“Now, you filthy, red-headed rascal,” he said, turning toward the leader, “if you will come down from your horse, I will settle you in the same way,” and running over, he stabbed O’Donoghue in the knee with the muzzle of his pistol, and afterwards punched the horse in the ribs.  O’Donoghue quickly turned his horse around and, with a sudden movement, squirted a jet of tobacco juice in the eyes of the tempestuous little loyalist.

“Now, take him up to the fort, my min, wid the rest.  Forward, march.  Veeve lah Republeekh, and God save Oirland, Major Boulton,” delivering the latter part of the sentence close to the ear of the captive leader.

[Footnote:  The following description of this ridiculous episode in the history of the rebellion is given by Mr. Begg in his history of the troubles:—­

“On the morning of the 17th, word was received that the English settlers had disbanded, and were returning to their homes.  Soon after this, a small party of men—­some in sleighs and others on foot, were seen to verge off across the prairie, from St. John’s school-house, appearing as if they wished to avoid the town.  As soon as this party was discovered, a body of horsemen emerged from Fort Garry, and started out for the purpose of intercepting them.  People in the town, crowded every available spot overlooking the prairie.  Faces thronged the windows.  Wood piles and fences were crowded with sightseers, all expecting to behold a miniature battle.  When the Portage party discovered the French coming out of the Fort they halted, and appeared to hold a consultation; after which, they moved slowly on—­the depth of snow impeding their progress.  The French, at the head of whom was O’Donoghue, continued to gallop over the snow drifts, halting now and again for stragglers.  At last the two parties met, but instead of a fight, they mixed together for some minutes, and then they all started in the direction of Fort Garry.  They have been taken prisoners, was the conclusion by the lookers-on, and so, indeed, it turned out to be.  Several of the Portage party refused at first to give up their arms; but ultimately they consented to do so, and were all taken to Fort Garry, where they were imprisoned in the same rooms which had only recently been vacated by the first lot of prisoners.  It is said that the Portage party gave themselves up, on the understanding that Riel merely wished to speak to them and explain matters.  If this is the case, they were not justly dealt by, for immediately upon their arrival at Fort Garry, they were put in prison, and Major Boulton, their leader, placed in irons.  What a singular change in affairs this occasioned;—­twenty-four prisoners liberated on the 15th,—­forty-eight prisoners taken on the 17th.”]

Let us now return to the vengeful Riel.  Never steady of purpose, or resting his faith upon logic, he had begun to curse himself for taking Lepine’s advice and suffering Scott to depart.