request, and the three
Nor'westers got into a canoe and were paddled to Point De Meuron.

The officers conducted their prisoners to the Earl of Selkirk's tent.
When Selkirk learned that the two other partners of the North-West
Company were also in his power, he resolved upon an imprudent act, one
which can scarcely be defended. Not only did he refuse his prisoner
bail; he framed indictments against M'Kenzie and M'Loughlin and ordered
the constables to take them in charge. A short examination of William
M'Gillivray convinced Lord Selkirk that he would not be going beyond
his powers were he to apprehend the remaining partners who {122} were
at Fort William. To accomplish this he drew up the necessary papers,
and then sent the same constables to make the arrests. Twenty-five De
Meuron soldiers under Captain D'Orsonnens and Lieutenant Fauche were
detailed as an escort.

[Illustration: William M'Gillivray, a partner in the North-West
Company. From a photograph in the M'Gill University Library.]

When the constables strode up the river bank to the fort to perform
their official duty, they found a great throng of Canadians,
half-breeds, and Indians gathered about the entrance. D'Orsonnens and
the bulk of the escort remained behind on the river within easy call.
Near the gateway the officers saw two of the partners whom they were
instructed to apprehend, and immediately served them with warrants. A
third partner, John M'Donald, made a sturdy show of resistance. He
declaimed against the validity of the warrant, and protested that no
stranger dare enter the fort until William M'Gillivray was set free. A
scramble followed. Some of the Nor'westers tried to close the gate,
while the constables struggled to make their way inside. When one of
the constables shouted lustily for aid, the bugle blew at the boats.
This was by prearrangement the signal to Captain Matthey at Point De
Meuron that the constables had met with opposition. The signal, {123}
however, proved unnecessary. In spite of the angry crowd at the
entrance, Selkirk's men pushed open the gate of the fort. They seized
M'Donald, who struggled fiercely, and bore him away towards the boats.
The soldiers marched up from the boats, and, in a moment, Fort William
was in their possession. Before further help arrived, in response to
the bugle-call, the struggle was over. Six partners of the North-West
Company were taken to the boats and carried to Lord Selkirk's