g of Selkirk coming to the rescue of his people with an armed
force. Says the wild voice of a Nor'wester whose brother had been killed
by a Hudson's Bay man some years before, "There are fine quiet places
along Winnipeg River if he comes this way." . . . Then scraps of
conversation. . . . Then, "The half-breeds could capture him when he is
asleep." . . . Then words too low to be heard. . . . Then, "They could
have the Indians shoot him." . . . Then in voice of authority
restraining the wild folly of a bloodthirst for vengeance, "Things have
gone too far, but we can throw the blame on the Indians."

The wild words of a man gone mad for revenge must not be taken as the
policy of a great commercial company.

{396} Meantime, where was Selkirk? He had arrived in Montreal. Secret
coureur, whose adventures I have told elsewhere, had carried him word of
the dangers impending over his colony. He at once appealed to the
Governor General for a military force to protect the settlers, but it
must be recalled how Upper and Lower Canada were to be governed under the
Act of 1791. There were to be the governor, the legislative council
appointed by the crown, and the representative assembly. The legislative
council was entirely dominated by the Northwest Company. Of the
different Quebec courts, there was scarcely a judge who was not
interested directly or indirectly in the Northwest Company. Lord Selkirk
could obtain no aid which would conflict with that company's policy.
Then Selkirk petitioned the Governor that, in view of the threats against
himself, he might be granted the commission of a justice of the peace and
permission to take a personal bodyguard at his own cost to the west.
These requests the Governor granted.

Thereupon, Selkirk gathers up some two hundred of the De Meuron and De
Watteville regiments, mercenaries disbanded after the War of 1812, and
sets out for the west. Not aware that Robertson has left Red River, he
sends him word to keep the colonists together and to expect help by way
of the states from the Sault in order to avoid touching at the
Nor'westers' post at Fort William. The coureur with this message is
waylaid by the Nor'westers, but Selkirk himself, preceded by his former
governor, Miles MacDonell, has gone only as far as the Sault when word
comes back of the Seven Oaks massacre. What to do now? He can obtain no
justice in Eastern Canada. Two justices of the peace at the Sault refuse
to be