The Frog Lake "Massacre": Personal Perspectives on Ethnic Conflict 9780773595484

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The Frog Lake “ Massacre” , Personal Perspectives on Ethnic Conflict E d i t e d a n d w it h a n I n t r o d u c t i o n by S tu art H u g h es

The C a rleio n L ib ra ry No. 97 P ublished by M cC lelland a n d Stew art L im ited in association w ith th e In stitu te o f C a n a d ia n S tudies, C a rle to n U n iv ersity

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T H E C A R L E T O N L IB R A R Y A series of Canadian reprints, new titles, and new collections of source material relating to Canada, issued under the editorial supervision of the Institute of Canadian Studies o f Carleton University, Ottawa.

D IR E C T O R O F THE INSTITUTE

Davidson Dunton G E N E R A L EDITOR

Michael Gnarowski EXECUTIVE EDITOR

James Marsh E D ITO R IA L BOARD

B. Carman Bickerton (History) Dennis Forcese (Sociology) David B. Knight (Geography) J. George Neuspiel (Law) Thomas K. Rymes (Economics) Derek G . Smith (Anthropology) Michael S. Whittington (Political Science)

© McClelland and Stewart Limited. 1976 ISBN 7710-9797-2 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Canadian Publishers McClelland and Stewart Limited 25 Hollinger Road, Toronto Printed and bound in Canada

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CO N TENTS

PREFACE

v jj

IN T R O D U C T IO N I.

x

FROG LAKE

E d ito r's In tro d u c to ry C o m m e n ts Blood R ed th e Sun W illia m B leasdell C am eron A n A ccount o f th e F ro g L ak e M assacre G eorge S ta n le y (M u su n e k we p a n ) T w o M o n th s in the C a m p o f Big Bear: T h e Life and A d v e n tu res o f T heresa G ow anlock and T heresa D ela n ey II.

\ 5

159

\ 68

F O R T PITT

E d ito r’s In tro d u c to ry C o m m e n ts T rag ic E vents a t Frog L ake a n d F o rt P itt D uring th e N o rth W est R ebellion W. J . M c L e a n "

HI. '

IV.

244

C O I . D L A K E A N D L A C LA B I C H E

E d ito r’s In tro d u c to ry C o m m e n ts F r. L aurent L egoff o.M .i. D uring the R ebellion A non ym o u s F r. L au re n t Legoff. o . m . i . to B ishop G ra n d in M gr. H enri F a ra u d , o . m . i . to F r. Jo se p h F a b re , o . m

296

.i .

298 303 328

T H E M IL ITA R Y P U R S U IT

E d ito r’s In tro d u c to ry C o m m e n ts W ith H a lto n ’s S couts in P u rsu it o f Big B ear Jo sep h H ic k s V.

243

337

339

EPILO G U E

S ixty-F ive Y ears A go

Rev. E d w a rd A h e n a k e w

S U G G E S T IO N S FO R F U R T H E R RFA D IN G

352 360

P reface

T h is v olum e o f captiv ity n a rra tiv e s a n d o th e r acc o u n ts o f the N o rth -W e st R ebellion o f 1885 w as originally conceived as a sequel to The A d v e n tu re s a n d S u ffe rin g s o f Jo h n R. J e w itt. C aptive A m o n g the N o o tk a , 1803-1805, (D . G . S m ith, e d ., C arleton L ib ra ry N o . 76). H ow ever, th e extent o f historical in fo rm a ­ tion available on “ th e m ost tragic incident o f R iel’s R e b ellio n ” , 1 th e F ro g L ake “ m assa cre ” , p re sen te d a re m a rk a b le o p p o rtu n ity for th e study o f e th n ic relatio n s. H ence th e v o lu m e h a s becom e a collection o f personal perspectives on e th n ic conflict, a collection w hich is p ro b a b ly u n iq u e in th e lite ratu re. A lth o u g h th e acco u n ts touch on a literary d im en sio n , as m ost a re o f th e captivity novel “ g e n r e " ,2 m o re im p o rta n tly , they c o n trib u te to o u r e th n o g ra p h ic and h istorical u n d e rstan d in g o f th e W o o d C re e, Plains C ree, M etis a n d w hite settlers o f th e N o rth -W e st in th e late n in ete en th cen tu ry . S o m e o f th e acc o u n ts m ay be fam iliar to th e reader, som e have nev er been pu b lish ed before, a n d all o f th em reflect th e biases a n d literary styles o f th e ir d ay . T h e In tro d u ctio n is w ritten from an an th ro p o lo g ica l v iew point a n d p u ts th e acco u n ts into a n h istorical a n d theoretical perspective. E ach section o f the v olum e h a s a sh o rt preface, a n d vario u s aspects o f th e acco u n ts are fo o tn o te d to th e a p p ro p ria te lite ratu re to facilitate fu rth e r research. A list o f suggested re ad in g s is also included. M a n y peo p le have c o n trib u te d ideas a n d edito rial suggestions to this volum e, th o u g h I h a v en ’t alw ays h a d th e good sense to heed th em . In p a rtic u la r, C h a rle s A c k erm an , D erek G . Sm ith a n d F ra n k G . V allee o f C a rle to n U niversity have been m ost helpful, as well as T h o m a s F la n ag a n o f th e U niversity o f C algary. T h a n k s also go to M iss A n n e L u n n ey w ho p ro v id ed info rm atio n a b o u t T h ere sa D elaney, o n e o f th e F rog L ake captives; F re id a T h o m so n w ho typed v a rio u s p a rts o f th e m an u scrip t; a n d e sp e­ cially F r. G a sto n C a rrie re , o . m . i . , o f th e D eschatelet A rch iv es in O ttaw a w ho helped in a n u m b e r o f w ays. M y a p p rec ia tio n also go es to th e F aculty o f G ra d u a te S tu d ies o f C a rle to n U niversity w ho p ro v id ed a travel g ra n t, a n d to the lib ra rian s a n d archivists o f th e A lb e rta L e g isla tu re L ib ra ry , th e A lb e rta P ro v in c ia l A rchives, th e G le n b o w -A lb erta F o u n d a tio n , th e N a tio n a l L ib ra ry and P ublic A rchives o f C a n a d a , a n d v a rious u niversity libraries.

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PREFACE

1 Major C. A. Boulton. Reminiscences o f the North-W est Rebellions, G rip Printing and Publishing Co., Toronto 1886, p. 325. - Cf. M. Hodgson, “ Initiation and Quest: Early Canadian Journals” , Canadian Literature, 38: 1968 pp. 29-41; D. G . Smith ed., “ Introduc­ tion” , The Adventures and Sufferings o f John R. Jewitt. Captive Among the Nootka. 1803-1805, Carleton Library 76, McClelland and Stewart Ltd., Toronto, 1974; J. Norman Heard, White Into Red, Scarecrow, Metuchcn, N.J., 1973.

M A P SHOW ING FORT PIT T AN D 80K NK O F PROO LAKE M AS8A0R*.

(From: C. P. Mulvaney, The History o f the North-W est Rebellion o f 1885, A. H. Hovey and Co., Toronto 1885, p. 402)

Introduction O n F rid a y , A pril 10, 1885, th e P rim e M in ister, S ir J o h n A. M a c d o n ald addressed th e C o m m o n s as follows: I regret to h av e to a n n o u n c e to th e H o u se . . . th at th ere has been a m assacre, 1 m ay say a t F ro g L ak e, w hich is a lake 40 m iles n o rth o f F o rt Pitt. A telegram h a s been received from M r. D ickens, w h o c o m m a n d s th e M o u n te d P olice a t F o rt Pitt. H e says: " T h e r e w as a m a s sa c re a t F ro g L a k e - th e fo llo w in g w ere killed: T . T . Q u in n , Indian A g e n t, a half-breed: Ja m e s D elaney, farm in stru cto r: M r. G o w an lo ck a n d wife: Rev. F a th e r F o rfa r, a p riest. F a th e r L em arc h a n d , a p riest, and tw o o th e r m en I be­ liev e th e y w e re lay b r e th r e n . M rs . D e la n e y is a p ris o n e r. H . Q u in n , nephew o f Q u in n w h o w as m u rd ere d escaped a n d arrived h e re yesterday. T h e fate o f M r. C a m e ro n o f th e H u d so n Bay C o m p a n y is u n k n o w n . U n d e r In sp e cto r D ic k en s there is, a t F o rt P itt. 25 M o u n te d P olice.” T h a t tard y a n d not entirely a c c u ra te new s resulted from e n o r­ m ously com plex a n d rap id tra n s fo rm a tio n s in w h at w as then th e N o rth -W e st T e rrito rie s. T h e F ro g L ake " m a s sa c re " d ra m a tiz es th e im p act a n d tra u m a o f th o se tra n sfo rm a tio n s to a n extent to which few o th e r events in N o rth -W e st h isto ry have d o n e . T h e v ery te rm " m a s s a c r e " u n d e rs c o re s how ra re su ch e v e n ts h av e been in C a n a d ia n h istory, th o u g h frankly o n e w o n d e rs if w hile settlers had n o t been involved w h e th e r th e p o p u la r m in d w ould have associated “ m assacre” w ith th o se m u rd ers. A w ealth o f histo rical a n d bio g rap h ical m ate ria l exists p e rta in ­ ing to th e “ m assa cre ” a n d th e events su rro u n d in g th a t violent o u tb u rst o f hostility betw een Big B ear’s P lains C re e and th e w hite settlers o f th e F ro g L ak e region. Included in th is volum e, from th e se ttle rs’ v iew point a re th e a cc o u n ts o f th re e o f the F ro g L ake captives: W . B. C a m e ro n o f th e H u d so n ’s Bay C o m p a n y , T h e r­ esa G o w an lo ck , th e w ife o f a p riv a te c o n tra c to r from O n ta rio , and T h ere sa D elan ey th e w ife o f th e new ly a p p o in te d F a rm in g In stru c to r for th e F ro g L ake sub-agency, w h o w as from th e O ttaw a Valley. T w o acc o u n ts by captives fro m F o rt Pitt are included, o n e by W . J. M c L e a n , a H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y factor, th e o th e r by his d a u g h te r E . M . M c L ea n . A s th e Plains

IN T R O D U C T IO N

xi

C ree o f Frog L ake a tte m p te d to co n so lid a te th eir positio n du rin g th e N o rth -W e st R ebellion, they su b ju g a te d th e O b la te m ission o f F a th e r L au re n t L egoff O .M .I. a t C o ld L ak e, a n d a tte m p te d but failed to d o likew ise w ith th e m ission o f M g r F a ra u d O .M .I . a t Lac la B iche. Finally, a m ilitary p ersp ectiv e is given by Joseph H ick s o f S a rg e an t H a tto n ’s scouts. F ro m th e n ativ e v iew p o in t, tw o acc o u n ts a re available. T h e first is th a t o f G e o rg e Stanley (M e su n e k w e p an ), a W o o d C re e. T h e second is a retro sp ectiv e a cco u n t by a Plains C re e a n d A nglican cleric, th e late Rev. D r. E dw ard A henakew . T h ese acc o u n ts differ w idely in e m p h asis a n d p o in t o f view , d ep en d in g on the n a rra to r’s e th n ic a ffiliation, religious a ffiliation, age, sex, te m p e ra m e n t, o c c u p a tio n , e d u ca tio n , o r c o n te m p o ra ry political co n cern . T h e acc o u n ts deal g enerally w ith th e sam e events a n d so necessarily overlap. H ow ever each a cc o u n t in itself p resen ts a n incom plete picture. N o r is th e relevance o f th e F rog L ake “ m assacre” to th e c o n te m p o ra ry re ad e r to be found sim ply in a d id ac tic in te rp re ta tio n o f a tra in o f h istorical events. R a th e r it is th e o p in io n s a n d th e preju d ices, th e fears, cupid ity , b itte r­ ness, a rro g an ce, a n d co u rag e o f individual a cto rs d u rin g th a t tra g ic p e rio d w h ic h a r e im p o r ta n t, g iv en th e ir p a ra lle ls to d a y . O n ly by v iew in g a c o m p o s ite o f a c c o u n ts , as fu lly a s h is to ric a l sources allow , can som e a p p rec ia tio n o f th e intensity a n d variety o f th e reactio n s to th a t e th n ic conflict be g ained. H opefully, co n sid era tio n o f a n u m b e r o f original v iew points will also help av o id th e eth n o cen tricism usually associated with w h at H e rb e rt B utterfield called th e “ h isto ria n ’s ‘p a th e tic fallacy’” . B utterfield described it as “ a b stra c tin g things from th eir historical c ontext a n d ju d g in g them a p a rt from th e ir c o n te x t— estim atin g them a n d o rg an izin g th e h istorical study by a system o f d irec t reference to the p re se n t” .2 M o re o v e r, a stu d y o f original acco u n ts should help avoid w h at M . G . S m ith has d escrib ed as th e e th n o g ­ ra p h e r’s “ p a th e tic fallacy o f th e e th n o g ra p h ic p re sen t” . T h is results from view ing th e a p p a re n t functional in te rd ep e n d e n ce o f e lem en ts o f a given society a t a specific tim e, a n d o f assum ing th at th is stru c tu re d in te rd ep e n d e n ce rem ain s c o n sta n t.3 Several recent stu d ies h a v e d e m o n stra te d how e th n o h isto rian s have c o m ­ p o u n d e d these tw o fallacies a n d th ereb y h av e su bstantially m is­ re p re se n ted historical n o n -W este rn societies.4 T h ese are im p o rta n t c o n sid era tio n s in th e analysis o f early e th n ic re la tio n s in th e C a n a d ia n P rairies. A s T . D . R eg eh r has noted: S om e o f th e things w ritten a b o u t th e In d ian s are incredibly bad history, p a rticu la rly w hen a u th o rs try to project p resen t p ro b le m s o r c o n cern s into th e p a st w ith o u t any a tte m p t to

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u n d e rsta n d th e p a st in its ow n term s; in th e term s th a t Indians long d e ad m u st have view ed th e ir existence a n d p ro b lem s.5 R eg rettab ly , social scientists h av e not alw ays d o n e b e tte r. O ne recent survey o f th e histo ry a n d social p ro b lem s o f n a tiv e p eople in n o rth e rn S ask atch ew an blithely inform s us th a t th e suppression o f th e N o rth -W e st R ebellion w as u n d e rta k e n to effect th e “ physi­ cal e x te rm in a tio n o f L ouis R iel for his sin o f native p rid e ” , th at Big B ear “ realized th a t th e In d ian s w ould suffer psychological a n n ih ila tio n on th e reserves” , a n d th a t “ b o th C h u rc h a n d State c o o p e ra te d in a guerilla w arfare on Indian c u ltu re ” .6 Sim ilarly, c ertain n ative analysts, in th e ir in te rp re ta tio n o f C a n a d ia n Indian h istory, have uncritically a d o p te d m odels o f colonialism such as th a t developed by F ra n tz F a n o n seem ingly to ju stify th e ir p o lem ­ ics for e th n ic c o n fro n ta tio n .7 S uch stu d ies u n d o u b ted ly reveal the ideological p o stu re s o f th eir a u th o rs, how ever they scarcely p ro ­ v id e , insight into th e events th a t w ere supposedly analyzed. A lthough I have tried to av o id these co m m o n sh o rtco m in g s in this in tro d u c tio n , th e re ad e r is forew arned th a t a n ideological bias is nev er entirely a b se n t in a n y h istorical re co n stru c tio n o f social p h e n o m e n a. Ju st as ideology a n d histo ry a re inextricably related , so is h isto r­ ical fact a n d social th eo ry . A s C h a rle s A c k erm a n , in a favourite d ictu m , h a s a rg u ed ; “ T h e ‘fact’ u n fo rm ed by th eo ry is no fact. T h e ‘th e o ry ’ u n in fo rm e d by fact is no th e o ry .” T o th e a n th ro p o l­ ogist th e events w hich su rro u n d e d the Frog L ake “ m assa cre ” are n o t sim ply u n iq u e h istorical circu m stan ces b u t are m an ifestatio n s o f th e stru c tu re a n d process o f h u m a n society. T o him an u n d e r­ sta n d in g o f those circu m stan ces is only possible given a t least a m inim al reference to th eo ries a n d m odels o f h u m a n ecological a d a p ta tio n , e th n ic relatio n s a n d m o re g enerally o f colonialism . Each o f these will be explored in tu rn below . O n e o f th e m o st succinctly p u t m odels o f th e processes o f h u m an ecological a d a p ta tio n is given in R . G . W ilk in so n 's Pov­ e rty a n d P rogress, a study o f th e rise o f in d u stria liz atio n . W ilk in ­ so n 's c en tral th esis is th a t “ th e progressive b re a k d o w n — o r a b se n ce — o f ecological e q u ilib riu m . . . stim u la te s a society into eco n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t.” 8 O n e m ig h t equally well arg u e th a t ecol­ ogical d ise q u ilib riu m m ay “ stim u la te ” a society such as alm ost any p o st-c o n ta ct N o rth A m e ric an a b o rig in al society, including the M etis, into eco n o m ic a n d social chaos. T h is assertio n is often m ade w ith reference to th e P lains trib es a n d th e M etis a n d if it is to be a m eaningful one it re q u ire s a b rie f survey o f som e o f the basic ten e ts o f h u m a n ecological theory. T o W ilk in so n ecological e q u ilib riu m is achieved w hen som e

IN T R O D U C T IO N

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h u m an p o p u latio n o r e th n ic g ro u p a n d th e ir c u ltu re, view ed as a “ species” , is a d eq u a te ly a d a p te d to a p a rticu la r ecological n ich e .9 Specifically: E ach species m o n o p o lizes a p a rticu la r w ay o f life and m eth o d o f g ain in g its supply o f food. It m ust have access at o n e o r o th e r tro p h ic level to flow s o f energy a n d to th e lifem ain tain in g m ate ria ls w hich circu late in th e b io sp h e re. It m ust be ab le to c o m p e te successfully for its p o sitio n in th e total c o m m u n ity o f living o rg an ism s w hich form a n im p o rta n t p a rt o f its e n v iro n m en t. It has been suggested th a t the cap acity for c u ltu re is itself a n ecological niche: but in reality it p ro v id es a m ea n s o f explo itin g d ifferent ecological n ich e s.10 S hould som e h u m a n p o p u la tio n ’s ecological n ich e b e d efin ed in term s o f th e *p a rtic u la r g ro u p o f natu ral resources w hich th e g ro u p ’s p ro d u c tiv e system is d esig n ed to e xploit, then . . . it can b e seen th a t each niche has a d e fin ite size as d e te r­ m in ed by th e q u a n titie s o f reso u rce s available, o r ra th e r, by th e • level o f resource use which th e enviro n m en t can sustain under given conditions', it is possible fo r a p ro d u c tiv e system to o u t­ grow its ecological niche. fW ilk in so n ’s ita lic s]11 In n o v a tio n s in c u ltu re, including som eth in g as ru d im e n tary as th e invention o f fire m aking, can b e seen as actually a m ea n s o f c hang ing from o n e ecological n ich e to a n o th e r o r o f exp an d in g th e ra n g e o f e x p lo itab le niches. T h u s to W ilk in so n c u ltu re and m a n ’s e x p lo itatio n o f ecological resources a re very m uch in te rd e ­ p e n d e n t a n d th e ten ets o f a n ecological a p p ro a c h to social change follow suit: F irst, “ F o r a society to a tta in an ecological eq u ilib riu m it m ust first have developed an in teg rated p ro d u c tiv e technology, and second it m ust also have fo u n d w ays o f en su rin g th a t a balance is m a in tain ed betw een its d e m a n d for n a tu ra l resources a n d th e e n v iro n m e n t’s a b ility to supply th e m ” .12 S econd, “ In such an eq u ilib riu m system th e re a re tw o form s o f a d a p ta tio n . F irst im proved a d a p ta tio n w ithin a fixed e n v iro n ­ m en tal context, a n d second a d a p ta tio n to m eet changes in the ecological and social e n v iro n m e n t” .13 T h ird , “ A ny pro cess o f a d ap tiv e ch an g e, p a rticu la rly a shift from o n e ecological niche to a n o th e r involving chan g es in resource

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base, will n ecessitate technical c h an g e. A s th e ‘leading e d g e’ o f c u ltu re, th e technology m ay initiate a p ro c ess o f change w hich co u ld force th e rest o f th e c u ltu re to reassem ble a ro u n d a new p ro d u c tiv e sy stem ” .14 H o w e v e r n o t all in n o v a tio n s in c u ltu re a re a u to c h th o n o u s in origin. M a jo r in n o v atio n s w o u ld be re q u ire d if an im p o rta n t niche o f o n e p o p u la tio n w ere invaded by a n o th e r p o p u latio n . Such a n invasion, especially if it w ere to th e exclusion o f th e first p o p u la tio n , m ig h t well “ stim u la te ” th e e conom y o f th e la tte r into chaos, o f w hich th e recent h isto ry o f th e P lains C re e a n d o f the M e tis is a n exam ple. T h e in c o rp o ra tio n o f N o rth A m erican In d ian s into sp h e res ol E u ro p ean influence began at a n early d a te , particu larly in the n o rth ern b o real forest regions principally in h ab ited by th e C ree. T h e in tro d u c tio n o f these influences to N o rth A m erica w as sy n o n ­ y m o u s w ith a series o f new e n v iro n m en ta l fa c to rs.15 T h e horse, fo r exam ple, radically tran sfo rm e d th e p ro d u c tiv e technologies o f P lains dw ellers w hen it w as a d o p te d by th em for buffalo h u n t­ in g .16 M a n y o th e r in flu e n c e s, r e la te d to th e fu r tra d e , in c o r p o ­ rated abo rig in al p o p u la tio n s into th e m arg in s o f th e E uropean m a rk e t econom y by creatin g a d e m a n d for E u ro p ea n g o o d s .17 In tu rn som e o f th ese g o o d s, particu larly firearm s, allow ed th e rapid e x p lo itatio n a n d exhau stio n o f fur b earin g an im a ls in c erta in re­ gions. T h is p ro m o te d p o p u latio n m ig ra tio n s in search o f new tra p ­ p in g a rea s, w hich resulted in th e forced disp lacem en t o f som e p o p u ­ latio n s such as th e S ioux. T h e y did n o t enjoy as early a n access to firearm s, w hich obviously w ere also used in w a rfare , as d id th e C ree o r O jib w a .18 T h e fur tra d e also p ro d u c ed a C a n ad ian version o f “ c reo liz a tio n ” , nam ely th e fo rm atio n o f M e tis c o m m u n itie s which em erged as d istin c t g ro u p s m ed ia tin g ab o rig in al a n d E u ro p e a n cul­ tural b a c k g ro u n d s.19 By th e late seventeenth c en tu ry , th e C re e h a d m igrated to the N o rth -W e st as far as th e w o o d la n d s o f n o rth ern S askatchew an a n d A lb e rta in th eir search fo r fur. South o f th ese w o o d la n d s the flora a n d fauna o f th e forest a n d p lain s in te rp e n e tra te to form a belt o f p a rk la n d 20 a n d by the early eig h teen th c en tu ry certain b a n d s o f th e C re e in this region h a d a d o p te d an e q u estrian buffalo hunting technology, p rim a rily in im itatio n o f th e A ssin ib o in e .21 T h is a d a p ta ­ tion to a new ecological niche p ro v id ed th e C re e o f th e Plains a g e n ­ e ro u s a n d stable access to essential resources. H ow ever, th e tech n i­ cal in n o v atio n w hich p e rm itte d th is access, th e h o rse, co u ld n o t be p ro p e rly m a in tain ed in e ith e r th e w o o d la n d s o r p a rk la n d e n v iro n ­ m ents. A s a technological in n o v a tio n , o r in W ilk in so n ’s term s “ the leading edge o f c u ltu re " , e q u estrian buffalo hu n tin g in itiated a re­

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m a rk a b le process o f ch an g e in P lains C re e cu ltu re. T h a t tra n s fo rm a ­ tion u nderlies th e intense factionalism betw een th e W ood a n d Plains C re e o f th e F rog lak e reserve d u rin g th e N o rth -W e st R ebellion as d epicted in W . B. C a m e ro n ’s n a rra tiv e in this v o lu m e .22 S ignifi­ cantly, th e a d a p ta tio n o f th e P lains C re e to buffalo h u n tin g m ad e them virtually in d ep e n d en t o f th e w hite fur tra d e rs a n d o th e r agents, u n lik e th e ir w o o d la n d s c o u n te rp a rts.23 By th e first q u a rte r o f th e n in ete en th c en tu ry , a kind o f e q u ilib ­ rium p revailed a m o n g th e fur tra p p in g , h u n ter-g a th e rin g W o o d C re e a n d th e e q u e stria n , b u ffalo -h u n tin g P lains C ree, each in th eir ecological n ich e s.24 Both g ro u p s had a p p are n tly reached the lim its o f im proved a d a p ta tio n . A lth o u g h sp o ra d ic w arfare w as c a r­ ried o u t betw een such technologically equ iv alen t ab o rig in al g ro u p s a s the P lains C re e and B lackfeet, th e re w as no c o m p e titio n betw een technologically u n e q u al E u ro p ean a n d a b o rig in al p o p u latio n s for th e sam e resources. T h e a b u n d a n c e o f ga m e on th e n o rth ern plain s m ad e its in h a b ita n ts b o th “ difficult to g o v e rn ” a n d “ a rro g a n t” a c ­ c o rd in g to H u d s o n 's B ay C o m p a n y G o v e r n o r G e o rg e S im p so n , th u s dissu ad in g th e incursions o f tra d e rs.25 M o re o v er, b o th th e old N o r th - W e s t C o m p a n y a n d s u b s e q u e n tly th e a m a lg a m a te d H u d ­ so n 's Bay C o m p a n y , as th e c h a rte re d g o v e rn m e n t o f R u p e rt’s L and, g enerally d iscouraged th e activities o f m issio n aries and settlers in o rd e r to m ain tain th e fur tra d e .26 H ow ever, w ith th e tran sfcrral o f th e N o rth -W e st to th e newly c re a te d D o m in io n o f C a n a d a in 1869, th e P rairies becam e th e object o f intense c o m p e titio n , as th e lands th a t su p p o rte d th e n o rth e rn buffalo h e rd s co u ld also su p p o rt th e ex­ p a n d in g a g ric u ltu ra list p o p u la tio n s o f eastern C a n a d a , a n d o f O n ­ tario in p a rticu la r. It w as p rim a rily th e M e tis' fear o f an im m inent dispossession by w h ite settlers w hich p ro v o k e d th e first R ebellion, a n d th e fears o f b o th M e tis a n d In d ian s o f a n o th e r dispossession which h elped p ro v o k e th e second R e b ellio n .27 T h e m ig ratio n o f settlers to th e N o rth -W e st w as preced ed by severe social and ecological d istu rb an c es. T h e first w as th e in tro ­ d u c tio n o f v a rio u s diseases, n o tab ly sm allpox, w hich decim ated n ative p o p u la tio n s in 1781-2, a n d in 18 3 8 .28 S m allpox w as p re ­ sum ably sp read to th e N o rth -W e st by free tra d e rs o p e ra tin g along th e M ississippi a n d its trib u ta rie s.29'S e c o n d ly , th e incursions o f A m erican w hiskey tra d e rs and w olfers, w hose villainy h a s p e rh ap s b een o v e rstated , resulted in sad ev en ts such as th o se o f 18 7 3 .30 A third a n d irreversible d istu rb a n c e w as th e progressive e x te rm in a tio n o f th e buffalo, w hich w ere virtually extinct by 18 78.31 T h e ex tinction o f th e m ig rato ry buffalo w as particu larly func­ tional from th e se ttle rs’ p o in t o f view . If th e title to th e desired lan d s w as to be e xtinguished peaceably, if a fu r trad e e conom y

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w as to be superceded by an a g ra ria n eco n o m y , a p re re q u isite w ould b e th e e lim in a tio n o f th e p ro d u c tiv e basis o f th e native eco n o m y , th e buffalo. A lth o u g h th is w as n o t a d e lib erate policy o f th e D o m in io n g o v e rn m e n t (in d ee d , a tte m p ts w ere m a d e to p re v en t th eir e x tin c tio n ),32 it w as a policy o f A m erican m ilitary a u th o ritie s to encourage th e sla u g h te r a n d th ere b y sta rv e Sitting Bull a n d o th e r A m e ric an Indian leaders w ho had fled n o rth o f th e “ M edicine lin e ” , into su b m issio n .33 M o re o v er, th e com bined effect o f the build in g o f railw ays in th e n o rth e rn U n ite d States a n d o f th e m assive h u n t fo r b u ffalo robes by w hites. M etis, and In d ian s in C a n a d a h a d a sim ilar effect. E ventually, th e b a n d s o f P la in s C re e w h ich p e rs is te d in th e a tte m p t to live o f f th e land faced d e stitu tio n . A s an 1880 issue o f th e M in n e so tan B enton W e e k ly R e c o rd sta te d [the forty lodges o f T h u n d e r C hief] “ w ere selling th eir g u n s a n d every o th e r article o f value to p ro c u re food, w hile th e w om en w ere p ro stitu tin g them selves to save th eir c h il­ dren from sta rv a tio n ” .34 N o r w as it a coincidence th a t th e bulk o f th e P lains C ree d id n o t care to sign a trea ty w ith th e C ro w n until th e p ro sp e ct o f sta rv atio n left th em no o p tio n .35 O n e suspects that th e P lains C re e, like o th e r P lains gro u p s, h a d no taste fo r b e co m ­ ing a territo ria lly b o u n d e d m in o rity sta tu s c o m m u n ity as defined by w h ite settlers’ n o rm s a n d legal p ra ctic e s.36 B ut by th e 1880’s th e ecological niche th a t th e P la in s C ree h a d exploited sim ply no lo n g e r e x is te d o n c e th e b u ffa lo w e re g o n e , a n d m u ch o f th e ir trad itio n a l c u ltu re a n d technology had b e co m e re d u n d an t. T h e Plains C re e w ere o n c e again faced w ith th e challenge o f restruc­ tu rin g th eir cu ltu re and technology a ro u n d a new pro d u ctiv e system . A tte m p ts w ere m a d e by th e P lains C ree to becom e a g ric u ltu ra l­ ists. It a p p e a rs th a t c ertain b a n d s practised a ru d im e n tary cultiva­ tion o f corn a s early as th e m id -n in e te e n th c e n tu ry .37 In the 1880’s, how ever, m an y factors m ilitated a g ain st such a radical and w holesale tra n sfo rm a tio n . F irst, th ere w as th e d istaste o f a tra d i­ tionally n o m ad ic peo p le for sed en tary ag ricu ltu ralism . S econd, the train in g a n d m ate ria l assistance given th e Plains trib e s by a p a rsim o n io u s a n d so m e w h a t d ish o n e st federal g o v e rn m e n t w as in ad e q u ate . A s G e o rg e Stanley o n c e noted : “ In co m p ariso n with th e term s g ra n te d in th e U n ite d S tates, those o f the C a n ad ian treaties have n o t erred on th e side o f liberality . . . ” .3S A third facto r w as th e ill-will betw een m any farm ing in stru cto rs (and o th e r g o v ern m en t agents) a n d th e Plains tribes, for b o th M etis and Indian sm a rte d u n d e r “ th e ill-disguised c o n te m p t w ith which they, th e o riginal in h ab itan ts, w ere tre a te d by th e new com ers” .39

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T h e n ew co m ers’ “ v ulgar p rid e ” is p ro m in e n t in th e G ow an lo ck a c c o u n t, a n d w as in stru m en tal in p re cip ita tin g the “ m assacre” a ccording to M gr. A le x an d e r T a c h e , A rc h b ish o p o f S t. B oni­ face.40 Finally, a m o n g o th e r fa cto rs w hich could be cited w as th e peculiarly inclem ent w e ath e r o f th e p erio d . A t th e F ro g L ak e reserve in 1883, c o n sid era b le acreag e had been u n d e r c u ltiv atio n . In 1884, in p a rt b ecau se o f th e d isa p ­ p o in tin g results o f th e p rev io u s se a so n ’s cro p s, a n d b ecause o f the ra n c o u r o f m an y In d ia n s a t w h at they perceived to be th e g o v e rn ­ m e n t’s failure to live up to its tre a ty p rom ises, th e a m o u n t o f land u n d e r cu ltiv atio n w as greatly re d u c e d .41 It w as a t th is stage th a t Big B ear a n d his b a n d , w ho had o n ly recently been m oved to F ro g L ake from th e S o u th S ask atch ew an , m o v ed to P o u n d m a k e r’s reserve near B a ttle fo rd to h o ld a “ T h ir s t D a n c e ” , (a lso k n o w n a s a “ S un D a n c e ” ), w hich is described in W . B. C a m e ro n 's ac c o u n t.42 P o u n d m a k e r, w h o had expressed p a rtic u la r d o u b ts a b o u t the b enefits o f T rea ty N o . 6 d u rin g th e d e lib e ra tio n s w ith C o m m is­ sio n er M o rris in 1876,43 and Big B ear w ho p ro c ra stin a te d signing th e tre a ty until 1882 a n d w ho c o n tin u e d to resist th e selection o f a reserve site.44 w ere a m o n g th e m o re “ c o n serv ativ e” Plains C r e e .45 T h e ir m o tiv a tio n s fo r h o ld in g th e c e re m o n ia l “ T h irs t D a n c e ” w ere p rim a rily religious a n d social, b u t they w ere also political. Ind eed political a n d e th n ic ten sio n s had b e co m e so intense by 1884, th a t th e foolishness o f both g o v ern m en t ag en ts on P o u n d m a k e r ’s R e se rv e a n d s o m e In d ia n s v e ry n e a rly led to a b lo o d y c o n fro n ta tio n betw een th e w arrio rs o f th e assem bled b a n d s and th e N o rth -W e st M o u n te d P olice.4,1 F o r all in te n ts a n d p u rp o ses th e N o r th - W e s t R e b e llio n h a d a lre a d y b e g u n a m o n g th e P la in s C re e w ith th e “ T h irs t D a n c e ” o f 1884. N o m o m e n t could have been m o re o p p o rtu n e for interested p a rtie s to incite th em into a general u prising; it w as an o p p o rtu n ity th a t L ouis R iel did n o t m iss. T h e M e tis o f th e N o rth -W e st h a d fared little b e tte r a t th e h a n d s o f th e D o m in io n g o v e rn m e n t than h a d th e Plains C ree. S ir J o h n A . M a c d o n a ld h a d u n d u ly p r o c ra s tin a te d w ith re g a rd to th eir land claim s. M a n y o f th e S askatchew an M etis h a d e arlie r m ig rated from th e R ed R iver region to av o id its settlers. T he d estru ctio n o f th e buffalo w as no less unsettling to th e M etis than it w as to th e Plains tribes. T h e ir a im s w ere sim ilar: to resto re, in a sense, th e ecological e q u ilib riu m o f the N o rth -W e st as it had b een only a few y e ars before, to e lim in a te th e c u rre n t influx o f settlers a n d to rid them selves o f th e yo k e o f g o v e rn m e n t a u th o r­ ity. T h e y shared th e fruitlessness o f trying to gain b e tte r term s, o r o f try in g to red ress th eir g rievances w ith th e g o v e rn m e n t by any

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p a tie n t a n d peaceful m eans. M a n y M e tis a n d Indians saw a g eneral uprising as a solu tio n to th eir d ile m m a . O nce th a t view (a p p are n tly in d ep en d en tly a rriv e d a t, alth o u g h g e n e ra te d by sim i­ lar circu m stan ces) b ecam e th e d esired c o u rse o f actio n , ru n n e rs from R iel’s c am p a n d th e v a rio u s b a n d s w ere se n t to establish a strategy o f re v o lt.47 T h e spring o f 1885 saw th e events o f D uck L ak e a n d o f F ro g L ake a n d in itiated w h a t F r. A n d re o f the Prince A lbert m ission feared w as a “ g u e rre d ’e x te rm in a tio n ” .48 T h e d ile m m a th e Plains C re e a n d M e tis c o n fro n te d a n d the solu tio n they perceived, hav e close parallels th ro u g h o u t historical a n d c o n te m p o ra ry p e asan t societies u n d e rg o in g ra p id social ch an g e. E. W o lf h a s suggested th a t it is “ w hen th e p e a s a n t can no longer rely o n his accu sto m ed in stitu tio n al c ontext to reduce his risks, b u t w hen a lte rn a tiv e in stitu tio n s a re e ith e r to o ch ao tic o r restrictiv e to g u a ra n te e a v iab le c o m m itm e n t to new w ays, th a t th e psychological, econom ic, social a n d political ten sio n s all m o u n t to w ard p e asan t rebellion a n d in volvem ent in re v o lu tio n ” .49 P u t a n o th e r w ay, w h e n a g r o u p ’s e c o lo g ic a l n ic h e is sev erely th re a te n e d , p a rticu la rly by a c o m p e tito r, a n d if no alte rn a tiv e niche is perceived, th en revolt is m o re likely th an a sim ple aquiescence. T h e p ro b le m still re m a in e d a s to h o w su c h te n s io n s in th e N o rth -W e st could b e chan n eled into a viable political m o v em en t, for a m o n g th e P lains C ree a n d M etis, p o litical o rg a n iz atio n w as po o rly d e v elo p ed .50 Both g ro u p s can b e d escrib ed as h av in g been “ stateless societies” , w hich P eter W orsley h a s d efin ed as “ societies which have no overall u nity, w hich lack centralized p o litical in stitu ­ tio n s , a n d w h ic h m a y lack sp e c ia liz e d p o litic a l in s titu tio n s a lt o ­ g e th e r” .51 Such societies . . . h av e th u s no su itable m ac h in ery th ro u g h w hich they can act politically as a u nified force w hen the occasion arises except on a tem p o rary , localized o r a d h o c b a s is .. . . T h e m ain effect o f a m illen arian cult [a v a ria n t o f nativistic m ovem ents] is to o v er­ c o m e these divisions a n d to w eld previously hostile a n d sep a­ ra te g ro u p s into a new u nity. T h e social necessity w hich p r o ­ d u c es this d riv e to w a rd s in te g ratio n is th e subjection o f all s e p a ra te u n its to a co m m o n a u th o rity - th e E u ro p e a n ” .52 A lth o u g h W orsley deals p rim a rily w ith th e rise o f m illenarian m o v em e n ts in M elanesia, sim ilar d y n am ics u n d e rla y th e political m o b ilizatio n o f v a rio u s Plains C re e a n d M etis g ro u p s p rio r to a n d d u rin g th e R ebellion. F o r th e form er, th e “ T h irst D a n c e ” served as a basis for c o rp o ra te closure a n d collective a ctio n . T h e “ T h irst D a n c e ” o f 1884 united in o n e locality th e dissatisfied

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b a n d s o f Plains C re e, p resen ted a collective defiance o f o u tsid e a u th o rity , and w as also a vehicle fo r w hat is term ed “ revivalistic nativ ism ” . “ N a tiv istic m o v em e n ts” have been d efined as “ any conscious, organized a tte m p t on th e p a rt o f a society’s m em b e rs to revive o r p e rp e tu a te selected aspects o f its c u ltu re ” .53 A revivalistic nativist m o v em en t, o f w hich th e R ebellion is an exam ple, “ will alm ost be certain to include in its selection o f elem ents som e o f those which a re c u rre n t in th e c u ltu re alth o u g h d eriv ed from th e p a st.” 54 A ccording to R . L in to n such m o v em e n ts h a v e tw o basic v a riants, th e “ ra tio n a l” a n d th e “ m ag ical” . T h e fo rm er, he states, are “ associated w ith fru stratin g situ a tio n s a n d a re prim arily a tte m p ts to c o m p e n sa te for th e fru stratio n s o f th e society’s m em b e rs.” 55 T h e d e lib e ra te, c onsidered a ctio n s o f b o th Big B ear a n d P o u n d m ak e r in th eir a tte m p ts as sp o k e sm e n for th e ir respective b a n d s to g a in b e tte r term s from th e g o v e rn m e n t b o th before a n d du rin g th e R ebellion , typify th e essentially political “ ra tio n a l” revivalist nativist m o v em e n t. In c o n tra st, th e “ g h o st-d a n c e ” religion o f A m e ric an Plains In d ian s o f th e late 1880’s a n d early I8 9 0 ’s w ho strived for a renaissance o f e q u estrian buffalo hun tin g a n d its cultural a ttrib u te s th ro u g h su p e rn atu ra l m e a n s typifies th e “ m agi­ c al” revivalist m o v e m e n t.56 “ P ro p h e tic ” m o v em en ts, w hich have h a d a long histo ry in m edieval R o m an C a th o lic E u ro p e ,57 a n d o f w hich th e M etis m o v em en t m ay be con sid ered a N ew W orld v a ria n t, are form s o f “ m ag ical” revivalist nativist m o v em en ts. In d e ed L in to n ’s d e sc rip ­ tion o f p ro p h e tic m o v em e n ts v irtually defines th e rela tio n sh ip o f L ouis R iel to th e M etis d u rin g th e N o rth -W e st R ebellion: T h e y usually o rig in a te w ith som e individual w ho assum es the role o f p ro p h e t a n d is accepted by th e p e o p le b ecause they wish to believe . . . T h e y alw ays lean heavily on th e su p e rn atu ra l and usually em b o d y a p o ca ly p tic a n d m illenial aspects. In such m o v em e n ts m o rib u n d elem ents o f the c u ltu re are not revived for th e ir ow n sak e o r in a n tic ip a tio n o f practical ad v an tag es from th e elem ents them selves. T h e ir revival is p a rt o f a m agical form ula designed to m odify th e society’s e n v iro n m en t in ways w hich will b e fav o u rab le to it.58 T h e distin ctio n betw een “ m ag ical” a n d “ ra tio n a l" v a ria n ts o f nativistic m o v em en ts as they ap p ly to th e M etis and P lains C re e respectively, is essentially th a t d ra w n by M ax W eb e r w hen he d istinguished betw een “ c h a rism a tic ” and “ tra d itio n a l” a u th o rity . T ra d itio n a l a u th o rity , a cc o rd in g to W eb er, rests “ on a n e sta b ­ lished b elief in th e sanctity o f im m em o rial tra d itio n s and the

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legitim acy o f th e sta tu s o f those exercising a u th o rity u n d e r th e m ” : w hereas c h arism atic a u th o rity rests " o n d e v o tio n to th e specific and e xceptional n o rm ativ e p a tte rn s o r o rd e r revealed o r o rd a in e d by him [the ch arism atic lea d e r].” 59 L ouis R ie l’s a u th o rity as a lea d er o f the M e tis w as c h arism atic, for c o rp o ra te clo su re and collective a ctio n a m o n g th e in su rg en t M etis d u rin g th e R ebellion w as based o n th e acceptance o f his syncretistic, p ro p h e tic and su p e rn atu ra l visions.60 T h is h a s been a m p ly d o c u m e n ted in G e o rg e F . S ta n le y 's L o u is R i e l A lthough th e Plains C re e w ere influenced by th e insurgent M etis, such influence w as never e n ough to entirely usu rp tra d itio n a l a u th o rity a m o n g th em . T h ro u g h o u t th e acc o u n ts in th is v olum e for exam ple. Big Bear, a s th e tra d itio n a l leader o f th e F ro g L ake g ro u p o f P lains C ree. seem ed to have a cted only w ith th e consensus o f his council o f w a rrio rs, a n d never o n th e basis o f personal visions.61 In d eed , as C a m e ro n suggests. Big Bear m ay have been th e trad itio n a l but only n o m in al lea d er o f th e . F ro g L ake Plains C ree. T h e ir real d irectio n seem s to h a v e com e from tw o pow erful w a rrio rs, Im asees a n d W an d e rin g S pirit, w ho believed th a t th e expulsion o f the w hite m an w ould en su re the re tu rn o f the bu ffalo . T h u s nativistic m ovem ents, based on different fo rm s o f a u th o rity , p ro v id ed a m eans for th e political m o b iliza tio n o f th e M etis a n d Plains C ree, w hich in turn m ad e th e R ebellion itself possible. W h e th e r " ra tio n a l” o r “ m ag ic al” , " tr a d itio n a l" o r “ c h aris­ m atic” , b o th o f th ese nativistic m o v em e n ts w ere a reactio n to the C a n a d ia n an alo g u e to W orsley’s “ E u ro p e a n ” . In a sense, the R ebellion m ay b e view ed as th e struggle o f social system s based on fo rm s o f tra d itio n a l and ch arism atic a u th o rity a gainst a C a n a ­ dian system , based on th e so-called “ rightly c o n stitu te d ” a u th o r­ ity. o r w h at W eb e r called “ ra tio n al-leg a l" a u th o rity . T h e la tte r is san ctio n ed by “ a n established b e lie f in th e 'leg a lity ' o f p a tte rn s o f n o rm ativ e rules a n d th e right o f th o se to a u th o rity u n d e r such rules to issue c o m m a n d s” .62 H ow ever, th e R ebellion m ark ed m o re th a n a rejection o f C a n a d ia n a u th o rity in th e N o rth -W e st: it m ark e d the refusal o f M etis a n d Plains C re e a lik e , to acquiesce to th eir in c o rp o ­ ratio n into a “ w hite settler society” . In defin in g th e p rincipal a ttrib u te s o f w hite settler societies. Leo K u p e r w rites th a t alth o u g h “ racial difference has no intrinsic significance . . . by re aso n o f cu ltu ral e m p h asis a n d stru c tu ra l e la b ­ o ra tio n . . . racial difference a p p e a rs to assum e in d ep e n d en t signif­ icance as a m ajo r d e te rm in a n t o f social re la tio n sh ip s” ,6-’ a n d there is little d o u b t th a t in th e N o rth -W e st o f th e 1870's a n d 1880's in v id io u s racial d istin c tio n s h a d c o m e to th e fore. Based on a

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belief in w h ite su p rem acy , th e e stab lish m en t o f settler societies has no rm ally involved th e p e rm a n e n t settlem ent o f o u tsid ers, the intensity o f w hich norm ally h a d a d irect b earin g on th e intensity o f e th n ic conflict. Such settlem en t usually im plied the e x p ro p ria ­ tion o r o th e r acq u isitio n o f land from th e n ative p o p u latio n s, o r th e e n clo su re o f th e lan d s occu p ied by th e m . T ypically in w hite settler societies, th e a p p a re n t affluence o f th e settlers sta n d s in sh a rp c o n tra st to th e im p o v e rish m en t o f th e native peoples, a n d is perceived by th e la tte r a s th e cause o f th eir p o verty. S ettler societies a re ch ara cte riz ed by “ sta tism ” , th a t is, th e sta te plays a d o m in a n t role in m o st secto rs o f the society, p a rticu la rly in its d ealings w ith th e n ativ e p o p u la tio n . T h e ideologies o f th e c oloniz­ ing se ttle rs norm ally sustain a b e lie f in th e civilizing m ission o f th e colonial pow ers, w ho see them selves as c arrie rs o f th e h igh er values o f w hite civilization to culturally in ferio r peoples, th ereb y justifying d o m in a tio n . F inally, such ideologies, d ep en d in g o n g e o ­ g raphical a n d h istorical factors, p ro v id e th e ra tio n ale for a q u a li­ fied franchise u n d e r such fo rm u las as th e e x ten sio n o f th e v o te to all “ civilized” p ersons, o r for th e ir to tal o r a lm o st total exclusion from d e m o c ratic rights on th e g ro u n d s o f th e inco m p atib ility betw een d e m o c ratic p ro c ess a n d cu ltu ral h e te ro g en e ity .64 T h e settlers o f th e N o rth -W e st, unlike th e fur trad ers, w ere to install them selves p e rm a n en tly . T h e density o f th eir settlem ent w as to be a function o f the so il’s ab ility to su p p o rt them . N a tiv e p o p u latio n s w ere enclosed w ithin reserves a n d th e ir fo rm er lan d s w ere e x p ro p ria te d . T h e relative affluence o f such new com ers as the farm in g in stru cto rs stood in sh a rp c o n tra st to th e grow ing im p o v erish m en t o f n a tiv e p eo p le, a c o n tra st w hich has usually led to a sy n d ro m e o f “ hostile d e p e n d e n c y ” o f N a tiv e on W h ite .65 A nd N a tiv e p e o p le o f th e P rairies m ig h t well im agine th a t in th eir p o v ­ erty they su p p o rte d the settlers' affluence. A s F r. Scollen, w riting from a P lains C re e reserve in July, 1885, c o m p lain ed to F r. Lacom be: “ on this reserve we have a w h o le arm y o f em ployees a tte n d ­ ing to a handful o f In d ian s, receiving large pay o u t o f th e Indian a p p r o p ria tio n m o n e y a n d e a tin g u p In d ia n p ro v is io n s ” .66 M o r e ­ over, relatio n s betw een th e n ative and E u ro -C a n a d ia n w ere a n d re ­ m ain m e d ia te d by an o rg a n o f th e sta te , Indian A ffairs. T h e id eo lo ­ gies o f co lo n izatio n w ere and rem ain sa tu ra te d w ith the b e lie f in the “ civilizing” m ission o f th e colonial pow er, o f the h igher values o f th e co lo n izer a n d o f th e cultural inferiority o f th e native. F inally, the d enial o f “ d e m o c ratic rig h ts” is still reflected in th e policy o f p a te r­ nalistic w a rd sh ip in the C a n a d ia n g o v e rn m e n t’s dealin g s w ith native people.

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T h a t th e N o rth -W e st had b e co m e an a n g lo -c an a d ian w hite settler society by th e end o f th e n in ete en th c en tu ry is b e yond any re aso n a b le d o u b t. In m an y resp ects settler societies are a n artefact o f th e n in ete en th c en tu ry . W ith th e h o rro rs o f tw o w orld w ars yet to co m e, an u n b o u n d e d c o n fid en ce in the p rogress o f civilization seem ed entirely ju stifie d . A s H . A . C . C a irn s noted : “ R ace, state, and religion w ere fused into a c o m p o site w hole. It w as a good tim e to be w hite, B ritish, a n d C h ristia n ” .67 It w as a n a ttitu d e w hich is reflected th ro u g h o u t th e acco u n ts in this v o lu m e and finds expression in m u ch early P ra irie lite ratu re. T he P ro testan t m issionary Rev. R. G . M a c B eth , in his T h e M a k in g o f the C anadian W e st, p ro v id es a typical illustration: E veryone k n o w s how fairly a n d h o n o ra b ly th e In d ian s o f the W est have been tre a te d by th e G o v e rn m e n t, a n d , for th e m ost p a rt, by th eir a g en ts, a n d w e all realize how th e p rogress o f the w orld a n d th e g o o d o f m a n k in d n ecessitate th e a cq u isitio n o f th e land from th o se w ho h av e n o t h a d th e train in g o r the o p p o rtu n ity re q u ire d to fully d ev elo p its resources; b u t, w ithal, th e scene a t o n e o f th ese In d ia n trea tie s h a s its sadness for the tho u g h tfu l o n lo o k er. A s th e m en w ho had o n c e been lords o f th e isles a n d lakes sat m eekly ro u n d in a circle to receive each his han d fu l o f flour a n d piece o f baco n for th e m id -d ay m eal, o n e could n o t help feeling th a t o u r d u ty as a C h ristian people is n o t w holly d o n e w hen w e bestow a m eal, pay a few dollars a n d p ro v id e a re serv a tio n . T h e children o f th e w ild, upon w hose h e ritag e w e have e n te red , m ust b e co m e th e w a rd s o f the n a tio n a n d th e charge o f th e C h u rc h o f C h rist, th a t th eir declining days m ay be cheered a n d b rig h te n ed in th e noblest sense. A s o n e o f an arm ed force I have w itnessed th e s u rre n d e r o f p rincely C re es a n d C h ip p ew y an s b e yond th e b a n k s o f the N o rth S a sk a tc h e w a n — m an y o f them m en o f m agnificent m ould a n d royal b earing -w h o had been incited to rebellion by p e o p le w ho should have know n b e tte r. W hen these m is­ g u id e d m en laid dow n th eir a rm s a n d w ere g u a rd ed by o u r w akeful p ickets, th o u g h ts o f p ity for th eir u n h a p p y p re d ic am e n t filled the m inds o f th eir g u a rd s in th e w atch es o f th e night. T h ese In d ian s m u st b e tau g h t by force, if need be, th e w rong o f rebellion ag ain st a rightly c o n stitu ted a u th o rity th a t is dis­ p o sed to treat them fairly; a n d above all, they m ust b e tau g h t th e sacredness o f h u m an life. B ut seeing th a t in the interests o f progressive civilization we h av e policed th e plains o v er w hich they once ro am ed as “ m o n a rc h s o f all they su rv e y ed ,” th a t we

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h a v e placed lim ita tio n s u p o n them to w hich they w ere w holly un a cc u sto m e d , a n d w hich w ere not p ro v id ed for in th e ir own d a rk c o d e o f ethics, w e o u g h t to b e m o re read y to follow them w ith th e blessings o f peace th an w ith the w aste o f th e sw o rd .',1< T h e w h ite s e ttle r s m e n ta lity , o r m o re g e n e ra lly an im p e ria lis t m en tality , w as n o t restricted to anglo-saxon P ro te stan ts o f M acB eth’s ilk. A s th e a u th o r o f D ix - H u it A n s C h e : les Sauvages. V oy­ a ges e l M issio n s de M gr. H e n ry F a ra n d w rote: N o tre pays n ’a p a s to u jo u rs en la sage p o litiq u e ni la b o n n e fo rtu n e d e co n se rv e r ses c o n q u etes. M a is g ra ce a la liberte laissee a u zele d e ses en fan ts, il a m ain ten u p a rto u t au dela des m ers sa p re p o n d e ra n c e religieuse et civilisatrice. L ’E spagne partage avec n o u s c ette gloire, elle a aussi p lan te la croix k c o te de son d ra p e a u . Si co m m e la F ra n c e, elle a a b a n d o n n e ses c o lo ­ nies a d e s c o n q u e ra n ts a u d ac ie u x , a d e s n a tio n a lites avides, elle y a laissee P influence d e sa foi c ath o liq u e et du zele d e ses m is s io n n a ire s . . . 69 T h e ag en ts o f colonial ex p an sio n , regardless o f th eir ethnicity, expected native p e o p le to m a k e ra th e r d ra stic a d ju stm e n ts to settler n o rm s and values. A s J o h n M cL ean in The In d ia n s o f C a n a d a , rem ark ed : T h e w o rk o f civilizing th e Indian race is su rro u n d e d by in n u m e ra b le , b u t n o t in s u r m o u n ta b le h in d ra n c e s , b e c a u se therein is im plied th e full tran sfo rm a tio n a n d d e v elo p m en t o f the n a tu re o f th e individual, th e c o m p le te o v e rth ro w o f reli­ g io u s, political a n d social c u sto m s, and very m an y chan g es in the d o m estic re la tio n s o f th e p e o p le .70 It is clear th a t those o f M c L e a n 's m en ta lity had little u n d e r­ sta n d in g fo r th e circu m stan ces o f native p e o p le o r o f th e e x ten t o f th e chan g es they d e m a n d e d o f th em . A lth o u g h th eir a ttitu d e prev ailed , it did n o t elicit universal acclaim . E. P auline Jo h n s o n for o n e, w ro te th e ra th e r b itte r p o e m , “ T h e C a ttle T h i e f ’, as a eulogy for a Plains C re e sh o t by settlers: Y ou have cu rsed , a n d called him a C a ttle T h ief, tho u g h you ro b b e d him first o f b re a d — R o b b e d him a n d ro b b e d m y p e o p le look th ere, at th at sh ru n k e n face. S tarv ed w ith a hollow h u n g e r, w e ow e to you a n d y o u r race. W h a t have you left to us o f lan d , w hat have you left o f gam e. W h a t have you b ro u g h t b u t evil, a n d curses since you cam e? H ow have y o u paid us for o u r g am e? how p a id us for o u r land?

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By a b o o k , to save o u r souls from th e sins y o u b ro u g h t in yo u r o th e r h a n d . G o b a ck w ith y o u r new religion, w e never have u n d e rsto o d Y o u r ro b b in g an In d ia n ’s b o d y , a n d m ocking his soul w ith food. G o back w ith y o u r new religion, a n d fin d — if find y o u c a n — T h e h o n est m an y o u h av e ever m a d e from o u t a starving m a n .71 B ut despite such pro tests, th e in co rp o ra tio n o f P rairie In d ian s into a w h ite settler society w as m ea n t to involve th e u p ro o tin g o f tra d itio n a l native c u ltu re a n d th e tran sfer o f all significant d eci­ sio n -m ak in g fro m n ativ e peo p le to se ttle r d o m in a te d agencies. In th is situ atio n , K u p e r arg u es, th ere a re tw o principal avenues o f p o ssib le c h an g e from th e view p o in t o f th e colonized. A t the collective level th e re is “ a process o f g ro u p c o n fro n ta tio n and a cc o m m o d a tio n , in w hich th e re is initially a n increased reliance on th e collective o rg a n iz atio n o f racially d efined g ro u p s, a h e ig h t­ ened a w aren ess o f racial id en tity , a n d a m o re intense h o stility ” .72 T h is strategy w as a d o p te d by th e P lains C re e a n d th e M e tis and it led to th e R e b ellio n . H o w ev er, th e q u a sh in g o f collective resistance a n d th e in carceratio n o f m an y o f th e Plains C re e leaders (w ho w ere e ith e r executed fo r th eir p a r t in the F ro g L ake m assacre a n d o th e r m u rd ers, o r w ere released a fte r th e ir “ c o n v er­ sio n ” to C h ristia n ity )73 e nsured th a t only th e a lte rn a tiv e o f “ in d i­ v id u a te d ” change rem ain ed o p e n . “ In term s o f social stru c tu re ” , states K u p e r, “ in d ividuation is a process by w hich individuals, in c erta in o f th e ir roles, b e co m e d e ta ch e d from th e o rig in a l racial m atrix and e n te r into new re la tio n sh ip s a cro ss racial lines, c rea tin g new interracial social stru c tu re s, form al a n d in fo rm a l” .74 In d iv id u a ted e th n ic a cc o m m o d a tio n ra th e r th an g ro u p acco m ­ m o d atio n h a s n o t pro v en a p a rticu la rly m eaningful a v en u e o f social change fo r th e c o lo n iz e d .75 O n e reaso n for th is is th at in d iv id u a te d e th n ic a c c o m m o d a tio n is in fact p ro fo u n d ly d iscrim i­ n ato ry . A ccording to H . A . C . C a irn s w ho is w riting o f the C e n tra l A frican experience: T h is tec h n iq u e, th e isolation o f chiefs from th eir race and b ack g ro u n d o f th o se w ho felt com pelled to a d m it th eir posses­ sion o f p ra ise-w o rth y q u a litie s w as fairly c o m m o n . It w as a m eth o d w hich lim ited p ra ise to th e individual m en tio n ed and re n d ere d it n o n -a p p lica b le to th e g ro u p as a w hole. C onversely, it indicated th a t th e stereo ty p e o f th e A frican w as so u n fa v o u r­

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ab le th a t only by indicating th a t it d id n o t ap p ly to a p a rticu la r individual o f high capacities w as it possible to avoid c o n tra d ic ­ tio n .76 L argely as a result o f th e false p ro m ise o f in d iv id u a te d ethnic a cc o m m o d a tio n . P ra irie In d ian s have b ecom e, in the o p in io n o f a so c io lo g ist, a k in d o f “ lu m p e n p r o le ta r ia t” , a s u b s tra tu m o f C a n a d ia n society w ith no p a rtic u la r relation to its pro d u ctiv e b asis.7’ T h o se n a tiv e s w ho h av e ex p erienced upw ard social m o b il­ ity h a v e o fte n d o n e so a t c o n s id e ra b le so c ia l, c u ltu ra l a n d p s y ­ c h o lo g ic a l c o st. In d e e d , few m o re th o u g h tfu l e x p re s s io n s o f th e a tte n d a n t p ro b lem s o f in d iv id u a te d e th n ic a cc o m m o d a tio n exist than th e se m i-a u to b io g ra p h ic a l “ T ales o f O ld K ey am ” , w ritte n by E dw ard A h e n ak e w in th e late 19 2 0 ’s .78 Sadly, it also a p p e a rs th at to d ay Plains C re e a n d w hite se ttle r relatio n s consist o f little m o re than a k in d o f reciprocal racist e x p lo ita tio n .79 T o conclude, m an y factors, especially ecological and eco n o m ic c h a n g e s, th e rise o f n a tiv is tic m o v e m e n ts , th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f racial conflict betw een th e co lo n ized a n d colonizing, a n d sheer g o v e rn m e n t in ep titu d e set th e stage for th e F ro g L ake “ m assa­ cre” . U n d o u b te d ly , th e “ m a ssa c re " a n d th e R ebellion itself can b e view ed and dism issed as th e expected vio len t incidents in th e general process o f colo n ialism .80 B ut if these in cid en ts relate to social p ro b le m s w hich have b e en com placently left to d e te rio ra te , as th e m o d ern rural a n d u rb a n g h e tto s o f P ra irie In d ian s w ould certain ly suggest, th en o n e w o n d e rs how long th e spectre o f th at dism al T h u rsd a y m o rn in g in 1885 will rem ain w ith us? W ith th at in m in d , th e p e rs o n a l p e rs p e c tiv e s o n e th n ic c o n flic t th a t follow do n o t seem to h a v e been w ritte n so long ago.

Footnotes

' Debates o f the House o f Commons, April 10. 1885, p. 994. : Quoted in G. Stocking, Race. Culture and Evolution, Free Press. New York. 1968. p. 3. 3 M. G. Smith, "H istory and Social Anthropology". Journal o f the Royal Anthropological Institute, 92: 1962, pp. 73-85. 4 Eg., J. Maquet, The Premise o f Inequality in Ruanda, Oxford Univer­ sity Press. 1954. Cf., I. M. Lewis ed.. History and Social Anthropology, Tavistock, London, 1968: “ Special Issue: Uses o f Ethnohistory in Ethno­ graphic Analysis", American Ethnologist 1: 1974. ' T. D. Regehr, "Historiography of the Canadian Plains After 1870", in R. Allen ed.. A Region o f the Mind, Canadian Plains Studies Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Regina. 1973, p. 98.

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6 E. J. Dosman, Indians: The Urban Dilemma, McClelland and Stewart Ltd., Toronto, 1972, p. 18, 20. 7 Eg.. Waubageshig, “The Comfortable Crisis", in Waubageshig ed.. The Only Good Indian, New Press, Toronto. 1970. * R. G. Wilkinson. Poverty and Progress, Methuen and Co., London. 1973. p. 53. 9 Cf. Fredrik Barth. “ Ecologic Relationships o f Ethnic Groups in Swat North Pakistan” , American Anthropologist. 58: 1956, pp. 1079-1089. 10 Wilkinson, op. cit.. p. 10. 11 Wilkinson, op. cit., p. 19. 12 Wilkinson, op. cit., p. 10. 1 Wilkinson, op. cit.. p. 19. 14 Wilkinson, op. cit., p. 12; For a discussion of the application o f equilib­ rium analysis in sociology and anthropology, see: F. Cancian, “ Functional Analysis o f Change” , American Sociological Review 25: 1960 pp. 818-827; Max Gluckman. “ The Utility o f the Equilibrium Model in the Study o f Social Change” . American Anthropologist, 70: 1968, pp. 219-237. 15 Cf. D.G. Mandclbaum. “ The Westward Movement.” The Plains Cree, American Museum o f Natural History, 37: 1940; M. Giraud. “ Le Milieu H um ain,” Le M etis Canadien, Institute d ’Ethnologie, Paris, 1945, pp. 39-136. 14 Cf. C. Wissler, “ The Influence of the Horse in the Development of Plains Culture” , American Anthropologist. 16: 1914, pp. 1-25: Bruce Cox ed., “ The G rasslands” , Cultural Ecology, C arleton Library 65, McClelland and Stewart Ltd., Toronto, 1973. pp. 169-189. 17 Cf. H. A. Innis, The Fur Trade in Canada. University o f Toronto Press, Toronto. 1956. For an ethnography of the Wood or Swampy Cree see: Alanson Skinner, Notes on the Eastern Cree and Northern Saulteaux. Anthropological Papers o f the American Museum o f Natural History. New York. Part I, 9: 1911. ,l( Cf. W. M. Hlady, "Indian Migrations in Manitoba and the West” , His­ torical and Scientific Society o f Manitoba. Transactions series 3: 1964. pp. 24-53; C. A. Bishop, The Northern Ojibwa and the Fur Trade, Holt. Rine­ hart and Winston. Toronto. 1974, pp. 305-339. 19 Cf. M. G iraud. op. cit., “ La Position Mediatrice des Metis” , pp. 965-993. 20 A. J. Ray Jr.. “ Indian Adaptations to the Forest-Grassland Boundary o f Manitoba and Saskatchewan 1650-1821: Some Implications for Interregional Migration” , The Canadian Geographer. 16: 1972, pp. 103-117. 21 M. G iraud. op. cit.. p. 57; D. Jenness, Indians o f Canada. National Museums of Canada Bulletin, 65, Ottawa, 1934, p. 319. For an ethography o f the Assiniboine see: R. H. Lowie, The Assiniboine. American Museum of Natural History, New York. Part 4: 1909. 22 Cf. R. W. Nicholas, "Factions: A Comparative Analysis", in M. Banton, ed.. Political System s and The Distribution o f Power. Tavistock. London. 1965, pp. 21-61.

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XXVii

23 M. Giraud. op. cit., p. 53. :j D. G. Mandelbaum, op. cit., p. 187. 25 M. Giraud, op. cit., p. 28. 2h Cf. M. MacLeod and W. L. M orton. Cuthbert Grant ofGrantown, Carleton Library 71, McClelland and Stewart Ltd., Toronto, 1974: Aborigines Protection Society, Canada West and the Hudson's Bay Company, Tweedie. London, 1856. - Cf. G . Stanley, The Birth o f W estern Canada, University o f Toronto Press, Toronto, 1961. 2X R. S. Allen, “ Big Bear", Saskatchewan History, 25: 1972, p. 1; cf. Hon. A. Morris, The Treaties o f Canada with the Indians o f Manitoba and the North-W est Territories, Beifords. Clarke and Co., Toronto, 1880. p. 178: "Smallpox had destroyed them (the Cree] by the hundreds a few years before, and they dreaded pestilence and famine.” 29 Z. S. Pohorecky, “ Archeology and Prehistory: T he Saskatchewan Case” , in R. Allen, A Region o f the Mind. op. cit., p. 64; cf. R. K. Andrist, The Long Death. MacMillan. New York, 1964. 111 C f W. Stegner. “The Last Days of the Exterminators” . W o lf Willow, Viking Press, New York. 1966, pp. 73-80. 31 F. C. Roe, “The Extermination o f the Buffalo in Western Canada” , Canadian Historical Review, 15: 1934. pp. 1-23, 213-218; The North American Buffalo, 2nd ed., University of Toronto Press, Toronto, 1970. 32 Hon. A. Morris, op. cit., p. 228. " Cf. F. Turner. Across the Medicine Line, McClelland and Stewart Ltd., Toronto, 1973; G rant MacF.wan, Sitting Bull, Hurtig Publishers, Edmonton, 1973. 34 Quoted in G . Stanley, Louis Riel, Ryerson Press, Toronto, 1963, p. 256. 35 Hon. A. Morris, op. cit., pp. 168-244. 36 Cf. Derek G. Smith, ed., Canadian Indians A nd Law: Selected Docu­ ments 1663-1972, Carleton Library No. 87, McClelland and Stewart Ltd., Toronto, 1975. 37 Edwin T. Denig, Five Indian Tribes o f the Upper Missouri, ed. by J. C. Ewers, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 1968, p. 110. 38 G . Stanley, The Birth o f Western Canada, op. cit.. p. 214. 39 G . Stanley, ibid., p. 179; cf. Robert Jefferson, “ Incidents o f the Rebel­ lion", The Cree Rebellion o f 1884, Battleford Historical Society Publica­ tions, Battleford, Saskatchewan 1: 1926 pp. 19-35, and also his Fifty Years on the Saskatchewan, Canadian Northwest Historical Society, Bat­ tleford, Saskatchewan, I: 1929. pp. 101-160. 40 Mgr. Alexandre Tache, “ La Situation” , Oblate Files, Alberta Provincial Archives, Edmonton. 41 Cf. Indian Agents Reports for 1884. 1885, (Treaty Area No. 6). 42 For ethnographic descriptions of the 'Thirst dance', (known as the ‘Sun dance' among other Plains Tribes), see D. G. Mandelbaum. op. cit., p. 265-271; A. Skinner. “The Sun Dance o f the Plains Cree” , American Museum o f Natural History, New York. 16: 1919. 43 Hon. A. Morris, op. cit., p. 186.

X X v ii i

IN T R O D U C T IO N

44 “ La Sanglante Tragedie de Frog Lake", Le Pairiote de I'Ouest, No. 2, March 4, 1935. 45 Cf. R. S. Allen, “ Big Bear", op. cit.: W. B. Fraser, “ Big Bear. Indian Patriot” , in D. Swainson ed., Historical Essays on the Prairie Provinces, Carleton Library 53. McClelland and Stewart Ltd., Toronto. 1970, p. 71-88; N. Sluman, Poundmaker. Ryerson Press, Toronto, 1967 (a fiction­ alized account). 46 The Cree Rebellion o f 1884, op. cit. 47 G. Stanley. Louis Riel, op. cit., p. 257-8: G. MacEwan, op. cit. p. 201. 48 “ Extraits du Journal du R. P. Andre, Mission de Prince Albert" Missions de la Congregation de Marie immaculee, 91:1885, p. 299. 4l' Eric R. Wolf, Peasant Wars o f the Twentieth Century, Harper and Row Publishers, New York. 1969. p. xv. 50 M. Giraud, op. cit.: A. Skinner, “ Political Organization, Cults and Ceremonies of the Plains Cree", American Museum o f Natural History, New York, 11: 1914, pp. 513-542. 51 Peter Worsley, The Trumpet Shall Sound. Paladin, London, 1970, p. 235. 5: P. Worsley, op. cit., p. 235-6. 53 R. Linton, “ Nativistic Movements", American Anthropologist 45: 1943, p. 230. 54 R. Linton, op. cit., p. 231. 55 R. Linton, op. cit.. p. 233. Cf. James Mooney, The Ghost Dance Religion and the Sioux Outbreak o f 1890, ed. by A. F. C. Wallace, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1965. 57 Norman Cohn, The Pursuit o f the Millenium, Paladin. London, 1970. For a more cross-cultural perspective see: V. Lanternari, The Religions o f the Oppressed. M entor Books, New York, 1965. 58 R. Linton, op cit., p. 232. 59 S. N. Eisenstadt ed., M ax Weber on Charisma and Institution Build­ ing, University o f Chicago Press, Chicago, 1968. p. 46. ,'0 Cf.. Desmond Morton ed.. The Queen v. Louis Riel. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, 1974, pp. 311-325, 350-371. hl Cf.. Trials in Connection With the North-W est Rebellion. 1885. Printed by MacLean, Roger and Co., Ottawa, 1886, pp. 172-260, 261-337. 62 S. N. Eisenstadt. ed., op. cit. p. 46. Leo Kuper, "Political Change in White Settler Societies", in Pluralism in Africa. L. Kuper and M. G . Smith, eds.. University of California Press, Los Angeles, 1969, p. 171. ',4 Paraphrased from L. Kuper. op. cit.. pp. 171-5. 65 Cf. Evrett E. Hagan, On the Theory o f Social Change, Dorsey Press, Holmwood. Illinois, 1962. 66 Fr. Scollen, O .M .I. to Fr. Lacombe, O .M .I.. July 3. 1885, Oblate Files, Alberta Provincial Archives, Edmonton. ('7 H. Alan C. Cairns, Prelude to Imperialism, Routledge, and Kegan Paul, London, 1965. p. 150.

IN T R O D U C T IO N

xxix

68 Rev. R. G . MacBeth, The M aking o f the Canadian West, Wm. Briggs, Toronto, 1898, pp. 19-21. 69 Fernand-Michel, D ix-H uit A ns Chez les Sauvages Voyages et Missions de Mgr. Henry Faraud Eveque d'Anemour, Vicaire Apostolique de Mackenzie. Regis Ruffet et Cie. Successeurs, Paris 1866. (Reprinted by Johnson Reprint Corp. Mouton N. V. 1966) p. vii-viii. (O ur country has not always had the good sense o r good fortune to keep its conquests. But thanks to the free rein given to the zeal o f its progeny, it has m aintained everywhere overseas its preem inent reli­ gious and civilizing influence. Spain shares with us this glory, she also planted the cross alongside her flag. If, like France, she has given up her colonies to bold conquerors, to greedy nationalities, she nonetheless left the influence o f her catholic faith and o f the zeal o f her missionaries 711 John McLean. The Indians o f Canada, C. H. Kelly. London, 1892, p 262. 71 E. Pauline Johnson, Flint and Feather, Paperjacks, Don Mills, 1972 (orig. 1917) p. 13. 72 L. Kuper, op. cit., p. 170. 73 For an account o f the executions, see R. P. Bigonnesse to ? Battleford, 28 Nov. 1885. Oblate Files, Provincial Archives, Edmonton. For an historical assessment o f the trials, see: Sandra E. Bingaman, The North-W est Rebellion Trials 1885, unpublished M .A. thesis, University of Saskatchewan, Regina, 1971. 74 L. Kuper, op. cit. 75 Cf. Gertrud Neuwirth, “ A Weberian Outline o f a Theory o f Commun­ ity: Its Application to the ‘Dark G hetto’” , The British Journal o f Sociology, 20: 1969, pp. 148-163: Raymond Breton, “ Types o f Ethnic Diversity in Canadian Society” , Eighth World Congress o f Sociologists, 1974, pp. 1-34. ,h H. A. C. Cairns, op. cit., p. 115-6. Hugh Brodie, Indians on S k id Row, Northern Science Research Group Publications, Information Canada, Ottawa, 1971. 78 Edward Ahenakew, Voices o f the Plains Cree, (Part 2). McClelland and Stewart Ltd., Toronto, 1973. 79 Neils Braroe, “ Reciprocal Exploitation in an Indian-W hite Commun­ ity” , in M. Nagler ed.. Perspectives on North American Indians, Carleton Library 60, McClelland Stewart Ltd., Toronto, 1972; J. W. Bennett, Northern Plainsmen. Aldine, Chicago, 1969. pp. 142-171. “u Such a framework might be substantially based on: F. Barth, ed.. Ethnic Groups and Boundaries, Universitetforlaget, Oslo, 1969; J. Rex, Race Relations in Sociological Theory, Weidcnfield and Nicholson. Lon­ don. 1970: R. A. Scherm erhorn, Comparative Ethnic Relations, R an­ dom House, New York, 1970.

-

7b

o •-J- -

(from: Jules LeChevallier, o.m .i., Batoche, L es M issionnaires Du Nord-Ouesl Pendant Les Troubles De 1885. Presse Dominicaine, Mon­ treal 1941, p. 100)

1. Frog Lake E d ito rs In tro d u c to ry C o m m en ts A re m a rk a b le fe atu re o f captivity n a rra tiv e s is th a t native peo p le em erge as individuals. T h ey p ro v id e historical a n d eth n o g ra p h ic d a ta , as well as a personal d im e n sio n rarely found in e ith e r strictly e th n o g ra p h ic o r historical d o c u m e n ts. T h is also h a s its d ra w b ac k s, for it is often difficult to distinguish th e a u th o r's insight from his bias. F o rtu n a te ly som eth in g is know n o f C a m ­ e ro n , G o w an lo ck a n d D elaney, th o u g h n o th in g is know n o f S ta n ­ ley (M e su n e k w e p an ). W ith regard to C a m e ro n it a p p e a rs the veracity o f his account is n o t o p e n to q u e stio n , a t least in th e view o f his c o n te m p o ra ries. F r. L egoff said o f C a m e ro n th a t “ un tel h o m m e ne p o u va it dire que la v e rite " .1 O f course, as N e p o w q u a to w (q u o ted in th e Stanley a cc o u n t) asserts, “ M r. C a m e ro n 's story is n o t all tr u e ” . C a m e ro n could h a rd ly have b e en om n iscien t. H ow ever, it is d o u b tfu l w h e th er he deserved th e in n u en d o in W . B. F ra se r’s rem ark “ . . . C a m e ro n . . . fo u n d it c o n v en ien t to c apitalize o n the p o p u la r p reju d ice a n d publish his personal a cc o u n t o f th e tro u b les u n d e r th e title T h e W ar T rail o f B ig B e a r " .1 T o accuse C a m e ro n o f bein g a m an o f his tim e seem s pointless, especially w hen he re ­ trac te d th a t title in th e final editio n o f his a cco u n t (th e rep u b licatio n o f w hich “ . . . w as o n e o f his last go als in life” ).3 A n th ro p o lo g ists rem ain in d eb ted to C a m e ro n for his o b se rv an t a n d intelligent re ­ p o rtin g o f a kind o f conflict situ atio n rarely as well d o cu m en ted . A s fo r G o w a n lo c k a n d D e la n e y , a c c o rd in g to d e s c e n d a n ts o f M rs. D e lan e y ’s fam ily, th e la tte r w as pressured in to p re p a rin g an account by th e G o w an lo ck fam ily, o w n ers o f th e P a rk d a le T im es (T o ro n to ). It a p p e a rs th a t n e ith e r o f th e w om en criticized th e g o v ­ e rn m e n t’s decisions o r policies relatin g to N o rth -W e st for fear o f je o p a rd iz in g their h o p e d -fo r p e n sio n s, w hich, C a m e ro n to th e c o n ­ tra ry , M rs . D e la n e y n e v e r re c e iv e d . A fte r th e R e b e llio n sh e r e ­ tu rn ed to th e O ttaw a V alley a “ b ro k e n w o m a n " a n d su p p o rte d h e r­ self by v a rio u s m eans (w hich included teaching) until h e r d e ath at th e tu rn o f th e c e n tu ry . N o th in g is k n o w n o f M rs . G o w a n lo c k . T h ere exists one o th e r a cc o u n t by a F rog L ake captive, a transcript o f a n interview c o n d u cted in 1967 w ith S alom on P ritchard w ho had been a layhelper at th e local m ission (N o tre D a m e d u Bon C onseil). P ritch ard w as som e o n e h u n d re d a n d five years o f age a t th e tim e o f

2

P E R S O N A L PER SPE C T IV E S O N E T H N IC C O N FL IC T

th e interview a n d u n fo rtu n ately his account a d d s little to o u r u n d e r­ sta n d in g o f th e ev en ts.4 In a m o re sociological vein, it is im possible a t th is p o in t to give a th o ro u g h assessm en t o f th e sta te o f ethnic re la tio n s at F ro g L ake b e fo re th e o u tb re a k o f th e R ebellion. H ow ever, th e follow ing very sim p le fram ew o rk m ay p ro v id e som e insight. T ak in g th e tw o d i­ m en sio n s o f space a n d tim e, o r m o re specifically o f territo ria lity and e th n ic d escen t o r g ro u p affiliatio n , o n e m ay div id e th e p o p u la tio n o f F ro g L ake in to fo u r categories: L ocal N o n -n a tiv e

O lb a te m issionaries H u d s o n ’s Bay C o . em ployees

N a tiv e

W ood C ree

N o n -L o ca l

Indian A g e n t Q uinn F a rm in g In stru c to r D elaney G o v ’t. C o n tra c to r G ow anlock

Big B ear’s Plains C re e

B oth th e R o m an C ath o lic m issio n aries a n d th e H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a n y em ployees had consciously sought o u t th e local natives o r W o o d C re e p o p u la tio n , for religious a n d eco n o m ic reasons respectively. Both o f th e in stitu tio n s th ese in dividuals rep resen ted had a relatively long a n d in tim ate history w ith th e region. H ence they m ay be seen as a local a n d n o n -n a tiv e p o p u la tio n . Both clergy and “ B ay m en " h a d a ra th e r sh o rte r a n d less in tim ate histo ry o f c o n ta ct w ith th e new ly arrived so u th e rn Plains C ree w ho can be described as a n ativ e a n d n on-local p o p u la tio n . T he Indian ag en t, th e farm ing in stru cto r, a n d th e g o v e rn m e n t c o n tra c ­ to r w ere also new arriv a ls a n d w ere th e re p re se n tativ es o f ou tsid e a u th o rity a n d o f in stitu tio n s im posed on th e native p o p u latio n as a w hole. T h e y re p re se n ted th e g o v e rn m e n t in stitu tio n s responsible for b ringing Big B ear’s Plains C re e from th e S o u th Saskatch ew an Valley to Frog L ake. O f th e p o p u latio n at F ro g L ak e, this n o n -n a tiv e a n d n on-local seg m en t w as th e m o st tran sie n t a n d has its parallel in m ost n o rth ern C a n a d ia n settlem en ts today. If eth n ic ity o r d escen t o v errid es territo ria lity as a p rinciple for g ro u p fo rm a tio n , then o n e m ay a n tic ip a te th a t stro n g b o n d s should h a v e p revailed a m o n g natives (particularly if they share a language) as well as a m o n g n o n -n a tiv es. O n e m ig h t also expect an ancillary b o n d betw een g ro u p s o f th e sam e “ lo cality” , and no

l-R O G I.A K E

3

such b o n d betw een g ro u p s w hich a re n e ith e r affiliated by id en tifi­ cation w ith a given d escent g ro u p n o r by “ locality” . In th e “ m a ssa c re " th e “ ag g resso rs” w ere th e Plains C re e, o r th e n on-local natives w ho a p p ea le d to th eir co m m o n eth n ic ity to cajole th e W ood C re e for th e ir su p p o rt o f th e v e n tu re . T h e victim s o f th e “ m assacre” w ere prim arily th e non-local n o n ­ natives. N o ta b ly , p erso n al reg ret w as e xpressed by local a n d non-local natives a t th e m u rd ers o f th e tw o local and no n -n ativ e priests, b u t no such regret w as expressed a t th e m u rd ers o f th e n o n ­ local n on-natives. T h e o n e g ro u p n o t acco u n ted for in th is fram ew ork are the local a n d non-local M etis. T h e y w ere an a m b ig u o u s e n tity as they could claim affiliation w ith e ith e r natives o r non -n ativ es. P erh ap s as a result o f th eir in te rm ed iary e th n ic identity, tw o M etis, a t no sm all expense to them selves, safeguarded th e tw o non-local a n d n o n -n a tiv e cap tiv e w om en from th e a n tic ip a te d d e p re d a tio n s o f th e n atives. By w ay o f co n tra st, th e local n o n -n a tiv es ta k e n c a p ­ tive (all affiliated w ith th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p an y ) a p p e a r to have enjoyed relatively m o re security as far as th eir lives w ere c o n ce rn ed . M o reo v er. W . B. C a m e ro n w as n o t safeg u ard ed by a M etis b u t by a local nativ e. Y ellow Bear. H e n ce social conflict a t Frog L ak e w as a p p a re n tly based on principles o f b o th ethnicity and “ lo cality” . P resu m ab ly if sim ila r ecological a n d social stresses c o n fro n te d a n o th e r p o p u latio n c o m p o sed o f like segm ents then sim ilar p a tte rn s o f conflict w ould em erge. In fact, m any n o rth ern C a n a d ia n c o m m u n itie s, w hich a re in a sense, m icrocosm s o f plural so ciety ,5 a re structurally very sim ilar to th e F ro g L ake settlem ent o f 1885. O n e suspects th a t m an y o f th e social tensions w hich fo u n d violent expression a t F ro g L ake to d a y find expres­ sion in d ru n k e n c o m p o rtm en t in those n o rth ern co m m u n itie s.6

Footnotes 1. From “ Fr. Legoff During the N orth-W est R ebellion", this volume. (“Such a man could not but speak the truth” , emphasis is original author's). 2. W. B. Fraser, “ Big Bear, Indian Patriot” , in D. Swainson ed.. Histor­ ical Essays on the Prairie Provinces, Carleton Library 53. McClelland and Stewart Ltd.. Toronto 1970. p. 71. 3. Personal communication, K. R. Coppock. 4. A transcript o f the interview is available from the Glenbow-Alberta Foundation, Calgary. A condensed version was published in the Regina Leader- Post. 1/2 /6 7 .

