ad stored a quantity
of provisions in their trading-post at the mouth of the Souris, a large
southern tributary of the Assiniboine. It was clear that, in defiance
of Macdonell's decree, they meant to send food supplies out of
Assiniboia to support their trading-posts elsewhere. The fort at
Souris was in close proximity to Brandon House on the Assiniboine, a
post founded by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1794. Macdonell decided on
strong action. His secretary, John Spencer, was ordered to go to the
Souris in the capacity of a sheriff, accompanied by a strong guard and
carrying a warrant in his pocket. When Spencer drew near the stockades
of the Nor'westers' fort and found the {66} gate closed against him, he
commanded his men to batter it in with their hatchets. They obeyed
with alacrity, and having filed inside the fort, took charge of the
contents of the storehouse. Six hundred bags of pemmican were seized
and carried to Brandon House. Already there was a state of war in
Assiniboia.

The territory which comprised the colony was of great value
economically to the North-West Company. The food supplies which
supported its traders in the far interior were largely drawn from this
area. In the eyes of the Nor'westers, Sheriff John Spencer had
performed an act of pure brigandage at their Souris post. Still, they
were in no hurry to execute a counter-move. In order to make no
mistake they thought it best to restrain themselves until their
partners should hold their summer meeting at Fort William,[1] on Lake
Superior.

The partners of the North-West Company {67} met at Fort William in the
month of July 1814. Their fond hope had been that Lord Selkirk's
colony would languish and die. Instead, it was flourishing and waxing
aggressive. The governor of Assiniboia had published an edict which he
seemed determined to enforce, to the ruin of the business of the
North-West Company. The grizzled partners, as they rubbed elbows in
secret conclave, decided that something must be done to crush this
troublesome settlement. Whether or not they formed any definite plan
cannot be ascertained. It is scarcely believable that at this meeting
was plotted the opposition to Lord Selkirk's enterprise which was to
begin with deceit and perfidy and to culminate in bloodshed. Among the
Nor'westers were men of great worth and integrity. There were,
however, others in their ranks who proved base and irresponsible.
During this conferenc