learned that the founder of Assiniboia was actually camping on the
Kaministikwia, he became alarmed for his safety. Though a prisoner, he
seems to have had some liberty of movement. At any rate, he was able
to slip off alone and to launch a small boat. Once afloat, he rowed to
the island where Chatelain and his voyageurs had halted on the way to
Fort William. The water was boisterous, and Heden had great difficulty
in piloting his craft. He gained the island, however, and told
Chatelain of his fear that Lord Selkirk might come to harm. Heden
returned to the fort, and was there taken to task and roughly handled
for his temerity in going to see one of Lord Selkirk's servants.

{120}

On August 12 the second section of the contingent arrived with the
experienced campaigners. From the moment they raised their tents Lord
Selkirk began to show a bold front against the Nor'westers. Captain
D'Orsonnens was entrusted on the day of his arrival with a letter from
Selkirk to William M'Gillivray, the most prominent partner at Fort
William. In this M'Gillivray was asked his reason for holding in
custody various persons whose names were given, and was requested to
grant their immediate release. M'Gillivray was surprisingly
conciliatory. He permitted several of the persons named in the letter
to proceed at once to Selkirk's camp, and assured Lord Selkirk that
they had never been prisoners. John Bourke and Michael Heden he still
retained, because their presence was demanded in the courts at Montreal.

Acting as a justice of the peace, Selkirk now held a court in which he
heard evidence from those whom M'Gillivray had surrendered. Before the
day was over he had secured sufficient information, as he thought, to
justify legal action against certain of the partners at Fort William.
He decided to arrest William M'Gillivray first, and sent two men as
constables with a warrant against {121} M'Gillivray. On the afternoon
of August 13 these officers went down the river to the fort. Along
with them went a guard of nine men fully armed. While the guard
remained posted without, the constables entered the fort. They found
M'Gillivray in his room writing a letter. He read the warrant which
they thrust into his hand, and then without comment said that he was
prepared to go with them. His only desire was that two partners,
Kenneth M'Kenzie and Dr John M'Loughlin, might accompany him to furnish
bail. The constables acceded to this