CHAPTER IV.
`The dial spake not; but it made shrewd signs,
And pointed full upon the stroke of murder.'
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In the mean time Mr Semple received the
appointment of Governor of Ossinneboia, and
Duncan Cameron was furnished by Lord Selkirk
with funds wherewith to purvey seed and implements
of agriculture for the use of the colonists.
Yet the summer was far advanced before all was
in readiness for departure.
Flora had lost her gaiety, but not her hopes.
Cavenny visited her often, and through him she
heard from Gordon. The young Irishman was
warmly attached to our hero and took good care
of his interests. He attended Flora to the places
where she went in compliance with her father's
wishes, and lost no opportunity to sound his
friend's praises in her ear.
Among Flora's admirers was a partner of the
Northwest Company, named M'Leod. This man
was so smitten, that in less than a week from their
introduction to each other, he made formal proposals
to her father for her hand. The Cameron
approved of his suit, but referred him to Flora.
She thanked him for his good opinion, but was
sorry to be obliged to reject his offer. And when
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pressed for her reasons, she told him with her
natural frankness that her heart was already given
to another.
M'Leod was a man of black and violent passions,
and he could not forgive the slight. Never
having heard of Gordon's suit, and seeing Cavenny
assiduous in his attentions, he concluded
that he was indebted to the Irishman for his failure.
He had `wintered' in opposition to Cavenny,
and had found his own skill inadequate to
the contest. Perhaps no two Indian traders ever
opposed each other long without being personal
enemies. Cavenny had foiled M'Leod in his
business, and was therefore hated by him. Injuries
in trade M'Leod might have forgiven, but
this imaginary wrong rankled in his breast, and
he resolved that if an opportunity should offer
when both would be beyond the reach of law, he
would so dispose of his rival that he should never
again cross his path in life.
Governor Semple becoming from the nature of
his employ more intimate with Cameron, exhausted
all the rhetoric of which he was master
to persuade him to unite Flora with our hero.
The old man listened patiently to the worthy
Governor, and readily admitted that Gordon was
worthy of all praise, but on the point in question
he was adamant.
Cameron fell sick, and the business of the Colony
and Company detained Governor Semple
long. But M'Leod had already gone to his post,
and the contending parties who had so far abstained
from open violence now came to blows.
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Blood was shed, and trading forts were taken and
retaken. The colonists of Ossinneboia were molested
in every possible manner by the agents of
the Northwest Company, who also attempted to
excite the Indians to massacre the settlers. Happily,
in this they failed. A large body of the
erratic half breeds and gens libres was subsidised
on either side, and officers were appointed under
whose command these reprobates might assemble
and act. The partners of the two companies
wore uniforms, and assumed to be his majesty's
officers; well knowing that such claims commanded
the respect of the Indians. M'Leod in especial,
went farther. He claimed to be a magistrate, and
issued warrants under his sign manual for the apprehension
of the most active partizans of the
Hudson's Bay Company. Those he made prisoners
in this manner were either induced to
change their service by threats and bribery, or
sent to Montreal; ostensibly to be tried for alleged
offences, but in reality to get them out of the
way.(9)
Cavenny started for his post a short time after
M'Leod. The latter was soon apprised of his
proceedings, and resolved to settle all scores. He
had with him a subordinate agent named Reinhard,
a man who had served in the Muron regiment
in the late war between the United States
and Great Britain. M'Leod pitched upon this
fellow as a fit instrument to execute his purposes.
He gave him minute instructions, and ordered him
to go and meet Cavenny before he should arrive
at his post.
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Reinhard met Cavenny at Lake Winnepeg,
and told him, that shocked by the violence of the
Northwest Company, of which he had frequently
been a witness, he had resolved to leave its employ
and offer his services to Lord Selkirk. Cavenny
did not scruple to engage him, but he soon
had good cause to repent his indiscretion.
Reinhard immediately set himself to work to
corrupt Cavenny's engagés, and with two of them
he succeeded perfectly. By promising that they
should have higher wages, and be sent to a better
post, he persuaded them not only to desert from
their bourgeois, but to co-operate in measures to
secure his person. The other three he sounded,
but receiving unsatisfactory answers, he thought
it most prudent to disclose his intentions no further.
Toward evening Angé and Le Vasseur, the
two conspirators, did all in their power to irritate
Cavenny; at no time a difficult task, for the Irish
blood was warm in his veins. They repeatedly
handled their oars so as to `catch crabs,' as sailors
term it. When rebuked by their principal,
they behaved with the utmost insolence. At last,
Le Vasseur let his oar fall overboard, and it became
necessary for the boat to drop an hundred
yards down stream to recover it. The Irishman
lost patience.
