t to pieces.

But the warlike spirit had not died out in O'Neil, and he began to plan
new ideas. His hatred of British institutions appears to have been so
deep-seated that he was willing to sacrifice not only his liberty,
but life itself, to undertake any scheme that had for its object their
overthrow, and it was not long before he was again implicated in a plot
against the Dominion of Canada.

Shortly after his release from prison in 1870, he entered into a
conspiracy with emissaries of the rebel Louis Riel to assist in a great
uprising in the Canadian Northwest, in which the Indians and half-breeds
were to be utilized. O'Neil was ready for anything, and consented
to invoke Fenian aid in conjunction with Riel's rebellious plans, by
participating in an invasion of Manitoba. He managed to obtain a few
hundred stands of breech-loading rifles and a quantity of ammunition
that had escaped seizure by the United States authorities at the time of
the Fenian Raid of 1870, and with the assistance of Gen. J. J. Donnelly,
he fitted out an expedition on the Minnesota frontier. He started from
Port Pembina, Minn., on October 5th, 1871, to invade Manitoba and raise
his standard, but had barely crossed over the boundary line when he was
arrested, with his troops. All of their armament was seized and they
were marched back as prisoners to Pembina and handed over to the United
States authorities. They were indicted on charges of breach of the
Neutrality Laws, but at the trial were acquitted on some slight
technicality.

This ended Gen. O'Neil's career as a filibuster, and becoming
disheartened and discouraged by his failures, he began drinking heavily,
and soon became a wreck, subsequently dying alone and miserable as the
result of his excesses, "unwept, unhonored and unsung."

CHAPTER VII.

THE DAWN OF PEACE--THE VOLUNTEERS RELIEVED FROM FURTHER SERVICE--THANKED
BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL COMMANDING.

The active militia of the Dominion which was called out for active
service remained on duty wherever posted until all signs of danger had
disappeared, and were then withdrawn by degrees, until on the 3rd of
June all were released from duty and directed to return to their homes.

The Honorable Minister of Militia, in his report of the military
operations, paid the following tribute to the gallantry of the volunteer
militia force on this occasion:--

"Although the honor and satisfaction of repelling these l