TROUBLE BETWEEN THE COMPANIES. Nor'-Westers oppose the colony--Reason why--A considerable literature--Contentions of both parties--Both in fault--Miles Macdonell's mistake--Nor'-Wester arrogance--Duncan Cameron's ingenious plan--Stirring up the Chippewas--Nor'-Westers warn colonists to depart--McLeod's hitherto unpublished narrative--Vivid account of a brave defence--Chain shot from the blacksmith's smithy--Fort Douglas begun--Settlers driven out--Governor Semple arrives--Cameron last Governor of Fort Gibraltar--Cameron sent to Britain as a prisoner--Fort Gibraltar captured--Fort Gibraltar decreases, Fort Douglas increases--Free traders take to the plains--Indians favour the colonists 215 CHAPTER XXV. THE SKIRMISH OF SEVEN OAKS. Leader of the Bois Brûlés--A candid letter--Account of a prisoner--"Yellow Head"--Speech to the Indians--The chief knows nothing--On fleet Indian ponies--An eye-witness in Fort Douglas--A rash Governor--The massacre--"For God's sake save my life"--The Governor and twenty others slain--Colonists driven out--Eastern levy meets the settlers--Effects seized--Wild revelry--Chanson of Pierre Falcon 229 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 238 CHAPTER XXVII. THE BLUE-BOOK OF 1819 AND THE NORTH-WEST TRIALS. British law disgraced--Governor Sherbrooke's distress--A commission decided on--Few unbiassed Canadians--Colonel Coltman chosen--Over ice and snow--Alarming rumours--The Prince Regent's orders--Coltman at Red River--The Earl submissive--The Commissioner's report admirable--The celebrated Reinhart case--Disturbing lawsuits--Justice perverted--A store-house of facts--Sympathy of Sir Walter Scott--Lord Selkirk's death--Tomb at Orthes, in France 252 CHAPTER XXVIII. MEN WHO PLAYED A PART. The crisis reached--Consequences of Seven Oaks--The noble Earl--His generous spirit--His mistakes--Determined courage--Deserves the laurel crown--The first Governor--Macdonell's difficulties--His unwise step--A captain in red--Cameron's adroitness--A wearisome imprisonment--Last governor of Fort Gibraltar--The Metis chief--Half-breed son of old Cuthbert--A daring hunter--Warden of the plains--Lord Selkirk's agent--A Red River patriarch--A faithful witness--The French bard--Western war songs--Pierriche Falcon 260 CHAPTER XXIX.