or war alike. He it
was who sang the song of his race and helped to keep up the love of fun
among the French people of the Red River. It was reminiscent of victory
and also a forecast of future influence and power. Various versions of
Pierre Falcon's song have come down to us celebrating the victory of
Seven Oaks. We give a simple translation of the bard's effusion:

PIERRE FALCON'S SONG.

Come listen to this song of truth!
A song of the brave Bois-brules,
Who at Frog Plain took three captives,
Strangers come to rob our country.

When dismounting there to rest us,
A cry is raised--the English!
They are coming to attack us,
So we hasten forth to meet them.

I looked upon their army,
They are motionless and downcast;
So, as honor would incline us
We desire with them to parley.

But their leader, moved with anger,
Gives the word to fire upon us;
And imperiously repeats it,
Rushing on to this destruction.

Having seen us pass his stronghold,
He had thought to strike with terror
The Bois-brules; ah! mistaken,
Many of his soldiers perish.

But a few escaped the slaughter,
Rushing from the field of battle;
Oh, to see the English fleeing!
Oh, the shouts of their pursuers!

Who has sung this song of triumph?
The good Pierre Falcon had composed it,
That the praise of these Bois-brules
Might be evermore recorded.

CHAPTER XI.

THE SILVER CHIEF ARRIVES.

The scene changes to the home of the founder of the Colony. The Earl of
Selkirk is living at his interesting seat--St. Mary's Isle, and letter
after letter arrives which has taken many weeks on the road, coming down
through trackless prairie, across the middle and Eastern States of
America and reaching him via New York. These letters continue to
increase in being more and more terrible until his island home seems to
be in a state of siege.

St. Mary's Isle lies at the mouth of the Dee on Solway Frith, opposite
the town of Kirkcudbright. Here in 1778 Paul Jones, the so-called pirate
in the employ of the Revolutionary Government in America, had landed,
invested the dwelling with his men, and carried away all the plate and
jewels of the House of Selkirk. The Old Manor House of St. Mary's Isle,
with its very thick stone wall on one side, evidently had been a keep or
castle. It was at one time given to the church and became a monastery,
th