4

P E R S O N A L P ER SPEC TIV ES O N E T H N IC C O N F L IC T

5. Cf.. W. Eades, Locals and Outsiders, unpublished M. A. dissertation. Memorial University of Newfoundland. 1971; J. J. and I. Honigmann. Arctic Townsmen. Canadian Research Centre for Anthropology, Ottawa. 1970; R. Slobodin, M etis o f the M ackenzie District. Canadian Research Centre for Anthropology, Ottawa. 1966: D. G. Smith, Natives and Outsi­ ders: Pluralism in the M ackenzie River Della, unpublished Ph.D. disser­ tation. Harvard University, 1971. 6. Cf.. MacAndrcw. C. and R. B. Edgerton. Drunken Comportment. Aldine, Chicago, 1969.

Blood Red The Sun,* (W illiam Bleasdell C am eron)

In tro d u c tio n T h a t w ide and splendid land, d o m in a te d only yesterday by th e elem ents, b u t now in thrall to th e use o f m an . th e p io n ee r W est, has b een th e stage for m any a g rim a n d stirrin g d ra m a . T h is is th e sto ry o f one o f th em , th e record o f a n event know n to d ay as th e F ro g L ake M assacre. I w as p resen t a t th e Frog L ak e M assacre a n d escaped by the slim m arg in o f o n e h u n d re d p aces th e fa te th a t o v e rto o k m y hapless fellows. F o r m o n th s a fte rw a rd the u n ex p ected re p o rt o f a gun p u t m y h e art in m y m o u th , p a in te d savages plunged in m y d ream s a t early daw n th ro u g h b e lts o f d a rk firs upon m y flying footsteps, bullets sang in m y e ars o r found th e ir m ark in m y flesh, and I aw o k e g a sp in g a n d u n a b le in th e first few seconds o f consciousness to convince m yself th a t it w as n o t all a h o rrib le reality. L o oking back on th at now d ista n t d a te a n d thin k in g o v er th e flow o f p e rilo u s tu rn s in events piling sw iftly o n e on a n o th e r, th e m o re clearly th an ever b e fo re I see how close w as m y brush w ith d e a th a n d w o n d e r th a t I cam e th ro u g h it a n d lived. T h e sto ry is a p lain o n e a n d it will be told plainly. A n d if th e d ra m a tic setting, th e ro m an tic a tm o sp h e re o f a w ild a n d lonely land, th e sm o k e o f teepees a n d th e native eloquence o f m en, n a k e d a n d b ro w n a s lea v es in a u tu m n , d o n o t in v ite th e s e e k e r o f th e sen satio n al a n d m elo d ram a tic in lite ratu re, th e tale is not for him . A n d first, a w ord a b o u t th e setting. F ro g L ak e, a sh im m erin g expanse o f blue w a ter, lies ten m iles n orth o f th e N o rth S askatchew an river, w ith w hich it is con n ected by a creek b earin g th e sam e n a m e , in w h at is now the pro v in ce o f A lb erta. T h e settlem ent to dignify it by th e n a m e — lay a t the foot o f th e lake. T h e re w ere th e buildings o f g o v ern m en t Indian agency, th e H u d so n 's Bay C o m p a n y trad in g p o st, the R o m an C ath o lic m ission, a n d th e sto re o f a “ free” tra d e r nam ed Dill. O n th e creek, tw o m iles aw ay, a d a m u n d e r co n stru ctio n m ark ed th e site o f a sm all g rist m ill w aiting to be built fo r the C a n ad ian Indian D e p a rtm e n t. T h e c o n tra c to r, Jo h n C . G o w an lo ck , lived w ith his young wife in a log h o u se on th e b a n k o f th e creek * For source note and reference, see p. 157.

6

P E R S O N A L PER SPE C T IV E S O N ET H N IC C O N F L IC T

nearb y , and his clerk, W illiam C . G ilch rist, lodged w ith his em ployer. C lu sterin g a b o u t th e lak e w ere th e reserves o f several b a n d s o f Indians. T h e C ree natio n is d iv id ed into tw o branches. W o o d and P la in s C re e s . T h e fo rm e r w h o s e p ro p e rty th e s e re se rv e s w ere d iffered w idely in c h a ra c te r a n d m ode o f life from th e ir b re th ­ ren o f th e plains. T h ey w ere solitary h u n te rs a n d tra p p e rs afo o t, th e m ain stay o f th e S ask atch ew an valley fur tra d e , a n d they had lived fo r g e n e ra tio n s a t p eace w ith th e w h ite trad e rs a n d the m issionaries. T h e ir h u n tin g te rrito ry w as th e w ooded country n orth o f the N o rth S askatchew an river a n d they seldom v e ntured on th e plain s to th e south a m o n g th e ir m o re tru cu len t kinfolk. T h e Plains C rees, on th e o th e r h a n d , p itc h e d their lodges in the g re at o pen territo ry betw een th e N o rth a n d S o u th S askatchew ans, w here in c o m p a n ies a n d m o u n te d they ran buffalo a n d w aged incessant w a r a g ain st th e ir h e re d ita ry foes, th e B lackfoot. But their h a n d s w ere a g ain st th ose o f alm ost every neig h b o rin g trib e a s well and they m ad e freq u e n t raid s into th e lan d s o f these e nem ies a n d w ere in tu rn ra id e d by th em . T h ey w ere b e tte r o ra to rs , m o re crafty, savage a n d d a rin g th an w ere th eir relatives o f th e w oods. Still fa rth e r to th e n o rth lay th e territo ry o f yet a n o th e r race o f fu r h u n te rs a n d trap p e rs, th e C h ip p ew y an s. T hese In d ian s, while, lik e th e A p a c h e s , o f th e w id e ly -d is trib u te d A th a p a s c a n sto c k , h a d n o n e o f th e aggressive c h ara cte ristics o f th a t form idable tribe; they w ere a tim id peo p le w h o w ould d o an y th in g b u t fight and they w ere in subjection to th e C rees. T h is b o o k w as o riginally n a m e d T h e W a r T rail o f B ig B ea r, a title I have long since recognized as in a p p ro p ria te a n d m isleading. In this fo u rth editio n it h a s th ere fo re been given a new title. B lo o d R e d th e S u n , o n e w hich fits, a s will b e seen in th e develo p m en t o f th e narrativ e. T h e foregoing p a rticu la rs will be an aid to th e re ad ier u n d e r­ standing o f w h a t follow s. W .B .C .

M ead o w L ake, S ask atch ew an , F e b ru a ry I, 1950.

C ontents

TH E FR O G LAKE SETTLEM EN T

8

T H E A N N U IT Y PA Y M EN T S AT FO R T PITT

I 1

W H E N P O U N D M A K E R D E FIE D T H E N .W .M .P . TH E W IN T E R O F 1 8 8 4 - 5

28

BEFORE TH E OUTBREAK

30

BIG -LIE DA Y

33

IN T H E P O W E R O F T H E H O S T IL E S THE MASSACRE

36

39

OUT OF THE GLOOM IN T H E C R U C IB L E

48 55

BIG BE AR S C O R E S H IS F O L L O W E R S A C O U N C IL O F W AR

TH E FALL O F FO RT PITT THREE SCOUTS

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PE R IL O U S M OM ENTS DA YS IN C A M P

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AN IN D IA N C A N N IB A L

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IN T H E R E D M A N ’S B O O K M O R E D A Y S IN C A M P

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93

THE T U R N IN G OF T H E TIDE TH E T H IR S T D A N C E M EEM IN O O K

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65

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T H E B A T T L E O F F R E N C H M A N ’S B U T T E SAFE

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W IT H T H E A LBERTA FIE L D F O R C E FO RT PITT O N CE M ORE T H E IN D IA N TR A ILS TH E E X E C U T IO N S CO N C LU SIO N

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135 141

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TH E F R O G LA K E M E M O R IA L

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PE R S O N A L P E R SPE C T IV E S O N ET H N IC C O N F L IC T

It f e l l in th e q u iet night. T h ere was never a so u n d to k en ; B ut a ll o f the w oods to the right a n d th e le ft L a y f d l e d with th e p a in te d m en. STEVENSON

The F rog L a k e S e ttle m e n t F o u r h u n d re d m iles east o f th e g re at c o n tin e n ta l b a c k b o n e o f N o rth A m e ric a, th e R o ck y M o u n ta in s, a n d six m iles n o rth o f the N o rth S ask atch ew an R iver, a collection o f su b stan tial log b u ild ­ ings in th e year 1885 had reached th e d ignity o f a sm all civilized co m m u n ity know n as th e F ro g L ak e S ettlem ent. T h e S ask atch ew an is th e g ra n d river o f th e old C an ad ian N o rth -w e st T e rrito rie s. R ising in th e R ockies, it flows east, d ra in ­ ing m o st o f th a t im m ense sw eep o f hill a n d p la in , forest, lake and m uskeg th ro u g h its c o n n ec tio n s in to th e b ro a d A rctic reservoir o f H udson Bay. L ike M ississippi, S ask atch ew an is a C re e o r A lg o n ­ quin w o rd and m ea n s “ S w ift-ru n n in g .” D u rin g m an y years ste am b o ats sw eated th e ir w ay fifteen h u n d re d m iles up th e to r­ tu o u s ch an n e ls o f th e m ain stream a n d its tw o c h ie f b ra n ch e s, the N o rth a n d S outh S ask atch ew an s, w ith m erch an d ise for F o rt E d m o n to n , then a tra d in g c en tre o f th e H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p an y , now th e c ap ital city o f A lb e rta , a n d slipped back on its hurrying flood w ith peltries in rich p a ck s on th eir w ay to th e w o rld ’s fur m a rk e t at L o n d o n . F ro g L ake, for m an y y ears follow ing 1885, as a place o f h u m an a b o d e no longer existed. It fell back into th e e m b ra ce o f th a t w ilderness from w hich it w as once in p a rt w rested . T he m ystery o f silence b ro o d e d o v e r it. T h e pilo ts o f its first feeble steps to w a rd an o rd e re d p ro g ress slept b e n e a th its g rass-to p p ed hillsides, a n d ash e s covered th e g ro u n d w h ereo n stood th eir h a b i­ tatio n s. T h e trav eller passed q uickly alo n g th e trail leading th ro u g h it a n d c am p ed a t nig h t aw ay from its so m b re associa­ tions. Even th e savage a u th o r o f its d eso latio n sh u n n ed a spot w h ere in th e d a rk his u n q u ie t fancy co n ju re d up th e accusing sh ad es o f stu n n e d a n d m a rty re d victim s. F o r on the m o rn in g o f A pril 2nd in th a t year o f 1885 th e red m an w hose h o m e this w ilderness w as a ro se w ith h is fierce b lood galloping in his ears and casting a sid e his dissem bled am ity, struck to the e arth the in tru d e r u p o n his heritage. T h a t p a le sk in n ed stra n g er h a d com e b oldly u p o n th e land as

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tho u g h it had belonged to h im . T ru e, a trea ty h a d been m ad e, b u t h e did not regard th e g o d s, th e tra d itio n s o r the cu sto m s o f its p e o p le . H e scoffed at the w isdom o f its chiefs a n d p ro p h e ts. H e tre a te d them n o t as equals a n d b ro th e rs but as children, foolish, u n ta u g h t. H e w ould have show n them a new m a n n e r o f life. T h e y cared n o th in g a b o u t a n y new m a n n e r o f life; they w ere satisfied w ith life as they knew it. Except th a t they h a d th o u g h t th a t life w ould have been easier, so m eh o w , a fte r the trea ty w as signed. A t first had they m ad e him w elcom e, sh a rin g th eir m ea t and c am p fire according to th e a n cien t usages o f th e red peoples. T h en for a tim e they had m arvelled a n d e n d u re d and spoken in secret council. A n d a t length w hen th e o p p o rtu n ity arose they had throw n o ff the m ask o f subm ission to th e new o rd e r o f things th at had c o m e u n invited upon them a n d rifle a n d to rch in h a n d sped to th e w ork o f vengeance and d e stru ctio n . It is th e story o f th e F ro g L ak e M assacre I have to tell. T h ere is n o th in g p retty a b o u t it. A sta in d a rk a n d b lo o d y on th e page o f C a n a d ia n history, th a t is all it is. Y et as h isto ry it is w orth preserving. 1 lived at F ro g L ak e, w as p resen t a t th a t m assacre and narrow ly escaped th e fate th at o v e rto o k m y luckless fellows. F o r m o n th s a fterw ard th e unexpected re p o rt o f a gun put m y h e a rt in m y m o u th . In m y d re a m s p a in te d savages raced yelling a fte r m e •at early daw n th ro u g h belts o f d a rk firs, o v er knolls, across valleys; bullets sang in m y e ars o r b uried them selves in m y flesh; and I a w o k e gasping a n d u n a b le in th e first seconds o f c o n sc io u s­ ness to convince m yself th a t it w as n o t all a h o rrib le reality. Even a fte r all these y ears I d o not o ften care to dw ell in m em o ry upon th a t dread fu l tim e. But alw ays I have felt th a t it w ould o n e day b e m y p a rt to set dow n faithfully w h a t I knew a n d saw a n d it is in th a t feeling th a t this is being w ritte n . F o rtu n a te ly I a m not d e p e n d e n t on m em o ry a lo n e , w hich m ight p ro v e fickle. C o p io u s n o tes con cern in g th e events, p re s­ erved from th e tim e o f th eir occu rren ce, affo rd a basis for co n fi­ d en ce a n d m ak e th e w ork c o m p a rativ ely easy. T h e story is a plain o n e a n d I shall e n d ea v o u r to tell it plainly. N e ith e r is th e re place in it for m uch play o f im a g in atio n , a n d if th e d ra m a tic setting, th e ro m a n tic a tm o sp h e re o f a w ild a n d lonely land, th e sm o k e o f teepees a n d th e n ativ e e lo q u e n ce o f m en nak ed and b row n as leaves in a u tu m n , w hich are in se p ara b le from the bald a n d sim ple n a rra tiv e , d o not invite th e d e v o u re r o f th e sensational and m el­ o d ra m a tic in lite ra tu re th e tale is n o t fo r him . A few w o rd s a t th e o u tse t respecting th e c o u n try a n d th e

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PERSONAL. P E R S P E C T IV E S O N E T H N IC C O N F L IC T

v a rio u s b a n d s o f In d ia n s in h ab itin g it will sim plify m y w ork and a n tic ip a te th e necessity for h in d e rin g e x p la n atio n s in th e b o d y o f th e narrativ e. T h e settlem en t o f F ro g L ak e consisted o f th ree m ain g ro u p s o f b u ild in g s— g o v e rn m e n t, H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a n y a n d R o m an C ath o lic m ission: th e sto re o f a tra d e r n a m e d G e o rg e D ill, a n d a sm all g rist m ill in course o f c o n stru c tio n . T h e re w ere th e dw ell­ ings o f th e In d ian ag en t, farm in g in stru cto r, in te rp rete r, the N o rth -w e st M o u n te d Police b a rra c k s, stores, blacksm ith shop, stables and o u th o u se s: th e H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a n y 's trad in g shop, sto re , dw elling a n d stable: th e m ission church a n d dw elling. T h e m ill a n d residence o f its b u ild e r, J o h n C . G o w an lo ck , lay som e tw o m iles n e are r th e S ask atch ew an th an th e m ain settle­ m en t, located a t th e foot o f F ro g L ake, a b eau tifu l sheet o f w ater fifteen m iles in length, con n ected w ith th e S askatchew an through a creek b earin g th e sam e n am e. T h e settlem en t w as in the c e n tre o f a reservation o f several sq u a re m iles belo n g in g to th re e b a n d s o f W o o d C re e In d ian s. On this reserv atio n , w ithin a ra d iu s o f th ree m iles, w ere scattered the houses o f th e W o o d C rees. T h e region is rolling and diversified. Sm all lakes sleep in th e hollow s betw een th e hills; the p ra irie s are in terspersed w ith bluffs o f p o p la r, w illow , b irch , a n d spruce. F e a th e re d g a m e , ra b b its a n d fish a b o u n d ; d eer, m oose a n d furb earin g a nim als a re also p lentiful in th e vicinity. It w as d u e -to these n a tu ra l a d v an tag e s, c o m b in e d w ith th e rich soil, th a t the land h a d been ch o sen by th e W o o d C re es as a h o m e for th em ­ selves a n d th e ir fam ilies. T h e C re e n a tio n is d ivided into tw o b ra n ch e s w hich, speaking practically th e sam e language, d iffer w idely in c h ara cte r a n d m ode o f life. T h e Plain C rees are b e tte r o ra to rs , m o re active, w arlike, crafty a n d savage th a n th eir W o o d C ree b re th re n . Big B ear and P o u n d m a k er w ere b o th Plain C rees, th o u g h P o u n d m a k e r w as elected a c h ie f only a few y e ars b e fo re th e rebellion, w hile Big B ear w as an h e red ita ry c h ie f a n d b o re th e re p u ta tio n o f having as a yo u n g m an been th e b rav est w a rrio r a m o n g th e C rees. Big Bear w as ra th e r sh o rt o f sta tu re for a n In d ian a n d o f stro n g e r and m o re c o m p a ct b u ild th an th e o rd in a ry red m a n . H is chest w as en o rm o u s. H e h a d a large h e a d , thick n eck , b ro a d forehead and sm all cu n n in g deep -set tw inkling black eyes. H is nose w as long a n d p ro m in e n t, th e nostrils thick a n d stro n g , his lips thin and straight and his chin a n d ja w sq u a re a n d pow erful. H is general a p p ea ran c e w as th a t o f a reso lu te p o litic savage and b o rn leader o f m en.

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T h e Plain C re es w ere th e h e re d ita ry e n em ies o f th e B lackfeet. T h eir territo ry w as th e g re a t p lain s betw een th e N o rth a n d South Saskatchew an^, w h e re in b a n d s a n d m o u n te d they h u n ted buffalo, fought th eir b a ttles a n d w hence they m ad e p re d a to ry excursions into th e c o u n tries o f n e ig h b o u rin g tribes. T h e W o o d C re e s , o n th e o t h e r h a n d , w e re a race o f s o lita ry h u n te rs a n d tra p p e rs a fo o t. T h e y lived in th e w ooded c o u n try n o rth o f the N o rth S ask atch ew an and seldom v en tu re d on th e plain s a m o n g th eir m o re w arlike b re th re n . T h ey w ere th e b a c k ­ b o n e o f th e fur tra d e in th e S ask atch ew an c o u n try a n d had for years lived a t p e ac e w ith w hite tra d e rs a n d m issionaries. T hey had a cq u ired som e skill in a g ric u ltu re , w hich they follow ed w hen not engaged in th e ir regular business o f tra p p in g furs. T h e Indian is alw ays a beggar a n d th e W o o d C re es possessed this c h ara cte ris­ tic alo n g w ith th e o th e r tribes. Still fa rth e r to th e n o rth , stretch in g well do w n to w a rd the A rctic O cean , lay th e te rrito ry o f a n o th e r race o f fur h u n ters, th e C h ip p ew y an o r A th a b asca n fam ily o f tribes. H aving now d istinguished th e differen t n a tio n s having a place in th is n a rra tiv e . I m ay begin m y story.

T h e A n n u ity P a y m e n ts a t F ort P itt It w as O c to b er, 1884, a n d th e Plain C re es o f Big B ear's b and w ere cam p ed ab o v e th e N o rth S ask atch ew an R iver n e ar F o rt Pitt. T h e In d ian s w ere assem bled to receive th e ir a n n u ities, w hich w ould b e p a id a t P itt on th e 20th o f th a t m o n th . U n d e r th e treaty th e chiefs received each tw enty-five dollars, councillors fifteen, all o th e rs— m en , w o m en , c hildren five d o lla rs each every year "w h ile g rass grew a n d w ater r a n .” F o rt Pitt w as an old a n d im p o rta n t trad in g -p o st o f th e H u d ­ so n 's Bay C o m p a n y , thirty-five m iles from F ro g L ake. G e o rg e Dill a n d I had m ad e th e ro u n d o f th e p a y m e n ts at th e vario u s reservations w ith a tra d in g o u tfit in c o m p e titio n w ith o th e r tra d ­ ers for a share o f th e In d ian s’ crisp new notes. N ow o u r ten ts w ere p itc h e d near th e Indian lodges in read in ess for th e business th at w ould follow th e last a n d largest p a y m e n t, th a t to Big Bear and his b a n d . T h e In d ia n 's d a y o f affluence is soon past: his m oney is g o n e a lm o st a s soon a s h e receives it. A new p ro p h e t a n d c h am p io n h a d arrived a m o n g the b a n d . I had m et L ittle P o p la r a t F ro g L ake a few days before. H e had com e from F o rt Pitt w ith an o rd e r o n Jo h n D elaney, th e farm ing

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in stru cto r, for p rovisions. I lea rn ed later how h e had secured it. O n th e trail h e h a d e n c o u n te re d th e g o v e rn m e n t in sp ecto r o f Indian agencies. T h e follow ing d ialo g u e ensued: L ittle Poplar: “ W h o a re y o u ? " Inspector: “ M e? I visit th e reserv atio n s every year to see th a t th e In d ia n s a re p ro p e rly tre a te d , th a t they have w h at is necessary. I'm a n in sp e cto r." L ittle P oplar: “ H u h ! T h a t’s w h a t 1 a m , to o — a n inspector. I com e from th e c o u n try o f th e K itc h e m o k o m a n u k (A m e ric a n s— L ong-K nives): I w a n ted to k n o w w h e th er o r n o t m y p e o p le w ere well tre a te d . T h ey a re hungry, I find. G iv e m e a m u sin a g en - I w ant th irty sacks o f flour, ten sacks o f b a co n , te a , sugar; th a t will b e g o o d m edicine. Q u ic k !” H e g o t th e o rd e r. I w as sta n d in g w ith D elan ey in fro n t o f the agency w hen L ittle P o p la r d ro v e up w ith his C ro w b ro th e rin-law . H e w as a h a n d so m e In d ian . A bove m edium height, straig h t as a ru sh , m uscular, w ith clean sq u a re-c u t features, full ja w , long p laited black h a ir, a quick to n g u e a n d cool aggressive m an n e r, it w as a p p a re n t a t o n c e th a t he w as a savage b o u n d to b e a lea d er a m o n g his p e o p le a n d th a t a w hite m an to deal with him successfully w ould h av e to possess exceptional tac t a n d c o u r­ age. H e w ore a fancy green b lan k e t, leggings profusely b ead ed , m occasins, a w ide leath er b e lt w ith a heav y knife a n d C o lt's revolver stuck in it, a b ro a d S te tso n h a t encircled by a b rass ban d a n d eagle plu m es, brass e arrin g s a n d bra ss b a n d s on his wrists. W ith o u t m en tio n o f the o rd e r h e stepped u p to D elaney a n d said curtly: “ I w a n t th irty sacks o f flour, ten o f b a co n , ten p o u n d s o f tea a n d fifty p o u n d s o f su g a r.” D elan ey looked a t th e im p u d e n t savage w ith som e curiosity. “ I d o n ’t k n o w y o u ,” h e said . “ Y ou m ay b e in treaty a n d again you m ay n ’t. W e d o n 't give stu ff even to trea ty In d ian s w henever they ta k e a n o tio n to ask for it. T o stran g e In d ian s a n d n ontreaty In d ian s w e d o n 't give a n y th in g a t a ll.” L ittle P o p la r's low er lip stuck o u t. “ W h y d o e sn 't th e Big C h ief W o m an send ag en ts w ho can d o som ething? It is m en like y o u ” h e looked insolently a t D e la n e y — “ th a t cause tro u b le betw een th e In d ian s a n d th e police like they had at P o u n d m a k e r's last su m m e r!” H e drew from u n d e r his b lan k e t th e in sp ecto r’s o rd e r and h a n d ed it to D elaney. “ N o w , am I g oing to get th e provisions?” h e sneered. O f co u rse he g o t th em . D elan ey could not refuse, tho u g h he

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was plainly nettled . T h e supplies w ere load ed on the c arts th at had trailed L ittle P o p lar a n d h e re tu rn e d to P itt. T . T . Q u in n , th e In d ian ag en t, follow ed a d a y o r tw o la te r w ith th e cash for th e p a y m e n t to Big B ear’s b a n d — w hich brings m e back w h ere I began. L ittle P o p la r h a s b e e n in tr o d u c e d th is e a rly in o r d e r to sh o w th e class o f m en w ho led w h a t h a d long been recognized as th e m ost tu rb u le n t a n d w arlike b a n d o f savages in the C a n ad ian N o rth w est, and b ecause his influence a n d th a t o f o th e r chiefs served to fo m en t th e d isco n ten t a n d restlessness in th eir follow ers which w as so soon to c u lm in ate in one o f th e m o st san g u in ary events in th e histo ry o f th e C a n a d ia n g o v e rn m e n t’s relations w ith its In d ian w ards. O n O c to b e r 19th A g e n t Q u in n se n t w ord to Big B ear th a t he w ould pay th e b a n d a t th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y ’s p o st in the m o rn in g . T h e In d ian s arrived p ro m p tly . T h e y filled th e office in th e big fort building w here Q u in n w as seated: they packed th e hall, th e sta irs, th e d o o rs and th e o pen w indow s a n d trailed aw ay into th e sq u are betw een th e b u ild in g o u tsid e. All w ere p ainted a n d c arried guns u n d e r th eir blankets. L ittle P o p la r w as first to sp e a k . H e had co m e, he said , from across th e line; c o m e to see his p e o p le , d o som eth in g fo r them . H e h a d h e ard th a t they w ere h u n g ry . T h a t w as so. T h e A m e ri­ cans tre a te d th eir In d ian s b e tte r— gave them m o re to e a t, m o re clothes. H e w ould n o t speak m uch now . H e w ould h e ar th e o th ers. A fte r th at he w ould speak. W an d e rin g S p irit, w a r chief, sp o k e next. H e lam ented the d isa p p ea ran c e o f th e buffalo, th e red m a n ’s o n e friend, a n d th e In d ian s’ d e stitu tio n , c o n tra stin g it w ith the a b u n d an c e o f th e past. O th e r leaders follow ed, speaking in th e sam e stra in . T h e n L ittle P o p la r ro se again a n d w alking o u t in fro n t o f Q u in n , said: “ A re you K a p w a ta m u t? ” Q u in n raised his eyes. “ T h a t’s w h a t they call m e ,” he replied. “ M ay I look a t yo u ?” th e In d ian w en t on. Six a n d a h a lf feet tall, sp a re, athletic, b ro a d -sh o u ld ere d , exceedingly active, T h o m a s T ru e m a n Q u in n w as a splendid figure o f a m an . A n ativ e o f M in n e so ta, n o tw ith sta n d in g his m ixed Sioux a n d Irish -F re n ch blood he w as well ed u ca te d , exceptionally intelligent and had served w ith d istin c tio n in a W isconsin regi­ m ent th ro u g h th e A m erican C ivil W a r. A fterw ard he h a d seen m any exciting a d v e n tu re s w hile em ployed as a scout w ith th e regular arm y in fro n tie r Indian cam p aig n s. It w as from his k n o w l­

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edge o f Ihe S ioux language th a t h e received from th e C rees his nam e o f K a p w a ta m u t o r T h e Sioux S peaker. H e ro se leisurely, tu rn e d co m p letely ro u n d before L ittle P oplar, sat d o w n ag ain . H e looked a t L ittle P oplar. “ Seen all you w a n t? ” h e a sk ed . T h e Indian scow led. “ I h a v e h e ard o f y o u !” he re to rte d . “ I h eard o f you aw ay o v er th e o th e r side o f th e M issouri R iver. 1 started to c o m e th is w ay a n d th e fa rth e r I cam e th e m o re 1 h e ard . Y o u 're th e m an th e g o v e rn m e n t sent up h e re to say 'N o ! ' to everything th e In d ian s asked y o u !” L ittle P o p lar b e n t over a n d sh o t th e last sentence a t Q u in n like a slug from a c ata p u lt. T h e re w as intense silence in th e room . T h e a g e n t signed to him to p roceed. “ N o w , I am g oing to ask y o u so m eth in g . I will ask it three tim es before I sit d o w n . It is long since th e buffalo w ent aw ay, m y p e o p le a re h u n g ry a n d w ould like to e at fresh m eat again. W ill you kill a n ox b e fo re th e tre a ty m o n ey is p a id ? ” Q u in n shook his h e ad . “ T h e g o v e rn m e n t gives c attle to the In d ian s for w ork a n d m ilk, n o t to kill. T h e re ’s no b e e f for y o u .” L ittle P o p lar w en t on: “ I crossed th e line a n d travelled n o rth . By a n d by I cam e to w here th e grass had been to rn u p . T w o iron lines h a d been laid do w n a n d stretch ed aw ay east and w est as far as I could see. (T h e C a n a d ia n Pacific R ailw ay.) I said to myself, ‘W h at is this?’ I th o u g h t for a m o m e n t a n d th en I said: ‘H a l, yes; I k now ! T h is is th e p e w a b isk o m e sk a n o , th e iron ro ad th a t the g o v e rn m e n t has b u ilt to carry fo o d a n d c lo th in g in th eir big w agons to th e p o o r starv in g In d ia n s .’ A nd I w ant them to bring m oney o u t th e sam e w ay, in th e big w agons, a n d to th ro w it out on b o th sides o f th e iron ro ad so th a t everybody can have plenty o f it!” H e tu rn ed to Q u in n . “ F o r th e second tim e , I ask: W ill you give us beef?” “ I’ve an sw ered th a t q u e stio n . Y ou h e ard w h at I sa id ,” replied th e ag en t. “ V ery w ell!” L ittle P o p lar raised his voice. “ W e will have the g o v ern m en t build a telegraph line from h e re to B attleford, a n d ” he lifted th e w hip in his h a n d “ I will lash th e w ires as they d o a n d w e will have him rem oved! I will h a v e a new m an se n t in his place w ithin a m o o n . I kn o w the g o v e rn m e n t h a s given o rd ers th a t you are to have beef, b u t h e w o n 't follow th em . I look a ro u n d m e ,” he w en t o n , “ a n d o f all th e leaders w ho stayed w hen w e w ent so u th , how m an y a re left? 1 see o n e old m a n !” H e placed his h a n d on th e w hite h e ad o f C h ie f K eehew in; then faced th e agent: “ F o r th e th ird a n d last tim e I ask a n d w hen you

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answ er, sp e a k lo u d so th a t every In d ian in this h o u se can h e ar W ill y o u give us beef?” " N o ! " cam e th e reply in th e d e ep voice o f th e a g en t. L ittle P o p lar w heeled a b o u t. G o ! " he sh o u te d , raising his a rm s. “ L et him keep his peecoonta m oney! N e e u k !" A n d w ith yells o f defiance th e w hole ban d sw ept o u t o f the house, a cro ss th e sq u a re and up th e hill, firing th eir g u n s in th e a ir as they w ent. T h a t a fte rn o o n th e In d ian s d a n c e d the w ar d a n ce and Big Bear m ade a speech. H e a tta ck e d th e g o v e rn m e n t and the H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y a n d ignoring th e o th e r w hites presen t, w alked up to C a p ta in F ran cis J . D ickens, son o f th e novelist, co m m an d in g th e N o rth -W e st M o u n te d Police a t F o rt P itt, a n d held o u t his hand . “ Y ou are a m a n ,” cried Big B ear, “ w hom M a n ito m a d e to be a chief! W e like you; y o u r h e art is g o o d . A s fo r th at m a n ” — he p o in te d a t Q u in n — “ his h e art is m ad e o f stone! H e m ay go back to F ro g L ake. W h en th e g o v e rn o r m ade th e tre a ty w ith us we w ere told w e should have b e e f to e at a t every p a y m e n t.” H e placed his h ands, fingers e x te n d ed , on e ith e r side o f his h e ad and tu rn ed fiercely on th e ag en t. “ Y o u w ant m y h e a d — ta k e it!" he cried , flinging his o pen h an d s in th e a g e n t’s face a s though delivering it to him . “ W h en I am h ungry th is w in te r a n d ask for fo o d ,” said M iser­ ab le M an to Q u in n , “ if you d o n 't give it to m e I will kill y o u .” Q u in n sm iled g o o d -h u m o u re d ly . H e h a d h e ard In d ian s talk before. H e did n o t m ind such trifles as th eir threats. Big B ear apologized later to e v ery o n e fo r his harsh w ords, but for tw o day s th e b a n d danced th e w a r d an ce a n d refused to be p aid. T h e police d e ta c h m e n t w as k e p t co n stan tly u n d e r a rm s in a n tic ip a tio n o f tro u b le a n d Q u in n sent his h alf-breed in te rp rete r to notify th e chiefs th a t unless th ey cam e to term s h e w ould return th e follow ing a fte rn o o n to F ro g Lake. M e a n w h ile th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y o ffic e r, h a v in g m a d e large adv an ces to th e b a n d , grew an x io u s a b o u t his d e b ts. H e o rd e re d a steer to b e slau g h tered a n d sent as a gift to th e Indian cam p. T h is m ollified th e Indians; still, th ey o b jected , th e b e ef had not com e from the g o v e rn m e n t. T h e y w ould co m p ro m ise m atters, they said , by accepting th e m o n ey a t th eir c am p instead o f at the fort. Q u in n d ecided to h u m o u r th em and sent w o rd th at he w ould pay them th ere next m orning. D u rin g these day s o f “ stra in e d d ip lo m a cy ” Dill a n d I had

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n oth in g to d o b u t m in d o u r te n t-sto re , fry o u r bacon, w atch the In d ian you n g sters’ d e ft a rch e ry a n d try o th erw ise to kill th e tim e w hile aw aitin g d e v elo p m en ts. T h e In d ian s did not m olest us. T h ey cam e, talk e d , ex am in ed blankets, knives, p rin t, shaw ls, h an d k erch iefs, rings - a l l o u r stock, but w ith o u t m oney they could n o t buy. W e w ere glad to h e a r a truce d eclared. A t eig h t-th irty next m o rn in g tw o tro o p e rs cam e w ith th e payten t a n d p itched it a b o u t a h u n d re d y a rd s from o u r q u a rte rs. T h ey w ere follow ed in tw enty m in u te s by Q u in n , w ho notified Big B ear by m essenger th a t he w as ready to begin th e pay m en t. T he b a n d w as in council. A fte r w aiting fo r som e tim e , Q u in n w alked over to o u r tent. “ In tw enty m in u te s it will b e ten o ’clo ck ,” h e said, lo o k in g at his w atch. “ If they d o n ’t sh o w up b e fo re then th ey g et no m o n ey .” H e re tu rn e d to th e p a y -te n t. A little la te r h e passed o u r place carrying u n d e r his arm a box sealed w ith red w ax. It con tain ed th e a n n u ity m oney seven th o u sa n d dollars. H e had scarcely d isa p p e a re d in th e d irectio n o f th e fort w hen Big B ear, W an d e rin g S pirit, L ittle P o p lar a n d o th e r chiefs cam e rapidly to w ard o u r ten t. T h e y w ere talking excitedly a n d stopped a m o m e n t to ask w h a t h a d b e co m e o f th e a g en t. W e to ld them he had g o t tired w aiting a n d had p ro b a b ly g o n e to d in n er. G e stic u ­ lating angrily a n d w ith ex aggerated e xpressions o f a m a ze m en t, they w ent o n . T h e y o v e rto o k him before h e reached th e fort and persu ad e d him to re tu rn a n d m a k e th e p a y m e n t. F o r th e next tw o days I w as busy at th e store. T h e Indians d anced and feasted and I w ent o n c e o r tw ice a t n ig h t w ith Stanley Sim pson to th e d an cin g lodge a n d heard L ittle P o p lar c o u n t his coups and tell h o w , using m e occasionally, a n d not a lto g e th e r to m y liking, as he sw ung h is heav y C o lt’s pistol in m y d irec tio n , as representing th e enem y, h e h a d tak e n B lackfoot scalps. T h e n Dill w ent to B attleford, nin ety m iles aw ay, to d ep o sit o u r fu n d s and b ring back a fresh stock o f g o o d s, w hile I re tu rn e d to F ro g L ake a n d p u t up a log build in g fo r o u r w inter tra d in g q u a rte rs. Soon a fte r D ill’s re tu rn , by m u tu a l ag ree m e n t w e dissolved p a rtn e rsh ip . H e c o n tin u e d w h a t had been o u r business a n d I accepted a p ositio n w ith th e H u d so n ’s Bay C o m p a n y a t F ro g L ake.

W hen P o u n d m a k e r D e fie d th e

n

. w .m . p .

L et m e go back a step to th e reservation, on th e B attle R iver sou th -east o f P itt, o f C h ie f P o u n d m a k e r, w h e re Big B ear w as

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then in cam p , a n d relate a h a p p e n in g th ere th ree m o n th s e arlie r th at th ro w s a y et m o re significant light on th e a ttitu d e o f these In d ian s than th e events ju st re co rd e d . I did n o t w itness th is, being a few m iles aw ay, a n d I am in d eb te d to M a jo r F red A . Bagley. a veteran o f n . w . m . p ., a n d to M r. W illiam M c K a y , o f th e H u d ­ s o n ’s B ay C o m p a n y , b o th o f w h o m w e re a c tiv e p a r tic ip a n ts on th e g ro u n d , for th e d etails o f w h a t a t m o re th an o n e critical ju n c tu re th rea te n e d to end in a blo o d y debacle. K ah w eeclietw ay m o t, a m e m b e r o f Big B ear’s b a n d , w en t to Jo h n C ra ig , farm in stru cto r on th e reserves o f C hiefs Poundm ak e r a n d L ittle P ine, and asked for pro v isio n s for a sick child. T h e g o v e rn m e n t fu rnished su p p lies to be issued w hen th e need was ev id e n t to sick a n d d e stitu te Indians, b u t K ah w eech etw ay m o t did n o t g et any. T h is w as h ardly surprising to a n y o n e know ing C raig a n d th e In d ian . T h e o n e w as a p h leg m a tic eastern er: the o th e r a pestiferous a n d not p a rticu la rly intelligent savage. A n y ­ way, C ra ig w as d o u b tle ss follow ing in stru ctio n s— th e Indian did not belong on P o u n d m a k e r's reserve tho u g h so m e o f th e m o re po litic o f th e g o v e rn m e n t’s ag en ts w ere w ise e n ough on occasion to forget them . K a h w eech etw ay m o t w ent off, b u t he w as back in no tim e. W ith tw o aides. O n e w as his b ro th e r. T h e o th e r w as a wellseasoned hickory axe-helve. W ith these rein fo rcem en ts. K a h w eech etw ay m o t had no diffi­ culty in o b tain in g all th e p ro v isio n s he re q u ire d , w hich w as c o n ­ siderably m o re th an he w ould h a v e been satisfied w ith in th e first place. C ra ig arriv e d a t the p o lice b a rra c k s in B attleford som e h o u rs later, sore from the to p d o w n , inside a n d o u t, a n d gave K ah w eech etw ay m o t a very b a d n a m e . S u p e rin te n d e n t C ro z ie r o f th e n . w . m . p . , c o m m a n d in g at B attleford, sent C o rp o ra l Sleigh to bring in K a h w eech etw ay m o t. H e w an ted to explain to him th at th e Q u e en felt m u ch a n n o y ed b ecau se o f his c o u rse in instituting a self-adm inistered c o d e o f re w ard s a n d p u n ish m en ts. T h e In d ian s w ere holding th eir a n n u al T h irst D ance on L ittle Pine’s reserve— m ak in g braves. T h e y w ere th e re in h u n d re d s, m any from d ista n t p o in ts. It w as a big fete. K ah w eech etw ay m o t was tak in g a p ro m in e n t p a rt. H is p restige w as high. O n the stren g th o f his recent d isciplining o f a w hite farm in g in stru cto r, he w as by w ay o f bein g regarded ad m irin g ly by th e young m en at th e d an ce as a n exam ple o f th e real th in g in braves. K ah w eech etw ay m o t scoffed a t Sleigh. In fact, backed by public o p in io n in the form o f th e assem b led trib esm en , he affected an in dignant a sto n ish m e n t. H ow , h e a sk e d , w as it th a t a p olicem an had th e nerve to c o m e th ere th in k in g to p u t him u n d e r arrest?

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“ G o b a c k ,” said h e to Sleigh, “ a n d tell th e Big Police C h ie f w hat I sa id .” Sleigh sent a m an to tow n to re p o rt a n d C ro z ie r realized th at th e situ atio n w as o n e d e m a n d in g th e p erso n al a tte n tio n o f th e Big Police C hief. It w as b e n e a th th e d ignity o f P o u n d m a k er a n d his fellow chiefs, h e co n clu d ed , a t such a tim e to discuss m a tte rs o f any m o m e n t w ith h is su b o rd in a te s. S o a t an early h o u r next d a y , C ro z ie r a p p e a re d w ith tw entyfive m e n — o f w hom Bagley, th en a sergeant, w as o n e — a t P o u n d ­ m a k e r’s. T h ey b ro u g h t w ith th em an In d ian , m et on th e trail, w ho a p p e a re d entirely to o in g en u o u s to b e a t large. O nce they were safely in c am p on th e reserve, he w as lib e rate d . A s a m a tte r o f fact, he w as a spy, sent o u t by P o u n d m a k e r to learn w h at the police w ere d o in g , as C ro z ie r h a d guessed. T h e ten ts up, C ro z ie r to o k th e police half-breed in te rp rete r, L ouis L a ro n d e , a n d o n e o r tw o tro o p e rs a n d w en t to th e T h irst D ance cam p , th ree m iles aw ay, d e m a n d in g to k n o w w hy P o u n d ­ m ak e r and th e o th e r chiefs h a d refused to deliver up to his m en K ah w e ec h e tw ay m o t, w ho had o ffen d ed th e Q u een by strik in g one o f h e r se rv an ts w ith a n axe-helve. P o u n d m a k e r tem p o rize d . H e w as a m ost d e lib e ra te a n d dig n i­ fied p e rso n ag e. H e told th e big police c h ie f n o t to be hasty. T h e sun w ould n o t go o u t; it w as still h igh. It w as b e st th a t m a tte rs o f this so rt be d e alt w ith in calm discussion. So all day long, w hile th e big d rum b o o m e d a n d a m b itio u s young b ra v es skew ered th ro u g h lo o p s cu t in th eir chests raw hide th o n g s reaching to th e to p o f th e big c en tre-p o le o f th e T h irst D ance lodge, Hung them selves frenziedly b a ck w a rd in efforts to break th eir fleshly b o n d s a n d p ro v e w o rth y to b e c o u n te d w a r­ riors, a n d w hile o th e r yo u n g m en cap e red ro u n d on h o rseb ack , singing and sh o u tin g w ar-cries, P o u n d m a k e r a n d his b ro th e r chiefs gravely discussed th e o ffence a n d th e o ffen d er, w hile the police c h ie f fum ed a n d fough t to c o n tro l his tem per. T h e o u tco m e o f th e d e lib e ra tio n s w as a c o m p ro m ise , th e chiefs agreeing th a t at a b o u t n o o n next day they w ould p ro d u c e K a h ­ w eechetw aym ot for trial if c o u rt w ere held, n o t a t B attleford. but a t a p late au som e fo u r h u n d re d y a rd s from th e positio n in w hich th e police h a d m ad e th eir c am p . T h e selection o f this site w as a m an o e u v re e n g in eered by th e police officer to b ring th e n e g o tia ­ tio n s u n d e r th e g u n s o f th e im p ro v ed fort h e in ten d ed throw ing up. Follow ing th e p arley, C ro z ie r d isp a tc h ed a c o u rie r to B attle­ ford, th irty m iles aw ay, w ith in stru ctio n s to In sp e cto r A n tro b u s to c o m e w ith speed a n d all availab le m en re m a in in g in b a rra c k s to

FROG LAK E

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P o u n d m a k e r’s. A little later C ro z ie r a n d his force d e p a rte d for th e g o v e rn m e n t w arehouses on L ittle P in e’s reserve, a d joining P o u n d m a k e r’s six o r seven m iles to th e w est. T h ese w areh o u ses c o n ta in e d all th e stores, baco n a n d flour chiefly, on th e tw o reserves. C ro z ie r w as decidedly ag ain st these stores falling by a n y ch an ce in to th e h an d s o f th e In d ian s in th eir p resen t m o o d . W ith fo u r loaded o x -tea m s h e started back to his c am p a t P o u n d m a k e r's . T h e T h irst D a n ce c am p strad d led th e tra il, p a rt o f th e fo u r o r five h u n d re d lodges being p itc h e d o n e ith e r side o f it. T o avoid th e In d ian s, C ro z ie r d e to u re d to th e n orth o f th e trail w ith the w agons. T h e In d ian s w ere w atching h im . W h en o p p o site th e c am p a h u n d re d you n g b ucks, m o u n te d a n d singing, b u rst suddenly upon h im , circling th e w ag o n s and firing th eir g u n s over th e h e ad s o f th e little force. T h e idea o f th e police m arc h in g o ff w ith the pro v isio n s did n o t please th em . D o u b tless they had h a d these in m ind them selves. T h e p o sitio n w as an u n c o m fo rtab le o n e, b u t the police ignored th e w arlike d e m o n stra tio n staged for th e ir benefit and m arch ed on. A t d u sk they reached th e c am p at P o u n d m a k ­ e r ’s w ith th eir loads. H e re w ere som e old log build in g s. T h e m en w ere tire d , th e night w as suffocating, th e m o sq u ito e s w ere a plague a n d the co m m issary had fallen dow n on its j o b — w ith o u t th e w ag o n s they w ould have had little to e a t— b u t th e re w as to be no rest for th e little co m p a n y . C ro z ie r o rd e re d all buildings b u t o n e to be torn dow n. O f th e logs so o b ta in e d h e directed th e co n stru ctio n o f tw o rough bastio n s, a b u ttin g on th e rem a in in g building. T h e night d ragged b u t to w a rd m o rn in g th e j o b w as finished, th e sacks o f b aco n a n d flour had been p iled in tiers b e h in d th e log w alls to serve as b re astw o rk s a n d th e w eary m en stretch ed them selves on th e g ro u n d for a few m in u te s’ sleep. T he com pleted fo rt w as in this form :

Log B uilding Bastion

Bastion

A d e e p slough b e h in d th e fort a fforded p ro tec tio n from th at q u a rte r. In sp e cto r A n tro b u s a n d S e rg e an t-m a jo r K irk w ith th e re in ­

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forcem ents, totallin g som e sixty m en a n d including a n u m b e r o f B attleford civilians, reached P o u n d m a k e r’s a b o u t eleven o ’clock next m o rn in g a n d sh o rtly a fte r n o o n P o u n d m a k e r and h is fellow chiefs arriv e d in a cc o rd an c e w ith th e ir a g ree m e n t at th e p late au . C ro z ie r assigned ten m en to each o f the b a stio n s a n d leaving the o th e rs to a w ait o rd e rs, covered by th e tw enty rifles a n d tak in g with him In te rp re te r L aro n d e , C o n sta b le C am p b ell Y o u n g and a n o th e r m a n . w en t o u t to m eet th e chiefs a n d try K ahw eechetw aym ot. J u s t a m o n th p rev io u s th e C re es h a d held a begging d a n ce in th e tow n o f B attleford. T h o se old ab o rig in al d ances w ere novel and spectacular; they interested us a n d we a ll— th e w h o le tow n, o r m o st o f it lo o k ed o n . P o u n d m a k e r, w earin g a breechclout a n d a vest stu d d ed w ith b rass nails, his long legs stre ak e d with w hite m ud, on his h e a d a sm all cap form ed from th e d rie d skin o f a b ird , w as th ere . Big B ear w as th e re , m o u n te d on a w hite horse, a rusty black c o a t o n his back a n d a b a tte re d black soft felt h at on h is h ead . T h e old c h ie f ro d e up and d o w n before th e stores, p roclaim ing loudly to th e w orld a t large th a t it w as “ m e ew a sin ” (“ g o o d " ) here, a t B attle R iver; th a t it w as n o t “ h a rd " h ere, w hen th e tra d e rs b ro u g h t o u t sacks o f Hour, sides o f b a co n , packages o f tea a n d su g a r a n d thick plugs o f tobacco a n d piled th e gifts on th e g ro u n d b eside th e d an cin g w arriors. In sp ecto r A n to b u s cam e p ast, rid in g a tall police h o rse. Im asees a n d O k e m o w Peeaysis, so n s o f Big B ear, b u rstin g suddenly o u t o f th e cro w d o f d a n ce rs, g allo p ed furiously across th e p ra irie directly a t th e in sp ecto r. T h e y carried in th eir h a n d s folded u m brellas. A s they reached A n tro b u s they je rk e d their p o n ies to a stand a n d th e u m b rellas flashed o p e n . T h e police h o rse sn o rted , sw erved violently, th e o ffice r's p ith h elm et rose in th e a ir and sailed aw ay o v er th e grass a n d his startled m o u n t bolted wildly w ith him for th e b arrack s. T h e In d ian s, lo o k in g o n , g rin n ed d elightedly. E vidently they reg ard ed th e incident as a rattlin g fine jo k e . T h e inspector o n the c o n tra ry could see n o th in g a t all h u m o ro u s in it. A n h o u r later th e d an ce w as o v e r a n d th e In d ian s had g o n e to th eir c am p on th e hill south o f th e B attle R iver, w hen Inspector A n tro b u s. a cc o m p a n ied by W illiam M c K a y , m an ag er for the H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a n y a t B attleford. a p p e a re d a m o n g the lodges ask in g for th e h e ad chief. P o u n d m a k e r indicated Big Bear. T h e inspector w as intensely angry; he trem b led w ith rage. “ I have n o t m u ch to sa y ," he a n n o u n ce d w rathfully, “ a n d my m essage is fo r th e head c h ie f a lo n e . L et no o n e else sp e a k ." H e tu rn ed to Big B ear. " W h a t a re you d o in g here? Y ou have no

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business in tow n. U nless you a re packed a n d on th e trail back to th e reserves in h a lf a n h o u r. I will p u t you chiefs u n d e r a rre st and lock you u p .” A m a ze m e n t for th e m o m e n t held the In d ian s. T h en P o u n d m ak e r, his d a rk face Hushing, ju m p e d to his feet. “ T h ere will b e a b ullet h e re ,” h e declared loudly, a h a n d o n his th ro a t, “ before y o u a rre st o n e o f us! W hen w e a re ready w e will leave; n o t so o n e r.” A n old m an g o t u p . “ H e says no o n e m u st speak b u t Big B ear!” he cried. “ W ell. I am sp e a k in g . L et him sto p m e! L ook at h im ,’ p o in tin g a t th e officer’s legs. T h e ir unsoldierly shaking m u st have been m ortify in g in th e ex trem e to A n tro b u s, w ho w as a n ything but a tim id m an , but he co u ld n o t sto p it. R age exacts its pen alties. “ A n d he tells us th is!” T h e old m an sn o rte d c o n ­ tem p tu o u sly . “ W u sV ' T h e In d ian s looked and o n ce m o re they laughed a t the in s p e c to r. A n tr o b u s w as b e sid e h im se lf. H e c o u ld n o t tru s t his to n g u e to fu rth e r w ords. H e clim b ed into his b u c k b o ard and clattered off. T w o ho u rs passed. T h e C re e c a m p w as still on th e hill so u th o f th e B attle, b u t no a rre st had been m ad e. W h en C o rzier w en t o u t to m ee t th e chiefs, th ere w as still som e difficulty h e fo u n d a b o u t K a h w e ec h e tw ay m o t’s trial. T h e In d ian , backed by th e y o u n g m en, declined to give h im self up. T h e y w ere all w ild, said P o u n d m a k e r, a n d it w as h ard to d o a n ything with th em . A t a n o th e r tim e it m ig h t b e d o n e , b u t, P o u n d m a k e r p o in te d o u t, th eir p rid e revolted a g ain st a su rre n d e r in th e face o f such a g re at g a th e rin g o f th e ir p eople, m an y from d istan t reserves. So th e u n e n d in g talk w ent o n . T h e police seem ed to be gettin g now here. T h e p restige o f th e scarlet-co ated u p h o ld ers o f th e law w as a t stake. If they gave w ay it w ould b e m an y a day before it could b e co m pletely reg ain ed . T h e last w ould never be heard o f it. So long' as an In d ian p resen t rem ain ed alive, he w ould b o a st a m id th e acclaim o f his listeners a b o u t the c a m p fire a t night o f th e tim e they bluffed th e police. C ro z ie r’s p a tie n ce w as e x h au ste d . H e q u itte d th e council a b ru p tly a n d re tu rn e d to th e fort. W illiam M c K a y h a d a rriv e d from B attleford a b o u t n o o n . T h e M c K a y s had been H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y officers for g e n e ra ­ tions. T h ey h a d been given by th e In d ian s th e fam ily n a m e o f L ittle B earskin. T h e y w ere k n o w n to every Indian alo n g the S ask atch ew an . A L ittle Bearskin to these In d ian s w as a m an to be tru ste d . T h e M c K a y s possessed th eir confidence. P o u n d m a k e r rose. “ I am g oing to th e fo r t," h e said. “ If I can

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p revent it th ere will be no b lo o d sh e d . Since this m an will n o t give h im self u p , I will offer to ta k e his p lace." Big B ear ran a fte r P o u n d m a k e r. “ N 'c h a w a m is," he c ried , “ you will n o t be left to face th e d a n g e r alo n e. If y o u go, Big B ear goes also .” T o g e th e r th e chiefs e ntered th e fo rt, b u t c am e out a m o m en t later. C ro z ie r w ould n o t accept a su b stitu te , th ey told M c K a y ; he w ould tak e only K ah w e ec h e tw ay m o t. T h e th ree seated them selves on th e grass b e fo re th e fo rt to sm o k e a n d e n d ea v o u r to find a w ay o f su rm o u n tin g th e difficulty. C ro zier sent a m essenger to M cK ay , asking him to d e ta in th e chiefs. “ T ell M a jo r C o rz ie r I’m n o p o licem an . If h e w an ts th e chiefs let him hold th em h im self,” w as th e H u d s o n 's Bay m a n ’s answ er. H e w as n o t pleased. Big B ear w as tak in g little p a rt in th e discussion. H e w atched th e fort. S uddenly h e exclaim ed: “ S om eth in g is going to h a p p en . L o o k !” T h e police had em erg ed . T h e y w ere buckling on their sidearm s a n d saddling th e ir h orses. P o u n d m a k e r rose h urriedly. “ If there" is to be tro u b le, m y place is w ith m y m e n ," he declared, a n d follow ed by Big B ear he ran back up th e slopes. T h e police adv an ced slowly, th e sun flashing on th eir polished carbines, th e ir scarlet c o a ts aglow . T h e y lined up b e fo re the Indians, a soldierly a n d fo rm id a b le-lo o k in g co m p an y . T h a t they could b e relied on to give a g o o d a cc o u n t o f them selves w as not to be d o u b te d . S e rg e an t Bagley h a d been assigned to o n e o f th e b a stio n s. H e glanced over a t th e c o rra l, a n d saw “ ’A n d so m e ’A rry ,” th e soli­ tary rem a in in g h o rse, B agley’s tro o p e r. “ Y o u ’re in c o m m a n d h e re ,” h e told th e c o rp o ra l b eside him : ‘I’m resig n in g ,” a n d d isre g ard in g o rd e rs h e slipped o v er to the corral, m o u n te d a n d jo in e d th e line o u t in front. C ro z ie r c o n fro n te d th e tall chief, to w hom th e In d ian s w ere looking as th e ir sp o k e sm a n . T h is w as his land; Big B ear was tak in g no p ro m in e n t p a rt. A t th e officer’s req u est, M c K a y acted a s in te rp rete r. “ P o u n d m a k e r,” h e a n n o u n c e d , “ I cam e o u t for this m an a n d I am g o in g to tak e h im .” T h e Indian th ru st o u t his long face. H is black eyes kindled, passion shook him a n d Bagley, w atching, saw him strik e, seem ­ ingly u n conscious o f w h at h e d id , w ith th e sh a rp p o in ts o f the knifeb lad es in his p u k a m a k in , at his right leg. Blood w elled out and flow ed dow n th e legging. H is cloak o f friendliness, for a p p a r­ ently it w as a c lo a k , fell aw ay a n d h e sto o d revealed, a hostile a m o n g the hostiles.

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" H e w o n ’t b e given u p !” h e d e clare d v ehem ently, sta m p in g his foot. “ Y o u say y o u are g oing to ta k e h im ?” H e lifted a tap e rin g forefinger and ta p p e d his chest. “ T a k e m e first— if you d a re !” A n tro b u s sto o d n ear. H e glanced a t th e c h ie f and passed a slighting re m a rk . It w as n o t u n d e rsto o d by P o u n d m a k e r b u t he guessed its im p o rt. H e w as in fu ria ted . H e had n o t fo rg o tten th e in sp ecto r o r his th re a t a t the begging d an ce th e m o n th before. H e lost for th e m o m e n t his accu sto m ed re strain t. R aising his p u k a m ak in , h e rushed u p o n A n tro b u s. T h e th re e k n ife-b lad es in the end g littere d ab o v e th e officer’s helm et. “ R e d co a t d o g !” h e hissed. But C o n sta b le P rio r p o k e d his carb in e in th e tall c h ie fs face an d th e dead ly p u k a m a k in d ro p p e d slowly to his side. Suspense g rip p ed th e Indians. A deep hush h a d fallen. N o w th e re ac tio n cam e. T h e excitem ent ro se to an u p ro a r. “ P lenty b lood will b e spilled on th e b a n k s o f th e C u t K nife to -d a y !” sh o u te d Im asees. S om e m in o r chiefs, p eaceab ly d isp o sed , appalled by th e im p e n d in g e x p lo s io n , ro d e a m o n g th e m o b , w a v in g g re en bran ch es, im ploring th e aggressors to be re aso n a b le, to consider before it w as to o late. T h e ir e x am p le had som e effect; th e storm sank to a m u rm u ro u s u n d e rc u rre n t. But in a m o m en t it rose ag ain , m o re violently th an ever. T h e hostiles surged ro u n d , je e r ­ ing, w h o o p in g , raising th eir g u n s th reaten in g ly , g o a d in g th e police w ith ta u n ts a n d ep ith ets. W an d e rin g S p irit, w ho in th e w ar d a n ce co u n ted th irteen B lackfoot scalps, ru sh e d o u t a n d seized M c K a y by th e w rist, e n d ea v o u rin g to d rag him o v er to th e In d ian s’ side. “ C o m e !” he u rg e d frenziedly. “ Y o u a re crazy. Y o u will be killed!” M c K a y pulled aw ay. L ittle P ine, a m ia b le and friendly alw ays, sitting his horse, addressed th e m o b . T h ey w ere w ro n g , he told h is people, to defy th e police. H e w as a n o tab le chief, a w a rrio r as well as a n o ra to r o f p a rts, a n d h e sp o k e forcibly a n d at som e length. But they h eard him with im p atien ce. T h e y h a d reac h ed th e stage w here pacific w o rd s w ere a lm o st a n offence. L ittle Pine d ied shortly a fter th e tro u b le . R u m o u r had it th a t p oison w as responsible; th at he p a id w ith his life for th e sta n d he to o k th a t day in o pposing th e m o re tu rb u le n t a m o n g the b ands. S e rg e an t-m a jo r K irk sat like a sta tu e o n his horse in fro n t o f th e line, gazing stonily a h ea d . A t his h o rse ’s m uzzle sto o d W a n ­ d ering S p irit, m uscles tense, d a rk eyes ag leam , th in lips w orking , h is lean claw -like h a n d s g rip p in g a W in ch ester. W h en th e din w as a t its p e ak , Bagley saw th e In d ian strain a n d lift as though

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struggling u n d e r som e p o n d e ro u s w eight a n d th e rifle cam e up. Bagley held his b re ath . “ N o w it’s com ing! N o w old J o h n ’s g oing to g et it!” T h e w ords said them selves o v e r and o v er in th e se rg ea n t’s m ind. T h e b lo o d -lu st b u rn e d in th e w a r c h ie fs eyes, dull red pools glow ing m u rk ily in th eir sultry sockets. T h e seconds passed. W h at w as re strain in g him ? T h e sullen tid e b e atin g a g ain st th e tough b a rrie r th a t h a d so far co n ta in ed it— th e counsel o f lea d ers ab le a n d trie d , accu sto m ed to being deferred t o — m ig h t a t a n y m o m en t b u rst th ro u g h . T he p ressu re o f a finger, red o r w h ite, a gainst a trigger a n d a flood w ould descend th a t w ould d re n c h th a t sunlit slope in w aves o f crim so n death . It w as as if th e w ar c h ie f w ere stretch ed on a rack o f conflicting e m o tio n s— th e h u n g e r to kill th a t w as his c o n su m in g passion and a fo reb o d in g th a t m a d e him p au se. S hould he b e the one? D are h e ta k e u p o n h im self th a t sin ister responsibility? D id h e see c o n fro n tin g him th e vision o f a day o f reckoning som e tim e to co m e, a d a y w hen th e w hite m an w ould exact th e u ltim ate price? T h e old police w a rrio r never flickered a n eyelash. A nd w hen th e lull cam e th e rifle w as low ered ag ain . Bagley b re ath ed once m o re. T h e n cam e th e renew ed u p ro a r a n d a g ain th e m enacing rifle lifted. M iserab le M an ro d e ro u n d b e h in d K irk . “ I will fight w ith the • po lice!” he declared loudly. B ut h e had no intention o f fighting on th e side o f th e police. M ise ra b le M an w as a dissem bler. H is p u rp o se w as to m a k e su re th a t, betw een h im self and W an d erin g S pirit, th e serg ean t-m ajo r sho u ld n o t escape. T o tak e th e scalp o f an officer w ould b e g re a te r g lory th a n to tuck u n d e r his belt that o f an o rd in a ry policem an. A n Indian ro d e o v er to th e d ep ressio n o n th e left o f th e police line. “ K eep q u iet, th ere !” B agley h e ard him say. A nd it c am e to th e serg ean t then th a t all alo n g he h a d been conscious o f a d ro n in g m u rm u r o f w o m e n 's a n d y o uthful voices and h e sensed th e g rim m enace th a t lu rk ed in th e w ooded hollow . T h e c la m o u r fell a n d rose o n c e m o re and once m o re the th rea te n in g rifle o f th e w ar c h ie f cam e u p . B ut again it cam e dow n u n fired . W hy, as will b e e vident b e fo re th is n a rra tiv e is e n d ed , is an e tern al riddle. C ro z ie r tu rn e d to L aro n d e . “ W hich is him the m an we w ant?” h e asked. A tall In d ian , a sneer on his evil face. C re e w o rd s o f c o n te m p t on his lips, d an ce d a n d c av o rted in th e van o f th e m ob. T h e in te rp rete r p o in te d .

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“ T h a t's h im .” A nd as th e In d ian , noticin g , dived suddenly a m o n g th e others: “ T h e re he g o e s!” he a d d e d . M c K a y called to him a n d th e Indian cam e o u t. Said the H u d so n ’s Bay C o m p a n y officer: “ T ell th e police o k e m o w you will su rre n d er. Y ou will get a fair trial. Y o u m ay b e p u n ish e d b u t they c a n 't han g you. If troub le starts th e police will n o t b e th e o n ly on es to suffer. M an y o f you will d ie also. D o y o u w an t to see th at? Be a m an! G iv e y ourself u p !” “ I w o n ’t!” re tu rn e d K a h w eech etw ay m o t surlily. T w in W olverine, Big B ear's eldest son, p u sh e d his horse into th e police line b eside C o n sta b le C am p b ell Y o u n g . “ I am g o in g to fight a gainst y o u !” h e sh o u te d to his fellow -tribesm en. U n lik e M iserab le M a n , th e T w in W o lv e rin e m ea n t w h at h e said. M c K a y tu rn ed to C ro z ie r. “ A rre st y o u r m a n ,” h e advised. “ T h in k w e 'd b e tte r d o it now ?” q u eried th e officer. “ Y es. T h e longer it is put off, th e g re a te r th e dan g er. T h ere has been to o m uch talk a lre a d y .” “ T h e tw o m en a fo o t on th e right, fall o u t and seize th at fellow !” c am e th e co m m a n d . K a h w e ec h e tw ay m o t w heeled to run. “ N a b h im !” M cK ay p ro m p te d L aro n d e . T h e in te rp re te r rushed a n d seized K a h w e ec h ­ etw ay m o t. T h e tw o p olicem en follow ed. B efore th e Indian real­ ized how it h a d all h ap p en e d . C o n sta b le W arre n K err “ Sligo” to th e force had K ah w eech etw ay m o t by th e long p laits o f his black h a ir and h a d landed him w ith a sw ing th a t had no th in g g entle a b o u t it a m o n g th e po licem en on fo o t. T h e y closed a b o u t th e p riso n e r a n d his c ap to rs. T h e h o rsem en quickly encircled them a n d th e w hole body began to m ove off, th e m en in th e rear facing back w ard w ith th eir c a rb in e s ready for in stan t a ctio n . M c K a y paced evenly up a n d do w n betw een th e tw o row s o f levelled rifles. B edlam b ro k e loose. T h e In d ia n s w ent w ild. “ S h o o t them , sh o o t th e red co at d o g s!" they how led. “ W h y d o we w ait? N o w n o w w as th e tim e w e agreed on to w ipe o u t th e dog chem ogin u s u k l" B ut th e co o ler m en a m o n g th e red sk in s frantically fought the o u tcries o f th e h o th e a d s. “ N o no\ B e ca refu l! W a il! L et the red co ats sh o o t first!” A n d . referring to M c K a y , w alking coolly up and d o w n betw een th e op p o sed forces: “ S h am e! W ould you kill a L ittle B earskin?” T h ey b ru sh ed p a st th e H u d s o n ’s Bay official a n d ch arg ed the re tre atin g ranks, jo stlin g the m e n , snatching a t th eir clothing, sta b b in g th eir horses w ith th e p o in ts o f th eir knives, hop in g to sta m p e d e th em . O n e m a n . cut o ff from th e o th ers, w as strip p ed .

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his tu n ic a n d sid earm s forcibly a p p ro p ria te d . P o u n d m a k er h im self w rested aw ay his c arb in e. But th e h orses, like th eir rid ers, held firm . A nd no Indian fired. N e ith e r d id a p o licem an . B ecause th e police, disciplined and o b e d ie n t to o rd e rs, could n o t a n d w ould n o t u n d e r no m a tte r how a ggravated p ro v o c atio n , be first to breach the p eace. But if, even by accid en t u n d e r th e ten sio n , a single sh o t had so u n d e d ! W h a t w ould have follow ed, n o m an p re sen t d u rin g th o se p reg ­ n a n t m o m e n ts c ares to c o n te m p la te . M a d d e n ed o v er th e successful c o u p o f th e police, a dozen o f th e m o st tru cu len t braves seized L aro n d e a n d , pow erful though h e w as, rushed him o ff th ro u g h th e p o p la r bluffs. T h a t he, a h alf-breed w ith th e ir ow n b lo o d in his veins, sho u ld h a v e aided th e en em y — th a t, ab o v e all, h e should have p o in ted o u t to the police okem o w , a n d la te r sto p p e d K a h w e ec h e tw ay m o t— incensed them beyond an y th in g else. L a ro n d e ’s chances o f living seem ed exceedingly rem o te. T h e police flung th eir h o rse s a gainst th e ring o f passiond isto rte d faces a n d a t length p u sh e d th ro u g h a n d reached th e fort. T h e In d ian s cro w d ed th em , w ith je e rs a n d e p ith e ts, to th e walls. K ah w eech etw ay m o t w as shoved through an o p e n in g into the w aiting h a n d s o f th e m en inside and th e police follow ed. T he In d ian s sto rm ed a b o u t outsid e. M c K a y drew M a jo r C ro z ie r a sid e a n d sp o k e to him in an u n d e rto n e . “ T h ro w o u t th e baco n a n d th e flo u r!” T h e m en d o u b te d w h e th er they h a d h e a rd a rig h t. Pull dow n th eir defences, th eir breastw orks? H e could n o t m ean it. “ T h ro w o u t th e baco n a n d flo u r!” T h e re could b e no d o u b t a b o u t th e c o m m a n d this tim e. " L o o k alive, m e n !" th e c o m m a n ­ d a n t a d d ed . T h e heavy sacks w en t over. T h e effect w as m agical. T h e angry c lam o u r d ied . T h e cam p w as a hu g e o n e, its food supply scant. T h e In d ia n s w ere hu n g ry . In th e su rp rise o f sudden ab u n d an c e they forgot th eir q u a rre l w ith th e redcoats. T h ey p ounced upon th e sacks, each struggling to secure a share b e fo re he w as to o late. T h e w om en and b o y s cam e from th eir place o f concealm ent and jo in e d th eir m en in th e raid. T h e y lugged th e stu ff off th ro u g h the bluffs to th eir lodges. T h e suggestion had b e en M c K a y ’s a n d his strategy w as a w in n e r. H e knew In d ian c h aracter. A n d while th e In d ian s, u n h e ed in g , fought o v er th e spoil, the police b u n d led a m o st su b d u e d a n d crestfallen b rave into a w agon and in h a lf a n h o u r w ere on th e ir ro a d w ith him to B attleford. A fte r all an In d ia n , ta k e him by and large, is noth in g b u t a g ro w n -u p child.

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L a ro n d e tu rn e d up as they w re leaving. A gain M c K a y had intervened. “ L et him g o !” h e h a d insisted. “ D o n ’t b lam e him ; h e ’s p a id to d o th is w o rk . T h a t’s how he m ak e s his living. If you w an t a p riso n e r, w hy d o n ’t y o u ta k e the police o k e m o w ? ” M c K a y knew th a t h e w as safe in m ak in g w h at at this stage w as a perfectly im practical suggestion. B efore the police left, M c K a y h u n te d u p P o u n d m a k er. “ Y o u m ust su rre n d e r th e rifle you took from the p o lic e m a n ,” h e told him . P o u n d m a k e r ’s q u ic k te m p e r fla re d a g a in . “ I will n o t! ” he e xploded. “ H e w as going to use it a gainst u s!” “ N o w , see h e re .” M c K a y talk ed p a tie n tly to th e h a n d so m e red m an as he m ight have d o n e h a d h e been e x p la in in g som e puzzling m a tte r to an angry b oy. “ Y ou m u st n o t lo o k -a t this th in g in th at w ay. T h e gun did n o t belong to th e policem an. It does n o t belong to th e police a t all. It belongs to th e Q u e e n .” P o u n d m a k e r p o n d e re d this. T h re e y ears b e fo re he h a d g u id ed th e M a rq u is o f L o m e , G o v e rn o r-G e n e ra l o f C a n a d a , three h u n d re d m iles a cro ss th e p lain s from B attleford to the B lackfoot C rossing. P o u n d m a k e r w as a n u n u su a l In d ian . H e w as th e typical c h ie f as o n e has been accu sto m ed to p ictu re him from th e lite ra ­ tu re o f his y o u th — tall, d ignified, d e lib e ra te in speech a n d m a n ­ ner, h is striking face fram ed in a setting o f raven-black h a ir han g in g in tw o im m ense p laits fa r below h is w aist, w ith a c ertain native a ir o f c o u rtlin ess and d istin c tio n th a t im pressed all w ho m et h im . N o w o n d e r th a t L o rd L o m e h a d m ad e m uch o f the stately red m an . P e rh a p s th a t w as why P o u n d m a k e r held the g o v ern o r-g en eral in som e respect. H e d id n o t w ish to displease th e n oble lo rd ’s m o th er-in -law , th e Q u e en . S o in the e n d th e gun w as su rre n d ere d . H a lf a dozen o f us, civilians, w ere on o u r w ay from B attleford to P o u n d m a k e r’s reserve. T h e p a rle y o u t th e re had lasted for th ree days. W e h a d h e ard in B attleford th a t th e situ atio n w as critical. T h e a d d itio n o f a few rifles m ight be acc ep ta b le to the police, w e thought. T h e a fte rn o o n w as intensely h o t. W e h a d off-saddled half-w ay o u t to b re a th e o u r lab o u rin g horses a n d enjoy th e p o p lare d shade and clear cold w a ter o f M edicine D ru g C re e k . A ho rsem an hove in sight, com ing from th e d irec tio n o f P o u n d m a k e r’s. H e cam e up. “ T h e fu n ’s all o v e r, fellow s,” h e told us. “ T h e y ’re o n th eir w ay in w ith th e ir m an . Y ou m ight as well go h o m e .” In this a n d the p receding c h a p te r I h av e en d ea v o u red to show Big B ear’s b a n d in a c h ara cte ristic a ttitu d e o f hostility to the g o v e rn m e n t. T h e leaven o f m isch ie f w as a lre ad y at w o rk ; they

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w ere p re p are d to sta rt, w ith all th e in h ere n t cruelty o f th e savage, on a co u rse o f ra p in e a n d b lo o d sh e d a t th e first fav o u rab le o p p o rtu n ity . H ow so o n th a t o p p o rtu n ity w as to arise th e handful o f w h ite m en w ho h a d m a d e th e ir w ay in to th a t prim itive c o m e r o f th e far N o rth -w e st b e yond th e S askatchew an could then have sm all con cep tio n .

The W in te r o f 1884-5 W h en in th e year 1875 th e S askatchew an In d ia n s m et th e c o m ­ m issioners a p p o in te d to tre a t w ith them fo r th e cession o f th eir rights, th e only c h ie f o f im p o rta n ce to refuse th e p ro p o sals m ad e by th e g o v e rn m e n t w as Big B ear. A cceding p ro b a b ly to the d e m a n d s o f th e m o re unruly e le m en t in his follow ing, h e gave as a reason his ob jectio n to th e w h ite m a n ’s law w hich p e rm itte d hanging. H e also w ish ed , he sa id , to see h o w th e pro m ises m ade to th e trib e s w ould b e k e p t by th e g o v e rn m e n t. T h e a ctio n o f Big B ear in th u s declining to subscribe to the d o c u m e n t su rre n d erin g his c o u n try a n d h is lib erties to th e w hite m a n 's d o m in io n g a th e re d a b o u t him th e in d ep e n d en t spirits a m o n g his p e o p le a n d he soon c am e to b e recognized as th e m ost pow erful c h ie f o f th e C re e n a tio n . W hile the buffalo c o n tin u e d plentiful th e b a n d lived m uch as they h a d d o n e b e fo re em issaries h a d c o m e from the Big W h ite M o th e r to b u y th e ir h e ritag e . T h e y becam e a b and o f n o m ad s a n d d rif te d s o u th , a c ro s s th e lin e in to M o n ta n a . T h e b u ffa lo , m ercilessly h u n te d for th eir ro b e s by w hite m e n , soon d isa p ­ pe are d ; Big Bear a n d his follow ers b ecam e a m enace to the ra n ch m en o f th e tre a su re state a n d w ere d riven back into C a n a ­ dian te rrito ry . R e d u ce d to th e e x trem ity o f w an t and w re tch e d ­ ness, in 1883 a t F o rt W alsh Big B ear a t length affixed his m ark to th e treaty . B ut th o u g h they had com e in to treaty . Big B ear's b a n d o b sti­ nately d eferred follow ing th e e x am p le o f th e o th e rs a n d selecting a reservation. T h e y excused th e ir tard in ess o n th e plea th a t th ere w ere so m an y fine locations it w as h ard fo r them to agree o n a choice. T h u s w hile reserv atio n In d ian s w hen in n e ed — as often h a p p en e d - g o t help from th e g o v e rn m e n t, fo r Big Bear th e re w as no such p rovision. D u rin g th e first w in ter 1883-4— they did as a m a tte r o f fact g et a few supplies from th e In d ian ag en t, b u t this w as in p ay m en t for w ork d o n e . W ith th e ad v an c es they received from th e H u d so n ’s Bay C o m p a n y on a cc o u n t o f th e ir trea ty

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m oney a n d furs a n d g a m e th ey killed, they m anaged to live th ro u g h th e w inter. T h e follow ing su m m er, a s h a s been seen, found them at P o u n d m a k e r ’s re s e rv e , w h e re th e in c id e n t j u s t r e la te d — th e fla re -u p p re c ip ita te d by th e ru ffia n ly K a h w e e c h e tw a y m o t— o ccu rred . S hortly after this affa ir Big B e ar’s b a n d re tu rn e d to F o rt P itt for th e p ay m en ts a lre ad y d escrib ed , a n d this brin g s the story to th e w in ter o f 1884-5. D u rin g th e sp rin g o f 1884 while trad in g on m y ow n a cc o u n t a m o n g th e S ask atch ew an reservations I had spent som e tim e a t F ro g L ak e. I w as, th ere fo re, no stra n g er to th ese In d ian s w hen I re tu rn e d th e follow ing N e w Y e a r to tak e u p residence in th e ir territo ry in a new capacity. T h e m o n th s o f Ja n u a ry a n d F e b ru a ry passed uneventfully. Big B ear a n d his ban d w ere cam p ed in th e tim b e r alo n g F ro g C reek not far from th e m ill site. T h e y c u t w ood fo r th e police d e ta c h ­ m en t, freighted for th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y and got som e occasional help from In d ian A g e n t Q u in n . T h e old c h ie f o ften had d in n e r w ith m e; th u s I h a d frequent o p p o rtu n itie s to stu d y his deep ly -lin ed , intelligent face. Big Bear w as then p erh ap s sixty years o f age. H e h a d a n am azing voice and w hen he talk ed , a s h e o ften d id , w ith his rig h t arm free and th e left ho ld in g th e b lan k e t folded a cro ss h is b ro a d chest, w ith the d ra m a tic gestures a n d inflections n a tu ra l to h im , he rem in d ed m e o f an im perial C a e sa r and w as o n e o f th e m ost e lo q u e n t a n d im pressive sp eak ers I h av e ever listened to. O n m y trip s to P itt du rin g th is p e rio d I sp e n t several days w ith M r. W . J . M c L ea n , c h ie f officer o f th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y for th e d istrict, a n d his h o sp ita b le fam ily. W e played cards, d a n ce d , sang, to o k snow shoe tram p s, o rg a n iz ed ra b b it hu n ts. I m ade th e ro u n d o f his trap lin e acro ss th e big river from th e fort once o r tw ice w ith S tanley S im pson a n d helped him to b ring in seven foxes. A b o u t M arch th e first ru m o u rs reached us o f im pending tro u ­ ble betw een th e g o v e rn m e n t a n d th e F ren ch half-breeds a t D uck L ake. L ouis R iel, w ho h a d in cited th e rebellion a m o n g these peo p le in 1870 a n d been o u tla w e d for his a ctio n , w as again their leader. W e h ad , in fact, k n o w n e arlie r th a t h alf-breed ru n n e rs from D uck L ake h a d visited Big B ear’s b a n d , b u t had n o t a n tic i­ pated a n y serious o u tco m e . T h e h a lf-b re ed s claim ed th eir title in th e c o u n try had never been ex tin g u ish ed a n d professed to believe they w ere to be dispossessed o f th e ir land holdings. T h e y w ere ripe fo r h o stilities a n d sought th e c o -o p e ra tio n o f th e Indians. A n d re N a u lt, a F rench h alf-b reed cousin o f R iel, w as a rrested

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at F o rt Pitt w hile 011 his w ay early in M arch from D uck L ake to F rog L ak e a n d d e ta in e d , on suspicion o f being th e b e a re r o f incendiary m essages from R iel to Big B ear, for several day s by C a p ta in D ickens. O n being lib e rate d h e b o a ste d openly th a t he w ould soon b e in a positio n to revenge h im self on th e police. H ow successfully th e rebel R iel, th ro u g h sp ecio u s p rom ises, had d raw n Big B ear’s law less follow ers into a league w ith him a gainst th e w h ites w as sh o rtly to a p p e a r. T h e h a lf-b re ed s h a d a logging cam p a t M oose C re e k , tw enty m iles w est o f F ro g L ak e. 1 have alw ays believed th a t N a u lt w as a R iel spy.

B efo re th e O u tb re a k O n th e evening o f M arch 28th I closed th e tra d in g shop early and w ith m y sk a tes u n d e r a rm , w alk ed o v er to F ro g C re e k , intending to sk a te dow n to G o w a n lo c k 's. G o w an lo ck lived in a h o u se near th e d a m . w ith h is w ife and a clerk nam ed W illiam G ilchrist. T h e w e a th e r h a d b e en m ild for som e day s a n d th ere w as m uch w ater on th e ice. 1 had n o t sk a ted tw o m iles b e fo re 1 w as th o ro u g h ly w et a n d d ecided to g o a sh o re a n d w alk b a ck to the settlem ent. T h e trail to o k m e th ro u g h Big B ear’s c am p . T h e b a n d w as in council. T h e sm o k e-b lack en ed to p s o f the lodges stood a m o n g the n ak ed p o p lars, th ro u g h th e ugly, sw inging lim bs o f w hich th e raw n o rth w ind sw ept in fitful gusts, soughing dism ally. U n d e rn e a rth . th e rum p led snow softened in th e first clasp o f spring. T h e stars hid b e h in d th e cheerless grey c u rta in o f c lo u d s o v e rh ea d . In and o u t betw een th e lodges slunk stealth y , sta rv in g curs, snapping viciously a t o n e a n o th e r over b o n e s long picked clean. I n oticed th e ten se, serious lo o k s on th e faces o f th e w arrio rs sm o k in g the long stone p ip e ro u n d th e fire in its c e n tre as 1 en tered th e lodge. I saw a t o n c e th a t this w as no o rd in ary social a ffair. 1 pulled o n ce o r tw ice a t th e p ip e w hen it cam e to m e in its course ro u n d th e circle a n d I h e ard a n d u n d e rsto o d enough, th o u g h th e ta lk — in th e C re e to n g u e w as g u a rd ed , to m a k e it clear th a t su b d u ed excitem ent b u rn e d in th e b reasts o f th e In d ian s th a t they w ere c o n te m p la tin g so m e eventful step. T h e talk w as o f “ new s.” W a n d e rin g S p irit, th e w ar chief, rose a n d sp o k e earnestly in his low . im passioned voice and w ith that transfixing look in his d a rk eyes th a t I have never seen in those o f a n y o th e r In d ian . T h e n he drew his sh irt o v e r his h e ad and p resen ted it to L ongfellow , b ro th e r to a W o o d C ree chief. L o n g ­ fellow follow ed, a n d h e in tu rn h a n d ed his sh irt to W an d erin g

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S pirit. A n d all th e w hile th e calu m et o f c o m p a ct c o n tin u e d to pass from m o u th to m o u th ro u n d th e circle. Big B ear’s b a n d , it w as evident, w as m aking p ro p o sa ls o f som e k in d to th e W ood C rees. Big B ear w as aw ay, hu n tin g in th e m o u n ta in s to th e n o rth o f F rog L ak e w ith his tw o sons. L ittle P oplar, w ith his fam ily, w as a t B attleford. I knew all th e In d ian s well, for I had m et them alm ost d aily at th e tra d in g p o st d u rin g the w in ter. But I saw th a t I w as not a lto g e th e r w elcom e a n d I' soon left. A s I w alked h o m e th ro u g h th e slush in th e dull a n d lonely nig h t, I h a d a p re m o n itio n o f evil days at h a n d a n d I felt uneasy a n d depressed. It w as th ree d a y s later th a t w e g o t th e “ new s” th e Indians ev idently w ere expecting. I strolled into th e m o u n te d police b a r ­ racks a t eleven o 'clo ck a t night a n d found C o n sta b le Billy A n d e r­ son ju st arrived w ith th e re p o rt o f th e h alf-b reed rising a t D uck L ake. H e h a d ridden th e thirty-five m iles from F o rt Pitt in a little over th re e hours, th ro u g h th e d a rk n e ss a n d th e m elting snow , across th e slippery, hilly c o u n try , a n d his h o rse stream ed sw eat! H e had b ro u g h t d isp a tc h es from C a p ta in D ickens for th e c o rp o ­ ral in ch arg e o f th e F ro g L ake d e ta c h m e n t, R. B. Sleigh. T h e police at F o rt C a rlto n a n d th e P rince A lbert V olunteers, said th e dispatches, h a d m et th e rebels u n d e r R iel a n d D u m o n t and a fte r a sh a rp en g ag em en t been com pelled to retreat, w ith a loss o f th irte en m en killed a n d m an y w o u n d e d . T h e C a p ta in suggested th a t th e In d ian a g en t a n d th e o th e r w hite residents at F ro g L ak e should c o m e into F o rt Pitt. H e a d d ed th a t he w as ready to c o m e w ith his m en to Frog L ake, how ever, if we th o u g h t th a t th e b e tte r plan. T h e F o rt P itt g arriso n n u m b ere d a b o u t tw enty. A n d e rso n had b ro u g h t m ail for th e settlem en t. I w as p o stm a s­ ter a n d w alked o v er to the H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a n y ’s po st to assort it. Indian A gent Q u in n d ro p p e d in on his w ay to the R o m an C a th o lic m ission to tell th e p riest. H e ask e d m e to acco m p an y him . “ W ell, C a m e ro n , w e ’ll be p u lling o u t o f here before daylight. I su ppose y o u 'll be re ad y ? ” he said. I had not c onsidered going, a n d I told him so. “ T h e re 's a lot o f furs a n d sto re s on h a n d h ere. M y c h ie f's at P itt a n d I'm in charge. If h e 'd w an ted m e to go in h e 'd have w ritten. I'm h ardly a t liberty to leave w ith o u t o rd e rs .” Q u in n sto p p e d a b ru p tly a n d faced m e. “ D o n 't b e a fool, C a m e ro n !” he ex p lo d ed . “ Y o u d o n ’t kn o w In d ian s as I know them . Y o u 're not obliged to w ait for o rd e rs to save y our life.”

