he undefeated; and as they
heard the gathering song of Bonnie Dundee {63} or the summons to fight
for Royal Charlie, they pressed forward with unfaltering steps.

This advance party came to York Factory, and, continuing the journey,
reached Colony Gardens without misadventure early in the summer. They
were better husbandmen than their predecessors, and they quickly
addressed themselves to the cultivation of the soil. Thirty or forty
bushels of potatoes were planted in the black loam of the prairie.
These yielded a substantial increase. The thrifty Sutherlanders might
have saved the tottering colony, had not Governor Macdonell committed
an act which, however legally right, was nothing less than foolhardy in
the circumstances, and which brought disaster in its train.

In his administration of the affairs of the colony Macdonell had shown
good executive ability and a willingness to endure every trial that his
followers endured. Towards the Nor'westers, however, he was inclined
to be stubborn and arrogant. He was convinced that he must adopt
stringent measures against them. He determined to assert his authority
as governor of the colony under Lord Selkirk's patent. Undoubtedly
Macdonell had reason to be indignant at the {64} unfriendly attitude of
the fur traders; yet, so far, this had merely taken the form of petty
annoyance, and might have been met by good nature and diplomacy.

[Illustration: Plan of Red River Colony]

In January 1814 Governor Macdonell issued a proclamation pronouncing it
unlawful for any person who dealt in furs to remove from the colony of
Assiniboia supplies of flesh, fish, grain, or vegetable. Punishment
would be meted out to those who offended against this official order.
The aim of Macdonell was to keep a supply of food in the colony for the
support of the new settlers. He was, however, offering a challenge to
the fur traders, for his policy meant in effect that these had no right
in Assiniboia, that it was to be kept for the use of settlers alone.
Such a mandate could not fail to rouse intense hostility among the
traders, whose doctrine was the very opposite. The Nor'westers were
quick to seize the occasion to strike at the struggling colony.

{65}

CHAPTER VII

THE BEGINNING OF STRIFE

Stormy days were coming. Once Governor Macdonell had published his
edict, he did not hesitate to enforce its terms. Information had been
received at Colony Gardens that the Nor'westers h