Selkirk’s letter to Robertson, which the N. W. C. captured from Lajimoniere, ran thus: “_There can be no doubt that the N. W. C. must be compelled to quit ... my lands ... especially at the Forks ... but as it will be necessary to use force, I am anxious this should be done under legal warrant._” I cannot see much difference between Selkirk bringing up De Meurons to drive the N. W. C. off, and Cameron calling on the Indians to drive the H. B. C. off. * * * * * May 18th, Cameron was sent to the bay. June 11th, Robertson quarreled with Semple and followed. June 10th, Semple had ordered the dismantling of Gibraltar, which was completed after Robertson left. * * * * * Letters from McIntosh of Peace River give details of Clarke’s disaster in Athabasca, describing his men “as starving like church rats and so reduced they were not able to stand on their feet, and were a picture of the resurrection.” * * * * * Some authorities, like McDonald of Garth, give the number of Voyageurs sent to Athabasca by Robertson as four hundred. I follow Robertson’s MS. account. * * * * * It is not surprising that one of the first settlers to desert Red River for Ontario was that Angus McKay, whose child was born on the sled journey to York. CHAPTER XXVIII 1816-1820 THE COMING OF THE COLONISTS CONTINUED--GOVERNOR SEMPLE AND TWENTY COLONISTS ARE BUTCHERED AT SEVEN OAKS--SELKIRK TO THE RESCUE CAPTURES FORT WILLIAM AND SWEEPS THE NOR’WESTERS FROM THE FIELD--THE SUFFERING OF THE SETTLERS--AT LAST SELKIRK SEES THE PROMISED LAND AT RED RIVER. Here, then, is the position, June 17, 1816. My Lord Selkirk is racing westward from Montreal to the rescue of his Red River colonists with two hundred men made up of disbanded De Meuron and De Watteville soldiers and French canoemen. William McGillivray has gathered all the Eastern partners of the Northwest Company together--McLoughlin, the doctor; Simon Fraser, the explorer; McLeod, the justice of the Peace; Haldane, McLellan, McGillis, Keith and the rest--and with a hundred armed men and two cannon, is dashing for Red River to outrace Selkirk, rescue Duncan Cameron, restore Fort Gibraltar, and prevent the forcible eviction of the Northwest Company from Assiniboia. Selkirk goes by way of Lake Ontario and the modern Simcoe. The Nor’Westers follow the old trail up the Ottawa.