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H is vehem ence su rp rise d m e, b u t I answ ered stubbornly: “ 11 I felt like th a t a b o u t it, I w o u ld n 't hesitate: I’d go. B ut I d o n ’t. T hese In d ian s a re n ’t going to kill m e, w h a tev e r h a p p en s. I'm n o t try in g to influence anyb o d y , th o u g h . A n y o n e w ho d o e s n 't feel safe should leave. I ’m th in k in g .” Secretly, I h o p e d th ey all w ould leave. I should feel safer alone with th e In d ian s. A n d I sm elled a d v e n tu re , som eth in g th at ap p ealed to m e. I w as y oung. B ut as Q u in n h a d said, I did not kn o w Indians. I o n ly th o u g h t I d id . I realized th is a d a y o r tw o later. Q u in n did not try fu rth er to p e rsu ad e m e a n d w e w ent to g eth er to th e m ission. P ere F afard w as in b ed , b u t h e cam e dow n and o p en ed th e d o o r a t o u r kno ck . A n old m an nam ed W illiscraft, staying w ith th e p riest, w as p re sen t w hile w e discussed th e situ a ­ tion a n d Q u in n p ro p o se d to th e p riest th a t w e jo in th e o th er w hites a n d leave F ro g L ake. T h e m issionary a t o n ce d e m u rre d . W e should, h e said , show th a t w e h a d c o n fid en ce in th e In d ian s, now tro u b le w as com e. B ecause, I su p p o se, he w as a R o m an C a th o lic, th e p rie s t’s views upset Q u in n ’s ow n b e tte r ju d g m e n t. “ O h, all right. F a th e r,” h e said; “ if th a t’s h o w y o u feel I’ll stay to o , tho u g h I did th in k th a t to go to Pitt w o u ld b e w isest for us a ll.” W e w en t in a b o d y to D elan ey ’s. Besides th e farm ing in stru cto r and h is w ife, C o rp o ra l Sleigh, M r. a n d M rs. G o w an lo ck , G ilc h r­ ist a n d G e o rg e D ill w ere p re se n t. T h e q u e stio n w as d e b ated anew . F a th e r F a fa rd again voiced his view s, a n d a t length it w as d ecided th at, w ith th e excep tio n o f th e police, we should all rem ain a t F ro g L ake. In view o f th e recent reverse at D uck L ake an d th e k n o w n sy m p ath y o f th e In d ian s w ith th eir k in sm en , the h alfb reed s, w hile re fraining from advising th e o th e rs as to th eir co u rse, I adv o cated th e d e p a rtu re o f th e police. Six policem en w ould b e no possible p ro tec tio n to us in th e event o f a n o u tb rea k a g ain st th e o v erw helm ing n u m b e rs o f th e In d ian s, w hile if Big B ear’s b a n d w as evilly disp o sed they w ould begin th e tro u b le by picking a q u a rre l w ith th e re d co a ts. Sleigh w as ready to go o r to stay, as w e w ished. Q u in n agreed w ith m e. “ A n d , since y o u 're going, C o rp o ra l,” h e said , “ I w o u ld n 't lose any tim e in gettin g aw ay. If th e Indians learned o f it— th e re 's no telling. T h e y m ig h t ta k e it in to their heads to sto p y o u .” I said to Sleigh: “ I'v e tw o keg s o f p o w d er a n d eighty p o u n d s o f ball o v er a t th e sh o p . It w o u ld b e as well o u t o f th e w ay. II y o u ’re n o t to o heavily loaded

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“ S u re ,” h e said. “ W e can ta k e it, all rig h t.” H e sent C o n sta b le L oasby w ith m e a n d w e b ro u g h t th e a m m u ­ n itio n to the b a rra c k s. I kept a little p o w d er a n d a few loose balls w ere left scattered a b o u t th e floor. I reasoned th a t if th e In d ian s rose a n d asked m e for a m m u n itio n , it w ould not co n d u ce to their friendliness to b e told th a t I h a d none. E ith er th ey w ould suspect m e o f lying o r o f having m ad e aw ay w ith it. Ju st b efore d a y b rea k a d o u b le police sleigh slipped o u t o f Frog L ak e a n d d isa p p e a re d a m o n g th e hills a cro ss th e chain o f lakes o p p o site. A n d I had tak e n m y last leave o f C o rp o ra l Sleigh, as tru e a g en tle m a n as ever w ore th e Q u e e n ’s u n ifo rm . W h en I w en t to m y room a t th e p o st to th ro w m yself on the bed for a little sleep, I glanced o u t o f the w indow . A n Indian in a red b lan k e t, ru b b in g his eyes, h u rrie d alo n g th e d eserted ro ad in th e trac k o f the d e p a rte d sleigh. H ere w as fresh “ new s” for Big B ear’s band.

B ig-lie D a y A t n in e o 'clo ck I w as up a g ain , h a d had b re ak fa st a n d g o n e to th e tra d in g sh o p . It w as the first o f A p ril. A Big B ear Indian cam e in. W an d e rin g S pirit w as a t th e farm ing in stru cto r’s h ouse, h e said, a n d sent w o rd th a t A g e n t Q u in n w a n ted to see m e. I closed th e shop a n d w alked over. W an d e rin g S pirit g rin n ed a s I e n te red . H e w o re his w a r b o n n et a n d seem ed in excellent h u m o u r. “ B ig-L ie D a y !” h e ex claim ed. T h e o th e r In d ian s present laughed. So did Q u in n . I jo in e d th em . T h e re w ere m o re d u p es than o n e th ere, th a t first o f A p ril m o rn in g , a n d they w ere n o t the Indians. Im asees, Big B e ar’s son, said to th e agent: “ Sioux S p e a k er. W e have had b a d advice from the half-breeds this w in ter. T h ey said they w ould spill m uch b lood in th e spring. T h ey w ished us to jo in th em . T h e y have a lre a d y risen; w e knew a b o u t it b e fo re y o u . T h e y h a v e b e aten th e soldiers in th e first fight, killing m any. W e d o not w ish to jo in th e half-breeds, but w e a re a fra id . W e w ish to sta y h e re a n d p ro v e ourselves the Iriends o f th e w hite m en. Tell us all th e new s th a t com es to you and w e will tell you all we h ear. T h e soldiers will com e, p e rh ap s, a n d w an t to fight us. W e w an t y o u to p ro te c t us, to speak for us to th e ir c h ie f w hen they c o m e .” Q u in n replied: “ Y o u m ak e g o o d talk, Im asees. I am g lad you

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w ish to rem ain frien d s w ith us. T h e fighting is far from h ere. Stay on th e reserv atio n a n d no o n e will b o th e r you. I will see th a t you d o n o t w an t for fo o d .” M iserab le M a n jo k e d th e a g e n t a b o u t his th re a t in th e fall. T h ey sho o k h a n d s a s they passed o u t. “ I'm glad W an d e rin g S pirit seem s friendly,” rem a rk ed Q u in n . “ H e h a s a g reat re p u ta tio n as a w a rrio r a m o n g th e trib e s a n d as w ar c h ie f is m o st to be feared. So long as h e stays q uiet w e have noth in g to w orry a b o u t.” P e rh a p s it w as b ecau se 1 c am e to k n o w him so well and w itnessed th e ferocity o f his w ild, com plex n a tu re w hen roused, th a t W an d e rin g S p irit h a s alw ays filled th e first place in m y m em o ry a m o n g th e m an y In d ia n chiefs I have m et. T all, lithe, active, p e rh a p s forty years o f age, o f a q u ick , nervous te m p e ra ­ m ent w hich tran sfo rm e d him a t a stro k e in m o m e n ts o f excite­ m e n t in to a m o rta l fie n d , h e w a s a c o p p e r Je k y ll a n d H y d e — a savage no m o re to be tru ste d th an a snake. A n o d d th in g a b o u t him w as his h a ir. W h ere as th e h a ir o f th e o rd in a ry In d ian is as straig h t as falling w a ter, th e p laits o f th e w a r chief, w hile long and black like a n y o th e r In d ia n 's , sto o d o u t a b o u t his h e ad in thick curls, fo rm in g a som bre b a ck g ro u n d for his d a rk , piercing eyes. A n d those eyes! Shall I e v er forget them ? I can see them yet, in all th eir b u rn in g inten sity , flashing h e re a n d th ere , seeing everything, as th o u g h it w ere yesterd ay . H is nose w as long and stra ig h t, his m o u th w ide a n d lips thin a n d cruel. H e h a d a p ro m in e n t chin, d e ep sunken c h e e k s and featu res d arkly bro n zed a n d se a m e d a b o u t th e eyes a n d m o u th w ith sharply-cut lines. H is voice w as usually soft a n d intriguing; w hen h e spoke in council it rose g ra d u ally until it ran g th ro u g h th e cam p . It had a sm o o th , velvet quality th a t rem in d ed m e alw ays, so m eh o w , o f th e p a n th e r h e so m uch resem bled in o th e r w ays, a n d o f its soft, caressing p a w — w ith th e claw s o f steel b e n e a th th e velvet. “ H e w as nev er m uch to steal h o rse s," F o u r-S k y T h u n d e r said to m e o n e day la te r in th e c am p , w hen h e called w ith a p re sen t o f to b ac co and w e sat sm o k in g in th e lodge. “ H is g re atest pleasu re w as in fighting, a n d he h a s killed m o re B lackfeet th an any w a r­ rio r a m o n g us, n o t excepting Big B ear.” F irst councillor, h e ad soldier, w a r chief, cruel as th e grave, a h u n te r o f m en . as p ro u d o f h is re co rd as any gold-laced general o f his d e c o ra tio n s K a h p a y p a m a h c h a k w a y o . th e W an d e rin g S pirit. In th e evening I w alked o v er to Q u in n 's h ouse, d ro p p in g on th e w ay into D e la n e y ’s. I fo u n d th e re G o w a n lo c k a n d his wife, G ilch rist a n d D ill. T h ey asked m e w h e th er M r. S im p so n , m y ch ie f a t F ro g L ake, h a d re tu rn e d fro m P itt and on m y replying in

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th e negative, jo k in g ly rem a rk ed th a t h e m u st b e afraid to com e o u t. 1 an sw ered th a t if w e all had as little to fear as m y c h ie f I should feel easier; h e had know n a n d trad e d w ith Big B ear and his b a n d for tw enty-five years a n d h e a n d th e old c h ie f w ere g re at friends. I felt I su p p o se u n re aso n a b ly irrita te d . Plainly these p e o ­ ple d id not sense th e g ravity o f o u r p o sitio n . It seem ed to m e no tim e for flippant talk. T ru e, th e In d ian s h a d n o t as yet given us cause for a p p re h e n sio n , but w e w e re a t th e m ercy o f th eir every w him a n d w ho could say th a t a situ atio n o f deadly peril and anxiety m ight not develop at a n y m om ent? I w ent on to Q u in n ’s. C ro ssin g a p lo u g h ed field b eside the h ouse, I alm ost step p ed in th e d a rk n e ss o n an In d ian . H e craw led a w ay a t m y a p p ro a c h . T h ey w ere g u a rd in g th e a g e n t's house, then! H e w as not to b e allow ed to escape as th e police h a d d o n e . Q u in n w as seated in his office, ju s t o ff th e fro n t hall. Big Bear, Im asees and o n e o r tw o o th e rs o f th e b a n d w ere w ith h im ' Im asees gave m e his ch air, passing a co m m o n Indian jo k e a b o u t m e, a t w hich all laughed excepting Big B ear. T he c h ie f had re tu rn e d th a t a fte rn o o n from his h u n t. H is strik in g face w as dark and sw ollen from th e cold and th e sm o k e o f m any cam p-fires and he looked w eary a n d tro u b le d . H e w as sp eak in g o f “ U n e e y e n ” — Riel th e h alf-breed rebel lead er, a n d w ent on: “ H e said to m e, ‘Big B ear, m uch blood will flow .’ H e was trad in g w hisky on th e M issouri R iv er a n d w anted th e C re es to help him m ak e w ar. “ W h en I w as in th e Long K n iv e s' (A m e ric a n s’) c o u n try I had a d re a m , an ugly d re am . I saw a spring sh o o tin g up o u t o f the g ro u n d . I covered it w ith m y h a n d , trying to sm o th er it, b u t it sp u rte d up betw een m y fingers a n d ran o v er th e back o f m y h a n d . It w as a sp rin g o f b lo o d . K a p w a ta m u t!” Im asees left th e house. H is fa th e r’s talk seem ed to tro u b le him . T he old c h ie f rose. “ G o o d n ig h t, K a p w a ta m u t,” he said . He ex ten d ed his h a n d , a n d th ere w as deep concern in his voice as he looked into th e a g e n t's eyes a n d repeated: “ G o o d n ig h t!” A fte r they w ere g o n e . Q u in n said: “ T h ey seem friendly. G u e ss th e y 're g oing to b e all rig h t." I answ ered: “ S o m e th in g ’s tro u b lin g Big Bear; he behaves qu eerly . I'm sure no h a rm 's to b e a n tic ip a te d from him p e rso n ­ ally. I'd like to feel as sure o f th e o th e rs ." I rem ain ed w ith Q u in n until eleven. H e told m e o f th e M in n e ­ sota M assacre in th e '6 0 's, w hen his father, a n Irishm an a n d a n o ted scout fo r th e U n ite d S ta te s tro o p s, had been am b u sh ed and killed by th e S ioux. A lso o f his ow n n a rro w escape a t th a t tim e, w hen th e hostiles at grey d a w n raid ed th e sm all fro n tie r tow n

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w here h e w as em ployed in a tra d in g business a n d he h a d ju m p e d in a n em p ty b arrel a n d w o rk ed it u n d e r th e c o u n te r w ith his fingers. T h e In d ian s had m issed him w hen they sacked th e sto re and h e h a d g o t aw ay th a t n ig h t. H alf sta rv ed , a fte r several p e rilo u s day s a n d n ig h ts he h a d a t length reac h ed a m ilitary post. H e said to m e as I w as leaving: “ W ell, C a m e ro n , th ey m ight kill m e, b u t they c a n 't scare m e ." P o o r Q u in n ! 1 w o n d e r if h e g uessed h o w soon his co u rag e a n d his b o a st w ould b e p u t to th e p ro o f? O n e M an and S ittin g H orse, th e uncle a n d b ro th e r o f Q u in n ’s wife, a C ree w o m a n , w ent to him in th e n ig h t w ith horses and offered to see him well on th e w ay to F o rt Pitt. Q u in n w ould not go.

In th e P ow er o f th e H o stiles Big B ear, as I learn ed from him long afterw ard , w en t stra ig h t to his lodge w hen h e re tu rn e d to c a m p a n d w ent to sleep, for he w as tire d . Im asees, W an d e rin g S p irit a n d o th e r o f th e leaders w ere in secret council. A t m id n ig h t th e w a r c h ie f gave a n o rd e r a n d four o f those in th e lodge stepped o u t quietly and vanished in the gloom . Isa d o re M o n d io n w as a m in o r c h ie f o f th e W o o d C re e s w ith a h o u se on th e reservation. H e h a d Iro q u o is b lo o d in his veins. H is fath er as a young m an had p a d d le d his c an o e from th e St. L aw rence to the S ask atch ew an , a v oyageur in th e service o f the H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a n y . M o n d io n w as stro n g , intelligent and fearless a n d a friend o f th e w hites. H e did n o t care fo r these councils o f Big B ear’s b and: no g o o d w as to be expected from th em , h e th o u g h t. S o o n a fte r m id n ig h t th e d o o r o f his h o u se o p e n ed a n d fo u r o f Big B e ar's w a rrio rs filed silently in. T hey seated them selves on th e floor, a n d M o n d io n ro se a n d extended th e usual Indian h o s p ita litie s . H e b le w th e d u ll c o a ls in th e m u d c h im n e y in to a blaze a n d hung th e c o p p e r pail o v e r it for tea. “ T h e night is d a rk ,” he said. T h e visitors n o d d ed . “ It is w a rm .” Y es, it w as w arm . L ittle B ear a g ree d . T h e re w as a long p au se. “ Y ou visit late. F o r w h a t d o you c o m e to see m e?” Bare N eck spoke. “ W an d e rin g S pirit se n t us. Y ou a re not a tru e C re e. A lread y th e police h av e gone. H e d o e s n o t w ish the o th e r w hites to leave. H e d o e s n o t tru st y o u ." M o n d io n 's eyes Hashed. “ W an d e rin g S pirit is wise; also h e is

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very brave, a n d he m ust th in k his follow ers very brave, to o , th at he sends fo u r to g u a rd a single m a n !” L ittle B ear low ered his rifle threaten in g ly . M o n d io n struck it up. T h e y clinched and rocked back a n d forth across th e room , until they w ent d o w n . L ittle B ear under. T h e o th e rs drew knives and threw them selves on M o n d io n . T h ey drag g ed him aw ay and bo u n d him . N o t until near d ay lig h t did they release him . M eanw hile W an d e rin g S pirit had not slept. S pies lay a b o u t the a g en t s h ouse. It w as still d a rk at fo u r o ’clock w hen Im asees and C h a q u ap o c ase e n te re d noiselessly through a w indow and crept u p sta irs to Q u in n ’s ro o m . H is w ife w as aw ak e and sp ra n g out betw een th e w o uld-be assassins a n d her h u sb a n d . L one M an and S itting H o rse, h e r b ro th e r, flung into the room a n d c o n fro n te d th e o th ers, g u n s in th eir hands. D ogs! cried L one M an. ‘‘Is n o t his wife a C re e w om an and m y niece? L et him a lo n e !” T h e y d e p a rte d , scow ling. “ W an d e rin g S pirit will deal with y o u !" m u tte re d Im asees. L one M an w as b ra v e a n d in fluential, a son-in-law o f Big Bear. “ W h o is W an d e rin g S p irit?” h e sneered. “ Tell him K a p a y a g w an N a p ap o w it p ro tects K a p w a ta m u t!” T h ey rem ain ed in the a g e n t’s ro o m . S oon d aylight beg an to filter th ro u g h th e w indow s. W an d e rin g S pirit forced th e fro n t d o o r a n d e n te red the office. H e to o k do w n th e th re e g u n s han g in g there. “ K a p w a ta m u t!” he called. “ C o m e d o w n !” “ D o n o t g o , K a p w a ta m u t!” L o n e M an urged. “ W e will stay a n d defend y o u .” Q u in n laughed m irthlessly. “ It is useless,” h e said. “ A n d never will they be ab le to $ay K a p w a ta m u t w as afraid to face th e m !” H e reached th e foot o f th e sta irs to find h im self su rro u n d e d . W an d e rin g S pirit placed a h a n d on his sh o u ld e r. “ Y ou are m y p riso n e r,” said th e w ar chief. I w as sleeping soundly in m y ro o m at th e H u d s o n ’s Bay post. I aw o k e w ith a start. A hand, clu tch in g m y sh o u ld e r, w as shaking m e roughly. It w as ju s t sunrise. I sat up. W alking H orse, a W o o d C re e em ployed a b o u t the post, sto o d beside th e bed. H is eyes w ere ab la ze w ith excitem ent. “ W a n isk a ! G e t U p !" he cried in C ree. “ I th in k it will b e ‘b a d ' to -d a y !” “ W h a t d o you m ean ?” I asked. “ They have tak e n th e horses from th e g o v ern m en t stables, a lre ad y ,” he replied. “ W h o has taken th e horses?”

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“ T h e y say, th e half-breeds, b u t 1 believe it is Big B ear’s m e n .” I needed no fu rth e r urging. I dressed quickly and w e n t dow n stairs. Im m e d iately , Im asees e n te re d , follow ed by tw enty o f the yo u n g er bucks. T h e ir faces w ere d a u b e d w ith v erm ilion a n d they carried rifles. U sually th e c h ie f s son greeted m e w ith som e pleas­ a n try , b u t there w as n o th in g o f friendliness on his unsm iling featu res th is m o rn in g . H e sto p p e d in fro n t o f m e. '“ H ave you a n y a m m u n itio n ? ” h e asked curtly. I th o u g h t I w as fo rtu n a te to b e ab le to tell him th a t I h ad . “ W ell, we w an t it.” H e knew th e re g u la tio n s as well as I d id . “ W h ere is y o u r o rd e r from th e agent? Y o u c a n 't g et it w ith o u t th a t.” S om e o f th e In d ian s passed th ro u g h the h o u se as I w as m aking these e n tries. T h e y looked o v er m y sh o u ld e r a n d asked w h a t I w as d o in g . W h en they w ere to ld , they lau g h e d . M rs. S im pson, w ife o f m y c h ie f a t F ro g L ake a n d h erself a h a lf-blood, w atched m e closely while th e Indians w ere a b o u t. E vidently she feared for m y safety. But I w ould not dw ell o n th e d a rk possibilities; I could not th in k th a t th ey w ould c o ld-bloodedly injure those w h o had placed them selves unreservedly in th eir p o w e r, a n d I resolved to keep up as long a s possible a t least th e sem blance o f a u th o rity . R ev. Felix M a rc h a n d , m issio n ary p riest a t O n io n L ake, tw enty m iles o n th e w ay to P itt, h a d arriv e d at F ro g L ake th e day b efo re. H e, P ere F a fa rd , H e n ry Q u in n , Y ellow Bear a n d m yself had b re ak fa st to g eth e r a b o u t n in e-th irty in th e C o m p a n y ’s h ouse. I say b re ak fa st, b u t w e had little a p p e tite for food. W e discussed o u r p o sitio n a n d agreed th a t it w as indeed grave. S h o rtly a fte r th e p riests left. A n Indian w o m an , greatly ag i­ ta te d , e n te red th e h o u se . “ L ittle B ear struck Pere F afard in the eye w ith th e b u tt o f h is rid in g w h ip ,” she w h im p ere d . Pessim ism sw ept o v er m e. A n y th in g m ight h a p p e n now . I w ent back to th e shop. G e o rg e Dill’s sto re stood on a hill directly b e fo re th e H u d s o n 's Bay p o st. T hey had looted it early in th e m o rn in g , b re ak in g in the d o o rs a n d w indow s. W an d e rin g S pirit d ro p p e d in. S ince I h a d last seen him h e had sm eared his eyelids a n d lips thickly w ith yellow ochre. H e lo o k ed hideous. "W h y d o n 't you go to th e c h u rch ? ” he asked in his h ard voice. “ Y o u r friends a re a lre ad y th e re .” N o sm ile played on th e face o f th e w ar c h ie f to-day; instead, th e w orst passions o f his savage n a tu re w ere d ep ic ted th ere. I w as n o t a R o m an C a th o lic, b u t I did not d a re d isreg ard w h at w as in effect an o rd e r, and I w alked o v e r. O n the w ay I m et

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F o u r-S k y T h u n d e r, o n e o f Big B ear’s councillors. H e bow ed, sm ile d a n d sa id : “ N 'C h a w a m is ! (M y L ittle B ro th e r!) ” a s he passed m e. I felt g rateful to th e tall, p leasan t w a rrio r. T h e looks th a t W an d e rin g S pirit had given m e had been black enough. T h e d o o r o f th e church w as o p e n . Several a rm e d a n d p a in te d In d ia n s sto o d before it. F a th e r M a rch a n d step p ed dow n to close it, b u t F a th e r F afard sto p p e d h im . Big B ear a n d M iserable M an stood inside a t th e b ack . T h e c h ie f told m e later th a t he w as th ere to p rev en t b lo o d sh ed and I believed him ; for tho u g h ou tw ard ly calm , well do I recall th e suppressed feeling a n d d e te rm in a tio n on th e old w a rrio r’s face. I am c onvinced th a t Big Bear w ould have flung h im self u p o n th e first o f his savage follow ers to p o in t a gun and fo u g h t fo r o u r lives. All th e w hites w ere assem bled, as well as th e half-breeds. T he priests w ere celeb ra tin g m ass, fo r it w as a holy day o f their ch u rch - th e day b e fo re G o o d F rid a y . I step p ed a cro ss to the row o f pew s o p p o site th e d o o r a n d took a seat.

The M a ssa cre T h e c o n g reg atio n w as kneeling. A m o m e n t later W an d e rin g S p irit e n te red . H e w ore his lynxskin w a r-b o n n et, w ith its five big eagle plu m es, and c arried a 'W in c h este r across his a rm . H e d ro p p e d on o n e k n e e in th e c en tre o f th e ch u rch , resting th e b u tt o f his rifle on th e floor. H is eyes b u rn e d a n d his hideously p a in te d face w as set in lines o f ferocious intensity. N ever shall I forget th e feelings his a p p e a ra n c e excited in m e, as he h a lf-knelt, g laring up a t th e a lta r and th e w hiterobed p riests in sacrilegious m o ck ery . H e w as a d e m o n , a wild beast, ro u sed , ruthless, thirstin g to kill. I d o u b te d then th a t we should a n y o f us ever again see th e o u tsid e o f th e chapel. P rayers ended, th e priests w a rn ed th e In d ia n s against c o m m it­ ting any excesses a n d w e w ere allow ed to leave th e c h u rch . T h e C a th o lics d ip p ed th eir fingers in th e w a ter a t the d o o r a n d crossed them selves as they passed o u t. I re tu rn e d to th e sh o p and th e o th e r w hites w ere soon a fte r tak e n by th e In d ian s back to th e agency. K ing Bird, Big B ear’s seco n d son, a cc o m p a n ied m e. " N 'C h a w a n iis ,” he asked, “ w ith w hom d o you side. R iel o r th e police?” “ C o u sin ,” I replied, “ h e re w e a re all friends. T h e half-breed w ar is far from us. L et them fight it o u t betw een them selves.”

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H e ask e d for th e loan o f th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y ’s flag for th e d a n ce he said they intended hold in g later in th e day. Q u in n , cool a n d self-possessed, h is Scotch c a p o n th e back o f his h e ad , his h a n d s in his tro u se r pockets, d ro p p e d in on his w ay to th e agency a n d w e spoke to g e th e r for a few m inutes. L eaving, h e said to me: “ W ell, C a m e ro n , if w e c o m e th ro u g h th is alive w e'll have som eth in g to talk a b o u t for th e rest o f o u r d a y s." W an d e rin g S p irit a p p ea red in th e d o o r. “ G o to th e in stru c­ to r’s ," h e o rd e re d , “ w h ere the o th e r w hites a re !" I c o m p lied . T h e In d ian s w ere sacking th e police b a rra c k s. A s I passed it, Yellow B ear cam e o u t, sto p p in g m e. E arlier in th e day h e h a d asked for a h a t, b u t a fte r th in k in g a m o m e n t h a d replaced it on th e shelf, saying he w o u ld g et it later. It w as now ten o ’clock. H e leaned fo rw ard, his face close to m in e. “ T h is is no tim e for idle talk! If you d o n ’t give it to us, w e’ll b re ak th e shop o p e n and ta k e it.” M y b lu ff had n o t w orked. “ O h , if th a t’s how you p u t it. I'll op en th e shop. If y o u 're b o u n d to have it I c a n 't p rev en t y ou. I d o n ’t w a n t th e lock b ro k e n ." O p e n in g th e sh o p , I called m y friend. Y ellow Bear, b e h in d the c o u n te r. “ H a n d th a t keg o u t,” I told him . “ I w o n 't touch it." I h a d , as h a s been seen, sent th e bulk o f th e p o w d e r to Pitt w ith th e police. T h e y divided w h a t I h a d k e p t - p e rh a p s tw o p o u n d s a m o n g th e m . M iserab le M an leaped over th e c o u n te r, elbow ed m e roughly aside a n d g a th e red up th e scattered bullets on th e floor. O th e rs reached a c ro ss th e c o u n te r a n d helped th e m ­ selves to th e long b u tch e r-k n iv e s on the shelves, a n d files w ith w hich they began to sharpen th e m . Big B ear p u sh e d his w ay in. “ D o n 't touch an y th in g in h e re w ith o u t leave!” h e c o m m a n d ed sternly. “ Ask him for it." in dicating m e w ith a w ave o f his h a n d . H e left th e sh o p again. Y ellow B ear step p ed o u t a m o n g th em . T h e old m an scow led at th e yo u n g b ucks, sho u ld erin g th em to w ard th e d o o r. " Y o u have g o t w h at you w an ted . N e c u k ! G o ! " H e closed th e d o o r a n d ste p p ed back b e h in d th e c o u n te r. H e picked up a m u sk ra t spear. “ I ’ll tak e th is ," he said . “ I m ight w an t to use it. I have no g u n .” Big B ear’s m en h a d alread y secured all o u r w eapons. I w as heartily grateful for th e old m a n 's friendship th is 2nd o f A pril m o rn in g . “ T a k e a n y th in g you w ish. Y ellow B e a r," I told him . “ A nd w hatever h a p p en s, stick to m e .”

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W e h a d in stock tw o box es o f Perry D av is’s P ainkiller. It c o n ta in s alcohol a n d o p iu m . I fe are d it m ight fall into th e h an d s o f th e In d ian s a n d th e ir ugly m o o d did not seem to need any stim u latin g . W e to o k it to th e h o u se a n d hid it b e h in d the ch im n ey upstairs. O n com ing do w n ag ain , I fo u n d a m essenger from W an d e rin g S p irit aw aitin g m e. I w as w a n ted a t th e a g e n t's house, h e said . I w ent, u n d e r th e g u a rd o f you n g m en he h a d sen t. T h e y d id not behave in a n y un frien d ly m an n er; sim ply su rro u n d e d m e. T h ere w ere nine w hite m en b e sid e m yself in th e little settle­ m en t, a n d w hen I reached Q u in n 's office I fo u n d them all seated in it. Q u in n sat a t th e fa rth e r e n d w ith th e S cotch-half-breed in te rp re te r, Jo h n P ritch ard , a n d In stru c to r D elaney n e a r him . T h e In d ian s crow ded ro u n d them a n d blocked the d o o rw ay . W an d e rin g Spirit held th e c en tre o f th e floor. H e w as speaking. H is m a n n e r aro u sed in m e a d istin c t feeling o f dism ay. “ W h o is a t th e head o f th e w hites in th is c o u n try ? " he d e m a n d e d , shaking his fist in Q u in n ’s face. " I s it th e g o v e rn o r, o r th e H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a n y , o r w h o ? ” Q u in n lau g h ed . I th in k h e m u st alread y h av e a b a n d o n e d an y ho p e th a t he w ould be p e rm itte d to see a n o th e r sunset; th e laugh w as harsh a n d forced. It m ay h av e struck him as finely ironical th at th e m en w h o m a d e the reg u latio n s for th e g o v e rn m e n t o f these In d ian s should be free to w alk a b o u t securely in th eir eastern h o m es w hile he, a n in stru m e n t in carry in g them o u t, w as a p riso n e r o f these In d ian s a n d in d a n g er o f his life a t their hands. “ S ir J o h n M a c d o n ald , a m an at O tta w a ,” he replied. “ H e is th e c h ie f o f all th e w hite m en w ho deal w ith th e In d ian s.” T h e speech end ed w ith a d e m a n d fo r beef. T h e y w ere retu rn in g to th e ir old form o f attack on th e g o v e rn m e n t and th e agent. W ould he have th e fo rtitu d e , now th a t he w as a t their m ercy, to refuse? Q u in n tu rn ed to th e in stru cto r. “ Is th e re an ox on th e reserv atio n th at h a s outlived his useful­ ness?” h e asked carelessly. D elaney m en tio n ed o n e so old as to be no longer serviceable. Q u in n said they m ig h t -kill it a n d sent a W o o d C re e boy to p o in t th e a n im al out. T h e office w as close, and th e m enacing a ttitu d e o f th e In d ian s a n d th e w ay in w hich they h e m m e d us in no d o u b t m ad e it seem closer. I felt extrem ely th an k fu l, th ere fo re, w hen u p o n g aining th eir p o in t they p e rm itte d us to go ouLside a n d get a b re a th o f fresh a ir. Som e o f Big B ear’s m en asked m e to retu rn to the

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shop; they w an ted to b ac co . G la d ie u , a W o o d C re e lea d er a n d m y go od friend, a p p ro ac h ed W an d e rin g Spirit. “ L eave C a m e ro n th e re ,” h e told him . “ Y o u will b e w an tin g o th e r th in g s.” T h e w ar chief, I knew a gainst his will, a g ree d . I h a rd ly need say I w as glad. I fo u n d Y ellow B ear a t th e sh o p . “ Stay close to m e, a n d w hen they g et w h at they w ant o rd e r th em o u t,” I said to him in a low voice a s I u nlocked th e d o o r. “ T h e y have th e stro n g h a n d to -d ay , a n d I c a n ’t d o it.” A fterw ard 1 w e n t into th e h o u se a n d charged w hat they had ta k e n — as I re m e m b e r it, chiefly to th e g o v e rn m e n t. I k n o w I felt a t th e tim e th a t th e a u th o ritie s w ere not w ith o u t blam e fo r the p o sitio n in w hich w e found ourselves. Q u in n should h av e h a d a stro n g force o f th e p olice a t his back w hen h e w as sent to deal w ith th e m ost in tra cta b le ban d o f Indians in the c ountrv. “ I w an t to get th a t h a t,” h e said. K in g Bird d a n ce d up to m e, th e H u d s o n ’s Bay flag o v e r his sh o u ld ers. H e sho o k w ith suppressed ex citem ent. W e h a d alw ays been g o o d friends. “ N 'g o w ic h in ! ( I’m c o ld !)” he said. H e cam e closer a n d addedm eaningly, in a w hisper; “ D o n 't sto p a ro u n d h e re !" I tu rn e d to Y ellow B ear. “ Y o u can h a v e th e h a t,” I said. “ C o m e w ith m e .” H e h esitated ; th e old m an b a lk e d a t m issing his share o f the p olice p lu n d er. “ W o n ’t you b rin g it to m e?” he asked. “ W an d e rin g S p irit has ju st o rd e re d m e h e re ,” I a n sw ered . “ If h e saw m e g o in g back he m ig h t sh o o t m e .” “ V ery well, th e n ,” said Y ellow Bear; “ I will go w ith y o u .” It w as n o t m uch m o re th an a h u n d re d y a rd s to th e sh o p . H alf w ay w e m et th e w a r chief. H e w as ru n n in g , carrying his rifle at th e trail. H e sto p p e d and looked a t m e m enacingly. “ I th o u g h t I told you to stay w ith th e o th e r w hites!” h e cried. Y ellow B ear an sw ered for m e. “ H e is g o in g w ith m e to g et a cap. I have n o n e a n d th e sun is stro n g .” W an d e rin g S p irit c o n sid ered . “ H u rry b a ck , th e n !” h e said a t length, and he ra n o n . A s I passed th e H u d s o n ’s Bay h ouse, I saw Big B ear talking w ith M rs. S im p so n in the k itc h e n . Y ellow B ear g o t his cap a n d I w as locking th e sh o p ag ain , w hen M iserable M a n a p p e a re d w ith an o rd e r from th e Indian agent. I glanced acro ss a n d saw Q u in n sta n d in g on the hill I had ju st q u itte d .

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1 tu rn to a n old scrap b o o k a n d from a piece o f foolscap p asted in th e back co p y th e faded lines, th e last w ritin g o f m y brave •friend. It is w o rn a n d soiled, for I carried it in m y w aistcoat p o c k et fo r m any w eeks. It is u n d a te d , but to m e no th in g d o n e on th a t 2nd o f A pril needs a m ark . It reads: "D e a r C am eron, P lease give M ise ra b le M a n one b lanket. T. T. Q .” M iserab le M a n w as, I th in k , th e m ost b ru tal-lo o k in g In d ia n I have ever seen. H is face w as deeply p itte d by sm allpox, a n d th e yellow o c h re w ith w hich it w as c o ated m ad e it a p p e a r even m o re repulsive th an usual. “ I h a v e no b lan k e ts,” I said. H e d id n o t reply, b u t sto o d regarding m e dou b tfu lly w ith an o m in o u s look in his rat-lik e eyes. “ W h a t a re you loo k in g a t him for?” d e m a n d e d Y ellow B ear. “ D o n ’t you h e ar him say he h a s n o blankets? I k now . T h ey have even ta k e n th e b lan k e ts o ff his ow n b e d .” M ise ra b le M an w as as g re at a c ow ard as ever b re ath ed . “ W ell, I su p p o se I can g et som eth in g else.” Y es, I told him .

“ How much?” “ Five d o lla rs.” H e selected a shaw l, a c a rro t o f to b ac co a n d som e tea . I p o u re d th e tea into th e shaw l, as w as o u r c u sto m , a n d h e w as tying it u p , w hen a sh o t rang o u t a sh o rt d istan ce aw ay. It w as follow ed by tw o m o re in quick succession. A t th e first sh o t th e eyes o f M iserab le M an o p e n ed w ide. H e cau g h t u p th e b u n d le a n d dash ed o u t o f the sh o p . I follow ed, locking th e d o o r a n d p u ttin g th e heavy bra ss key in m y p o ck et. T w o m o n th s later, on th e day o f m y escape from the In d ian s, I left th a t key, hanging in a p o p la r b lu ff n e ar F re n c h ­ m a n 's B utte, in th e p o c k e t o f a discarded p a ir o f trousers. It w as all th a t rem ain ed o f th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y ’s business at F ro g L ake. P erh ap s som e d a y a learned archaeologist will d is­ c over it a n d w rite an interesting thesis show ing how it c am e th re and w h en , a n d d e d u cin g from th e fact th at they m ad e locks and m ust th e re fo re have lived in h o u ses, a d d itio n a l p ro o f o f th e high state o f civilization o f th e m o u n d -b u ild e rs. O n th e hill before th e police b a rra c k s w hich I had q u itte d ten m inutes b e fo re lay th e form o f a m an . It w as th e lifeless b o d y o f p o o r Q u in n . T h e a ir w as thick w ith sm o k e and d u st. It rang w ith w h oops a n d shrieks a n d the c la tte r o f g a lloping h oofs. H igh o v er

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all sw elled the d e ad ly w a r-ch a n t o f th e Plain C rees, b u rstin g from a h u n d re d sinew y th ro a ts. I h e a rd W an d e rin g S pirit sh o u t to his follow ers to sh o o t th e w hites, a n d crack after crack told o f the d e a th s o f o th e r o f m y friends. “ A tim -e e n a w u k ! (D o g -m e n !)” e x ploded W alk in g H o rse sav­ agely, b u t half-scared, looking o u t o f the C o m p a n y ’s h o u se . Big B ear rushed o u t o f the k itchen d o o r and to w ard his follow ers, w aving his a rm a n d sh o u tin g at th e top o f his voice: “ T e sq u e ! T e sq u a ! (S to p ! S to p !) " H e w as to o late. T h e sm o u ld erin g fire o f in h eren t savagery had b u rst into flam e a n d he w as pow erless to q u en ch it; th e sp rin g o f b lood o f th e old c h ie fs d re am h a d b ro k e n forth a n d spurted th ro u g h his futile fingers! M y first th o u g h t w as to seize an axe, lock m yself in th e house and b rain th e first m an to force th e d o o r. But 1 looked a b o u t m e and co u ld see no axe. A n In d ian raced up to m e, holding his gun before him . “ If you speak tw ice, you a re a d e ad m a n !” h e cried. I saw a h a lf-b re ed , L ouis G o u le t, run p ast, follow ed by tw o Indians. O n e w as his b ro th er-in -la w . H e w as p ro tec tin g him from th e o th e r. G o u le t’s face w as like p a p er. I tu rn e d to Y ellow Bear. “ W h a t shall I d o ? ” I asked. T h e old m an seized m y w rist. H is h a n d sho o k as w ith the palsy. “ C o m e this w ay!” he m u tte re d , d ragging m e tow ard th e scene o f h o rro r. B ut w hen he reached th e c o rn e r o f th e h ouse, he halted , glanced a cro ss a n d tu rn e d back. Big B ear’s b a n d had m oved d u rin g th e night and w ere now cam p ed w ith th e W ood C rees, a m ile aw ay. “ N o! said Y ellow Bear. “ T hese w om en are sta rtin g for th e c am p . G o w ith th em : do n o t leave them . T h e y will not sh o o t a m o n g th e w o m e n !” Y ellow B ear feared openly to befriend m e — he w ould not acco m p an y m e— b u t I d id a s I w as bid d en , though I h a d little h o p e o f reaching th e Indian c am p . I had g o n e b u t a sh o rt way w hen I m et th e In d ian I had seen chasing G o u le t. H e w as riding th e h a lf-b re e d ’s w h ite h o rse, w ith his rifle a cro ss its w ithers. T h e re w as a fence on m y rig h t, m aking it im possible for m e to avoid him . I drew back involuntarily, an tic ip a tin g th e w orst. H e raced up w ithin six feet: then je rk e d his horse to a sudden sto p . He eyed m e narrow ly for a m o m e n t. “ G o on! G o o n ! ” he cried , th en . “ I d o n ’t w an t to h u rt y o u .” I w alked o n . M rs. S im pson looked o ff to th e rig h t in the d irec tio n o f th e firing. She beg an to trem b le violently.

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“ O h !” she exclaim ed, tea rs stream ing do w n her face; “ the priest h a s fallen!” I th o u g h t she w as a b o u t to fall. I stepped back and c a u g h t her a rm . She pulled aw ay. “ R u n , w hite m a n !” she cried in C ree. “ D o you th in k they will kill m e?” “ R u n , w hite m a n !” w as h e r o n ly answ er. I w alked o n . It w as useless to ru n . D eath sta rin g m e g rim ly in th e face! T h a t w as w h a t I saw . Ju s t that. T errib le! If fixed m y eyes o n th e g ro u n d before m e, held them th e re d e term in ed ly , m o m e n tarily expecting th e fatal b u llet. I did n o t w ish to see w hen o r w hence it cam e. T h e so o n e r th e b etter. So I felt. It w o u ld be hard fo r m e to d escrib e m y feelings in th o se aw ful m o m e n ts o f suspense. I w as, I believe, resigned. I know I felt th at it w o u ld be a sh a m e to live w hen so m an y o f m y frien d s w ere being foully d o n e to d e a th a few sh o rt y a rd s aw ay. I did n o t even look to w ard th e sp o t w here th e trag ed y w as passing. It seem ed th a t if I d id I should b e im pelled to rush o v er a n d fall w ith m y luckless c o m ­ p a n io n s. T o die w ith o u t a c h an c e to defend o n eself— th ere in lay th e su p rem e h o rro r! S h o t dow n like a dog! If only I had a gun! T h e m o m e n ts passed. I still lived, and I to o k h e art a n d raised m y eyes a t last. O th e r a rm e d In d ia n s w ere ru n n in g on th e ridges n e ar by. T w o passed q u ite close to m e. A n d a t length I reached th e c am p u n h a rm e d . I w as to ld to e n te r th e lodge o f a W o o d C re e. T h e w om en occupying it, all w eeping, m a d e tea a n d g av e m e a c u p . I felt sick a n d faint. S oon I heard W an d e rin g S p irit's voice. H e w as strid in g up and dow n th ro u g h th e cam p , speaking in his ringing tones: “ K a p w a ta m u t nipahow l (I him b e fo re th e in te rp re te r’s have a h a rd head. Y o u b o a st T o -d a y , if you love y o u r life, c a m p .’

killed T h e S ioux S peak er!) I m et h o u se . ‘ K a p w a ta m u t,’ I said; ‘you th a t w hen you say no you m ean no. you will do as I tell you. G o to o u r

“ ‘W hy should I go th ere ? ’ he d e m a n d ed . “ ‘N e v e r m in d ,’ I said . ‘G o .’ “ ‘M y place is h e re ,’ he a n sw e red . ‘ Big B ear h a s n o t asked m e to leave. I will n o t g o .’ “ I raised m y rifle. ‘I tell you g o 1.' I sh o u te d , a n d I sh o t him d e a d .” T h re e In d ian s e n te re d th e lodge a n d sat do w n n e ar m e. T hey looked a t m e curiously. I knew them well, b u t I did n o t speak. T h ey had w atches belonging to th e m u rd ere d m en . O n e , Papa-

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m a k e e s ik , P e re F a f a r d ’s m u r d e r e r , h e ld o u t a w a tch a n d a sk e d m e th e tim e. It w as eleven o 'c lo c k . I g ro a n ed , sittin g th ere, th in k in g over th e h o rro r. I expected each m o m en t they w ould c o m e for m e. T h e suspense becam e u n e n d u rab le. I could not longer rest w ith m y fate u n d ecid ed ; I m u st go o u t! I to ld these In d ian s. T h ey w ere friendly e n ough to suggest th a t I disguise m yself in a b lan k e t, b u t I said no. I m ight be recognized. If I w ere I should b e shot on suspicion o f a tte m p t­ ing to escape. I w alked across th e c am p into th e b ru sh . W illiam G la d ie u . the W ood C re e w ho h a d b efrien d ed m e in th e m o rn in g , follow ed w ith his g u n . H e p u t his arm a b o u t m y sh o u ld ers. " M y b ro th e r,” he exclaim ed, “ you are n o t to b e killed. Before th a t h a p p en s they will w alk o v e r m y dead b o d y . C o m e .” H e to o k m e to th e te n t o f O n e e p o h a y o , head c h ie f o f the W o o d C rees. H e re a council w as assem bled. Y ellow B ear, L ittle Bear, G la d ie u a n d o th ers, including the c h ie f him self, sp o k e o f kindnesses received a t m y h a n d s — trifles as they seem ed a t the tim e, b u t w hich w ere to sta n d m e in g o o d stead now . T h ey ag reed th at I should live and left m e to se c u re W an d e rin g S p irit’s consent. T h e Plain C re e s w ere in council o u tsid e a n d th e w a r chief m ad e a speech to th e b a n d , instru ctin g them th a t I w as n o t to be h a rm e d . T h ey b ro u g h t him to th e lodge. “ T h is is th e yo u n g m an w hose life w e a s k ,” said C h ie f O n e e ­ pohayo. “ A h -h a !” an sw ered th e w ar chief. " H e has d one m e favours to o .” H e held o u t his h a n d . C a n a n y o n e realize how sw eet life really is until he co m e s near to losing it? I d o u b t it. M in e , 1 began to th in k , m ig h t still be e n d u rab le w orth a n effort to save. T h o u g h m y spirit revolted I took th e h a n d th a t h a d sped th e bullets th a t sent tw o o f m y c o m p a n io n s to a sudden a n d aw ful e n d , fo r besides th e a g en t he had sh o t o n e o f th e priests. "W a lk a b o u t d u rin g th e d a y as you p lea se ,” he said, " b u t d o n 't go o u t a t nig h t. Y ou m ight be shot. O n e o f the you n g m en m ight d o it and w e w o u ld n 't know w h o . A n d d o n ’t try to esc ap e .” A t C o ld L ak e, forty m iles to th e n o rth , H . R. H a lp in w as in charge o f th e H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a n y 's p o st. A party w as leaving to b ring him to Frog L ake. I took a d v an tag e o f th eir am iable m ood to p u t in a w ord for him . “ Prom ise y ou'll sp a re his life, a lso ,” I urg ed . T h ey d e b a te d the

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m a tte r a n d m ad e th e p rom ise. “ So th a t h e w o n 't b e su rp rise d , I’ll - give y o u a n o te for h im ,” I said a n d on th e back o f an env elo p e I w rote in pencil: " D e a r H atpin, The C rees have m u rd e re d eve ry w hite m a n h e re e x c e p t m y se lf. T h e y a re g o in g o u t f o r y o u a n d have p ro m is e d n o t to h a rm y o u . A t y o u r peril, o ffe r no re sista n c e .” Beverley R o b e rtso n , th e law yer w ho d e fen d e d th e In d ian s, had this n o te a t th e tim e o f th e trials, b u t I d o n o t know w h ere it is now. T o w a rd evening Ja m e s K . S im p so n arrived from P itt. H e w as a n old officer o f th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p an y , w ith supervision o v er several p o sts a n d h e a d q u a rte rs a t F ro g L ak e, w h e re I lived w ith h im . A s h e d ro v e into c a m p th e In d ian s sto p p ed his h orses, u n h arn essed and a p p ro p ria te d th em . H e w as a n old friend o f Big Bear a n d a lthough a w hite m a n , in no g re a t dan g er, for his h alf-breed w ife h a d tw o sons m em b e rs o f th e W o o d C re e b ands. “ Big B e ar,” said M r. S im pson b e fo re th e w hole b a n d , “ I have know n you for tw enty-five y ears a n d I never th o u g h t I should live to see a th in g like th is!” T h e re w as d e ep feeling in th e old c h ie f s voice as he answ ered sorrow fully: “ It is n o t m y w o rk . T h e y have trie d for a long tim e to ta k e aw ay m y g o o d nam e a n d th ey have d o n e it a t last. If you had been here, this m ig h t never h av e h a p p e n e d .” M r. S im pson w as allow ed his ow n ten t, w hile I w as lodged w ith o n e o f his step so n s, L ouis P a ten a u d e. I w as deadly w eary, and w ith th e boastful je sts o f th e m u rd ere rs in m y ears, lay dow n early a n d slept th a t n ig h t as so u n d ly as e v er I did in m y life. It w as a blessed re lief to be a b le to forget in sleep the appalling events o f th a t day. T h ese w ere the first ho u rs o f m y m em o rab le tw o m o n th s w ith hostile Indians. I m ay h e re a p p ro p ria te ly m en tio n th e fact th a t no se rv an t o f the H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y w as killed by th e In d ia n s d u rin g the w hole o f th is sto rm y p e rio d . T h e ir tre a tm e n t by th e C o m p a n y had alw ays been c o n sid era te a n d h u m a n e . If a n Indian w as sick he w ent to th e n e are st po st a n d w as supplied w ith food and m edicine until h e b e ca m e well. W h en ready to go o n a h u n t he w as o u tfitte d w ith p rovisions, tra p s a n d a m m u n itio n , for w hich he p aid in furs on his re tu rn . T h e C o m p a n y m a d e him advances in g o o d s o n a cc o u n t o f his a n n u ity a n d w aited alm ost a y e ar fo r p a y m e n t, tru stin g en tirely to his h onesty for settlem en t o f th e

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d e b t. A fte r a tra d e he alw ays g o t a sm all p re se n t. W h en hungry he w as nev er d e n ie d a m eal. It w as th is policy o f liberality th a t c reated th e bond o f frien d ­ ship th a t existed betw een th e red m en a n d th e C o m p a n y for m ore th an tw o h u n d re d years a n d o f w hich they w ere n o t forgetful even in th e ir m o m e n t o f savage vengeance. Y et th e fact th a t I w as a n em ployee o f th e H u d so n ’s Bay C o m p a n y w ould n o t a lo n e h a v e saved m e in th a t awful h o u r, and I c a n n o t co n clu d e th is story o f th e m assacre w ith o u t recording h e re th e sense o f d e ep g ra titu d e I shall alw ays feel for life preserv ed u n d e r circu m stan ces 1 can nev er cease to regard as a n ything b u t m iraculous. I h a v e not yet m en tio n ed H e n ry Q u in n , th e a g e n t’s nephew . H e w as w a rn ed by th e friendly M o n d io n so m e fifteen m in u tes b e fo re th e m assacre a n d escaped to Pitt.

O u t o f the G loom Besides Ja m e s K . S im p so n a n d m yself, th e re w ere in th e cam p tw o w hite w o m en , the w ives o f th e m u rd e re d G o w an lo ck and D elaney. T h ese u n fo rtu n a te lad ies w ere drag g ed from th e bodies o f th e ir d ying h u sb a n d s by th e savages and tak e n to c am p , w here they w ere p u rc h ase d from th e ir c ap to rs by Jo h n P ritch ard . Q u in n ’s h alf-b reed in te rp re te r, a n d a n o th e r half-breed nam ed P ierre B londin. P ritch a rd deserves all praise for his unselfish and loyal p a rt, for h a d th e In d ia n s re ta in e d possession o f th e w om en it is n o t difficult to div in e th e fate before th em . A few w ords from th eir sto ries o f th e m assacre will b e fo u n d o f interest. M rs. D elan ey says: T h e first w e k n e w o f th e u p risin g w as on th e 2nd o f A pril at five o ’clock in th e m o rn in g . T w o o f Big B ear’s In d ian s entered o u r house a n d told us o u r horses w ere stolen by th e halfb re ed s, th o u g h they w ere them selves th e thieves. S oon after, so m e th irty m o re, a rm e d a n d m o u n te d , c am e to th e h o u se and forced th e ir w ay in. T h ey to o k all th e a rm s a n d a m m u n itio n they could find, telling us th ey w ere sh o rt a n d re q u ire d them . T h ey said they w ished to save us from th e half-breeds. T hey to o k us first to M r. Q u in n ’s, w here they had a long talk a b o u t ho ld in g to g e th e r to k e ep back th e h a lf-b re ed s w hen they cam e to ta k e th e p ro v isio n s. F ro m Q u in n ’s w e w ere ta k e n to the ch u rch , w here m ass w as bein g c eleb ra ted , b u t they w ould not pe rm it th e p riests to finish a n d o rd e re d them to retu rn w ith us to o u r h ouse. W e w ere left to ourselves fo r a b o u t an h o u r, the

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In d ian s su rro u n d in g th e h ouse. It w as then a b o u t h a lf p a st nine in th e m o rn in g . Big Bear cam e in a n d told m y h u sb a n d he feared som e o f th e yo u n g m en in ten d ed shooting th e w hites, b u t th a t h e a t least w ould be safe. A little later they o rd e re d us all to go to th e Indian cam p. W e d e p a rte d , m y h u sb a n d a n d I w ith th e o th ers, tak in g only w h at w e h a d on o u r backs, as w e expected to be only a short tim e aw ay. B efore w e had g o n e far th e In d ia n s began to sh o o t dow n th e w hites. M r. Q u in n w as sh o t first, though I did not see him killed. All th e sh o o tin g w as b e h in d m y h u sb a n d a n d m e, a n d until o th erw ise in fo rm e d I su p p o sed it w as into the air. I saw M r. G o w an lo ck fall. A s he d ro p p e d M rs. G o w a n ­ lock leaned o v er h im , p u ttin g h e r face to his. A s tw o shots had been fired at her h u sb a n d , I th o u g h t she had also been hit. A fte r M r. G o w an lo ck fell I saw som e frightful ob ject, an Indian hideously p a in te d , a im in g a t m y h u sb a n d . B efore I co u ld speak he staggered aw ay, but c am e back to m e and exclaim ed: ‘I am sh o t.’ H e fell th en . I called to the p riest and he cam e to w ard m e. T h en th e sam e In d ian fired ag ain . I th o u g h t th e sh o t w as m e a n t for m e, a n d I laid m y h e ad upon m y h u sb a n d a n d w aited: it seem ed an age, but th e ball had been for m y p o o r h u sb a n d a n d h e never sp o k e afterw ard . A lm ost im m ed iately a n o th e r Indian ran up and o rd e re d m e aw ay. I w ished to stay, b u t he drag g ed m e off, p u lling m e alo n g by th e a rm s through th e bru sh a n d b ria r and th ro u g h the creek , w here th e w ater reached to m y w aist. I w as p u t into an Indian ten t a n d left there until nightfall, w hen Jo h n P ritchard c am e and p u rc h ase d m y release w ith h orses, a n d I believe both M rs. G o w an lo ck a n d m yself o w e to him o u r escape from terrib le tre a tm e n t a n d su b seq u e n t death . I w as terribly stricken d o w n . I seem ed d e m e n te d a n d could h a rd ly tell on o n e d a y w hat h a d occu rred th e day p re v io u s. I w en t o n and on as in a fearful d re a m , b u t seem ed c o nscious all the w hile o f m y h o m e a t A ylm er, a n d m y longing for it seem ed a lo n e to keep m e u p . I w as a fra id to ask for m y h u sb a n d , but th e half-b reed s told m e later th a t they h a d b u ried him . A s I w as being dragged aw ay I saw th e tw o p riests shot. F a th e r F afard fell first: then F a th e r M a rc h a n d . O n fo u r differ­ en t n ights In d ia n s a p p ro a c h e d o u r tent, but th e d e te rm in a tio n o f P ritch a rd a n d som e o th e r h a lf-breeds saved us. T h e follow ing is from M rs. G o w a n lo c k ’s story: W h en w e left the D e lan e y 's h o u se no o n e knew w h at w as a b o u t to h a p p en a n d I d o n o t th in k it w as supposed a n y o f us

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w ere really in d a n g e r. W e all sta rte d a t th e sam e tim e. W e had g o n e only a few paces w hen th e In d ian s beg an firing. W h en I saw M r. W illiscraft fall in fro n t o f us I knew all w ere being killed a n d b ecam e greatly a la rm e d . I saw a n Indian aim in g at m y h u sb a n d by m y side. In a m o m e n t he fell, reaching o u t his a rm s to w ard m e. I c au g h t h im a n d we fell to g eth e r. I lay w ith m y face resting u p o n his a n d his b re a th in g h a d scarcely ceased w hen I w as forced aw ay by a n In d ian . I w as alm o st crazed w ith grief, b u t I re m e m b e r seeing th e tw o p riests shot a n d M r. D e lan e y . T hey w ere before m e. O n e o f th e p riests w as leaning o v e r D elaney. It all seem ed like som e h o rrib le d re am . I w en t th ro u g h it d azed a n d stu n n e d , w ith p o w e r e n ough left in m y lim b s o n ly to follow , as th e Indian d ra g g ed m e a fte r him th ro u g h co arse b ru sh a n d sloughs, w hich w et m e th ro u g h a n d to re m y clothes a n d flesh. I m u st have suffered intensely, but g rie f a n d te rro r re n d ere d m e u n co n scio u s o f p ain . I a sk e d to b e p u t with M rs. D elaney, b u t th e In d ian , w ho u n d e rsto o d sufficient E nglish to know w h a t I m ea n t, answ ered n o a n d p ushed m e into his ten t. T h e sq u aw s inside n o tic e d th at I w as sh a k in g w ith cold a n d to o k o ff m y shoes and d ried them a n d offered m e so m e th in g to e a t. B londin c am e a little later a n d b o u g h t m e for a h o rse a n d th irty d o lla rs.-1 w as then p e rm itte d to jo in M rs. D e lan e y in P ritc h a rd 's ten t. L ike M rs. D elaney, I d re ad to im agine th e tre a tm e n t to w hich w e w ould h a v e been subjected had it n o t b e en for P ritch a rd . Big B ear cam e frequently into the te n t to see us. P ritchard w o u ld in te rp ret a n d th e c h ie f professed so rro w , telling us it w as th e fau lt o f his b ra v es w hom h e could n o t c o n tro l. T h e u n u tte ra b le sadness on th e faces o f th ese tw o p o o r w om en is ineffaceably sta m p e d on m y m em ory. W e could offer them little beside o u r sy m p a th y , a n d w hen 1 first saw them a fte r the m assacre 1 d o u b te d if they w ould survive for a fo rtn ig h t the fearful ord eal th ro u g h w hich th ey h a d passed. N in e m en w ere killed in th e m assacre: T h o m a s T ru e m a n Q u in n , a native o f M in n e so ta, th irty-eight y ears o f age, o f m ixed Irish. F re n c h a n d Sioux b lo o d , successively in te rp re te r, clerk a n d a g en t in th e C a n a d ia n In d ian service. Jo h n D elaney, farm in g in stru cto r, a n a tiv e o f O n ta rio , a b o u t forty years o f age. Jo h n C . G o w an lo ck , from P a rk d a le , O n ta rio , a b o u t tw entyeight y ears o f age. G e o rg e D ill, a b o u t forty years o f age. H e cam e fro m M us-

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k o k a , O n ta rio , to F ro g L ake in th e fall b e fo re th e m assacre as m y p a rtn e r in a tra d in g business. Jo h n W illiscraft cam e to th e W est from S o u th a m p to n , O n ta rio . H e w as a m ech an ic, a b o u t sixty y ears o f age. W illia m C . G ilc h r is t, c le rk fo r M r. G o w a n lo c k , a b o u t tw en ty -o n e years o f a g e .' C h a rle s G o u in , a C o lu m b ia R iver half-b reed , em ployed at F rog L ake building th e agency sto res a n d houses. H e w as a b o u t forty years o f age. R ev. L eon A d e la rd F a fa rd , a n ativ e o f Q u e b ec , w h ere h e w as b o m in 1849. R ev. Felix M a rie M a rch a n d w as b o rn in F ra n c e in 1858. In a d d itio n to sh o o tin g Q u in n , W an d e rin g S pirit w as first to sh o o t F a th e r F a fa rd . T h e p riest w as hit in th e neck. H e fell on his face, a n d P a p a m a k ee sik , w ho h a d been b ro u g h t up by the priest, step p ed o u t a n d finished him w ith a sh o t in the h ead . Dill a n d G ilch rist ra n . T h e y w ere follow ed on horseb ack by L ittle B ear, M a y m ay q u a y so o , K a h w eech etw ay m o t, a n d Iron Body, ov erh au led a n d sh o t d o w n a b o u t th re e h u n d re d yards aw ay. T h e b o d ies o f th e tw o priests a n d o f G o w an lo ck a n d D elaney w ere placed in th e cellar b en ea th th e church a n d the e arth walls throw n in upon th em . Q u in n a n d G o u in w ere b u ried in th e cellar o f P ritc h a rd 's h ouse. W ith in a d a y o r tw o o f th e m assacre all the b u ild in g s had been b u rn e d by th e Indians, including th e tw o th at w ere th e sepulchres o f th e m u rd e re d m en. T h e church w as b u rn e d by F o u r-S k y T h u n d e r, w ho received a sentence o f fourteen y ears for his act. A po lo g ists for th e In d ia n s— 1 listened to o n e last su m m er: he had n o t been b o m a t th e tim e th e events reg ard in g w hich h e held forth tra n s p ire d — a re fond o f e x plaining th a t b u t for th e o b stin ­ acy o f p o o r T o m Q u in n th ere w ould have b e en n o m assacre: th at it w as his refusal to com ply w ith th e d e m a n d o f W an d e rin g S p irit a n d follow the o th e r w hites to th e Indian c am p th a t d ro v e the w a r c h ie f alread y keyed to a high pitch o f e x cite m e n t— in a su d d e n burst o f fury to loose th e fatal bullet. In o th e r w o rd s, th at th e b u tch e ry w as not p re m e d ita te d but th e sequence to Q u in n ’s insane defiance o f th e fiery C re e lea d er at a critical m om ent. T h is, no d o u b t, is a p leasan t theory a n d I am struck w ith a d m ira tio n a t th e assu ran ce o f th e m en w ho m a k e it, b u t u n fo r­ tu n ate ly it has no fo u n d a tio n in fact, being b u ilt on e n tire ig n o ­ rance o f th e situ atio n as it existed th a t 2nd o f A pril m o rn in g . I am a s re ad y a s a n y o n e — m o re, I am a n x io u s th a t full ju stic e be

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d o n e th e In d ian a n d his m an y fine q u a litie s— b u t I am not p re p a re d to h e ar w ith o u t p ro test th e blam e for th e tragedy placed o n th e shoulders o f m y good frien d Q u in n , w ho is p a st a nsw ering for him self, in o rd e r to b o lster u p a case fo r a n d excuse a lot o f b lo o d th irsty a n d cow ardly ru ffian s who w ere c o n d em n ed by a m ajo rity o f th eir ow n p e o p le . Q u in n knew In d ia n s— h e h a d good reason to kn o w th em , as will b e ev id e n t to a n y o n e w ho has been sufficiently in terested to follow th is n a rra tiv e so far; m o reo v e r, he w as h im self p a rt In d ian , and if h e declined to g o to th e C ree cam p it w as b ecause h e knew th a t if he w ere n o t safe on his ow n g ro u n d h e certain ly w ould n o t b e safe a m o n g th e Indian lodges. I t is m y o p in io n th a t Q u in n h a d satisfied h im self these In d ian s w ere d e te rm in e d to kill him a n d decided th a t if he h a d to die n o th in g w as to b e g a in e d by p ro lo n g in g th e suspense, m eanw hile being exposed to th e ir th re a ts a n d a b u se — o f w hich I h a d seen so m e th in g earlier in th e d a y — u n til W an d e rin g S pirit h a d w orked h im self up to th e p ro p e r deg ree o f ferocity to c o m m it th e d a s­ tard ly act. In view o f th ese facts, th ere fo re, I w as pleased , long a fte rw a rd , to g et from L ouis G o u le t w ho like m yself w as p resen t a t F rog L ake on th a t fateful d a y — th e follow ing d etails o f h ap p en in g s w hich did n o t c o m e u n d e r m y p e rso n al o b se rv atio n a n d w hich I should o th erw ise h av e h a d no m ea n s o f learn in g . T h e c o n stitu te a deeply-significant a d d itio n to w h a t I m yself knew and saw o f the m o rn in g ’s pro ceed in g s, co n firm in g m y ow n conviction, not only th a t th e m assacre h a d been fully d e te rm in e d upon th e night b e fo re if n o t earlier, b u t also th a t Im asees w as its chief instigator and th e w ar chief, if not his active a b e tto r in its in citem en t, at least q u ite read y to assum e th e leading role in carry in g it o u t. G o u le t’s E nglish being difficult o f ren d itio n in p rin t, I give his story from th e sta n d p o in t o f a n o n lo o k e r as it w as told to m e: G o u le t, N o lin a n d N a u lt h a d spent th e nig h t o f A pril 1st at F ro g L ake a n d next m o rn in g b e fo re sunrise they m et a t G o w a n lock's, tw o m iles below th e se ttle m e n t, on th e w ay b a ck to their c am p a t M oose C re e k . G o w an lo ck a n d h is w ife w ere still u p at th e D e lan e y 's a n d G ilch rist w as alo n e. T h e half-b reed s dis­ m o u n te d . tie d th e ir horses o u tsid e a n d e n te re d . G ilch rist w as up a n d they accep ted his in v itatio n to break fast. T h e y w ere seated a t th e tab le , w hen th e d o o r w as b u rst su d ­ denly o pen a n d Im asees, an uplifted p u k a m a k in in his right h a n d , rushed in. A look w hich he saw on th e face o f th e c h ie fs son G o u le t in te rp rete d as b o d in g no g o o d to G ilch rist. H e sp ran g up an d cau g h t th e Indian by th e a rm s. Im asees sw ung his belligerent

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gaze on th e h alf-b reed a n d shouting, “ Y o u 're th e m an I’m a fte r!” backed o u t o f th e house, d ragging G o u le t w ith h im . A crow d o f th e young m en o f th e b a n d , a rm e d and p a in te d , sto o d a b o u t outsid e. “ G e t o n y o u r h o rse s a n d c o m e up to F ro g L a k e ,” Im asees o rd e re d . “ Y o u ’re n o t going back to M oose C re ek . A nd b ring th e w hite m an w ith y o u .” G o u le t to o k G ilch rist up b e h in d him o n th e saddle a n d the h a lf-b re ed s sta rte d , th e In d ian s trailin g along in th e rear on foot. Presently th e sun p u sh e d a hu g e crim son sh o u ld e r above the skyline. It w as a p erfect m orning. “ H o ! ” cried Im asees. “ I like to see th e sun g et up th a t w a y red, like b lo o d . It’s a su re sign o f v ictory fo r th e Indians, alw ays!” G o u le t tu rn ed to N o lin , rid in g beside h im , a n d sp o k e in an u n d e rto n e . “ W h a t’s h e talking a b o u t? W h o a re they going to fight? V ictory? W h a t’s h e m ean ?” A t th e R o m an C a th o lic M issio n they w ere m et by W an d erin g S pirit. H e o rd e re d them to d ism o u n t. “ I w a n t you to in te rp re t,” said th e In d ian to G o u le t. “ Ask h im " h e p o in ted to G ilch rist— “ w ho he th in k s will w in, R iel o r th e g o v e rn m e n t? W h o se side is h e o n ? ” G o u le t put th e q u e stio n . G ilch rist laughed. “ T h e g o v e rn m e n t, o f c o u rs e — I’m with th e g o v e rn m e n t. T h e ha lf-b re ed s c a n ’t w in .” “ W h a t do es h e say?” q u eried W an d e rin g S p irit. G o u le t told him . A sin ister look sw ept th e w ar c h ie f s face. “ T h a t's all I w an ted to k n o w ,” he said significantly. “ C o m e w ith m e .” A nd placing G ilch rist ah ea d , h e stalked off. (“ T h e In d ian s liked G ilc h rist,” G o u le t e x p la in ed . “ I su p p o se if h e had said he sided w ith th em th ey w ould have tried to spare h im .” It struck m e th a t G o u le t m ig h t have helped th e w h ite m an here, b u t I expect h e feared to give a n y th in g but a correct in te rp re ta tio n o f his reply.) T h e b alan ce o f his story I shall try to tell in G o u le t’s own w ords. “ P re tty so o n ,” (said G o u le t), “ I m eet C h a rlie G o u in . I say, ‘C h a rlie , w h e re ’s y o u r rifle?’ C h a rlie says, ‘D e Injin ta k e it a t m y h ouse, ’fore I’m u p .’ “ W ell, d a t d o n ’ lo o k ver’ g o o d . D ere’s g o in ’ b e tro u b le, sure, I’m say to myself. A n d d e re is. Y o u know how it g o — a t Q u in n 's office, a t d e ch u rch , o v er on d e hill 'fro n t to Jo h n n y P ritc h a rd ’s

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h o u se . N o use to tell ’b o u t d a t. Y o u been d e re — you see. M e, I’m t ’ink I ’m g o in ’ ’scape aw ay, b a gosh! But I’m nev er g e t de chance! “ Q u in n a n ’ G o u in ’s sta n d in ’ 'fro n t to P ritc h a rd ’s. W an d e rin g S p irit’s c o rn in ' u p , o rd e r Q u in n go o n d e Injin cam p . D e re ’s little p a tc h d e snow side to d e hill yet. “ Q u in n tak e few steps; h e ’s w a n t to p ass by d a t patch d e snow . W an d e rin g S pirit say, ‘G o stra ig h t!’ Q u in n go on ro u n ’. W a n d e r­ ing S pirit say: ‘Y o u alw ays w a n t g o y our w ay. D o w ’o a t I tell y o u — go m y w ay!’ Q u in n sm ile, k e ep o n . D en W an d e rin g Spirit t ’row up hees gun a n ’ sh o o t a n ’ Q u in n fall.” ( G o u le t’s story h e re h ardly c o rre sp o n d s w ith m y o w n . I th in k G o u le t did n o t re m e m b e r clearly ju s t w h at o ccurred a t th is tim e; I should be su rp rised if he d id . H e w as ala rm e d for his own safety, th in k in g o f escape. M y ow n a cc o u n t o f these d e ta ils com es from th e w a r c h ie f him self, fro m w hat I m yself heard less than h a lf an h o u r a fte r th e m assacre, w hen th e m u rd e re r stro d e up and do w n th ro u g h th e c a m p a n d I listened w hile h e cried o u t his own re p o rt o f w h a t h e had said to Q u in n , the a g e n t’s replies a n d o f w h at follow ed. I scarcely th in k W an d e rin g S pirit w ould have given a w rong v ersion o f an e v en t o f w hich h e w as th en b o a st­ ing.) “ D a t half-crazy feller y o u k n o w ,” G o u le t w ent o n , “ run up, h o i' his g u n on m e a n ’ say: ‘G iv e m e y o u r m o n ey !’ I’m say: ‘I g o t no m o n ey .' ‘W ell, give m e y o u r h o rse ,' he say. ‘Q u ic k .’! “ O f co u rse, I give a n y t’ing— d a t— crazy feller g o in ’ killed m e, sure! ‘All rig h t!’ I say. “ It’s den I run on d e p ries’ stab le to g et m y h o rse, W aychun ru n n in ’ 'lo n g p ro tec t m e, d e tim e you see m e. “ B ut w’en I g et on d e sta b le , sh e ’s em p ty ; a n Injin outside, h e ’s sit on m y h o rse. D a t’s d e sam e feller’s ta k e C h a rlie G o u in ’s rifle; h e got it on hees h a n d . W ell, I'm p re tty — scare’. I’m run up, g ra b dis feller on d e leg a n ’ give him s w if h o is’. H e ’s land on hees h ead , o d d e r side m y horse. “ y o u b et d a t feller's m ad like —! H e 's ju m p up, sw ear d e bes' he kn o w h o s on C re e a n ' shove hees rifle on m y face. I'm g e t— close shave d e re , C a m e ro n ! B ut W aychun Step 'fro n t to m e shove hees g u n on d a t feller’s face. So o f co u rse he d o n ’ sh o o t. D a t’s tw ice on few m in u te W aychun save m y life. I d o n ' forget d a t, y o u bet! M an y sack flour I give W aychun a fte r d a t." F ro m th e re G o u le t, still a cc o m p a n ied a n d p ro tec te d by W ay ­ c h u n , struck for th e Indian c am p , passing m e on th e w ay as

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a lready related , a n d it w as th e “ half-crazy feller,” riding th e h a lf-b re ed ’s h o rse, w ho halted m e a b o u t th e sam e tim e and in stead , as 1 a n tic ip a te d , o f sh o o tin g m e, to m y u n u tte rab le g ra titu d e , told m e to “ G o o n !”

In th e C rucible O n G o o d F rid a y , th e d a y fo llo w in g th e m a s s a c re , J o h n F itz p a ­ trick, farm ing in stru cto r a t C o ld L ak e, fifty m iles to th e n o rth , was b ro u g h t into c am p by Big B ear's ru n n e rs. T h e In d ian s had been told by Riel th a t th e A m e ric an s w ould send tro o p s to assist them in th eir w a r a g ain st th e C a n a d ia n g o v e rn m e n t, a n d b ein g an A m e ric an , F itzp a tric k w as lo o k ed u p o n as a friend. K in g Bird p u t his head in to P a te n a u d e ’s lodge a n d said he had been sent by W an d e rin g S pirit to su m m o n m e to th e council sittin g a t the u p p e r end o f the c am p . I h a d learned only too well w h at w as likely to h a p p en to a n y o n e insane e n ough to d isregard th e w a r c h ie f s w ishes; I got up quickly a n d follow ed K ing Bird. A s w e w alked alo n g I said in C re e , w ith a w ave o f m y h a n d in th e d irec tio n o f th e sm o u ld erin g ru in s o f F ro g L ake: “ I h o p e th e re ’s going to b e no m o re o f th a tT ' K ing Bird lo o k ed a t m e w ith his engaging frankness. “ O h , n o ,” h e answ ered. “ W an d e rin g S pirit w an ts o n ly to talk w ith y o u .” It w as a b eau tifu l m o rn in g th e 4th o f A pril. An a tm o sp h e re o f peace, a m elting, slu m b ro u s h a ze , rested o v e r all th e virgin loveliness o f th a t w ilderness la n d — its w ooded slopes, its sw eeping green expanses, its soft blue lakes u n d e r th e w id e skies. It w as h a rd to believe th a t a m id such sm iling settin g s there had been staged ju st tw o days b e fo re o n e o f th e b lackest trag ed ies in C a n a d ia n history. T h e council sat on th e gra ss in a circle, a trip le row o f p a in te d and b e fea th e red savages. T h ey m a d e a w ay for m e to reach th e hollow space in th e cen tre, a n d W an d e rin g S pirit, w ho sat on his heels inside th e in n er row , m o tio n e d m e to a seat beside him on th e right. H e w o re his w ar b o n n e t a n d a rifle rested across his knees. F ro m th e b o n n e t d e p en d e d five b ro a d w hite eagle plum es, th eir p o in ts je t-tip p e d , for each o f w hich I h a d heard him b o a st he m e a n t to have a w hite m a n ’s life. U ntil th en h e had tak e n ju st tw o, those o f Q u in n a n d F a th e r M a rc h a n d , so th a t th ree w ere still needed to m a k e g o o d his boast. Im m ed iately b e h in d W an d e rin g S p irit sat Im asees, h a lf-b ro th e r

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to K in g Bird. Im asees w as th e real in stig a to r o f th e F ro g L ake atro cities, tho u g h clever e nough so to m a n o e u v re th a t u p o n o th ­ ers should fall th e blam e. H e w as em ph atically a d a n g ero u s In d ia n — a cool, co m m a n d in g figure in th e flush o f yo u n g m a n ­ h o o d , w ith m uscles o f spring steel a n d th e featu res o f a R o m an legionary. H e w o re his h air ro a ch e d above his unw inking black eyes, lik e a h o rse ’s fo reto p , a n d h e had a b o u t him so m e th in g o f th e d o m in a tin g force w hich d e sp ite his age still rem ain ed to Big B ear. In fact, so strik in g an e x am p le o f th e p u re type o f Plains savage w as Im asees th a t n o tw ith sta n d in g his crafty a n d tre a c h e r­ ou s n a tu re , I could n o t b u t confess a degree o f secret a d m ira tio n for him . J o h n P ritch a rd sat in th e c en tre o f th e hollow space, w ith M r. Sim pson beside h im . I n oticed F itzp a tric k sittin g w ith som e half-b reed s, including A n d re N a u lt, L ouis G o u le t a n d A b ra m M o n to u r, on th e left o f th e circle, L ouis P a ten a u d e. m y g u a rd in c a m p , a n d A le x is C ro s s a rm s sa t im m e d ia te ly b e s id e W a n d e rin g S pirit on th e left: W illiam G la d ie u on his rig h t. T h e Plain C re es co m pletely su rro u n d e d us. A s I w alked to th e place assigned m e and glanced o v er th e b an k ed ring o f b e d a u b e d and fo rbidding faces, a sense o f th e peril w hich h em m ed us in cam e u p o n m e. Should w e ever a g ain pass th a t b a rrie r o f sin ister faces? I trie d to tell m yself th a t w e should, b u t it w as not easy. W an d e rin g S p irit fixed m e w ith th e eyes th a t alw ays seem ed to b o re in to o n e ’s very soul a n d raising a h a n d a s if to im press m e w ith th e im p o rta n ce o f w h at h e h a d to say, he began: “ Y o u a re o n e o f th em , th e big C o m p a n y . Y o u trad e w ith the C re es for furs a n d w rite ev erything dow n in a b o o k . Tell m e — you know : T h e C o m p a n y sold th is land to th e Big C h ief W o m an : took m o n ey for it. W hy d id they d o th at? T h is land belongs to us. T h e C o m p a n y d id n o t ow n it. But they a re rich b ecause they g o t m uch m oney for som eth in g th a t w as n o t th eirs. W e are not rich. W e are p o o r. O ften w e d o not have e nough to e at. So we have taken back th e lan d , a n d w hen it is sold a g a in — to the L o n g -K n iv es (A m e ric an s) th e m oney will c o m e to us, n o t to the C o m p an y . “ Y o u saw w h at h a p p en e d th e o th e r day; how Sioux S p eak er and th o se o th e r m en d ro p p e d . It is iya m u n w hen th e C re es m ake w ar! Plenty blood runs. T h is, th a t began th e o th e r day it will go on u ntil th ere a re no longer a n y C a n a d ia n s h ere. T h a t w as my vow w hen I fired th e first shot. N o w , say: W hy did th ey sell the land? H o w m uch did they get?” I realized th e need for carefully-considered replies to any q u e s­

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tio n s he m ight p u t to m e. I w as in no h u rry to answ er. W a n d e r­ ing S p irit, backed no d o u b t by Im asees, h a d set a trap for m e. I w as th e only living w hite m an w ho had w itnessed the b u tch e ry at F ro g L ake. It gave h im , I th in k , a sense o f uneasiness w hen he looked a t m e a n d recalled th a t. It w as a n o m en o f b a d luck. O n th e m o rn in g o f th a t d a y o f b lood h e had in ten d ed I should die w ith th e o th e rs, p lan n ed to th a t e n d , o rd e rin g m e again a n d again to jo in a n d stay w ith them . But som e friendly In d ian , o n o n e p retex t o r a n o th e r, w as su re a m o m e n t later to ta k e m e asid e, so th a t w hen th e fatal m o m e n t a rriv e d w ith th e firing o f th e first sh o t I w as in the trad in g sh o p , fitting Y ellow B ear w ith a cap. W an d e rin g S pirit h a d never forgiven m e, I knew , for being still alive a n d I had no d o u b t his m in d w as m ad e up, n o tw ith stan d in g his p rofessions o f g o o d will, to rem edy th e m iscarriage o f his designs a n d d isp o se o f m e a t th e earliest o p p o rtu n ity . T h a t m ight a rise a t any in stan t w ith a hasty slip o f m y to n g u e. W an d e rin g S pirit knew no E nglish a n d o u r co n v ersatio n w as carried on in C ree. “ I d o n o t c a rry all th ese th in g s in m y h e a d ," I said a t length, “ but I will try to tell y ou. T h e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y did not sell th e c o u n try ; as y o u say, it w as not th eirs to sell. But the G re a t M o th e r th o u g h t they h a d so m e rights. T h e y had been here tw o h u n d re d years. T h a t is a long tim e. If you h a d lived for tw o h u n d re d years on a piece o f land you w ould b e very b itte r if so m eb o d y to o k it .away. T h e Q u e en m a d e a trea ty w ith the In d ian s a n d the H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a n y had to give up th e land — m o st o f it. T h e y could not be d riven o u t — o r w here w ould the In d ian s h a v e trad e d th e ir furs?— a n d they h a d to live som ew here; they h a d to have land for th eir posts. N o w , y o u ask why th e G r e a t M o th e r p a id m oney to th e C o m p an y . -I will tell you. T h e C o m p a n y had been g o o d to th e In d ian s, so th e G re a t M o th e r w hen she sent h e r m o n ey chiefs to m ak e th e trea ty p a id th e C o m p a n y th ree h u n d re d th o u sa n d p o u n d s.” W a n d e rin g S pirit c lapped his h a n d s over his m o u th in th e C ree g estu re o f a sto n ish m e n t too colossal for expression in w ords. T h en h e sw ung sud d en ly u p o n m e a n d said in his peculiarly p e n etrativ e tones: “ Y ou knew a b o u t th e fighting a t D uck L a k e — knew before the b a d d a y h ere. If y o u C o m p a n y m en w ere frien d s o f th e C rees, you w o u ld h a v e told the new s. Y o u told us n o th in g .” T h e fight, betw een R iel a n d th e N o rth -W e st M o u n te d Police, occu rred o n M arch 26th: w e had learn ed o f it five day s later. F ro g L ak e follow ed on A pril 2nd. T h is w as A pril 4 th . W e had

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n o t th o u g h t it w ise to say a n y th in g to th e In d ian s a b o u t th e rising a t D u c k L ake. I said: “ I o v e rh e a rd som eth in g o f y o u r talk . Y ou knew all a b o u t it— m o re th an w e d id . I co u ld n o t tell you a n y th in g ." “ W ell, w e will see how m u ch you know n o w ,” h e p ersisted. “ Tell m e all a b o u t it— th e h alf-b reed w ar; how it sta rte d , w ho w ere killed, how m an y soldiers, w here they a re . S peak w ith one to n g u e .” H e h a d given m e a fo rm id a b le and d istu rb in g task . “ M r. S im pson b ro u g h t m e a m u sin a g a n from P itt. It tells a b o u t D uck L a k e — th e fighting. I will g et th e p a p er a n d re ad it to y o u .” I rose, b u t h e sto p p e d m e w ith a gestu re. “ If you saw it, you kn o w w h a t it says. Y ou d o n ’t need the p a p e r.” M y p o sitio n h a d now reached a p o in t o f ex tre m e difficulty and d a n g er. I could n o t rely on m e m o ry to give him exact d etails o f th e b a ttle o r o f th e m o v em e n ts a n d n u m b ers o f tro o p s— alread y on th e ir w ay from th e E ast to th e S ask atch ew an . Y et th ere w ere ha lf-b re ed s in th e c am p ab le to read E nglish a n d I knew th a t the p a p er w ould b e ta k e n a n d re ad by o n e o f th em follow ing this e x am in atio n and th a t a n y trifling discrep an cy w ould b e seized on by W a n d e rin g S p irit to fix u p o n m e a ch arg e o f falsehood and a tte m p t to m islead th e b a n d . A p re te x t to d e n o u n ce m e as an em em y o f th e C re es w as all th a t w as w a n ted by W an d erin g S pirit. “ Y o u m u st th in k m e very w ise, K a h p a y p a m a h c h a k w a y o ,” I rep lied . “ I am n o t so clever. Y o u d o n o t m ak e it easy for m e; you m ak e it h a r d .” I lo o k ed ro u n d at th e ro w s o f tense, u nsm il­ ing faces. S om e o f th em . I kn ew , w ere m y friends. “ H e a r— I am sp eak in g to th e co u n cil— I w a n t to say, I will tell all I rem em ber! If I leave a n y th in g o u t th a t is in th e p a p e r — if I d o n o t tell so m e th in g exactly as it is th e re — d o n o t say I spoke w ith tw o tongues. T h a t will n o t b e so !" A sh o u t o f th e app ro v in g “ H o w / ” ran ro u n d th e circle. I w ent on: “ T h e S o u th B ranch half-b reed s, m isled by R iel a n d o th e r h e a d m e n , th re a te n e d to seize th e tra d e rs’ sto res a t D uck L ake. T h e c h ie f o f the m o u n te d police, w ith fifty m en , on th e w ay from F o rt C a rlto n to D uck L ake to p ro tec t th e stores, m et th e halfb reed s u n d e r R iel a n d D u m o n t a n d a b a ttle follow ed. Eleven o f th e w hite m en w ere killed; so m e w o u n d e d . S om e o f th e halfb reed s a n d a few o f B eardy’s C rees, also. A bullet p loughed th ro u g h G a b riel D u m o n t's scalp; th e w hite c h ie f w as w o u n d ed in th e face. T h e police h a d re tu rn e d to C a rlto n . T h e h e ad c h ie f o f

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th e m o u n te d police had a rriv e d th e re w ith o n e h u n d re d m ore m en, b u t he had b u rn e d F o rt C a rlto n a n d m oved d o w n to Prince A lb ert. O n e o f th e Q u e en ’s big soldier chiefs had reached the T o u ch w o o d H ills w ith tw o th o u sa n d m en . M o re soldiers w ere follow ing from R ed R iver. A n — ” “ I d o n 't believe all th is!” W an d e rin g S pirit b ro k e in excitedly. “ L ia r!” I looked him in th e eye. “ Y o u asked m e to tell y o u w h at the p a p e r says. I am telling y ou. 1 d o n ’t kn o w w h e th er it’s tru e o r n o t. S o m e th in g s I am n o t very su re a b o u t. But a b o u t th e soldiers — I re m e m b e r th a t.” “ Y o u seem to re m e m b e r ev ery th in g ag ain st u s— all this talk o f soldiers com ing to fight u s,” h e sneered. H e regarded m e d arkly for a m o m e n t; then: “ I am g o in g to ask a n o th e r q u e stio n . A m in u te ago you w an ted e v ery o n e to h e ar you. L et them h e a r you now w hen y o u answ er: D o y o u w a n t to see R iel w in, o r the w hites? W h o se side a re you o n ? ” I h o p e nev er a g ain to find m yself in so critical a p re d ic am e n t. I could n o t b ring m yself, in no m a tte r w h at ex trem ity , to say I sided w ith these c u t-th ro a ts, even th o u g h , b ecau se th e th o u g h t o f d e a th so appalled m e ju s t th en , I h a d tak e n th e h a n d held o u t to m e by th e arch-assassin w hen he p ro m ised on th e d e m a n d o f O n e ep o h a y o th a t I sho u ld n o t b e h a rm e d — th a t lean, claw -like han d th e closing o f w hich h a lf a n h o u r b e fo re had loosed th e ball th a t stretch ed p o o r Q u in n d e ad a t his feet. W h a t 1 finally did sa y — a n d I spoke to th e w hole co u n cil— was: “ T h e o th e r d a y y o u m ad e u s— ten w hite m e n — p riso n ers, over y o n d e r. A little later nine d ie d . I am glad th a t 1 am aliv e— th a t you saved m e— b u t I h a v e no life o f m y ow n any m o re. It is yours. I am in y o u r c am p . W h o can I side w ith?” I w as m an o e u v rin g to av o id sta tin g a d e lib e ra te falsehood, but th e effect to m e w as startlin g . I h a d looked for quick m an ifesta ­ tio n s o f a n g er o v e r an evasive a n sw er. W h a t I m et w as a ch o ru s o f a p p ro v al o f m y reply. In brief, I had m ad e a h it. B ut n o t w ith W a n d e rin g S pirit. O f th a t his face w as th e u n sp o k e n evidence. I to o k a d v an tag e o f a te m p o ra ry lull in events to m ove, with th e a ir o f regarding m y p o sitio n in th e c am p a s definitely e sta b ­ lished, to a seat in th e open space n e ar P ritc h a rd , a b o u t six feet in fro n t o f W an d e rin g S pirit. B ut a m o m en t la te r he tu rn e d on m e a g ain a n d said sharply: “ Say th a t you will sta y w ith th e C re e s— will help them , n o t try to g et a w ay !"

