CHAPTERXLIII。
ActiveOperationsatAstoria-VariousExpeditionsFittedOut-
RobertStuartandaPartyDestinedforNewYork-SingularConductofJohnDay-HisFate-PiraticalPassandHazardousPortage-Rattlesnakes-TheirAbhorrenceofTobacco-ArrivalAmongtheWallah-Wallahs-PurchaseofHorses-DepartureofStuartandHisBandfortheMountains。
THEarrivaloftheBeaverwithareinforcementandsupplies，gavenewlifeandvigortoaffairsatAstoria。Theseweremeansforextendingtheoperationsoftheestablishment，andfoundinginteriortradingposts。TwopartieswereimmediatelysetonfoottoproceedseverallyunderthecommandofMessrs。M’KenzieandClarke，andestablishpostsabovetheforksoftheColumbia，atpointswheremostrivalryandoppositionwereapprehendedfromtheNorthwestCompany。
Athirdparty，headedbyMr。DavidStuart，wastorepairwithsuppliestothepostofthatgentlemanontheOakinagan。Inadditiontotheseexpeditions，afourthwasnecessarytoconveydespatchestoMr。Astor，atNewYork，inplaceofthoseunfortunatelylostbyJohnReed。Thesafeconveyanceofthesedespatcheswashighlyimportant，asbythemMr。Astorwouldreceiveanaccountofthestateofthefactory，andregulatehisreinforcementsandsuppliesaccordingly。Themissionwasoneofperilandhardshipandrequiredamanofnerveandvigor。ItwasconfidedtoRobertStuart，who，thoughhehadneverbeenacrossthemountains，andaveryyoungman，hadgivenproofsofhiscompetencytothetask。Fourtrustyandwell-triedmen，whohadcomeoverlandinMr。Hunt’sexpedition，weregivenashisguidesandhunters。ThesewereBenJonesandJohnDay，theKentuckians，andAndriVallarandFrancisLeClerc，Canadians。Mr。M’LellanagainexpressedhisdeterminationtotakethisopportunityofreturningtotheAtlanticStates。InthishewasjoinedbyMr。