Sir ALEXANDER MACKENZIE

The assembly at Grand Portage was in
full swing when Roderick suddenly arrived
with dramatic news. In a light canoe he had
followed hot on his cousin’s trail. The story he
had to tell was that the men from Athabaska
had reached Ile 4 La Crosse, but without
their leader. Ross was dead, shot in a scuffle
by his opponents of the North West Com-
pany. Peter Pond had been Ross’s rival. He
had been the first white man to enter the
Athabaska region, and he regarded it as his
special preserve. He was a man of ability and
enterprise, but his character was violent and
unbalanced; a few years before he had killed
a competing trader. Against Ross and his
men Pond had levied a private war. The
news was startling; the partners of the New
Company in consternation told it to their fel-
lows of the North West Company. ‘This out-
rage made a union of interests necessary. An
agreement was reached by which competition
between the two companies was ended, and
this soon led to a complete merger.

In the new concern Mackenzie secured a
prominent place. His ability as a trader had