he Bois-brules under Cuthbert
Grant called themselves. As the whole of these events were afterwards
investigated by the law courts of Upper Canada, there is substantial
agreement about the facts. The first violence of the season is described
by Lieutenant Pambrun, a most accurate writer. He had served in the war
of 1812 and gained distinction. On entering the Hudson's Bay Company
service he was sent to Qu'Appelle district. In order to supply food at
Fort Douglas Pambrun started down the river to reach the Fort by
descending the Assiniboine with five boat loads of pemmican and furs. At
a landing place in the river Pambrun's convoy was surrounded and his
goods seized by Cuthbert Grant, Pambrun himself being kept for five days
as a prisoner. While in custody Pambrun saw every evidence of war-like
intentions on the part of the half-breeds. Cuthbert Grant frequently
announced their determination to destroy the Selkirk Settlement; in
boastful language it was declared that the Bois-brules would bow to no
authority in Rupert's Land; in their gatherings they sang French
war-songs to keep up the spirit of their corps. There was a ring of
growing nationality in all their utterances.

A start was made late in May for the scene of action. Their prisoner
Lieutenant Pambrun was taken with them and the captured pemmican was
carried along as supplies for the journey.

On the way an episode of some moment occurred. On the river bank a band
of Cree Indians was encamped.

Commander Macdonell addressed the redmen through an interpreter to
incite them to action. A portion of his address was:

My Friends and Relations,--"I address you bashfully, for I have not a
pipe of tobacco to give you.... The English have been spoiling the fair
lands which belonged to you and the Bois-brules and to which they have
no right. They have been driving away the buffalo. You will soon be poor
and miserable if the English stay. But we will drive them away, if the
Indian does not, for the 'Nor'-West' Company and the Bois-brules are
one. If you (turning to the chief) and some of your young men will join
I shall be glad."

But the taciturn Indian Chief coldly declined the polite proposal. As
the party passed Brandon House Pambrun saw in the North-West Fort near
by, tobacco, tools and furs, which had been captured by the Nor'-Westers
from the Hudson's Bay Company fort. When Portage la Prairie was
reached--about sixty miles from "The Forks"--the Bois-brules cava