`If that happens again, Le Vasseur,' said he,
`I will deduct a day's wages from your account.'
`You may do it now, if you like. My wages
are small, but Heaven be praised, I can get better
when I please.'
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`Rogue! If you have any regard for your
bones do not repeat that. If you speak so to me
again, I will beat you to a mummy.'
`We are but poor engagés, Monsieur Cavenny,'
said Angé, `but we will not suffer ourselves to be
beaten, for all that. Our written engagements do
not stipulate that blows shall be inflicted, when we
fail in our duty. Take what advantage the law
allows you; you shall take no other.'
Cavenny snatched one of the boat poles, and
raised it to strike the speaker. But Le Vasseur,
who sat behind him, dropped his oar and seized
him by the elbows, and Angé reared his oar to
return the intended compliment.
`Dogs! rascals! villains!' cried the Irishman,
shaking himself clear of Le Vasseur; wait till
we get ashore, and I will make you wish yourselves
at Quebec. Ho! Le Gros, put ashore instantly,—
instantly.'
The steersman obeyed, and the whole party
debarked. `Now you rascals,' said Cavenny,
`I will teach you how to speak to your bourgeois.
Come on!'
The other boatmen expostulated. The mutineers
stood sullen and silent, and seemed afraid to
begin. `If you fear the penalties of the law provided
for such cases,' said Cavenny, `I give you
my word I will take no advantage of them, whether
you conquer me or not. Come, let us make
an end of it.'
Reinhard now spoke. `Monsieur Cavenny,'
said he, `you cannot but get the worst of it.
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They are two to one. Any man might be afraid
of such odds.'
These words had their intended effect. Cavenny
furiously struck Le Vasseur a stunning
blow. The battle now raged in bloody earnest.
The engagés showed no lack of strength or courage,
but they could not contend against the
Irishman's science. He `floored' them as fast
as they could rise, and in ten minutes they were
obliged to give in.
`There, you rascal,' said Cavenny, `I trust I
shall have no more trouble with you. It is a pity
there is no law in this country to take care of
such fellows. But I will have the respect and
obedience that is my due, even if I am obliged to
soil my hands. Return to your duty, and for this
time all shall be forgiven, but beware how you
provoke me again.'
The sun had now set beyond
`Vast savannas where the wandering eye,
Unfix'd, is in a verdant ocean lost.'
The wolves had begun their nightly howlings,
and the song of the whip-poor-will had commenced.
It was too dark to proceed any farther, so
Cavenny ordered his steersman to land. His
tent was pitched, and a huge fire was made.
The kind hearted Irishman consoled the men he
had beaten with a dram, which they accepted
with apparent thankfulness.
In the morning Reinhard and the two mutineers
were missing. They did not take leave
empty handed. The bold visage of Cavenny
was somewhat blanked at this disaster, but he
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soon recovered his good humor. `Well,' he
said, `at any rate I can steer the boat myself, and
we have three oars left to take us to Fort Douglass.
I wish however that we could see some
Indians; I could then send to Mr M'Donald for a
reinforcement. But never mind; `care killed a
cat;' and he sung
`O! love is the sowl of a nate Irishman,' &c.
In the mean time Reinhard and the deserters
joined M'Leod. That worthy rebuked his deputy
in harsh terms. `What did I send you to
Cavenny for?' said he. If he had been killed in
the scuffle, it would have been done in self defence.
You have let slip a fine opportunity to
take him.'
`But consider, Sir, that I had but two men on
my side, and the other three would have taken
his part. If I had taken a share of the battle, and
given him an unlucky blow, I doubt if I could
have kept my neck out of a halter. I do not
mean that I had any inclination to dispose of him
in that manner. I would not do such a thing on
any account, unless compelled. Besides, Cavenny
is not so easily managed. I wish you had seen
how he beat the two Canadians.'
After some further consultation, Angé and Le
Vasseur were called. M'Leod took their deposition,
and issued a warrant to secure the body of
Michael Cavenny for an assault and battery, by
him committed on two of his majesty's liege subjects,
&c. &c. This precious document was
signed by M'Leod in his assumed capacity of
Justice of the Peace for the Indian country.
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For the purpose of serving the warrant, Cuthbert
Grant, a half breed well known in the Northwest,
was appointed a constable. A number of Indians
and bois brulés were called upon to assist, and to
prevent mistakes, M'Leod resolved to attend in
person. A few birch canoes were procured, and
the whole posse paddled down the river.
