Annette - The Metis Spy

"Oui, Monsieur," and making an obeisance the murderous tool

departed. Exactly as planned, it all fell out. Captain Toltbon was

put in irons, and Riel declared that for the sake of peace and order

he must be shot. Many people came and implored him to spare the

condemned man's life; but he was inexorable. "At the eleventh hour,"

however, as the newspapers put it, yielding to solicitation, Riel

said: "He is spared."

Jean presented himself before his leader.

"Monsieur, I think it will not be necessary to employ stratagem in

working our man to violence. He has been showering reproaches upon

the guards, and loading your name with ignominious reproach. The

guards knew my feelings; so during the night they put chains upon him.

As the foremost one advanced with the manacles, the prisoner raised

his arm, and dealt him a blow on the head, which felled him to the

ground."

"Bon! bon!" Riel cried, while he rubbed his hands. "Without applying

the little goad, he fulfils our will."

"Well, not in the strictest sense, mon chef. Luc had certain private

instructions from me, and he carried them out in a very skilful

manner."

"N'importe, Jean, n'importe how the thing came about; we have the

cause against him, and that suffices. What do you now propose to do,

for you are aware, Jean--" there was now a tone of diabolical

raillery in his words--"that this matter is one in which I cannot

concern myself, you being the best judge of what is due rebellious

military prisoners?"

"Merci, mon chef! I shall endeavour to merit your further regard. My

intention is to proceed forthwith to try him. Already, I have

summoned the witnesses of his guilt; and he and you shall know our

decision before another hour has passed." Then the faithful Monsieur

Jean was gone.

"No, ma chere Annette. You shall never deck your nuptial chamber

with daisies for Edmund Stephens. You will find occupation for your

sweet little fingers in putting fresh roses upon the mound that

covers him. For a feu-de-joie and the peal of marriage bells,

I will give you, ma petite chere, the sullen toll that calls him to

his open coffin, and the rattle of musketry that stills the tongue

which uttered to you the last love pledge."

For an hour did he pace up and down the floor gloating over his

revenge. Meanwhile, I shall leave him and follow the "adjutant-

general," as Jean was known under the new regime. He proceeded to the

private room of the military quarters, and entering found his

subordinates assembled there.

"Messieurs," he said, "We know what our business is. We must lose no

time in despatching it. But before commencing, let me say a few

words. Monsieur Riel is so overweighted with other affairs that the

matter of dealing with the man Stephens rests entirely in our hands.

I have just left him, after endeavouring in vain to induce him to be

present at the trial: but he could not spare the time to come. By

skilfully sounding him, however, I discovered that his sentiments

regarding the prisoner are exactly the same as those entertained by

myself. What these are I need hardly say. It is now a struggle

between the authority of the Provisional Government and a horde of

rebellious persons of which the defendant is the most dangerous. The

eyes of our followers are upon us; and if we permit the authority of

Government to be defied, its officers reviled, and insult heaped upon

us, depend upon it we shall speedily lose the hold we have gained

after so many bitter struggles; and become a prey to the conspiracy

which our enemies are so actively engaged in promoting. The very fact

that this man Stephens leagued himself with our enemies, is an

offence worthy of death; but I shall ask these persons who are here

as witnesses to show you that since his capture he has merited death

ten times over at our hands. With your permission, gentlemen, I will

proceed: "Edmund Stephens, of Prince Albert, stands charged before this court-

martial with treasonable revolt against the peace and welfare of the

colony; with having leagued himself with an armed party, whose object

was the overthrow of authority as vested in our Provisional Government.

He is likewise charged with having attempted criminal violence upon

lawfully delegated guards appointed over him, during his incarceration;

and likewise with inciting his fellow-prisoners to insubordination and

tumult contrary to the order and well-being of this community.