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I nodded. I could see h is eyes kin d le as he looked o ff to the rig h t for a second; then h e faced m e a g ain : “ Sw ear it! " h e co m m a n d ed . “ R aise y o u r h a n d !” B ut th e sy m p ath y o f m any in th e council h a d by th is sw ung over to m e. T h ey sh o u te d “ H e d id sw ear!" “ Namoya /” re to rte d th e w a r c h ie f angrily. “ H e did n o t!" A c la m o u r o f v iru len t d isp u te aro se, m y c h am p io n s asserting loudly th a t 1 had sw o rn , m o st o f Big B ear's m en as vociferously c o m b a tin g th e sta te m e n t. T h e w a r o f w o rd s m o u n te d to an u p ro a r, till a t length W an d e rin g S pirit, fearing a n actu al clash betw een th e tw o factions, W’o o d a n d P lain C rees. d ro p p e d th e p o in t a n d I escaped tak in g the hatefu l o ath . 1 h av e m an y tim e s th o u g h t o v e r th e o c cu rre n ce a n d long ago reached th e conclusion th at w h at follow ed w as ju st o n e detail, w o rk ed o u t p ro b a b ly by Im asees o r by Im asees and W an d e rin g S pirit to g eth e r, in th e gam e th ese tw o m aste r-co n sp ira to rs h a d set o u t to play. 1 q u e stio n if, b a rrin g Big B ear h im self a n d his son-in-law , T he L one M a n — p e rh a p s th e b rav est redskin I ever k n e w — th e re w as in th a t w hole c am p o f tw o h u n d re d lodges a single Indian w ho w as n o t afraid o f W an d e rin g S p irit. I d o n o t except even Im asees, tru cu len t by n a tu re th o u g h h e w as. T h e L o n e M an a n d th e w ar c h ie f h a te d each o th e r w ith a deadly e nm ity, b u t— b ecause o f th a t no d o u b t they also av o id ed o n e a n o th e r, c o n ta ct spelling d a n g e r fo r b o th . N o b ra v e in h is rig h t m in d w h o w ish e d to c o n tin u e living w ould d elib e ra tely have p ro v o k e d W a n d e rin g Spirit. O seew oosgw an Bald H e ad w as very old a n d h e had th e m ind o f a very old m a n . T h a t is w hy I p u t him do w n a tool o f Im asees. F ro m his a ctio n s a n d a p p e a ra n c e I am certain no sense o f d a n g e r e n te red his sh ru n k e n old brain as. leaning heavily on a stick, h e pushed his w ay into th e circle a n d b e n d in g over, w ith a finger p o in te d derisively a t th e w a r chief, p ip ed in a high q u e ru ­ lous falsetto: “ F o r w h at do you keep th ese w h ite p e o p le here? Y o u d id not hold back th e o th e r d a y .” H e w aved a h a n d in th e d irec tio n o f th e sm oking d e so latio n . “ But now you talk ju s t talk. Y ou have d o n e b a d a lre ad y . It b e a ts y o u to g o on w ith w h a t y o u sta rte d , eh?” T h e b lood surged to W an d e rin g S p irit's face, flushing it darkly, as he sat look ing up from b e n e a th his w ar b o n n e t a t th e old m an. S u ddenly his right h a n d sh o t o u t, thro w in g th e lever o f his W inchester do w n in th e action o f loading a n d th ereb y raising th e m uzzle.

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H e ju m p e d to his feet. “ Y o u will see to -d ay w h e th er it b eats m e!” h e sh o u ted . But ra p id as h a d been his m ovem ents, L ouis P a ten a u d e an d A lexis C ro ssarm s h a d a n tic ip a te d th e m . T h e y w ere b o th on their feet a t his left; in o n e han d L ouis g rasped th e b arrel o f th e W in c h este r and held it above h is h e ad ; b e h in d , A lexis reinforced h is hold w ith a d o u b le g rip o f his ow n on th e g u n . A ny effort by th e now infu riated lea d er to c o n tro l the w eapon w as effectually b locked. In vain he struggled to low er the b a rre l, to raise th e b utt to his sho u ld er. A lexis a n d L o u is held th e W in ch ester as in a vice. I had leaped to m y feet a t th e first m ove o f th e w ar c h ie f and now sto o d w ith m uscles ten sed , oblivious to everything else, w atching w ith fascinated interest th e d ra m a bein g played out b e fo re m e. H ow w ould it end? If th e m ad d e n ed w ar c h ie f suc­ ceeded by a n y c h an c e in w resting th e gun from m y d e fe n d e rs I w as read y to th ro w m yself u p o n him and seize th e rifle b e fo re he could level and d isch arg e it a t m e. A t F ro g L ak e I h a d w alked a long, w hile rifles crac k ed and scream s a n d w h o o p s and w ar-cries a h u n d re d y a rd s aw ay m ad e a stu n n in g h o rro r o f th e g olden A pril m o rn in g , w eaponless, like a m an w ith h a n d s b o u n d , m y eyes on th e g ro u n d before m e, expecting each instant a b ullet in th e back. H ere a l least th ere w as certain ty o f actio n . I w ould go d ow n, if it w as m y fate, fighting— I hoped w ith a k in d o f wild jo y , bringing o th e rs dow n w ith m e — n o t like a do g ! I w as to o engrossed a t th e m o m e n t to feel any sense o f fear. A long knife stuck in a sheath in W an d e rin g S p irit’s belt. Both th e w a r c h ie f s h a n d s w ere engaged w ith his g u n . P a te n a u d e b e n t forw ard suddenly a n d w ith his right han d plucked th e kn ife from th e sh e a th a n d ra isin g his a rm , held the p o in t poised an inch above W an d e rin g S p irit's h eart. T h e n he c ran e d forw ard until his face a lm o st m et th a t o f th e w ar c h ie f and w ith eyes th a t glittered u n d e r th e black b ro w s like a sn a k e ’s, bent u p o n th e eyes o p p o s ­ ing th em a look o f such calculated deadliness th a t in th e hush th at fell u p o n th e staring council o n ly th e su b d u ed clicking o f ste alth i­ ly-lifted g u n -h a m m ers co u ld b e h e ard . T h e w ar c h ie f s fury d ied u n d e r th e m enace o f th o se level eyes, and o v er th e c o p p e r features sp re ad a film o f dull grey, like dusted ash es. But he still fo u g h t, tho u g h w ith o u t his fo rm er de sp e ra te recklessness, fo r possession o f the W in ch ester. G la d ie u had risen w ith W a n d e rin g S pirit a n d his gun w as now levelled on th e w ar c h ie f s head from beh in d . T h e hilt o f th e knife p ro tru d e d above L o u is ' h a n d . Im asees, w ho h a d also risen and sto o d a t W an d e rin g S p irit's b a ck , reached u n d e r his shoulder.

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g ra sp ed th e p ro tru d in g h a n d le a n d w ith a su d d e n je rk drew the knife th ro u g h , leaving a n ugly gash across L ouis’ fingers. T h en Im asees, w ith o u tstre tc h e d a rm s and th e n a k ed blade in his left h and flashing in th e sun, g lan c ed quickly ro u n d th e circle and spoke, in low , em o tio n le ss tones: “ T h is is n o t th e w ay to d o ! It will m a k e tro u b le betw een us. W e w a n t to b e all frien d s!” T h e w ay o f re tre a t h a d been o p e n ed fo r W an d e rin g S p irit. H e seized it eag erly — no d o u b t gratefully. “ Uh-huh\ ” he ex claim ed, his h e ad n o d d in g to em phasize his a g reem en t. “ Tapwa\ (T ru e!) T h e old m a n ’s talk m ad e m y h e art b a d , b u t th a t is p a st. W e are all C rees h ere, all b ro th e rs !” A lexis a n d L o u is had k e p t th e ir h o ld on th e rifle, b u t w hen W an d e rin g S p irit low ered th e h a m m e r th ey released it. G lad ieu step p ed o ver, p u sh e d his sh o u ld e r a g ain st th a t o f th e w ar chief a n d his rifle alo n g sid e th e W in ch ester a n d w atched narrow ly w hile th e tw o g u n s cam e d o w n to g eth er. T h e significance o f G la d ie u ’s a ctio n lay in th e fact th a t h e d istru sted th e w a r c h ie f s professed ch an g e o f h e a rt. H e w as g u a rd in g a g ain st a feint a surprise by W an d e rin g S pirit o n c e co n tro l o f his W in c h este r had passed again into his ow n h ands. W a n d e rin g S p irit w as seated o n ce m o re, b u t I still sto o d , ab so rb ed as ever, a w aitin g th e next d ev elo p m en t. H e lo o k ed up presently a n d m o tio n e d w ith his h a n d . “A pee / ” he said . “ Sit! N um anando keeah!" F o r w hich th ere is no a d e q u a te tran sla tio n . W h at he m ea n t to convey w as th a t I w as n o t in d a n g e r a t th e m o m e n t. W hich w as satisfactory a s far as it w ent. T h e strain had pro v ed to o m u ch for th e w a r c h ie f a n d as h e sat before m e I no ted th e violent sh ak in g o f his h a n d s a n d knees, which he sought in vain to c o n tro l. T h e d epression th a t h a d com e ov er him h e w as u n a b le to th ro w off, a n d in a few m in u tes he had left th e circle a n d th e council w as over. Big B ear sto p p e d m e on m y w ay back to P a te n a u d e ’s lodge. “ O k e m a sis,” said th e chief, " y o u w ere foolish to sta n d u p ju st now . A ny co u ld have sh o t you w ith o u t d a n g e r to th e oth ers. S itting you w ere sa fe r.” I saw th e force o f Big B ear’s sta te m en t. P ritch ard said: “ H ow did you ever g et up? I could not have m oved to save m y life. T h ey could h av e k n o c k ed m e on th e h e ad like a ra b b it.” F itzp a tric k h a d tried to rise, b u t Big B ear, w ho sat b e h in d him , pulled him d o w n . So th e old c h ie f n o t only p re ac h ed com m onsense; he p u t it in to practice. It w as som e tim e b e fo re th e w a r c h ie f m ad e any fu rth er

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a tte m p t to dispose o f m e a n d n o th in g I ex p erienced later tried m e as did th e o rd e al I h a d ju st successfully w e ath e red . I w as w alking th ro u g h th e c am p a d a y o r tw o later. T h e d ru m m e rs w ere b e a tin g th e big d ru m ; th e w ar song ro se ab o v e th e assem bled brav es. 1 glanced o v e r a t th e g ro u p a n d gasped. T w o w a rrio rs shuffled u p and do w n in th e w a r d a n ce , over th eir sh o u ld ers th e gilt a n d w h ite v estm en ts o f th eir m ost unw orldly an d inoffensive victim s, the d e a d priests. I w as n o t a R o m an C a th o lic, b u t a p a rt from its, for m e, p o ig n a n t personal signifi­ cance, th e sight so co m pletely o u tra g e d those feelings o f reverence I h a d b e en b ro u g h t up to e n te rta in for all th in g s sacred th a t I could o n ly stand a n d stare. It rem ain s a m o n g m y m o st vivid im p ressio n s o f th a t terrib le tw o m o n th s.

B ig B e a r S c o re s H is F ollow ers F o r th e first few days a fte r th e m assacre th e In d ian s gave th e m ­ selves up largely to feasting a n d dan cin g . S om e fo u r h u n d red head o f w o rk cattle a n d m ilk cow s, supplied to th e W o o d C rees in th e d istric t, w ere ro u n d e d u p a n d h e rd ed n e a r th e cam p. Besides th e pro v isio n s a n d o th e r g o o d s o b ta in e d from th e tw o posts, th ey h a d loo ted th e dw ellings o f th e m issionaries, g o v e rn ­ m en t officials a n d settlers a t F ro g L ake a n d in th e su rro u n d in g te rrito ry . Every d a y for the first few w eeks eight o r ten h e ad o f cattle w ere shot, a n d besides b e e f there w as flour, tea , sugar, baco n a n d tobacco in plenty. T h e Indian revelled in th e unaccu s­ to m ed a b u n d a n c e a n d it is n o t to be w o n d e red a t th a t he grew w asteful. T o th e p riso n e rs, on th e o th e r h a n d , these w ere d a y s o f su p re m e w retch ed n ess a n d anxiety. T h e ox en had been supplied to th e v a rio u s b a n d s for ag ricu l­ tu ral p u rp o se s a n d th e cows w ere intended to form the nucleus o f a h erd w hich it w as th e p lan o f th e g o v e rn m e n t to d istrib u te a m o n g th e In d ian s as they b e ca m e sufficiently tru stw o rth y p r o ­ perly to c a re for th e m . T h e a n im a ls before th e o u tb re a k had been in th e k eep in g o f so m e o f th e m o re progressive m en o f th e three W ood C re e b an d s a t F ro g L ak e. T hese In d ian s still asserted a personal p ro p e rty in th e c attle a n d soon bad b lo o d began to show itself betw een them a n d Big B ear's m en . w ho refused to recognize any individual in te rests in the h erd a n d slew th e an im a ls as th eir w him s a n d a p p e tite s dictated . T h e tw o h u n d re d lodges c o m p o sin g th e c am p w ere p itched in an o b lo n g circle enclosing a c o n sid erab le space. O n e evening a b o u t sun d o w n w hile strolling th ro u g h th e ^camp I noticed tw o

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In d ian s, o n e a rm e d , th e o th e r n o t, d isp u tin g hotly a sh o rt w ay in front o f m e. S u ddenly th e m an w ith th e g u n clu b b ed it and b ro u g h t it do w n in a vicious sw ing on th e o th e r's h e ad , laying him flat. H e th en w alked off. In a few m in u te s th e o th e r g o t up, how ling w ith rage a n d p ain , blood stream ing do w n his face, a n d staggered to his lodge. H e re ap p e are d im m ediately w ith a g u n a n d , still how ling, sta rte d in th e d irectio n o f th e Plain C re e lodges a t th e u p p e r end o f the cam p . T w o o f his friends stole u p b e h in d h im , seized his arm s an d to o k aw ay his w e ap o n . H a d he reached th e o th e r m a n 's lodge h e w ould o f course have been killed. In a second e n co u n ter his a ssa ila n t w ould n o t h av e h e sita ted to su b stitu te the load in his gun for th e barrel. I a fterw ard learned th a t they had qu arrelled o v er som e c attle claim ed by th e W o o d C ree. T h e re w as d a n g e r a n d e x citem en t in th e c am p w hen th e cattle w ere sla u g h te red each d ay . It b ro u g h t back to th e In d ian s old tim es a n d th e buffalo h u n t. T h e y ran th e c attle on ho rseb ack and sh o t them a n d w ere not alw ays careful a b o u t th e d irectio n o f their bullets. If a ste er d o d g e d a m o n g th e lodges th e m an on horseback follow ed a n d fired a t th e first o p p o rtu n ity . S o m etim es th e bullet h it th e steer; so m e tim es it w en t th ro u g h a lo d g e — to th e c o n ster­ n a tio n o f th e inm ates. I w alked o v er occasionally to see them dispose o f a kill. As soon as it fell it w as bled. T h e n it w as tu rn e d on its back and sk in n e d do w n e ith e r side, th e h id e bein g sp re ad o u t to cover as m uch g ro u n d as p ossible a n d serve as a table on w hich to lay out th e m eat. S quaw s a n d c h ild ren , interested sp ectato rs, crow ded a b o u t the carcase. T h e b u tc h e r parcelled o u t th e an im al, h a n d ed a piece to each a n d they w en t aw ay h a p p y . In th e earlier p a r t o f m y captivity I never w an ted for beef. O n e b rig h t a fte rn o o n , th ree o r fo u r days a fte r th e m assacre, I w as lying in P a te n a u d e ’s lodge w hen I h e ard Big B ear speaking. T h e Indians had d a n ce d a n d o ra te d d aily since th e o u tb re a k , but I h a d kept aw ay fro m th e m , kno w in g th a t th eir talk w as only o f violence a n d b lo o d sh e d . W h en I heard the old chief, ho w ev er, m y curio sity w as excited. H e h a d seem ed d epressed ever since the rising; he h a d av o id ed th ese d a n ce s o f W an d e rin g S pirit a n d the yo u n g m en a n d so far as I k n e w h a d n o t y et publicly sp o k e n his m in d to his b a n d on th e o u trag e s. I w as an x io u s to h e a r w h at he had to say. T h e w a rrio rs to th e n u m b e r o f sixty w ere seated in th e form o f a h o rsesh o e on th e g ro u n d a t th e u p p e r end o f th e cam p . Big B ear occupied th e cen tre. A t th e to p sat W an d e rin g S pirit with th e o th e r cou n cillo rs a n d I stretch ed m yself at th e o p e n end

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o p p o site them w h ere I could o b se rv e th e w a r chief, to w ard s w hom m y eyes w ere irresistibly d ra w n w h en ev er h e w as in sight. Big B ear sp o k e in C re e a n d I cau g h t only th e close o f his speech. H e said: " K ia s I w as a chief. L ong a g o , w hen w e fought th e Blackfeet, n o t a m an a m o n g y o u could d o w hat I d id . All th e South N a tio n s — th e B loods, Peigans, B lackfeet, C row s, Sioux knew Big B ear; th at h e w as h e ad c h ie f o f all the C rees. A t th a t tim e if 1 said an y th in g y o u listened to m e — you o b ey ed m e. B ut now I say one th in g a n d y o u d o a n o th e r!” H e b e n t o v er a n d sw ept his a rm in th e faces o f W an d erin g S pirit a n d th e o th e r councillors, w h o sat w ith low ered eyes, and p o in ted in th e d irec tio n o f th e sm o u ld erin g ruins o f F ro g L ake. T h e old m an sto o d for a m o m e n t in this d ra m a tic pose, his face q u ivering w ith em o tio n ; then h e folded his soiled grey b lan k e t a b o u t him w ith a n a ir o f im pressive d ignity a n d stro d e aw ay, a p a th e tic b u t still co m m a n d in g figure. H e e n te red M r. S im p so n ’s tent a n d 1 follow ed. H e had noticed m e as h e w alked o ff and looking up as I c am e in said, w ith a w ave o f his han d : “ 1 have g o t th e n a m e o f being a b a d m a n , b u t M issa Jim here, m y oldest friend, can tell you th a t is not tru e. In the old days, w hen th e C o m p a n y sold rum a n d I d ra n k it, I d id not g e t ugly a n d w ish to m ak e tro u b le like th e o th ers. T o sit quietly a n d sing th a t w as w hat I liked, a s M issa Jim know s. I h a v e alw ays been th e friend o f th e w hite m an . I am so rry for w h a t w as d o n e . I am m o re th a n sorry fo r m y b ro th e r, D elaney. H ad I o n ly been n e ar w hen th e sh o o tin g b e g an , I should h a v e saved h im , a t lea st.” T h e In d ian s w ere p re p arin g to g o dow n a n d a tta ck F o rt P itt. M r. S im pson and I th o u g h t th is a g o o d o p p o rtu n ity to suggest to Big B ear th a t th e p o lice u n d e r In sp ecto r D ickens a n d th e handful ol settlers w ho h a d fled to th e fort for refuge, b e allow ed to leave P itt u n m o lested , in c o n sid era tio n o f th eir a b a n d o n in g th e place w ith o u t a fight. P itt w as a fort in n a m e o n ly — in reality, a g ro u p o f u n p ro te c te d w o o d e n b u ild in g s— a n d we knew th a t it w ould be im possible for th e little g a rriso n o f th irty m en to hold out for any length o f tim e a g ain st th e th ree h u n d re d a rm e d hostiles. Big B ear readily ag reed to call a council a n d u rg e u p o n his ban d th e a d o p tio n o f o u r advice, before they left for Pitt.

A C o u n c il o f W ar A w eek later th e c a m p -crie r o n e m o rn in g w ent up a n d dow n a m o n g th e lodges to call th e w a rrio rs, a n d S im p so n , F itzp a tric k ,

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H a lp in — w ho h a d a rriv e d from C o ld L a k e — a n d m yself, to a council. T h ey w ere g o in g , h e said , to F o rt P itt on th e follow ing m o rn in g to ta k e it a n d w an ted to talk o v er a n d decide o n th e best plans fo r accom plishing th e ir o b ject before they left. W e found th e old c h ie f a n d his m en fo rm in g a large double circle in th e d a n cin g te n t, a big lodge form ed o f several sm aller on e s. Big B ear sat in state a t o n e side w ithin th e circle. Beside him on the rig h t sat W an d e rin g S pirit, w earin g his w a r b o n n et w ith th e five glistening eagle plum es. H e w as filling a n old stone p ip e b elonging to th e c h ie f w ith to b ac co a n d red willow b a rk . Big Bear w as in a n a m ia b le m o o d . H e grew rem iniscent as the p ip e w as h a n d e d to him . “ T h is p ip e is very d e a r to m e ,” h e said . “ It w as sm o k e d by all m y w ives in tu rn . O n e by o n e they have g o n e to th e S a n d Hills, and th is is all I h av e to re m e m b e r th em b y ." F ollow ed th e c ere m o n y o f lighting th e P eace Pipe in council. T a k in g th e stem betw een his lips, Big B ear a pplied th e lighted m atch h a n d ed to him by W an d e rin g S p irit to th e bow l. H e took a long pull a n d tightly closing h is lips so th a t no n e o f th e sm oke should escape, tu rn e d th e stem in succession to th e fo u r cardinal p o in ts o f th e co m p ass, then to w ard th e g ro u n d : finally, bow ing his h e ad , h e raised it straig h t up b e fo re h im , so th a t th e G re a t S pirit m ig h t b e first to sm o k e . A fter th is h e blew th e first d ra u g h t o f sm o k e from his ow n lips, m u tte re d a p ra y e r a n d a fte r tak in g a few d ra w s him self, passed th e p ip e to th e m an on his left. It then travelled fro m m o u th to m o u th , each w a rrio r in tu rn tak in g a few pulls, a ro u n d th e circle. T h e p u rp o se o f this c ere m o n y is to p ro p itia te th e K itse M a n ito a n d ask his g u id an c e in th e m a tte r b e fo re the council. It will be n oticed th a t th e p ip e follow s th e co u rse o f th e sun, in d icatin g th e asso ciatio n o f his d e ity in the m in d o f th e red m an w ith th e m o st pow erful visible celestial body in his sim ple a n d b eau tifu l religion. W h en all, ourselves included, h a d sm o k e d . Big Bear rose and spoke, m aking a stro n g plea for th e co u rse urged u p o n him by Sim pson a n d m yself and asking th o se p resen t to state th e ir views, w e w hite m en first as h aving a know ledge o f th e usages o f o u r n a tio n s in w ar. F itz p a tric k — a n A m erican ex-soldier S im pson a n d m yself, in tu rn , begged th e w a rrio rs to be g uided by their chief, assuring th em they w ould never regret sparing th e lives o f th e c o m p a rativ ely defenceless p e o p le a t P itt, a m o n g them m any w om en a n d ch ild ren . It w as c u sto m ary , w e said, for a su p erio r force to allow a sm all b o d y o f th e enem y to su rre n d e r a n d m arch o ff u n h a rm e d , ra th e r th an to a tta ck them . S everal In d ia n s follow ed a n d su p p o rte d o u r p lan . O n e m an

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th an k e d us fo r th e suggestion . It w ould be m uch sim pler to lure th e police o u t o f th e fo rt by fair pro m ises a n d then su rro u n d and kill them in th e op en than to a tta ck them u n d e r co v er o f the buildings. W an d e rin g Spirit said th ey h a d not spared o u r lives th u s far to have us d icta te to th em w h a t they should d o in tim e o f w ar. Im asees said R ie l’s o rd e rs w ere to kill the police. A s fo r th e Plain C rees, they m ea n t to fight. T hey had m en e n ough to c a p tu re a n d b u rn th e fort a n d kill everyone in it. If th e police w ent they w ould ta k e w ith them th e ir g u n s and a m m u n itio n , things the In d ian s m ost needed. T h e council b ro k e u p and w e w en t back to o u r tents, sad d en ed a n d d isc o u rag e d . O u r efforts h a d c o m e to n o th in g , a p p are n tly . T h e re w as slight ch an ce th e suggestions w e had m ad e w ould serve any p u rp o se , except to fu rth e r a p lo t to w ipe o u t the g arriso n at P itt by trea ch e ry instead o f in o p e n a tta c k . Big Bear, how ever, pro m ised if possible to get th e police aw ay in safety a n d the sequel show s th a t th e old c h ie f w as n o t unm in d fu l o f his w ord. E arly next m o rn in g th e crier again w ent th ro u g h the cam p . T h e w a rrio rs w ere to p re p a re to go to Pitt. M issa Jim a n d his young M en (H a lp in a n d m yself) m u st acco m p an y th em . S im pson a n d I w ere sittin g in his te n t w hen th ese c o m m a n d s reached o u r ears. “ T h e sw ine!” exploded the old m an . “ T h ey w an t to use u s— m ak e us w rite letters to decoy th e police o u t o f th e fo rt, so th a t they can kill them like sheep. I'll see th em d a m n e d first! T hey w o n ’t g et m e to g o .” “ O r m e ,” I said . “ Life is sw eet, but I d o n 't value m ine as against th o se o f th irty o f m y fellow s.” Sim pson called his stepsons, L ouis a n d B enjam in P a ten a u d e, a n d they cam e w ith th e ir g u n s. A m o m en t later W an d e rin g S pirit, w ith Im asees and tw o o f th e m u rd ere rs, e n te red . T h e w ar c h ie f expressed su rp rise th a t w e w ere n o t p re p arin g to go to P itt. H e o rd e re d us to g e t read y a t once. T h e n L ouis P a te n a u d e got u p — a n d th ere w as in his black eyes th a t d e ad ly gleam th a t I — a n d th e w ar c h ie f— h a d seen in them w hen h e held th e kn ife o v er W a n d e rin g S p irit’s heart. “ M y ste p fa th e r,” h e said, “ is not strong. H e is a n old m an . H e has lived a m o n g y o u since he w as a boy a n d has alw ays used you well. B ut how h a v e you used h im ? W hy a re you p ersecuting him ? Y ou have tak e n his horses, y o u have lo o ted a n d b u rn e d his h ouse. Isn ’t th a t e n o u g h , th a t you should w ish to d rag him a fte r you a ro u n d the cou n try ? H e will n o t g o !” T h e fo u r w ere a rm e d and p a in te d , b u t th e w a r c h ie f did not care a g ain to p ro v o k e L ouis. “ B ut th e young m an ? ” he said , in dicating m e.

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“ Tell him I'm staying w ith M r. S im p so n .” I said . “ H e is m y c h ie f a n d m y place is w ith h im ." T h e w a r c h ie f su b m itte d , b u t h is an g er w as evident. T h e y got u p a n d w ent o u t. A s Im asees reached th e d o o r, he tu rn e d and said o v er his shoulder: “ R e m e m b er, if any o f o u r p e o p le are h u rt a t P itt, it will be h ard to k e ep th e yo u n g m en from d o in g h a rm w hen they get b a ck .” It w as his p a rtin g shot. F o r o u r refusal to assist in th eir trea ch e ro u s schem e, w e w ere to b e held a cc o u n ta b le should any o f th em suffer. U n d e r these circu m stan ces, it m ay b e im agined th a t o u r feelings w ere not th e cheerfulest d u rin g th e next few days. O nly a few old m en , w om en a n d c hildren w ere left a t F rog L ake. T h e w a rrio rs, m o u n te d , assem bled a t th e low er e n d o f th e cam p . T h ey , as well as th e ir ponies, w ere decked in all their finery. W ith th eir p a in t and feathers, th e ir p olished w eap o n s, g au d y b lan k e ts, b ead e d leggings and m occasins, they m a d e a p ictu resq u e p a n o ra m a a g ain st th e setting o f green grass a n d d e li­ cate asp e n s, th e d ista n t hills, th e glint o f b lu e w aters in th e lakes below , and im m ediately b e h in d , th e w h ite-can v as lodges w ith th e ir sm o k e -b ro w n ed to p s a n d crossed poles. T h ey c am e riding slowly a ro u n d th e c am p , th e ir w a r-c h a n t rising w eirdly on the fresh sp rin g air, th e ir p o n ies p ra n cin g u n d e r th eir flashy tra p ­ pings. T h ey reached th e far e n d ag ain , b ro k e in to a gallop and w ith w ild cries a n d a crash from th eir guns, clattered aw ay in the d irectio n o f F o rt P itt. H a lp in w as th e o n ly w hite m an to acco m p an y them ; h e h a d no o p tio n . S im p so n , F itzp a tric k a n d m yself m ig h t easily have escaped in th e ir absence, b u t th e re w ere th e tw o w hite w om en in th e c am p ; w e m ig h t y et be ab le to do them som e service. A t all events they co u ld n o t b u t have felt th a t w e h a d d eserted th em had they b e en left a lo n e a m o n g th ese savages a n d w e could n o t have found it in o u r h e arts to g o . In a n y case, a lm o st all th e b a n d s for th ree h u n d re d m iles east alo n g b o th S askatchew ans w e knew had risen a n d th e w hites in th e c o u n try had tak e n refuge in th e police forts a n d tow ns w hich had b e en fortified; th e p ro sp e ct o f being able to b ring re lief to th e o th e r p riso n e rs co u ld w e h a v e reached B attleford in safety w as slight, a n d B attleford. th e n e are st fo rt o r se ttle m e n t, w as m o re th a n a h u n d re d m iles aw ay, su rro u n d e d by hostiles w ho h a d m u rd ere d a n d pillaged ju s t as h a d those in w hose h a n d s w er w ere. M o re o v e r, Big B e ar’s b a n d h a d asserted th at should o n e escap e they w ould kill all o th e r p riso n ers. T h is th re a t a lo n e w as sufficient to h o ld us.

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So w e sat do w n to w ait w ith w h a t p a tie n ce w e m ight for the retu rn o f th e belligerents from F o rt Pitt. H e n ry Q u in n arriv e d on th e m o rn in g o f A p ril 3rd a t F o rt P itt, a fte r his th irty -fiv e m ile tra m p th ro u g h th e slush u n d e r th e friendly co v er o f a m oonless n ig h t. W arn ed by M o n d io n , h e had m an ag ed to slip aw ay uno b serv ed from F ro g L ake th ro u g h th e thicketed hollow s sh o rtly b e fo re th e m assacre began. In fact he had g o n e only a m ile o r tw o a n d a fte r crossing a chain o f low -lying lakes, w as w ork in g his w ay stealthily up th ro u g h the hills on th e o th e r side, w hen th e fain t m u tte r o f rifle-fire reached his e a r, m o u n te d a n d d ied aw ay. Q u in n w as a nephew o f the m u rd ere d In d ian a g en t. H e h a d no difficulty in a cco u n tin g for th ese so u n d s o r in in te rp retin g to C a p ta in D ickens w h at had o c c u rre d a t th e s e ttle m e n t— in fo rm a tio n c o n firm in g re p o rts b ro u g h t to P itt by G e o rg e M a n n , farm ing in stru cto r a t O n io n L ake, w h o had a rriv e d th ere w ith his fam ily th e p rev io u s n ight. M an n h a d been told o f th e m assa cre by friendly Indian ru n n e rs w ho had w itnessed it. Q u in n w as sw orn in by C a p ta in D ic k en s as a special constable.

The F a ll o f F ort P itt O n th e m o rn in g o f A pril 14th, C o rp o ra l C o w a n , C o n sta b le L oasby a n d H en ry Q u in n left F o rt P itt on a scouting trip . A little later Big B ear's w a rrio rs a p p e a re d a t th e to p o f th e hill, 800 yards b e h in d th e fort, d e m a n d in g its su rre n d e r a n d th a t th e police give up th eir a rm s. L ittle P o p la r, w h o w as c am ped w ith his fam ily on th e so u th ban k o f th e S askatchew an o p p o site P itt, first saw th e hostiles a n d w ith c h ara cte ristic In d ian inconsistency w arn ed th e g a rriso n . T o this d e m a n d C a p ta in D ic k en s replied th a t h e w o u ld hold th e fort w hile th ere w as a m an ab le to p o in t a g u n . T h e In d ian s held a council a n d d ecided th a t its c a p tu re by d irec t a tta ck w ould cost th em too m an y m en. T h e y th ere fo re sent a second m essage to say th a t th e police w ould be allow ed to evacuate th e fort w ith o u t m o lestatio n if they w ould d o so. Big Bear a n d L ittle P o p lar accom plished this. T h e old c h ie fs letter, w ritten by H alp in , re ad s as follows: F O R T P IT T ,

A pril 14th, 1885. S e rg e an t M a rtin , N .W .M .P . M y d e a r F rie n d , “ S ince I first m et you long ag o , we have alw ays been good

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friends. T h a t is th e reaso n w h y I w an t to speak kindly to you: p lease get o ff from F o rt P itt a s soon as you can. Tell y our C a p ta in th a t I re m e m b e r him well, for since the C a n a d ia n g o v e rn m e n t h a s h a d m e to starve in th is c o u n try h e so m etim es gave m e food. I do not forget, th e last tim e 1 visited P itt he gave m e a g o o d b lan k e t. T h a t is th e reason th a t I w an t y o u all o u t w ith o u t a n y b lo o d sh e d . W e had a talk , 1 and m y m en. b e fo re w e left c am p at F ro g L ak e and th o u g h t the w ay w e are d o in g now th e best, th a t is to let you o ff if y o u w ould g o . T ry a n d get aw ay b e fo re th e a fte rn o o n , as th e you n g m en a re all w ild a n d h a rd to k e ep in h a n d . BIG BE AR.

P .S .

Y o u asked m e to keep th e m en in c am p last night a n d I d id . so I w an t you to g et o ff to-day. BIG BEAR

C a p ta in D ic k en s still refused to m ove a n d th e In d ian s next day reso rted to strategy. T h e y invited W . J. M c L ea n , chief tra d e r o f th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y in charge a t P itt, to a parley in the o pen g ro u n d half-w ay betw een th e fort a n d th e cam p . A gainst the advice o f C a p ta in D ickens, M c L ea n w e n t, tak in g w ith him as in te rp rete r a h a lf-b re ed , F ra n c o is D ufresne. W ith o u t exciting his suspicions, th ey g ra d u ally d re w M cL ean aw ay until o u t o f range o f th e fo rt a n d th en told him th e discussion w o u ld be concluded in th e ir cam p . M c L ea n h a d no a lte rn a tiv e b u t to go w ith them . T h ey w ere all se a te d , M cL ean urging th em to retu rn to Frog L ake a n d a b a n d o n th e idea o f tak in g P itt, w hen th e th re e scouts, C o w a n , L oasby a n d Q u in n , re tu rn in g from th e ir trip, cam e su d ­ denly in view a n d a tte m p te d to ride p a st th e cam p . In sta n tly all w as excitem en t. T h e In d ian s seized th eir g u n s and ru sh ed to cut o ff th e scouts. It w as o v er in a few m o m e n ts— the g arriso n a t th e fo rt to o k a h a n d — b u t th e a cc o u n t o f this m u st be reserved for a n o th e r c h ap ter. A la rm e d by th e firing, M cL ean ju m p e d to his feet a n d said he m ust re tu rn to th e fort. W an d e rin g Spirit levelled his rifle on him , but L ittle P o p la r threw his a rm s a ro u n d M c L ea n . T h e w a r chief placed his han d on th e c h ie f tra d e r’s shoulder. “ Y ou stay h e re !’’ h e stated b lu n tly . “ Y ou a re a p riso n e r.’’ A t th e c o m m a n d o f th e In d ian s, M r. M cL ean then w ro te the follow ing letter: T O P Ol- T H E H I L L , F O R T P I T T ,

A p ril 15th. 2 p .m . MY DEAR W IF E ,

M o st u n fo rtu n ately I have been to o c o n fid in g in th e Indians

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a n d have com e into c am p . A fte r I had h a d a long talk with them a n d they had spoken a t length, th ey w ould n o t h av e it oth erw ise th a n th a t th e police m ust a n d should go aw ay at once. I c o n tin u e d talking w ith a view o f g ain in g tim e for the th ree m en w ho w ere o u t. T h ey , th e scouts, c am e on th e m ain ro ad a n d firing ensued. Im m ediately th e w hole cam p w ent after th em . I th o u g h t th e In d ian s w ere aw are o f th e m en being out a n d said noth in g a b o u t th em . H ad I sp o k e n , p e rh a p s things m ig h t have been differen t. N o w , in th e excitem en t, they have m a d e m e p riso n e r a n d have m a d e m e sw ear by A lm ighty G o d th a t I will stay w ith them . A las, th a t I cam e into th e c a m p at all, for G o d o n ly know s how th in g s will tu rn o u t now . T h e y w a n t y o u and th e children to c o m e into c am p a n d it m a y b e "for th e best th a t you should. If th e police c a n n o t g et o ff th e In d ian s a re sure to attack to -n ig h t, they say, a n d will b u rn th e fo rt. I a m really a t a loss w h a t to suggest for th e b est. F o r th e tim e being w e m ight be safe w ith th e In d ian s, b u t p ro v isio n s will b e scarce a fte r a short tim e and w e m ay suffer. T h e chiefs a n d cou n cillo rs say they will let m e go do w n th e B eaver R iver w ith m y fam ily, a n d if so we should be all right. S tan ley m u st c o m e also a n d everyone c o n n ec te d w ith th e C o m p a n y . T h e y w a n t M alcolm a n d H o d son also. I will w rite you a g ain a fte r h earin g w h a t C a p ta in D ic k en s says a b o u t allow ing y o u all to c o m e o u t. I candidly believe it best th a t you should com e, as th e In d ian s are d e te r­ m in ed to b u rn th e fort if th e police d o not leave. T h ey have b ro u g h t coal oil w ith them for th e p u rp o se a n d I fear they will succeed in setting fire to th e place. T h e In d ian s p ro m ise th at b ey o n d a d o u b t a fte r you all c o m e o u t they will retire a n d give th e police tim e to g et o ff b e fo re m aking a n y m ove. T h ey wish y o u to b ring y o u r things at on ce. W e m u st d o all w e can to m ove o u t before d a rk so as to give C a p ta in D ickens a n d his m en a chance to g et aw ay. M ay G o d bless a n d g u id e y o u all for th e best. w.

m.

M cL ean.

O n receipt o f th is letter M r. M c L e a n 's fam ily, th e civilians and th e C o m p a n y ’s se rv an ts p re p are d to jo in him . T h e p o sitio n ol th e police w as now m o st p re ca rio u s a n d a re tre a t w as o rd e re d . T h ere w as no longer any reason w hy D ick­ ens should a tte m p t to hold P itt, since h e a n d his m en a lo n e rem ain ed . But little tim e w as left for p re p a ra tio n . A m m u n itio n a n d pro v isio n s w ere placed in th e scow a n d carry in g th e w ounded scout, L oasby, w ith th em , th e d e ta c h m e n t m arch ed d o w n to th e landing. T h e scow w as laun ch ed , b u t w ater p o u re d in th ro u g h the op en seam s. It seem ed for a tim e as if it w ould b e im possible to

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cross th e river. T h e re w as a n in terv al o f d re ad fu l su sp en se— th a t th e In d ian s w ould ta k e a d v an tag e o f th e delay and a tta ck w as a n tic ip a te d by everybody. B ut Big B ear k e p t his w ord a n d w ith th e h e lp o f L ittle P o p lar held in check th e m o re tru cu len t m em ­ b ers o f h is b a n d . A t last th e o p p o site sh o re w as reach ed . L ittle P o p la r’s fam ily w as in cam p th ere a n d th e p a rt o f th e su b -c h ief in restrain in g th e y o u n g m en loses som e o f its g lam o u r from this fact. It w as a terrib le n ight. A terrific storm ra g ed , the river had b ro k e n only on th e 10th a n d g re a t blocks o f ice raced o n its tu rg id angry flo o d — b u t let m e q u o te from th e d iary o f C o rp o ra l R . B. Sleigh, th e g allan t so ld ier w ho had left F rog L ak e ju st b e fo re th e o u tb re a k a n d e scap ed so m an y d a n g ers, o n ly to m eet k ism et a little later: A pril 2 — C o n sta b le R o by left w ith team for O n io n L ake, b ro u g h t back lu m b e r. In d ian s o u t th ere terrib ly excited. M r. M a n n , farm in stru cto r, w ith w ife a n d fam ily arrived at 1 a .m . w ith re p o rt all w h ites killed a t F ro g L ake. A ssem bly a t 12 p .m . A ll h a n d s w ork in g all n ig h t, blocking w in d o w s a n d m aking lo o p h o les in all buildings. D o u b le picket. 3 — G o o d F rid a y . H en ry Q u in n in from F ro g L ake, re p o rte d all w h ites shot. T h ey w ere led o u t for e x ec u tio n , w hen h e ran for his life a n d m an a g ed to escape; p o o r fellow played o u t and sh o w ed good g rit. E verybody busy pulling do w n ou tsid e b u ild ­ ings a n d b a rric ad in g fort. 5— M r. Q u in n e y , E piscopal clergym an escaped from O n io n L ak e, held sh o rt service. In d ia n s h eard sh o u tin g on hill du rin g n ig h t: sh o ts fired. 7 — S to c k ad e bein g erected. T h e M isses M cL ean show g re at c o u rag e and e ac h , rifle in h a n d , stan d s a t a loophole. M en w o rk like horses a n d a re ch eerfu l. All civilians sw orn in and a rm e d . B astion p u t up left fro n t o f fort. S e n trie s in each house: fo u r h o u rs d u ty eac h . 9 — S econd b astio n p u t up o rd erly -ro o m c o rn er. 14— N o relief: things look blue. E v erybody in g o o d spirits. B ody o f In d ian s a t to p o f hill; 800 yards from fort: 250 Indians a rm e d a n d m o u n te d . Big B ear sent letter do w n ; e v erybody to evacu ate fo rt a n d give up a rm s. D o o rs b a rric ad e d ; m en in places. Big w a r d a n ce o n hill. In d ian s skulking th ro u g h w oods in every d irec tio n . D o u b le sen tries on b a rra c k s. 15— H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a n y em ployees, 28 in n u m b er, gave them selves up to Big Bear. Im possible to h o ld fort now , so had to re tire gracefully, carrying L oasby, across th e river in scow a n d c am p for th e nig h t, n o t forgetting to b rin g co lo u rs along.

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N e a rly sw am ped in crossing; scow leaking b adly. G e n era l idea p revailed w e w o u ld b e a tta c k e d g oing do w n river. T h u s end ed th e siege o f F o rt Pitt. 16— U p a t 4 .3 0 a fte r a w retched night; snow ing fast and very w indy. M oving slow . Several m en fro stb itte n . C lothing frozen o n o u r backs. 17— S ta rte d 7 a .m . Ice ru n n in g very stro n g . S om e n a rro w escapes in ice ja m s . C a m p e d a t 9 for d in n e r. R esu m ed trip a t n o o n . 18 D ull a n d cold. M uch ice ru n n in g . 19— Left Slapjack Island 7.13 a .m . R an five hours. C a m p e d B eaver Island. R a n th ree ho u rs; cam p ed Pine Island for nig h t. 20— H e re all d ay . B arricaded scow ; inspected arm s. R o u g h -lo o k in g p a ra d e . W o u n d e d m an b e tte r. 21 L eft 7 a .m . A t 1 1 hailed Jo s ie A le x an d e r and tw o policem en on south b a n k w ith d esp a tc h es for us. B attleford safe; tro o p s expected daily. R an all day; sto p p ed sm all island fo r night. R iv er falling; stuck on sa n d b a rs. All slept a b o a rd scow ; tw o m en on picket. 2 2 — S ta rte d 5.45 a .m ., re a c h e d B attleford 9 a .m . G a rriso n tu rn e d o u t a n d p re sen te d a rm s. Police b a n d played us into fort. E n th u siastic g re etin g . L ad ies gave us a g ra n d dinner. A m o n g th e v a lu ab le th in g s secured by th e In d ian s a t P itt, w as th e g o ld w atch w orn by C h a rle s D ickens a n d b e q u ea th e d by him a t his d e a th to his son, C a p ta in F ra n c is J . D ickens. T h e police w ere obliged to leave practically all th eir p e rso n al p ro p e rty w hen they q u it F o rt Pitt a n d in his an x ie ty for th e safety o f his m en the c ap tain m u st h a v e fo rg o tten fo r the m o m e n t th a t his fam ous fa th e r's m o st c h erish ed gift to h im , this w atch, w as in his tru n k . A few days later a half-b reed , A lfred S c h m id t, show ed m e the w atch a t F ro g L ake. “ I give you for fifteen d o lla r," h e said. I ex am in ed it closely. T h e engraving o n th e ou tsid e o f th e case h a d been p a rtially effaced by w e ar. O n th e inside w as trac ed the n a m e "C h a rle s D ic k en s” a n d a d a te . A sm all gold locket a tta c h e d to th e c h ain held a m in ia tu re o f his w ife a n d a b raid o f h e r h a ir. I sho u ld have liked to secure th e w a tch , w ith th e view o f re tu rn in g it to th e c ap tain should o u r p a th s e v er cross ag ain . T his seem ed so pro b lem atical as to m a k e it a p p e a r h a rd ly w o rth while p lan n in g for the fu tu re. Besides, th e In d ian s had a p p ro p ria te d ev erything I possessed, including m y m oney; fifteen d o llars w as aw ay b e yond m y d e p th . H o w ev er, I had th e satisfaction o f lea rn ­ ing fro m th e c ap tain later a t B attleford th a t he had recovered his p rized m em e n to on th e s u rre n d e r o f th e hostiles and as he died th e follow ing su m m e r in In d ian a p o lis, th e w ell-w orn tim epiece w hich served to m ark th e h o u rs d ev o ted to th e fo rtu n es o f D avid

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C o p p e rfie ld a n d th e delightful excursions a n d m ishaps o f the in g en u o u s M r. Pickw ick, a n d a t w hich w e can im agine th e g reat a u th o r so often glan cin g , is now no d o u b t in th e possession o f o n e o f his o th e r sons o r d a u g h te rs. L ouis P a te n a u d e gave m e an a m u sin g a cc o u n t o f the lo oting o f F o rt Pitt. F o rc in g th e d o o rs o f th e H . B. stores, th e In d ian s rushed in. E ach seized th e First th in g he could p u t h is h a n d s o n . It m ig h t be a cask o f sugar, a ch est o f te a , a princely fur, a b o lt o f calico, a cad d y o f to b ac co , a keg o f n a ils— it w as all o n e. O ff he rushed, set it do w n o u tsid e a n d h u rried back for m o re. W hen h e re tu rn e d his first p rize w as c erta in to b e g o n e ; a n o th e r— a w eak er b ro th e r — h a d a p p ro p ria te d it. A w om an m ight g et h o ld o f a fine w ool shaw l, so m e bu ck fancy it for his w ife and she w ould b e forcibly dispossessed. It w as b edlam a n d w ar for th e spoils, In d ian exple­ tives m ingling w ith blow s a n d o u tc rie s. T in s o f C rosse & B lack­ w ell’s Y a rm o u th B loaters, ja rs o f pickled w a ln u ts a n d p a te d e foie gras, im p o rte d a t g re a t expense all th e w ay from L o n d o n , w ere slashed op en w ith knives, sniffed a t a n d flung o n th e g ro u n d . T h e p olice h o sp ital sto re s w ere got a t. T h e red m en evidently believed all m ed icin es in u se by th e police w ere “ c o m fo rts’’; they d ra n k th em , u n til o n e old m an nearly succum bed; th en they decided the enem y h a d tried to p o iso n th em . T h e y h esitated to use th e sacks o f flo u r piled in tie rs for th e d e fen ce o f th e fort; th e police, they th o u g h t, m ig h t h a v e m ixed stry c h n in e w ith it. B etw een th e suspense and th e blizzard th a t ra g ed , th e nig h t o f A pril 15th, 1885, to m e in th e In d ian c am p a t F ro g L ak e w as o n e o f th e m o st m iserab le I h a v e ever experien ced . T h e Indians h a d ta k e n th e b lan k e ts o ff m y ow n b e d a t th e tim e o f the o u tb re a k a n d h a d n o t P a te n a u d e secured fo r m e so m eh o w a ta n n e d cow hide w ith th e h a ir rem a in in g 1 should have had n o th in g to cover m e w hen I slep t. O n th is nig h t th e snow sifted d ow n th ro u g h th e po les at th e o p e n top o f th e lodge a n d w et m e th ro u g h as I lay on th e d a m p h a rd g ro u n d . I shivered w ith the cold a n d could sleep o n ly in fitful snatches. N e x t d a y w as b rig h t a n d w a rm , b u t tw o feet o f snow h a d piled up d u rin g th e n ig h t. T h a t evening shortly a fte r d a rk a m essenger arrived w ith new s o f th e bloodless victory o f th e In d ian s a t P itt. H is h o rse h a d w ad ed th ro u g h sn o w to his belly a n d w as steam ing w ith sw eat. It m ay b e im agined w ith w h at relief th is in fo rm a tio n w as received by us, for th e th re a t o f Im asees w as still fresh in o u r m inds. By th e In d ian code, b lo o d d e m a n d s b lo o d . If a fellowtrib esm an is slain by a n enem y, a n y o th e r m em b e r o f th e natio n to w hich th e slayer b e longs m ay p a y w ith his life. T h e red m a n ’s vengeance is n o re sp ec ter o f p e rso n s.

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T h e day follow ing, all th e b a n d cam e in w ith th eir captives. W e now h a d o th e r p riso n e rs to sh a re o u r tro u b le s and w e felt b etter. T he new arrivals included th ree young ladies, th e d a u g h te rs o f M r. M c L ea n . M isery alw ays did love co m p an y . T h e p riso n e rs in th e cam p a fte r th e fall o f Pitt w ere, besides M r. M cL ean a n d his fam ily, Ja m e s K . S im pson, F . Stanley S im p s o n , J o h n F itz p a tric k , R e v . P e re L eg o ff, M rs. G o w a n lo c k , M rs. D elaney, R ev. C h as. Q u in n e y a n d w ife, G e o rg e G . M ann a n d fam ily, H . R. H a lp in , J . B. P o irier, M alcolm M c D o n a ld , R o b e rt H o d so n , O tto a n d F ra n c o is D u fre sn e , H e n ry Q u in n , Jo h n P ritchard a n d myself. T h e re w ere besid es a n u m b e r o f half-breeds, ostensibly p riso n e rs, b u t so m e o f w hom a t least I should b e slow to list in th a t categ o ry .

T h ree S c o u ts Let m e now re tu rn a n d follow th e fo rtu n es o f th e th ree scouts, C o w a n , L oasby a n d Q u in n , w hb left F o rt P itt shortly b e fo re Big B ear a n d his m en a p p e a re d o n th e hill b e h in d it the m o rn in g o f A pril 14th. T h e trail from F o rt P itt to F ro g L ake is a fairly g o o d o n e in su m m er, b u t th e scouts did not follow it. T h ey w en t o u t along the river, w hich runs a few m iles to th e so u th . T h e y travelled slowly, reco n n o itrin g th e g ro u n d a h ea d from c o m m a n d in g rises, a n d not until sunrise next m o rn in g w ere they looking th ro u g h th e ir glasses from th e w o o d ed slopes across th e chain o f lakes a t th e site o f the F ro g L ake settlem en t and th e tw o h u n d re d lodges a sh o rt way beyond. T h e y observed a n u m b e r o f th in g s. F irst, th a t w here th e settle­ m ent h a d been th e re w as no lo n g er an y th in g b u t a collection o f c h arre d and d eserted ruins. A g a in , th a t th e c a m p w as still w here Q u in n had last seen it; a t least th e lodges. T h e m ost im p o rta n t thing o f all they also n o ted , b u t u n fo rtu n ately its significance did not th en strik e th em . T h is w as th e fact th a t very little life was o b se rv ab le a b o u t th e cam p . W hy, th e little scouting detail w as to discover later to its cost. W h en C o rp o ra l C ow an a n d his c o m p a n io n s left F ro g L ak e on th eir retu rn to P itt— I give th e sto ry as Q u in n told it to m e — they a g ain av o id ed th e trail. T h e In d ian c am p w as b e h in d them , true, b u t th ere m ight b e hostile p a rtie s pro w lin g a b o u t th e c o u n ­ try a n d th e w hite m en had n o desire to run into a b a n d th at w ould likely greatly o u tn u m b e r th em . A s they drew n e a r F o rt P itt, how ever, w ith o u t having sig h ted an e n em y , they p u t asid e a caution they now c o n sid ere d u nnecessary a n d struck o v er to th e

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trail. Q u in n alw ays m a in tain ed th is w as c o n tra ry to his advice, b u t C o w a n w as in co m m a n d . T h e y h a d n o t follow ed it far until they saw th a t th e trail w as m ark e d w ith m any h o o f-p rin ts. Q u in n d ism o u n te d and ex am in ed it closely. “ I’m right, C o w a n !” h e ex claim ed , loo k in g u p . “ I said the Indians w ere a h ea d o f us. W ell, th ey are. T h e y 'v e com e do w n the trail as w e w en t o u t along th e river. H e re ’s th e track o f a shod h o rse — m y uncle’s m are th a t W an d e rin g S p irit to o k th e d a y o f th e m assacre. I p u t th o se shoes on myself. I kn o w th e m .” C o w a n disag reed . “ T h e p o lice h av e b e en o u t du rin g th e day, ro u n d in g u p th e sto c k . T h a t a cc o u n ts for th e tracks. T h e w hole c am p w as a t F ro g L ak e still, w a sn ’t it?" “ T h e cam p , yes— th e lodges, b u t re m e m b e r w e saw m ighty few In d ia n s ,” Q u in n re tu rn e d . “ W ell, I'm n o t sc a re d ,” said C o w a n , “ w e 're g oing o n , anyhow . F u n k , th a t’s w h a t’s w rong w ith y ou, Q u in n ." T o w hich Q u in n re to rted a ngrily th a t h e co u ld go anyw here C ow an d a re d . T h e y ro d e on in silence. But as it h a p p e n e d , Q u in n w as rig h t, C o w a n w rong. F o rt P itt w as now little m o re th a n a m ile aw ay a n d ju st over th e crest o f the slope b e h in d it, o u t o f sight o f th e fo rt, four h u n d re d b lo o d -d ru n k e n and p a in te d savages w ere discussing e n e r­ getically plan s for g e ttin g th e police ou tsid e th e walls o f th e fort so th a t they m ight sh o o t them do w n w ith no risk to them selves. T h e c am p lay ju st to th e left o f th e trail. B ehind it a fringe o f w illow s m ark e d th e course o f a c ree k , a n d a b re ak in th is fringe a t o n e p o in t show ed w here th e trail crossed th e creek o v er a bridge. W h en th e th ree sco u ts lo o k ed from th e b rid g e th ro u g h the o p e n in g a n d saw th e hostile c am p a h ead a n d to their left, they realized th at they h a v e m ad e a m istak e in q u ittin g th e river for th e trail. But it w as now too late to rectify it. P u ttin g sp u rs to th eir h o rses, they d a sh e d for th e to p o f th e slope. T h e In d ian s saw th e m . G ra b b in g their g u n s, w ith w ild cries o f " C h e m o g in u s ttk ! C h e n io g in u s u k ! I S o ld ie r s ! S o ld ie r s ! ) ” T h e y rushed for th e trail to h e ad th em off. A lo n g its crest to th e right o f th e trail, th e slope w as thickly w o o d e d , shu ttin g o ff any ch an ce o f gettin g th ro u g h to th e fort in th at d irec tio n . T h e y h a d no o p tio n b u t to stick to th e trail. It h a s been said th a t a m an d o e s not d ie until his tim e com es, a n d th e trag ed y o f th a t wild ride th ro u g h the Indian c am p rests in th e fact th a t th e th ree m en h a d c o m e u n scath ed th ro u g h th a t hail o f lead a n d th e n , w ith safety ju st a h ea d , C o w a n ’s h o rse, crazed n o d o u b t by the ex citem en t, sto p p e d suddenly a n d bucked!

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Be careful! H is life is m in e — I give it to him . F ro m to -d a y we are b ro th e rs, H en ry a n d I.” T h e w a r c h ie fs a n sw er, Q u in n th o u g h t, w ould never co m e. But a t length, w ith a w ave o f his h a n d , “ So be it, n e e s t a s he replied. “ But th e life you give h im — if he loves it, he will know b e tte r than to w ork ag ain st us! H e w as w ith th e police. A nd his rifle— th a t m ust b e m in e .” T h e rifle w as su rre n d ere d a n d M o n d io n , his arm a b o u t his a d o p te d b ro th e r, w alked w ith him into th e fort. T h e w a rrio rs c ro w d ed ro u n d Q u in n . “ H is m edicine is stro n g !” they cried. “ M is ta h a y m u sko w o w ! Bullets will n o t pierce h im — th re e tim e s h e h a s escap ed !” " H o w ! H o w !" sh o u te d th e cam p . A n d Q u in n w as safe.

P erilous M o m e n ts T h e new p riso n e rs w ere d istrib u te d a m o n g v a rio u s m em b e rs o f th e different In d ian b a n d s. M y friend Stanley S im pson w as taken in c h arg e by L o n e M a n , th e intrepid savage w ho h a d ridden dow n a n d sh o t L oasby. A d a y o r tw o a fte r he arrived in cam p , S im pson called on m e one a fte rn o o n . H e stayed until d a rk : th e n , bein g a stra n g er in the c am p he did n o t fancy re tu rn in g a lo n e to L one M a n ’s lodge and I a cc o m p a n ied h im . I sat fo r a few m in u te s talk in g w ith L one M an b e fo re sta rtin g to re tu rn to P a te n a u d e ’s lodge. T h e trail led th ro u g h th e c am p . I had no so o n e r em erged than I saw in th e vague light cast o v e r th e c am p by th e lodge fires a profile I could n o t m ista k e . It w as th e h e ad o f W an d erin g S pirit, fra m e d in its d a rk se ttin g o f c u rly h a ir th e p ro file o f th e o n e m an I frankly d re a d e d in th a t c a m p o f dread fu l m en a n d th e sight o f w h o m alw ays set a faster p a ce for m y h e a rt. H e h a d seen m e g o th ro u g h th e c a m p w ith S im pson and h a d stolen o u t to in te r­ cep t m e on m y ro ad back. H e b e n t forw ard b eside th e trail, his a rm s folded on his chest and his h e ad inclined in m y d irec tio n . T h e m uzzle o f his rifle p ro tru d e d ab o v e th e b lan k e t d ra w n ro u n d his shoulders. It w as th e first tim e I h a d m et him a lo n e and a t night since th e m assa­ cre, a n d w ith m y h e a rt beating rap id ly , tho u g h o u tw a rd ly calm , I w alked dow n th e trail to w ard him . H e h alted m e. “ W h e re have y o u been?” h e a sk ed . I explained. W h a t did S im pson a n d M c L ea n th in k a b o u t th e rising, h e w anted to know ? I h a d n o t h e ard them say, I eq u iv o c ate d : did they really th e m ­ selves know ? I d o u b te d it. I b ru sh e d p a st h im — w alked on to P a te n a u d e ’s lodge. I did not lo o k b e h in d , but q u e er rip p le s were

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galloped aw ay up th e slope. A n d all th e w hile th e bullets from the fort plugged viciously into th e so d a ro u n d him . L oasby g o t o n his feet ag ain . H e staggered to th e g ate in the fort, flung o u t derisive fingers in th e d irectio n o f L one M an a n d collapsed in th e a rm s o f th e tw o m en c o m e to m eet h im . T h ey carried him into th e fort. H e n ry Q u in n h a lte d in a g ro v e o f p o p lars a m ile u p th e river from th e fo rt, d ism o u n te d a n d tie d his horse to a tree. N ig h t fell, and u n d e r cover o f th e riv er-b a n k he c rep t c au tio u sly do w n to the road leading from th e fo rt to th e stream . H e co u ld not a p p ro ach th e sto c k ad e in th e d a rk n ess: th e sen tries w ould b e nervous. O r a prow ling redskin m ig h t w rite f in i s fo r him . H e d re w his kn ife a n d dug a n d d u g in th e clay b a n k . T h e cold grip p ed him : h e sh o o k violently. H e m ust h a v e shelter from the blinding storm ! A t length he h a d a hole, big e n ough to shield his bo d y from th e sw irling snow , th e fero cio u s w ind. H e craw led in. If only h e h a d so m e th in g — a c ru st, even! H e w as ravenous. T h e h o u rs d rag g ed . A t daw n he sto o d o u tsid e th e stockade, calling for S ergeant M a rtin . T h e curling black h e a d o f W a n d e rin g S p irit a p p e a re d suddenly a t an u p p e r w indow o f o n e o f th e buildings. F o r t Pitt w as in the h a n d s o f th e Indians! A gain th ere w as a cry o f “ C h e n io g in u su k !" and a m o m e n t later W an d e rin g S pirit w as follow ing a fresh fo o tp rin t th ro u g h th e new ly-fallen snow . It led to th e river: th ere end ed a b ru p tly . T h e w a r c h ie f stood on th e b a n k , stu d y in g th e m ystery o f th e v a n ish ­ ing tra c k . W here co u ld he h a v e g o n e , this policem an? T h e riddle was unsolvable, a n d presently h e w alked o n alo n g th e b a n k , rifle in h a n d , se arch in g every angle o f the su rro u n d in g s w ith his haw k-like eyes. A n o th e r In d ian -Isa d o re M o n d io n - follow ed th e fo o tp rin t from th e fort to th e river a n d sto p p ed . Ju s t b en ea th him a p a ir o f legs stuck o u t o f th e b a n k . W ith o n e han d h e m o tio n e d to th e w ar chief: w ith th e o th e r h e p o in te d d o w n w ard . W an d e rin g S pirit sta rte d to w a rd h im , running. “ H e n ry ,” said M o n d io n , “ c o m e o u t.” T h e p o o r sc o u t, h id in g like an ostrich , trem b led but h e did not m ove. “ C o m e o u t!” M o n d io n re p ea te d sternly. “ Q u ic k , b e fo re W a n ­ d ering S pirit com es! I will p ro te c t y o u ." Q u in n craw led from his hole. T h e w ar chief, his rifle held threaten in g ly b e fo re him h u rried u p . M o n d io n put a h a n d on Q u in n : h e step p ed in fro n t o f him . “ M y p riso n e r, K a h p a y p a m a h c h a k w a y o !” h e said, m ee tin g the w ar c h ie f s low ering g lan ce w ith o n e equally tru cu len t. “ P a y a tik !

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In vain C o w a n sp u rre d h im — he w ould n o t budge. C ow an d ro p p e d to th e g ro u n d and ra n . A n In d ian , his gun levelled on th e p o lic e m a n , raced alo n g sid e. C ow an p u t o u t a h a n d . “ D o n ’t sh o o t, m y b ro th e r!” he said in C ree, and th e redskin tu rn e d and left him . B ut a p u ff o f sm o k e c am e from th e w o o d on th e right an d , w ith a bullet th ro u g h his h e a rt, p o o r C o w a n pitched his length along th e dusty trail. H e n ry Q u in n ’s escape dow n th e hill by w ay o f th e trail had been cu t off, a n d answ ering th e fusillade o f w hich h e w as the targ e t w ith rep ea te d sh o ts fro m his ow n rifle— fo rtu n ately for him self later w ith o u t d o in g a n y d a m a g e — h e sw ung a t to p speed o ff to th e right alo n g th e w o o d e d slope a n d d isa p p ea red am ong th e p o p la r bluffs up th e river. T h e hostiles w ere to o in te n t upon th e c a p tu re o f F o rt P itt to go a fte r him . M e an w h ile L oasby w as p o u n d in g dow n th e slope in full view o f th e fort a n d safety as fast as his ja d e d m o u n t w ould b e a r him . L o n e M a n — cool, crafty, d a rin g , a h u m an haw k w hose clear brain never p e rm itte d his n erve o r c onfidence to d e se rt h im — w ith flapping p in io n o f soiled w h ite b lan k et, on the w hite racer th a t had u n a cc o u n ta b ly d isa p p e a re d from his o w n e r’s stable one d ark nig h t a y e ar b e fo re in M o n ta n a , follow ed sw iftly a fte r him . A sh o t. T h e saddle seem ed sud d en ly to have grow n h o t under L oasby. Blood trick led do w n his leg, b u t h e ro d e o n . A n o th e r sh o t. H is horse sto p p e d , sw ayed, a bullet in his neck. L o n e M an w as close b e h in d — to o close. T h e chest o f th e w hite racer hit like a h a m m e r on th e ru m p o f th e p o lic e m a n ’s stricken m o u n t a n d d o w n they w ent, o v er a n d over, th e dying a n im al and th e living, falcon redskin a n d w o u n d e d tro o p er. L oasby w as fast on his feet. H a lf stu n n e d , he did n o t sto p to look ro u n d b u t ra n . L o n e M an raised h im self on o n e k n ee a n d a t th e crack o f his rifle, L oasby tu m b led w ith his face in th e d u st a n d th e trail o f a bullet th ro u g h his b o d y close to th e spine. A n d now th e b u rst o f fire w hich, since L oasby w as a p p are n tly past th e possibility o f in ju ry from it, th ere w as no longer need to hold, c am e at th e in tre p id savage from th e fort. But he w rith ed fo rw ard, on his belly like a sn ak e, till he reached the policem an. H e tu rn e d him over. “ I th o u g h t h e w as d e a d ,” L o n e M an told m e later, “ o r I w ould have finished h im . B ut he o u g h t to h av e killed m e — he w as first u p .” D ra w in g his kn ife, he cu t th e belt, w ith its c artridges and revolver, circling L o a sb y ’s w aist. T h en h e w rith ed back w ith it, g rip p in g th e grass w ith his crim so n ed fingers, to his h o rse and

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chasing up and do w n m y spine as 1 w ent a long. Even now , as 1 w rite, I fall to w o n d e rin g w hy h e never to o k ad v an tag e o f the freq u e n t o p p o rtu n itie s and finished m e, as I nev er d o u b te d he w ished to d o . A w eek la te r five C re e ru n n e rs from P o u n d m a k e r's reserv atio n , near B attleford, a rriv e d w ith m essages from R iel. T he half-breed rebel c h ie f c o m p lim e n ted Big B ear for his help a t F ro g L ake, asked him to effect a ju n c tio n w ith P o u n d m a k e r a n d th en a tta ck and c a p tu re B attleford. T h e stories told by th e ru n n e rs differed so m ew h at in detail. T h ey h a d b ro u g h t no d irect m essage from P o u n d m a k e r a n d Big B e a r's b a n d a p p a re n tly d is tr u s te d th e m . A c o u n c il w a s c alle d . T h e m essengers w ere show n to th e open space in its c en tre. T h e w hite m en w ere su m m o n ed to a tte n d a n d w ith the half-breeds they fo rm ed a segm ent o f the circle. Im asees w as first to sp eak . H e a d ju re d th e m essengers, as they valued th e ir lives, to tell th e tru th , th e w h o le tru th : referrin g to th eir conflicting stories. D ressy M a n a rg u ed th a t they should be received as friends, w ith o u t suspicion. W an d e rin g S p irit, seated a p a rt from the o th e rs a t the low er end o f th e circle, listened w ith ill-disguised im patience to D ressy M a n ’s pacific h a ra n g u e . H is rifle rested a gainst his sh o u ld e r and h e sta b b ed viciously in th e so d before him w ith th e long h u n tin g -k n ife in his left h a n d . A s usual m y gaze w as d ra w n to him , a n d , as he glanced up freq u en tly a n d o u r eyes m et, a black scowl settled upon his face. A s D ressy M a n finished, th e w a r c h ie f sp ra n g to h is feet. H e threw d o u b t on th e p rofessions o f th e m essengers. W ho knew b u t th a t they w ere em issaries o f th e w hites a n d w ished to lead th e b a n d into a trap ? W hy had no m essage c o m e from P o u n d m ak er? F o r his p a rt, h e p re fe rre d to go to D uck L ake d irect a n d jo in R ’el“ T h e re ’s a n o th e r th in g I w a n t to talk a b o u t," h e w en t o n , his soft voice rising into its o m in o u s ring a n d h e re th e real p u rp o rt o f his speech revealed itself: “ W h en I began this w ar, o v er th e re ” — h e raised a n arm a n d p o in ted in th e d irec tio n o f F ro g L a k e — “ I m a d e a vow th a t I w ould nev er again look on a w hite m an b u t to kill h im ! " H e stro d e rapidly u p a n d do w n b e fo re th e c o u n cil, his rifle on his a rm . “ N o w I look a b o u t m e in th e c a m p a n d see w hite faces everyw here. T h e y begin to g e t to g eth e r in g ro u p s a n d talk and th e next th in g w e kn o w o n e o f th em will g e t aw ay a n d b rin g tro u b le on us all. T h e b lo o d in m e b o ils w hen I re m e m b e r th at I have not k e p t th a t vo w !" H e b e a t w ith h is h a n d u p o n his chest. “ It’s n o t th e h a lf-breeds I m ea n . T h e y 're o u r friends, o u r

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re la tio n s ." H e sto p p e d , b e n t o v er a n d sw ept his a rm in th e faces o f o u r little g ro u p . “ I t ’s th ese w hite p e o p le I'm ta lk in g a b o u t!" T h e half-b reed s se a te d a m o n g us edged quietly aw ay: soon no t o n e rem ain ed w ith in six feet o f us. A look th a t a ro u sed in m e a sense o f g rave peril c am e into th e eyes o f th e you n g m en b an d ed a t th e h e ad o f th e circle as th e w a r c h ie f sp o k e . S om e w ho had left th e ir g u n s d isa p p e a re d a n d re tu rn e d w ith th em . T all Pine, one o f Big B ear’s b a n d w hom 1 h a d b e frie n d ed frequently d u rin g th e w in ter, cam e ro u n d , stretch ed h im self on th e grass b e h in d m e, seized m y h a n d a n d pressed it. “ N ’C h a w a m is! (M y b ro th e r!)’’ h e m u rm u re d in C ree. I w as to u ch e d . It m e a n t th a t I had at least o n e friend am ong this c u t-th ro a t b a n d , o n e c h am p io n w ho w ould defend m e w hile b re ath lingered in his w orn old b o d y . W an d e rin g S p irit w ent on: “ T h e r e ’s th e C o m p a n y ’s ch ief!” H e p o in te d a t M c L ea n . “ W hen w e w a n ted to g et him o u t o f th e fort, him a n d his fam ily, to save th e ir lives, he w as n o t w illing to com e. But w hen w e offered to let th e police, o u r enem ies, off, he w as n o t long in g e ttin g them o u t o f th e w ay. A n d they say he has heaps o f a m m u n itio n hid d en , to o , a n d he w o n 't give it to u s!” W an d e rin g S p irit w hen he said th is knew th at h e lied, b u t he w as trying to rouse th e savage instincts o f his follow ers to co m m it a second b u tch ery . T h o se w ere m o m e n ts, in d ee d , w hen, in the language o f th e In d ian s, “ o u r h e a rts w ere on th e g ro u n d .” But w hen th e w a r c h ie f finished a n d sat d o w n . Big B ear rose and stre tc h ed o u t his h a n d s o v e r o u r heads. “ I p ity every w h ite m an w e have saved!” he cried, his voice trem u lo u s w ith e m o tio n . “ In stead o f speaking b a d a b o u t th em , give back to them som e o f th e things you have tak en . See: they are p o o r! N ak ed ! A n d they a re n o t, like us, o ften hungry; they d o n o t k n o w how th e teeth o f th e cold bites! T h e y have alw ays w orn w arm clothes. H ave pity!” L ittle P o p la r follow ed the chief. W ith his a rm s folded a n d his head b e n t o v er th em in a p o stu re o f e n d e a rm e n t, he said, sm iling, in his h igh-pitched voice: “ I look u p o n th e c hildren o f th e C o m ­ p a n y ’s c h ie f as m y o w n . D o them n o h a rm !” T o o u r intense relief, the council in a n o th e r few m in u te s d is­ solved a n d w e re tu rn e d in safety to o u r ten ts. B ut had W an d e rin g S pirit fo u n d one o r tw o to su p p o rt him in fan n in g the incendiary sp ark , w e should nev er have q u itte d o u r seats alive. D a ys in C a m p T h e heav y snow th a t c am e on th e night th a t F o rt Pitt fell soon

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m elted and th e g lory o f th e N o rth w e st sp rin g covered th e land. H ow w e jo y ed in those b rig h t w arm d a y s, so full o f light and pro m ise if only th is dread fu l tim e should pass! T h e yellow grass o f th e old y ear, tu rn in g so q u ick ly th a t o n e could a lm o st see the change to brillian t green ; th e m u rm u r o f th e creeks; th e b o o m o f rending ice; th e stra in in g o f th e b u d s in th e ir sheaths; th e tw itter o f th e b irds; th e h u m o f insect life— all h e lp e d us to sh a k e o ff the depression th a t h a d w ell-nigh overw h elm ed us and to ta k e a fresh interest in existence. O u r c a p to rs, to o , beg an to look w ith m ore friendly eyes u p o n us a n d o u r d a n g e r seem ed to grow less. W e o b ta in e d m o re freedom a n d w a n d e re d fa rth e r from th e lodges. C a m e a day w hen g u n s w ere even loaned to Stanley S im p so n and m yself a n d w e m a d e occasional sh o rt h u n tin g excursions in the a fte rn o o n s w ith so m e o f th e In d ian s. S hortly a fte r th e In d ian s re tu rn e d from P itt, cam p w as m oved tw o m iles to a p o sitio n c o m m a n d in g from flanking hills a view o f th e su rro u n d in g c o u n try , th e c am p itself bein g h id d en by b elts o f spruce. A n a m b itio u s y o u th n a m e d T h e W o lf h a d con triv ed a buckb o a rd o u t o f tw o p a irs o f h o rse -ra k e w heels, th e p ro p e rty o f the Indian d e p a rtm e n t, co n n ec te d by a platfo rm o f b o a rd s nailed securely to th e fro n t a n d rear axles, on w hich h e had m o u n te d a soap-box se a t. T h e m aiden c ru ise o f this sh ip o f th e w ilderness fo r ever b laste d th e a sp iratio n s o f th e designer to th e role o f a m aste r o f th e c arriag e -b u ild e r’s craft. Such a th in g as a straight trail w as u n k n o w n in th e F ro g L ake reg io n , a n d w ith its rigid axles his c arriag e w ould m ove in only tw o d ire c tio n s— straight a h ea d o r stra ig h t back . T h e W o lf s first a tte m p t to follow th e trail furnished his frien d s m u ch h ila rity . H is b u c k b o a rd persisted in laying o u t a trail o f its o w n , a n d w hen h e sw ung his p o n y to the rig h t th e vehicle tu rn e d o v er o n h is h e ad . T h e pony b o lte d . L ater T h e W o lf recovered th e pony a n d th e shafts. H e h a d spent a w hole w eek m ak in g his b u c k b o ard a n d g o t ju st five m in u te s' utility o u t o f it. O u r new c am p w as n e a r F ro g L ake. H u g e blocks o f crum bling ice from th e lake w ere ru n n in g in its channel and th e In d ian s told us th e stream w as full o f p ik e. S tanley S im pson a n d I g o t p e rm is­ sion to go fishing. W e d ro v e do w n w ith L o u is P a te n a u d e to th e ruins o f th e settlem ent. It w as a m o n th a fte r th e m assacre a n d ^ I h a d n o t visited the sp o t since th a t terrib le d a y in th e beg in n in g o f A pril. A n d w h at a change p re sen te d itself to m e! W h ere w as all th e q u ie t, hom e-like ch arm o f th a t beautiful landscape? T h e re w ere th e c h a rre d ruins o f th e build in g s. B efore w h a t h a d been D e lan e y ’s h o u se lay the head o f p o o r T o m Q u in n ’s little b ro w n -a n d -w h ite cocker, th e dog

