Come, listen to this song of truth, A song of brave Bois Brûlés, Who at Frog Plain took three captives, Strangers come to rob our country. Where dismounting there to rest us, A cry is raised, "The English! They are coming to attack us." So we hasten forth to meet them. I looked upon their army, They are motionless and downcast; So, as honour would incline us, We desire with them to parley. But their leader, moved with anger, Gives the word to fire upon us; And imperiously repeats it, Rushing on to his destruction. Having seen us pass his stronghold, He has thought to strike with terror The Bois Brûlés.--Ah! mistaken, Many of his soldiers perish. But a few escaped the slaughter, Rushing from the field of battle; Oh, to see the English fleeing! Oh, the shouts of their pursuers! Who has sung this song of triumph? The good Pierre Falcon has composed it, That his praise of these Bois Brûlés Might be evermore recorded. CHAPTER XXVI. LORD SELKIRK TO THE RESCUE. The Earl in Montreal--Alarming news--Engages a body of Swiss--The De Meurons--Embark for the North-West--Kawtawabetay's story--Hears of Seven Oaks--Lake Superior--Lord Selkirk--A doughty Douglas--Seizes Fort William--Canoes upset and Nor'-Westers drowned--"A Banditti"--The Earl's blunder--A winter march--Fort Douglas recaptured--His Lordship soothes the settlers--An Indian Treaty--"The Silver Chief"--The Earl's note-book. The sad story of the beleaguered and excited colonists reached the ears of Lord Selkirk through his agents. The trouble threatening his settlers determined the energetic founder to visit Canada for himself, and, if possible, the infant colony. Accordingly, late in the year 1815, in company with his family--consisting of the Countess, his son, and two daughters--he reached Montreal. The news of the first dispersion of the colonists, their flight to Norway House, and the further threatenings of the Bois Brûlés, arrived about the time of their coming to New York. Lord Selkirk hastened on to Montreal, but it was too late in the season, being about the end of October, to penetrate to the interior. He must winter in Montreal. He was here in the very midst of the enemy. With energy, characteristic of the man, he brought the matter of protection of his colony urgently before the Government of Lower Canada. In a British colony surely the rights of property of a British subject would be protected, and surely the safety of hundreds of loyal people could not be trifled with. As we shall see in a later chapter, the high-minded nobleman counted without his host; he had but to live a few years in the New World of that day to find how skilfully the forms of law can be adapted to carry out illegal objects and shield law-breakers.