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Page 14
After the organization of the North-West Company, he entered their
service; and returning to the same quarter, Temiscamingue, where he
had wintered for his last employer, he passed the post unperceived,
and falling in with a band of Indians, whom he himself had supplied
the preceding autumn, told them he still belonged to the same party,
and traded all their furs on the spot. The North-West Company gave him
charge of a post, when his subtle management soon cleared the country
of opposition.
The natives of Temiscamingue were in those times very treacherous, as
they would be at this day, did they not dread the consequences;
several men had been murdered by them, and they at length became
exceedingly bold and daring in deeds of violence. One example is
sufficient:--Godin happened, on one occasion, to remain at his post
with only one man, who attended the nets,--fish being the staff of
life in that quarter. Visiting them regularly every day to procure his
own and his master's subsistence, his return was one morning delayed
much beyond the usual time. Godin felt so anxious, that he determined
on going to the fishery to learn the cause; and just as he had quitted
the house with that intention, he met an Indian who had been for some
time encamped in the vicinity, and asked him--
"What news?"
"I have killed a white dog this morning," was the reply.
"Indeed!" said Godin, feigning ignorance of the Indian's meaning:
"Pray, to whom did he belong?"
"He was a stray dog, I believe."
Conversing with him in this strain, he threw the Indian completely off
his guard, while he approached him until he was sufficiently near him
for his purpose, when, raising his powerful arm, he struck the savage
a blow under the ear that felled him to the ground,--he fell to rise
no more. The next moment, a couple of well-disposed Indians came to
inform Godin of the murder of his man, which it appeared they could
not prevent. "My children," said he, with the utmost composure, "the
Master of life has punished your kinsman on the spot for taking the
life of a white man; he told me just now that he had killed a white
dog, and had scarcely finished the sentence when he fell down dead at
my feet. Feel his body, it must be still warm; examine it, and satisfy
yourselves that he has suffered no violence from me, and you see that
I have no weapons about me."
Godin was soon afterwards removed to Fort Coulonge, and was allowed a
high salary by the North-West Company. Here he learned to read and
write, and married a fair countrywoman of his own, who resided the
greater part of the time in Montreal, where, to make the gentleman's
establishment complete, he had the good taste to introduce his
mistress. A circumstance that presents his character in its true
colours made his wife acquainted with his infidelity. Writing to both
his ladies at the same time, he unwittingly addressed his mistress's
letter to his wife, by which she learnt, with other matters, that a
present of ten prime otters had been sent to her rival. The enraged
wife carried the letter to Mr. Thane, from whom, however, she met with
a very different reception to what she had anticipated. After perusing
the letter, he ordered her immediately out of his presence. "Begone,
vile woman!" he exclaimed: "What! would you really wish to see your
husband hanged?"
The Company were well aware of Godin's tricks, but winked at them on
account of his valuable services. He was removed from Fort Coulonge in
consequence of mismanagement, (occasioned by aberration of his mental
faculties,) and was allowed by the Company to retire with a pension of
100_l._ per annum. The transcript of a public letter, addressed to Mr.
Thane, will show his attainments in literature; and, with this I shall
close my sketch of Mr. Godin:--
/$
"Mon^r Tane,
"Cher Mon^r,
"Vot letre ma t� livie par Guiaume dean aisi qui
le butin tout a bon ord le Shauvages on ben travai�
set anne et bon aparans de bon retour st. anne Dieu
merci je ne jami vu tant de moustique et de maragoen
com il en a st anne je pens desend st anne ver le meme
tan com l'ann� pas�.
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