Question

1. who speaks up for pierre so that commander mckay hires him as a middleman in a brigade of the north west company?
2. name the rival company of the north west company.

Explanation:

1. For question 3: This refers to details from the historical/contextual text centered on the North West Company; Angus Shaw vouches for Pierre, leading to his hiring by Commander McKay.
2. For question 4: In the context of the North American fur trade, the North West Company's primary and most well-documented rival was this prominent trading firm.

Answer:

1. Angus Shaw
2. Hudson's Bay Company