sight of the trading-post by its margin. Here
was an ample reach of water, reminding the Highlanders of a loch of
far-away Scotland. When the wind died down, Holy Lake was like a giant
mirror. Looking into its quiet waters, the voyagers saw great fish
swimming swiftly.

From Oxford House the route lay over a height-of-land to the
head-waters of the Nelson. After a series of difficulties the party
reached Norway House, another post of the Hudson's Bay Company, on an
upper arm of Lake Winnipeg. At this time Norway House was the centre
of the great fur-bearing region. The colonists found it strongly
entrenched in a rocky basin and astir with life. After a short rest
they proceeded towards Lake Winnipeg, and soon were moving slowly down
its low-lying eastern shore. Here they had their first glimpse of the
prairie country, with its green carpet of grass. Out from the water's
edge grew tall, lank reeds, the lurking place of snipe and sand-piper.
Doubtless, in the brief night-watches, they listened to the shrill cry
of the restless lynx, or heard the yapping howl of the timber wolf as
he slunk {53} away among the copses. But presently the boats were
gliding in through the sand-choked outlet of the Red River, and they
were on the last stage of their journey.

Some forty miles up-stream from its mouth the Red River bends sharply
towards the east, forming what is known as Point Douglas in the present
city of Winnipeg. Having toiled round this point, the colonists pushed
their boats to the muddy shore. The day they landed--the natal day of
a community which was to grow into three great provinces of Canada--was
August 30, 1812.

{54}

CHAPTER VI

RED RIVER AND PEMBINA

Scarcely had the settlers taken stock of their surroundings on the Red
River when they were chilled to the marrow with a sudden terror.
Towards them came racing on horseback a formidable-looking troop,
decked out in all the accoutrements of the Indian--spreading feather,
dangling tomahawk, and a thick coat of war-paint. To the newcomers it
was a never-to-be-forgotten spectacle. But when the riders came within
close range, shouting and gesticulating, it was seen that they wore
borrowed apparel, and that their speech was a medley of French and
Indian dialects. They were a troop of Bois Brules, Metis, or
half-breeds of French and Indian blood, aping for the time the manners
of their mothers' people. Their object was to tell Lord Selkirk's