ench Canadian leapt {98}
from his horse, and at this instant a shot rang out from the column of
the Nor'westers. Lieutenant Holt, a clerk in the colony's service,
fell struggling upon the ground. Boucher ran in the direction of his
own party, and soon there was the sound of another musket. This time
Governor Semple was struck in the thigh. He called at once to his men:

'Do what you can to take care of yourselves.'

The band ignored this behest, and gathered round him to ascertain the
extent of his injury. The Nor'westers now began to bring the two ends
of their column together, and soon Semple's party was surrounded. The
fact that their foe was now helpless did not keep the Nor'westers from
pouring in a destructive fire. Most of Semple's men fell at the first
volley. The few left standing pulled off their hats and begged for
mercy. A certain Captain Rogers hastened towards the line of the
Nor'westers and threw up his hands. He was followed by John Pritchard.
One of the Bois Brules shot Rogers in the head and another rushed on
him and stabbed him with a knife. Luckily Pritchard was confronted by
a French Canadian, named {99} Augustin Lavigne, whom he had formerly
known and who now protected him from butchery.

The wounded governor lay stretched upon the ground. Supporting his
head with his hand, he addressed Cuthbert Grant:

'I am not mortally wounded,' he said, 'and if you could get me conveyed
to the fort, I think I should live.'

Grant promised to comply with the request. He left the governor in
charge of one of his men and went away, but during his absence an
Indian approached and shot Semple to death.

Meanwhile John Bourke had gone back for a field-piece and for
reinforcements. Bourke reached the fort, but after he had placed the
small cannon in a cart he was permitted by those in the fort to take
only one man away with him. He and his companion began to drag the
cart down the road. Suddenly they were startled by the sound of the
musketry fire in the distance which had struck down Semple's party.
Fearing lest they might lose the gun, the pair turned back towards the
fort. On their way they were met by ten men from Fort Douglas,
hurrying to the scene of the conflict. Bourke told his {100} comrade
to take the field-piece inside the fort, and himself joined the rescue
party. But they were too late: when they arrived at the scene of the
struggle they could effect nothing.

'Give up your arms