eaded
by old Duncan McKay, and armed with guns, were galloping at full speed
in the direction of Fort Garry.

But before this cavalcade had set out, the rencontre at the fort had
already taken place, and been fatally decided.

The approach of the enemy had been announced to those nearest the scene
of action by the women and children of that part of the Settlement, who
were seen running about in frantic alarm trying to hide themselves, and
some of them seeking refuge in the fort.

Among these were two brothers named Sinclair. One of them, Archie by
name, was a stout healthy fellow of twelve or thereabouts, the other was
a thin delicate boy of ten, whose illness, whatever it was, had reduced
him to skin and bone, taken all the colour out of his cheeks, and
rendered him quite unable to run or play like other boys. They had
recently become orphans, their father and mother, who were among the
most recent arrivals, having died suddenly within a few weeks of each
other. When the alarm of the threatened attack was given, the brothers
were amusing themselves on the sunny side of the cottage which had been
for only one year their happy home.

In a moment Archie took his brother on his back and scampered away with
him to a place near the river, and hid him in a hollow under the bank,
where they had been wont to play at grizzly bears and hunters.

Meanwhile Governor Semple, with several gentlemen and attendants, walked
out to meet the party of half-breeds and Indians, not to offer battle,
but for the purpose of parlance and conciliation. It is admitted,
however, that Governor Semple committed a grave error of judgment in
allowing his small party to carry arms. They numbered only twenty-eight
in all, and, being untrained, could have had no chance in an open fight
with such opponents. If the Governor had gone out unarmed with only one
or two attendants, he would, it was thought, have appealed irresistibly
to the honour of the party.

As it was, when the Hudson's Bay party drew near they thought the look
of their opponents so suspicious that the Governor halted his men, and
they stood in a group as if in consultation. Seeing this, the
half-breeds divided themselves into two bodies, and commenced firing
from behind some willows--at first a shot or two, and then a merciless
volley. No fewer than twenty-one of the twenty-eight fell to rise no
more, among whom were the Governor himself; Mr Wilkinson, his
secretary: Captain