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he had been a t such p a in s to tra in a n d w hose clever trick s w ere h is p rid e a n d d elight. D eath a n d d e so latio n now . T h a t w as all. A m o n g th e ashes o f th e stab les w e fo u n d th e iron p a rts o f som e p itc h fo rk s a n d tu rn ed back to cam p . P a ten a u d e follow ed th e trail dow n w hich D ill, m y fo rm e r p a rtn e r, a n d G ilch rist had been chased a n d o v e rh au led by th e In d ian s on th a t fatal day, and in a slight hollow rim m e d by w o o d e d hills, lying in the m id d le o f th e trail, w here h e h a d been sh o t dow n b e sid e his m aster, we cam e a cro ss G ilc h rist’s b lac k -an d -w h ite dog. O ff to th e right in th e gra ss beside th e tree s lay th e b o d ies o f th e tw o m en, left u n b u ried by c o m m a n d o f th e In d ian s. L ouis h a d pulled up close to th em . It w as a h o rrib le sight. I held m y b re a th . “ F o r h e a v e n ’s sake, L ouis, driv e o n !” I m u ttered . A t th e cam p S im pson a n d I fixed poles in th e p itchfork irons a n d w en t to th e creek to sp e a r fish. D iscarding o u r shoes, tro u ­ sers rolled above o u r knees, w e tram p ed up a n d dow n in th e icy w ater. T h e shallow s sw arm ed p ik e . W e d ro v e them in to c o rn ers, caught them on th e fo rk s a n d tossed them on th e b a n k . W ith in a n h o u r w e had fo rty a n d re tu rn e d to c am p . S u p p e r th a t night w as a feast. W hile th e p ik e is su p p o sed to b e so m ew h at flav o u r­ less, th e change from a steady d ie t o f b e e f w as m ost ag reeab le. L ouis h a d secured tea, sugar, rice a n d flo u r a t P itt a n d his wife m ad e excellent b re ad . L et m e a tte m p t th e difficult task o f describing th e C re e G ra ss o r W a r D a n ce as I saw it day a fte r d a y in Big B e ar’s cam p: O n a fine a fte rn o o n , K a h n ee p o tay ta y o , the head d a n c e r o r w h ip p e r-in , m ad e th e round o f th e lodges to su m m o n th e w ar­ riors to th e d an cin g o r so ld iers' lodge, e rected in each c am p o f th ree o r fo u r o rd in a ry ones c o m m a n d ee red from th eir ow ners. T h e fam ilies so signalized for a tte n tio n w ere presu m ed to regard th e d e p riv a tio n as a n h o n o u r a n d sought sh elter u n d e r th e ir c arts o r in so m e a d ja ce n t b lu ff o f p o p lar. K a h n e e p o ta y ta y o is decked in all his finery. H is lim bs are b a re but for th e b a n d s o f fur a b o u t k n e es a n d elbow s a n d streak ed w ith w hite m ud. B road bracelets o f shining b ra ss encircle his w rists. A crossbelt o f bells hangs u p o n o n e sh o u ld e r a n d across his ch est a n d sm aller strings a b o u t his ankles jin g le m elodiously as he w alks. H e w ears b e ad e d m occasins and a b o u t his h ip s a n d the u p p e r p a rts o f his m uscular th ig h s is fixed his fancy b reechcloth. T he royal skin o f a silver fox trails dow n his b ack . H is eyes form th e c en tre o f sta rs from w hich ra d ia te shafts o f black a n d yellow p ain t. S able b a rs a lte rn a te w ith th e verm ilio n on his b ro n ze cheeks, w hile from his m o u th to his th ro a t is perfect blackness. A bunch o f je t-tip p e d eagle plum es bristles from b ehind his blueblack p laited h a ir. H is han d g ra sp s a staff, to o n e end o f w hich is

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b o u n d w ith b ead e d red cloth a sw ord a n d to th e o th e r m ore feathers. So m uch o f th e blade is covered th a t only a fo o t o f it is visible. T h e d ru m begins its sw elling b e a t a n d th e d a n ce rs assem ble. T h ey seat them selves in a circle inside th e g re at dancing lodge, o n e end o f w hich is o p e n . T h e d ru m looks like a large w ooden g ra in -m ea su re , th e en d s covered w ith p a rc h m e n t p a in te d h alf black, h a lf re d . A ro u n d it sit th e six d ru m m e rs, beating a steady even b e a t a n d c h an tin g th e w a r song. T h e ir faces w ear a look o f expectancy th e c ere m o n y o f S p earin g th e W h ite D o g ’s H e ad is a b o u t to begin. K a h n ee p o tay ta y o a n d his u n d e rstu d y are seated a little a p a rt. A s th e c h an t co m m en ces h e rises a n d w alks to w ard th e c en tre o f th e circle. T h e w om en a p p e a r carry in g th e huge c o p p e r p o t in w hich th e d o g strangled for th e occasion is still sim m ering. T hey set it do w n b eside th e c en tre-p o le a n d re tire , for no n e b u t w a r­ riors m ay d an ce in th e G ra ss D ance. K a h n ee p o tay ta y o k neels b e fo re th e k ettle, his u n d e rstu d y beside him . T h e c h a n t is a w eird a n d slow o n e . T h e p a lm s o f the c h ie f a cto rs a re o u tsp re a d on th e h ard sm ooth e arth , th e ir b o d ies throw n forw ard o n th em , their sta lls p lan te d in front. T h e c h an t rises, a n d to th e rh y th m ic b e a t o f th e d ru m falls grad u ally until th e low est stra in , a d e ep bass, is reached a n d dw elt u p o n . T h en c e it ju m p s a b ru p tly to th e shrill begin n in g , a n d g radually, to the bass. A gain it ju m p s to th e treb le, to sink once m o re — a n d again. See th e p a in te d a n d b e fea th e red K a h n ee p o tay ta y o ! H is lithe figure begins to sw ay, back a n d forth from side to side in tim e w ith th e c h a n t a n d his p a lm s to ru b lightly th e d a m p b a re soil. H e raises a n d b ru sh es th em softly to g eth e r, m u tte rin g som e in c a n ta tio n — for it is a religious c e re m o n y — then d ro p s and m oves them o v er th e e arth a g ain . T h e c h a n t grow s faster, chan g ­ ing to th e H o rse Song; h e springs suddenly to h is feet a n d begins to d a n ce . H is eyes flash. T h e th ew s a n d sinew s o f his lim b s and chest sta n d o u t like ropes o r roll a n d ripple b e n e a th th e sm ooth cop p ery skin like th e coils o f a m oving snake. H e circles a b o u t th e W h ite D o g ’s H ead as tho u g h it w ere an enem y ready to strike should h e a p p ro ac h to o n e a r— d a rts aw ay w ith a shrill w ar-cry, crouching along th e g ro u n d , all th e while keeping step to th e m easured p o m ! p o m ! p o m ! p o m ! o f th e big d ru m a n d th e wild plain tiv e v oices o f th e d ru m m e rs. H is body le a n s a n d sw ays, p itc h e s a n d g lid e s, as h e d ra w s n e a re r to th e kettle, w ith all th e grace and agility o f a p a n th e r stealing upon its prey. H is c o m p a n io n is close b e h in d , h is sh ad o w in th e flesh, d o u b lin g his every m o tio n . S w eat p o u rs from their d a rk satin skins a n d glistens on th eir nak ed p a in te d lim bs and chests and

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faces. T h e eagle p lu m es on K a h n e e p o ta y ta y o ’s h e ad toss w ith the tw isting o f his b o d y . H is eyes glow fiercely in th e w arm light. H is face is set a n d d ra w n . H e cree p s n e are r th e kettle. H e lifts his sp e a r, a n d w ith a swift b o u n d lau n ch es it a t th e head o f th e W h ite D o g . T h e d ru m stops. H e d ra w s h im self up, places his fingers o v e r his lips a n d a long piercing staccato yell echoes th ro u g h the cam p . It is th e co u p — th e d e a th . H e raises th e kettle a n d carries it th re e tim es ro u n d in a circle. A ro a r o f ap p la u se com es from th e seated w a rrio rs a n d a volley rolls from th e big d ru m . T h e n he w alks o v e r, ta k e s W a n ­ d ering S p irit by th e w rist a n d c o n d u cts him to a seat upon a b lan k e t set a p a rt fo r th e councillors and goes back for F o u r-S k y T h u n d e r, L ittle P o p la r and N o p a h ch a ss. T h ese a re first served from th e kettle: a fte rw a rd it is passed to th e o th e r d an cers a n d all give th eir a tte n tio n to th e fe ast— th e food o f w arriors. T h e feasting over, d a n cin g , in w hich all now jo in , is resum ed. T he d ru m m e rs again sta rt the H o rse Song, ech o in g th e steps o f a horse a t a sm art tro t. K a h n ee p o tay ta y o springs to his feet; he da n ce s ro u n d th e circle before th e o th e r d a n ce rs, sp u rrin g them w ith g u ttu ra l cries o f “ H y -a w -a w !" a foot, h o ld in g th e w hip he has exchanged for his sw ord th rea te n in g ly o v e r th e ir h ead s. T h ey rise as h e passes a n d soon all a re m oving in a bew ildering m aze, shuffling along th e g ro u n d b e n t d o u b le, tu rn in g suddenly as though a tta c k e d from b e h in d , sh o u tin g shrill w ar-cries a n d o th e r­ wise im itatin g th eir old hab its a n d p ractices in tim e o f w ar. A b ru p tly th e d ru m sto p s a n d th ey walk back to th eir places to rest. W h en held a t nig h t th e w eird effect o f th e d a n ce w as h eightened. W an d e rin g Spirit w as alw ays c o n sp icu o u s in th e G ra ss D ance. Betw een th e intervals o f dancing it is cu sto m a ry for th e d istin ­ guished w a rrio rs to “ c o u n t th eir coups" — to tell o ff th e scalps they have tak e n a n d th e horses they have stolen from th e enem y. O n e fine a fte rn o o n shortly a fte r F o rt P itt, I listened to th e w ar chief c o u n t his coups. It w as in o n e o f th e intervals o f rest. W ith a m o tio n o f his h a n d , h e started th e d ru m m e rs. L eaping to his feet, he danced to w a rd th e d ru m , rifle in h a n d , cro u ch in g and w heeling, m uch as K a h n e e p o ta y ta y o had d o n e in spearing the D og’s H e ad . B rilliant p a in ts co v ered his face a n d th e p laits o f his curling black hair w ere b o u n d w ith strip s o f o tte r fur. H e looked ferocious as he d a n c e d stealthily to w ard th e b o o m in g d ru m , sw inging his rifle now h ere, now th e re , re tre atin g a n d advancing again. A sm all willow stick lay b eside th e d ru m . P resently he picked this u p , c rouched n e a re r a n d n e a re r a n d at length tossed it w ith a w ar w h o o p a m o n g th e sticks o f th e d ru m m e rs. T h e d ru m m in g

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ceased and th e w ar c h ie f drew h im self up a n d beg an to speak. H e n u m b ered o ff th e B lackfoot eleven, 1 th in k he had slain, p o in tin g w ith his rifle in th e d irec tio n o f each successive exploit. “ A n d th e n ,” h e co n clu d ed , “ th e re w ere a n o th e r a n d a n o th e r.” (N o n a m e s w ere m en tio n ed , b u t he referred I knew to Indian A gent Q u in n and F a th e r F a fa rd .) " H o w ! A y w a ik ! A h n is, N ’keesa y n e w in ! (So! T h a t’s som ething! I’m gettin g old, you see!)” he a d d ed w ith a laugh. T h e d an cin g lodge is also th e so ld iers’ lodge. T h e w a r c h ie f w as head soldier, o r c o m m a n d e r, a n d his follow ers th e soldiers. Such laws as w ere o rd a in e d for th e reg u latio n o f th e c a m p w ere enforced by th e so ld iers’ lodge. O ccasionally it becam e necessary to d iscipline re fra c to ry m em b e rs o f th e band. O n e a fte rn o o n I w as sta n d in g n e a r th e so ld iers’ lodge, w atching th e d a n ce , w hen O sk ata sk , a Big B ear In d ia n , cam e dow n the trail close by. A t a w ord from th e w ar chief, K a h n ee p o tay ta y o and his assistant, knives in th e ir h a n d s, ju m p e d to th e ir feet, ran o u t, c au g h t O sk atask by e ith e r a rm a n d m arch ed him into the d an cin g lodge. H e w as m uch o ld er, bigger a n d m o re pow erful th an e ith e r o f th e yo u n g b ucks, b u t b e yond a sullen p ro test he m ad e no show o f in su b o rd in a tio n . H e sto o d expostulating before th e w a r chief, b u t his h a ra n g u e h a d no effect upon W an d e rin g S p irit. H e sat w ith th e face o f a sphinx a n d h e ard him to th e end, w hile th e you n g m en sto o d w ith a h a n d on e ith e r sh o u ld er o f the sp e a k er, th e ir long nak ed b lad e s in th eir o th e r h a n d s. T h en W an d e rin g S p irit g e stu red , a n d they tu rn e d a n d w ith th e knives sliced th e b la n k e t c o a t o f th e p riso n e r to rib b o n s. O sk atask sto o d as if carv ed in sto n e . H a d h e stirred his flesh also w ould have b e en in rib b o n s. T h e y released him then a n d he stalked aw ay, his face black w ith sm o th ere d fury. H e had killed cattle b elonging to a n o th e r In d ian . T h is w as his pu n ish m en t. O n a n o th e r a fte rn o o n som e tim e later th e soldiers gave th e c am p a general sh ak in g -u p . S om e o f th e w a rrio rs, a p p a re n tly tired o f th e endless dancing, had d isreg ard ed th e form al su m m o n s to th e d an cin g lodge. I w as sta n d in g b e fo re P a te n a u d e 's te n t. I h e ard a c h o ru s o f yells and looking up saw th e soldiers c o m in g on th e run a ro u n d th e w ide circle enclosed by th e c am p . T h e y carried knives a n d axes. T hey sto p p e d before a lodge, a n d in a m o m en t slashed it to shreds, w hile th e in m a tes sat cow ed a n d in no little d a n g e r as th eir h a b ita tio n fell a b o u t th e ir ears. T h e n the soldiers snatched furs an d blan k ets from a b o u t th eir trem bling o w n ers a n d cu t o r tore them to b its in th eir teeth as th ey ran on to th e next lodge singled o u t for discipline. In this w ay they destro y ed in a few m in u te s no

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less th an ten lodges, b u t th e a tte n d a n c e a t th e dances w as for som e tim e m aterially im p ro v ed . T h e soldiers stayed in th e d a n c ­ ing lodge all night a n d to o k tu rn s in acting as g u a rd s to th e cam p , to p re v en t th e escape o f w hite p riso n e rs a n d a n tic ip a te su rp rise by troops. W h en w o rd w as given to strik e c a m p a n d m arch, a fair interval w as allow ed for c o m p lian c e w ith th e o rd e r. T h e n , W an d e rin g S p irit leading, th e soldiers m arc h ed a ro u n d th e c am p a n d assisted th e ta rd y ones to ta k e dow n th e ir lodges. T h is they did by lifting th e lodge b odily from o v er th e h e ad s o f its in m a tes a n d laying it flat on th e g ro u n d so m e d istan ce aw ay. A t length the c a rts a re packed a n d the c ara v an m oves. O n e by o n e th e c a rts fall into line, sending up a creak in g c h o ru s from the w o o d en axles a u d ib le m iles aw ay on th e p ra irie , until all h av e left cam p . U p a n d do w n th e long train ride th e chiefs and h e ad m en , w aking th e laggards a n d p reserving o rd e r. H e re rides W an d e rin g S pirit on a tall g a u n t grey m are ta k e n from th e Indian d e p a rt­ m ent a t O n io n L ak e, h e r flanks plentifully strip ed w ith w hite m u d a n d h e r fo reto p a n d tail o rn a m e n te d w ith tu fts o f feathers. T h e w ar c h ie f w ears his lynx-skin c ap , a w hole skin, h e ad fixed to tail, open a t th e to p , m ak in g a huge d o u b le loop o f long grey fur. T h e five eagle plum es, for each o f w hich h e b o a sts h e m eans to have a w h ite m a n ’s scalp, float ab o v e th e cap. T h ro w n loosely a b o u t his sh o u ld ers is his long b lu e-a n d -w h ite b la n k e t c o at. G re e n cloth leggings co v er his legs a n d b e a d e d m occasins his feet. H is sheath knife show s in his belt o f yellow cartridges. H is right han d holds lightly th e slack b rid le -rein a n d in th e crook o f his left arm rests his W in c h este r— th e rifle c o m m a n d ee red from H en ry Q u in n at Pitt. Y o u n g bucks, tw o on a pony, dash in a n d o u t th ro u g h th e line, follow ed by th e im p re ca tio n s o f old w rinkled w om en, toiling painfully along w ith b e n t sh o u ld ers, d ragging by c o rd s dejectedlooking cu rs w hich are also b e asts o f b u rd e n a n d pull travoys. S om e a re h u n tin g d u ck s a n d ra b b its a m o n g th e n u m ero u s bluffs and lakes alo n g th e ro u te . Seated in th e c arts on rolls o f bedding, tepees, lodge poles, b o x es a n d pro v isio n s a re th e squaw s, and p a p o o se s em bracing th e inevitable fam ily pu p p ies. H e re g o e s a n o th e r old w o m an , leading a p o n y w ith a tra v o y — a c o n triv an c e form ed o f tw o poles lashed to g eth e r n e ar th eir tops, th e angle th u s e ngineered resting a cro ss the p o n y ’s back, th e b u tts d ragging on th e g ro u n d in th e re a r. B ehind th e h o rse a n d a c ouple o f feet from th e e a rth th e load is fixed— black en ed k ettles and p a n s, w ith p e rh a p s a n in fan t in a m ossbag filling th e biggest o f th e kettles. H ere a yo u n g a n d p re tty squaw perches ab o v e th e travoy, a strid e th e p o n y ’s b ack . O r p e rh a p s h e r feet are crossed

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on th e a m p le seat like a T u rk 's . T h e h a lf-n a k ed boys are scat­ tere d along th e tra in , yelling a n d sh o o tin g a rro w s to keep the loose an im a ls up a n d th e cara v an in m o tio n . N o w a c a rt collapses a n d th e line com es to g eth er like an acc o rd io n . A n old w o m a n ties h e r dog by th e leading c o rd to the w heel o f th e c a rt in fro n t a n d sh am b les o ff to a seat u n d e r a bluff to rest a n d sm o k e. Presently th e line sta rts ag ain . T h e an cien t c ro n e tu m b les fo rw ard shrilling “ Tesqua! — tesq u a !" a t th e to p o f her cracked old voice. H e r d o g is bein g h a n g ed on his leading line by th e g re at revolving w o o d en w heel. B ut suddenly th e ro tten cord b re ak s a n d h e com es d o w n w ith a c la tte r a m o n g h is load o f k ettles a n d p a n s a n d how ling terrified in fan t. T h e long train stretch es o u t o n c e m o re like a n u n coiling sn a k e . E veryw here th ere is a glint o f gun b arrels, a reckless galloping to a n d fro, a low ing o f cattle , a w aving o f b lan k e ts, sh o u ts, du st a n d c o n fu sio n . A h a lt is m ad e a t n o o n , th e k e ttle is bo iled for tea a n d the an im a ls are loosed to feed on th e rich grass. T h e n th e m arch is resum ed a n d goes on till evening. T h e lodges are pitched in a g re at circle, each w ith its c am p fire, a n d th e dancing lodge near th e c en tre. N ig h t a n d d a rk n e ss fall, b u t n o t silence. T h e d rum b o o m s from th e red w alls o f th e d an cin g lodge, th e sneaking dogs snarl a n d scuffle o v er th e scrap s tossed from th e tents, p e rh a p s a sh o t g o e s o ff by accid en t sending a h a rd chilling n o te th ro u g h the c a m p ’s dro w sin g voices. F o u r-S k y T h u n d e r, p a in k ille r drugged, trolls tipsily in a n e ar-b y lodge. F ro m a n o th e r th e sou n d o f a g a m b lin g song rises. T h e half-B lack fo o t c h ie f stalks th ro u g h the c am p , crying his d o lo ro u s w ailing c h a n t because th e re is bad blood betw een th e b a n d s. H e is try in g to exorcise th e devils th a t have caused it. W e a rie d , I a t len g th d ro p in to a tro u b le d sleep. But suddenly I find m yself b olt u p rig h t on m y b lan k e t. M y h e a rt is b e atin g not a t all. B ut p re sen tly it sta rts a g ain , very slow ly, th e h a lte d blood resum es its flow a n d I fall back a n d close m y eyes o n c e m o re. A horse h a s stu m b led ag ain st th e ta u t g u y -ro p es o f th e lodge, th a t is all, a n d they sn ap like w hips in m y sta rtle d e a r. But it m ig h t have been a p a in te d m an , e n te rin g stealthily w ith a knife in his teeth a n d m u rd e r in his h eart.

A n In d ia n C annibal L o n e M an w as alw ays m y frien d a n d o n e b rig h t a fte rn o o n in early M ay I w alked to his te n t to sm o k e a n d ch at w ith th e son-in-law o f Big B ear. T h e usual d an ce w as on, b u t L o n e M an seldom a tte n d e d . T h e In d ian s still had th e H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a ­

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n y ’s flag— th e U n io n Jack w ith th e old c o rp o ra tio n ’s c rest in the c o m e r— and I n o ted w ith satisfaction th a t th e ensign flew at half-m ast and u p sid e d o w n ab o v e th e d an cin g lodge. I fancied it m ight be a n om en o f im p en d in g w o e for th e soldiers. L o n e M an invited m e to a se a t on th e flo o r o f his lodge. H e asked m e, a ccording to his c u sto m , endless questio n s concerning th e n u m b e r a n d w ays o f the w hite m en , in w hich he d isplayed the k een est interest. L ittle P o p lar a n d his son -in -law , a C ro w from M o n ta n a , cam e in a n d the h o st set before us bow ls o f d rip p in g a n d sheaves o f d ried m eat, w hich w e a te . It tasted very g o o d . I n o tic e d Big B e ar’s m en unu su ally in evidence, carrying th eir g u n s a n d w earing g rav e faces. A n o m in o u s q u ie t reigned. W h en his trib a l friends w ere g o n e , I ask e d L o n e M an to enlighten m e. “ W ell,” said he, “ you have h e ard o f th e old w om an in c am p w ho w an ts to e at h u m a n flesh. S h e says if she isn ’t d e ad before th e sun go es o u t to -n ig h t she c a n n o t b e killed a n d will then begin to e at th e ch ild ren . T h e y are a fra id . She has but half a sm o k e to live. C o m e , w e will go a n d see h e r .” A t th e fa rth e r e n d o f th e c a m p w e c am e to a lodge a ro u n d w hich w ere g ro u p e d m an y o f Big B ear’s w a rrio rs. W an d e rin g S p irit in full w ar dress w as th e re w ith his W in ch ester. H is look w as inexorab le, relentless. F o u r-S k y T h u n d e r sto o d n e ar him . T h e d o o m e d w o m an , th e w e etig o , c rouched on th e floor o f the lodge g ro a n in g a n d m u m b lin g to herself, a p o o r d e m e n ted c re a ­ tu re, a helpless, aged a n d ailing im becile. W e had tried to p e r­ su a d e th e In d ian s th a t n o th in g se rio u s w as w rong, th at she could d o them no h a rm — w e saw , n o w , unavailingly. W e suggested th at they give her la u d a n u m , as an easier w ay to th e S and Hills. U n fo rtu n ate ly , no o n e h a d a n y o f th e drug. A s L o n e M an a n d I stood w ith th e crow d looking in a t her, H enry Q u in n a n d M alcolm M a cd o n ald a p p ro ac h ed u n d e r an escort o f Indians. T h e crow d m a d e w ay for th e m . Q u in n knelt b eside th e old w o m a n a n d b o u n d h e r w rists a n d ankles. T h en she w as placed on a tan n e d beef-hide, Q u in n to o k a c o rn er, M a c d o n ­ ald a n o th e r, In d ian s th e rem ain in g tw o a n d th e w retched invalid w as b o rn e to th e place o f d e a th , a n op en space a few h u n d re d yards from th e lodge. T h e y set h e r do w n on th e skin, blindfolded her a n d an old h alf-b reed nam ed C h a rle b o is, th e low er h a lf o f his face p a in te d black, leaped to w ard h e r b ran d ish in g a heavy club. “ Y o u have a sk e d e v erybody to kill h e r a n d all w ere afraid. D o n ’t laugh at m e for striking a w o m an , a n d d o n 't say I did it!” he cried. H e sw ung th e club a n d struck h e r a frightful blow on th e tem ple. She fell fo rw ard, b lood g u sh in g from h e r m o u th . A boy nam ed B right Eyes stepped o u t a n d sh o t th e senseless skull.

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A fterw ard it w as severed from th e tru n k . T h e b o d y w as Hung into a well a n d th e b a tte re d head b u rn e d on a pile o f b ru sh . T he su p e rstitio u s savages w ere d e te rm in e d there sh o u ld be n o p ossibil­ ity o f th e re su rrec tio n o f th e w eetigo. I should say for m yself th a t 1 w as n o t a w itness o f this diabolical p ro ceed in g . 1 h e a rd th e sh o o tin g a n d saw th e sm o k e o f th e fire, b u t learned these p a rtic u la rs later. A s to th e p a rt played by Q u in n , it w as forced u p o n him by th e Big B ear m iscreants. In san ity in In d ian s, oddly e n o u g h , o ften ta k e s th is form o f w o uld-be cann ib alism .

In th e R e d M a n 's B o o k T h e N o rth A m e ric an Indian is a n incorrigible g a m e ster. T he passion for play seem s to be b o rn w ith h im . S ince th e ad v en t of th e w hite m an he h a s learn ed to gam ble w ith cards, b u t long b e fo re he ever saw th e paleface h e had his ow n rude g a m e s o f chance. In Big B e ar’s c am p o n e m ig h t see g a th e re d on any bright day in th e sh a d e o f a cart an excited circle a g ro u p o f gam blers su rro u n d e d by th e ir p a rtisa n s. L et us ta k e a look a t them : T w o m en are se a te d o p p o site each o th e r on th e g ro u n d with b lan k e ts o v er th eir knees. E ach h a s b eside him an assista n t o r p a rtn e r, a n d a pile o f articles o f m o re o r less value w hich h e is p re p are d from tim e to tim e to o ffer as stakes. T w o b its o f w ood a n inch a n d a h a lf long are th e g a m b le r’s cards. T h e play er o f th e side h aving th e sticks a t th e tim e tak es them in his h a n d s, his p a rtn e r picks u p a sm all d ru m th e size a n d shape o f a m ilk p a n , h o ld in g it by p a rc h m e n t strin g s stretched across its o p e n back a n d begins to sing, acco m p an y in g h im self o n the d ru m . T h e feet o f th e g a m b le r a re doub led up b eneath him . H e p u ts h is h a n d s b e n e a th th e b la n k e t across h is knees, brin g s them o u t, closed, a n d in tim e w ith th e song jo lts in h is seat like a m an in th e saddle, b e n d s his h e ad , th ro w s it b a ck , u tte rin g a con tin u al sh a rp “ C hug-chug! c h u g-chug!" so m e w h a t like th e steam exhaust o f a tu g b o at. S o m etim es h e o p e n s a h a n d , displaying o n e o f the sticks o r else sh ow ing th a t it is em pty. A gain th e h a n d dives b e n ea th th e b la n k e t and com es o u t, p e rh a p s w ith th e stick, p e r­ h a p s not. H e folds his a rm s on his chest: h e flings th em o u t. flashing th e h a n d s o p e n a n d sh u t. All th e w hile th e steady c hug­ ging com es from betw een his teeth a n d th e b o d y jo lts up and d o w n . If h e is e x p ert th e sticks m ay b e passed o r sh o t o penly betw een th e h a n d s so d ex tero u sly th a t th e o p p o sin g players m ay n o t see th e m , tho u g h they a re generally exchanged u n d e r the b lan k e t.

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M eanw hile his o p p o n e n t sits sm oking a n d w atching him intently. All th e c o n to rtio n s o f his vis-a-vis a re intended to m islead him . H is p u rp o se is to div in e correctly w h e re th e tw o sticks a re at any given tim e — w h e n ev e r he m ay choose to hazard a guess. If th e guess is c o rre c t th e sticks pass to th e o th e r side a n d a m ark e r is stuck in th e sod to re p re se n t p o in ts a d d e d to th e nu m b er needed to w in th e stakes then bein g played for. If h e m isses the sam e side re ta in s th e sticks a n d a d d s a m a rk e r to its row , the stakes being p u t up a t so m an y sticks o r m ark e rs. T h e sticks m ay be b o th b e n ea th th e b lan k et, b o th in o n e h a n d , o r o n e in e ith e r h a n d . A g ain , o n e m ay b e u n d e r th e b la n k e t a n d th e o th e r in eith e r h a n d . It is a h a rd m a tte r for th e g u esser to recover the sticks o n c e they h a v e passed to a clever o p p o n e n t. T h e h a n d s o f th e ju g g le r a re alw ays o p en ed a n d th e sticks show n w hen a guess is h a za rd ed , to p ro v e it e ith e r rig h t o r w ro n g . If right, th e sticks a re a t o n c e tossed over. O ccasionally th e guesser receives advice a n d suggestions from his assistant a n d guesses a ccordingly. O r he m ay be sta k ed , as a w hite m an sta k es a novice to p lay for him a t faro o r roulette. Signs a re th e language o f th e In d ia n g a m e ster. H e claps th e back o f o n e h a n d in th e p alm o f th e o th e r, ho ld in g up o n e o r tw o fingers a ccording to his guess. It d e p en d s on w hich h a n d he th in k s h o ld s th e sticks w hich fingers he h o ld s u p , those o f th e left o r right h a n d . If h e th in k s b o th sticks are b en ea th the b lan k e t, he m akes a differen t sign w ith b o th fingers dow n. A n y th in g h e o w n s m ay b e h a z a rd e d - b e d d in g , rifle, knife, m occasins, pipe, to b ac co , sad d le, horse. H e m ay lose all— m ay even rise a t th e last, pull o ff his sh irt and sta k e it— b u t he never m u rm u rs. H e is h a rd ly a p h ilo so p h er: he is m erely im p ro v id e n t, reckless, a n a tu ra l g a m b le r. H e laughs w hen he has no th in g m o re to lose a n d goes aw ay singing, w ith a jest o v er his sho u ld er. T h e excitem ent pleases him a n d satisfies his passion for play. H e likes to b e w ild e r his o p p o n e n t, to sh o w his d e x te rity in jug g lin g th e sticks nd little h e c ares w h e th er he w ins o r loses. H e will not starve, n o r will h e lack a sm o k e w hile there is to b ac co o r food in th e c am p . H e will sim ply d ro p into th e lodge n e are st his. In d ian s in tim e o f w a r have v a rio u s m e th o d s o f signalling. T he tw o in m ost c o m m o n use w ere fire a n d m irro rs. T h e sm o k e o f th e signal fire, bu ilt on a co m m a n d in g h e ig h t, m ight be seen for m any m iles in th e c le a r a tm o sp h e re o f th e p ra irie . A t night the glow itself o r its reflection in th e sky w as equally serviceable. By this m eth o d intelligence w as c a rrie d u n b elievable distances in a short tim e. T h ere is little d o u b t th at Big B ear's b a n d w as a p p rised th ro u g h signal fires o f th e D uck L ake fight a n d the h alf-breed o u tb re a k , tw o h u n d re d m iles aw ay, w ithin tw en ty -fo u r

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h o u rs o f th e e n g ag e m e n t, w hile w e th e w hites a t f rog L ak e did n ot h e ar o f it for som e days. O f course th e fires m u st have relatio n to som e event a n tic ip a te d . M irro rs are availab le only in b rig h t w e ath e r a n d for c o m p a ra ­ tively sh o rt d istances, tho u g h even flashes fro m a sm all m irro r m ay be seen in fav o u rab le c o u n try for m an y m iles. A given n u m b e r o f flashes conveys d e fin ite in fo rm a tio n o f som e k in d . I have seen Big B ear’s ban d th ro w n into a sta te o f feverish excite­ m en t, m en rushing for th eir g u n s, w om en talk in g and g e stic u lat­ ing, by a series o f flashes teleg rap h ed from a d istance o f a t least five m iles. A w ord here a b o u t th e sign lan g u ag e in use a m o n g all the Plains In d ian s. It is a m ista k e to suppose th a t th e re is any sim ilarity betw een th e languages o f th e v a rio u s stocks. T h e B lackfeet, B loods a n d P eigans a re o f th e sam e p a re n t stock a n d th eir speech is th ere fo re practically o n e. T h e sam e is tru e o f th e C rees, C h ip p ew as a n d S alteau x ; o f th e S ioux, C h e y en n e s a n d th e D a k o tah s, S to n ies o r A ssiniboines; a n d o f th e C h ip p ew y an s, Sarcees and A p ach es. But a B lackfoot, generally, sp e a k in g his ow n lan ­ guage to a C re e, S ioux, A p a ch e o r C ro w w ould have as m uch ch an ce o f bein g u n d e rsto o d as if h e w ere a d d re ssin g 'a H a iry A inu in E nglish. F o r exam ple, ta k e th e sim ple little E nglish w o rd “ N o .” In B lackfoot is is sa, in C re e n a m o y a , in C h ip p ew y an eeli and in A ssiniboine w anitch. T h e B lackfoot gets ro u n d th e difficulty by “ speaking sig n s.” T h e fingers o f b o th h a n d s in te rtw in ed re p re se n t a lodge (crossed poles a t to p ) o r a h o u se (log). Sleep is sym bolized by placing the head sidew ise on th e palm o f th e h a n d . N u m b e rs are re co rd e d by holding up fingers: o p e n in g a n d sh u ttin g th e h a n d s o n c e m eans ten - t e n tim es, o n e h u n d re d . C losing th e h a n d a n d o p e n in g it suddenly w ith th e fingers ex ten d ed signifies sh o o tin g — th e flying sh o t pellets. R u b b in g th e palm o f o n e h a n d on th e p alm o f the o th e r m ea n s to “ w ip e o u t” (a n n ih ilatio n ). T h e index fin g er o f each h a n d cro o k ed on e ith e r sid e o f the h e ad in th e sh a p e o f h o rn s suggests th e buffalo o r cattle. A n Indian com es into a tra d in g po st a n d a sk s for e v ap o ra te d ap p le s by touching h is e a r— it resem bles a ring o f th e packed fruit. O r a fro n t to o th b ean s. E ach trib e h a s a sign. T h e Sioux is th e c u t-th ro a t a finger draw n u n d e r th e c h in . T h e C re e sign is tw o to ngues; tw o fingers pushed straig h t o u t from th e m outh liar. T h e Peigan pub lish es h is n a tio n a lity in an alien c am p by ru b b in g his cheek w ith his fist h e is a p a in te d face. T h e C row m oves his h a n d s like th e w ings o f a b ird . T h e sign for th e Snake Indian is readily suggested by a m o tio n o f th e h a n d . T h e tribal sign for th e A p a ch e is n o t p rin ta b le.

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A n d so o n . T h e re a re signs lo r riding, sm o k in g , b a k in g , b o il­ ing, hearin g , fighting, ru n n in g , seeing, eatin g , d rin k in g ; fo r anger, d ru n k e n n ess, so rro w , hunger, th irs t, w eariness, insanity; for the sun, m o o n , stars, d ay , night, ra in , w ind, h e a t, cold; for b irth , life, d e a th — in fact a g o o d sig n -talk er can speak far m o re fluently w ith his h a n d s than m an y an e d u cated w hite m an can with his tongue. I h av e seen a S askatchew an C re e and a N ez Perce from the C o lu m b ia seated side by side on th e g ro u n d , converse fo r an h o u r, telling sto ries o f th e chase, o f love a n d o f w ar, w ith o u t speaking a w ord. It w as one o f th e m ost graceful, im pressive and interesting co n v ersa tio n s I ever listened to. A lso th e q uietest. T h e p a in ts in u se by th e In d ia n s a lso h a v e th e ir sig n ific a n c e . T h e b rig h t v erm ilion is a h oliday p a in t a n d d e n o te s cheerfulness in th e w earer. T h e blue is used m ainly by w ay o f c o n tra st, in form ing stars and e m b lem s u p o n th e features. T h e yellow is th e real w a r p ain t. A few m o m e n ts before th e m assacre a t Frog L ake, W an d e rin g S p irit a p p e a re d w ith his eyelids and lips thickly c o ated w ith yellow o c h re. It g a v e him a look o f u n sp eak ab le hideousness, and w as w ith o u t d o u b t th e signal for th e c o m m e n ce ­ m ent o f th e tragedy. Black is th e d e a th co lo u r, a n d in th e evening a fte r th e m assacre th e low er p a rts o f th e faces o f all w ho to o k p a rt in it w ere p a in te d this so m b re hue.

M o re D a y s in C a m p S pring c am e on apace; the d a y s grew w arm . A b o u t th e c am p raced th e boys, th e y o u n g e r n u d e , sh o o tin g w ith bow a n d arro w s a t g o p h e rs and m ark s o r rolling in th e du st w ith w olfish puppies. H ere g a m b o ls a y o u n g ste r w ith b a re legs, a b o u t w hose b row n little b o d y is w rap p ed a m o u n te d p o lic e m a n ’s b ra ss-b u tto n ed scarlet tu n ic, secured a t Pitt. O u tsid e this, han g in g a b o u t his hips, is h o o k e d a p a ir o f lad ie s' corsets, g o t by his fa th e r a t the sam e place a n d tim e. H e is a q u a in t p ic tu re as h e frisks a b o u t w ith a ready bow , th e envy o f his playm ates. A n a n cien t redskin passes n e a r th em . H e w ears a very d a rk , ragged a n d d irty b la n k e t folded a b o u t his sto o p ed shoulders, and on his head a nice clean freshly-pipe-clayed m ilitary helm et. H e feels th a t he is elegantly a ttire d a n d as is b efitting his g a it is stately a n d solem n. H e and th e you n g sters a re on th e sam e intellectual plane. A s tim e passed a n d w e grew p e rh a p s in th e general esteem o f th e In d ian s, they w ere ready to p ro v id e b o th Stanley S im pson and m yself w ith w ives. L one M a n , w ith w hom S im pson lived.

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w as p a rticu la rly a n x io u s th a t h e sho u ld m a rry h is young d a u g h te r. S im pson got ro u n d th e difficulty I believe by telling him he a lready had a w ife a n d bein g a w hite m a n , his principles w ould not allow him to ta k e a n o th e r. M y defence w as p o v e rty — o n e o f th e m o st d e p en d a b le , y e ar-ro u n d , h a rd -w o rk in g defences o f w hich I have any know ledge. W h en a d o g -feast w as held a n d there w as a lik elih o o d o f the p riso n e rs b ein g invited to p a rta k e . I tried to k e ep o u t o f sight. It is a g rav e a ffro n t to refuse to e at w hen a n Indian places food o f w h atev er k in d b e fo re o n e. A fte r Big B ear h a d sp o k en , urging th at som e o f o u r clo th in g b e re tu rn e d to us, th e c a m p one d a y gave a d og-feast a n d ask e d th e p riso n e rs to a tte n d . T h e In d ian s’ c o m ­ m en d a b le p u rp o se w as to give th em b ed d in g a n d clothing. I saw K a h n ee p o tay ta y o c o m in g to ask th e w hites, b u t I had ra th e r get along w ith th e rag s I w ore a n d th e o n e cow skin I slept on than receive all th e b lan k e ts a n d w earin g ap p are l in th e w o rld a t the p rice o f e atin g stew ed d og. It is p ro b a b ly delicious, b u t I im agine o n e h a s to cultivate a taste fo r it. N u rsin g this idea, I kept carefully o u t o f th e w ay o f th e h e ad d a n ce r, slipping from lodge to lodge a n d finally d o u b lin g back and eluding him alto g eth er. H ow ever, th e In d ia n s w ere g o o d e n ough to set a p a rt a b lan k e t for m e, n o tw ith sta n d in g m y stu d ied av o id a n ce o f th eir intended h o sp itality . It c am e useful a little later w hen I h a d to g u a rd L ouis P a te n a u d e ’s h o rse s a t night. A few w eek s a fte r com ing in to c am p S tanley Sim pson had an attack o f quinsy. H is th ro a t w as so sw ollen a n d inflam ed th a t he could e at no solid food a n d for several d a y s h a d a lm o st starved. T h en L o n e M a n 's w ife c am e to him o n e evening w ith a bow l o f b ro th . S im pson w as rav en o u s; intense y earning filled his eyes as h e sniffed a t it. T h e a ro m a w as m ost intrig u in g . Still, he hesi­ tate d . H e w ished m ost a rd en tly to d rin k it, y et he feared to ask q u e stio n s a n d h e d id not d a re to u ch it w ith o u t. A nd h e m ig h t not c a re for it w hen h e g o t a n answ er. “ W h a t’s it m ad e of?” h e said a t length desperately. “ M e a t,” said M rs. L o n e M a n , non-co m m ittally . “ T h a t m u st m ea n b eef,” S im p so n observed thoughtfully. "S m e lls n ice— lo o k s all rig h t,” I re m a rk e d encouragingly. 1 w as g lad to see o n e o f th e d e are st friends I e v er had w a n t to tak e som ething, no m a tte r w h a t. A n d he d ra n k d ra n k it w ith relish. A m o m e n t later M rs. L one M a n said w ith a grin: “ I su ppose you d o n ’t know w h at it w as?” S im pson lo o k ed up in a larm . H e sho o k his head. “ W ell, said th e w a rm -h e a rte d lady; “ d o g so u p .” A n d S im pson w ent o u t w ith a rush and p a rte d w ith his b roth in m u ch m en tal a n d physical anguish.

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W e w ere m ov in g cam p . S tan ley Sim pson and 1 h a d been w alking n e ar the tail o f th e procession a n d arriv in g a t th e new c am p -g ro u n d w e fo u n d som e lodges a lre ad y p itch ed . O ccasionally an In d ian lacking tra n s p o rta tio n left his lodge poles a t o n e cam p a n d cu t o th e rs w hen he reached th e next. W e crossed a p o p la r b luff n e a r th e new cam p . S o m e o f th e In d ian s w ere c u ttin g poles a n d C a tfish , a C h ip p ew y an , m a d e a feint o f slashing a t m y legs as w e passed h im . T he axe sw ung u n co m fo rtab ly n e a r. T h e m ove w as q u ite unexpected a n d n a tu ­ rally I ju m p e d . T h is am used C a tfish — a n d pleased him also: I w as easily scared, h e said. It w as a g re at th in g to scare a w hite m an . I said n o th in g , b u t I m a d e a m ental n o te o f th e incident. S om e day I h o p e d to repay C atfish in a w ay h e m ig h tn ’t like. T h e chance cam e so o n e r th an I h a d lo o k ed for. C atfish w as a tireless b ra g g art, so I knew him to b e a c o w ard . H ow ever, policy still d e m a n d e d th a t w e treat such p lea sa n trie s o n the p a rt o f o u r c ap to rs as jo k e s. L ater, the d e m a n d s o f policy w ere less exacting. W e beg an to kn o w o u r m en. W e w ere cam ped o n th e b a n k o f th e P ip e sto n e. A g ro u p o f In d ian s o n e m o rn in g w ere a m u sin g them selves "p u llin g stick s.” I w as resting on m y back in th e g ra ss n e ar them w ith m y knees draw n u p . O th e r p riso n e rs lounged ab o u t. T h e g a m e is a sim ple o n e. T w o m en sit on th e g ro u n d , facing, th eir knees b e n t a n d th e soles o f th eir feet o p p o se d . T h e ir a rm s rest on th eir knees a n d th eir h a n d s g ra sp a ro u n d stick tw o feet long, held fairly betw een them a b o v e th eir feet. A t a signal b o th pull, until o n e is lifted o r h auled o v e r by th e o th e r. It is a sim ple test o f strength tho u g h th ere is a knack to it. C atfish cam e o ver, leaned a cro ss m y legs a n d pushing m e w ith th e stick, invited m e to try m y back a gainst his. I did n o t c a re for th e g a m e and told him so. H e persisted . I jo lte d him slightly w ith a foot. H e flared up a n d g ra b b e d m e ro u n d th e knees. T h en I, to o , b e ca m e e arn est. I drew m y feet back sud d en ly and planted them in th e C h ip p e w y a n ’s chest. I h a p p en e d to b e w earin g b o o ts th a t m o rn in g . C atfish described a com plete p a ra b o la o ff th e back o f his neck, and I rose a n d lo o k ed a t him sm ilingly as he g o t up, sp u tterin g and c o u g h in g , som e d ista n c e aw ay. H a lp in e x p o stu lated in an u n d e rto n e . H e said I w as indiscreet and I expect h e w as right; a n y w ay , I told him som e things I m ight b e tte r have left unsaid . C atfish lo o k ed displeased. H e m u m b le d several u n c o m p lim e n tary ep ith e ts a n d c oncluded by re m a rk in g th a t h e m ig h t very likely kill m e. I told him to com e a n d I w ould save him th e tro u b le by reversing th e p ro g ram m e. H e d id not co m e, a n d I re m in d ed him th a t h e had once told m e I w as easily scared. T h e W o o d C re es laughed h u m iliatio n o f

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h u m iliatio n s! A n d th e p restige a n d p rid e o f C atfish , c h ie f b rave o f th e C h ip p ew y an s, w ere irretriev ab ly dam aged. L a te r, 1 to o k occasio n to im p re ss upon G e n e ra l S tran g e a n d a b o a rd o f in q u iry w h a t a good In d ia n C atfish w as. I d o not think C atfish a p p rec ia ted m y interest. I w as standing o n e d a y o u tsid e , P a te n a u d e ’s lodge w hen an Indian c am e up a n d tak in g m y a rm , led m e to a n o p e n space betw een th e lodges. H e p o in te d to som e an im a ls g razing a short w ay off. “ Y o u see th a t w hite horse?” h e asked. I n o d d e d . “ T h a t’s the o n e I w as rid in g w hen I told y o u to go o n , I d id n 't w a n t to h u rt y o u .” “ I'm n o t likely to forget h im ,” I replied. H e w as th e In d ia n I had seen chasing th e h alf-breed G o u le t w ith a g u n d u rin g th e m assacre; G o u le t h a d given him th e horse to sp a re his life. L a te r, in d re ad o f w h at seem ed im m inent d e ath at his h a n d s, I h a d com e face to face w ith th is In d ian rid in g the ho rse, a n d fo r so m e reason w hich I am u n a b le even to -d ay to guess a t, h e h a d p e rm itte d m e to c o n tin u e w alking instead o f stretching m e lifeless at his feet. So I expressed m y sense o f deep g ra titu d e for his u n q u e stio n e d m ag n an im ity . A s th e days grew long, S tanley S im pson a n d m yself o b tain e d perm ission to leave c am p a n d h u n t in th e w oods a n d lakes a b o u n d in g everyw here alo n g th e S ask atch ew an . W e b orrow ed g u n s from o u r k e ep e rs a n d w ere p u t on o u r p a ro le not to a tte m p t escape. F o r th a t m a tte r, a n d for reasons a lre a d y sta te d , w e have no th o u g h t o f m ak in g such an a tte m p t. M an y a long a ftern o o n w e tram p ed a b o u t to g eth e r, as w e h a d d o n e often b e fo re in h a p p ie r tim es, enjoying th e g lo rio u s spring o f th e N o rth -w e st and escaping for a few h o u rs th e un relish ed society o f o u r savage ho sts. T h e d ucks, p ra irie chickens, ra b b its a n d occasional eggs we b ro u g h t h o m e g a v e us a w elcom e change fro m o u r usual bill o f fare. Sim pson w as th e m o st e n th u sia stic sp o rtsm an I ever knew . H e w ould w ade into th e cold w a ter o f a slough to his n eck , holding his gun high, a n d sta n d like a p o st, only his h e ad show ing, for h a lf a n h o u r, on th e ch an ce o f g e ttin g a sh o t a t a du ck th a t had had th e p erversity to keep b ey o n d range o f th e sh o re. I had alw ays c o n sid ere d m y love o f sp o rt ab o v e th e average, b u t it never c arried m e to such lengths as did th a t o f th a t prin ce o f good fellow s, Stanley S im pson. W e h a d been o u t a m ile o r tw o from c am p o n e a fte rn o o n and w ere strolling leisurely h o m ew ard . N e a rin g th e lodges w e m et a n u m b e r o f In d ian s rid in g furiously to w a rd the Saskatchew an

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R iver, th e n o rth b a n k o f w hich lay not far d istan t. W e saw at once th a t som eth in g unusual w as in the w ind. C o u ld th e tro o p s w e w ere expecting have been re p o rte d ? A t th e c am p a few m in u tes later w e q uickly learn ed th e reason for the ex citem ent. H en ry Q u in n a n d P ierre B londin w ere m issing— it w as believed they w ere a tte m p tin g to escape! T h e situ atio n looked d ark for them should they be caught. It also looked d ark for us w ho re m a in e d , for th e In d ian s had rep eated ly declared th a t if o n e p riso n e r escaped they w ould kill all th e others. W e spent a bad q u a rte r o f an h o u r; then th e Indians retu rn ed w ith th e fugitives. F o r they h a d been fugitives. T h ey w ere tak e n into P ritc h a rd 's ten t. Big B ear’s soldiers g a th e re d a t the d o o r o u tsid e, a rm e d a n d in an y th in g but a peaceful m o o d . It had grow n dusk. I w as sta n d in g n e a r, aw aiting d e v elo p m en ts, w hen P a te n a u d e cam e up to m e, h is g u n on his a rm , a n d said roughly: “ G o to m y ten t a n d stay th e re !” N e v er before h a d h e spoken to m e in such a fashion a n d I obeyed im m ediately, for I knew he m u st have a reaso n . H e cam e in an h o u r later a n d explained: Big B ear's b a n d had b e en d e te r­ m in ed to kill th e fugiitves b u t th e W o o d C re e s o n ce m o re stepped in a n d saved th em . K ah w e ec h e tw ay m o t e n te red P ritc h a rd 's tent, sat d o w n before Q u in n and beg an to polish his revolver w ith a silk han d k erch ief. “ G o o u tsid e to -n ig h t and I will sh o o t y o u !" h e told Q u in n . A m o m en t later, w hen things lo o k ed d a rk e st, tw o W o o d C rees o f th e S ad d le L ake b a n d cam e w ith th e ir g u n s a n d a n n o u n ce d th at they in ten d ed to p ro tec t Q u in n . “ If you h a rm him it m eans w ar b etw een th e W o o d a n d Plain C re e s ," w as th e ir u ltim atu m . Big B ear’s m en , for all th eir sw agger, w ere n o t willing to risk w ar. T h e W o o d In d ia n s stayed, all night w ith Q u in n . L ouis explained to m e th a t I had b e en in d a n g er o u tsid e . In case o f tro u b le he w an ted m e o u t o f h a rm ’s way. O u r a m u sem en ts in cam p w ere not sufficiently n u m ero u s o r d istrac tin g to keep us u p late at n ight. In so m e w ay I d o n o t now re m e m b e r I had m an a g ed to secure again th e violin I h a d had at Frog L ak e. It h elped to pass th e tim e. T h e n S im pson a n d I visited th e M c L ea n s o ften in th e ir te n ts a n d passed m an y a n h o u r pleasan tly th a t w ould oth erw ise h a v e craw led, ch attin g w ith M r. and M rs. M cL ean a n d their d a u g h te rs. H aving no b o o k s we could n o t read a n d so sm o k e d th e m o re. F o u r-S k y T h u n d e r kept m e in to b acco . L o n e M an h a d a beautiful m eerschaum p ip e th at had belonged to F a th e r M a rc h a n d , th e m u rd ere d priest, I ow ned a nice b ria r w hich L o n e M an coveted a n d w e exchanged. T he m eerschaum I g av e later to S e n a to r G ira rd , o f M a n ito b a .

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L o n e M an w as an u nw avering friend o f m in e. H e said th a t w hen th e cruel w a r w as o v er h e w ould ta k e m e and go across c o u n try to th e M issouri R iver, th e land o f th e K itc h e m o k o m a n . 1 should' ta k e a p o sitio n th e re w ith a tra d in g c o m p a n y a n d he w o u ld c am p close by. I could live w ith him a n d furnish th e tea a n d p ro v isio n s for th e fam ily. A s S im pson h a d retused his d a u g h ­ ter. I m ig h t have h e r. T h e p ic tu re w as a n a llu rin g one a n d I did n ot th in k it necessary a t th e tim e to inform him th a t 1 w as too m o d est to th in k 1 m ig h t b e a b le to fill such a p ro m in e n t place in it. " N ’c h a w a m is," said L o n e M an o n e d ay . “ w hen th e soldiers c o m e 1 will give y o u a rille a n d you will fight with us against th e m .” I said m y aim w as p o o r. T h e re w ere In d ian s in c am p w ith o u t rifles w ho w ould b e c ap a b le o f m u ch m o re effective w o rk ; h e had b e tte r loan it to th em . I h a d a violin a n d w hile th e fighting w as in p rog ress I w ould furnish th e m usic. D o u b tless th e tro o p s w ould h av e a ban d a n d it w o u ld n 't d o to sh o w th a t we w ere b ehind th em in any w ay. I th in k L o n e M an accep ted m y view s. A t all events h e d id n o t offer to supply m e w ith a w eapon w hen the tro o p s u n d e r G e n e ra l S trange a rriv ed . M rs. D elaney a n d M rs. G o w an lo ck ro d e w ith P ritch a rd on his w agon w hen c am p w as m oved. T h e M c L ea n s were allow ed to b o rro w a team to pull th eir b elongings. M an y o f th e c h ild ren in th e ir big fam ily w ere very you n g a n d it w as n o t alw ays possible for e v erybody to ride. P a te n a u d e so m etim es gave m e a seat on his w agon w hich 1 resigned to o n e o f th e M cL ean s. W h en it b e ca m e necessary to a b a n d o n th e w agons a fte r th e F re n c h m a n 's B utte b a ttle, th e situ atio n w as m a d e h a rd e r fo r M rs. M c L ea n and th e girls. T h e y w ere obliged to w alk a n d not infreq u en tly to carry th e to d d le rs o f th e fam ily on th e ir backs. L ittle P oplar, early in o u r c ap tiv ity , w ished to a d d th e tw o eldest girls to his seraglio. H e h a d only six w ives. It w as a m using a n d so m e w h a t alarm in g . I do not know how th e difficulty w as got ro u n d b u t he w as in som e m a n n e r in d u ced to forgo his polyga­ m o u s in clin atio n s in so far as w hite wives w ere co n cern ed . H o d so n , a stocky, p o c k m a rk e d , cross-eyed little E nglishm an w ho w ore glasses a n d h a d been th e M c L e a n s’ cook a t P itt, w as an o b jec t o f special a n d pecu liar interest to th e Indians. T hey a p p e a re d to regard him as som e new variety o f g ru b , a n d I know they w ould have liked to kill him o u t o f m ere idle c u riosity to see him sq u irm . I w o n d er th ey did n o t d o it, b u t he lived to hang som e o f th em later.

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T h e T u rn in g o f th e Tide F o r w e e k s Big B e a r's m en h a d trie d to p e rs u a d e th e W ood C re es to m ove to w a rd B attleford a n d join P o u n d m a k er. J a m e s K. S im p so n a n d I h a d secretly o p p o se d this. “ T h e y killed th e w hite p e o p le ,” we told th e W o o d C rees, “ not y o u. L et th em go. Y ou stop. W h en th e soldiers c o m e w e will m a k e peace for you. Big B e ar’s m en say th ey will fight. U nless you se p a ra te , th a t will m ak e it h a rd for us to help y o u .” T h e re w as no love lost betw een th e factions, but o u r efforts w ere offset by som e o f th e leaders, w ho sta lk e d th ro u g h th e cam p m ak in g night h id e o u s w ith th e ir dism al w ailing, p lea d ed , tore th eir clo th es, h e ap e d du st on th e ir heads, in th e ir e n d e a v o u r to hold th e b an d s to g e th e r. T h e W o o d C re es w ould h av e been p leased e n ough to see th e last o f Big Bear a n d his m en, but the o th e rs w ould n o t have it th a t w ay. A p p a re n tly th e re d -h a n d e d assassins got a so rt o f m oral b racing from th e association with th eir m o re respectable relatives th a t they w ere unw illing to be d e prived of. B locked in o n e d irec tio n , w e tu rp e d , a id e d by F itzp a tric k , in a n o th e r. O u r plan this tim e h a d in it th e spice o f d a n g er, for it w as n o th in g less th an an a tte m p t to incite th e W ood C rees to m ak e op en w a r on Big B ear. H o w nearly w e succeeded, w h a t I a m a b o u t to relate will show . A b o u t th e first o f M ay th e c am p by sh o rt m arch es h a d begun to m ove to w a rd P itt. Big B e ar's w a rrio rs c o n tin u ed to dance a lm o st daily. S couts h a d been se n t to P o u n d m a k e r a n d retu rn ed w ith new s o f th e C u t K nife fight. I w as sittin g w ith Stanley S im pson in L one M a n 's lodge. T h e In d ian s, th e scouts said , a fter a long a n d h ard b a ttle had a lm o st been d e fea te d , m an y o f P o u n d ­ m a k e r’s m en had been killed a n d the b a n d had m oved aw ay. T h ey a d d e d th a t a big body o f soldiers fro m across th e R ockies w as m arch in g do w n th e S askatchew an to a tta ck Big Bear. L o n e M an flushed d a rk ly as h e listened to this. H e tu rn e d sud d en ly to m e. “ K ee to p w a ytin . chee? (Y o u c red it this, say?)” he a sk ed . “ It c a n ’t b e tru e, t h e iron ro ad (railw ay) across th e m o u n ta in s is n o t yet fin ish ed .” I replied evasively as usual, for I saw h e w ished to disbelieve th e new s a n d I did not care to risk offending him . O n e a fte rn o o n a w eek later Big B ear’s b a n d danced th e w a r dance. T h e w a rrio rs m arch ed in a body ro u n d th e inside o f the g re at circle enclosed by nearly tw o h u n d re d lodges, sq u a ttin g at

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intervals b e fo re th e lodges o f th e chiefs a n d head m en in a little circle o f th eir o w n . S im pson. F itzp a tric k a n d 1. w ith som e W o o d C rees. lo o k ed on. “ W h y d o you let W an d e rin g S pirit a n d his m en kick you a ro u n d as if you w ere dogs?’* w e said to th em in w hispers. “ T h ey a re not m o re th an eighty a rm e d : you n u m b e r three tim es as m any. Y o u d o n 't w an t to g o to B attleford. to jo in R iel, to fight th e so ld iers, yet you let th is han d fu l o f m u rd ere rs walk o v er you. A re y o u frightened? L ook a t th em now you could w ipe them o u t in a m in u te a s they sq u a t th e re , like they did the w h ite m en a t F ro g L ake! W hy d o n 't you d o it? T h ey are y our enem ies as well as o u rs. T h e g o v e rn m e n t w ould b e g lad . T hey w ould d o m o re for y o u ." It w as a perilo u s business for w e m ight b e b etray ed a n d w ould pay w ith o u r lives. But life in th e c am p w as b ecom ing intolerably m o n o to n o u s. W e th o u g h t, to o , th a t we knew o u r m en, n o r w ere w e deceived. O u r w ords to o k ro o t. T h e idea b u d d e d and e x p an d ed into a conspiracy o f w hich m o re later. W an d e rin g S p irit ro se an d m a d e a speech. “ F o u rte e n years ago w hen w e fought th e B lackleet, the R iv er-M en (P la in C rees) w ere afraid o f n o th in g . W hen w e heard th e enem y w as n e ar w e ru sh ed to m eet h im , a n d you all know K a h p a y p a m a h c h a k w a y o . H e w as never b e h in d . I look a ro u n d me to -d ay a n d w h at do I see? N o n e o f th e faces 1 saw a b o u t m e then -in s te a d , th e faces o f yo u n g m en . H ow will it be now ? It is because you asked m e, you yo u n g fellows, th a t ashes is all th a t is left o f F ro g L a k e — th a t I d id w h at I d id . I h o p e w e see the Q u e e n 's soldiers so o n . W h en they c o m e y o u will hear m e. K a h ­ p a y p am ah c h a k w ay o . calling, yo u n g fellows you will h e a r m e sh o u t th e w ar cry o f th e R iv e r-M e n a n d if a n y does n o t follow m e, h e shall d ie as th e w hite m en d ied at F ro g L ak e !" H e stru c k th e stock o f his rifle w ith his h a n d a n d sat dow n. W e m oved on dow n th e trail a n d a b o u t M ay 15th reached the S ask atchew an n e a r P ip e sto n e C re e k , tw o m iles east o f P itt. T h e w e a th e r w as b e au tifu l, th e days long a n d w arm , the su n bright, th e g rass riotously lu x u ria n t, th e delicate foliage a p p e a rin g on p o p la r and w illow . All n a tu re w o re a livery o f brillian t green. Big B e ar's b a n d w as still d e te rm in e d on jo in in g P o u n d m a k er: they h a d e n d ea v o u red to coerce th e W ood C re es by firing F o rt P itt, d e stro y in g m ost o f th e p rovisions. But som e bu ild in g s and th e Hour a n d b a co n in th em w ere saved, a n d th eir a ctio n served only to fu rth er p ro v o k e th e W o o d C rees. T h ese desired to lay in a stock o f fo od a n d o n e m o rn in g sent c arts to th e fort for loads. Ja m e s K . S im pson a n d I h a d k e p t alive th e spark o f resen t­

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m ent k indled in th e breast o f C u t A rm , o n e o f th e m o st d isc o n ­ tented o f th e W o o d C ree chiefs. H e decidedly favoured rid d in g h im ­ self o f his co m p ro m isin g associates. “ Y ou speak g o o d w o rd s,” h e said to us. “ W e did n o t w ish to raise a g u n against th e w hite m a n . O u r yo u n g m en w ere forced into it by these d o g s, a n d see how they tre a t us now ! T h ey have tak e n o u r horses as they to o k y o u rs, and w ith th re a ts they rule th e c am p . T h ey kill o u r cattle - t h e c attle w e ra ised . T h ey a re not as b ra v e as o u r ow n you n g m en, but they have held them dow n w ith w o rd s. But w ait a little. Y ou will see!” W e w aited a g o o d deal b u t w ith o u t seeing m uch o u t o f the usual. N o th in g o c cu rre d . T h e W o o d C rees had n o t been b ro u g h t to th e p o in t o f o p e n defiance. T h e n cam e th is d a y on w hich they w ent to F o rt Pitt for provisions. O s k a ta s k w as a Big B ear I n d ia n . G la d ie u . M y W o o d C re e friend, sat this m o rn in g on the grass before his lodge hold in g by a line his ro an m are. She w as a g o o d m are. O sk ata sk cam e up. “ I'm g o in g to th e fo rt,” he said. “ L end m e y o u r m a re .” G la d ie u knew so m e Plain C re e w ould w a n t to b o rro w his m are and th a t if he lent h e r h e 'w o u ld b e ju st one g o o d m are o u t. T h a t w as w hy he w as h o ld in g her th is fine M ay m o rn in g . H e sho o k his head. “ I'm g oing to use h e r m yself,” h e said. O sk atask low ered his rifle a n d ja b b e d th e m uzzle in th e W ood C re e 's eye. “ M u c h a slim !" he m u tte red , a n d snatching th e line o u t o f G lad ie u 's h a n d he ju m p e d on the h o rse a n d ro d e off. W a n d e rin g S p irit w itnessed this. H e had for so m e tim e d ivined th at a ru p tu re w as im m in en t betw een th e tw o factions a n d w as d oing all h e could to p revent it. In his new role o f p eac em a k er, he w ent a fte r his un ru ly follow er, calling on him to stop. O s k a ­ task faced a b o u t a n d th e tw o In d ia n s— th e o n e sullen, defiant: th e o th e r w rathful, th rea te n in g -w ith fingers on th e locks o f their guns-—low ered for a m o m e n t on o n e a n o th e r from b en ea th their w ar b o n n e ts. “ G iv e up th e m are, fo o l!” said th e w a r c h ie f presently in a low voice. “ D o you w ant to b ring w ar betw een us a n d these W o o d C re e people? W e a re not strong en o u g h to b e a t th em if they once will fig h t.” O sk ata sk held his g ro u n d stu b b o rn ly . “ I am rid in g to th e fort. I will re tu rn h e r a fte r,” h e re to rted . W an d e rin g S pirit raised his rifle. “ G iv e h e r back, d o g !” he said m enacingly, a dvancing a step. T o tem p o rize o v er com pliance w ith th e h e ad so ld ier’s o rd e r

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w as to c o u rt in stan t d e ath as O sk atask k n ew , but h e to o k the chance. “ I said I w ould, d id n ’t I?’? h e re tu rn e d belligerently. “ But w hen I'm re a d y — a fte r a little .’’ H e w heeled suddenly a n d w ith an eye over his shoulder, ja m m e d his heels in th e m a re 's rib s a n d c la tte red aw ay tow ard P itt. D o u b tless O sk atask recalled th e d a y h is co at h a d been slashed o ff his back by c o m m a n d o f W an d e rin g Spirit a n d found m uch secret g ra tifica tio n in b ra v in g th e w ar c h ie f s fury. W an d e rin g S p irit, sensing th e tenseness in th e a ir a n d d re ad in g an o u tb re a k , h u rried ro u n d th e lodges, h u m iliatin g him self, w ith h u m b le apologies to th e W o o d C re e chiefs. “ H e goes only to th e fo rt," h e said , “ a n d will give h e r back. H e is o f those p itie d by M a n ito — a fool. So w hy should I bring sh a m e on m yself by killing h im ? L et th e m iserable o n e live!” T h a t O sk ata sk had his friends a m o n g Big B e ar's m en m ay not have been w ith o u t its effect o n th e w a r c h ie f s inclinations. H e re ­ tu rn e d to his ow n sid e o f th e cam p . Five m in u tes later a you n g m an o f C u t A rm 's b a n d rode sw iftly aw ay in th e d irectio n tak e n by O sk ata sk . Im m ediately afterw ard th e c h ie f h im self cam e ro u n d a m o n g th e lodges. “ Stay inside a n d have y o u r g u n s re a d y .” said C u t A rm quietly to th e in m ates. “ T h e young m an h a s g o n e a fte r th e m a re . If he sh o o ts O sk atask he will sh o u t w hen h e e n te rs th e c am p : ‘N ipah o w ! I have k ille d h im !' It is th e w a r cry. R ush straig h t a t the lodges o f th e Plain C rees. S h o o t them as they run o u t. D rive them into th e riv er!” L ouis P a te n a u d e w as aw ay, scouting to w ard B attleford. H e had left m e a gun a n d asked m e to w atch his h orses. T h e W o o d C rees feared Big B ear’s b a n d w ould d e ca m p som e n ight, leaving them a f o o t. 1 fe lt I w o u ld b e g lad to c ro o k a fin g e r fo r th e W o o d C rees, a n d avenge, to o , a t least o n e o f th e p o o r fellows a t F rog L ake, yet as I k nelt in th e lodge w ith the rifle betw een m y knees, m y g rip I fo u n d w as n o n e too stead y . It w as an an x io u s m o m e n t, a trying o n e on th e nerves. T h e w ait seem ed long, tho u g h I d o not su ppoyd m o r^ th an half a n h o u r passed. T h en I h eard th e rattle o f a h o rse ’s h oofs. I grip p ed th e rifle tig h ter, fixing m y eyes on th e low er end o f th e c am p . A t a racing gallop. C u t A rm 's you n g m an presently burst into view . B ehind, a t th e end o f her line p o u n d e d th e ro an m are. N o t a n In d ian w as in sight, n o t a sou n d save th e ring o f th e h o o fs to b e h e ard . T h e Plain C re es m ust have been suspicious, a n d alert like ourselves. M y h e a rt b e a t faster as I w atched th e lips o f th e yo u n g m a n , co m in g , w ith th e solem n issues o f life and

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d e a th like an o ra cle b eh in d th e m . But th ey w ere tightly sealed a n d his face b etray ed n o th in g . O n w a rd he sw ung, straig h t th ro u g h th e c e n tre o f th e c am p . A nd th en he sto p p e d , before th e d o o r o f G la d ie u ’s lodge, slipped to th e g ro u n d a n d h a n d e d the line o f the ro an m a re to h e r o w n e r. H e h a d n o t uttered a so u n d . A m o m e n t la te r O s k a ta s k a p p e a r e d , rid in g w ith h is b r o th e r a single h o rse. T h ey m a d e directly for G la d ie u 's tent. H e flung h im self o ff a n d a p p ro a c h e d th e W o o d C ree. G la d ie u sn a tch e d up his gun. “ T a k e c a re !" h e w a rn ed . T h e tw o In d ian s sto o d g laring in each o th e r’s faces. ‘ W u s! 1 sp it on y o u !” sn eered O sk ata sk . “ Let m e g et h e r again a n d try to ta k e h e r!” “ M y g u n will d o m y sp ittin g !” re to rte d G la d ie u . “ T ry to tak e h e r, c ro w !" T h ey w a ite d , each for th e first offensive m ove from th e o th e r, and I, w atching, th o u g h t I m ig h t yet find use for m y g u n . But m ean w h ile several o f Big B e ar's m en h a d h u rried ov er; they seized O sak atask a n d drag g ed him off. C u t A r m ’s yo u n g m an h a d fo u n d th e m are, w hen h e a rriv e d , o u tsid e th e fort. O sk ata sk w as inside.

T h e T h irst D ance T o resto re h a rm o n y a n d a v ert th e im p en d in g ru p tu re betw een th e factions, Big B ear's b a n d now p ro p o se d a T h irst D ance. T h is is a fete o f p ro p itia tio n o r sacrifice a n d rejoicing held as soon in spring a s th e p o p la rs a re in full leaf. It c o rre sp o n d s to th e Sun D ance o f th e S ioux, at which b rav es a re m ad e. T h e devotees d a n ce for th re e days w ith o u t food, sleep o r d rin k a n d th e you n g m en asp irin g to ran k th e re a fte r as w a rrio rs u n d e rg o T h e T o rtu re . W ith slits cut in his chest con n ected by thongs to th e c en tre-p o le o f th e lodge, th e a m b itio u s yo u n g b ra v e d a n ce s a n d th ro w s h im ­ self a g a in st them until th e flesh b re a k s a n d frees him . T h is m ay ta k e a day: p e rh a p s m o re. W e w ere c am p ed at F re n c h m a n ’s B utte, a high conical hill tw elve m iles east o f F o rt Pitt, w hen on the m o rn in g o f M ay 25th both th e Plain a n d W o o d C re e b a n d s jo in e d in th e b u ild in g o f the T h irst D ance lodge. Som e w en t a sh o rt d istan ce in to the w oods a n d w ith d u e o bservance o f prescribed form alities, w hich included sh o o tin g into th e tru n k , c h o p p ed d o w n a n d strip p e d o f its lim bs a large p o p la r, leaving o n ly a few m u tilate d b ran ch es n e ar th e to p to su p p o rt th e u p p e r e n d s o f th e poles w hich w ould

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form th e rafters o f th e lodge. T h e n they tied ro p e s to th e tree and each w ith a young squaw m o u n te d b e h in d h im , cam e at a gallop, yelling and firing th eir guns, trailin g th e tree , to th e c e n tre o f the cam p . A hole h a d been dug to receive it a n d in this th e p o p lar w as form ally p lan te d . T h e w om en d ism o u n te d and th e bucks re tu rn e d to th e w oods, cu t sm aller p o p lars and dragged th em in. A row o f posts w as next sunk in a circle, p e rh a p s th irty feet across, a ro u n d th e tall c en tre-p o st. T h e b u tts o f th e sm aller trees w ere lashed to a rail laid o n th e circular line o f p o sts a n d their to p s lodged a m o n g th e fo rk s n e a r th e to p o f th e cen tre-p o le, fo rm in g the ra fte rs o f a ru d e so rt o f h u t sh ap ed like a b eehive. A ro o f o f leafy b ra n ch e s w as next laid, th e spaces betw een the encircling p o sts w ere enclosed in th e sam e w ay, o n e o p e n in g only being left for a d o o r: a p o rtio n o f th e in te rio r w as p a rtitio n e d off into stalls w ith th e sam e leafy b ra n ch e s for th e devotees, th e ro o f a n d c en tre-p o st w ere d e co ra te d w ith stre am ers o f colo u red calico, a sacrifice to th e go d s, a n d th e stru c tu re w as com plete. B efore th e cere m o n ie s b e g an th e o ld er w a rrio rs engaged in som e m in o r form alities th a t in terested m e only a little less than th e T h irst D ance itself. T h ese to o k place in th e m o rn in g , in the o p e n , a n d c o n stitu te d an e x h ib itio n o f Indian m eth o d s o f w arfare. A pile o f p o p la r bru sh w as collected in a slight hollow in the c en tre o f th e cam p . T h e w o m e n , ch ild ren , a few o f th e w hites and th e n o n -p a rtic ip a n ts generally sto o d looking on. In a few m in u te s th e p a in te d face o f W an d e rin g Spirit a p p e a re d ju s t o v er the to p o f a sm all rise. H e held a field glass which h e raised to his eye, loo k in g in th e d irec tio n o f th e b rushpile; then h e b eck o n ed b e h in d him w ith th e o th e r h a n d . H e crept over th e to p o f th e ridge, follow ed by h a lf a dozen o th ers, to each o f w h o m in tu rn h e h an d ed th e field glass. A h u rried a n d w his­ pered c o n su lta tio n follow ed, they d isa p p e a re d o v er th e rid g e and sh o rtly re ap p e are d a t a differen t p o in t. T h en D ressy M a n — as th o ro u g h a savage as ever d o n n e d w a r p a in t b u t w hose face nevertheless b etray ed as strongly as ever face did an Irishm an am o n g his fo re b e a rs— stole to w a rd th e b ru sh h e a p w ith a k n ife in his tee th , p a u sin g every foot o r tw o as if to listen. H e re ac h ed the hollow , placed h is e ar b eside an im aginary teep ee, cut a n im agi­ n ary circle in th e wall, b uried th e b lad e in th e h e a rt o f an im aginary foe sleeping tran q u illy inside, rem oved th e fictitious scalplock noiselessly and then as quietly m ad e his retreat. T h e n sud d en ly th e w hole o f th e p re te n d e d w ar-p arty sprang to its feet a n d w ith w h o o p s, cries a n d volleys from its g u n s rushed upon th e d o o m e d pile o f b rush. T h is w as th e signal for th e crow d

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to d o likew ise, a n d th e w om en a n d c hildren flung them selves w ith th e w a rrio rs upon th e h e a p a n d to re it to pieces, each b e arin g o ff triu m p h a n tly a tro p h y in th e form o f a leafy tw ig. T he w hole w as a d ra m a tic play, o n e o f th e m o st novel I have ever seen. N ew Y ork o r L o n d o n have noth in g like it. A fte rw ard they gave ex h ib itio n s o f fighting in rifle-pits hastily dug w ith th e ir knives in b a re o p e n g ro u n d w hen su rp rised on the plains; a n d o f stealing horses from th eir h e red ita ry enem ies, the Black feet. S tanley S im pson a n d 1 w atched from a sm all knoll n e ar by the building o f th e T h irst D ance lodge. A n In d ian cam e up sm iling, seized o u r w rists a n d led us to w a rd th e stru c tu re . T h e long ra fte r-p o le s w ere green a n d heav y a n d they h a d an original device for raising them . T w o slight d ry po les w ere lashed to g eth er n e ar th e to p , th e u p p e r end o f th e ra fte r w as placed in the fork th u s form ed, tw o m en to o k hold o f th e long e n d s o f th e lifting poles and raising th e to p o f th e ra fte r d ro p p e d it in th e forks form ed by th e m u tilate d b ra n ch e s o f th e big c en tre-p o le o f the lodge. A s each ra fte r settled in its d esig n ated place a c h o ru s o f ap p ro v in g yells c am e from th e c o n stru ctio n p arty. O f th ese W an d e rin g S p irit w as o n e , and w hen S im pson a n d I a rriv e d th e In d ian s seem ed a t a loss, th in k in g we w ould not u n d e rstan d w h at w as w an ted o f us. “ N i s h e e t o t u m u k ! N is h e e to tu m u k ! T h e y u n d e r s ta n d ! T h e y u n d e rsta n d !” cried th e w ar chief. A nd h e w ent on to tell us g o o d -h u m o u red ly in C re e th a t w e had been h o n o u re d by an in v itatio n to assist them in raising th e rafters. W h atev e r w e m ay have felt, w e tackled th e jo b w ith a will a n d w h o o p e d as long and as w ildly as did any o f th e re d sk in s as the rafters w ent h o m e. T o w a rd sun d o w n th e d an ce began. O n e o f a n u m b er o f young m en w ho asp ired to th e d istin c tio n o f a b ra v e clim bed to th e top o f th e c en tre-p o le a n d perch in g h im self a m o n g th e forks sta rte d a d o lo ro u s c h an t. It w as a p a rt o f th e rites. H e w as expected to sit th ere un til m o rn in g , ch an tin g w ith o u t cessation his m elancholy m usic. T h e d e v o te es g a th e red a n d w ere sh u t u p , each in his se p a ra te cell, only th e ir heads being visible. E ach held betw een his lips th e w ing b o n e o f a w ild g oose, a b o rig in al pipes o f Pan, on w hich they blew in ch o ru s as they b o b b e d m o n o to n o u sly up an d d o w n in tim e to th e c h an t o f th e d ru m m e rs g ro u p e d n e a r the fire in th e c en tre o f th e lodge, th e shuffle o f th e ir feet a n d the m easu red b o o m o f th e d ru m . L o u is P a te n a u d e h a d re tu rn e d th a t day from his scout. H e b ro u g h t w ith him a sm all p in to stallion, w hich he had hobb led a n d tu rn e d o u t b e h in d his lodge to graze w ith his o th e r horses.

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L ouis w as tire d a n d delegated to m e th e jo b o f w atching his p o n ies th a t night. ! w ore m occasins in th e c am p , and as I b ecam e fam iliar w ith th e life and c u sto m s o f th e In d ian s, stalked in th e evening a m o n g th e b ucks, a b lan k e t w ra p p ed closely a b o u t m e, indistinguishable from o n e o f them selves. It is ag ain st e tiq u e tte for o n e Indian to in te rce p t a n o th e r strolling th ro u g h th e c a m p a t night w-ith a blan k e t trailing to his heels a n d folded a b o u t his h e ad so that only a n eye is visible. B esides, it is d an g ero u s. T h e stroller m ay be o n his w ay to call on his ch allen g e r’s w ife, o r th e w ife o f som e o th e r In d ian , and h e m ay resent h aving his iden tity disclosed. In th a t event h e is likely to show quick d isap p ro v al o f inquisitive­ ness; his in te rc e p to r m ay receive a tap on th e skull from the b a rre l o f th e gun h id d e n b e n ea th his b la n k e t th a t will effectually knock all cu rio sity o u t o f h im . I to o k a g o o d deal o f satisfaction in w a n d erin g ro u n d a m o n g th e c u t-th ro a ts a n d listening to th eir councils, k n ow ing th a t n o t o n e o f them , w hile he m ig h t suspect m e as th e p ro w ler, w ould d a re to d ra w th e b lan k e t from m y face fo r fear o f a m ista k e w hich w o u ld b ring u p o n his ow n h e ad the w ra th o f a n o th e r o f th e b a n d a n d his gun. L ouis h a d loan ed m e his rifle a n d closely blan k eted I w en t in th e d irec tio n o f th e dancing lodge. T h e d a n c e rs in th e ir b o o th s je rk e d tediously up a n d dow n to th e shrilling o f th eir g o o se -b o n e w histles, th e b rav es a t th e fire d an ce d and b o a ste d in tu rn o f th eir exploits ag ain st th e B lackfeet, o v erh ead th e young w o uld-be w ar­ rio r d ro n e d his dirg e-lik e c h an t. W e ird , fan tastic, spectral, sp e a k ­ ing o f th e prim itiv e, th e fo rg o tten p ast, it all seem ed in th e night, th e h u sh e d e m b ra cin g w ilderness, the red glow o f th e c a m p fires. I saw it all a n d a fte r a w alk th ro u g h th e c am p I re tu rn e d to P a te n a u d e ’s lodge and w ith th e rifle u n d e r m y a rm a n d the blan k e t folded a b o u t m e, lay d o w n b en ea th a cart to sleep. It w as a g lo rio u s n ig h t— th e a ir soft a n d balm y, n o t a cloud flecking the high d o m e o f the sky in w hich th e pale M ay m oon ro d e m ajestically, flooding th e scene w ith m ellow light. B ehind th e d an cin g lodge to w ered th e lofty B utte o f th e unlucky F re n c h ­ m an , its p o p lare d sides glancing th ro u g h all th eir leaves in the sh im m erin g effulgence. I lapsed into unconsciousness. But suddenly, I d o n 't kn o w how m uch later, th e so u n d o f the h o rse s blow ing th e ir nostrils cam e to m e. I g o t up and w alked off in to th e scrub to drive th em n e are r to th e ten t. I knew P a te n a u d e ’s o th e r horses a n d they knew m e, but I h a d y e t to m a k e th e a c q u a in ta n c e o f th e p in to stallion. He w as ra th e r p re tty to look a t, w ith his n eat lim bs a n d cream y satin skin, b u t h e in tro d u ced h im self to m e in a m a n n e r w hich even now as I recall it I am not sure I have ever com pletely forgiven.

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I re m e m b e r th a t I w as not m o re than h a lf a w ak e. D row siness w eighed m y eyelids d o w n . O th erw ise I expect I should have been m o re careful. I picked up a sm all willow a n d going ro u n d the horses tu rn ed them to w a rd th e lodge. T he p in to , front feet roped to g eth e r, w as slow. I stru ck him tw o o r th re e sm a rt ta p s on the ru m p w ith th e sw itch. T h e n 1 w o k e up. I saw his heels in m y face. I leap ed back; th rew up m y a rm . T h e h o o fs struck it d ow n. H e follow ed m e, racing back w ard like a c rab , a n d n e x t— I w as still frenziedly re tre a tin g — a p ile-driver cau g h t m e fairly in th e m outh. T h e stars had been alm o st d ro w n e d in th e sp le n d o u r o f the m o o n lig h t, but th ey now blazed suddenly fo rth w ith startling brilliance. 1 saw c o n stellatio n s I h a d never b e fo re h eard o f a n d an im m en se n u m b e r o f m eteors. A little later I realized th a t I w as lying stretch ed on th e grass w ith so m e th in g in m y m o u th the sh a p e a n d consistency o f a h a rd -b o ile d egg. M y u p p e r lip w as sw ollen, cu t and b leed in g profusely. T h e sw elling interfered seri­ ously w ith m astic atio n for so m e days. M y b e au ty w as m arre d , tho u g h n o t I h o p e p erm an en tly . T h e h o o f had som ehow m issed m y teeth a n d I h av e them all yet. I h a v e been kicked severely by several h o rses, but never as I was kick ed by th a t rapid-fire, b a ck -a ctio n p in to . H e w as th e m ost energetic a n d su rp risin g kick er I e v er e n c o u n te re d . I g o t even w ith him a d a y o r tw o later, w hen w hile I w as cinching a pack on his back h e tried to ta k e m e a t a second d isa d v an tag e . I h a p ­ pen ed o n this occasion to b e a w a k e and re m o n stra te d w ith m y b o o ts. M y feet w ere in action this tim e instead o f his. 1 d ro v e th e h o rse s close to th e lodge a n d lay dow n a g a in .. It w as to w a rd m o rn in g — d a y b reak co m e s early in M a y on th e Sas­ k atch ew an a n d th is w as th e 2 6 th — a n d I h a d h a rd ly begun to lose consciousness w hen I w as roused by th e voice o f a n In d ian crier. Posted on th e high B utte a t th e foot o f w hich lay th e cam p , as daw n cam e he h a d sighted on th e g ro u n d a b o v e F o rt P itt, fifteen m iles aw ay, a g ro u p o f w hite ten ts. It w as G e n e ra l S tran g e w ith th e A lb e rta Field F o rce, looking fo r Big Bear. Instan tly all w as ex citem ent. T h e Indians tu m b le d o u t o f th eir lodges, cau g h t u p th e ir horses a n d beg an to p re p a re for flight an d b a ttle. T h e T h irst D a n ce end ed a b ru p tly , th e w o uld-be w a rrio r left his tuneful perch. W an d e rin g S p irit a p p e a re d riding th e tall grey m are, h e r sides streak ed w ith p ain t, eagle plum es floating from h e r tail a n d fo reto p . N a k e d except for his breechclout and m occasins, his c urling black h a ir tossing in th e w ind, his stran g e eyes flashing, a t a m ad gallop h e circled th e c am p , sh o u tin g the long w ar-cry o f th e C rees. H e w as belted w ith cartridges; across his chest like th e sash o f som e m ilita ry o rd e r h u n g a second b a n d .

