There was a ring of
growing nationality in all their utterances.
A start was made late in May for the scene of action. Their prisoner
Lieutenant Pambrun was taken with them and the captured pemmican was
carried along as supplies for the journey.
On the way an episode of some moment occurred. On the river bank a band
of Cree Indians was encamped.
Commander Macdonell addressed the redmen through an interpreter to
incite them to action. A portion of his address was:
My Friends and Relations,--"I address you bashfully, for I have not a
pipe of tobacco to give you.... The English have been spoiling the fair
lands which belonged to you and the Bois-brules and to which they have
no right. They have been driving away the buffalo. You will soon be poor
and miserable if the English stay. But we will drive them away, if the
Indian does not, for the 'Nor'-West' Company and the Bois-brules are
one. If you (turning to the chief) and some of your young men will join
I shall be glad."
But the taciturn Indian Chief coldly declined the polite proposal. As
the party passed Brandon House Pambrun saw in the North-West Fort near
by, tobacco, tools and furs, which had been captured by the Nor'-Westers
from the Hudson's Bay Company fort.
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