lled in
action,' a number greater than that of any battalion in the field, save
one whose record, at least, they have equalled."

And one cannot close this chapter without emphasizing what has often
been overlooked by those who do not know Western affairs at first hand.
Looking back now over the years, one is not surprised to have to see
that the collapse of the rebellion, instead of leaving the Mounted
Police Force carefree, actually added to their burdens and ushered them
into a period of pronounced and continuous strain. The Militia, which
was made up of several thousands of men--infantry, artillery,
cavalry--all were withdrawn and scattered to their homes in various
parts of Canada. The Mounted Police stayed at their posts or moved from
place to place, as required in a readjustment period. The defeated
rebels and many of the Indians were in a sullen mood, the year had been
wasted from the standpoint of producing anything for food, the Indians
were off their reservations in some cases, in others the reservations
had been laid waste, and the buildings that had been erected for their
comfort had been burned or wrecked by themselves when the spirit of
destruction arose as they went on the warpath. Yet the officers and men
of this remarkable corps, without any cessation or furlough, took up the
ravelled skein of human life around them, and with great patience, skill
and tact, soon had things running smoothly again. It was a wonderful
piece of reconstructive statesman-like work and, as it proceeded, both
the half-breeds and Indians who had been disaffected began to regret
deeply the action they had been misled by agitators into taking contrary
to the advice of the men in the scarlet tunic, who had always been their
friends, and who always had stood for the square deal for every one. It
was not only not the fault of the Mounted Police, but largely through
ignoring their long-repeated warnings to the Government that the
rebellion had taken place. While it lasted these Police did their duty
like men at great cost without ever saying, "We told you so." And when
it was over they so comported themselves in the midst of a distracted
population that it could never occur again.

CHAPTER IX

RECONSTRUCTION

In writing these chapters it is necessary to throw in a story or
incident here and there out of the regular sequence in time, so as to
relate cognate subjects to each other. Hence, as their names have all
been alrea