Annette - The Metis Spy

"I expostulated with the greasy, swaggering ruffian, but he only

swore, and reiterated his threats. Then I told him to be gone for an

insolent savage, and that if I found him prowling about the Fort

again, I should send my men to take charge of him. Thereat his squaws

began to jeer, and cut capers; and squatting upon the sod in a row

they made mouths, and poked their fingers at me. Then they arose

yelling and waving their arms, and followed the savage. It appears

that after the chief left me, he went to the people of our town and

proposed the same terms; for an hour later, to my horror, I saw the

chief factor of the Hudson Bay Company, his wife and daughters, and

several others following the Indian to his wigwams. Had these people

put themselves under our protection, and the men aided us in defence,

we might have laughed defiance at the five score of the enemy who

threaten."

"But," returned Stephens, "I fear that you do not count at its full

the force preparing itself to attack. From all I can gather a hundred

or so of Plain Crees will come here to-day under Tall Elk; while the

total strength of the Stonies, who will rise at Big Bear's call,

cannot be less than five hundred."

Inspector Dicken looked grave; but he was a brave man and busied

himself in making preparations. The total number of his force,

including mounted police and civilians was 24; and each man had a

Winchester and about twenty rounds of ammunition.

"Two of my scouts are abroad," he said, "reconnoitering; they should

be here by this time." While he was yet speaking a storm of yelling

came from the wigwams of Big Bear, and three or four score of braves

were seen pouring from their tents, like bees bundling out of a hive.

Each one had a gun in his hand, and a hatchet in his belt. The cause

of this sudden commotion was soon apparent: about half a mile

distant, two police scouts were riding leisurely along the plain

towards the Fort, and evidently not suspecting the danger which

menaced them. They advanced to a point about two hundred yards from

the stockades; then a yell went up from a body of prostrate savages,

and immediately half a hundred rifles were discharged. One of the men

fell from his horse, dead, upon the prairie; but the other rode

through the storm of lead to the Fort, and entered struck by half a

dozen bullets.

"The devils have begun!" muttered the Inspector, and he quivered

from head to foot, but not with fear.

The first taste of blood set the savages in a high state of

exultation. They gathered yelling and dancing, and flashing their

weapons in the sun around the door of the chief. Big Bear pulled off

his feathered cap and threw it several times in the air. Then turning

to his wives he told them to make ready for a White Dog feast; and he

bade his braves go and fetch the animals.