“Guess me keep you, since me’s get you.”  So the chief factor found himself a prisoner.  Then Big Bear informed his captive that if he would write a letter to the rest of the civilians in the fort, asking them to withdraw, and enter into the Indian lodge, he would treat them civilly; but that if they refused, he would set fire to the fort, and they would perish in the flames.  This MacLean consented to do, and in a little while there went out from the fort to the Indian prison, Mr. MacLean’s family, consisting of eight, James Simpson, Stanley Simpson, W. B. Cameron, one Dufresne, Rev. C. Quinn, and his wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Mann, with their three children.  Since that date, these people have been prisoners in Big Bear’s camp, and every now and again the tidings come that they are receiving barbarous, and even brutal, treatment.  After Big Bear had got possession of all these, he said to his chief young men: 

“’Spose we take em in, too, Mounted Police.  No harm Get their guns.  Keep them here for a spell, and then let ’em go.”  When he coolly presented himself before the stockades and proposed to Inspector Dickens to come right over to his lodges, assuring him that he would not allow the hair of one of his men’s heads to be harmed, Inspector Dickens laughed: 

“You are a very presumptuous savage.”  After the fight which I have described, Inspector Dickens, studying the situation, regarded it in this light: 

“The civilians have gone to the Indians, so there is now no object to be attained by keeping my force here.  In the battle with the savages I was successful.  Therefore, may retreat with honour.”  Fitting up a York boat, he had it provisioned for the journey, and then destroying everything in the shape of supplies, arms and ammunition Which he could not take away, they started down the river, and after a tedious journey arrived at Battleford, worn with anxious watching, exposure and fatigue, but otherwise safe and well, save for the wounded constable.  The brave Inspector was received at Battleford with ringing acclamations.  Here, in a little, he was appointed to the command of the Police, superseding Lt.-Colonel Morris.  Altogether there is not in the whole campaign an instance in which good judgment and bravery stand out so prominently as in this record of the conduct of the son of our great English novelist.

CHAPTER XIV.

No accident in the whole history of the present rebellion so ill bears to be written about as does this of the sacking of Battleford.  This is a town of considerable importance, and it has a strongly-built fort, garrisoned by mounted police.  It stands close to a large Cree reserve, and the prairie around it being very fertile, the population latterly had been growing rapidly.  When first the disturbance broke out, it was feared that there would be trouble with the Stoney Crees in this region; for Poundmaker, a great