battles in America had just been disbanded, and Lord Selkirk at once engaged them to go as settlers, under his pay, to Red River.  From the commanding officer of the larger regiment these have always been called the “De Meurons.”  From these two regiments—­one at Montreal and the other at Kingston—­he engaged an hundred men, each provided with a musket, and with rather more than that number of expert voyageurs started in June 16th, 1816, for the North-West.  The route followed by him was up Lake Ontario to Toronto, then across country to Georgian Bay and through it to Ste. Sault Marie.  At Drummond Island, being the last British garrison toward the West, he got from the Indians news of the efforts of the Nor’-Westers to involve them in the wars of the whites.  The Indians had, however, resisted all their temptations.  Lord Selkirk again overtook his party and passed through the St. Mary’s River into Lake Superior.

Here a new grief awaited him.

Two canoes coming from Fort William brought him the sad news about Governor Semple and his party being killed at Seven Oaks, as it did also of the second expulsion of the Colonists.  Lord Selkirk had been intending to go west to where Duluth now stands and then overland to the Red River.

He now changed his plans and with true Scottish pluck headed directly to Fort William.  Here assaults, arrests and imprisonments took place.  It is needless for us to give the details of this unfortunate affair, except to say that the seizure of the Fort brought much trouble afterwards to the founder.

Moving some miles up the Kaministiquia River Lord Selkirk made his military encampment, which bore the name of “Pointe De Meuron.”

Plans were soon made for the spring attack on Fort Douglas.

In March, stealthily crossing the silent pathways for upwards of four hundred miles and striking the Red River some where near the international boundary line, the De Meurons came northward and made a circuit towards Silver Heights.  There, having constructed ladders, they next made a night attack on Fort Douglas, and being trained soldiers easily captured it, and restored it to its rightful owner, Lord Selkirk.

On May day, 1817, Lord Selkirk, with his body guard, left Fort William and following the water-courses arrived at his own Fort in the last week of June.  Fort Douglas was the centre of his Colony, and there he was at once the chief figure of the picture.

None of the Selkirk Settlers’ descendants who are living to-day saw him in Fort Douglas, but a number who have passed away have told the writer that they remembered him well.  He was tall in stature, thin and refined in appearance.  He had a benignant face, his manner was easy and polite.  To the Indians he was especially interesting.  They caught the idea that being a man of title he was in some way closely connected with their Great Father the King.  Because of his generosity to them in making a treaty, they called him “The Silver Chief.”  He was the source of their treaty money.