over to
Cuthbert Grant, who gave receipts on each sheet of the inventory signed
'Cuthbert Grant, acting for the North-West Company.' I remained at Fort
Douglas till the evening of the 22nd, when all proceeded down the
river--the settlers, a second time on their journey into exile.

"The Colonists, it is true, had little now to leave. They were generally
employed in agricultural pursuits, in attending to their farms, and the
servants of the Hudson's Bay Company in their ordinary avocations. They
lived in tents or in huts. In 1816 at Red River there was but one
residence, the Governor's which was in Fort Douglas. The settlers had
lived in houses previous to 1815, but in that year these had been burnt
in the attack that had been made upon them. The settlers were employed
during the day time on their land, and used to come up to the Fort to
sleep in some of the buildings in the enclosure. All was now left
behind. The Bois-brules victory being now complete, the messenger was
despatched Westward to tell the news far and near."

CHAPTER X.

AFTERCLAPS.

The Seven Oaks affair was the most shocking episode that ever occurred
in North-Western history. The standing of the victims, including a
Governor appointed by the Hudson's Bay Company, his staff men of
position, the unexpectedness of the collison, the suddenness of the
attack, the destruction of life, the cruelty and injustice of the
killing, and the barbarous treatment of the bodies of the dead, by the
Bois-brules war party, fill one with horror, and remind one of scenes of
butchery in dark Africa or the isles of the South Sea.

This is the more remarkable when it is considered that so far as known
in the whole two hundred years and more of the career of the Hudson's
Bay and Nor'-Wester Companies not so many officers and clerks of these
two Companies have altogether perished by violence as in this
unfortunate Seven Oaks disaster. No sooner was the massacre over than
the Bois-brules took possession of Fort Douglas and were under the
command meantime of Cuthbert Grant. There was the greatest hilarity
among the Metis. This New Nation had been vindicated. About forty-five
men under arms held possession of the Fort. The dead left upon the field
were still exposed there days after the fight and were torn to pieces by
the wild birds and beasts. The body of Governor Semple was carried to
the Fort.

Word was meanwhile sent to Alexander Macdonell the partner who had
br