8 PEMB1NA AND FORT GARRY. 



doubt, have sold his life dearly ; hut I am glad to say that he 

 was not attacked, and was still at his post when the place was 

 visited by the troops, who left a garrison there. 



Soon after leaving Pembina we were very glad to meet with 

 the steamer, which had come as far as this and was waiting for 

 news, and now, on hearing what had happened, the captain 

 decided on turning back and remaining at the fort till all was 

 quiet once more. 



Fort Garry was then a long straggling settlement, of about 

 three thousand inhabitants, extending some ten miles up the 

 Red River and about the same distance up the Assineboine 

 River, the fort being built at the junction of the two. Most of 

 the inhabitants were half-breeds, many of whom were married 

 to Indian wives ; so that the place was a curious mixture of an 

 Indian camp and a white settlement, the wives' relations being 

 very often camped round the houses of half-breeds. There was 

 no hotel of any kind ; so we put up a tent, which we bought, 

 in the garden of one of the principal half-breeds, who had 

 been recommended to us as a guide. This man's name was 

 Louis Laronde, and he was considered the best guide and snow- 

 shoe walker, as well as the strongest man, in the settlement. 



For several days we were very busy engaging men and in 

 buying horses, there being a good deal of competition among 

 us as to who should have the best ; and I remember that I got 

 up once in the middle of the night and rode nearly forty miles 

 to buy a horse, which was said to be the fastest in the settle- 

 ment. We had all heard of him, but kept it to ourselves, as 

 each one meant to get up early the next morning and go and 

 buy him ; but by that time I had him tied close to the tent 

 door. 