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H e c arried th e W in c h este r w ith o u t w hich h e nev er left h is lodge. B reakfast fo rg o tte n , th e In d ian s feverishly struck th e ir tents, a n d w ith belongings throw n in to c a rts a n d on th e backs o f p o n ies and d o g s, h u rried aw ay to the e ast. In th e m id st o f th e excitem ent W an d e rin g S pirit c am e w ith a n o th e r Indian a n d m arch ed H en ry Q u in n , H a lp in a n d o th e r w hite p riso n e rs to th e d an cin g lodge. I feared m ischief, b u t th e w ar c h ie f w as c o n ce rn ed only in seeing th a t no a tte m p t a t escape w as m a d e a n d left th em th ere u n d e r a g u a rd . I w as n o t b o th e re d ; evidently h e su rm ised th a t P a ten a u d e m ig h t object to his tak in g ch arg e o f m e. A t th e L ittle R ed D eer R iver, a deep co u lee tw o m iles from th e B utte, cam p w as m a d e a n d a m eal c o o k e d . It w as th en n o o n . A n In d ia n to o k m e o ff to m en d his b u c k b o a rd . M y jo b from his p o in t o f view w as a p o o r o n e , for it w as n o t o f m uch use to him a fte rw a rd . A s w e w ere finishing d in n e r a re d co a t scout w as re p o rte d on th e rim o f th e co u lee a n d p a n d e m o n iu m reigned ag ain . P a te n a u d e o rd e re d m e to g et his h o rses, w hich h a d w a n ­ d ered o ff to feed, a n d tho u g h I d id not like it I c o m p lied . Indians, including W an d e rin g S p irit, ru sh e d p a st m e n a k ed a n d shouting w ar-cries; they w ere a p t to act o n im pulse in spasm s o f excite­ m en t. H ow ever, I w as n o t m o le ste d . W e h o o k e d up ag ain , m oved dow n th e coulee to som e tim b e r across th e sluggish creek or m uskeg th a t trickled through it a n d c am p ed for th e day. H e re the In d ian s p re p are d to m ak e a sta n d . T h ey w e n t over th eir rifles a n d selected a p o sitio n along th e b ro w o f th e b ank above us o p p o site th e p o in t a t w hich w e e n te re d the cou lee. It w as an an x io u s and thrilling p e rio d for th e p riso n ers. W e could have sh o u te d , b u t th e slightest sign to b e tra y th e delight w e felt w ould have been o u r und o in g . A t last! H e lp , a fte r tw o m o n th s o f never-rack in g stra in , h a rd sh ip a n d th e h o p e deferred th a t m akes th e h e a rt sick, w as n ear. O ften w e h a d d e sp a ire d o f living th ro u g h to th e end o f it, b u t w e knew now th a t unless o u r c ap to rs should decide a t th e last m o m e n t to w reak venegeance upon us, o u r release w as a t h a n d . T h a t evening, as M r M c L ea n , Ja m e s K . Sim pson a n d m yself sat w ith L o u is P a ten a u d e and several o th e r In d ian s in th e lodge. W an d e rin g S pirit lifted th e flap a n d e n te re d . H is face looked black a n d fo rb id d in g a n d as h e sp o k e he rested h is rifle a cro ss his knees. H e had been told, he said , th a t w e p lan n e d to m a k e o u r w ay to th e soldiers th a t night; w e w ere to g et term s for the In d ian s from th e so ld ier chief. H e w arn ed us th a t h e m e a n t to fight; th e re w as n o tru ce for him w ith th e soldiers. If w e m ad e any such a tte m p t, w e w ould pay w ith o u r iives.

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M e e m in o o k T h e re w as n o th in g possible for us, we saw , b u t to w ait. W hen in th e early spring o f '8 4 , o n m y w ay do w n th e S askatchew an w ith a tra d in g o u tfit I first h a p p e n e d across M e e m in o o k , he w as I th o u g h t o n e o f th e finest types o f th e p u re In d ian I h a d ever seen. It w as at V icto ria. H e lived a t S addle L ak e, thirty-five m iles to th e east, a n d I w as going his w ay. T h e trail w as new to m e, and w hen h e v o lu n te e re d to k e ep m e c o m p an y I w as m o re than pleased. H e had th e figure o f a se n a to r o f a n cien t R o m e — tall, graceful, co m m a n d in g ; stro n g intellectual features; a nose w ith a classic b e n d ; a voice d e ep , so n o ro u s a n d m usical. S tre tc h ed in th e beguiling glow o f o u r c am p fire late into th e nig h t, sm o k in g a n d sw allow ing freq u e n t d ra u g h ts o f stro n g black tea o u t o f th e so o ty tw o -q u a rt c o p p e r pail, w e lay. A n d M e e m i­ nook “ F o u g h t all his b attles o ’er again; A n d th ric e h e ro u te d all his foes. A n d thrice h e slew th e sla in .” H e told o f w ar p a rties, o f B lackfeet scalps w on in b a ttle; o f c a m p s raid ed a n d h o rse s ru n o ff in th e d a rk . E igh, N 'C h a w a m is ," he said regretfully in his flowing C re e a n d g rav e d e lib erate w ay, “ th a t w as a tim e to live! W h en the buffalo w ere like grass on th e p lain s a n d w ith y o u r e a r to th e g ro u n d you co u ld n o t sleep for th e th u n d e r o f th eir h oofs. A tim e o f feasting a n d o f fighting, a tim e to m a k e w arriors! T h ey a re g o n e now to th e Sand H ills— all gone. A n d the m en , to o — they have follow ed th em , except h e re a n d th e re one o f th e old eagles o f th e C re es!” W h en h e a rriv e d w ith th e S ad d le L ak e b a n d in Big B ear’s c am p sh o rtly a fte r th e m assacre, M ee m in o o k a t o n c e looked m e up. “ E ig h , N 'C h a w a m is !" h e ex claim ed, pressing m y han d w arm ly. “ I w as glad w hen I h e ard they h a d not killed you. W hile I a m in th e cam p , K a h p ay p a m a h c h a k w a y o if h e loves h is life will be careful how h e lo o k s at y o u !” A n d M ee m in o o k re m a in e d o n e o f m y sta u n ch e st d e fen d e rs th ro u g h o u t th e d re ary tw o m o n th s th a t follow ed. T h e n ig h t w e cam p ed in th e coulee I saw M e e m in o o k , his fac sm eared w ith v erm ilion a n d yellow o c h re, leave his lodge b u ckling on his c artrid g e belt. I asked w h ere he w as g o in g th e reason o f th e p a in t. “ T o th e fo rt.” H e stood looking dow n a t m e w ith his

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engaging friendly sm ile, h is fine eyes d a n cin g , to o k m y han d an d pressed it. “ If I d o n o t c o m e back w ell, w h at o f it? It is w h at com es to us all som e tim e . R e m e m b e r alw ays, M eem ino o k w as yo u r frie n d !" H e sprang to th e saddle o f th e restless black sta llio n — th e sam e H e n ry Q u in n had rid d en at Pitt a n d dash ed a fte r the p a rty a lre ad y c lim b in g th e slope b e h in d th e cam p . T h e y passed o v er th e lop a n d th e tram p lin g o f th eir h o rse s grew faint a n d fain ter until it d ied aw ay in th e night. It h a p p e n e d th a t a t a b o u t th e tim e th e w a r p arty left F re n c h ­ m a n ’s B utte, M a jo r Steele, in G e n era l S tra n g e ’s c am p a t P itt, w as instructing his bugler to blow “ B oots a n d S a d d les" for th e in fo rm a tio n o f his p a rtic u la r branch o f th e co m m a n d , the scouts. T h e m ajo r w as lining up a little w a r p a rty o f his o w n . H is m en had discovered th e body o f p o o r C ow an th a t a fte r­ n o o n on the hill a b o v e P itt, w ith his h e a rt on th e p o in t o f a stick planted in th e so d b eside h im . N o w they w ere an x io u s to find so m e b o d y n o t d e ad w ho h a d n o t been a friend to th e m u rd e re d scout. P ip e sto n e C re ek is not m u ch o f a stream to b e invested w ith so d e e p a n d w o o d e d a valley as it tu m b les dow n. T h e In d ian s h a d ju st reached its easte rn ban k a n d w ere a b o u t to descend a n d cross, w hen th e ring o f steel strik in g th e ro c k s in th e bed o f the shallow stream below cam e to them . T h ey d re w back into the sh ad o w o f a p o p la r b lu ff a h u n d red y a rd s from th e b ro w o f the ban k a n d w aited. T h e sco u ts filed slowly by tw o s up the trail leading o u t o f the valley. M a jo r S teele a h e a d . A s his b ro a d sh o u ld ers ro se ab o v e th e level o f the p late au across w hich the In d ian s w ere h alted in the d a rk n ess, th e w hinny o f a c ay u se struck his ear. H e gave a sh a rp o rd e r in a n u n d e rto n e a n d th e sco u ts closed up quickly a n d ex ten d ed in som e bushes alo n g th e edge o f th e b a n k . M e e m in o o k 's h o rse w as a racer. W h en h e had h is h e ad he fairly Hew. H e h a d it now . O u t from th e shadow o f a d ark clo u d b ro k e th e peaceful m o o n , a n d sim ultaneously, from the sh a d o w o f th e green b lu ff and acro ss th e invervening space in h a lf a dozen b o u n d s sh o t th e black stallion. A shrill w ar-cry out th e n ig h t’s stillness a n d e ch o e d along th e d e e p forest-flanked valley o f the P ip e sto n e - w ith d a rk eyes fixed on th e o fficer's scarlet tu n ic, M ee m in o o k w a s rid in g dow n on M ajo r Steele. -C r a c k ! C ra c k !"

S m o k e puffed in m a jo r's nose. H is c am e fro m th e C o lt M ee m in o o k h a d

his face a n d tw o bullets w hisked p a st the arm flew o u t and tw o a nsw ering re p o rts in his h a n d . partly re in e d in his h o rse , p e rh a p s w ith a

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view to a b e tte r aim . But M ee m in o o k h a d aim e d his last; he w ould nev er p o in t a g u n a n y m ore. W ith a bullet th ro u g h his neck, he sagged do w n in h is sa d d le a n d tu m b led to th e e arth . I did n o t see M ee m in o o k again but w as told th at o n e o f th e sco u ts w ho should have know n b e tte r— c arried a b o u t w ith him in his w aistcoat pock et an e a r o f th e b ra v e redskin. K n o w ­ ing M ee m in o o k a s 1 d id , I felt that his p o o r b o d y m erited m o re h u m an e tre a tm e n t. S avagery is n o t a lto g e th e r a tra it o f th e red m an.

The B a ttle o f F re n ch m a n 's B u tte I w as a w ak e n e d early by the voice o f an In d ian . H e ro d e up and dow n th ro u g h th e c am p in the half-light b e fo re th e daw n. “ W a n isk a ! W a n isk a !" he cried . “ T w en ty w ent to th e fort last night. T w o have n o t c o m e b a c k !" O n e o f course w as M e e m in o o k . T h e o th e r tu rn ed up later a fo o t. S teele's m en had c ap tu red his horse. It w as a dism al n o te in th e e ars o f th e In d ian s. T h e d a y o f a cco u n tin g had a rriv e d . D espite m y lacerated lip, I a te b re ak fa st in a sta te b o rd e rin g on in to x ic a tio n — an intoxication o f ch eerfu l­ ness. T h e frightful m o n o to n y o f o u r lives for tw o m o n th s— even d a n g er becom es m o n o to n o u s if y o u are exposed to it for long enough w as to b e sm ash ed ; a t least there w ould be fighting and in th e end som e o f us, a t all events, w ould p ro b a b ly b e living and safe a n d im becilely h a p p y in consequence. T h e d a te w as M ay 2 7th. T h e sun rose o v er th e w o o d ed slope b ehind us stro n g a n d w arm , flooding the valley w ith its genial rad ian ce. L ittle P o p la r, rem in d in g m e o f Y a n k e e D o o d le in his tig h tly -b u tto n e d w a istco at, b re ec h clo u t, m occasins, a n d stiff felt h at w ith a fe ath er stuck in th e sid e, cam e th ro u g h th e cam p , his b row n m uscular legs a n d arm s b a re , his face g a u d y w ith red a n d yellow p a in t. H is rifle rested carelessly a cro ss his h o rse ’s w ithers. A lw ays th e d a n d y o f th e cam p, h e looked n o less th e d a n d y in w a rrio r undress, w alk in g his h o rse u p a n d d o w n , n o n c h alan tly q u a v erin g a C ro w w ar-song. H e laughed, to o , now a n d then so m e w h a t c o n te m p tu o u sly , a n d presently h e ceased singing and called so th at th e w hole cam p m ig h t hear: “ A i- w a i k - e k in ! I'm a s to n is h e d ! H e re a r e th e w h ite s o ld ie rs ! I th o u g h t th e W ood C re es w ere b ra v e, b u t they d o n o th in g to p re p are to light, sittin g in th e lodges with th e w om en. W ill they be k n o c k ed on th e h e ad like ra b b its? D o e s th e sight o f a few red co ats m ak e them sick?” T h e Plain C rees w ere a lready stripping for b a ttle , p a in tin g th eir

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bodies, and after L ittle P o p la r’s ta u n t th e W o o d In d ian s w ere not slow in follow ing th e ir exam ple. Som e o f th e h alf-breeds, too a p p e a re d p a in te d , w ith guns in th e ir h an d s a n d h a n d k erc h ie fs tied a ro u n d th eir h e ad s to increase th e ir resem blance to th e Indians. C a rts w ere a b a n d o n e d . L o ad in g th eir effects on th e p o n ies and dogs, th e In d ian s m oved up a w o o d e d ra v in e ru n n in g at right angles into th e valley b eh in d th e c am p . T h e u pland w as thickly forested a lm o st to th e b rink o f th e valley on th e east, a n d along th e su m m it a n d in th e rav in e th e In d ian s beg an hastily to dig rifle-pits, a w ork in w hich som e o f th e p riso n e rs w ere com pelled to assist. I p a ck e d P a te n a u d e ’s h orses, including th e dev astatin g p in to , b u t I w as n o t called o n to build p its. W e m oved on up th e slope, p e rh a p s tw o h u n d re d y a rd s back from th e valley. Before q u ittin g th e old cam p M r. M c L ea n w ro te on th e fly-leaf o f a b o o k h e had picked up so m ew h ere a n d left in o n e o f th e ten ts th e follow ing note: “ L ook for us n o rth -e a st from h ere. W e are all well. M ay G o d p ro te c t u s.” Scouts re p o rte d th e tro o p s a dvancing to w a rd F re n c h m a n 's B utte. P a te n a u d e a n d a few o f his W o o d C re e friends, having with th em th e R ev. C h a rle s Q u in n e y , his w ife, H en ry Q u in n and m yself, h a d d raw n a little a p a rt from th e m ain cam p , from w hich w e w ere h id d en by in tervening w o o d s. Big B e ar’s m en frequently cam e ro u n d to see th a t we w ere still there a n d advised us to m ove n e are r them . A b o u t fo u r o ’clock o u r In d ia n s told us th ey had d ecid ed if possible to w ith d raw finally fro m th e hostiles. W e p a c k e d again a n d m oved off. T h e c o u n try w as covered w ith sm all tim b e r, b ro k e n here a n d th e re by n a rro w o p e n glades. W e w ere instructed to travel “ n a n a n c e ” — a b re a st a n d som e w ay a p a rt; th u s no clear­ ly-m arked trail w o u ld b e left a n d Big B e ar’s m en , should b e we m issed a n d p u rsu e d , w ould h av e difficulty in follow ing us. W e had g o n e o n ly a few h u n d re d y a rd s w hen w e h e ard G e n ­ eral S tran g e in to n e s o f th u n d e r d e m a n d in g o u r release. A nd w h a t m usic in th e e ars o f us c aptives w as th e e arth -ro ck in g roar o f th a t n in e -p o u n d e r field-gun! W e could have c heered and cheered a g ain ; b u t th e ch eerin g h a d to be deferred : w e w alked on silently w ith p ru d e n ce d o m in a tin g o u r e x u lta tio n . A n old w om an began to la m e n t, asking w h a t th e p o o r Indians had d o n e th a t th e w hite soldiers sho u ld c o m e to kill them all with th eir big g u n s. Blood will tell! She w as m o th e r to o n e o f o u r friendly In d ian s, b u t did n o t like to see a n y o f h e r n a tio n hu rt. She c oncluded w ith an invocation:

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“ O h , S un, if y o u a re kind to o u r children to -d a y I will show you a looking-glass!” W h a t Sun w anted w ith a looking-glass w as to o m an v for m e then a n d is yet, unless th e w rin k led d a m e believed th a t, like a w o m a n , h e w ould d o an y th in g for a glance a t his ow n face. If this d o e sn 't explain it, h e r invocation rem ain s fo r m e an unsolvable riddle. A few sh o ts o n ly w ere fired. W e h u rried on fo r a m ile; then com ing to g eth e r, a fte r a n o th e r five m iles w e c am p ed som e tw o m iles Irom th e m ain b a n d . W e h a d travelled in a circle to fu rth er c over o u r re tre at. O u r In d ian s still feared p u rsu it and o u r evening c am p fire w as a tiny o n e. L ongfellow , g u a rd ia n o f the m issionary a n d his w ife, w ent back a t dusk to lie on o u r trail and th ro w Big B ear’s m en o ff th e scent if th ey cam e a fte r us. P a ten a u d e had g o n e to Big B ear’s c am p , if p o ssib le to g et J a m e s K . S im pson, his ste p fath er, aw ay. L ongfellow re tu rn e d at ten o 'c lo c k . Im asees, in an extrem ely d a n g ero u s m o o d , h ead in g a sm all trailin g p a rty , had been in te r­ cepted by him a n d m isdirected as to th e lo ca tio n o f o u r cam p . A fter a futile a tte m p t to follow o u r trac k s w ith th e a id o f m atches, they a b a n d o n e d th e se arch , L ongfellow pro testin g th at w e w ere n o t trying to escape a n d w ould rejoin th e m ain p a rty in th e m o rn in g . It w as fo rtu n a te fo r us th a t L ongfellow m et the search party . T h e longest p a rt o f L ongfellow , I have since often th o u g h t, w as his h e ad . % Q u in n , as a lre ad y related , had m a d e o n e a tte m p t at escap e and L ongfellow m istru sted h im . I f in a second a tte m p t h e should succeed a n d Big B ear’s m en a fte rw a rd find us, w e w ould surely suffer. L ongfellow , th ere fo re, b e fo re leaving c am p th a t evening delegated to m e in c onfidence th e jo b o f k eep in g Q u in n u n d e r surveillance. N e v er d id I allow him o u t o f m y sight, a n d w hen it cam e tim e to turn in I suggested th a t as w e had but a b lan k e t each, for th e sake o f c o m fo rt w e should sleep to g eth er. Q u in n w as in a n exceedingly b a d h u m o u r. E vidently h e sensed th a t he w as u n d e r suspicion a n d resen ted it. H e pre fe rre d to sleep alone, h e said , in tim atin g fu rth e r th a t he w as q u ite a b le to ta k e care o f him self. I lost patience. " W e 're going to sleep to g eth e r. Q u in n , a n d th a t’s all th ere is to it, I told him bluntly. " Y o u 'd slip aw ay a n d leave us if w e 'd let y ou, b u t y o u 're not going to g e t th e ch an c e. Y ou m a d e one a tte m p t a n d ju st m issed losing y o u r scalp. Incidentally, y o u p u t us all in d a n g er. Y o u ’re n o t going to d o it a g ain . H o w d o y o u know th e In d ian s a re n ’t betw een us a n d th e tro o p s, g u a rd in g th e east b an k o f th e coulee from ab o v e h e re right do w n to the S a sk a tch e ­

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w an? Y o u th in k I ’m w atching y o u and you d o n ’t like it. W ell, I a m , a n d I m ean to m a k e a jo b o f it. N o w , let’s tu rn in .'' H e p ro teste d th a t h e h a d no in ten tio n o f again try in g to escape, b u t I w ould n o t tru st him and sleep to g eth er w e d id . O r w e lay dow n to g e th e r— Q u in n did th e sleeping. W e b re ak fa sted a t d a y b rea k . S oon a fterw ard L ouis P a ten a u d e a p p e a re d w ith H a lp in , F ra n g o is D u fresn e a n d a few m o re In d ian s a n d half-b reed s. H e h a d been u n a b le to sm uggle M r. S im pson aw ay from Big B ear. A t h alf-past six w e again h e ard th e b o o m o f th e big g un, m uch clo ser th an on th e p rev io u s evening a n d so th e m o re w elcom e in o u r ears. It u shered in th e b a ttle o f F re n c h ­ m a n ’s B utte, a n d fo r th ree h o u rs th e solem n m ajesty o f th a t v e rd an t w ilderness echoed a n d ro c k ed to th e belch o f c a n n o n , the b u rstin g o f shell a n d th e spiteful crash o f m u sk e try . O u r p a rty m oved off, b u t w ith no th o u g h t o f rejo in in g th e m ain c a m p to th e n o rth . W e travelled n o rth -ea st, until crossing a little p ra irie p e rh a p s a m ile from th e b a ttleg ro u n d and directly in th e lin e o f big-gun fire, a shell h u rtle d p a st on th e left. T o m e its w histle w as th e sw eetest o f m usic, b u t it th rew th e In d ian s into p a n ic a n d they q u ick en ed th eir pace to reach th e w o o d s ah ea d . T h e actu al b a ttle w as h id d en from us by th e in tervening scrub. A t th e tim b e r o n th e far side o f the p ra irie w e h a lte d for a m o m e n t to a d ju st o u r loads. W e looked each instan t to see the scarlet tu n ics flash in to sight on th e p lain b e h in d u s, b u t the m in u te s passed a n d w e looked in vain. W e urged the In d ia n s to w ait; they w ere d e a f to o u r e n tre aties. L o u is a n d S itting H o rse had g o n e back to th e co u lee to w atch the fight; th ey refused to let m e acco m p an y th em as I begged to b e allow ed to do. W e w en t on slow ly to w a rd th e e ast, cuttin g o u r w ay w ith axes th ro u g h th e thick p o p lars, a n d o u r h o p es sank a s the firing grew fa in ter, slackened a n d a t length d ied a lto g e th e r. A b o u t noon L ouis a n d Sitting H o rse o v e rto o k us. T h e tro o p s had re tre a te d , they said , a n u m b e r h av in g been killed. Five o f th e In d ia n s w ere w o u n d e d , o n e seriously. T h is w as certainly d ish e arten in g . W as it p ossible the tro o p s had b een d e fe a te d — th a t w e w ere n o t to b e released after all? L ater w e lea rn ed th a t G e n e ra l S tra n g e ’s casualties consisted o f three m en w o u n d ed . W e cam p ed fo r th e night a b o u t eight m iles from the battlefield. I re tu rn e d w ith L o u is a n d a n o th e r Indian on ho rseb ack to th e little p ra irie for p ro v isio n s left in a cart w e h a d b e en co m p elled to a b a n d o n w hen w e e n te red th e thick b u sh . T h e peace o f th e w ilderness b ro o d e d once m o re o v e r th e la n d , b u t th a t from the n orth th e faint m u tte r o f g u n fire reached us. T h is, w e surm ised

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rightly, m ust be Big B e ar's m en , retreatin g on a line paralleling o u r ow n a n d sh o o tin g ra b b its fo r food along th e w ay. W h a t h a d actually h a p p en e d w as this: G e n e ra l S tra n g e had retired to w ard P itt a n d th e In d ia n s h a d im m ed iately struck c am p a n d ta k e n th e o p p o site d irec tio n . T h e y w o u ld have stayed to fight ag ain , b u t had no a m m u n itio n to w aste. F u rth e rm o re , they objected to “ th e gun th a t sh o t tw ice .” It w as u n fa ir they th o u g h t o f th e soldiers to fire g reat bullets th at them selves b u rst w hen they struck th eir rifle-pits. K ah w e ec h e tw ay m o t, d o u b le m u rd e re r, h a d h a d th e flesh strip p ed from his thigh by a piece o f shell. H e died b efore a n o th e r sun rose upon his bed o f to rtu re . W an d e rin g S p irit w as active th ro u g h o u t th e fight. H e m oved up a n d dow n a m o n g th e rifle-pits, h aran g u in g his w a rrio rs, b u o y ­ ing u p th e ir c ourage. O sk ata sk , w ho has m o re th an o n c e stalked acro ss th ese pages, w as also co n sp icu o u s in th e eng ag em en t. Each tim e a shell d ro p p e d a n d b u rst h e sprang to his feet in his rifle-pit and sh o u te d derisively “ Tan a t e e !" H e h a d been a b o u t th e forts b o th o n th e C a n a d ia n and A m e ric an fro n tiers, h a d w atch ed the tro o p s at drill a n d o u t o f th e m aze o f o rd e rs w hich w ere sim ply so u n d s to him , h a d p ounced on a n d g ra p p le d to h im self the m agic w ords: “ S ta n d a t e a se !" H e found m u ch e x u b era n t jo y in laun ching a t th e tro o p s, w ho w ere an y th in g b u t a t ease in the plunging fire from th e pits a b o v e them , his m ock c o m m a n d . L ater a rifle ball th ro u g h th e w rist took th e edge o ff O s k a ta sk ’s en jo y m en t. F ro m G e n e ra l S tra n g e ’s b o o k . G u n n e r. J in g o 's J u b ile e I ta k e th e follow ing ex tra cts d escrip tiv e o f the B attle o f F re n c h m a n ’s Butte: O n th e m o rn in g o f M ay 28th th e F o rc e w as roused w ith o u t so u n d o f bugle a n d a fte r a scanty b re ak fa st, a t d a y b rea k m oved forw ard to w ard F re n c h m a n ’s B utte. T h e a d v an ce w as led by M a jo r S teele's scouts, d ism o u n te d , ex ten d ed a n d flanking each side o f the trail. N e x t cam e th e m ain b o d y , consisting o f som e th re e h u n d re d m en o f th e W in n ip e g L ight In fan try a n d Q u eb ec V oltigeurs, w hile th e n in e -p o u n d e r field-gun u n d e r L ieut. S tra n g e b ro u g h t up th e rear. S u ddenly w e cam e to a c o m p a rativ ely o p e n space, to w hich trails converged from every d irec tio n . It w as th e e n ca m p m e n t w h e re th e b rav es h a d held th e ir last Sun D a n ce . T h e po les o f th e g re a t sacred lodge still sto o d w ith th e leafy g a rla n d s h a n g ­ ing from the c e n tre o n e , show ing how lately a n u m b e r o f young w a rrio rs had been m ad e u n d e r th e established circu m stan ces o f se lf-to rtu re, to p ro v e m anly en d u ran c e, w hile th e old w arrio rs

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h a d re co u n ted th e ir prow ess, m ain ly in horse-stealin g a n d m u r­ der. I w as rid in g w ith th e adv an ced scouts, w hen w e cam e u p o n a c am p fire still alig h t, w ith an a b a n d o n e d d o u g h -c ak e in th e ash es. It w as a t th e edge o f an a b ru p t d escent, do w n th e w o o d ed slope o f w hich ran th e trail, leading to w h at ap p ea red to b e th e left o f th eir p o sitio n . S tre am ers o f red a n d w hite calico, th e spoils o f F o rt P itt, hung from th e b ran ch es o f a tree on th e o p p o site crest o f a b a re glacis-slope. T h e valley, a b o u t five h u n d re d y a rd s w ide, intersected by a sluggish creek , w id e n ­ ing into a sw am p, a n d fringed h e re and th e re w ith w illow s. T he hill sa lie n t, a n d th e sw am py stre am follow ed th e o u tlin e o f the foot o f th e slope, eventually to jo in th e S ask atch ew an , w hich I knew to be a b o u t five m iles to th e south. T h e crest o f th e hill w as thick ly w o o d e d , a n d the field-glasses disclosed w hat seem ed to b e long lines o f rifle-pits alo n g its edge. T h ey w ere skilfully c o n ce ale d , h ow ever; even th e loose red e a rth dug o u t in th eir c o n stru ctio n h a d been h id d en by b ro k e n b ran ch es o f tree s stuck in to rep resen t a living g ro w th . T h e re w as not a sign o r sou n d o f m o v em en t; th e very stre am ers d ro o p e d in th e still m o rn in g air. S teele a n d his m en w ere close b e h in d , b u t w ithdraw n from the b ro w to escap e o b se rv atio n . T h e g ro u n d o n o u r side o f the valley w as h em m ed in w ith thick bu sh , w hich left little room for fo rm atio n , except a sm all space to th e right rear, w h e re the w agons w ere su b seq u e n tly c o rra lle d . N o th in g m o re w as to b e learn ed from th is side, so I descen d ed w ith S c o u t P atton to re co n n o itre . W e reac h ed the b o tto m o f th e valley a n d w ere close to th e little stre am , w hen his h o rse sud d en ly sank to th e girth s. I rein ed back a n d he scram bled w ith difficulty to solid g ro u n d . It w as useless to p ro c ee d farth er, as it w as ev id e n t o u r h o rse s could not cross th ere. W e re tu rn e d to the crest o f the hill w ith o u t being fired u p o n . T h e enem y evidently w ished to d ra w us into an a m b u s­ c ad e a n d calculated th a t I w o u ld go b lu n d erin g on w ith m y force. I su b seq u en tly found th a t th e a ttrac tiv e stream ers, w hich I h a d d istru sted as b ein g a t v aria n ce w ith th e usages o f Indian w a rfare , w ould have enticed us into the re -e n terin g angle m ad e b y th e ir m ain line o f rifle-pits. A long a n d d e e p sh elter-tren ch , a d m ira b ly c o n stru cted and concealed , g av e a flanking fire on the left face o f th eir p o sitio n , in to w hich th e trail led. T h e field-gun w as o rd e re d up a n d o p e n ed fire from th e edge o f th e descent, w hich q uickly drew a heavy response. 1 d e ployed the sm all force a t m y disposal a n d o rd e re d M a jo r S teele's m o u n te d police a n d sco u ts to ex te n d to th e left, dis­

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m o u n t and descen d the hill to a fringe o f w illow bush alo n g th e edge o f th e creek. T h e V oltigeurs, u n d e r C o lo n el H u g h es a n d M ajo r Prevost, w en t do w n th e hill a t th e d o u b le a n d ex te n d ed along th e creek on th e right o f th e d ism o u n te d cavalry, a n d th e W in n ip eg L ight In fan try , u n d e r M a jo r T h ib a d e a u , took w h a t cover they could get, on the right ag ain , in th e w illow b u sh e s on the edge o f th e sw am p. T w o c o m p a n ie s o f th e W innipeg b a tta lio n , u n d e r C o lo n el O sb o rn e S m ith, w ere held in su p p o rt on the hill, w hile M a jo r H a tto n ’s A lb e rta M o u n te d Rifles w ere d ism o u n te d and o rd e re d to co v er th e right flank, w here th e w o o d w as thickest. A s I ro d e alo n g th e rid g e, a n a d m irab le view o f th e e n tire p o sitio n w as g a in e d . N o so o n e r had m y m en ex ten d ed th an the w hole line o f rifle-pits o p e n ed fire from th e o p p o site sum m it for a b o u t a m ile. B ut th e fire w as w ith o u t m u ch effect, fo r the ra n g e w as fo u r h u n d re d y ard s, m y m en h a d ta k e n a d v an tag e o f all p ossible cover in th e w illow s, and steadily re tu rn e d it. L ieut. S tra n g e h a d g o t th e exact ra n g e — 600 y a rd s — o f th e pits, w ith a few co m m o n shell. H e then tried sh rap n el, evidently w ith o u t m u ch effect, as th e fire from th e pits did n o t slacken. T h e ir o c cu p a n ts had also got the ra n g e o f th e field-gun w ith longra n g e S h a rp rifles a n d th e w icked ping o f th e bullets m a d e it d e sirab le to o rd e r th e gun d e ta c h m e n t to lie dow n, N u m b e r T w o sp on ging a n d ram m in g h o m e w hile kneeling. T h e officer a lo n e sto o d to w atch the effect o f his fire. T h e re w as no cover for th e g un, a n d it could n o t be w ithdraw n w ith o u t losing its coign o f v an tag e, th o u g h its p o sitio n w as ch an g e d once to en filad e in succession b o th faces o f th e salient line o f rifle-pits. O n th e failure o f sh rap n el, a few ro u n d s o f the special case w ith leaden balls w ere tried, w ith no b e tte r result, a n d L ie u t. S tran g e a g ain h a d recourse to c o m m o n shell w ith percussion fuses. T h ese, b u rstin g in th e loose e arth th ro w n up b e fo re th e p its, e xploded in th em , killing, as w e afterw ard lea rn ed , o n e In d ian and w o u n d in g th ree o th e rs, in o n e o f th e large sh elter-tren ch es. T h e enem y bolted from som e o f th e pits th u s enfiladed into th e w o o d s, from w hich they k e p t u p a d e su lto ry fire. M eanw hile, I saw som e o f th e infantry e n d ea v o u rin g to cross th e sw am p. T h e y sank w aist high in black m u d , and even had they succeeded in crossing th ere w as before them only th e op en slope o f g rad u al glacis, sw ept by th e fire from th e p its. I d escended to th e positio n occu p ied by th e V oltigeurs a n d S te ele 's Scouts. Being th e o n ly m o u n te d m an in th e valley, the e nem y h o n o u re d m e with a special salu te a n d I d ism o u n te d , n o t w ishing to d ra w fire a n d desirin g also to test th e p o sitio n ,

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w hich co u ld b e d o n e only on fo o t. C o n sta b le M c R a e , o f th e N o r th - W e s t M o u n te d P o lic e , w a s h e re w o u n d e d , re c e iv in g a bullet in th e left leg. H e o b jec ted w ith e m p h asis to bein g rem o v ed until h e h a d used up his c artrid g e s o n th e hostiles. I saw th a t m y m en w ere a t a g reat d isa d v an tag e , being o v erlo o k ed by th e enem y, w h o co u ld see a lm o st every m an as h e lay, w hile m y force co u ld ju d g e o f th e w h e rea b o u ts o f th e In d ian s only by th e sm oke o f th e ir rifles a n d so co u ld effect little d a m a g e by th e ir u p w a rd rifle-fire on m en in pits w ho w ere careful n o t to expose them selves. D ire ct ad v an ce, even if pra ctic a b le , w o u ld I w as su re entail very severe loss w hile crossing th e sw am p a n d o p e n glacis, and I d e te rm in e d to try a tu rn in g m o v em en t ro u n d th e e n em y 's rig h t. I o rd e re d M a jo r S teele to re tire his m en, m o u n t, a n d m a k e a d e to u r u n d e r co v er o f th e b u sh to o u r left, to see if h e could find a crossing a n d tu rn th e e n em y ’s p o sitio n w hile th e ir a tte n tio n w a s o c cu ­ p ied in front. T o th is end. th e infantry a n d th e field-gun kept u p a slow b u t steady fire. Steele re p o rte d th a t th e e n em y ’s p o sitio n ex ten d ed a m ile a n d a h a lf and th a t h e could find no w ay o f tu rn in g it w ith his few m en . I th ere fo re sent a n o rd e r for him to re tu rn . By this tim e M a jo r H a tto n re p o rte d th e enem y on o u r rig h t circling ro u n d o u r re a r a n d dirin g into th e c o rra l. T h e thick bush fo rm ed an im p e n e tra b le screen for th e ir m ovem ents, a n d 1 o rd e re d th e co rral to b e re tired o u t o f fire. C o lo n el S m ith cam e to m e and expressed his o p in io n as to th e hopelessness o f fa rth e r ad vance w ith th e h a n d fu l o f m en a t o u r disp o sal. W e could n e ith e r a b a n d o n o u r w ag o n s n o r c ro ss th em to th e o th e r sid e, th e force h a d eaten n o th in g since 3.30 a .m ., and the ho rse s h a d not been u n h a rn essed for eight h o u rs. M o re o v e r, we h a d o n ly o n e d a y ’s ra tio n s th en on h a n d , a n d th e affairs at D u c k L ake, Fish C reek a n d C u t K nife m ad e m e cau tio u s; I d id n o t think it advisable to sacrifice m en for m o re than d o u b tfu l results w hen I w as h o u rly expecting rein fo rcem en ts from B attleford a n d a c o m p le te c a p tu re m ight b e effected. O u r h alf-b reed g u id es w ere c o n fid e n t th a t the In d ia n s w o u ld a w ait a second a tta c k , w hich m ight b e d elivered u n d e r m o re fav o u rab le co n d itio n s; a n d it w as decided to retire. B eside C o n sta b le M c R a e . P riv ates L em ai a n d M a rc o tte , o f the 65th V oltigeurs, w ere re p o rte d seriously w o u n d e d . I a pplied to a n officer o f th e V oltigeurs, w ho inform ed m e th a t all th e w o u n d e d had been b ro u g h t up except L em ai, w ho w ould die a n y w ay , a n d th a t th e stre tc h er-p a rty refused to g o to the a d v an c ed positio n w here h e had fallen. I p o in te d o u t th a t he w as resp o n sib le for his m en , as I w as re sp o n sib le fo r h im , and

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asked him if h e expected m e to go on th e quest m yself. T he n aiv ete o f th a t o ffice r’s reply as he tu rn e d o n his heel w as too funny: I sim ply lau g h ed . It was: “ G e n e ra l, I’ve been sh o t a t q u ite en o u g h to -d ay , a n d I'm d a m n e d if I g o do w n th ere a g a in !” U n d e r th e circum stances, th e re w as n o th in g for it b u t to accept th e role so im politely left m e. O rd e rin g m y son to o pen a sh a rp fire o f case sh o t to c o v er th e a d v an c e o f m y stretcherp a rty , I w en t to D r. P are, o f th e 65th, w ho c am e w ith alacrity, as did also F a th e r Prevost, chaplain o f th e b a tta lio n , w ith crucifix in h a n d to a d m in ister th e last rites o f th e c h u rch . W e found the m an well to th e fro n t, in an exposed p o sitio n ; a n d I m u st a d m it so m e im p atien ce, w hich th e g o o d priest d id not seem to sh a re, d u rin g th e confession o f sin. I suggested to the brave p a d re th e d esirab ility o f lum ping th e details, w hich he d id , a n d placing th e w o u n d e d m a n , u n d e r D r. P a re ’s d ire c ­ tions, in th e stre tc h er, th e p a rty m oved u p th e hill, I bringing up th e re a r w ith th e m a n ’s rifle. T h e fire grew h o tte r as we a scended; th e re a r m an d ro p p e d his end o f th e stretch er, a n d I to o k his p lace. T h u s G e n e ra l Jin g o , w ho finished his first fight b y k icking his g e n era l, m et a ju st re trib u tio n in having to carry h is w o u n d e d o ff his last field. T h e F o rc e re tu rn e d to F o rt P itt, to re m a in for som e days a w aitin g th e arriv al o f pro v isio n s; a n d th u s end ed th e B attle o f F re n c h m a n 's B utte.

S afe! F o r tw o m o re d a y s w e travelled, m uch a g a in st o u r w ishes, e ast­ w ard , living on w ild c arro ts d u g by th e In d ia n s from th e p rairie sod, on balls o f d o w n — ducklings ju s t out o f th e shell, d riven by w aders in th e sloughs ash o re a n d killed w ith sticks, a n d on the little flo u r w e had m an ag ed to b ring w ith us. W e urged o u r In d ian s to free us so th a t w e m ig h t find o u r w ay back to the cam p o f th e tro o p s. T h e y refused. S hould Big B ear’s m en d is­ co v er a n d kill us th ey w ould b e held responsible, they a rg u ed , and they w ere unw illing to acco m p an y us. O n S u n d a y , M ay 31st, the Rev. M r. Q u in n ey held service. C a m p w as not m oved th a t day, a n d w e w ere overjoyed w hen a t a council la te r o u r g u a rd s, w ith no very g o o d g race, c o n sen ted to let us go. N ex t m o rn in g early w e w ere on o u r w ay w estw ard. A long hard tram p lay a h ea d o f us; w e h a d but o n e flour b a n n o ck for a dozen m o u th s, yet w e step p ed o u t feeling e q u al to a n y test o f en d u ran c e, fo r a t last w e w ere fre e !—-g o in g to m eet “ o u r ow n

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p e o p le ” a fte r th is sickening tw o m o n th s o f p riv atio n , o f u n re ­ lieved m enace, o f so u l-rack in g suspense. W e m u st have m ade n early forty m iles. L a te a fte rn o o n found us alm ost u n d e r th e sh ad o w o f F re n c h m a n ’s B utte. W e h a d crossed th e stream s w aist deep in frigid w a ter, b u t chilled a n d ja d e d tho u g h w e w ere, Q u in n e y , D ufresne a n d I left th e w om en w ith the o th e rs in a b lu ff b e sid e th e L ittle R e d D eer a n d toiled o n . Before leaving 1 ch an g ed th e ragged tro u se rs 1 w ore for a b e tte r p a ir secured so m eh o w in th e c am p . It w as in th e p o c k et o f these discarded tro u se rs, han g in g on a tree, th a t I left th e big b rass key o f the sto re at F ro g L ak e w hich 1 tu rn e d in th e lock a fte r th e m assacre b egan . O n e d a y 1 h o p e d I m ig h t retu rn to th a t wild a n d lonely sp o t a n d en d ea v o u r to find it, b u t I never d id . It w as all th a t rem ain ed o f th e H u d s o n 's Bay C o m p a n y ’s business a t F ro g L ake. S hortly a fte r leaving th e b lu ff th e long clear w histle o f a ste am ­ b o a t fell on o u r startled ears. It cam e from th e S askatchew an, th ree o r fo u r m iles d istan t. W e co u ld n o t see th e b o a t, b u t the fam iliar, h om ely sou n d w as fo r us the m o st e n tra n cin g m usic, sp u rrin g us o n , fo r it m ea n t th a t help, th a t friends, th a t relief from a strain th a t h a d becom e a lm o st u n e n d u ra b le , w ere alm ost w ithin hail. N ig h tfall w as c o m in g on ra p id ly a n d w e w ere an x io u s to reach th e su m m it o f th e B utte b e fo re d a rk , fo r we h o p e d from this co m m a n d in g p o in t to sight th e c am p o f th e tro o p s. A ching from head to blistered feet, w e drag g ed ourselves up th e w o o d e d slope and w ell-nigh exhausted at length reached th e to p . T h e sun h a d set b u t light en o u g h rem ain ed to show us so m e ­ thing o f th e su rro u n d in g c o u n try . W e c rep t g u ard ed ly o u t on the bald ro u n d su m m it, for In d ian sco u ts if th e re w ere a n y a b o u t an d it will b e ev id e n t w e knew n o th in g w ith certain ty as to the location o f e ith e r tro o p s o r In d ia n s— co u ld see us even m o re readily from th e b o tto m th an co u ld w e them from the to p . U n d e r co v er o f th e scru b , 1 slipped o v e r to the side w hence, six days b efo re, w e had d e ca m p e d on th e m o rn in g w e h e ard o f th e tro o p s' arriv al a t Pitt. T h e re sto o d th e T h irst D a n ce lodge. It lo o k ed brow n and de se rte d , for th e sun had scorched its g reen roofing o f leaves. S uddenly 1 m ad e o u t tw o m o u n te d m en sw iftly circling th e lodge. I b eck o n ed to D u fre sn e . H e jo in e d m e. 1 p o in te d to th e riders a n d th e h alf-breed sta rte d . “ In d ian s!” I w h isp ered . “ N o R ed co ats. S ee th eir clo th es!” D ufresne sta re d . “ S u re !” he re tu rn e d . “ Big B ear’s m en , I guess. In d ian s su re .” W e c rep t back a n d told Q u in n e y . All day we h a d tried to induce him not to expose h im self needlessly, a g ain st th e possibil­

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ity o f In d ian p ro w lers in o u r vicinity, but w ith o u t success. N ow he lost his head com pletely. “ T h e y 're w hite tro o p s, n o t In d ian s!” he cried. “ W e are sav ed !” H e w as d e a f to D u fre sn e a n d m e. H e pulled a w hite h a n d k e r­ c hief from h is p o c k et, ru sh ed o u t o n the b a re su m m it a n d w aved it, sh o u tin g like a m a d m a n . A n o th e r rider to re along th e bushes a t th e foot o f th e slope. I p o in te d him o u t to D ufresne. “ Y e s,” h e m u tte red . “ A n d see th e sq u ad d ra w n up in th e sh ad o w o f th e b lu ff y o n d e r! Ju st th e size Big B ear’s w a rrio rs!” I lo o k ed a t Q u in n e y — and I w ould be a sh a m e d to say with w hat b itte rn ess ju st th en . T o th in k th a t a fte r all w e h a d com e th ro u g h , w ith safety a lm o st w ith in o u r g rasp , fate, h e r tool this m ad m a n a n d his b lu n d erin g perv ersity , should ste p betw een us and th e goal! W e w ere tra p p e d . W e w ere u n d e r no illusion. W e had been to ld , often e nough a n d b lu n tly e n o u g h , th e p e n alty th a t w ould follow any a tte m p t at escape. A nd w e w ere in no d o u b t, D u fresn e, th e h a lf-b re ed , and I, a s to th e id en tity o f th e m en even th e n , p ro b a b ly , craw ling to w a rd s us up th e slope to sh o o t us dow n. D u fre sn e only w as a rm e d . H e w alked to th e c en tre o f th e o pen space a n d sto o d w ith his gun in his h ands, w aitin g . “ W ell, you can only d ie o n c e,” h e said grim ly. I w en t to w ard h im , b u t he asked m e to k e ep aw ay a n d I d id . H e h a d C re e b lood in his veins. W e sho u ld surely be killed, b u t if n o t to o close to a w hite m an he m ig h t be sp ared . Q u in n e y c o n tin u e d to sh o u t. Presently an answ er c a m e — an Indian yell! I saw his face pale, b u t he shouted ag ain , desp erately , even lo u d e r th an b efo re. W as he actually m ad? A pause follow ed. It w as n o t too d a rk to see th e g ro u p a t th e foot o f th e B utte. A voice c am e a t length th ro u g h th e g lo o m . “ W h o a re you?” P lain A nglo-S axon! Q u in n e y fairly d a n ce d . D u fresn e a n d 1 listened, silent, bew il­ de red . C o u ld they actually be w hite m en a n d n o t Indians? T h e m issionary sh o u te d ag ain . “ I'm M r. Q u in n e y , a n d h e re 's M r. C a m e ro n !” A gain th e voice: “ W ell, if y o u ’re w h ite m en , c o m e d o w n !” So Q u in n e y w as rig h t, a fte r a ll— D ufresne a n d I w rong. W e cheered, cheered w ildly th e n — yelled like m an iacs. T h e o th e rs a n sw ered. But it m ight easily have been th e o th e r w ay a b o u t: the ju d g m e n t o f the n a tiv e a n d m yself should have been at least as good a s th a t o f th e m issionary, a n d I still m ain tain th a t c au tio n , n ot b lin d guessing, w as w h at th e situ atio n d e m a n d ed . I passed th e re v ere n d g e n tlem an , but he w as close b e h in d . I

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m ad e fast tim e . N e arin g th e fo o t o f th e B utte, he gasped: “ Let m e go in a h e a d , will yo u ?” I co u ld have guessed w h at w as a t th e b o tto m o f m y clerical c o m p a n io n ’s req u est, w hich I g ra n te d . W e w alked in to a detail o f scouts u n d e r M ajo r D ale, G en eral S tra n g e ’s b rig ad e officer, o n th eir w ay from th e c am p o f the A lb e rta F ield F o rc e to th e lan d in g o f th e ste a m b o a t w e had h eard e arlie r in th e d ay . G e n e ra l M id d leto n w as a b o a rd , com ing from B attleford w ith m o re tro o p s to reinforce G e n era l S trange. O u r reception w as overw h elm in g . I m et old a cq u ain tan ces, m o u n te d policem en. T h e m a jo r detailed tw o m en to accom pany u s to c am p , now lo cated in th e L ittle R e d D e e r valley, a m ile n orth o f th e battlefield. T h e scouts d ism o u n te d a n d m a d e us ride, w alking b eside th e h orses. T h e se n trie s safely passed, a t eleven o 'clo ck w e w ere u shered into th e presence o f G e n era l S trange. “ G u n n e r Jin g o ” w as stretch ed c o m fo rtab ly u n d e r th e blan k ets in h is ten t, b u t h e sat up and sho o k o u r h a n d s w arm ly w hile he expressed his g ra tifica tio n . H e h a d m arch ed five h u n d re d m iles to lib e rate us a n d h e looked his satisfaction a t th e accom plishm ent o f h is p u rp o se . G e n e ra l S tran g e w as a typical B ritish officer o f th e old school, a fellow -cam paigner o f L o rd R o b e rts w hen b o th w ere su b altern s in In d ia. T ail, lan k , rugged, b ra v e, o u tsp o k e n a n d g e n ero u s, he w as th e idol o f his c o m m a n d . H is strik in g figure m a d e him a co n sp icu o u s ta rg e t a t F re n c h m a n ’s B utte. T o o th e rs fell th e rew ard s a n d h o n o u rs o f th e c am p aig n , b u t th e W est knew w hat w as d u e to G e n e ra l S tran g e for his p ro m p t action in o rganizing his c o lu m n a n d for his splendid m arch from C alg ary to F o rt Pitt w ith th e A lb e rta F ield F o rc e . N o t alw ays in actu al w a rfare are th e g reatest v icto ries g a in e d , a n d his activity had a m o ral effect th a t possibly p re v en ted all th e In d ian s a n d h a lf-b re ed s in the N o rth -w e st from being d ra w n in to th e rising. T h e general o rd e re d h is co o k to g et us u p th e best th e cam p a ffo rd e d — som e m eal, th at! I w as sh a k in g from chill a n d excite­ m e n t a n d ju s t b e fo re w e beg an su p p e r C a p ta in Perry, o f th e N o rth -W e st M o u n te d Police, cam e into th e te n t a n d stretching him self o n th e g ro u n d o p p o site m e held o u t a tin cup. “ D rin k it,” h e said . “ Y o u ’ll feel b e tte r.” I to o k th e big cu p . It w as full o f rum . “ G o o d L o rd !” I exclaim ed, “ d o you w a n t to lay m e o u t? ” T h e c ap tain sm iled. “ It’s all rig h t. It w o n ’t affect y ou. Y o u ’re to o w o rk ed u p .” I d ra n k th e ru m — all o f it. S u p p e r finished. I w en t w ith him to h is ten t, w hich I w as invited to m ak e m y h e a d q u a rte rs. T w o reverend g en tle m e n w ere also his gu ests on th e e x p ed itio n , C an o n

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G e o rg e M c K a y a n d th e R ev. W m . P. M c K en zie, b o th o f M acleod, A lb e rta . I th in k th e o n ly th in g a b o u t m e affected by th e rum w as m y to n g u e. I talked incessantly until th ree in th e m o rn ­ i n g - l a y a n d talked a n d sh o o k . It w as like th e ag u e, th a t shaking, and I co u ld not sh a k e it o ff at o n c e. R e m e m b er, I had n o t seen a new face o r heard a friendly voice th a t d a red to say w h at it felt like saying, o r h e ard a scrap o f new s from th e o u tsid e w orld my w orld —for tw o long w retched m o n th s. I d o n o t w o n d e r I sh o o k . B efore d aylight next m o rning a detail h a d b ro u g h t in M rs. Q u in n e y , H alpin a n d th e re m a in d e r o f o u r party . 1 d o not kn o w exactly how w e felt ju st th e n . T h e re are m o m e n ts in m ost m e n 's lives th a t, on th e ir looking b ack , seem d e lirio u s w ith su p re m e jo y o r su p re m e h o rro r. T h e latter I e x p eri­ enced a t F ro g L ak e on th e m o rn in g o f A pril 2,d 1885: th e first at F re n c h m a n 's B utte on th e night o f J u n e 1st in th e sam e year. W ith th e A lb e rta F ie ld Force C a p ta in Perry next m o rn in g o u tfitte d m e w ith a p a ir o f riding breeches a n d o th e r necessary c lo th in g a n d assigned a h o rse fo r m y exclusive use. M a jo r Steele, w ith a p a rty o f scouts, w as startin g on Big B e ar’s trail. M y request th a t I be allow ed to acc o m p a n y him w as p ro m p tly v e to e d by th e general. 1 h a d a lre ad y been exposed to sufficient d a n g er, h e sa id : the In d ian s w ould p ro b ab ly recognize m e, in w hich event I w o u ld be singled o u t by them for special a tte n tio n . H e w as glad, ho w ev er, to enlist m e as g u id e a n d scout to his colum n from F re n c h m a n ’s B utte to th e B eaver R iver, seventy m iles to th e n o rth . I spent th e d a y in necessary rest a n d in p re p a ra tio n fo r m y new d uties. W h ere v er I w ent I w as a n object o f im m ense in te rest to tea m sters and v o lu n te e rs. I am afraid I fo u n d m uch unh o ly satisfaction in trying to a p p e a r u nconscious o f th is— I w as p re tty young. It w as, I th in k , m y first taste o f fa m e — a d a n g ero u s thing th at has tu rn e d o ld e r a n d w iser h e ad s than m in e. I believe I got over it, b u t it w as p lea sa n t w hile it lasted. If I sp o k e to a m an he th o u g h t h im self signally h o n o u re d . O n e , a tea m ster, gave m e a hat. G e n e ra l M id d leto n h a d a rriv e d a n d g o n e o v e r th e g ro u n d o f th e F re n c h m a n ’s B utte fight w ith G e n e ra l S trange. O n J u n e 4 th at tw o in th e m o rn in g , a c o u rie r a rriv e d w ith w ord from M a jo r Steele o f a n en g ag em en t at L oon L ake, fifty m iles to th e n o rth ­ east, w ith Big B ear. G e n era l S tra n g e h a d w ished to g o w ith som e o f M id d le to n 's cavalry to th e su p p o rt o f S teele. T h e c o m m a n d in g g eneral, how ever, p re fe rre d to a w a it a re p o rt from Steele. O n

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Ju n e 4th h e decided he w ould h im self follow th e m ajo r w ith his cavalry and o rd e re d S trange n o rth to th e B eaver R iver to cu t off Big B ear's re tre a t should th e c h ie f m ove in th a t directio n . O n Ju n e 6th G e n e ra l S tran g e m oved o u t to O n ta rio L ake. I rode, as g u ide, a t th e h e ad o f th e co lu m n . In th e evening we cam e u p o n a n d killed tw o steers; th e fresh m ea t m ade a n acc ep t­ able v a ria tio n from a m o n o to n o u s d iet o f b a co n , h a rd ta c k and can n e d c o rn ed beef. N ex t n ig h t w e c am ped on th e b a n k s o f beautiful F ro g L ak e, a n d th e follow ing d a y saw us n earin g the C h ip p ew y an reserv atio n a t B eaver R iver. I w as rid in g w ith th e a d v an ce scouts fifteen m iles a h ea d o f the co lu m n . W e crossed tw o heavy m uskegs, d ism o u n te d a n d leading o u r h orses, th e g ro u n d so soft they sank to th e knees. T h e add ed w eight o f a rid e r m ig h t have sunk them p e rm a n en tly . Follow ing us, th e n in e -p o u n d e r w as drag g ed w ith ro p e s th ro u g h these bogs by th e infantry, th e horses first b ein g d e tach ed a n d ro a d s c o rd u ­ royed across th e nasty big m o u ld s o f q u a k in g m ud, grass and w ater. A b o u t th re e o ’c lo c k o u r a d v a n c e p a r ty w as c a u tio u sly a p p ro ac h in g th ro u g h th e tim b e r th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y ’s p o st a t th e C h ip p ew y an re serv a tio n . W h en p e rh a p s fo u r h u n d red ya rd s off, a n Indian em erged from th e m ain build in g carrying a sack o f flour. H e w ore a scarlet u p p e r g a rm e n t a n d I to o k him for o n e o f Big B e ar’s m en , w ho had secured a few police tunics left by C a p ta in D ickens w hen he a b a n d o n e d F o rt Pitt. T he Indian m o u n te d his h o rse and ro d e away. N o w w e felt no urge to engage th e w hole o f Big B e ar’s follow ing. W e w ere only fo u r a n d there w ere th re e h u n d re d o f th em . In o p e n c o u n try w e sh o u ld have h a d all o u td o o rs to ride over. H ere th ere w as only o n e line o f re tre a t— th e tra il— the c o u n try being thickly w oo d ed . A lso, th e trail w as cro o k ed a n d the In d ian s m ig h t by tak in g som e sh o rt-c u t un k n o w n to us head us off. W e th ere fo re m oved quietly back for a m ile, a n d crossing a creek tied o u r horses in th e w o o d s on th e o th e r side. H ere we w ere ab le to w atch th e trail a n d reasonably c ertain th e redskins could n o t outflan k us. W e boiled o u r tea k e ttle o v er a few sticks a n d se n t a scout back fifteen m iles to tell G e n e ra l S tran g e w e had located the Indians. T h e sun w as sinking w h en rein fo rcem en ts, som e fo rty m en u n d e r M a jo r H a tto n , a rriv e d . W e m oved a h ea d a n d n e a r th e post d ism o u n te d , left a few m en w ith th e horses a n d advanced rapidly in skirm ish in g o rd e r till w e reac h ed th e op en before th e buildings; then b ro k e in to a ru n . But w e fo u n d no In d ian s. T h e y h a d no d o u b t had a g u a rd a n d seen us w hen we first sighted th em .

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It w as long a fte r d a rk w hen G e n e ra l S tran g e cam e up a n d the balance o f his c o m m a n d not until d a y b re a k . W e c am ped a t the old tra d in g post a n d next m o rn in g w ith eight sco u ts I w en t “on to th e B eaver R iver, eight m iles fa rth e r n o rth . A t th e R o m an C a th ­ olic m ission tw o m iles from th e river we fo u n d a q u a n tity o f furs b elonging to a h alf-b reed rebel' n a m e d M o n to u r in Big B ear’s cam p. T h ese w e a p p ro p ria te d . It w as like a circus, w atching som e o f th e fellows gettin g th e packs on th e backs o f th e ir h orses. A w hite m a n 's h o rse o bjects fiercely to fu r o f any sort; a bearskin is his pet av ersio n . T h ey sn o rte d , b u ck ed a n d kicked; trem bling w ith fright, a n d then raced m adly aw ay w ith th e flopping p a ck s on th eir ru m p s a d d in g frenzy to te rro r. B ut a t length w e all g o t safely a b o a rd a n d ro d e aw ay to hide o u r p lu n d er in th e w oods. A t a h u t on th e b a n k s o f th e river a m ile o r tw o east o f th e m ission w e found cam p-fires recen tly a b a n d o n e d a n d th e offal o f a slau g h tered ox. H e re w e tu rn ed w est and e n te rin g several o f th e houses on th e reservation secured m o re g o o d furs. T h e C hippew yans w ere rebels a n d th e confiscation th ere fo re ju stifie d . W e then struck a ro ad leading th ro u g h thick bush alo n g th e b a n k o f a creek flow ing into th e river. In th e soft m ud w e c am e u p o n fresh m occasin trac k s. T h a t they had b e en m ad e only a few m in u te s b efore w as e vident; th e w a ter pressed o u t o f th e black m uck by th e passing feet w as still trickling back into th e im pressions they left. W e w en t on slow ly and cau tio u sly , w ith a sh a rp lo o k -o u t on e ith e r side o f th e trail, but saw no Indians. W e descended the high b a n k a n d at th e riv er’s edge c am e u p o n a b ark can o e , lately d raw n u p . A scout raised his foot a n d w ould h a v e p u t h is heavy b o o t th ro u g h th e b o tto m , but I sto p p e d him . “ D o n ’t d o th a t!” I told him . “ W e m ight w an t th e b irc h b a rk to cross th e riv er.” A h u n d re d y a rd s fa rth e r o n w e found a cache o f furs u n d e r a sm all log shelter. T h e se it to o k us som e tim e to divide, and tu rn in g b ack , w h at w as o u r su rp rise to find th e c an o e g o n e . So close h a d w e b e en b e h in d th e In d ia n s th a t they had n o t d a red touch th e canoe, b u t had h idden a t no d istan ce from us, slipped o u t a n d c ro sse d w h ile w e w e re b u sy w ith th e fu rs. H a d w e accidentally stu m b le d u p o n th e , som e o f us p ro b a b ly w ould have been killed. H ow ever, I expect th e re w ere n o t m o re th an th ree o r four In d ian s a n d they w ere no d o u b t glad to g e t o u t o f a tight c o m e r w ith o u t a fight. D ra w n up on th e o p p o site b a n k lay th e can o e . T h e fugitives w e knew w ould be w atching acro ss th e w a ter. G e o rg e B eatty, a S alteaux In d ian , a n d m yself, w hile th e o th e rs filed up the hill.

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tak in g sh elter b e h in d large trees, re m a in e d to talk to th e fleeing C h ippew yans. “ C o m e b a ck !” w e sh o u ted in C re e. " P le n ty soldiers are b ehind us. T h ey will follow you a n d y o u ’ll all be killed. A fter to -m o rro w night w e will cross th e riv er.” N o t a sou n d could w e raise in resp o n se to o u r jib e s and th rea ts, so w ith a p a rtin g salu te from o u r g u n s at th e w oods across we clim b ed th e hill a n d re tu rn e d to th e m ission, w here the colum n had alread y a rriv ed . N ex t evening, J u n e 9 th , th e C h ip p ew y an s, w ho h a d left Big B ear a fte r F re n c h m a n ’s B utte, w ith F a th e r L egoff, th e ir p riest, having crossed th e B eaver from C o ld L ake six m iles, surren d ered to G e n e ra l S trange. In th e m o rn in g M a jo r B utler a n d I w en t to th eir lodges a n d o rd e re d th e m en to b ring th eir arm s a n d m arch b e h in d us to th e g e n e ra l's c am p , a m ile aw ay. T h e priest pleaded h a rd fo r his m isg u id ed flock, b u t unavailingly. T h ey w ere dis­ a rm e d a n d th e rin g lead ers, a m o n g them m y frien d C atfish , arre ste d . A b o a rd o f in quiry, a t w hich th e w hite p riso n ers testi­ fied, held th em for trial. N e x t d a y w ith tw o o th e r scouts I m a d e th e ro u n d o f the reserv atio n . R evolvers a t full cock in o u r h a n d s, w e galloped up to each cabin in tu rn . W e fo u n d no In d ian s, b u t w e d id discover a n d a p p ro p ria te som e p rim e b e av e r a n d b e a r skins. T h o se furs to -d ay w ould be w orth som e th o u sa n d s o f do llars, b u t lest it be th o u g h t th a t I m a d e a fo rtu n e o u t o f th e p lu n d er I m ay m ention th a t th e to tal value o f all th e furs I o b ta in e d , a p a rt from w hat I gave aw ay, w as a t th a t tim e o n e h u n d re d a n d fifty dollars. J u n e 24th w e sta rte d w ith th e re m a in d e r o f th e tro o p s u n d e r G e n e ra l M id d le to n , w hose p u rsu it o f Big B ear had b e en blocked by im passable m uskegs a n d w ho had jo in e d us on th e 14th, on th e re tu rn to F o rt P itt. A rriving th ere I learned th a t M rs. G o w an lo ck a n d M rs. D elan ey h a d been b ro u g h t in by W illiam M c K a y a n d a p a rty o f s c o u ts: th e y h a d b e e n fo u n d w ith so m e half-b reed s w ho h a d w ith d raw n from Big B ear a fte r F re n c h m a n ’s B utte a n d w ere m ov in g to w a rd P itt. T h ese h a lf-breeds posed as loyal, b u t in th e case o f o n e o f them at least th e fiction w ould not hold. T h is w as P ierre B londin. th e m an w ho tho u g h as afterw ard d eveloped, from no c o m m e n d ab le m otive b o u g h t M rs. G o w a n ­ lock from th e In d ian s, w ho a p p e a re d b efore h e r in h e r deceased h u sb a n d 's o v erco at a n d w ho w ore all m y best clo th in g in the cam p . P o irier, w h o m 1 have m en tio n ed b efo re, w as responsible fo r th e h a lf-b re ed ’s u n d o in g . B londin sp o k e good E nglish. Som e scouts had g a th e red ro u n d him o n e evening a n d w ere being e n te rta in ed w ith a recital o f his h e ro ic acts, w hen P oirier chanced

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to pass a n d c au g h t som e o f his re m a rk s. G o in g up to B londin a n d je rk in g th e c o a t o ff his b ack , th e F ren ch m an exclaim ed: “ Y o u ’re th e h o u n d w ho w ould have m istre a te d a w hite w o m a n , eh? W h ere did you get th ese clothes?” T h e scouts w ere d u m b fo r a m o m e n t: th en they asked for ex p la n atio n s. P o irier g a v e them briefly a n d th e infu riated m en tu rn ed on B londin, strip p ed him a n d drag g ed him to w a rd the S a sk atch ew an . It m ig h t have been th e finish for B londin b u t for th e c ap tain o f o n e o f th e ste a m -b o a ts then lying at P itt. H e rescued th e half-b reed , tho u g h n o t before he h a d been badly m auled a n d w as a lm o st d e ad from te rro r. T h a t w as th e last F o rt Pitt saw o f P ierre B londin. T h e M cL ean s a n d all o th e r w h ite p riso n e rs had also a rriv e d in o u r absence, reaching P itt o n Ju n e 21st. A fte r Steele’s fight at L oon L ak e the W o o d C re es refused longer to cam p w ith Big B ear’s b a n d . T h e la tte r th ere u p o n tu rn e d east a n d th e W o o d C rees, w ith th e p riso n e rs, c o n tin u e d n orth a s far as Lac d e s Isles, east o f C o ld L ake, w h ere the c ap tiv es w ere given th eir freedom . T hey w ere all well, tho u g h several w ere tak e n ill w ith ty p h o id soon a fte r reaching Pitt. W a n d e rin g S pirit forsook Big B e ar’s ban d a n d w ent w ith th e W o o d C rees, p ro b a b ly fearing d e a th a t th e h a n d s o f his follow ers for leading them into tro u b le. O n Ju ly 1st w e left Pitt by ste a m b o a t for B attleford. T h e luxury o f such a m o d e o f travel w e could fully a p p rec ia te a fte r w ading th ro u g h in te rm in a b le sw am p s and m uskegs. F ro m vario u s sources I have g lea n ed th e follow ing p a rticu la rs o f th e L oon L ake fight: O n J u n e 2nd as a lre ad y related , M a jo r Steele w ith seventy-five m o u n te d m en left th e L ittle R e d D e e r R iver to follow Big B ear’s trail a n d e n d e a v o u r to release th e re m a in d e r o f th e priso n ers. T en m iles o u t a n o te d ro p p e d by M r. M cL ean saying th a t all w ere well a n d th e p a rty w as m oving in a n o rth -ea sterly d irectio n w as picked u p . A t n o o n th e scouts c am p ed , tw enty-five m iles o u t, for d in n er. C a n o n M c K a y , in th e a d v an ce w hen the c o m m an d m oved a g ain , c am e u p o n a n d fired at tw o Indian scouts, w ho escaped. T hese In d ian s w aited in a m b u sh a n d sh o t S cout J . Fisk o f th e a d v an ce p a rty , b re ak in g his a rm . T h e m ain b o d y w as d ism o u n te d and e x te n d ed a t on ce. T h ey ru sh ed th ro u g h th e brush, firing at ra n d o m as th ey a d v an c ed , b u t no In d ian s w ere uncovered. Fisk ro d e on pluckily w ith o u t a m u rm u r. C a m p w as m a d e for th e nig h t forty-five m iles n o rth -ea st. A t d a y b reak the m arch w as resum ed a n d at n in e o ’clock th e a d v an ce sco u ts cam e on the Indian c am p beside a lak e a t th e foot o f a w o o d e d hill. O nly

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th ree tep ees w ere sta n d in g . M o st o f th e In d ian s h a d a lready th at m o rn in g forded a n arm o f th e lak e to a p en in su la a h e a d , en d ea v ­ o u rin g to a v o id th e troops. M a jo r S teele a t once d ism o u n te d his m en a n d they o p e n ed fire on In d ian s crossing th e fo rd a n d on th e tepees. L ittle P o p la r had alread y crossed, b u t h earin g th e firing he rallied th e In d ian s and h u rried back to engage th e scouts. T h ree In d ian s w ere sh o t as they ran from th e tepees, o n e th e W o o d C re e c h ie f C u t A rm , a g o o d friend to th e p riso n ers. It w as th e u n fo rtu n a te penalty o f b a d asso ciatio n s. M iss K itty M c L ea n w as crossing th e ford w hen th e fight began w ith h e r b a b y b ro th e r on h e r a rm . A bullet passed" betw een h e r h e ad a n d th e c h ild ’s a n d a n o th e r cut her shaw l, b u t she reached th e o th e r side u n in ju re d . T h e In d ian s w ere craw ling up th e hill u n d e r co v er o f th e brush b u t th e scouts c o n tin u e d to a d v an ce a n d d ro v e them back . O n e m an w as sh o t by S cout W illiam F ie ld e rs a t a d istance o f ten feet. T h e a tta c k e rs’ rifles g o t so h o t a t tim es from th e rapid firing that they h a d to d ro p them a n d allow them to cool. T h re e m o re In d ian s w ere w o u n d e d , o n e o f th ese L ittle P o p lar finished by m istake as h e w as a tte m p tin g to craw l back to his ow n people. L o n e M a n ’s h o rse w as sh o t u n d e r h im , th e ball passing through his b a rre l b e h in d th e In d ia n ’s legs. C a n o n M c K a y e n d ea v o u red to parley w ith th e enem y. A w h ite flag w as h o isted a n d sta n d in g b eh in d a tree h e d e m a n d ed th at they give up th e p riso n ers. T h e h ostiles answ ered w ith a volley from th eir gu n s. M r. M c L ea n se n t by a friendly In d ian nam ed F rangois M ellon a letter to th e tro o p s, b u t th e m essenger w as sh o t th ro u g h th e elbow w hile crossing a sw am p a n d h a d to re tu rn . A second a tte m p t at parley w as repelled like th e first, the In d ian s sh o u tin g th a t they w o u ld a n n ih ilate th e scouts. A t th e end o f th re e h o u rs M a jo r Steele, finding h im self with his sm all force u n a b le to follow up his a d v an tag e , o rd e re d a re tre a t a n d re tired tw elve m iles to a w ait rein fo rcem en ts, carrying his w o u n d e d w ith h im . T h ese w ere S e rg e a n t-M a jo r W illiam Fury o f th e N o rth -W e st M o u n te d Police, sh o t th ro u g h th e chest, and S couts W illiam W est a n d J . Fisk o f th e A lb e rta F ield F o rce. G e n era l M id d leto n c am e up w ith Steele a n d th e augm ented force o f th re e h u n d re d cavalry, a fte r a delay o f a day o r tw o to m ak e pack sad d les a n d trav o y s, reached th e scene o f S teele's fight on Ju n e 7th. T h e In d ian s by th is tim e w ere m iles ah ea d . M id d le ­ ton follow ed th e ir trail a cro ss th e ford. A t th e fa rth e r side o f the p en in su la h e found a m uskeg nearly tw o m iles w ide. It w as alm ost im passable for th e heavy horses o f th e cavalry, although th e In d ian s h a d m an ag ed to cross w ith th e ir light p o n ies after discarding ev ery th in g n o t a b so lu tely indispensable, such as sides

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o f b a co n , bags o f flo u r and o th e r heavy articles. T h e general decided it w as useless to p u rsu e th e fleeing hostiles fa rth e r and re tu rn e d to Pitt. F ro m L oon L ak e n o rth to L ac d e s Isles th e m arch w as terribly h ard on th e p riso n e rs. T h e ladies w ere o bliged to w alk, often th ro u g h w a ter, w ith heav y b u n d les on their backs. T h e ir clothing w as to rn , th eir feet w ere cut a n d b ruised th ro u g h their w o rn o u t m occasins. A t th e B eaver R iv er th e p riso n e rs p leaded to be allow ed to retu rn to P itt, but th e In d ian s insisted on th eir a cc o m ­ pan y in g them still fa rth e r. A lth o u g h th e b a n d s h a d se p a ra ted a fte r leaving L oon L ak e, m o st o f Big B ear’s follow ers going east, the C h ip p ew y an s w est a n d th e W o o d C re es n o rth w ith the priso n ers, th e W o o d C rees still feared th a t th e p riso n ers m ight if liberated fall in w ith stragglers from Big B ear’s band. T h e y crossed th e B eaver R iv er on logs a n d in bo ats m ad e o f o x -h id e stretch ed on w illow w ithes. Stanley S im pson sw am th e river several tim es, helping th e In d ia n s cro ss, in o rd e r to secure tea and o th e r luxuries from them for the M cL ean fam ily. A t the last crossing he w as ex h au sted a n d h a d he n o t been rescued by an Indian on a log w ould h av e su n k . A day n orth o f th e B eaver R iv er the In d ian s d ecided to let them g o , a n d they sta rte d on th e retu rn to F o rt Pitt. It w as a long w eary m arc h . T h e y h a d been given a sh o t gun b u t no p rovisions. Stanley S im pson m a d e g o o d use o f th e gun and kept them from starving, w alking d o u b le th e d istan c e o f the o th ers, by h u n tin g ra b b its. Even as it w as th ey m ig h t h av e suffered, for th irty m o u th s a re a g o o d m any to fill, but th ey w ere lucky e n ough to find a n e m a cia te d ox, a b a n d o n e d as useless by th e Indians. H e w as killed, th e m ea t d ried a n d , to u g h a n d tasteless though it w as, it help ed to keep life in th e p o o r w anderers. A t L oon L ake they w ere m et by a p a rty from G e n era l M id d le ­ ton, w ho had learned o f th eir release and sent clothing a n d food in w ag o n s for th e ir relief. A rriv in g a t P itt, they left soon a fte r­ w ard for B attleford a n d th e E ast by b o at. In th e ir flight from L oon L ake th e In d ian s forsook a dropsical w om an w ho could n o t travel fast e n ough to k e ep up w ith th e cam p . O ld, ill a n d de se rte d , ig n o ran tly fearing d e a th at th e h a n d s o f th e w h ite tro o p s, she fixed a ro p e a b o u t h e r neck, tied it to a stu m p a n d hanged herself.

F ori P ill O nce M o re I h a d left F o rt P itt for B attleford only a day o r tw o w hen the

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W o o d C rees cam e in from L ac des Isles a n d su rre n d ere d . It w as d ark w hen they a rriv e d , th a t stra n g e m an W an d e rin g S p irit with th em . E vidently th e w a r c h ie f saw only d e a th a h ea d o f h im . T h e ir lodges w ere p itc h e d , the even ing m eal w as o ver. W a n d e rin g Spirit cam e to th e d o o r o f his lodge a n d called: “ All w ho w ish to look o n m e o n c e m o re, c o m e now !” H e w ent b ack , d ro p p e d on a b lan k e t, a n d sat staring gloom ily into th e fire. H a lf an h o u r passed. H e ju m p e d to his feet, his h a n d snatch ed a t his w aist a n d flung o u t clutching his long sh e a th -k n ife, th e b la d e struck d e e p into h is side a n d h e fell to the g ro u n d . T h e w ar c h ie f s a im w as b a d . H e m issed his h e art, b u t cu t the lung so th a t a lobe p ro tru d e d . H is tim e w as not yet. Y es, a stran g e m a n , th is w a r chief; suspicious yet no cow ard: cap ab le o f a n y devilry w hen th e passions o f th e savage held sw ay, yet k in d and gentle to his fam ily a n d to o th e rs in c alm er m oods: a slayer o f defenceless m en, y e t d a rin g to recklessness on the battlefield, w ith a record o f m an y B lackfoot scalps. A n d in the e n d sacrificing h im self as an a to n e m e n t for th e rest o f his b a n d . T h a t h e did n o t succeed w as a n accident. “ O n c e a priest alw ays a p riest, o n c e a M a so n alw ays a M aso n , b u t o n ce a jo u rn a lis t alw ays a n d for ever a jo u rn a list,” says R u d y a rd K ipling. F o r jo u rn a list, h e m ig h t have substitu ted tra d e r. N o so o n e r w as I well o u t o f th e clutches o f th e savages, vow ing I never again w an ted to see a n In d ian , th an I w as ready to go back a m o n g th em . T h e re is a ch arm a b o u t th e red m an. w ith his p a in t, his feathers, his sim plicity, h is native e loquence, his irresp o n sib ility — even his d irt, a n d in th e sm o k e o f his cam p fires, th e crossed a n d black en ed poles o f his shifting h a b ita tio n , th e sw eep a n d m ajesty o f his virgin la n d — som eth in g in all this th a t g e ts into th e b lo o d o f his w h ite-sk in n e d b ro th e r a n d sticks th ere. It lures him aw ay from th e c o n v en tio n alities, th e set and fretting b o u n d a rie s o f civilized life, back to w a rd th e beg in n in g o f things w hen N im ro d w as a m ig h ty h u n te r before th e L o rd a n d all m en w ere sh e p h e rd s. T h ere w ere d o lla rs a n d furs, bead , silk a n d feath er w ork, am o n g th e In d ian s w h o h a d c o m e in a n d su rre n d ere d at P itt and I w an ted a sh a re o f it all. Besides, th e re w as th e pay o f th e tro o p s them selves left a t th e old fo rt. T h e re fo re — I th in k b e fo re I w as actually a lto g e th e r a w are o f it I found m yself ab so rb ed in the business o f selecting a n ou tfit. T h is is not q u ite so easy as it sounds, unless you know Indians th e ir likes, th eir dislikes, th eir needs, w h a t will interest them

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and w h a t w o n 't. T h ese things I h a p p en e d to know . T h ere w ere b lan k e ts a n d p rin t, syrup, to b ac co , verm ilion in little deerskin bags, b u tte r, c an n e d fruits, m an y o th e r articles d e a r to th e a b o rig ­ inal h e a rt and sto m ac h , including g in g er ale a n d cigars. I m et P oirier a n d engaged him w ith h is team to haul th e stu ff to Pitt, a n d I to o k H en ry Q u in n to help m e deal it o u t. T h en w e h it th e trail a n d in fo u r days from B attleford w ere in Pitt ag ain . W e crossed th e b ro a d S askatchew an w ith som e difficulty, p itc h e d o u r ten ts n e a r th e h e a d q u a rte rs o f th e co m m a n d in g officer on th e hill a b o v e th e ruins o f th e old fort a n d sp read o u r w ares in readiness for business. S e n trie s a b o u t th e In d ian c am p a few h u n d red yards back g u a rd e d th e su rre n d ere d hostiles. I h a d been told by a tra d e r w ho h a d preced ed us to Pitt, having c o m e u p -riv er by ste am er, th a t I m ight as well retu rn w ith o u t u n p ack in g . H e had been th ere a w eek and had sold practically n o thing. I d id n o t acc ep t his advice. O nly a few o f th e In d ian s w ere p e rm itte d to leave th eir c am p a t a tim e , yet d u rin g th e first tw o d a y s I picked up b o th furs and fancy w ork a n d p a p e r d o lla rs as well. T h ey cam e w ith th eir valuables concealed u n d e r th e ir b lan k e ts, for th e soldiers h a d a w ay o f a ccepting an y th in g p o rta b le belonging to th eir charges w ith o u t exchanging th e fo rm alities o f yea a n d nay. T h e th ird m o rn in g a fte r o u r arriv al C o lo n el O sb o rn e S m ith, w ho had been left by G e n e ra l M id d leto n to receive the su rre n d er o f th e hostiles, se n t w o rd to th e Indian c am p th a t all th e m en w ere to m arch w ith th e ir a rm s to th e o pen space betw een th e tw o c am p s, as he had som eth in g to say to th em . A n h o u r later they a rriv e d in a b o d y . T h e W in n ip eg L ight In fan try in scarlet tu n ics w ere d raw n up in line to receive th e m . T h e In d ian s w ere told to pile th eir guns a t a sp o t d e sig n ated and to tak e seats in a half-circle on the g ro u n d som e d istan c e off. C o lo n el Sm ith spoke. H e told them they had been guilty o f g rave w rong in tak in g up a rm s a g ain st th e G re a t M o th e r, but th a t th e h e a rt o f th e G re a t M o th e r w as k in d a n d m ost o f them w ould b e forgiven. T h e re w ere so m e , ho w ev er, w ho had killed defenceless w hite m en, b u rn e d buildings a n d c o m m itte d o th e r serious offences. T hese th e G re a t M o th e r had o rd e re d him to tak e w ith him to B attleford. T h e G re a t M o th e r w ould say later w hat should be d o n e w ith th em . H e w ould call o u t th e nam es o f those w ho w ere w a n ted and they m u st ste p o u t and ta k e seats to g eth e r, a p a rt from th e oth ers. H e read m y d e p o sitio n a n d th e in te rp rete r called th e n a m e s o f the m u rd e re rs— W alk in g th e Sky, M an ich o o s, N a p aise — with

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those o f m in o r o ffen d ers b e tw ee n . H e called th e n a m e o f A pischiskoos. I saw th e face o f th e m an w ho h a d struck th e p riest in th e eye w ith th e b u tt o f h is ridin g -w h ip a n d chased on horseb ack a n d sh o t d o w n a p o o r fugitive, ta k e on a ghastly sm ile as h e rose and w alked to the d o o m e d g ro u p o f his fellows. W h en th e c h ie f crim inals h a d been tak e n th e red co ats stepped betw een them a n d th e re m a in d e r a n d they w ere m arched dow n to th e old fort to a w ait th e d e p a rtu re o f th e b o a t w hich sho u ld carry them to B attleford a n d ju d g m e n t. T h en th e o th e rs w ere told not to forget th e m ercy o f th e G re a t M o th e r, for m an y w ere alm o st equally guilty. T h e y could re tu rn to th eir reservations b u t they w ould not be tru sted w ith th e ir a rm s. T h ey w ould be cared for if they w ere g o o d for th e fu tu re, as they h a d been looked after before the tro u b le , a n d now th ey m ight re tu rn to their lodges. W an d e rin g S p irit w as ill in th e cam p . M iserable M an a fugi­ tive, K aw eech etw ay m o t d ead . T ra d e w as n o t so brisk as I w ished, fo r m an y ol th e Indians w h o m 1 knew possessed b a rte ra b le effects w o u ld not leave their c am p a t all. L ate in th e a fte rn o o n , th ere fo re, 1 secured from C o lo n el S m ith to th e se n try on d u ty a t th e bridge betw een the cam ps a n o rd e r, p a ss m e w ith a w agon, into th e In d ian e n c a m p ­ m en t. It w as stip u la ted th a t I w as to rem ain n o t longer than an h o u r. H ow ever, th a t d id not m atter. L o ad in g th e re m a in in g stock in to th e w a g o n , w e d ro v e over. In a few m in u tes o u r o p e n -a ir sh o p w as su rro u n d e d . M e n , w om en a n d c hildren h a n d e d u p d o lla r n o tes, b e av e r skins a n d fancy m occasins at such a rate th a t I w as k e p t busy receiving th em and had to call to m y assistance in d e alin g o u t th e goo d s a cou p le o f th e m o re intelligent o f th e In d ian s. N o tw ith sta n d in g th e tim e lim it, I w as in no h u rry to leave, a n d w hen d a rk n ess cam e, as it soon d id , I d ro v e o v er a m o n g th e lodges, p u t u p a sm all ten t and stow ed w hat little stock re m a in e d aw ay in it. I had got m o st o f th e In d ia n s’ saleab le p ro p e rty , b u t u p until eleven o 'clo ck th a t nig h t a n o d d o n e d ro p p e d in w ith a n o th e r do llar bill to m a k e a sm all p u rch ase a n d w e sm o k e d a n d talk e d a b o u t “ th e th in g s th at w as” a n d th o se th a t w ere to co m e. I w as leaving these p o o r p e o p le , these children o f th e w ilder­ ness, w ith all th eir g o o d a n d b a d traits —th e ir ready a n d gen ero u s hospitality for long years to th e w hite m an w herever m et, until evil counsels a n d th e w hite m a n ’s ow n c u p id ity a n d looseness and c o n te m p t b ro u g h t disease a n d d e stitu tio n into th eir m idst and tu rn e d th eir h an d s ag ain st him self. M an y o f them h a d been m y co m p a n io n s on lonely trails. S om e had faced d a n g er a n d d e a th to

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defend m e. M o st o f them had been m y friends w hen G o d know s if ever I had need o f friends. I w as leaving them p ro b a b ly never to c o m e again a m o n g st th em , a n d I w as truly sad. B efore tu rn in g into m y b lan k e ts I w alked o v er to th e lodge o f an Indian w hom I had know n well. H e h a d been a rre ste d th a t day for som e m in o r offence, b u t his w ife a n d bro th er-in -law w ere there. She w as a w om an w ho w ould h a v e been th o u g h t p retty even a m o n g civilized p eoples. She h a d a face like o n e o f G ib s o n ’s w o m e n — a ra th e r thin face w ith g raceful lines a n d deep intelligent eyes. H e r black h a ir w as fine a n d lustrous a n d she had th e bright c o q u ettish w ays o f those w om en alw ays so d a n g ero u s to m en. O nce a w hite m an h a d fallen in love w ith h e r a n d her husb an d had g o n e to th e w h ite m a n ’s h o u se in th e night a n d tried to kill h im . T h e w hite m an h a d been sent o u t by th e g o v e rn m e n t to teach th e In d ian s how to farm a n d raise stock. T h a t w e a k n e ss— for a taw ny oval face— w as a failing o f to o m an y o f th e w hite m en w hom th e g o v e rn m e n t em ployed to show th e ig n o ran t red m an how to live. I talk ed to th e w o m a n , telling h e r th a t her husb an d w ould soon be free a g ain . In co m p ariso n w ith w h a t o th e rs had d o n e , h e w as u n sp o tted . It had g row n very still, except th a t in a lodge n e ar by som e w om en w ailed dism ally. I a sk e d her w hose it was. “ A p isch isk o o s’s ,” sh e replied. H is w ife a n d h is th ree p retty d a u g h te rs, ju st b u d d in g into th e hopeless Indian w o m a n h o o d , w ould never see him ag ain . N ex t m o rn in g th e In d ian s still discovered m e a n s to buy a n d I stayed on in th e cam p . W ith th e exception o f W an d e rin g Spirit th e c h ie f culprits h a d all been tak e n and latcy in th e d a y those rem aining at liberty w ould m ove o u t to O n io n L ak e. A b o u t nine o ’clock I w alked o v er to see W a n d e rin g Spirit. T h e w a r chief w as a very sick m a n . H e lay o u tsid e his lodge, screened from th e sun by a b la n k e t o n po les ab o v e his h e ad , his long curling hair resting on a p illow , his a rm s a n d chest b a re except for th e encircling b a n d ag e h iding his w o u n d . H e tu rn e d his d e e p black eyes as I cam e u p — a n d listless they looked n o w , but as soon as h e saw m e the old fire flashed into them , th e fierce blood surged to his face a n d m ad e it d ark as I had so often seen it d o before w hen he w as ro u sed . D id h e h ate m e to th e last? I have o ften w o n d e red . T h e excitem ent upset him in his w eakness; h e tu rn e d aw ay in d istress. I, his enem y, had com e to ta u n t him h e to u g h t, p e rh a p s. I sto o d looking dow n at him fo r som e m om ents. “ H ave you an y th in g to trad e ? ” I asked a t length. “ I am here

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w ith goods, b u t to -d ay I go a g ain . A n y th in g you w an t you m ust get n o w ." H e sho o k his h e ad slightly. " N o , ” h e an sw ered w earily, “ 1 w an t n o th in g . A nyw ay I have n o th in g w ith w hich to b u y ." H e lo o k ed to w ard th e lodge. “ N 'T a n is /” H is d a u g h te r cam e. H e spoke w ith h e r in a low voice, th en stretch ed o u t h is h a n d to m e w ith a ten -cen t piece in it. “ A t least 1 have this. She will spend it w ith y o u .” I looked a t th e w asted figure w ith its w eak voice. C o u ld th is be th e terrib le m an 1 h a d sh ru n k from on th a t ap p allin g d a y a t F rog L ake?- w h o m 1 had heard b o a st in th e G ra ss D a n ce o f the scalps he h a d ta k e n ? - w ho h a d ruled a c am p o f savages by the m ig h t and d re a d o f his single arm a n d will? M y h e a rt w as to u ch ed w ith a stran g e u n re aso n in g p ity fo r h im . 1 knew th a t this w as a sen tim en t I had no im aginable excuse for e n te rta in in g , yet th ere it w as, u ninvited. “ W h a t a re you living o n ? ” I a sk ed . “ N o th in g , a lm o st n o th in g . T h e soldiers are good: they give us bacon a n d flo u r every d ay . B ut 1 d o n o t e a re to e a t.” “ F a t baco n a n d m ou ld y flo u r a re no food for a sick m a n ," I said. “ Let y o u r d a u g h te r c o m e w ith m e a n d 1 will send you things b e tte r for y ou. W h ere is th e kn ife th e o n e you d id this w ith?” I p o in te d to his w o u n d . H e sent a n d g o t it. H is b lo o d w as still u p o n th e b lad e . “ I will keep this to rem e m b e r you b y ,” I said. H e n o d d e d a ssen t a n d I w en t back to m y cam p . I gave his d a u g h te r ja m , c a n n e d m e a t, te a , su g ar, b u tte r, biscuit for m y old enem y. H e w as c arried on a stre tc h er to th e ste a m b o a t, put a b o a rd w ith th e o th e r p r is o n e rs a n d th a t a f te rn o o n th e y w en t do w n th e S askatchew an to B attleford. T h e In d ian s struck th e ir lodges a n d m oved a t noon for O n io n L ake. A n o th e r b o a t w as ex pected in a d a y o r tw o from E d m o n ­ ton a n d I d ecided to w ait and re tu rn by her to B attleford. I sent P o irier back by trail and to w a rd evening said to Q uinn: “ L e t's go o u t a n d c a m p o n e m o re night a m o n g th em . It will p ro b ab ly b e th e last. A n d I w a n t to g et K a h n e e p o ta y ta y o ’s d a n c ­ ing d re ss.” A h alf-b reed h ired us h o rse s a n d sitting th a t n ig h t w ith th e In d ian s in th eir lodges w e im ag in ed ourselves o n ce m o re o u t o f th e w orld w e kn ew . I lo o k ed up the head d a n c e r o f Big B ear’s b a n d and gave him a fancy b la n k e t for his dress. It w as a silver-fox pelt, slit d o w n th e back a n d d e co ra te d w ith m ilitary brass b u tto n s , plu m es, bells a n d rib b o n s. H e w ore it th ro w n over

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his sh o u ld ers, th e h e ad resting on his chest a n d th e splendid tail h an g in g dow n b eh in d h im . H e h a d k e p t it carefully rolled u p a n d h idden aw ay so th a t th e tro o p s sh o u ld not g e t it, but h e th o u g h t he w ould n o t re q u ire it any m o re. N ex t m o rn in g w e ro d e back to P itt, th e ste a m e r arrived in a day o r tw o and w e re tu rn e d to B attleford.

