. Charles, and now their people were taking the inevitable revenge. This tragic occurrence took place on an island in the Lake of the Woods, since known as Massacre Island.

The very terseness of Verendrye's entry in his journal indicates perhaps the depth of his grief: "I lost my son, the reverend Father and all my Frenchmen, which I will regret all my life."

La Verendrye's efforts had now covered a period of five years. He had established and was maintaining trading posts far to westward of any previous settlement. He was bereaved and impoverished, and his task was scarcely begun. But to him the undertaking was not a task, but a crusade; it was a passion which misfortune could not discourage or overcome.

The Crees and Assiniboines were eager to join with the French in a war of revenge upon the Sioux. This