But a rough awakening came. On
June 17 two Cree Indians arrived at Fort Douglas with the alarming
tidings that in two days an attack would be made upon the settlement.[1]

About five o'clock in the afternoon of June 19, a boy who was stationed
in the {96} watch-house of the fort cried out that he saw a party of
half-breeds approaching. Thereupon Governor Semple hurried to the
watch-house and scanned the plains through a glass. He saw a troop of
horsemen moving towards the Red River--evidently heading for a point
some distance to the north of Fort Douglas.

'We must go out to meet these people,' said Governor Semple: 'let
twenty men follow me.'

There was a prompt response to the call, and Semple led his volunteers
out of the fort and towards the advancing horsemen. He had not gone
far when he met a number of colonists, running towards Fort Douglas and
shouting in wild excitement:

'The half-breeds! the half-breeds!'

Governor Semple now sent John Bourke back to Fort Douglas for one of
the guns, and instructed him to bring up whatever men could be spared
from among those garrisoning the fort. The advance party halted to
wait until these should arrive; but at length Semple grew impatient and
ordered his men to advance without them. The Nor'westers had concealed
themselves behind a clump of trees. As Semple approached they galloped
out, extended their line into a half-moon {97} formation, and bore down
to meet him. They were dressed as Indian warriors and painted in
hideous fashion. The force was well equipped with guns, knives, bows
and arrows, and spears.

A solitary horseman emerged from the hostile squadron and rode towards
Governor Semple. This was Francois Boucher, a French-Canadian clerk in
the employ of the North-West Company, son of a tavern-keeper in
Montreal. Ostensibly his object was to parley with the governor.
Boucher waved his hand, shouting aloud:

'What do you want?'

Semple took his reply from the French Canadian's mouth. 'What do _you_
want?' he questioned in plainer English.

'We want our fort,' said Boucher.

'Go to your fort,' answered Semple.

'Why did you destroy our fort, you d--d rascal?' exclaimed the French
Canadian.

The two were now at close quarters, and Governor Semple had seized the
bridle of Boucher's horse.

'Scoundrel, do you tell me so?' he said.

Pritchard says that the governor grasped Boucher's gun, no doubt
expecting an attack upon his person. The Fr