No breach of the peace occurred however, before the return of the Colonists from Pembina to the Colony Houses.  The settlers occupied their homes in the best of spirits, and began to sow their wheat, but they were still greatly checked by the absence of the commonest implements of farm culture.  Had Lord Selkirk known the true state of things on Red River, he would never have continued to send new bands of Colonists so imperfectly fitted for dealing with the cultivation of the soil.

The founder’s mind had been fired, both by the opposition of Sir Alexander Mackenzie and by the successful arrival of his two bands of Colonists at the Red River, to make greater efforts than ever.

This he did by sending out a third party in all nearly a hundred strong, under the leadership of a very capable man—­Archibald Macdonald.  This band of settlers in 1813 were bound on the ship Prince of Wales for York Factory.  A very serious attack of ship fever filled the whole ship’s crew with alarm.  Several well-known Colonists died.  The Captain, alarmed, refused to go on to his destination, but ran the ship into Fort Churchill and there disembarked them.  Further deaths took place at this point.  In the spring there was no resource but to trudge over the rocky ledges and forbidding desolation of more than a hundred miles between the Fort Churchill and York Factory.  Only the stronger men and women were selected for the journey.  On the 6th of April, 1814, a party of twenty-one males and twenty females started on this now celebrated tramp.  At first the party began to march in single file, but finding this inconvenient changed to six abreast.  Unaccustomed to snowshoes and sleds the Colonists found the snowy walk very distressing.  Three fell by the way and were carried on by the stronger men.  The weather was very cold.  A supply of partridges was given them on starting, and the party was met by hunters sent from York Factory to meet them, who brought two hundred partridges, killed by the way.  York Factory was reached on the 13th of April.  This band of Colonists were superior to any who had come in the former parties.  Many of them, as we shall see, did not remain in the Colony.  A list of this party may be found in the Appendix.  After remaining a month at York Factory, on the 27th of May, this heroic band went on their way to Red River, and reached their destination in time to plant potatoes for themselves and others.  Comrades left behind at Churchill found their way to Red River.  Lots along Red River were now being taken up by the settlers, and here they sought to found homes under a northern sky.  Old and new settlers were now hopeful, but their hopes of peace and happiness were soon to be dashed to pieces.

The arrival of the third year’s Colonists provoked still greater opposition.  Feeling had been gradually rising against the new settlers at every new arrival.  The excellence of the later immigrants but led their opponents to be irritated.