ty
of the survivors.'

On the morning of June 20 Cuthbert Grant himself, with over a score of
his followers, went to Fort Douglas. It was then agreed that the
settlers should abandon their homes and that the fort should be
evacuated. An inventory was made of the goods of the colony, and the
terms of surrender were signed by Cuthbert Grant as a clerk and
representative of the North-West Company. Contrary to Grant's
promises, the private effects of the colonists were overhauled and
looted. Michael Heden records that even his clothes and blankets were
stolen.

On the evening of the same day a messenger presented himself at Portage
la Prairie bringing Alexander Macdonell an account of the massacre.
Pierre Pambrun declares that {103} Macdonell and others who were with
him became hilarious with joy. 'Good news,' shouted Macdonell in
French, as he conveyed the tidings to his associates.

Again disaster had overtaken Lord Selkirk's plans. The second
desolation of his colony and expulsion of his colonists occurred on
June 22, 1816. The evicted people set out in canoes down the Red
River. Michael Heden and John Bourke both declared that the number of
those who embarked was approximately two hundred. This total would
appear, however, to be much too large, unless additions had been made
to the colony of which we have no documentary evidence. Some
French-Canadian families had settled at 'the Forks,' it is true, but
these were not numerous enough to bring the population of the
settlement to two hundred persons, leaving uncounted the number who had
lately perished.

On June 24, as the exiles were proceeding down the river, they met nine
or ten canoes and one bateau. In these were almost a hundred armed
Nor'westers under the command of Archibald Norman M'Leod of Fort
William. M'Leod's purpose was apparently to assist in the
extermination of the colony. His first question of the party
travelling {104} northward was 'whether that rascal and scoundrel
Robertson was in the boats.' When he was told of the calamity which
had befallen Governor Semple and his band, he ordered all the exiles
ashore. By virtue of his office as a magistrate for the Indian
Territories he wished to examine them.[3]

He searched the baggage belonging to the evicted settlers and
scrutinized their books and papers. 'Those who play at bowls,'
remarked 'Justice' M'Leod, 'must expect to meet with rubbers.'
Pritchard was told to write his version o