ncts of Fort Gibraltar, and
a number of the colonists now took sides openly with Duncan Cameron and
the Nor'westers.

Meanwhile Cameron's colleague, Alexander {74} Macdonell, was not
succeeding in his efforts to incite the Indians about Fort Qu'Appelle
against the colony. He found that the Indians did not lust for the
blood of the settlers; and when he appeared at Fort Gibraltar, in May,
he had with him only a handful of Plain Crees. These redskins lingered
about the fort for a time, being well supplied with liquor to make them
pot-valiant. During their stay a number of horses belonging to the
settlers were wounded by arrows, but it is doubtful if the perpetrators
of these outrages were Indians. The chief of the Crees finally visited
Governor Miles Macdonell, and convinced him that his warriors intended
the colonists no ill. Before the Indians departed they sent to Colony
Gardens a pipe of peace--the red man's token of friendship.

An equally futile attempt was made about the same time by two traders
of the North-West Company to persuade Katawabetay, chief of the
Chippewas, to lead a band of his tribesmen against the settlement.
Katawabetay was at Sand Lake, just west of Lake Superior, when his
parley with the Nor'westers took place. The two traders promised to
give Katawabetay and his warriors all the merchandise and rum in three
of the {75} company's posts, if they would raise the hatchet and
descend upon the Red River settlers. The cautious chief wished to know
whether this was the desire of the military authorities. The traders
had to confess that it was merely a wish of the North-West Company.
Katawabetay then demurred, saying that, before beginning hostilities,
he must speak about the matter to one of the provincial military
leaders on St Joseph's Island, at the head of Lake Huron.

Finding it impossible to get the Indians to raid the settlement,
Cameron now adopted other methods. His party had been increasing in
numbers day by day. Joined by the deserters from the colony, the
Nor'westers pitched their camp a short distance down the river from
Fort Gibraltar. At this point guns were mounted, and at Fort Gibraltar
Cameron's men were being drilled. On June 11 a chosen company,
furnished with loaded muskets and ammunition, were marched towards
Governor Macdonell's house, where they concealed themselves behind some
trees. James White, the surgeon of the colony, was seen walking close
to the house. A p