Cavenny had stopped his boat at a convenient
place, and gone after a heard of buffaloes that were
grazing a short distance from the river. On his
return he was seized, pinioned, and conducted
before the soi disant Major.
He offered no resistance, nor did he manifest
any resentment, though reviled and treated with
the utmost indignity by the barbarians into whose
hands he had fallen. `Poor fellows,' said he,
`they know not what they are about.' When
brought into the presence of M'Leod, who was
dressed in a full suit of uniform, he did not wait
for that dignitary to speak. Confronting him
boldly, he drew himself up to his full height
and thus addressed him. `I demand to know on
what authority I am arrested, and for what offence?
'
`Show the prisoner the warrant,' said M'Leod
to Reinhard, who was also dressed à la militaire,
and wore a sword of portentous length.
The warrant was exhibited, fairly engrossed on
a sheet of parchment. Beside the imputation of
assault and battery, it charged Cavenny with having
instigated divers Chippeway Indians to rob
and murder certain of the lieges. It was signed
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— M'Leod, J. P. for the Indian country, and
Major in the Royal Canadian Corps of Voyageurs.
`M'Leod,' said Cavenny, `what needs this
farce, this vile abuse of the name of law? Since
when has this Royal Voyageur Corps been organized,
and from whom did you receive the
appointment of major or magistrate? You well
know that you are neither a soldier nor a civil
officer. You must be aware that when we meet
where the laws are in force we must change
places. Make an end of this child's play and
tell me what you intend to do, and how long I am
to be kept in confinement. But why need I ask
your motives? Your trade has suffered through
me, and you fear that it will again, and therefore
you will rid yourself of my opposition by violence.
I will tell you a better way to dispose of me.
Unbind my arms, tell that rascal there to lend me
his sword, and draw your own.'
`Rest assured, Michael Cavenny,' replied
M'Leod, `that I have sufficient authority for
what I do. I will not allow it to be questioned.
However, for the satisfaction of those present, I
will say that my powers are derived from his
Excellency the Governor General of the Canadas.
The idea of fighting with a prisoner charged
with high crimes and misdemeanors is too absurd
to deserve a moment's consideration. You must
accompany me till measures can be taken to send
you to Montreal for trial. An exact inventory
shall be taken of your goods and effects, at which
you may be present, if you please. After the
outrages committed by members of the Hudson's
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Bay Company, (of which some present have been
witnesses) I should be inexcusable to suffer you
to remain at large. In this course it is my zeal
for the public good and my duty as an organ of
the law that actuates me, and not the fear of your
opposition as you falsely and scandalously assert.
You will not dance with Miss Cameron this winter,
' he added, drawing near the prisoner, and
speaking so low as to be heard by him only.
Cavenny could contain his wrath no longer.
`Villain,' he cried, `it is a burning shame that a
name so pure should be profaned by the lips of
such a coward and ruffian. Dog! do your worst
now, for when we meet on equal terms your time
will be short. Take your inventory! your scoundrelly
associates will be your fittest witnesses.
Do as you please with me. Henceforth I will
not degrade myself by exchanging a word with
you.'
In a few minutes Cavenny's boat was manned,
and M'Leod gave orders to move up the river.
A canoe was prepared to convey the prisoner,
who, still bound, was given in custody to Angé
and Le Vasseur. Before starting M'Leod took
these men aside.
`You will follow us to the encampment,' he
said, `but keep out of sight, for the prisoner has
a tongue that may seduce some of the men from
their duty. He may try to escape from you.'
`We will take care that he does not succeed,'
said Le Vasseur.
`Ay, but to be more sure, take your guns with
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you. If he offers any violence it is your duty to
resist, whatever the consequence may be.'
`But if we should use our guns,' said Angé,
`we shall be hanged.'
`No fear of that. No one will ever hear of it.
If there should be any investigation I will bear
you out in what you may do in the discharge of
your duty, at all events.'
`How are we to treat him if he remains quiet?'
`Why he has beaten and disgraced you, but I
would not recommend any harshness. But you
are not obliged to bear any abuse from him.'
`Well Monsieur, we will do the best we can.'
`Remain where you are half an hour and then
follow us. If you behave properly you shall not
miss a handsome reward.'
He then started with his banditti, and the Canadians
remained behind with their prisoner.
Snelling, William Joseph, d. 1849 [1830], Tales of the northwest, or, Sketches of Indian life and character (Hilliard, Gray, Little, and Wilkins, Boston) [word count] [eaf381].
