CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FOREWORD

BOOK I. SOFT GOLD

1. Bearded Men and Summer Fairs

2. Castor, Guardian of Hospitality

3. Paddle and Portage

4. Still Ponds and War Whoops

BOOK II. THE RISE OF THE COMPANY

1. River to the "Vermillion Sea"

2. The Romantic Explorations

3. The Gentlemen Adventurers

4. A Daring Race of Scots

5. The Five Villages—International Prey

BOOK III. THE FIERCER RIVALRIES

1. Voyageurs of the Plains

2. Americans to the Western Sea

3. Winter of the Explorers

4. Fur Fair and Blackfeet Wall

5. Pursuit of the Eternal Remnant

6. Romantic Buckskin to the Last Boisson

7. "Gone" Rendezvous and Foppish Silk

NOTES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

KEY TO MAP ON PAGES ii-iii