The In d ia n Trials M y frien d S tanley S im pson lay seriously ill in B attleford o f fever b ro u g h t on by ex p o su re and p riv a tio n in th e In d ian cam p . I w as daily a t his side, d o in g w hat I co u ld to c h ee r a n d help him . A t length he w as convalescent, a n d one evening w hen I cam e in as usual to c h a t w ith him he told m e how h e h a d been m isbehaving h im self in th e a fte rn o o n . H e h a d felt q u ite stro n g and h aving been b e d -b o u n d for m o re than a m o n th decided to p ractise a little d e ce p tio n a gainst th e pow ers th a t w ere by stealing o ut a n d tak in g a look a t h im self in th e glass on th e wall o p p o site h im . H e h a d been standing b e fo re this, im ag in in g th a t a little co lo u r w as creeping back into his w an p in ch e d c h eek s w hen som eth in g struck th e back o f his h e ad . H e realized w ith a m a z e ­ m ent th a t it had been th e edge o f th e b e d stead . H e h eard th e lady o f th e h o u se , ala rm e d by th e fall, rushing u p sta irs a n d the p o o r invalid, trem b lin g violently a n d looking like a g h o st, feverishly p aw ed h im self back in to bed. S tan ley w as alw ays such a m o d est fellow a n d his land lad y , p o o r th in g , m ight see him in his n ig h t­ shirt! N o m o re e x p erim e n ts fo r a w eek; then w e b u n d led him in to a light spring w agon w ith a m a ttre ss in th e b o tto m a n d started across th e tw o h u n d re d m iles o f p ra irie for R eg in a, su m m o n ed as w itnesses a g ain st th e In d ian s o f Big B ear's b a n d . M e a n tim e F o u r-S k y T h u n d e r, a cc o m p a n ied by M iserab le M a n a n d a sm all party , h a d com e into B attleford a n d su rre n d ere d to C olonel O tter. T h is w as ex trem ely short-sighted o f M iserab le M a n , as he no d o u b t c oncluded w hen he w as la te r h an g ed for the m u rd e r o f C h arles G o u in a t F ro g L ake. A t R egina I a p p e a re d a gainst n in e Indians trie d a t o n e sitting on a charge o f trea so n -fe lo n y , a m o n g them m y old acq u a in ta n ce O sk ata sk , w ho q u e stio n e d m e a t so m e length. I had m uch sa tis­ faction in a nsw ering h im . All w ere sentenced to th e p e n ite n tiary fo r a term o f years. Big B ear had been c ap tu red n e a r F o rt C a rlto n , tw o h u n d red

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m iles east o f P itt, a b o u t Ju ly 1st, on a n island in th e S ask atch e­ w an, by S e rg e an t G ra h a m o f th e N o rth -W e st M o u n te d Police. T h e old c h ie f h a d e v ad e d th re e c olum ns o f tro o p s se n t o u t to intercep t him . A c o u n cillo r a n d his youngest son. H o rse C hild, w ere tak e n w ith him . 1 w as a w itness also a t th e tria l o f Big B ear, tho u g h this tim e for th e defence. 1 told h o w , a t th e m o m e n t o f th e sh o o tin g he had ru sh ed to w ard th e m u rd ere rs shouting: “ T e sq u a ! T e sq u a ! (S top! S to p !),” how h e h a d expressed to M r. Sim pson his so rro w for w h at h a d o ccu rred , how a t o u r suggestion he had called a council to urge his follow ers to let th e police q u it P itt u n m o le ste d , and h a d a fte rw a rd held his b a n d back w hen C a p ta in D ickens a b a n ­ d o n e d th e place, how h e h a d spoken fo r us w hen W an d erin g S pirit in council trie d to incite a second m assacre, how C h a q u apocase (as 1 learn ed ) th e n ig h t a fte r F re n c h m a n 's B utte had sta rte d for th e M c L e a n s’ ten t to sh o o t th e c h ie f tra d e r in revenge fo r th e d e ath o f th e m u rd e re r K a h w e ec h e tw ay m o t a n d how Big B ear had g o n e a fte r him a n d ta k e n aw ay h is g un. T h e old c h ie f w as in sore perp lex ity a n d distress a n d I spoke fervently in his behalf. W ith a w orld o f tro u b le in th e kindly expressive old eyes h e sat a n d w atched m e w hile th e in te rp rete r b eside him tran sla ted m y testim o n y in h is e a r, a n d as 1 w arm ed in his defence a n d the w o rd s cam e fast a n d tu m u ltu o u sly to m y lips h e n o d d e d h is h e a d em ph atically in c o n firm atio n and the cloud seem ed to lift from his seam ed and rugged p a triarc h a l face. Big B ear is d e ad , b u t it will alw ays be a so u rce o f g ra tifica tio n to m e th a t I had th e o p p o rtu n ity o f d o in g so m e th in g to lighten the m isfo rtu n es th a t o v erto o k his old age a n d th a t 1 m ade th e m o st o f it. T h e ch arg e w as treaso n -felo n y a n d the verdict guilty. B rought b efore th e c o u rt to learn his fate, Ju stice R ich ard so n said: “ Big B ear, have you an y th in g to say b e fo re sentence is passed upon you?” T h e old m an drew h im self up w ith th a t im p erio u s a ir th at proclaim ed him lea d er a n d fitted him so well; th e thick nostrils ex p an d e d , th e b ro a d d e ep chest w as th ro w n o u t, th e stro n g jaw looked aggressively p ro m in e n t, th e m o u th w as a stra ig h t line. H e gave his h e ad th e little c h aracteristic toss th a t alw ays preced ed his speeches. “ 1 th in k I sh o u ld h a v e s o m e th in g to s a y ,” h e b e g a n slow ly, " a b o u t th e o c c u rre n c e s w hich b r o u g h t m e h e re in c h a in s ! " H e sp o k e in his native C ree, know ing no E nglish. H e p a u se d . T h en w ith the earn estn ess, th e elo q u e n ce a n d th e p a th o s th at never failed

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to m ove an au d ien ce, red o r w h ite, h e w ent on to speak o f th e tro u ­ bles o f th e spring. “ I knew little o f th e killing a t F ro g L ake b e yond h earin g shots fired. W h en a n y w rong w as b rew in g I d id m y best to sto p it in th e beginning. T h e tu rb u le n t o n e s o f th e b a n d g o t b ey o n d m y c o n tro l a n d shed th e blood o f th o se 1 w ould h a v e p ro tec te d . I w as aw ay fro m F ro g L ak e a p a rt o f th e w inter, h u n tin g a n d fishing, a n d th e rebellion h a d co m m en ced b efore I g o t b a ck . W h en w hite m en w ere few in th e c o u n try I g av e them th e h a n d o f b ro th e r­ h o o d . I am sorry so few a re h e re w ho can w itness for m y friendly acts. “ C a n a n y o n e sta n d o u t a n d say th a t I o rd e re d the d e a th o f a p riest o r a n agent? Y o u th in k I enco u rag ed m y peo p le to tak e p a rt in th e tro u b le . I did n o t. I advised th em a gainst it. I felt sorry w hen they killed those m en a t F ro g L ake, b u t th e tru th is w hen new s o f th e fight a t D u c k L ake reached us m y ban d ignored m y a u th o rity a n d despised m e because I d id n o t side with th e half-b reed s. I did n o t so m u ch as ta k e a w hite m an ’s h o rse. I alw ays believed th a t by being th e frien d o f th e w hite m a n , 1 and m y p e o p le w ould b e help ed by those o f th em w h o had w ealth. 1 alw ays th o u g h t it p a id to do all th e good I c ould. N o w m y h e art is on th e g ro u n d . “ I look a ro u n d m e in th is ro o m and see it crow ded w ith h a n d so m e faces— faces far h a n d so m e r than m y o w n ” (L au g h ter). “ I have ruled m y c o u n try for a long tim e. N o w I am in chains and will b e sent to p riso n , b ut I have no d o u b t th e h a n d so m e faces I a d m ire a b o u t m e will b e co m p e ten t to govern th e la n d ” (L au g h ter). “ A t p re sen t I am as d e a d to m y p e o p le . M an y o f m y b an d a re h iding in th e w oods, paralyzed w ith te rro r. C a n n o t this co u rt send them a p a rd o n ? M y ow n c h ild re n !— p e rh a p s they are starving a n d o u tcast, to o , afraid to a p p e a r in the big light o f day. If th e g o v e rn m e n t do es not c o m e to them w ith help b e fo re th e w inter sets in, m y b a n d will surely perish. " B u t I have to o m uch c onfidence in the G re a t G ra n d m o th e r to fear th a t starv atio n will b e allow ed to o v e rta k e m y people. T he tim e will com e w hen th e In d ian s o f the N o rth -W e st will be o f m uch service to th e G r e a t G r a n d m o th e r. I plead a g a in ," h e cried, stretching forth his h a n d s, “ to y ou, th e chiefs o f th e w hite m e n ’s laws, for p ity a n d help to the o u tc a sts o f m y band! “ I have only a few w o rd s m o re to say. S o m e tim es in th e p a st I have spoken stiffly to th e Indian a g en ts, b u t w hen I did so it w as only in o rd e r to o b ta in m y rights. T h e N o rth -w e st belonged to m e, b u t I p e rh a p s will n o t live to see it ag ain . I ask th e c o u rt to

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publish m y speech a n d to sc a tter it a m o n g th e w hite p e o p le . It is m y defence. “ 1 am old a n d ugly, b u t 1 have tried to d o g o o d . P ity the c hildren o f m y trib e ! Pity th e old a n d th e helpless o f m y p eople! I speak w ith a single to n g u e; a n d b ecause Big B ear has alw ays been th e friend o f th e w hite m an , sen d o u t and p a rd o n and give them help! " H o w ! A q u isa n e e — 1 h a v e sp o k e n !” A ten se silence held th e c ro w d ed c o u rt-ro o m as Big Bear co n clu d ed . T h e m an w ould h av e been calloused indeed w ho could listen to th a t stirrin g a p p e a l, th e im passioned o u tb u rst o f the aged, u n tu to re d o ra to r, u n m o v ed . T h e fates h a d been u n k in d ; D ejected h e w as, lonely, sh o rn o f his free d o m , bew ildered he m ust have been . But how ever b ro k e n he m ight be, a n d p ro b ab ly w as in th e p rivacy o f his solitary cell, h ere, before th e p e o p le o f a n alien race w ho h a d e n te red a n d possessed his land, h e w as still ab le to hold up h is head; h e w as still Big B ear, c h ie f o f th e C rees. T h e sto u t old h e a rt still b e a t strongly in th e w a rrio r b re ast. H is sp irit, th o u g h bow ed, refused to b e crushed. A n d his plea w a s— n o t for him self; h e w as ab o v e th a t— b u t for his p e o p le , far less w orthy than h im self— for his ch ild ren , h id in g in terro r, “ afraid to show them selves in th e big light o f d a y .” M y eyes— 1 am not ash a m e d to say it— w ere w et. M y h e art w en t o u t to th e kindly, p lea sa n t old m an 1 had k n o w n , w ho fo u n d “ so few to w itness for h is friendly a c ts.” 1 w as glad n o t to be a m o n g th a t absent n u m b er. “ Big B e ar,” said Ju stice R ich a rd so n , a n d his to n e w as not u n k in d , “ y o u h a v e been fo u n d guilty by a n im p artial ju ry . Y ou c a n n o t be excused from all responsibility for th e m isd o in g s o f y o u r b a n d . T h e sentence o f th e c o u rt is th a t you b e im prisoned in th e p e n ite n tia ry a t S to n y M o u n ta in for th ree y e ars.” W andering- S pirit h a d recovered from his self-inflicted w o u n d . O n S e p tem b e r 22nd h e w as b ro u g h t b e fo re th e crim inal c o u rt at B attleford ch arg ed w ith h aving on A pril 2 n d , 1885. sh o t to d e ath T h o m a s T ru e m a n Q u in n , Indian a g en t a t F ro g L ake. “ A re you guilty o r n o t guilty?” asked th e c o u rt. “ T h e ch arg e is tru e ,” an sw ered th e w a r chief. Ju d g e R o u lea u , in sentencing h im , said: “ W an d e rin g S p irit, you have confessed to having co m m itted one o f the m o st h ein o u s crim es a m an can c o m m it. I need not say m uch, for you now recognize th e g ravity o f y o u r offence. Y ou w ere d o in g m u rd e r w hile o th e rs b u rn e d h o u ses a n d co m m itted

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o th e r crim es. Y ou co u ld n o t expect a n y g o o d to follow y o u r acts. Y ou w ere to o w eak to o p p o se th e w hites a n d could n o t have p ro v id ed for yourselves even if you had killed them all, a n d now you w ould starve unless th e g o v e rn m e n t to o k y o u in charge. If th e w hites h a d d o n e as y o u d id they w o u ld hav£ killed the Ind ians, but they to o k th e m o st guilty o n e s — th o se w ho to o k a m o st p ro m in e n t p a rt in c rim e — a n d are now feeding th e rest. “ Instead o f listening to w ise m en you pre fe rre d to listen to th e advice o f bad m en as p o o r as yourselves, w ho could n o t help you if they w an ted to a n d w ho only g o t you into tro u b le . T h e g o v e rn ­ m en t d o e s not w ish to d e stro y th e Indians. T h e y w ish to help them to live like w hite m en; b u t as far as m u rd ere rs are c o n ­ cerned, th e g o v e rn m e n t has no p ity . If a w hite m an m u rd e rs an Indian h e m ust han g a n d so m u st an Indian if h e kills a w h ite m an. “ T h e sentence o f th e c o u rt, is th a t y ou. W an d e rin g S p irit, be taken back to th e g u a rd -ro o m a t th e m o u n te d police b a rra c k s and th ere confined until th e 27th day o f N o v e m b er next; th en ce to th e place o f execution a n d hanged by th e neck until you a re d e ad , a n d m ay G o d have m ercy on y o u r so u l.” D ressy M an a n d C h a rle b o is w ere tried fo r th e m u rd e r o f the old Indian w o m a n — th e w e etig o— a n d sentenced to hang. T h e sentence w as a fte rw a rd co m m u ted . M iserab le M an e n d ea v o u red to p ro v e a n alibi. I h a d re tu rn e d from R egina a n d w as p re sen t a t his trial in B attleford. H e w as b ro u g h t into th e co u rth o u se handcuffed to M an ich o o s, a n o th e r F ro g L ake m u rd e re r, b o th bein g charged w ith the m u rd e r o f C h a rle s G o u in . M an ich o o s, by o rd e r o f W an d e rin g S pirit, had first sh o t G o u in , w ho h a d run for th e d o o r o f P ritc h a rd 's house, a few p aces off, w hen Q u in n fell b e sid e him . G o u in w as hit in th e sh o u ld e r. H e fell fo rw ard on his face and tu rn ed o v er on his elbow , g ro a n in g w ith p a in . M iserable M an. having left m e in th e sto re ju s t a m o m en t before, rushed up, placed his gun ag ain st G o u in 's ch est, pulled th e trigger and finished him . H e sat w ith M a n ich o o s on th e d a v o f th e tria l on a bench at th e sid e o f th e c o u r t- r o o m . I s to o d w ith th e c ro w d a t th e b a c k . M iserable M an looked o v er a n d saw m e. H e sm iled his m ost intriguing sm ile. I th in k he w as th e ugliest Indian I ever knew a n d I can n o t im agine th e sm ile im p ro v ed his a p p ea ran c e. H e p o in te d a t m e w ith th e first fin g er on his right h a n d , placed th e back o f th e han d before his lips, w ith th e finger extended; p u sh e d

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it o u t directly b e fo re h im . H e o p e n ed th e h a n d a n d m oved it palm d o w n w ard next h is h e a rt a n d th ru st it q uickly straig h t out before h im . F inally he ta p p e d his chest w ith his forefinger. All o f w hich, bein g tra n sla te d , read: “ M y b ro th er; speak good for m e, M iserab le M a n .” 1 h a d secured a m p le evidence a gainst him a m o n g th e In d ian s o f th e b a n d a n d th e trial w as sh o rt. Ju d g e R o u le a u asked him the usual q u e stio n — w h e th er h e h a d an y th in g to say before sentence w as passed. M iserab le M an w as n o sp e a k er, b u t h e did his best. “ W h en th e m an w as sh o t I w as in the C o m p a n y ’s sh o p w ith ” — he faced a b o u t a n d ran his little w eazel eyes o v er th e cro w d at th e back o f th e ro o m — “ w ith h im ! " he co n clu d ed , p o in tin g m e o u t w ith his finger. T h e ju d g e then p ro n o u n c ed sen ten ce. M iserab le M an b eam ed b e n ig n ly on th e ju d g e as h e s to p p e d s p e a k in g . T h e n in a voice plainly au d ib le in th e c o u rt-ro o m , h e exclaim ed:

"A quisee. mahga!" L iterally, th e re m a rk m ig h t b e tran slated : “ T h a t’s it, b u t!” T h is, ho w ev er, d o e s not convey its exact m eaning. It is a n expression, c o m m o n a m o n g th e C rees, o f sar­ castic a ccep tan ce o f a p ro p o sitio n . Its E nglish equ iv alen t w ould a p p ro ac h an ironical “ H e a r, h e a r!” M a n ich o o s w as likew ise sentenced to hang. F o u r-S k y T h u n d e r w as given fourteen years’ im p riso n m e n t for b u rn in g th e c h u rch . I secured him as a w itness a gainst M iserable M an a n d M a n ich o o s and his sen ten ce, in co n sid era tio n o f this service, w as c o m m u ted as I told him it w o u ld be, a t th e e n d o f six years. N o k ip a w ch a ss w as sentenced to hang w ith th e o th e rs for the m u rd er o f C o w a n . In view o f th e fav o u rab le re p o rts o f the p riso n e rs co n ce rn in g him a n d d o u b t as to th e reliability o f the testim o n y on w hich he w as c o n v ic ted , his sentence w as c o m ­ m u te d . S u b seq u en tly he w as lib erated . N a p aise, o r Iro n B ody, w as convicted o f th e m u rd e r o f G e o rg e D ill, m y fo rm er p a rtn e r. H e called in his defence L ittle B ear, who testified as follows: “ I w as p re sen t w hen Dill w as killed. Saw him turn a ro u n d and th e p riso n e r fired a t him a n d k n o c k ed him d o w n .” T h e n L ittle B ear, o r A pischiskoos, w as p u t on trial for the sam e crim e a n d also c onvicted. In his ow n d efence h e said: “ I will tell th e tru th a b o u t w h a t I d id a n d w h at I know . W hen I w as a t th e ro o th o u se W an d e rin g S pirit cam e for m e to ta k e the w hite p eople to th e cam p . H e w en t aw ay a n d I heard th re e shots.

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W hile still th ere I saw th e w hites w alking a n d h e ard m o re sh o ts. I ju m p e d on m y h o rse a n d ro d e to w a rd th e shoo tin g . 1 saw th e p riests a lread y d e ad . I saw th re e w h ites ru n n in g a n d I h e ard W an d e rin g S pirit calling. I then w e n t a fte r th e w hites. I heard m o re shots. I saw o n e m an . O th e r In d ian s w ere firing a t him and I also fired tw o shots. A fte r I h a d fired the w hite m an tu rn e d and faced us a n d N a p a ise fired a n d k n o c k ed him d o w n .” N a p a is e said: “ I u n d e rsto o d it w as only a m u rd e re r th a t the law w ould deal severely w ith, so I w ent to P rince A lb e rt a n d gave m yself up a n d now I find I a m accused o f m u rd e r. K a h w e ec h e t­ w aym ot sh o t W illiscraft and th en G ilch rist. T h e n A pischiskoos and I b o th fired a t Dill b u t m issed a n d M ay m ay q u ay so o k nocked him d o w n . W an d e rin g Spirit w as th e cause o f it all. H e w as je a lo u s o f those w ho w ished to ta k e a reserv atio n . A fte r killing Q u in n he w as afraid a n d w ished to d ra g o th e rs in to it.” . P a y p a m a k ee sik , o r W alking th e Sky, w as sentenced for the m u rd er o f F a th e r F a fa rd , w ith w h o m h e lived as a boy for several years. W an d e rin g S p irit, after killing Q u in n , first sh o t th e p riest. H e ran up to him as th e m issionary w alked in th e d irec tio n o f th e Indian cam p . “ W hy d id you n o t give us new s o f th e D uck L ake fight w hen you learn ed it?” h e cried . “ Y ou w ish to sid e w ith th e w h ites and a gainst u s— follow th e m !” H e raised his rifle a n d shot th e p riest th ro u g h th e neck. F a th e r F afard fell on h is face. H e still b re a th e d a n d W alk in g th e Sky stepped o u t o f a g ro u p b ehin d h im , p u t th e m uzzle o f his gun close to th e back o f th e p riest’s h e ad a n d sent a bullet th ro u g h his b rain. K a h w eech etw ay m o t w as d e ad by a shell a t F re n c h m a n ’s B utte: M ay m ay q u ay so o a n d P ask o o q u iy o o (th e m u rd e re r o f Jo h n D e la ­ ney a n d F a th e r M a rc h a n d ) w ere fugitives w ith L ittle P oplar. Im asees a n d o th ers across the M o n ta n a line; th e rem ain in g m u r­ derers h a d been tried a n d sentenced to han g on N o v e m b er 27th. T hey w ere: W a n d e rin g S pirit, M iserab le M a n , P ay p am ak eesik , M an ich o o s, N a p aise a n d A pischiskoos.

The E x e c u tio n s A frail little m o th e r w ith wistful eyes tu rn e d to w a rd the W est w as co u n tin g th e day s until she .should o n ce m o re p ress to h e r loving h e art a son given back to her from th e very verge o f th e g ra v e. I had n o t been E ast fo r som e years. B ut I had k n o w n Big B ear's

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b an d before th e o u tb re a k , h a d been w ith them all th ro u g h it. N o w , 1 d ecid ed , I w ould rem ain to see th e cu rtain d ro p on the last scene in th is grim , e m o tio n a l d ra m a . I could n o t, I felt, do o therw ise. T h e trials h a d ta k e n place in late S e p tem b e r a n d early O cto b er. In th e ensuing w eeks 1 m ad e freq u e n t trip s to th e g u a rd -ro o m at th e b a rra c k s w ith to b ac co for th e Indian p riso n ers. T h e ir prison until late O c to b e r w as a new stable, a large log build in g w ith heavy b ars placed across o n e end b e fo re w hich the g u a rd w as posted. O n e a fte rn o o n , w ith h a lf a dozen large plugs o f to b ac co in my p o ck et, I w en t do w n to see th e Indians. I had n o t spoken to W an d e rin g S p irit since his im p riso n m e n t. H e sat b e h in d th e bars b ow ed a lm o st to th e floor, his b la n k e t w ra p p e d a b o u t his sh o u l­ d ers and th e b a ck o f his h e a d . H e had p e rh a p s not alto g eth er recovered from th e effects o f h is w o u n d . H e seem ed lost in th o u g h t, a n d th e face w ith w hich h e w atch ed m e toss pieces o f th e tobacco to v a rio u s In d ian s o f m y a cq u a in ta n ce inside w as the p ictu re o f d ejection. 1 h a d o n e piece left a n d asked th e serg ean t o f th e g u a rd to toss it to W an d e rin g S pirit. A s it d ro p p e d on th e floor b eside him the w ar c h ie f sta rte d a n d looked up uncertainly as if to ask if I had really m e a n t it fo r him . I n o d d e d . H e to o k the to b ac co slowly from the floor, crossed his a rm s upon his knees and b u ried his face in his b lan k e t. H a d a trifling k indness from m e m elted the m an o f blood? Passing th ro u g h th e b a rra c k sq u a re one d a y ju st b e fo re th e d ate set for th e executions I e n c o u n te re d W a n d e rin g S p irit. H e w as being m arch ed a b o u t by th e g u a rd w ith o th e rs for exercise. “ N ’C h a w a m is,” said he, laughing a n d p o in tin g to a short red -h aired po licem an b e fo re h im , “ th is little fox is alw ays bark in g a t m y heels. R e m in d him th a t w e will tro u b le him b u t th re e days m ore. It is n o t w o rth w hile to be d isagreeable for so short a tim e .” It w as th e a fte rn o o n o f N o v e m b e r 2 6th. T h e m u rd ere rs had been rem oved to cells in th e g u a rd ro o m . W an d e rin g S pirit had m ain tain ed a sto ic silence regarding th e m assacre a n d th e m otives w hich p ro m p te d him to c o m m e n ce it a silence u n b ro k e n even w hen, a fte r p lea d in g guilty, h e h a d been given th e o p p o rtu n ity to speak b e fo re sen ten ce w as p ro n o u n c e d . M y interest in th e w ild, im pulsive m an c o n tin u e d a c u te to the last. H e a p p e a re d to h av e been w on over by m y slight friendly offices a t least to to leran ce o f m e. C ould h e b e induced to talk, to

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u n b o so m h im self to m e, b e fo re th e m o rro w stilled the b e atin g s o f his tu rb u le n t h e art a n d sealed fo r e v er in this w o rld the th in , cruel lips? I could see. I g o t from M a jo r C ro z ie r, c o m m a n d in g th e m o u n te d police at B attleford, an o rd e r a u th o rizin g m e to v isit a n d talk w ith th e m u rd ere rs. I w as show n into th e cell occupied by th e w a r chief. H e sat on th e floor, a heavy ball c h ain ed to his ankle. H e sho o k h a n d s w ith m e as I to o k a seat o p p o site him . “ K a h p a y p a m a h c h a k w a y o ,” I said , “ you have been sh u t up here for fo u r m o n th s. Y ou m ig h t a t any tim e have m a d e a sta te m en t a b o u t th e m assacre. Y o u have not d o n e so. Y o u r follow ers all place th e b lam e for w h a t o ccurred on you. 1 d o not believe you a re q u ite so bad as th ey m ak e you o u t; th ere fo re I have c o m e to see y ou. T o -m o rro w will b e to o late. If you w ish to speak, to say a n y th in g in y o u r ow n defence, I shall b e g lad to tak e it d o w n . It will b e p rin te d . T h u s no m o re th an a ju s t share o f b lam e will rest on y o u r n a m e a fte r you a re g o n e . Y o u r fam ily, p e rh ap s, will b e g la d ." H e w as silent fo r a long tim e. “ I am glad you c am e to see m e ,” h e said a t length. “ Y ou w ere th ro u g h it all; I w ould ra th e r speak to you th an to a n y o n e else. Y ou co u ld see th e p a rt th a t each to o k . Y o u knew them all. “ F o u r years ago w e w ere cam p ed on th e M issouri R iver in the L ong K n iv e s' lan d . Big Bear w as th ere , Im asees, F o u r-S k y T h u n ­ d e r a n d o th e r ch iefs o f th e b a n d . R iel w as th ere, trad in g w hisky to th e Indians. H e gave us liq u o r a n d said h e w o u ld m a k e w a r on this c o u n try . H e ask e d us to jo in him in w iping o u t all C a n a d i­ ans. T h e g o v e rn m e n t had trea te d him b adly. H e w ould d e m a n d m uch m o n ey from th e m . If th ey did n o t give h e w ould spill blood, plen ty C a n a d ia n blood. “ L ast fall Riel sent w o rd to us th a t w hen th e leaves cam e o u t th e h a lf-b re ed s w ould rise a n d kill all w hites. T h e L ong K nives (A m e ric an s) w ould co m e. T h e y w o u ld b u y th e land, p a y th e In d ian s plen ty m o n ey for it, a n d afte rw a rd s tra d e w ith th em . All th e trib e s w ho w ished to benefit m u st rise, to o , a n d help to rid th e c o u n try o f C a n a d ia n s. “ A t th e tim e o f th e m assacre, A n d re N a u lt, a h alf-breed, told m e h e h a d in his p o c k et a letter from his cousin R iel, telling him to stay w ith Big B e ar’s ban d a n d h e w ould b e safe. W e w ould never b e trie d for w h at w e did. ‘A n y w ay ,’ h e said , ‘th e C a n a d ia n s c a n ’t b e a t u s.’ “ Im asees told m e a t a d an ce o n e night b e fo re th e o u tb re a k th at he d e p e n d e d on m e to d o this th in g . I fought a g a in st it. 1 w ished

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last w in te r to leave th e b a n d a n d go to D u c k L ake. M y relatives lived th ere. Im asees n o r th e o th e rs w ould let m e go. K a p w a ta ­ m u t, th e Indian a g en t, w ould give m e no p ro v isio n s. It seem ed it w as to b e — I w as singled o u t to d o it.” H e w as c ran in g fo rw ard. T h e quick, restless eyes b u rn e d into m ine. I covertly w atch ed th e h a n d nervously clutching th e chain riveted to th e heav y iron ball b e sid e h im — I re m e m b e re d h e had said earlier in his im p riso n m e n t th a t he w ould kill y e t a n o th e r w hite m an before h e d ied . “ W hy did y o u try to kill y o u rself last spring?” I a sk ed , then. H e tossed his head . “ I knew th ere w as no h o p e for m e. P e rh a p s, I th o u g h t, if I sacrificed m yself th e g o v e rn m e n t w ould n o t be so h a rd o n the rest.” H e w as silent again; th en w en t on: “ W ill you say g o o d -b y e for m e to m y fam ily if you see th em ? A lso to M issa Jim ? Tell the C re es from m e nev er to d o again as they d id this sp rin g — never to d o as I d id . Tell m y d a u g h te r I d ied in th e w hite m a n 's religion; I w a n t h e r and h e r co u sin s to h a v e th at religion, to o . I a m n o t th in k in g m u ch a b o u t w h a t is going to h a p p en to -m o rro w . I am th in k in g a b o u t w h at th e p riest says to m e ." I h a d for long w ished to ask a q u e stio n o f the w ar chief. I asked it now: “ S uppose I h a d been w ith th e o th e r w h ites a t F ro g L ak e a t the m o m e n t they w ere sh o t; w hat th e n , K a h p ay p a m ah c h ak w ay o ? ” H e c onsidered before replying. “ W e w ere sin g in g ,” h e said a t length. T h is m ay seem a m ystifying answ er. But I u n d e rsto o d its significance. H e m ig h t as plain ly have said: “ W e w ere on the w a rp a th . W e w ere n o t loo k in g to save life.” O f course he had not in te n d e d th a t I sh o u ld escape; th a t w as e vident a t th e tim e. M iserab le M an g rin n ed a t m e a n d rem a rk ed : “ T o -m o rro w , m y b ro th e r, I am g o in g to see m y father. T h a t is g o o d ; it is long since I saw h im .” H e laughed a n d a d d ed m o re seriously: “ I am n o t a fra id yet. W h en I sta n d on th e p lan k s w ith the ro p e round m y neck w ell— W h a t tim e is it, th at, to -m o rro w ? ” I to ld h im . H e tunned to W a n d e rin g S p irit. “ W e ’ll h a v e b re ak fa st b e fo re — ” It w as easy to discover th e ruling passion in M iserab le M an. “ Say to th e soldier c h ie f th a t M a n ito tells m e he is n o t to hang m e !” said A pisch isk o o s, d e fia n t to th e e n d . “ I h a v e killed n o b o d y .” I rose to g o , ho ld in g o u t m y h a n d to th e w a r chief. H e k e p t his g rip o f m y h a n d .

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" W a it,” h e said q u ietly, rising. “ I will speak to th e p o lic e .” I w alked to th e d o o r o f th e cell and h e follow ed. W h en I told them th e w a r c h ie f w ould m a k e a speech th e g u a rd crow ded to th e c en tre o f th e room b e fo re h im . H e drew h im self up with som eth in g o f th e old spirit; his confidences a p p e a re d to have lifted th e b u rd e n o f gloom th a t had o p p ressed him since his im prisonm ent. “ I w ish to say g o o d -b y e to y o u a ll,” h e beg an ; “ officers as well as m en. Y ou have been g o o d to m e; b e tte r th an I deserved. W hat 1 have d o n e th a t w as b ad . M y p u n ish m en t is no w orse th a n I could expect. B ut let m e tell you th a t I nev er th o u g h t to lift m y h a n d against a w hite m an . Y e a rs ago, w hen w e lived on the p lain s a n d h u n te d th e buffalo, 1 w as a h e ad w a rrio r o f th e C rees in b a ttle w ith th e B lackfeet. 1 liked to light. I to o k m an y scalps. But a fte r y ou, th e redcoats, c am e and th e tre a ty w as m ad e with th e w hite m a n , w a r w as no m o re . I had nev er fought a w hite m an . B ut lately w e received b a d advice. O f w h at g o o d is it to speak o f th a t now ? I am so rry w hen it is to o late. I only w a n t to th an k y ou, redcoats, a n d the sh e riff for y o u r kindness. I am not afraid to d ie .” H e pau sed for an instant: “ O n e th in g only m a k e s m y h e a rt b eat w ith b ad n ess a g a in !” S tepping b ack , h e lifted th e heav y ball from th e flo o r a n d held it o u t a t a rm 's length b efore him : “ T o be b u rie d w ith th a t on my leg!” T h e tro u b le d look left his lean face w hen he w as told th a t the shackles w ould b e rem o v ed b e fo re th e executions. “ T h e n I will d ie satisfied!” he exclaim ed, d ro p p in g th e w eight. “ I m ay n o t b e ab le in th e m o rn in g , so now I say again to y o u all go o d -b y e! H o w ! A q u isa n e e !" It w as the w a r c h ie f s last speech. I ro se early. E ight o ’clock w as th e h o u r set fo r the executions. H o d so n . m e little English co o k , e x -p riso n er w ith th e M cL ean s, w as ex ecu tio n er; P. G . L au rie, veteran p u b lish er o f th e S a sk a tch ­ ew an H e rald , th e c o ro n er. H e n a m e d m e on his ju ry . A t h alf-past seven 1 strolled do w n to th e b arrack s. T h e scaffold sto o d in the b a rra c k -sq u a re , th e p latfo rm , tw enty feet long by eight b ro a d , ten feet a b o v e th e g ro u n d , w ith a railing enclosing th e tra p in th e c en tre, reached by a stair. A s I e n te red th e sq u a re the d e a th chant o f th e c o n d em n ed red m en, a w eird, m elancholy stra in , c am e to m e from th e g u a rd ­ ro o m . A g ro u p o f C re e a n d A ssin ib o in e In d ian s sat w ith th eir backs ag ain st th e blacksm ith sh o p in th e op en space b e fo re th e

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scaffold. T h e a u th o ritie s, hop in g it w ould h a v e a salutary effect, had allow ed a lim ited n u m b e r in to view th e executions. Sm all k n o ts o f civilians con v ersed in low to n es inside th e high sto ck ad e a b o u t th e fort: everyw here w as th a t sense o f repression alw ays freighting th e a tm o sp h e re o f trag e d y . T h e c u rta in w as a b o u t to rise on th e final act in th e sh o ck in g d ra m a w hich o p e n ed eight m o n th s before a t F ro g L ake. S u ddenly th e singing ceased a n d a h u sh fell upon th e m en g a th e red a b o u t th e sq u a re. A sq u ad o f m o u n te d police m arch ed up, black m ilitary cloaks o v er th e ir sh o u ld ers, th eir rifles a t the su p p o rt, a n d form ed a c o rd o n a b o u t th e fo o t o f th e scaffold. M ajo r C ro z ie r, th e c o m m a n d a n t, paced restlessly up a n d dow n on th e left, talk in g w ith M r. M c K a y , o f th e H u d s o n 's Bay C o m ­ p a n y , w h o acted as in te rp rete r. S h e riff F o rg et a p p e a re d , d ressed in black a n d carrying in his h a n d th e w a rran ts o f e xecution. A R o m an C a th o lic p riest and a clergym an o f th e C h u rc h o f E ngland follow ed. N ex t c am e the p riso n ers, eight in all, th eir h a n d s b o u n d b e h in d th eir backs. T hey m arch ed in single file, a po licem an before, a n o th e r follow ing and o n e on e ith e r side each o f th e d o o m e d m e n . T h ey step p ed alm ost ja u n tily , dressed in th e ir new su its o f b ro w n d u c k . T h e w eights had been rem oved fro m th eir a n k les. R o u n d th e ir shaven scalps were th e black c ap s ready to b e draw n do w n over th e ir faces. Im m ed iately in fro n t o f them w alk ed H o d so n . Intense silence had fallen u p o n th e sq u a re, th e o n ly so u n d th e m easu red tra m p o f the so m b re procession. A t th e foot o f th e stair leading to th e scaffold th e p o lice escort step p ed asid e a n d th e sheriff, m issio n aries, in te rp re te r a n d h a n g ­ m an ascended to th e p latfo rm . M iserable M a n , M an ich o o s. W alk in g th e Sky follow ed in th e o rd e r n a m e d . W an d e rin g S pirit cam e next. H e p a u se d at th e fo o t o f th e sta ir, gazing up a t the stru c tu re o f d e ath loo m in g d ism ally ab o v e him ; then m o u n te d afte r th e o th e rs w ith a firm step . N a p aise a n d A pischiskoos follow ed him . B ringing up th e re a r w ere tw o A ssin ib o in e Indians, th e m u rd e re rs o f Ja m e s P ayne a n d B ernard F re m o n t, settlers o r B attleford. T h e In d ian s passed th ro u g h a g a te in th e little railing enclosing th e tra p a n d w ere lined up. facing o u tw a rd , in th e o rd e r in w hich th ey h a d a s c e n d e d th e s ta ir. T h e g a te w as c lo s e d , a n d w hile H o d so n w en t ro u n d b e h in d them a n d stra p p ed th e ankles o f each m an to g eth er they w ere told they w ould b e given ten m in u te s in w hich to speak, should they feel disposed. A ll, I th in k , except W an d e rin g S pirit availed them selves o f th e privilege.

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T h e e ld e r o f th e A s s in ib o in e s — P a y n e ’s m u r d e r e r — sp o k e defiantly. So did L ittle B ear. H e told th e Indian o n lo o k e rs to rem e m b e r h ow th e w hites had tre a te d h im — to m ak e no peace w ith th em . T h e old A ssin ib o in e tu rn ed a n d h aran g u e d his c o m ­ p a n io n s, urging them to show th e ir c o n te m p t fo r the p u n ish m en t th e g o v e rn m e n t w as a b o u t to inflict on th e m . All b u t W an d erin g S pirit sm iled, sang a n d sh o u ted sh o rt sh a rp w ar-cries. T h e eyes o f th e In d ian s looking on grew big; it w as easy to see how th e w o rd s a n d a c tio n s o f th e d o o m ed m en ro u sed in th em all th e late n t savagery b red th ro u g h g e n era tio n s. B ut betw een them and th e ir fellow -tribesm en sto o d th a t stiff c o rd o n o f funereal cap es a n d bristlin g m uskets; th ey n e ith e r stirred n o r uttered a so u n d . I glanced o v e r m y sh o u ld e r from w here I sto o d w ith n o teb o o k a n d pencil before th e scaffold a n d saw all this. T h e tim e w as u p . T h e stra p p in g w as com p leted ; they w ere b o u n d h a n d and fo o t. A d e ath ly silence fell. H o d so n step p ed up to M iserab le M a n , drew th e black cap o v er his face a n d adjusted th e n oose. H e tu rn e d to M a n ic h o o s a n d re p ea te d these final p re p a ra tio n s. A m o m e n t later h e w as engaged w ith W alk in g the Sky, w ho stood next W an d e rin g S p irit. T h e w a r c h ie f tu rn e d his head and w atched him w ith th e d e tach ed a ir o f o n e w ho h a s an idle b u t no personal concern in an interesting p ro c ee d in g . T h en th e black cap d ro p p e d o v er th e face o f th e w a r c h ie f h im self and th e ro p e settled a b o u t his lean sinew y neck. T h e m issio n aries had sent up th eir last p e titio n s for th e souls o f n a tu re ’s savage a n d m isguided children; a hush fell o v er all as H o d so n step p ed b e h in d th e still line o f d a rk h e ad s and sto o p e d to draw th e b o lt. T h e re w as a sh a rp sou n d o f g ra tin g iron, th e tra p d ro p p e d and eight b o d ies sh o t th ro u g h it. A sickening click o f d islocated necks, a n d they h u n g dangling a n d gyratin g slow ly at th e e n d s o f as m an y hem pen lines. A few convulsive sh u d d e rs and all w as over. I drew a long b re ath a n d ste p p ed forw ard w ith th e re m a in d e r o f th e ju ry to view th e bodies. T h e ten sio n w as past. I h a d not felt it greatly d u rin g th e p re lim in a rie s, b u t th a t aw ful p a u se ju st before th e d ro p is som eth in g I am not lik e ly 'ev e r to forget. T h e b o d ie s w ere d ro p p e d into rough w o o d en boxes a n d b uried in a co m m o n g rave on th e hillside below th e police b arrack s, overlo o k in g th e b ro a d wild valley o f th e S ask atch ew an . W e c e rti­ fied to th e d e a th o f th e m u rd e re rs in fulfilm ent o f the sentences passed upon th e m , a n d th u s c losed the last tragic e v en t in the occurrences o f the y e ar 1885. T h e young A ssin ib o in e before his execution asked th a t a p a ir

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o f heavy to p b o o ts be given him for use on h is long m arch to the S and H ills. H is sw eetheart b ro u g h t him so m e p re tty new m o cc a ­ sins w ith thick soles, w hich h e w ore to the scaffold. W an d e rin g S p irit feared th a t th e ball a n d c h ain o f w hich he c o m p lain ed w ould im p e d e his p ro g ress to th e In d ian N irv a n a. O n a b rig h t m o o n lit night so o n a fte r the ex ecu tio n s I w as tw ice sh o t a t by an A ssin ib o in e In d ian as I cam e o u t o f m y h o u se in B attleford. I expect h e had o b se rv ed m e as o n e o f the c o ro n e r’s ju ry . F o r som e tim e ru m o u rs w ere p rev alen t th a t th e A ssiniboines th re a te n e d to a tta ck B attleford in force in revenge for th e han g in g o f th e ir trib e sm e n . N o th in g h a p p e n e d , how ever, a n d a d a y o r tw o later I left th e S askatchew an for a tim e a n d travelled E ast to rejoice th e h e art o f th e little m o th e r w aitin g w ith such ten d e r solicitu d e for m e a n d m y ow n.

C onclusion In concluding this n a rra tiv e o f m y experiences a m o n g hostile In d ian s a few no tes con cern in g th e su b seq u e n t careers o f those p ro m in e n tly co n n ec te d w ith it, e ith e r as belligerents o r as c a p ­ tives, will b e o f interest. L o u is R iel w as h an g ed a t R e g in a in O c to b e r, 1885. I saw him th ere, w earin g a ball a n d c h a in , several tim e s du rin g th e trials, after h e had been c o n d em n ed . H e w as o f m ed iu m h eight, c o m ­ pactly b u ilt, w ith thick curling b ro w n h a ir a n d b e ard , a n u n u ­ sually long straight nose, sm all cun n in g eyes a n d h a n d s lik e a w o m a n ’s w hich h e used w ith effect in graceful gestures w hen he spoke. H is skin w as fair for a h alf-b reed a n d he possessed m ark e d native ab ility , w hich his p erv erted ideas, cruel n a tu re a n d o v e r­ w eening a m b itio n p re v en ted h is em ploying to useful e n d s. H is p u rp o se in inciting rebellion a m o n g his ow n race and his kin s­ m en, th e Ind ians, u n d o u b ted ly w as to force th e C a n a d ia n g o v e rn ­ m en t into p aying him a large sum to leave th e co u n try a n d retu rn to th e U n ite d S tates. In this h e w as d e fea te d by the unexpected and rap id rise a n d sp re ad o f th e revolt a n d th e shedding o f blo o d , and th e scaffold w as a fitting close to his in g lo rio u s career. O n m y w ay E ast in D e ce m b er, 1885, I visited the M a n ito b a P e n ite n tia ry a n d th ro u g h th e k in d n ess o f th e w a rd en . M a jo r B edson, w as p e rm itte d to interview Big B ear, P o u n d m a k e r and o th e r Indian p riso n ers. T h ey w ere pleased to see m e. P o u n d ­ m ak e r w as a m agnificent type o f th e A m e ric an red m an . Fully six a n d a h a lf feet in height, he h a d a m ost intelligent face, large

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R o m an nose, a d e lib e ra te a n d c ourtly a ir, a n d a slight stoop w hich gave a classic p o se to his strik in g figure. H is h a ir w as his special p rid e. It hung in tw o su p e rb p laits alm o st to his knees. W h en sentenced a t R egina fo r treason-felony to tw o y e ars’ im p riso n m en t, h e exclaim ed: “ I w ould ra th e r b e h a n g e d !” It w as th e expected loss o f his h a ir th a t m oved him . H is a p p e a ra n c e and m a n n e r so im pressed th e priso n a u th o ritie s how ever th a t h e w as sp ared th e h u m iliatio n o f p a rtin g w ith his cherished locks. Big B ear’s c h ie f co n cern w as fo r th e scattered re m n a n t o f his ban d a n d for his ch ild ren . H e told m e th e n , a n d also a y e ar later w hen I re tu rn e d W est, th e tru th a b o u t his c onnection w ith th e o u tb re a k , m ost o f his sto ry b ein g e m b o d ied in th e foregoing pages. I h a d alw ays a keen regard for th e old c h ie f a n d believed his w ord w as to b e relied u p o n . T ru e , h e w as a savage, b u t in estim a tin g his c h a ra c te r allow ance m ust b e m ad e for a co n d itio n for w hich h e w as in n o w ise resp o n sib le, being b orn to it. Big B ear had g re at n a tu ra l gifts: co u rag e , a keen intellect, a fine sense o f h u m o u r, quick p e rce p tio n , splendid n ativ e pow ers o f expres­ sion a n d g re a t stren g th o f p u rp o se . H is voice rem in d ed m e alw ays o f his n am e. Ft w as o f am azing d e p th a n d v olum e a n d I h av e h e ard him say “ N o !” in tones w hich so u n d e d like th e ro a r o f a lion. Y et his speech w as cap ab le o f ta k in g o n a v a stly d iffe re n t in fle c tio n , a n d th e n e x t in s ta n t I have h e ard it sin k to a soft w hisper, te n d e r a n d m usical as a c h ild ’s. T h e old m an cam e o ften to th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y ’s p o st a t Frog L ak e a n d had d in n e r w ith m e a n d p rio r to th e o u tb rea k w e h a d m an y tim es c am p e d a n d travelled to g eth e r. H e w as o n e o f th e m ost e n te rta in in g co n v ersa tio n a lists I ever listened to a n d I never w earied o f his tales a n d rem iniscences. H e could e nchain a n au d ie n ce , w h ite o r red, w h e n ev e r he o p e n ed his m o u th ; his g estu res sp o k e a lm o st as elo q u en tly as his w ords. H e w as bu ilt m o re like a w hite m an th an an In d ian , being sh o rt and heavy. W hen yo u n g h e m ust have h a d im m ense pow ers o f e n d u r­ ance. I recall his o n ce telling m e o f having been su rro u n d e d w ith th ree o th e rs o f his trib e on th e o pen plains by a large w ar p a rty o f B lackfeet. T h e C re es threw u p earth w o rk s w ith th e ir knives a n d for th ree days lay in th e ir p its, e n d u rin g all th e p an g s o f h u n g e r a n d th irst, a n d k e p t th e enem y a t b ay . H e b ecam e so accu sto m ed to th e so u n d o f th e B lackfoot bullets o v er his h ead , th e old m an said , a n d grew so d row sy th a t he freq u en tly found h im self d ro p p in g o ff to sleep as he lay w ith his rifle a cro ss a d ep ressio n in th e e arth w o rk s, w atching in th e d a rk n ess for th e

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sh ad o w o f an a p p ro ac h in g foe. O n the th ird night Big B ear escaped th ro u g h th e B lackfoot lines, killing o n e o f th eir pickets, and a t d a y b rea k re tu rn e d w ith a p a rty o f his ow n tribe a n d drove th e enem y off. H ad th e old c h ie f been a w hite m an a n d ed u ca te d , h e w ould have m a d e a g re a t law yer o r a g re a t statesm an . P o u n d m a k e r w as p e rh a p s a finer savage to look a t. b u t Big B ear w as far th e g re a te r m an . P o u n d m a k e r w as crafty a n d politic; Big B ear n oble, o u tsp o ­ k en , fearless. Big B ear w as lib e rate d a t th e end o f tw o years. H e re tu rn e d to B attleford and died on P o u n d m a k e r’s reservation du rin g th e w in ­ ter o f 1887-8. P o u n d m a k e r had b e en released earlier; like Big B ear he did n o t long survive to a p p rec ia te th e blessing o f free­ d o m . 1 have a p h o to g ra p h o f P o u n d m a k e r tak e n ju st b e fo re his d e ath th ro u g h th e b u rstin g o f a blood-vessel a t B lackfoot C ro ss­ ing, n e ar C algary, w here h e w as visiting th e B lackfoot chief. C ro w fo o t. I have also a p h o to g ra p h o f Big B ear tak e n im m e d i­ ately a fte r his c a p tu re in 1885. In th e spring o f 1888 I told o n e o f Big B ear’s m en w h o m I m et a t E d m o n to n o f his c h ie f s d e a th . H e c lapped his han d o v er his m o u th th e Indian expression o f su rp rise o r incredulity. “ H e alw ays said h e w ould nev er d ie un til his teeth w ere w orn even w ith his g u m s,” w as w h a t h e said, th e n . A n In d ian is usually to o p o lite to say th a t h e d o e s not believe you, b u t I q u ite u n d e rsto o d th a t W a p a te q u y o o a t th a t m o m e n t held m y veracity in light esteem . H is an sw e r w as significant as show ing th e e stim a ­ tion in w hich Big B ear’s u tte ran c e s w ere reg ard e d by his b a n d . A s a m a tte r o f fact I im m ediately recalled h aving noticed th a t the old c h ie f s teeth w ere w o rn sh o rt by m astication. Big B ear a n d P o u n d m a k e r w ere th e tw o principal chiefs im pli­ cated in th e uprising. Im asees, L ittle P o p la r, K ing Bird. L ucky M an a n d o th ers m an a g ed to av o id c a p tu re a n d escape acro ss th e b o u n d a ry into M o n ta n a . T h ey killed a m an d riftin g dow n th e S o u th S a sk a tch e ­ w an R iv er in a sk iff a n d used his b o a t to cross th e stream . L ittle P o p lar w as sh o t a y e ar o r so la te r by a h alf-b reed n a m e d W ard w ith w h o m he q u a rre lle d o v er so m e horses. T h ey m et on h o rse ­ back o n th e p ra irie n e a r F o rt A ssin ib o in e a n d th e Indian o p en ed fire w ith a revolver. T h e h alf-breed resp o n d ed p ro m p tly w ith a W in c h este r. T h re e bullets p ierc ed L ittle P o p lar before h e fell from h is h o rse, d e ad . Im asees b ecam e th e lea d er o f th e ban d o f refugees, w hich in tim e c am e to b e a nuisance a n d m en ace to M o n ta n ia n s, killing

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cattle a n d c o m m ittin g o th e r d e p re d a tio n s, until in the su m m e r o f 1896 they w ere ro u n d e d up a n d d e p o rte d to C a n a d a by U n ite d S tates tro o p s. T h ey w ere m et by an escort o f M o u n te d police and C a n a d ia n officials a n d taken n o rth to B attleford. Im asees, w ho had a d o p te d th e n a m e o f L ittle B ear, m a d e a trip to O tta w a and e astern cities in p a in t a n d fe ath ers, w earin g all th e airs o f a g re at chief. H e m ad e speeches and C a n a d ia n officialdom listened d e fe r­ entially and p a id him d u e respect. H ad h e been c a p tu re d a fte r the rebellion h e w ould d o u b tle ss have sw ung from th e sam e scaffold as W an d e rin g S p irit, for h e w as u n d o u b ted ly th e real in stig a to r o f th e F ro g L ake m assacre. F ro m personal o b se rv atio n , I have show n th a t he w as g u ilty o f th e b asest treach ery . But such a re the vagaries o f tim e: th e accessories c o n d em n ed a n d h an g ed by the g o v ern m en t: th e p rin cip al feted a n d publicly h o n o u re d by the sam e g o v e rn m e n t. Im asees d ied a y e ar o r tw o a g o in his c a m p on th e S t. M a ry ’s R iver in M o n ta n a . T h e tw o m u rd e re rs, P a skookw yoo a n d M a ym aykw aysoo, also escaped ju stic e . I believe they a re now also dead . F o u r-S k y T h u n d e r w as released in the su m m e r o f 1891. I had seen him a t S to n y M o u n ta in P e n ite n tia ry , occupying a seat on th e ta ilo rs’ bench. I m et P e te r H o u rie , th e In d ian D e p a rtm e n t in te rp rete r at R eg in a, in th e stre et o n e day. “ D id y o u see y o u r old friend?” h e asked. “ W ho w as th a t? ” “ K a h n ee o k e esik o p a n iss. H e c am e to th e office yesterd ay , on his w ay to B attleford. H e said he w as so rry to h e ar th a t the M u sin a g e esee s w as d e a d . I a sk e d him w ho h e m ea n t. ‘M issa J im ’ o s k in e k u , he said . ‘H e is not d e a d ,' I told h im . ‘If you sta n d on this c o rn e r h e will pass w ithin tw o sm o k es a n d you will see h im .” T h is w as early in th e a fte rn o o n . I afte rw a rd s learn ed th a t m y old chawarn, F o u r-S k y T h u n d e r, h a d sto o d in th a t sp o t until nearly train tim e, seven in th e evening, w a tch in g for m e. I w as sorry th a t m y b u sin e ss th a t a fte rn o o n h a d tak e n m e in a n o th e r d irectio n a n d th a t h e w as o bliged to leave w ith o u t seeing m e ag ain . I u n d e rsta n d he is now d e ad . L one M an p u t in an a p p e a ra n c e a t E d m o n to n a y e ar a fte r th e reb ellio n . H e w as try in g to sell h orses, th e w hite ra ce r u p o n w hich he h a d ridden dow n L oasby a t Pitt a m o n g th em . It w as an u n fo rtu n a te ind iscretio n on th e p a rt o f L one M a n , for an ex -m em b er o f S teele’s S co u ts w ho lived a t E d m o n to n recognized th e savage o f th e so litary n a m e by th e w hite horse. H e had

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e n co u n tere d him on th e a fte rn o o n th a t Q u in n e y , D u fre sn e and m yself fo u n d th e scouts at F re n c h m a n ’s B utte a n d a b o u t a m ile from th a t p ictu resq u e la n d m a rk — w hich incidentally p roves th a t D u fre sn e a n d 1 w ere right in believing th ere m ight b e stray Indians a b o u t a n d th a t it w ould b e th e p a rt o f w isdom for the m issionary to exercise c au tio n . L o n e M an w as sh u t up in th e p o lic e g u a rd -ro o m a t E d m o n to n to a w ait trial for sh o o tin g a t a n d w o u n d in g L oasby. O n e night he escaped. H e w as g one for tw o days. It w as Ja n u a ry , th e th e r­ m o m e ter far below z ero . O n th e th ird m o rn in g a d e ta ch m e n t o f police o v e rto o k L o n e M an on th e ro a d . H e k n e w o f co u rse th a t several o f h is fellow -tribesm en had been h an g ed a t B attlefo rd a n d d o u b tle ss a n tic ip a te d a like fate. H e to o k o ff his w h ite b la n k e t a n d w aved it in th e w ind, try in g to sta m p e d e th e police h orses. T h e y plunged a n d snorted b u t th e a tte m p t failed. T h e n L o n e M a n sh o u te d d efiance, telling the police they w ere d o g s a n d calling on them to sh o o t a n d be etern ally co n d em n ed . T h e y a rre ste d him in stead . H e g o t six years in M a n ito b a P e n ite n tia ry . W h e th e r o r n o t L o n e M an still lives I d o n o t know , b u t a b o u t fifteen y ears ago I o n e day received in th e m ail a letter p o s t­ m ark e d P in ch er C re e k , A lb e rta , a ddressed in a n u n fa m ilia r h a n d . It w as signed: “ Y o u r old friend, “ SAM J O H N S O N . ”

I h a d know n Jo h n so n s, o f c o u rse — plen ty o f th e m — b u t I c o u ld n ’t place S am . But w h e n I reached th e postscrip t the rid d le w as e xplained. “ I used to b e called T h e L o n e M a n ,” it read , “ b u t m y right n a m e is S am Jo h n s o n . “ Y o u r old friend. “ SAM J O H N S O N . ”

C iv ilizatio n d o m o v e, by heck! C lare n ce L oasby has been fo r y ears an official o f the C a n ad ian Pacific R ailw ay in th e K o o te n ay s, British C o lu m b ia . H e w e ars in a ring on his finger o n e o f th e tw o bullets received on th at scouting trip a t P itt a n d for w hich he is in d eb ted to T h e L one M an. H e n ry Q u in n I saw several tim e s d u rin g 1897 in St. Paul, M in n e so ta. H e did n o t look m u ch like th e sprightly you n g fellow I knew in ’85. H e h a d lived a m o n g th e Sioux for som e years and

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a p p e a re d to have sunk in th e social scale. H e w as big a n d burly a n d show ed his m ixed blood m u ch m o re th an d id his uncle, the Indian a g en t a t F ro g L ak e. M y friend a n d p ro te c to r, L ouis P a ten a u d e, lived until recently on th e ban k o f th e S askatchew an Rear F o rt P itt, w ith his ste p ­ father, old M r. J a m e s K . S im p so n . Both, I am sorry to say, are now d e ad . T h ere w ere no b e tte r m en anyw here. K a h n ee p o tay ta y o lives on th e reserv atio n a t O n io n L ake. T h o u g h I h a d n o t seen him since th e R ebellion, h e recognized m e a t o n c e w hen I d ro v e o u t to his place in th e fall o f 1923. N o one seeing him now w ould believe h e could have been th e h a n d so m e and active head d a n c e r o f Big B e ar’s b and in 1885, the sp e a re r o f th e W h ite D o g ’s H ead a n d next to L ittle P o p la r (o f w hom he w as a nephew ) p e rh a p s th e g re a te s t d a n d y in th e cam p . H is first w ife w as a d a u g h te r o f W a n d e rin g S pirit; his p resen t o n e is a d a u g h te r o f A pisch isk o o s, a m o n g th e m u rd ere rs h an g ed a t B attle­ ford. W h a te v e r h e r fath er m an y have b een , th e d a u g h te r o f A pischis­ k o o s is a fine type o f In d ian w o m a n , p leasan t to look a t, read y o f speech, am iab le, laughing a n d sincere. E verything a b o u t their cam p on th e P ip e sto n e n e ar O n io n L ake w as as spick a n d trim as could be w hen I visited them a g ain in th e fall o f 1925. I m ade them som e sm all p resen ts o f th in g s m ost d e a r to th e Indian h e art — te a , to b a c c o , sw ee ts. T h e y w e re so k in d , so fra n k ly d e lig h te d o v er th e visit th a t b e fo re leaving I w ished to say som eth in g ag reeab le, som eth in g sym p ath etic, to m en tio n som e redeem ing tra it in h e r tu rb u le n t p a re n t. I d id . H e h a d h a d tw o d a u g h te rs, neat, a ttrac tiv e girls a b o u t sixteen y ears o f age a t th e tim e o f the m assacre. T h e y knew no English a n d w e sp o k e in C ree. “ Y o u r fath er w as a g o o d frien d to m e .” A sh ad o w crossed her cheerful face. She m u rm u re d so m e th in g — p ro b a b ly to th e effect th a t they should n o t have h an g ed him , th o u g h I could not catch it. “ In th e w in ter b e fo re th e ‘b a d tim e ’ h e c am e to m e o n e day. ‘M y d a u g h te r is very sic k ,' h e told m e. ‘She h a s a b a d cold. I have no m edicine n o th in g to b u y a n y .’ I felt so rry . I said: ‘I will give y o u som e m ed icin e. A lso a little tea a n d su g a r a n d biscuit for h e r.’ H e cam e back in tw o w eeks. ‘T h a t w as splendid m e d i­ c in e ,’ h e said. ‘M y d a u g h te r is q u ite well a g a in .’ “ H e never forgot th a t. W h en o th e rs in th e c am p w ere a gainst m e, h e th rea te n e d th e m , alw ays read y to d efen d m e ." I pau sed a m o m en t: “ I d o n 't k n o w - p e rh a p s it w a s for you h e g o t the m edicine?”

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L ike a flash, m e m o ry flew b a ck over th e years. H e r eyes lighted; she tu rn e d a b eam in g face to m e; “ Y es; I k n o w !” she exclaim ed. “ It w as y e llo w m e d icin e , w asn’t it?” It w as. W h a t I h a d given A p isch isk o o s w as a sm all b o ttle o f h o n e y — th e only “ m e d ic in e ” I h a d h a d th a t I th o u g h t m ight help a cold. A cross th a t g re a t span o f fo rty years she h a d n o t forgotten m y trifling act o f kindness. She p ro v e d it convincingly. W h en w e w ere leaving she sto o d w ith K a h n ee p o tay ta y o alo n g ­ side o u r c ar w ith its th ree w h ite occu p an ts. I w a ite d . T hey w a n ted , I knew , to say so m e th in g to m ak e a little speech to m e at p a rtin g . A t length K a h n e e p o ta y ta y o spoke; “ W e are very p leased th a t you h av e c o m e to see us. W e never th o u g h t to look a t you a g a in .” H e w as silent for a second. “ A nd p e rh ap s, i f M a n ito th in k s, w e shall see you yet again so m e tim e .” A nd they call th is m an a pagan! I have nev er an y w h ere m et frien d s w ho w ere m o re unaffectedly glad to see m e th a n th ese sim ple, k indly red folk o f the Plains. F ra n g o is D ufresne is in te rp re te r fo r th e In d ian D e p a rtm e n t at O n io n L ake, w here th e agency is now located. P o o r L ouis G o u le t h a s been fo r tw enty years a n in m ate o f th e H o m e for In cu rab les a t P o rtag e la P rairie, M a n ito b a . I d ro p off to see him w hen I pass th a t w ay. H e likes to talk over th e days, long g o n e , w hen h e could enjoy th e sunlight like o th e r p eo p le. H e is co m pletely blin d . A d o lp h u s N o lin , v igorous a n d active still, lives on a ran ch n e ar O n io n L ake. I spent a nig h t w ith him n o t long since. It w as N olin a n d P ritch ard w ho saved th e w hite w om en from th e In d i­ a n s in ’85 a fte r th eir h u sb a n d s h a d been killed. I saw Jo h n P ritch a rd a t B attleford in th e fall o f 1925 a few day s b e fo re his d e ath a t th e age o f 86. H is o n ly rew ard for g u a rd in g th e w hite w om en in the In d ia n c am p w as th e consciousness o f a g o o d act nobly p e rfo rm e d . It is not to th e c red it o f th e C a n a d ia n g o v e rn ­ m en t th a t his splendid services a t th a t difficult tim e w ere never recognized. H e m ig h t a t least h av e been given a sm all pension, like th e w om en w hose lives h e had saved. F a th e r Le G o ff lives at th e R o m an C a th o lic M ission o f L ac la Biche, n o rth o f th e S ask atch ew an , on th e A lb erta a n d G re a t W aterw ay s R ailw ay. D e sp ite h is eighty-six years, his h e alth , as he w ro te m e re c e n tly , “ is v e ry g o o d . ” T h e little F re n c h p rie s t h a s h a d a m ost eventful life. P riso n e r o f Big B ear’s follow ers in '85, he w as again a p riso n e r th irty y ears later o f the G e rm a n s. In J u n e , 1914, h e w as in Liege, B elgium , a rra n g in g for th e p u b lic a ­ tion o f a C h ip p ew y an d ictio n ary h e had w ritte n , w hen th e G re a t

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W ar bro k e. H e w as c ap tu red a n d sh u t up in a m onastery, but escaped to S w itzerland. H e c o n tin u e d a fte r his retu rn to lab o u r a m o n g th e C h ip p ew y an s, w ith w h o m he m ust have sp e n t nearly fifty years, until q u ite recently. M r. W . J . M c L ea n lives, w ith several o f his n u m ero u s fam ily, all long g row n u p . in W innipeg. O n P o u n d m a k e fs reserve last fall, 1 looked up H o rse C hild, Big B ear’s o n ly surviving son. In build a n d m an y little m a n n e r­ ism s h e rem in d ed m e strongly o f his father. H e w as tw elve a t the tim e o f th e '85 tro u b les; now h e is fifty-tw o, I m et th e re also S a k a m a tay n e w , P o u n d m a k e r’s o n ly son. M y d e a r old c o m ra d e, F re d e ric k S tanley S im pson, m et his d e ath on O c to b e r 1st, 1891, in th e N elson R iver, a trib u ta ry o f H udson Bay, in a n hero ic effo rt to save th e life o f his sen io r officer, H o ra ce B elanger, c h ie f fa cto r in c h arg e o f th e H u d s o n ’s Bay C o m p a n y 's d istric t o f N o rw a y H o u se. B elanger w as an im m ense m a n , helpless o u t o f his d e p th . T h e ir c an o e capsized in a d a n g e ro u s rap id a n d S im pson, a pow erful sw im m er, exhausted by h is e x ertio n s to help his c h ie f a n d paralysed by th e icy w ater, sank to rise no m o re, B elanger also losing his life. T h e sacrifice w as w itnessed by an In d ian , th e th ird m e m b e r o f th e p a rty , w ho e scaped. T h e follow ing arc th e last lines o f som e verses I w ro te in h is m em o ry a t th e tim e o f th e tragedy: L o rd Jesus, T h o u W h o even b e tra y e r’s kiss F orgiving, shed T h y precious b lo o d to d row n F o r ever all e a rth ’s sin, a n d said , than this H ath no m an g re a te r love, th a t he lay dow n L ife fo r his frie n d — g ra n t him a m e rito rio u s crow n. S im pson had th e n a tu re o f a tru e no b lem an . H e w as m y g re atest friend. Frog L ake is no longer de se rte d , b u t the c e n tre o f a b eau tifu l and th riv in g w hite se ttle m e n t. A railw ay u n d e r co n stru ctio n from Battle­ ford to E d m o n to n n o rth o f th e S ask atch ew an will reach it this year o f 1926, a n d its hills, w hich h a v e echoed to th e w hoops o f th e red m an , will give back only the peaceful w histle o f th e locom otive. Its isolation a n d wild loneliness a re th in g s o f the past.

THE FROG LA KE M E M O R IA L I sto o d on the s ite o f th e g r e y d ra m a o f '85. envisioning a ll its harro w in g d etails. A g a in it w as a b e a u tifu l d a y. O verhead th e sun shone b rightly; a s o ft a ir f a in t l y stirre d th e g re e n leaves o f the poplars. Indians, so m e who lik e m e h a d w itn e ssed th e incarna­ d in ed saturnalia, sto o d about; h a lf-b ree d s also, a n d m a n y w hites m en. w om en a n d children. B u t th e a w fu l su sp en se a n d fo r e b o d ­ ing th a t h a d w eighed upon us. e a rly sojourners in th e land, on that d ista n t d a y. w ere absent. W e no w h ere were m e t to g e th e r in peace, a lth o u g h it w as that u n fo rg e tta b le d a y a n d event that h a d draw n us to th is c o m m o n centre, f o r we were com e to a tte n d a sig n ific a n t cerem o n y the unveiling o f a m o n u m en t e re c te d b y th e g o vern m en t o f C anada a s a la stin g re m in d e r o f th a t som bre a n d h isto ric a l occurrence. T he d a te w as th e 9th o f J u n e. 1925. J u d g e H o w a y. o f N ew W e stm in ster. B .C .. m e m b e r o f th e B o a rd o f H isto ric S ite s a n d M o n u m e n ts, rep re se n ted th e g overnm ent. A cc o m p a n y in g him w ere H o w a rd A n g u s K e n n ed y, w ho h a d com e to Frog L a k e in 1885 a s correspondent f o r a M o n tre a l new spaper, a n d A r th u r S . M o rto n , p ro fe sso r o f h isto ry a t the U niversity o f S a sk a tch e w a n . J u d g e H o w a y a s k e d m e. a s th e so le w hite survivor o f th e m a ssa ­ cre. to unveil the m em orial. W h ile h e a d d re ssed the g a th e r in g I sto o d b e fo re th e cairn a n d lo o k e d a bout m e. C lose beside it were e ig h t graves, m a r k e d bysim p le iron crosses bearing n a m e s fa m ilia r to m e since yo u th : Q uinn. D elaney, G ow a n lo ck, G ilchrist. D ill. G ouin. W illiscraft. C ow an the n a m e s o f m en n e a rly a ll o f w hose hands, long cold a n d still, h a d o n ce m e t m in e in th e w arm clasp o f frien d sh ip . M e m o ry brought b a c k vividly th e fa c e s o f these pioneers, once so f u ll o f life , o f pla n s, o f am b itio n s. I recalled th e ir ready laughter, th eir bo istero u s p ra n k s, th e ir p lea sa n t voices. A n d I re fle cte d that f o r f o r t y y e a r s th e y h a d re ste d there; th a t th e snow s o f fortyw in ters a n d th e sh o w ers o f f o r t y su m m e rs h a d fa lle n lik e a benediction upon th em , th e caressing, flo w e r-s c e n te d airs blow n over th em , a s th e y sle p t th eir d re a m le ss a n d u n b ro k e n sleep. A c r o ss the sh o rt intervening span o f w ooded h ill a n d gen tle, g ra s sy slope I saw th e sp o t th a t h a d m a r k e d f o r these a d ven tu r­ ous so u ls th e e n d o f the trail. I h e a rd a gain a ll those fr ig h tfu l so u n d s the e xp lo d in g guns, th e sta r tle d s h r ie k s a n d o u tcrie s, the g a lloping horses, th e stra n g e ly -te rrify in g cadence o f th e m auchaw ah aw m n ig am aw n the w ar-song a n d th e appalling w hoops o j the fre n zie d savages, the in e ffe c tu a l "Stop! S to p ! ” o f B ig B ea r as

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h e ru sh ed to w a rd th e carnage, th e sp u tte r e d ad m o n itio n o f s h a k ­ ing o ld O sow ask, o ld Y e llo w B ear, willing, y e t f e a r fi d too. openly, in th a t h o u r o f d re a d fu l deeds, to b e fr ie n d m e : "G o with th e w o m e n — d o n 't leave th e m !" A n d I rem em bered, too. the hop elessn ess that p o ssesse d m e. th e im p o ssib ility a t th e m o m en t o f th e th o u g h t th a t I sh o u ld b y a n y m ira cle escape the do o m that with such stu p e fy in g a n d g h a stly suddenness was sw eeping over the others. Yes. f o r f o r t y y e a r s th ese g a lla n t fe llo w s h a d re ste d q u ietly there, w hile I w a lk e d a n d w rought a n d p la y e d in G od's glo rio u s sunlight a n d h a d k n o w n a ll th e j o y o f living a n d now h a d sons grow n to th e age th a t 1 was then. A n Indian, a p u re b lo o d C ree. m o u n tin g a kn o ll, read in ro u n d ed E nglish p e rio d s f r o m a m a n u scrip t in h is h a n d an e lo ­ q uent address. I t was n o t an a p o lo g y it was n o t m e a n t to be f o r th e m assacre, b u t it w as a p lea f o r c h a rity , f o r consideration, f o r u nderstanding o f th e re d m a n a n d o f th e fe e lin g s which c u lm in a te d in th e co m m issio n o f th a t d a rk a n d b lo o d y crim e. H e cast w hat m u s t have been to m o s t o f th e listen in g w hite m e n a n e w light on th a t ru th less a n d d e a d ly a c t o f vengeance. The la n d o f th e Indian, a p r o u d p eople, w as being w re ste d fr o m h is grasp b y p a le -s k in n e d stra n g e rs w ho lo o k e d w ith sca rcely-d isg u ised c o n te m p t upon h im a s an in fe rio r a n d d e rid ed h is p re ten sio n s o f ow nership. W ell! T h e Indian w as not to b e tra m p le d u p o n — he w ould sh o w th e m ! H e w ould d e s tr o y th e invader; the la n d should k n o w h im no m o re; h e w ould ta k e b a ck h is c o u n try! P oor, sim p le children o f n a tu re ! T h e provo ca tio n , w hile it d id n o t exc u se , was so m e m itig a tio n o f th e fe r o c io u s wrong. L e t th e w hite m a n p u t h im s e lf in th e In d ia n 's pla ce! E ven so. the m a jo rity were a gainst it; B ig B e a r 's m en only, a n d a f e w o th ers w ere im plicated. T h e sp e a k e r w as th e R everen d E d w a rd A h e n a k e w , an ordained cle rg y m a n o f th e C hurch o f England. I d re w the cord; th e f l a g g lu tte r e d dow n. The cairn, its b ro n ze inscription g lo w in g in th e w arm sunlight, sto o d uncovered. The g o vern m en t o f th e c o u n try h a d p a id its trib u te to these sta lw a rt p io n eers o f ’85. I t w as a so le m n m o m en t.

S O U R C E : T h is v ersio n w as o rig in a lly p u b lish e d by K e n w a y P u b lish ing C o ., C alg ary , 1950, a n d is re p rin te d w ith th e k in d p e rm issio n o f M r. K e n n e th R . C o p p o c k . T h e fo re w o rd by O w en W iste r h as b e en o m itte d . O th e r e d itio n s o f th e sa m e w o rk in clu d e: T h e W a r T r a il o f B ig B e a r ,

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D u c k w o rth , L o n d o n , 1926; T h e W a r T r a il o f B ig B e a r , S m all, M a y n a rd a n d C o ., B osto n , 1927. S everal a rtic le s w e re d e riv e d fro m th is w o rk . In c h ro n o lo g ic a l o rd e r th e se a re : I. E. K . L a k e (p se u d o n y m fo r W . B. C a m e r o n ) , “ T h e S to r y o f th e T h r e e S c o u ts ” , S c a r le t a n d G o ld , V o l. 2, 1920,' p p . 6 5 -6 9 : “ T h e F r o g L a k e M a s s a c r e " , in F . W . F io w a y e d .. B u ild ers o f th e W e s t, T h e R y erso n P ress, T o r o n to , 1929, p p . 105-112; “ R e d M a n ’s C a p tiv e ” , T h e B e a v e r, N o . 273, 1942, p p . 4 8 -5 1 ; “ 1885: T h e L ast E n g a g e m e n t” , T h e W e s te r n P ro d u c er, S a s k a to o n , 2 9 /9 /1 9 4 9 , p. 1, 3; “ R e b e llio n ’s E n d ” . T h e B ea ver, S e p t. 1952, p p . 3 -5. A rtic le s e x tra c te d from C a m e r o n ’s w ritin g s in clu d e: “ L o n e S u rv iv o r - F r o g L ak e M a s sa c re ” . F a rm a n d R a n c h R e v ie w , F e b . 1961. p . 2 0 -2 1 : “ T h e F a te o f th e F ro g L a k e C h ie fs ” , F a rm a n d R a n c h R eview , D e c. 1961, p . 14. O th e r a rtic le s b y C a m e ro n a re to b e fo u n d in th e S a s k a to o n S t a r P h o e n ix . C a m e ro n a lso c o -a u th o re d w ith H e n ry J . M o b e rly , W h e n F ur W a s K ing, J . M . D e n t, T o r o n to , 1929.

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“ An A ccount o f T he Frog L ak e M a ssa c re ” , (G eorge S tan ley , M esunekw epan) I am sh a k in g h a n d s w ith you (A . E. P e terso n ) in th e n a m e o f G o d so th a t w h at I say m ay b e th e tru th . I am giving you this story o f th e m assacre in th e n a m e o f G o d a n d o u r K ing. A t th e first Indian T re a ty given us by Q u e e n V ictoria th is H oly Stem w as used fo r th e first tim e b e fo re w hite p eople a n d Indians alike. A t th a t tim e m y G ra n d fa th e r, (C h asch ak isk w is) w as m ade C h ie f o f th e F ro g L ak e R eserve. M y g ra n d fa th e r lived here before th e first T re a ty a n d used to grow p o tato e s. A fte r h e d ied m y fa th e r (O h n e ep a h a o w ) w as m ad e C hief. T h e reason for s ta rt­ ing m y story in this w ay is th a t I w an t to give you an idea o f the people and th e c o n d itio n o f th in g s as they existed here before the m assacre. T h is H oly Stem is o v er o n e h u n d re d years old. M y G ra n d fa th e r w as eighty years old w hen h e d ie d . I am k eep in g this H oly Stem to d ay b u t will soon be passing it on to m y c h ild ren as m y h a ir is tu rn in g grey now . I w as seventeen y ears old a t th e tim e o f th e m assacre b u t I can n o t tell y o u th e d a y o r th e m o n th o f the m assacre as w e In d ia n s w ere n o t used to th at. Before the R ebellion us In d ian s had o u r h o u se s close to g eth er. O n e day a m an n a m e d O u ch e c am e over and told m y fa th e r that a w hite m a n — a G o v e rn m e n t m an had c o m e to O n io n L ake the day b e fo re a n d w as com ing to F ro g L ake to m eet th e Indians th a t d ay . M y fa th e r notified th e o th e r C ou n cillo rs, L ittle Bow, W illiam G la d u e a n d a n o th e r w hose n a m e I c an n o t re m e m b e r to go o v er a t once to th e A gency b uilding. I h itched up th e team and to o k them over. O n reaching th e A g e n t’s h o u se w e found th ere, th e G o v e rn m e n t m an , th e In d ian A g en t, th e F a rm In stru c­ to r, Sam B ellendine, th e In te rp re te r, and tw o P olicem en. O n e o f these Policem en w as a big m an . T h ey w ere now going to have a business m eeting. T h e y w ere all se a te d in chairs. T h e Indian A g en t sp o k e first. H e said: “ O h n e e p a h a o w e are

S O U R C E : “ A n A c c o u n t o f th e F ro g L a k e M a s s a c r e . . . ” is re p rin te d w ith th e k in d p e rm is sio n o f th e A lb e rta L e g isla tu re L ib ra ry . A slightly b rie fe r version o f S ta n le y 's a c c o u n t a p p e a re d in th e A lb e r ta H is to ric a l R eview , V ol. 4. N o . 1. 1956. p p . 23 -2 7 .

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g oing to have a talk w ith y ou. T h is m an w h o h a s been sent here by th e G o v e rn m e n t will talk to y o u n o w .” T h e G o v e rn m e n t m an said: “ I have been se n t here on very im p o rta n t business to y ou. 1 w ant y o u to listen carefully as 1 h a v e g o o d new s for you all. T h e re a re tw o p rin cip al things 1 w a n t to speak to you a b o u t. Big B ear w an ts to c o m e h e re w ith h is ban d to c am p over w in ter. It m ay b e for a p u rp o se 1 do n o t k n o w , but 1 w ould be very glad if you w o u ld give him p e rm issio n . Y o u have ta k e n tw o b a n d s into y o u r R eserve a lre a d y — C h ie f O pask ew ey en a n d his b a n d and C h ief M a k e o s a n d his b a n d a n d 1 w ish th a t you could also tak e in Big Bear. H e will have to c u t som e w o o d on y our lan d , catch som e fish in y o u r lak e , etc. b u t for this you will b e p a id by th e G o v e rn m e n t. N e x t su m m er a n o th e r m an will b e sent o u t to find a n o th e r place for Big B ear” . O h n e e p a h a o replied: “ I am w illing to let Big Bear com e here. W e have alw ays been g o o d frien d s w ith th e w h ite p eople a n d th e In d ia n s” . T h e G o v e rn m e n t m an then sa id :— “ I am very g la d ". “ T h ere is o n e m o re th in g I w an t to speak a b o u t and I w an t you to listen so th a t you can u n d e rsta n d everything. W ell C hief, 1 w ant you to accept ev erything fo r w hich I have beeen sent over. It is all to th e g o o d . I wish to find o u t from you if th e Indians will b e w illing to let th e w hite p e o p le build a G ris t M ill at F rog C re e k ” . H e did n o t say how m an y acres they w ould need . T he u n d e rstan d in g w as th a t the In d ia n s should g et flo u r and lu m b e r at h a lf p rice. “ If th is m ill o p e ra te s I w an t you to th in k o f the K eehew ins, C h ip p ew y an s a n d th e C re es a t O n io n L a k e ", said the G o v e rn m e n t m an “ so th a t they can com e to th e mill as well. W e m ight g et a ra ilro ad h e re in fo u r y ears tim e " . O h n e e p a h a o then asked th e o th e r C o u n cillo rs to speak. L ittle Bow sto o d u p and said: “ W e all a g ree to a b id e by th e w ord o f o u r C h ie f b u t we h o p e th a t w e will n o t be deceived in th is” . All th e G o v e rn m e n t m en gave th an k s to m y fath er for all h e h a d said a n d ag reed to. T h e m ill w as p ro c ee d ed w ith a n d a store bu ilt up n e a rb y w hich had big w indow s on th e so u th . Big B ear a n d his b a n d cam e from th e so u th in th e Fall and c am p e d a b o u t tw o m iles so u th o f o u r cam p. It w as nearly G o o d F rid a y w hen this R ebellion sta rte d . W e w ere cam p in g on th e south w est side o f F ro g L ake. I w as staying th ere w ith m y fa th e r and m o th e r. T h ere w as only o u r fam ily and a few old w om en th ere in c a m p a t th at tim e . T h e o th e r Indians had g o n e n o rth trap p in g . T h e sun w as gettin g low o n e evening w hen m y fath er d ro v e o v e r to th e A gency. H e cam e h o m e late th a t evening. T h e A gent and th e F a rm In stru c to r had told him to

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g e t everything read y fo r S pring w o rk . H e also b ro u g h t w ith him 100 p o u n d s o f flour a n d som e o th e r ra tio n s to b e d ivided a m o n g th e m em b e rs o f th e b a n d . T h e A g e n t instructed m y fa th e r to be h o m e a t his h o u se th e next d a y . W h en m o rn in g cam e w e w ent back to o u r h o u se w hich w as a little o v er h a lf a m ile from w here w e cam p ed th a t n ight. I told m y fa th e r I w ould go a h ea d on the ice to b ring th e c attle a ro u n d . “ I will go w ith you a n d yo u r m o th e r can tak e th e team o v er w ith th e cam p in g o u tfit” , said m y father. T h e sun w as gettin g q u ite high by this tim e as w e slept late th a t no rm in g . M y fath er in stru cted m e to b rin g th e c attle up to th e h o u se w hile he w ould w ait on th e hill. In those days w e did n o t kn o w w h a t a n ox harness w as; all we had w as th e yoke. I b ro u g h t th e oxen up a n d p u t th e yo k e on them to try o u t th e plow . I h itc h e d th e ox en to th e c h ain on th e plow a n d w ent do w n to th e field a n d p u t th e plow in th e g ro u n d , b u t fo u n d th a t th e fro st w as not yet out. W h ile sto p p in g in th e m id d le o f th e field n e ar N e p o w q u a ta ’s p resen t h o u se I saw a m an rid in g quickly to w a rd s m y fa th e r w ho w as sittin g on a hill nearb y . A s soon as I saw th is m an I im m ed iately u n h itch ed as I co u ld not plough anyw ay a n d I w an ted to hear w h a t this m an w as going to talk a b o u t. T h is m a n ’s n a m e w as C h a k w a p o k ce s o n e o f Big B e ar’s m en. H e had th e F a rm In stru c to r’s horse a n d carried a rifle on his side. W hen I got to th e hill w h ere they w ere talk in g I looked up a t th e sun to see if it w as d in n e r tim e. It w as nearly m id d a y . I noticed th a t m y fa th e r w as ra th e r su rp rise d to see C h a k w a p o k c e s ride th e In stru c­ to r’s h o rse a n d a sk e d him a b o u t this. C h a k w a p o k ce s answ ered. " H a v e you not h e ard th e news? So you do n o t k n o w w h at is going on d o w n a ro u n d th e A gency?” W e to o k all th e w hites early this m o rn in g but we are n o t going to h u rt th em . Y ou can u n d e rstan d now w hy I have th is h o rse ” . M y fa th e r said “ I w as o v e r a t th e A gency yesterday b u t did not h e ar o f any tro u b le , I am su rp rise d " . W hile they w ere th u s talking, all o f a su d d e n a n d like th u n d e r w e h e ard several shots, o n e a fte r th e o th e r dow n to w a rd s th e A gency. C h ak w a p o k ce s w heeled his h o rse a n d galloped so u th a s fast as h e could go. I told m y fath er th a t I w as going o v e r to see w h at had h a p p en e d , but he w arn ed m e to slay aw ay as there m ight be dan g er. I did n o t listen to him fu rth e r b u t sta rte d to w a rd s the shoo tin g . O n loo k in g b ack . I saw m y fa th e r also com ing. H e w as tak in g th e ro ad a ro u n d by th e b rid g e. W h en I reached th e C reek I plunged into th e w ater up to m y w a ist a s I w as in a h u rry . I in c re a s e d m y sp e e d b e c a u se o f th e

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cold from th e w a ter. I h e a rd several m o re sh o ts w hile running from th e creek . A s 1 reached th e b lu ff ju st n o rth o f th e A g e n t’s h o u se I m et a yo u n g w om an fro m Big B e ar’s b a n d crying a t the to p o f h e r voice, “ All th e Priests are killed and all th e o th e r w hite peo p le are k ille d ” . A fte r this w om an had told m e th e new s 1 ran to th e to p o f a little hill nearb y . F ro m th e re I could see several In d ian s in a hollow n e a r th e A g en t’s h o u se a n d a little to th e n o rth , som e sta n d in g , o th e rs o n horseb ack w ith w e ap o n s in th eir h a n d s. By th e tim e I got th ere th ey , h a d all left. H e re I fo u n d o n e o f th e F a th e rs lying helpless on th e g ro u n d w ith blood stream in g from his th ro a t. H e w as still alive, b re ath in g slowly. I said to him “ I am very sorry for you b u t it m ust be G o d ’s w ill” . I to o k som e g rass to try to w ipe aw ay th e b lo o d w hich w as com ing from a gash in his th ro a t. T h is w as n o t very satisfactory, so I to o k m y black silk h a n d k e rc h ie f a n d tied a ro u n d his neck. His eyes w ere closed b u t h e w as still b re ath in g as th e b lo o d trickled aw ay from his th ro a t a t intervals. A s I w as b an d ag in g him u p , I n oticed th a t h e struggled h a rd to g et his b re a th . H e h a d his robe on w ith a w atch chain on o n e side a n d a cross on th e o th e r. I stayed w ith him till th e last. T h is w as a b o u t o n e h u n d re d a n d fifty yards n o rth o f the A g e n t’s house. A fte r I finished w o rk in g w ith th e P riest a n d know ing th a t he w as d e a d , I m a d e for th e A g e n t’s h ouse. I h a d only g o n e a few steps w hen I found th e F a rm In stru c to r a n d F a th e r C ree lying d e ad o n th e g ro u n d . I began to g et frightened a n d ran on a short d istan ce b u t re tu rn e d to th e b o d ies. I m ad e a n o th e r sta rt tow ards th e A gency a n d h a d n o t go n e far w hen I fo u n d th e m an a g er o f th e G ris t m ill d e ad on th e g ro u n d . I w alked o n a b o u t ten yards w hen I h e ard a step b e h in d m e, C h e sk w a — C h esk w a. I stopped a n d w aited. It w as m y uncle K a n ec h o s w h o had been sent ahead by m y fath er to k e ep a w atch on m e. I felt b e tte r now as being alone a m o n g these d e ad b o d ies w as n o t a p lea sa n t feeling. K a p ec h o s a n d I w alked o v e r to th e A g e n t’s h ouse. H ere we fo u n d th e A g en t a n d th e C a rp e n te r lying d e a d ju st o u tsid e the b uilding. W e sto p p ed for aw hile as w e w ere afraid to g o to the C h u rc h w here th e o th e r In d ian s had g a th e red . A fter a w hile I told K a p ec h o s th a t w e h a d b e tte r go o v er a n d see w h a t Big Bear w as d o in g a n d h e agreed a fte r som e h e sita tio n . It w as a b o u t a q u a rte r o f a m ile aw ay. W h en w e g o t th ere ev erything w as d a m a g ed . I saw tw o kegs o f w ine th a t th e C h u rc h had h ad . I saw th e In d ia n s o pen these kegs and d rin k o f th e w ine. T h e rest they p o u re d o u t on th e g ro u n d .

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A few o f Big B ear’s In d ian s c lothed them selves in th e P rie st’s robes. I jo in e d in w ith them as th ey w ere having a g o o d tim e. I w en t to th e P riest’s h o u se a n d found on th e flo o r a g o o d black h a t. I took this a n d p u t it o n m y h e ad . N e x t I w ent to the H u d s o n ’s Bay sto re w hich w as o n a rise a little to the n o rth east o f th e C h u rc h . H e re I m et m y fa th e r w ho h a d ju s t c o m e u p . H e w as g lad to see m e a n d said , “ It is h a rd to see w hat has h a p p en e d h ere. T h e re h a s been a lot o f b lo o d shed th is d a y on o u r la n d — h aym en. I never expected to see this. I will k e ep you w ith m e from n o w ’’. W hile w e w ere th u s talk in g several o f Big B ear’s m en cam e ru n n in g to w a rd s us. T hey w ere h ead in g for M r. S im p so n 's h ouse, m an a g er o f th e H u d s o n ’s Bay post. A s th e d o o r w as locked they could not g e t in, so they sta rte d to yell a n d d an ce on th e g ro u n d o u tsid e. An old m an by th e n a m e o f K a n e p e h a t w as som e d istance b e h in d a n d w hen h e c am e u p he a sk e d “ W hy d o n ’t y o u go in?” W h en he fo u n d th a t th e d o o r w as locked he said, “ T h is is th e w ay to do it” , a n d h a m m e re d th e d o o r w ith the stock o f his g un. H e did n o t succeed th e first tim e but th e second tim e h e b ro k e th e lock o f th e d o o r. “ N o w go right in ” , h e said and a t o n c e they rushed in. M y fa th e r, K a p e c h o s and I also w ent in. T h e first floor a n d th e u p sta ir floor w as p a ck e d w ith In d ian s a n d th e noise they m ad e w as som eth in g aw ful. T h ey sta rte d to d estroy things. T h e d o o r o f M r. S im p so n ’s priv ate room w as o p en so I w alked in to have a look a ro u n d . Lying on a c h air n e ar th e d o o r w ere fo u r B eaver ro b es. I to o k th ese u n d e r m y a rm and w alked o u t. W hen m y fath er noticed m e h e instructed m e to go back a n d p u t th e ro b e s w here they belonged. It w as awful to b e th ere. Big B ear’s In d ia n s w ere dancing u pstairs a n d b re ak in g things to pieces. M y fa th e r w ho by this tim e beg an to show signs o f a n n o y an c e p u sh e d his w ay through and w ent to th e stair. H e got h a lf w ay up b u t could n o t get any fu rth er as th e re w ere to o m an y In d ian s. I trie d to follow him . M y fa th e r called to Big B ear a n d said “ I am surprised th a t you w ould allow y our m en to carry on like this. A re you peo p le crazy o r w h at is th e m a tte r. Y o u r m in d c a n n o t be rig h t. If I had know n o f this I w ould h av e given you tw enty-five h e ad o f cattle to kill instead o f m assacring th e w hite p e o p le th e w ay you have d o n e b eside all th e d a m a g e. All o f y o u m en g et do w n a n d tak e noth in g aw ay from this h o u se . D o n ’t y o u kn o w th a t S im pson is th e m an w ho h a s p ro v id ed us w ith food? T re a t him like y our fa th e r and do n o t d istu rb . Y o u k n o w h e is m arried to a n Indian w o m a n . If you d o n o t like m y talk ta k e a g u n a n d sh o o t m e .” I w as gettin g a fra id and excited as I expected to see m y fa th e r any

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m o m e n t c o m e tu m b lin d d o w n th e s ta ir a d e a d m a n . N o sh o o tin g , how ever, to o k place. T h e m en d ro p p e d everything and left th e h ouse. M y fa th e r shut th e d o o r b e h in d . T h e H u d s o n ’s Bay sto re w as th eir next place o f a m u sem en t. T h e reason for th em n o t going th ere first w as th a t they expected to find m an y valuable things in M r. S im p so n ’s priv ate dw elling. W e d id n o t "follow th em furth er. M y fa th e r’s m in d tu rn ed to w ard s ho m e. H e w as afraid th a t Big B ear h a d laid p lan s to ta k e the F ro g L ake B and p riso n e rs. “ G e o rg e let us go hom e. T h ey have accom plished w hat th ey set o u t to d o . T h ere is no th in g m o re ” . W e sta rte d for h o m e b u t h a d n o t go n e far w hen Big B e ar’s m en again rushed in to S im p so n ’s h ouse. W e lo o k ed back a n d saw them go in. M y fa th e r held m y h a n d for fear th a t I w ould re tu rn . T h is w as a b o u t th re e o ’clock in th e afte rn o o n . W h en w e g o t b a ck to th e h o u se th ere w as n o b o d y h o m e. T h e sq u aw s from Big B e ar’s b a n d h a d m oved c am p to n e ar w here 1 had b e en trying to plow th a t m o rn in g , w hile th e m en w ere busy w ith d estru ctio n a ro u n d th e A gency. T h ey h a d tak e n m y m o th e r along w ith th em to th e ir cam p . I sp o tted o u r tep e e w ith th e H oly Stem ju st o u tsid e . It w as in th e cen tre. T h e y had p u t it th ere p u rp o sely to show th a t w e w ere c ap tu red . W e w alked into o u r tepee. A s soon as m y m o th e r saw us she b ro k e into tears, “ All o f us will be killed now this d a y ” , she said. T e a rs c am e into m y eyes in p ity o f m y m o th e r. A fter w e h a d c o m fo rted h e r by saying th at we th o u g h t ev erything w ould c o m e o u t all right, she p re p are d som eth in g to eat: b u t 1 co u ld n o t eat a fte r all th e ex citem ent. I said I w ould go o u t a n d look fo r th e horses. T h is w as m erely an excuse o n m y p a rt as I did n o t w a n t to show m y nervousness. M y fath er told m e n o t to go far as it w ould b e b e tte r for us to be to g eth er. A s soon as 1 g o t o u tsid e I m a d e for th e sam e hill th a t w e had been sitting on th a t m o rn in g w hen th e first sh o ts w ere fired. On th a t hill I could o v erlo o k the c o u n try to th e so u th to see if Big Bear w as com ing a n d as it w as a very h o t day I w anted to catch th e breeze. I h a d n o t been sitting th ere long w hen I saw In d ian s bringing over tw o w hite w om en they had c ap tu red and m ade prisoners. T h e w om en w ere w alking a h e a d , th e In d ia n s follow ing b e h in d . A sh o rt d istan ce back o f th ese In d ian s cam e tw o sq u aw s w ith a large shaw l o u tstre tc h e d betw een them a n d u n d e r w hich w as M r. C a m e ro n , th e o n ly w hite m an saved. T h e squaw s b elonged to the Frog L ake b a n d o f Indians. A s I w as n o t an eye w itness to see th e escap e o f M r. C a m e ro n

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I can only tell you w h a t I h e ard then a n d w as co m m o n know l­ edge to us In d ian s a t th a t tim e as to M r. C a m e ro n ’s g et aw ay. W hile Big B ear w as busy o rd e rin g th e w hite p eople to g a th e r a t th e A gency, M rs. S im pson hid C a m e ro n in a sm all building close to the H u d s o n 's Bay sto re . She p u t clothes over h im . W hen th e sh o o tin g sta rte d M rs. S im p so n a n d M rs. J o h n H o rse to o k a big red shaw l a n d b ro u g h t him into th e bush w here they c o n ­ cealed him till a fte r th e sh o o tin g . L ater they b ro u g h t him to cam p. W h en M r. S im pson cam e h o m e from th e east and fo u n d the h o u se a n d th e sto re ru in ed , h e w en t to th e c a m p w here Big Bear to o k him prisoner. A fte r I had m a d e sure th a t th ese In d ian s w ere c o m in g into c am p w ith th e priso n ers, I ran back a n d told m y fa th e r w h a t I had seen. I th o u g h t a t th e tim e th a t th ere w ere o th e r w h ite p eople in th e g ro u p b u t they tu rn ed o u t to b e halfbreeds. T h ese tw o w om en w ere b ro u g h t to o u r te n t. A s they cam e up o n e o f them fain ted a n d fell to th e g ro u n d . M o th e r b ro u g h t o u t som e w a ter a n d gave it to h e r. F a th e r said “ I am g lad th a t you have been b ro u g h t h ere. I will see th a t you are n o t h a rm e d ” . M r. C a m e ro n h a d been b ro u g h t u p by th is tim e a n d w hen he h eard m y fa th e r’s voice, w ent up to him , to o k his han d a n d said, “ H a y m e n — H a y m e n — H a y m e n ; n e c h a w m a s k o c h n a k a n e p in a n o c h " . It is h a r d — it is h a r d — it is hard ; m ay b e I'll b e killed to d ay . “ N o m a y a h ” said m y fa th e r. “ N e ith e r you n o r these tw o w om en shall be killed. I will speak for y o u ” . M r. C a m e ro n w as b ro u g h t into th e ten t a n d given a seat. H e cam e up to m e, sh o o k h an d s a n d re p ea te d th e sam e w o rd s, b ut did n o t recognize m e until he h a d been told th a t I w as C h n e ep a hao s son. Big B ear set a sid e a special te n t for th e tw o w om en th a t had been ta k e n p riso n e rs a n d o rd e re d J . P ritch ard and B udreau, In terp re te rs, to keep w atch. A m eeting w as called a n d all th e Indians g a th e red . S o m e tim e b e fo re this a m essenger had been sent n o rth to inform m em b e rs o f th e F rog L ake b a n d , w ho w ere o u t trap p in g , o f w hat h a d h ap p en e d . O n th e retu rn o f th ese In d ian s m y fath er felt m o re confident and o rd e re d them to save the w hite peo p le a t all costs. Big Bear on th e o th e r h a n d w a rn ed them o f d a n g er if they did not su b m it to his c o m m an d s. J . P ritch a rd a n d B udreau w ere friendly to M r. C a m e ro n a n d the tw o w om en p riso n e rs so they in c o m p a n y w ith Is a d o re M o y a h , J o h n H o rs e a n d Y ello w B e ar k e p t clo se g u a r d , fearful th a t som e o f Big B ear’s m en m ight ta k e revenge.

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W h en m o rn in g c am e Big B ear p u t up a large ten t for a dance: and a general m eetin g w as called to discuss fu tu re plans. G u n s w ere placed inside th e tent. Big B ear a n d Im asees w ere sitting to g eth er w hile W an d e rin g S pirit sat on a bench near th e d o o r w ith a g u n resting o n his sh o u ld e r. M y fa th e r a n d 1 w ere som e d istance d o w n from th e d o o r. L ittle Bow, W m . G la d u , Isadore M o y a h a n d J o h n H o rs e w e re a ls o in th e te n t. T h is w a s a b o u t ten o ’clock in th e m o rn in g . C h ie f S ask ask o o ch from O n io n L ake c am e driving up to th e ten t in a bu ck b o a rd ju s t as w e h a d all g a th e red . H e w as m et by som e o f Big B ear’s m en and b ro u g h t into th e te n t a n d given a seat next to m y fa th e r. H e w as dressed in a b la n k e t c o a t w ith a big stra p for a belt, a n d a fox sk in for a cap a n d carried a big b u tch e r knife on his side. H e sto o d up fan n in g h im self as he said: “ I ju st cam e o v e r to see if w h at I have h e ard is tru e. A s 1 cam e along by th e A gency I noticed several d e ad p e o p le th ere, a n d the buildings w ere d e stro y ed . I am very sorry to see w hat you peo p le have d o n e . W e h av e a t O n io n L ak e a C h u rc h o f E ngland M in is­ te r a n d Indian O fficials a n d w e d o not w an t th em to be killed in this w ay. I left g u a rd s th e re to p ro tec t th e m . T h ere a re som e In d ian s th ere too w ho m ight sta rt tro u b le so I m ust go back to -n ig h t. Let th is b e th e finish o f y o u r w o rk .” M y fath er agreed to all th a t h a d been said . Big B ear did not m ak e a n y answ er. W an d e rin g S p irit ju m p e d to his feet, loaded his g u n , w ent up to S askaskooch and p o in te d th e b arrel to his face. H e said “ I will blow y o u r b ra in s o u t” . M y fath er ju m p e d up im m ediately and g ra b b ed th e gun a n d said, ‘‘C heskw a C h esk w a, m y friend, if you will n o t sh o o t I will give y o u a cow th a t I have dow n in th e sw a m p ” . W an d e rin g Spirit tu rn e d and w ent to his seat. Sask ask o o ch did n o t seem th e least bit w o rried as h e pulled out his big knife a n d told W an d e rin g S pirit to g et up a n d face him . H e said “ I will cut you to pieces. A lth o u g h I have only o n e arm I am n o t afraid o f y ou. I used to b e a t th e fro n t w hen w e fought th e B lackfoot In d ian s. Y ou w ere b e h in d th e n . It is a sh a m e to see how you have b u tch e red those in n o ce n t w hite peo p le do w n there, b u t you c a n n o t scare m e” . H e w as read y to sta rt into them w hen m y fa th e r in terv en ed . “ I will give you m y Silver Fox cap a n d a H u d s o n 's Bay b la n k e t if you will rem ain q u ie t” , h e told him . S askaskooch said " I am not d ru n k a n d I w ould b e ash a m e d o f m yself to kill an y b o d y h e re to d a y ” . Big B ear now sp o k e a n d expressed his su rp rise at th e w ay they

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w ere carry in g o n . H e o rd e re d th a t a n o th e r m eeting b e held in tw o days tim e so th a t th e In d ia n s from O n io n L ake co u ld be p resen t. “ If a n y o n e here is cau g h t ru n n in g aw ay until th e next m eetin g is held, th ey will be k ille d ” , a d d ed W an d e rin g Spirit. T h e m eetin g to o k place as p lan n e d a n d everything cam e off quietly, th e In d ian s all going back to th eir respective cam ps. T h e re w as no m eetin g held to d ecid e th e d estin y o f M r. C a m ­ eron.

K eesayin, W a sk a h a t a n d N e p o w q u a to w , th ree In d ian s th a t w ere in th e D istrict o f F ro g L ake a t th e tim e o f th e R ebellion had the follow ing to say: K eesay in :— W h a t G e o rg e S tanley h a s said is all tru e. Big B ear a n d Ism asees m a d e all th e O n io n L ak e In d ian s c o m e to F ro g L ake for a m eetin g a fte r th e m assacre. W h en I c am e o v e r I saw o n e w hite m an d e ad on th e g ro u n d w h ere he had been killed. If th e G o v e rn m e n t h a d not placed Big B ear’s b a n d here, th e m as­ sacre w ould nev er have tak e n place. W a s k a h a t:— T h e G o v e rn m e n t pro m ised th e In d ia n s th at they w ould n o t b e b o th ere d by th e w hite p eo p le, b u t this w as n o t th e case. N e p o w q u a to w :— I w as h e re d u rin g th e R ebellion a n d the story th a t G e o rg e S tanley h a s told is true. M r. C a m e ro n ’s story is n o t all true. U s Indians w ere n o t even friendly w ith Big Bear a n d W a n ­ de rin g S pirit. T h e Bush In d ian s never th o u g h t o f a R ebellion. It w as th ro u g h th e G o v e rn m e n t th a t Big B ear’s b a n d cam e here.

Tw o M onths In The C am p o f Big B ear: The Life and A dventures o f T heresa G ow anlock and T h eresa D elaney D e d ic a te d To O u r S is te r s T h e L a d ie s o f C anada P A R T I. IN T R O D U C T IO N

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P R O T E C T E D BY H A L F - B R E E D S T H E Y T A K E FO R T PITT

C O O K IN G F O R A L A R G E FAMILY I N C I D E N T S BY T H E W A Y D A N C IN G PA RTIES A N O T H ER BATTLE IN D IA N BOYS

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S O U R C E : O rig in a lly p u b lish e d b y th e P a r k d a le T im e s , P a rk d a le , O n ta rio ,

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PART II. PREFACE

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In tro d u c tio n It is n o t th e desire o f th e a u th o r o f th is w o rk to p u blish the incidents w hich d re n c h e d a peaceful a n d p ro sp e ro u s se ttle m e n t in b lo o d , a n d subjected th e surv ivors to u ntold suffering a n d p riv a ­ tio n s at th e h a n d s o f savages, in o rd e r to g ratify a m o rb id craving for n o to rie ty . D u rin g all m y perils a n d w an d erin g s am id th e snow — .and ice o f th a t track less p ra irie , th e h o p e th a t nerved m e to struggle o n , w as, th a t if rescued, I m ig h t w ithin the sacred p re ­ cincts o f th e p a te rn a l h e a rth , seek seclusion, w h e re loving h an d s w o u ld help m e to b e ar th e b u rd e n o f m y so rro w , and try to m ake m e fo rg et a t tim es, if they could n o t com pletely efface from m y m em o ry , th e frightful scenes e n ac te d a ro u n d th a t prairie h am let, w hich b e reft m e o f m y loved o n e , leaving m y h e a rt a n d fireside d eso late for ever. P ro stra ted by fatig u e a n d exposure, distracted by th e c o n stan t d re ad o f o u tra g e and d e a th , I had well-nigh a b a n d o n e d all h o p e o f ever escaping from th e In d ian s w ith m y life, b u t, as th e d a rk n e ss o f th e n ig h t is ju s t b e fo re th e daw n , so m y fears w hich had increased until I w as in d e sp a ir, G o d in his inscrutible w ay speedily calm ed , fo r w hile I w as b ro o d in g over a n d p re p a rin g for m y im p e n d in g fate, a su d d e n co m m o tio n a ttra c te d m y a tte n tio n a n d in less tim e th an it ta k e s to w rite it, I w as free. F ro m th a t m o m e n t I received every kin d n ess and a tte n ­ tio n , a n d as I a p p ro a c h e d th e c o n fin e s o f civilization, I becam e aw are o f how d iligently I h a d been sought a fte r, a n d th a t for w eeks I h a d been th e object o f th e ten d e rest solicitude, not only o f m y friends a n d re la tio n s, b u t o f th e w hole c o n tin e n t. T h e re have a p p e a re d so m an y conflicting sta te m en ts in th e pu b lic press reg ard in g m y c a p tu re a n d tre a tm e n t w hile w ith th e Indians, th a t it is m y b o u n d e n d u ty to give to th e pu b lic a tru th fu l a n d a cc u rate d esc rip tio n o f m y c a p tu re , d e n te n tio n a n d m isfo rtu n e s w hile c ap tiv e in th e c am p o f Big B ear. T h e task m ay b e an irksom e o n e a n d I m ight w ith ju stic e sh rin k from an y th in g w hich w ould recall th e past. Still it is a d e b t o f g ra titu d e I ow e to th e peo p le o f th is b ro a d d o m in io n . T o th e brave m en w ho sacrificed th eir business and c o m fo rt a n d e n d u re d the h ard sh ip s incident to a so ld ier’s life, in o rd e r to v in d icate th e law . A n d to th e n oble m en a n d w om en w h o p lan n e d for th e com fort and supplied th e w an ts o f the g allan t b a n d w ho had so nobly re sp o n d ed to th e call o f d u ty a n d cry fo r h elp . A n d I gladly

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e m b ra ce th is o p p o rtu n ity o f sh ow ing to th e pub lic a n d especially th e ladies, m y a p p rec ia tio n o f th e ir kin d n ess a n d sy m p ath y in m y b e rea v em e n t, a n d th eir n oble a n d d isin te re sted efforts for m y release. In u n d e rta k in g a task w hich h a s no p leasures fo r m e, and h a s been accom plished u n d e r th e m o st try in g difficulties a n d with th e g re atest physical suffering, I h a v e e m b o d ie d in the n a rra tiv e a few o f th e m an n e rs a n d cu sto m s o f In d ian s, th e leading features o f th e c o u n try , only sufficient to re n d e r it clear a n d intelligible. I m ake no apo lo g y for issuing th is v olum e to th e pu b lic as their u n a b a te d interest m a k e it m an ifest th a t th ey desire it, a n d I am only repaying a d e b t o f g ra titu d e by giving a tru th fu l n a rra tiv e to co rrect false im pressions, fo r th e ir k indness a n d sym pathy to m e. I tru st th e pu b lic will receive th e w ork in th e sp irit in w hich it is given and any literary defects w hich it m ay have, a n d I am sure th ere a re m any, m ay be o v e rlo o k e d , as I am o n ly en d ea v o rin g to rectify e rro r, instead o f asp irin g to literary excellence. I express m y sincere a n d heartfelt th a n k s to th e h a lf-b re ed s w ho b efriended m e du rin g m y captivity, a n d to th e frien d s a n d pub lic generally w ho sh eltered a n d assisted m e in m an y w ays a n d by m an y acts o f k in d n ess a n d sy m p a th y , a n d w hose a tte n tio n w as un rem ittin g until I h a d reached m y d e stin a tio n . A nd now I m ust bid th e p u b lic a grateful farewell a n d seek m y w ished for seclusion from w hich I w ould nev er have em erged but to p e rfo rm a pu b lic duty. THFRESA G O W A N LO C K .

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We Leave Ontario W e left m y fa th e r’s h o u se a t T in te rn o n th e 7th o ( O c to b er, 1884, h aving been m arrie d o n the 1st, fo r P ark d ale, w here w e spent a few d a y s w ith m y h u sb a n d ’s friends. W e sta rte d for o u r h o m e on th e 10th by the C a n a d ia n Pacific R ailw ay to O w en S o u n d , thence by b o a t to P o rt A rth u r, a n d th en on to W in n ip e g by rail, w here w e sto p p e d o n e n ig h t, going on th e next d a y to R eg in a. W e only sto p p e d in th a t place o n e d ay , ta k in g rail a g ain to Swift C u rre n t, arriv in g th ere th e sam e d ay . T h is e n d ed o u r travel by th e lo co m o ­ tion o f steam . A fte r tak in g in a supply o f p ro v isio n s w e m ad e a sta rt for B attleford, d ista n t 195 m iles, by b u c k b o a rd o v er th e p ra irie , w hich stretch es o u t a b o u t 130 m iles in length, a n d for th e re m a in ­ ing 55 m iles th e re are clum ps o f tre e s o r bluffs a s they are called, scattered here a n d th ere . O u r jo u rn e y o v er th is p a rt w as very p lea sa n t, th e w e a th e r w as fine a n d th e m o d e o f travelling, w hich w as new to m e, delightful. O u r co m p a n y , consisted in a d d itio n to ourselves, o f only o n e p e rso n , M r. L evalley, a gen tlem an from O tta w a . W e passed fo u r nights u n d e r canvas. T h e jo u rn e y w as n o t a lonely o n e, th e ships o f th e prairie w ere c ontinually on the g o , w e passed several c o m p a n ie s o f freighters w ith h arnessed oxen, h a lf-breeds a n d Indians. It w as also full o f incident and a d v en tu re; on o n e o c casio n , w hen co o k in g o u r te a , w e set fire to th e p ra irie , alth o u g h w e w orked h a rd to p u t it o u t, it in a very few m in u tes sp re ad in a m ost a larm in g m a n n e r, a n d entirely be yond o u r c o n tro l, a n d w e let it go lo o k in g on enjoying the scene. U p o n n earin g B attleford a n u m b e r o f half-fam ished squaw s cam e to us begging for so m e th in g to eat, b u t w e w ere n o t in a p o sitio n , u n fo rtu n ately , to supply th eir w ants, on a cc o u n t o f o u r lard e r h aving run dry . W e e n te re d B attleford o n th e 19th o f O c to b er. T h e tow n o f B attleford is situ ate d on th e B attle river. T h e old o n o n e side, th e new on the o th e r, in th e d irectio n o f th e fort. W hen th e In d ian s p lu n d ere d th a t place it w as th e tow n on the south b a n k . T h e houses on th e o p p o site b a n k w ere p ro tec te d by th e g u n s a t th e fo rt. M y hu sb an d h a d a sto re on the n o rth ban k in th e d irec tio n o f th e fort. T h e tow n is very scattered , cov erin g a large a re a o f g ro u n d , it is verily a place o f distan ces a n d q u ite in keeping w ith the n o rth -w est generally. T h ere a re a few fine houses in th e place, n o tab ly , th e industrial h o m e fo r In d ian c hildren a n d th e residence o f Ju d g e R olleau.

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In c id e n ts a t B a ttle fo rd I rem ained a t B attleford six w eeks, w hile m y h u sb a n d w en t to F ro g C re ek , (w here h e had th irte e n m en w ork in g on th e house and m ills,) a n d w hile th ere I b ecam e in ititated into th e m an n e rs a n d c u sto m s o f th e in h ab itan ts. A few incidents w hich h ap p en ed d u rin g m y stay m ig h t be in te restin g to th e re ad e r, th ere fo re, I will j o t them dow n as th ey c o m e to m in d . A fte r o u r arriv al th e In d ian s a n d squaw s c am e to see m e and w ould go a n d tell so m e o f th e o th e rs to c o m e a n d see th e m o n ias, (squaw ) a n d w hen they saw m y h u sb a n d th ey asked him w hy he did n o t live w ith h e r, a n d if she w as well; a n d o n e d a y I w alked w ith him o v er to w h e re h e w as k eep in g sto re b efore h e w en t west and th e Indians c am e in a n d sh o o k h ands, a n d laughed, a n d the squaw s th o u g h t m y co stu m e w as ra th e r o d d a n d n o t in keeping with th a t o f th e fash io n ab le n o rth -w estern belle. T h e squaw s cut o ff a b o u t th re e y a rd s o f p rin t a n d m ak e th e skirt; w hile o th e rs ta k e flo u r sacks a n d cut holes th ro u g h for th e w aist a n d have leggings a n d m occasins; they w ould d isd ain to w ear such an article as hose. T h e y a re q u ite a d e p t in th e a rt o f ta n n in g . I saw them tan n in g leather; they to o k th e skin a n d p u t so m e th in g on it, I d o not know w hat it w as, a n d p u t it in th e sun fo r a few days, then with a sm all sh a rp iron fastened o n a long h a n d le , they scrap ed the skin w ith this until very sm o o th , a n d g reased it o v er a n d p u t it in th e sun again for so m e tim e, a fte rw a rd s tw o sq u aw s pulled it until nice a n d soft, a n d then it w as re ad y for use. O n e a fte rn o o n I w as o u t sh o p p in g a n d on m y w ay h o m e I saw som e little Indian c hildren co astin g dow n hill o n a n e arth en plate, but b e lo re gettin g to th e e n d o f th e hill, to th e ir evident su rp rise the plate b ro k e a n d th ey co m m en ced crying b ecause it w as b ro k e n and w en t back a n d g et a n o th e r o n e , a n d so o n until they th o u g h t they w ould use tin plates, a n d th e little friend th a t w as w ith m e, Effie L au rie to o k th e tin plate from them a n d sat d o w n on it h erself and w ent do w n th e hill, a n d they looked so a sto n ish ed to th in k th a t a w hite w om an w ould d o such a thin g . A n o th e r tim e on g o in g o u t w hile tw o m en w ere crossing the b ridge o v er Battle river; a h o rse b ro k e th ro u g h and w as killed and th e squaw s g a th e re d a ro u n d it tak in g th e skin off, while o th e rs carried som e o f th e carcass aw ay a n d I asked w h a t they w ere g oing to d o w ith it, a n d m y h u sb a n d said “ they will ta k e it hom e a n d have a big feast a n d if th e m eat h a s been po iso n ed they will boil it for a long tim e , changing th e w ater, a n d in this

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w ay an y th in g th a t w as p o iso n o u s w o u ld n o t affect th e m .” T h e w ay th e In d ia n s get th e ir w o o d , they send th eir sq u aw s to th e b u sh to c u t th e w o o d a n d th ey tak e a ro p e a n d tie a ro u n d as m uch as they can carry, and h a n g it on th eir backs. T h o se w ho have dogs to carry th e w ood for them tie tw o long sticks to g eth er, fastening them on th e d o g 's b ack , then tying a large b u n d le o f w ood on th e back p a rt o f th e cross sticks by th a t m ea n s the squaw is relieved fro m th e task . T h e squaw s p e rfo rm all m anual labor, w hen th e big lazy, g o o d -fo r-n o th in g Indian lolls a b o u t in idle­ ness.

O n to O u r H o m e A t th e e n d o f six w eeks m y h u sb a n d re tu rn e d from the w est, and w ith m an y p lea sa n t recollections o f B attleford, w e left for o u r ow n h o m e , w hich I h a d p ictu red in m y m in d w ith jo y o u s a n tic i­ p a tio n , as th e place o f o u r c o n tin u e d happiness; a b eau tifu l oasis, in th a t land o f p ra irie a n d sp arse settlem en t, a n d w ith a buo y an cy o f sp irit w hich tru e h a p p in e ss a lo n e can bring, I looked forw ard w ith a n tic ip a te d p lea su re , w hich m a d e th at little log h o u se a p p e a r to m e, a palace, a n d w e its king a n d queen. O n this last p a rt o f o u r jo u rn e y we w ere favored w ith the c o m p a n y o f M r. B allentyne o f B attleford w h o w en t w ith us, a n d a fter th e first d a y ’s travelling, w e sto p p e d all night a t a halfb re e d ’s h ouse, w h ere they h a d a large fire-place m ad e o f m ud, w hich w as ju st like a solid piece o f stone; they h a d a b rig h t fire, and ev erything a p p e a re d nice a n d tidy w ith in ; a w o m a n w as m ak in g b a n n o ck , a n d w hen she h a d th e d o u g h p re p a re d , she took a frying pan a n d p u t th e cake in a n d sto o d it up before th e fire. T h is is th e w ay th ey d o all th eir b a k in g , a n d th en she fired som e nice w hite fish a n d hung a little k e ttle on a long iron h o o k over th e fire, p u t in p o ta to e s, and bo iled th e tea -k ettle , m aking th e tea in it to o . She then sp read a w h ite cloth o v er th e tab le a n d w e all enjoyed o u r su p p e r to g eth e r a fte r th e long ride. T h e squaw gave us a nice clean b e d to sleep in. m ak in g th eirs on th e floor a n d in th e m o rn in g 1 saw fo u r little c hildren craw ling o u t from u n d e r th e bed w here w e slept, and m y h u sb a n d looked up a t m e and lau g h ed , a n d said , “ th a t is w h ere c hildren sleep up in th is coun­ tr y ." T h e ir w ays a p p e a re d very stra n g e to m e, a n d in th e m o rn ­ ing b efore going aw ay, they gave us a w arm breakfast. W e travelled all th e next d a y a n d cam p ed th a t night. W e h a d a sm all tin stove w hich is p a rt o f a cam p in g o u tfit, a n d w hich

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sm o k e d very m uch w hile c o o k in g . W e h a d g re a t tro u b le to know how w e w ould o b ta in a light, b u t w e h a d a can d le and w e lighted th at, a n d th en w e h a d no th in g to hold it in, b u t as necessity is the m o th e r o f in v en tio n , we found a w ay o u t o f th e difficulty; we to o k a p o c k et k n ife th a t had tw o b lades, a n d stuck o n e b lad e in th e te n t pole a n d o p e n ed th e o th e r h a lf w ay, fastening th e candle into th e blad e, w hich answ ered th e p u rp o se a n d enabled us to see w hile w e a te o u r su p p er. W e then tu rn ed do w n o u r beds, a n d in a few m in u te s w e re fa st a sle e p . W h en m o rn in g c a m e w e had break fast, and travelled on a g ain . M r. B allentyne shot som e p ra i­ rie chick en s a n d w e had them for o u r d in n e r, w hich w as a g re at tre a t to m e. W e arrived a t F o rt P itt on th e ten th , b id d in g M r. B allentyne g o o d -b y e, sto p p e d at M r. M c L e a n ’s all n ig h t, w here w e enjoyed a very p leasan t evening. T h e next m o rn in g w e left fo r O n io n L ake, w here w e w ere w elcom ed by M r. M a n n a n d fam ily, a n d a fte r a n ig h t’s rest p ro ceed ed on o u r jo u rn e y to F ro g L ake, reaching th e re on the 12th. W e w en t to M r. a n d M rs. D elan ey ’s, w ho kindly allow ed m e to sto p th ere until m y h u sb a n d fixed up som e articles o f fu rn itu re at o u r ow n h o u se tw o m iles fu rth e r on and south-w est o f th e L ake. A fte r arriving a t M rs. D e lan e y ’s, m y h u sb a n d left m e a n d w ent d ow n to th e house to w ork; on S a tu rd ay evening he c am e back. O n S u n d ay m o rn in g M r. Q u in n cam e o v er a n d asked us to go for a drive, w e accepted th e in v ita tio n . It w as a b rig h t frosty m orning; he to o k us to o u r little h om e th a t 1 had n o t yet seen. O n h earin g th e m en singing, w ho w ere em ployed a t th e m ill, we drove do w n to th e ir coo k in g ten t, w here w e found M r. G ilch rist co o k in g b reak fast for fou rteen m en . T h ey had a large coo k in g stove inside, w ith a long b o a rd tab le; th e tab le w as covered with tin p lates a n d cups. T h ey h a d ra b b it so u p , a n d bread a n d coffee for b reak fast; a fte r gettin g ou rselves w arm w e d ro v e back to M r. D e lan e y ’s. O n th e follow ing T h u rsd a y m y h u sb a n d d ro v e up and to o k m e to o u r h o m e, w here all w as in b eau tifu l o rd e r, a n d M r. G ilch rist w aiting for o u r arriv al.

A t H om e N o w w e a re a t h o m e a n d I am th an k fu l. .There they nestle in a p retty valley, the sim ple h ouse, th e store, a n d beside th e b ro o k , th e m ill. T h e m usic o f th e w o rk m a n ’s h a m m e r a lo n e b re a k s the stillness th a t p erv ad es th e scene, a n d th e hills send back th e echo

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w ith o u t a d isc o rd an t n o te . T h e hills w ere covered w ith trees, principally p o p la r a n d spruce, in terspersed w ith b e rry -b e a rin g shrubs. A m o st b eau tifu l and e n ch a n tin g location. T h a t little settlem en t o f o u r ow n w as situ ate d u p o n F rog C re ek , a b o u t th ree m iles w est o f th e lake o f th e sam e n a m e , and d istan t from th e F ro g L ake S e ttle m e n t, o u r n e are st w h ite n eig h ­ b o u rs, a b o u t tw o m iles. But w e h a d n eig h b o u rs close by, w ho cam e in to see us th e next d ay , sh a k in g h a n d s and chattin g to us in C ree, o f w hich language w e k n e w b u t little. T h e In d ian s ap p e a re d to b e very k in d and su p p lied u s w ith w hite fish tw ice a w eek w hich they p ro c u re d from th e river for w hich in re tu rn we gave sugar, tea, p rin ts, & c., from th e store. C h ristm a s a n d N ew Y e a r’s w ere c eleb rated in a b o u t th e sam e m a n n e r th at they are a m o n g st us civilized people. Both In d ian s a n d squaw s p u t on th eir g o o d clothes, w hich at th e best o f tim es is very scan t, and d o th e ir calling. T h e y salute th e in m a tes o f each house they e n te r w ith a c o n g ra tu la to ry sh ak e, ex p ectin g to b e kissed in re tu rn . Just think o f having to kiss a w hole trib e o f In d ian s in o n e d ay , th a t p a rt w e w ould ra th e r do by p ro x y . W e w ould not co u n te n an c e it in any w ay. O n C h ristm a s d a y w e w ent o u t fo r a w alk alo n g F ro g C re ek : on o u r w ay w e c am e to w h ere tw o little In d ian children w ere catching ra b b its w ith a snare, th ey stepped to o n e side a n d let us pass, a n d w ere d elig h ted to h a v e us w atching them while catching th eir g am e: a n d fu rth e r on som e o f th e squaw s had ho les cu t in th e ice, a n d h aving a sh a rp h o o k w ere c atch in g fish. In th is w ay they g et fish all w in ter, and to lo o k at these “ sh rim p y -lo o k in g ” w om en tro ttin g alo n g w ith th eir b ro w n b a b ie s slung in a so rt o f loose p o c k e t dang lin g aw ay b e h in d th eir backs, it w as com ical in th e ex tre m e , they w ould sto p a n d look a n d laugh a t us, o u r a p p e a ra n c e being so very differen t to th e ir ow n d ark skin and sh a rp eyes. T h ey w ear th eir h a ir h an g in g , stru n g w ith bra ss b ead s, a n d h a v e sm all pieces o f ra b b it fu r tied in: a n d the m en w ear th eirs c u t very sh o rt in fro n t, hanging o v er th e ir brow s, and o rn a m e n ts o f every d escrip tio n . T h e se peo p le d o n 't sit a t tab le on chairs, rich o r p o o r; they sq u a t d o w n on th eir feet in a fashion th a t w ould soon tire us exceedingly. T h e n at night they w rap them selves u p in a b lan k e t, lie do w n and sleep as soundly as we w ould in o u r w arm fe ath er bed a n d blankets. M y h u sb a n d a n d th e m en w o rk e d h a rd d u rin g the next tw o m o n th s o n th e m ill in o rd e r to g et it finished b e fo re the spring set in. A s far as th e w e a th e r w as c o n cern ed it w as very fav o u rab le for w o rk in g . T h e m en lost no tim e fro m th e cold. D u rin g th a t p e rio d

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th e th e rm o m e te r ra n g ed from z ero to 60° below but th e a ir w as so clear a n d b racin g th a t the cold w as nev er felt. I h a v e e x p eri­ enced m o re severe w eath er in O n ta rio than I ever did in this p a rt. I have heard o f no rth -w est blizzards, but they a re confined to the p ra irie and did n o t reach us. It is the m ost beautiful c o u n try I ever saw w ith its tow ering hills, m ajestic rivers, beautiful flowers a n d rolling lan d . I had m ad e up m y m in d to see n o th in g but frost, ice a n d snow , b u t w as ag ree ab ly d isa p p o in te d . N o th in g o f a n eventful n a tu re tra n sp ire d , d u rin g those tw o m o n th s , th e m ill w as a b o u t c o m p le te d a n d W illisc ra ft a n d th e o th e r m en w ere disch arg ed w ith th e exception o f M r. G ilch rist, w ho assisted m y h u sb a n d . T h e m ac h in ery w as all in p o sitio n and ev erything d o n e b u t finishing up, w hen on th e 17th o f M arch , tw o m en , strangers, m ad e th eir a p p e a ra n c e a t th e mill a n d asked for e m p lo y m en t. T h e y said they w ere w eary a n d w orn and had left D uck L ake in o rd e r to av o id th e tro u b le th a t w as brew ing th ere. O n e w as G re g o ry D o n a ire a n d th e o th e r P eter B londin. m y h u sb a n d to o k p ity on them a n d gave th em em ploym ent. T hey w orked for us until th e m assacre. T h ey w ere c o ntinually going too a n d fro a m o n g th e Indians, a n d I c a n n o t but believe, that they w ere co g n izan t o f ev erything th a t w as going o n , if not responsible in a g re a t degree fo r th e m u rd ers w hich w ere a fte r­ w ard s c o m m itte d .

W o o d a n d P lain Indians T h e In d ian s a re in th eir h a b its very unclean a n d filthy. T h ey will n o t in th e least im press an y o n e to such an e x ten t th at they w ould b e w illing to forego th e re stric tio n s o f civilized life, a n d e n te r u p o n th e free life o f th e red m an. T h e In d ian s living on th e reserve in the n e ig h b o u rh o o d o f Frog C reek a re know n as th e W o o d C re es, they w ere all peaceable and industrious, a n d w ere becom ing pro ficien t in th e a rt o f h u sb a n ­ dry. T h e y lived in th e log cab in s in the w in ter, b u t in th e su m m er they to o k to th eir ten ts. T hey n u m b e re d a b o u t 200 p ersons. T hey a p p e a re d satisfied w ith th eir p o sitio n w hich w as m uch b e tte r than w h at falls to th e lot o f o th e r In d ian s. T h e y d id not ta k e p a rt in th e m assacre, n o r w here they resp o n sib le for it in any w ay. T h e Plain C re es are c o m p o sed o f th e w orst ch ara cte rs from all th e trib es o f th a t n a m e . T h ey w ere dissatisfied, revengeful, and cruel, they could n o t be p e rsu ad e d to select th eir reserve until lately, a n d then th ey w ould n o t settle upon it. T h e ir tastes lay in a

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d irectio n th e o p p o site to d o m estic ; they w ere idle and w orthless, a n d w ere th e In d ian s w ho killed o u r d e a r o n e s o n th at ever to be re m e m b e re d 2nd o f A p ril. T h o se sam e In d ia n s w ere constantly fed by M r. D elaney a n d m y h u sb a n d . T h e follow ing c o rre sp o n d ­ ence will show how h e trea te d th o se u n grateful c h ara cte rs;— Big B ear’s In d ian s w ere sent up to F ro g L ake, it is said , by G o v e rn o r D ew dney w ho told th e m , if th ey w ould g o th ere, they w ould never be hungry, b u t last w in te r th e ir ra tio n s w ere sto p p e d , and they h a d to w ork to get p ro v isio n s o r starve. T h ey w ould go a ro u n d to th e se ttle rs' houses a n d ask for som eth in g to e at, and M r. D elaney w ould give th o se In d ian s ra tio n s, paying for them o u t o f his ow n salary. G o v . D ew dney w ro te a letter sta tin g th at h e m u st stop it a t once; b u t h e d id not listen to him a n d k e p t on giving to th em un til th e o u tb re a k . A n d th e very m en he b e frie n d ed w ere th e o n e s w ho h u rle d him in to sudden d e ath . Big B ear w as only nom inally th e chief o f this trib e , th e ruling po w er being in th e h a n d s o f W an d e rin g S p irit, a b a d a n d vicious m a n , w ho exercised it w ith all th e craft and cunning o f an accom plished free b o o ter.

The M a ssa cre N o w c o m e th e dread fu l scenes o f blood a n d cruel d e a th . T he h a p p y life is ch an g ed to o n e o f suffering a n d sorrow . T h e few m o n th s o f h a p p in e ss I enjoyed w ith th e o n e I loved ab o v e all o th e rs w as a b ru p tly closed -ta k e n from m e fo r e v er— it w as cruel, it w as d re ad fu l. W hen I look back to it all, I often w onder, is it all a d re am , a n d has it really taken p lace. Y es, th e d re am is to o true; it is a terrib le reality, a n d as such will never leave m y h e a rt, o r be effaced from o ff m y m in d . T h e first new s w e heard o f th e D uck L ak e affair w as on the 30th o f M a rch . M r. Q u in n , th e Indian A g en t, at F ro g L ake, w ro te a letter to us a n d sent it do w n to o u r h o u se a b o u t twelve o 'clo ck a t night w ith Jo h n P ritc h a rd , telling m y h u sb a n d a n d I to g o up to M r. D e lan e y ’s o n T u esd ay m o rn in g , a n d w ith his wife g o on to F o rt P itt, a n d if th ey saw any excitem ent they w ould follow . W e d id n o t expect a n y th in g to occur. W h en w e g o t up to M r. D elan ey ’s w e fo u n d th e police had left fo r F o rt P itt. Big B ear’s In d ian s w ere in the h o u se talk in g to M r. Q u in n a b o u t the tro u b le a t D uck L ak e, and saying th a t P o u n d m a k e r th e c h ie f at B attleford w an ted Big B ear to jo in him b u t h e w ould n o t, as he in ten d ed re m a in in g w here h e w as a n d live peaceably. T h e y c o n ­

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sidered Big B ear to be a b e tte r m an than h e w as given c red it for. O n th e 1st o f A pril they w ere in, m ak in g A pril fools o f the w hite p e o p le a n d sh a k in g h a n d s, a n d they th o u g h t I w as fright­ ened a n d told m e n o t to be a fra id , b ecause they w ould n o t h u rt us. M y h u sb a n d left m e at M r. D e lan e y ’s a n d w ent back to his w ork a t th e m ill, re tu rn in g in th e evening w ith M r.G ilc h rist. W e all sat talking for som e tim e along w ith M r. D ill, w ho h a d a store a t F ro g L ak e a n d M r. C a m e ro n , clerk fo r th e H u d so n Bay C o m p an y . W e all felt perfectly safe w here w e w ere, saying th a t as w e w ere so far aw ay from the tro u b le a t D uck L ak e, th e G o v e rn ­ m ent w ould likely c o m e to som e term s w ith them and th e affair b e settled a t o n ce. T h e young C h ie f and a n o th e r Indian by the n a m e o f Isa d o r said if an y th in g w as w rong a m o n g Big B ear’s ban d th ey w ould c o m e and tell us; and th a t night Big B ear’s b rav es h eard a b o u t it a n d w a tch e d them all nig h t to keep them from telling us. W e all w en t to bed n o t feeling in a n y w ay a la rm e d . A b o u t five o ’clock in th e m o rn in g a rap cam e to th e d o o r a n d M r. D elan ey w ent do w n stairs a n d o p e n ed it, and Jo h n P ritchard a n d o n e o f Big B ear’s so n s by th e n a m e o f Ibesies w ere there. P ritch a rd said “ T h e re tro u b le .” M r. D elaney said “ W h ere ? ” P ritch a rd "H ere'. O u r horses a re all g o n e , th e In d ian s deceived us, a n d said th a t so m e h a lf-breeds from E d m o n to n had c o m e in th e n ig h t a n d had tak e n them to D uck L ake, b u t Big B ear’s ban d has tak e n them a n d hid them , I am afraid it is all u p .” M y h u sb a n d a n d I g o t up, a n d M rs. D elan ey cam e dow n stairs w ith a frightened look. In a few m in u te s Big B e ar’s In d ian s w ere all in th e h ouse, a n d h a d tak e n all th e arm s from th e m en saying they w ere going to p ro te c t us from th e half-b reed s, a n d then we felt w e w ere being deceived. T h e y to o k all th e m en o v e r to M r. Q u in n ’s, a n d m y h u sb a n d a n d I w ere sitting on th e lounge, and an In d ian cam e in a n d to o k him by th e a rm saying h e w an ted him to go too; a n d h e said to M rs. D elaney a n d I “ do not to be afraid, w hile I' g o w ith this In d ia n .” W e sto p p e d in th e house, and w hile they w ere g o n e som e o f th e In d ian s c am e in a n d w ent th ro u g h th e c u p b o a rd to find so m e th in g to e a t. T h ey o p en ed the tra p d o o r to go do w n cellar, b u t it w as very d a rk , and they w ere afraid to v e n tu re d o w n . T h e n th e m en cam e back a n d M rs. D elaney g o t b reak fast. W e all sat d o w n , b u t I co u ld n o t e at, a n d an In d ian asked M r. G o w an lo ck to tell m e n o t to be a fra id , they w ould n o t h u rt us, a n d I should e at plenty. A fte r b reak fast they took us o u t o f th e h o u se a n d esco rted us o v e r to th e c h u rch ; m y

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hu sb a n d tak in g m y a rm , M r. a n d M rs. D e lan e y w ere w alking beside us. W h en w e got to th e church th e priests w ere holding m ass; it w as H oly T h u rsd a y , a n d as w e e n te re d th e d o o r, W a n ­ dering S pirit sat on his knees w ith his g u n ; h e w as p a in te d , and had on such a w icked look. T h e p riests did n o t finish th e service o n a cc o u n t o f th e m en acin g m a n n e r o f th e Indians; they w ere b o th a ro u n d a n d inside the c h u rch . W e w ere all very m uch frightened by th eir b e h av io u r. T h e y then told us to go o u t o f the ch u rch , and to o k us back to M r. D elan ey ’s, all th e In d ian s going in to o . W e sto p p e d th ere for aw hile a n d a n In d ian cam e a n d told us to com e o u t ag ain , a n d m y h u sb a n d c am e to m e a n d said ‘you had b e tte r p u t y o u r shaw l a ro u n d you, fo r its very c o ld , p erh ap s w e will n o t b e g o n e lo n g .” W e all w ent o u t w ith th e Indians. T h ey w ere going th ro u g h all th e stores. E verything w as given to th em , a n d they g o t ev erything they could w ish fo r and to o k us up th e hill to w ard s th e ir c am p . W e h a d only g one b u t a short d istan ce from th e h o u se w hen w e h e ard th e re p o rts o f gu n s, but th o u g h t they w ere firing in th e a ir to frighten us; b u t they had sh o t Q u in n , D ill a n d G ilch rist, w h o m I d id n o t see fall. M r. and M rs. D elaney w ere a sh o rt d istan c e a h e a d o f m y h u sb a n d , I having my_ h u sb a n d ’s a rm . M r. W illiscraft, a n old g rey-headed m an a b o u t seventy-five years o f age cam e ru n n in g by us, a n d an Indian sh o t a t him a n d k n o c k e d his h a t off, a n d h e tu rn ed a ro u n d a n d said, " O h , d o n ’t sh o o t! d o n 't s h o o t!" But they fired ag ain , a n d h e ran scream ing a n d fell in som e bushes. O n seeing this I began crying, and m y h u sb a n d tried to co m fo rt m e, saying, “ m y d e a r w ife b e brave to th e e n d ,” and im m ediately a n In d ian b eh in d us fired, a n d m y h u sb a n d fell beside m e his a rm pulling from m ine. I tried to assist him from falling. H e p u t o u t his arm s fo r m e and fell, a n d I fell do w n b eside him a n d b uried m y face on his, w hile his life w as e b b in g aw ay so quickly, a n d was p re p are d for the next sh o t m yself, th in k in g I w as g oing w ith him to o . But d e a th ju s t then w as n o t o rd a in e d for m e. I h a d yet to live. A n In d ian c am e a n d to o k m e aw ay from m y dying husband side, a n d I refused to leave. O h! to th in k o f leaving m y dear hu sb a n d lying th e re for th o se cruel In d ian s to d an ce a ro u n d . I begged o f th e In d ian to let m e stay w ith h im , b u t h e to o k m y arm a n d pulled m e aw ay. Ju st b e fo re this, I saw M r. D e lan e y and a p riest fall, and M rs. D elan ey w as tak e n aw ay in th e sam e m an n e r th a t I w as. I w as still loo k in g back to w here m y p o o r hu sb a n d w as lying d e ad : th e In d ian m o tio n e d to w h e re h e w as going to ta k e m e , a n d on w e w ent. I th o u g h t m y h e a rt w ould b re ak ; I w o u ld ra th e r have d ied w ith m y h u sb a n d a n d been at rest.

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“ A rest th a t is su re fo r us all. But sw eeter to so m e .”

W ith th e Indians. H ard ly know ing how I w ent o r w hat 1 d id , I tru d g ed alo n g in a h a lf conscious c o n d itio n . L ed a cap tiv e into th e c am p o f Big Bear by o n e o f his vile b a n d . T a k e n th ro u g h bru sh a n d b riar, a large p o n d cam e to view , w e did n o t pass it by, h e m a d e m e go th ro u g h th e w a ter on th a t cold 2nd o f A pril nearly to m y w aist. I g o t so very w eak th a t I could n o t w alk a n d th e Indian pulled m e a long, in this w ay he m an ag ed to get m e to his tep e e. O n seeing M rs. D elaney tak e n aw ay so far from m e, I asked th e In d ian to tak e m e to her; a n d he said “ N o , N o ," a n d o p e n in g th e ten t shoved m e in. A friendly squaw p u t dow n a ra b b it ro b e fo r m e to sit on; I w as shivering w ith th e cold; this squaw to o k m y shoes a n d stockings o ff a n d partly d rie d th em fo r m e. T h e ir tepees consisted o f long po les cov ered w ith sm o k e-stain ed c an v a s w ith tw o o penings, o n e a t th e top for a sm o k e hole a n d th e o th e r at th e b o tto m for a d o o r th ro u g h w hich I h a d to craw l in o rd e r to e n te r. In th e c e n tre they have th e ir fire; th is squaw to o k a long stick a n d to o k o u t a large piece o f b e ef fro m th e kettle and offered it to m e, w hich I refused, as I could n o t eat an y th in g after w h at I had g o n e th ro u g h . Ju st then Big B ear’s b rav es cam e into th e tent; th e re w ere n early th irty o f th e m , covered w ith w a r p a in t, som e h aving on m y h u sb a n d ’s clothes, a n d all giving vent to th o se terrib le yells, and holding m o st m u rd e ro u s looking in stru m en ts. T hey w ere long w o o d en clubs. A t o n e end w ere set th ree sh a rp shining knife blades. T h ey all lo o k ed at m e as I eyed th o se w eap o n s (a n d they well m a tc h e d th e e x p re ss io n o f th e ir c ru e l m o u th s a n d d e v ilish eyes) th in k in g m y tro u b le s w ould soon b e o v er I calm ly aw aited th e result. B ut they sat dow n a ro u n d m e w ith a b o ttle full o f som eth in g th a t lo o k ed like w a ter, passing it from one In d ian to th e o th e r, so I p u t o n a b rave look as if I w as not afraid o f th em . A fter th is they all w en t o u t a n d th e m ost b lo o d cu rd lin g yells th at ever pierced m y e ars w as th e ir w a r-w h o o p , m ingled w ith dancing a n d yelling a n d c u ttin g m ost foolish antics. I saw a little b a b y th a t I th o u g h t m ust b e d e ad , lying in o n e p a rt o f th e ten t, they h a d it d o n e u p in a m oss b ag . I will try and give a n idea o f w h a t it w as like: they tak e a piece o f c lo th h aving it large a t th e to p , a n d cu t it a ro u n d w h ere th e feet should be, and on b o th sides o f this little b a g they have loops o f very fine

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leath er, then they have a sm all thin cushion laid on this, the length o f th e child, a n d th ree o r fo u r pieces o f differen t colored flannels, th en they d ress th e b a b y in a thin p rin t gow n a n d p u t it in th is bag, and its little legs a re p u t dow n ju s t as straig h t as a needle, covered o v er w ith m oss, w hich th ey first heat very hot; then th e a rm s a re p u t dow n in th e sam e w ay a n d the flannels are w rap p ed a ro u n d very tig h t a n d th e n they lace th e bag u p , a n d all th a t can b e seen is th e little b ro w n face p eep in g o u t. Ju s t then P ritc h a rd 's little girl c am e in w h ere 1 w as; she could talk a few w ords o f E nglish. I asked her w h ere h e r p a w as, and she said th a t he w as p u ttin g up a te n t n o t fa r aw ay, a n d th en I h a d som e h ope o f g e ttin g from th e Indians. A fte r 1 had b e en th ere for fo u r h o u rs, L ouis G o u le t a n d A n d re N a u lt c am e in, a n d G o u le t said to m e “ M rs. G o w an lo ck if you will give y o u rself o v e r to th e half-breeds, th ey will n o t h u rt you; Peter B londin h a s go n e dow n to w h e re th e m ill is, a n d w hen he com es back h e will give his h o rse for y o u ." 1 asked them to in te rp ret it to th e In d ia n s in o rd e r to let m e go to P ritch a rd ’s tent for aw hile, a n d th e In d ian s said th a t she could go w ith this squaw . I w en t a n d w as o verjoyed to see M rs. D elaney th ere also. A fter gettin g in th ere I w as u n conscious for a long tim e, and upon com ing to m y senses, I fo u n d M rs. P ritch a rd b a th in g m y face w ith cold w ater. W h en B londin cam e back he gave his horse a n d th irty d o lla rs fo r M rs. D e lan e y a n d m e. H e p u t up a te n t and asked m e to go w ith h im , b u t I refused; a n d h e b ecam e angry and d id e verything h e could to injure m e. T h a t m an tre a te d m e m ost sham efully: if it had n o t b e en for P ritch a rd I d o n o t know w hat w ould have b e co m e o f m e. P ritchard w as k in d e r th an any ol th e o th ers. A fte r I h a d b e en a p riso n e r th re e days, B londin cam e and asked m e if I could ride h o rse b ack , a n d I said "y e s,” a n d he said if I w ould go w ith him , he w ould go a n d ta k e tw o o f th e best h o rse s th a t Big B ear had a n d desert th a t n ight. I told him I w ould never leave P ritc h a rd 's te n t until w e all left, saying "I w ould go a n d d ro w n m yself in th e river b e fo re I w ould go w ith h im .” L ate th a t sam e n ig h t a F ren ch C a n a d ia n by th e n a m e o f P ierre cam e into th e ten t, a n d hid h im self b e h in d us, h e said th e In d ian s w anted to sh o o t h im , a n d som e o n e told him to go and hide him self, ultim ately o n e o f th e h a lf-b re ed s g av e a horse to save his life. M rs. P ritch ard told him n o t to stay in th e re . She did not w ant to see any m o re m en killed, a n d o n e o f th e half-b reed s took him aw ay a n d h e w as placed u n d e r th e p ro tec tio n o f th e W o o d

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C rees. T h is m an h a d been w o rk in g w ith G o u le t and N a u lt all w in ter gettin g o u t logs a b o u t th irty m iles fro m F ro g L ake.

P ro te c te d b y H a lf-B reed s. O n th e 3rd o f A pril Big B ear c am e into o u r te n t and sittin g dow n beside us told us he w as very so rry for w h a t h a d h a p p en e d , and cried o v e r it, saying h e knew h e h a d so m an y b a d m en b u t had no c o n tro l o v e r th em . H e cam e very often to o u r ten t telling us to “ e at a n d sleep plenty, they w ould n o t tre a t us like th e w h ite m an. T h e w hite m an w hen he m ak e p riso n e r o f In d ian , h e starve him a n d cu t his h a ir o ff.' H e told us he w ould p ro tec t us if th e police c am e. T h e sam e day Big B ear’s b ra v es paid o u r ten t a n o th e r visit, they c am e in a n d a ro u n d us w ith th eir gu n s, knives a n d to m a ­ haw ks, looking at us so w ickedly. P ritch a rd said, “ F o r G o d sake let these p o o r w om en live, they can d o no harm to you; let th th e t g o h om e to th e ir frien d s." T h e leaders held a b rie f c o n su lta tio n . A n Indian sto o d up and p o in tin g to th e heav en s said , “ W e p ro m ise by G o d th a t w e will n o t h u rt these w h ite w om en; w e will let th em live.” T h e y then left th e tent. E very tim e I saw o n e o f Big B ear’s In d ia n s com ing in, I expected it w as to kill us, o r ta k e us aw ay from the te n t, w hich w ould have been f a r w orse than d e a th to m e. B ut th ey did n o t keep th eir w o rd . O n th e th ird n ig h t (S a tu rd ay , th e 4th A p ril) a fte r o u r captiv ity, tw o In d ia n s cam e in w hile all th e m en a n d M rs. D elan ey w ere asleep. 1 hea^d th e m , and th o u g h t it w as P ritchard fixing the h arn ess, h e usually sat up to p ro te c t us. A m atch w as lighted and I saw tw o o f th e m o st h ed io u s lo o k in g In d ian s looking o v er a n d saying w here is th e M o n ia s sq u aw , m eaning th e w hite w o m en . I g ot so frightened I could not m ove, b u t M rs. D elan ey p u t o u t her foot a n d a w ak en ed M rs. P ritc h a rd , a n d she w a k en ed her h u s­ b a n d , a n d he sta rte d up and a sk e d w h at they w an ted , a n d they said they w an ted to ta k e th e w hite w om en to their ten t, a n d I told P ritch a rd they could kill m e b e fo re I w o u ld g o , a n d I p rayed to G o d to help m e. P ritchard a n d A d o lp h u s N olin gave th eir b lan k e ts a n d d ish es a n d M rs. P ritch a rd , to o k th e best b lan k e t off her bed to give to them and th ey w ent off, a n d in th e m o rning th e W o o d C rees c am e in a n d a sk e d if th o se In d ian s to o k m uch from us, a n d P ritch a rd told them “ N o ” ; th e In d ian s w an ted to

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m ak e th em give them back. A fte r th a t P ritc h a rd and o th e r halfb reed s pro tected us from night to nig h t fo r w e w ere n o t safe a single m in u te . D u rin g th e tw o days w hich h a d passed, th e b o d ies o f th e m en th a t w ere m u rd ere d h a d not been b u ried . T h ey w ere lying on the ro ad exposed to th e view o f everyone. T h e h a lf-breeds carried them o ff th e ro ad to th e sid e, b u t th e In d ia n s com ing along d ragged them o u t ag ain . It w as d re ad fu l to see th e b o d ies o f o u r p o o r d e a r h u sb a n d s drag g ed b a ck a n d forth by those d e m o n ia c savages. O n S a tu rd ay th e d a y before E aste r, w e induced som e halfb re e d s to ta k e o u r h u sb a n d s’ b o d ie s a n d b u ry th e m . T h e y placed th em , w ith those o f th e priests, u n d e r th e c h u rch . T h e In d ian s w ould n o t allow th e o th e r b o d ie s to be m o v ed . A nd dread fu l to relate those in h u m a n w retches set fire to th e church, a n d w ith yelling a n d d a n cin g w itnessed it b u rn to th e g ro u n d . T h e bodies, I afte rw a rd s h e a rd , w ere c h arre d b e yond reco g n itio n . U p o n seeing w h a t w as d o n e th e tears ra n profusely do w n o u r cheeks a n d I th o u g h t m y very h e a rt w ould b re a k . All th e co m fo rt w e received from th a t unfeeling b a n d w as, “ th a t s right, cry plenty, w e have killed y our h u sb a n d s a n d w e will soon have y o u .” O n E aster S u n d ay nig h t th e re w as a heavy th u n d e r storm and be fo re m o rn in g it tu rn e d cold a n d snow ed; th e te n t p o le b ro k e , co m in g do w n w ithin an inch o f m y h ead , th e snow blow ing in a n d o u r b ed d in g all covered w ith it a n d n o th in g to k e ep us w arm . I got up in th e m o rn in g and fo u n d m y sh o es all w et a n d frozen, and th e In d ian s c am e in a n d to ld us w h a t they saw in the heavens. T h e y saw a church a n d a m an on a large black horse w ith h is arm o u t a n d h e lo o k ed so angry, a n d they said G o d m u st be angry w ith them for d o in g such a th in g ; th e half-b reed s a re as su p e rstitio u s as th e In d ian s.

T h e y T a k e F ort P itt. T h e m o rn in g o f th e 6th o f A pril w as a m em o rab le o n e. S o m e ­ th in g u n u su a l w as g oing to ta k e place from th e excited state o f th e c am p . E veryone w as on th e g o . I w as in a sh o rt tim e m ade a c q u a in te d w ith th e reason. It w as m o re b lo o d , m o re butchery, a n d m o re trea ch e ry . A n d oh! such a sight p re sen te d itself to my eyes. T h e In d ian s w ere all a ttire d in full w ar h a b ilim e n ts. T h ey h a d rem oved th eir clothes. A g ird le a ro u n d th e ir w aists, w as a ll—

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and th eir p a in t— ev ery sh a d e a n d color. H e ad s w ith feathers, and those w h o h a d killed a w hite, w ith quills. A quill for every m an scalped. Eyes p a in te d like stars, in red, yellow and green : faces, arm s, legs a n d b o d ies elab o rately d e co ra te d , a n d frescoed in all th eir savage b eauty, w ith bars, sp o ts, rings a n d d o ts. B randishing to m a h a w k s, b lu d g eo n s a n d guns; flinging a n d firing them in every d irec tio n , a cc o m p a n ied w ith yells and w hoops: a m ost h ideous and terrib le sight. T h e y e m b ra c e d th eir w ives a n d c h ild ren , and th e c o m m a n d w as given to sta rt for F o rt P itt. In o rd e r to swell their n u m b ers th ey com pelled th e half-b reed s a n d som e o f their squaw s to acco m p an y th em . T h e sq u aw s rid e horses like the m en. O n S u n d ay th e 12th o f A pril they re tu rn e d from the F o rt Hush w ith victory. T h e y h a d c a p tu re d th a t place, killed policem an C o w an , tak e n th e w hites p riso n e rs, a n d allow ed th e police to escape do w n th e river, all w ith o u t loosing an Indian o r halfbreed. T h e p riso n e rs w ere b ro u g h t in w hile w e w ere at d in n er. M r. a n d M rs. Q u in n e y cam e to o u r tent. M rs. Q u in n ey said she w as cold a n d w et. She sat dow n a n d put h e r a rm s a ro u n d m e and cried . I gave her a c u p o f h o t tea and so m e th in g to e at. S hortly a fte r th e M c L e a n ’s a n d M a n n ’s c am e in. It w as a g re at relief to see w h ite p e o p le ag ain . It w as n o t long b e fo re they m o v ed cam p a b o u t tw o m iles from F rog L ak e. M rs. D elan ey and I, w alking w ith M rs. P ritch a rd and fam ily, th ro u g h m u d a n d w ater: m y shoes w ere very th in , a n d m y feet very w et a n d so re from w alking. T h e In d ian s w ere riding b eside us w ith o u r h o rse s a n d b u c k b o ard s, laug h in g and je e rin g at us w ith um brellas o v er th eir h e ad s a n d buffalo o v erco ats o n . W e w ould laugh a n d m a k e them believe w e w ere enjoying it. and m y h e art read y to b re ak w ith g rie f all th e tim e. W h en w e c am p ed , it w as in a circle. A space in th e c en tre being k e p t for dancing. I ask e d B londin if h e had a n y o f o u r sto ck in g s o r underclo th in g in his sacks. H e told m e no, a n d shortly afte rw a rd s to o k o u t a p a ir o f m y h u sb a n d 's long stockings a n d p u t them on before m e, h e w ould change them th ree a n d fo u r tim es a w eek. H e had nearly all m y p o o r h u sb a n d 's clothes. T w o m en cam e in o n e tim e w hile B londin w as asleep and to o k o n e o f m y h u sb a n d 's c o ats out o f his sack a n d w ent o u t: B londin upon m issing it got very an g ry and sw ore before m e, saying th a t som e perso n had c o m e in and tak e n o n e o f his c o ats, a n d all th e tim e I knew w hose co at it w as they w ere quarrelling over. I w ished then I co u ld close m y eyes a n d go h om e to G o d . I w ent o u tsid e the te n t a n d saw this o th e r h alf-b reed nam ed G re g o ry D o n a ire w ith m y h u s b a n d 's c o a t on and p a n ts, and ju st as I looked u p I th o u g h t it m ust be m y ow n

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h u sb a n d , and to see th e fellow laugh in m y face, h e ev idently had an id ea a b o u t w hat I w as th in k in g . B londin w ore m y h u s b a n d ’s o v e rco a t, a n d all I h a d w as m y little shaw l a n d n o th in g to w ear on m y h e ad , and th e rain p o u rin g dow n in to rre n ts o n m e; this fellow w ould w alk b eside th e w agon and laugh, a n d w hen it q u it ra in in g asked m e if I w an ted h is o v erco at; I told him no, I did n o t m in d b ein g w et as m uch as h e d id . T h a t nig h t M rs. D elaney a n d I lay dow n in o n e c o rn e r o f th e ten t until m o rn in g cam e a n d then w e h a d all th e b a k in g to d o . W e d u g a h o le in th e g ro u n d a n d sta rte d a fire, tak in g flour, w e stirred in w ater, k n e ad in g it h a rd . W e th en w ith o u r h a n d s flatten ed it o u t a n d placed it in a frying p a n , b a k in g it b e fo re th e fire, a n d by th e tim e it w as b a k ed it w as as black as th e pan itself. W e din ed on b a n n o ck a n d baco n for tw o m o n th s, a n d w ere very th an k fu l to g et it.

C o o k in g f o r a L a rg e F am ily. M y exp erien ce o f c am p life w as o f such a c h a ra c te r, th a t 1 w ould ra th e r b e a m aid-of-all-w ork in a n y p o sitio n th an slush in an Indian tep e e, reek in g as it is, w ith filth a n d p o iso n o u s o d o rs. T h ere is no such a th in g as an h ealth officer a m o n g th a t b a n d o f brav es. T h ey have a h a lf sp iritu alized p erso n ag e w hom they d e si­ g n a t e th e M e d icin e M a n ; b u t h e is n o th in g m o re o r less th an a quack o f th e w orst k in d . A s in every o th e r p a rt o f th eir life, so in the d o m estic they w ere u n c le a n . O n e evening, ju st a s w e h a d ev erything read y for o u r m eal, in rushed th e Big B e ar’s, g o b b lin g up every th in g . A fter they had gone, 1 set to w o rk to w ash th e dishes. M rs. P ritch a rd th e re a t becam e q u ite an g ry , a n d w ould n o t allow m e, saying th a t we w ould b e glad to d o m o re th a n th a t for th e In d ian s yet. I w ent w ith o u t m y su p p e r th a t night; I w ould ra th e r starve th an e at after th a t d irty h o rd e. O n e d ay , P ritch a rd b ro u g h t in a ra b b it for d in n er. I th o u g h t w e w ere going to h a v e a tre a t as well as a g o o d m eal; w e w ere engaged at o th e r w ork th a t d ay , a n d M rs. P ritch ard d id the co o k in g herself, b u t I h a d occasion to go in th e d irectio n o f the fire, a n d th ere w as th e ra b b it in th e p o t boiling, it w as all th ere, h ead , eyes, feet, a n d ev erything to g eth e r. M y g o o d d in n e r v a n ­ ished th e re a n d th e n . I told M rs. D elaney th ere w as no ra b b it for m e. I only a te to k e ep m yself alive a n d well, fo r if I show ed signs o f sickness I w ould have b e en p u t w ith th e In d ian s, a n d they w o u ld have p u t a n e n d to m e in a sh o rt tim e.

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W e h a d fifteen in o u r ten t to b a k e for, besid es th e In d ian s, th at cam e in to go rg e, a b o u t th irty a t a tim e. W e cut w o o d and c a r rie d w a te r a n d d id M rs. P r itc h a r d 's sew ing fo r h e r n in e c h il­ d ren ; m ak in g th e ir clothing th a t c am e from o u r ow n h o u se . She to o k so m e m uslin th a t M rs. D elan ey h a d b o u g h t b e fo re the tro u b le, a n d cut it up into a p ro n s for her little baby, a n d gave m e to m ak e, and th en she w ent to th e tru n k th a t had all m y lace trim m in g th a t I h a d m ad e th ro u g h th e w in ter, a n d b ro u g h t som e for m e to sew on th e a p ro n s. I m ad e them up as nearly a s I possible c ould, a n d w hen finished, she th a n k e d m e fo r it. T h e little c hildren played w ith k eep sak e s th a t m y m o th e r h a d given to m e w hen a little girl, a n d I h a d to look a n d see them b ro k e n in pieces w ith o u t a m u rm u r, also see m y friends p h o to g ra p h s throw n a ro u n d and d e stro y ed . I g a th e re d u p a few th a t w ere scattered a ro u n d in the d irt a n d saved them w hen no o n e w as looking. If Big B ear’s b rav es w ould say m o v e c a m p im m ediately, a n d if w e sh o u ld be e atin g a n d o u r te n t n o t tak e n do w n ju st th en , they w ould sh o u t in th e a ir a n d c o m e a n d te a r it d o w n . In travelling, th e In d ia n s ride, a n d th eir squaw s walk a n d do all the w o rk , and they p a ck th eir d o g s a n d have “ tra v o re s” on th e ir h orses, up on w hich th ey tied th e ir little c h ild ren , a n d then all w ould m ove o ff to g eth er; dogs how ling, and b a b ie s crying, a n d In d ian s beating th e ir w ives, a n d c arts tu m b lin g o v er the b a n k s o f the trail, and children falling, a n d h o rse s a n d ox en gettin g m ire d d o w n in the m u d , a n d sq u a w s c u ttin g sa c k s o f flo u r o p e n to g et a p ie c e o f c o tto n for string, a n d leaving th e flour a n d thro w in g aw ay th e p rovisions, w hile o th e rs w ould c o m e along a n d g a th e r it u p . W e ro d e on a lum ber w agon, w ith a n ox tea m , a n d som e o f the squaw s th o u g h t w e did not w ork e n o u g h . N o t w ork e n o u g h , after w alking o r w orking all d ay , a fte r d a rk w e w ere req u ired to b ak e b a n n o ck and do an y th in g else they had a m in d to give us. T h ey w an ted to w ork us to d e ath .

In c id e n ts B y T h e W ay. T h e In d ian s a re n o t o n ly vicious, trea ch e ro u s a n d su p erstitio u s, but they a re childlike and sim ple,