224 NORTH-WEST REBELLION OF 1885 



long distance into the valley beneath. I may say that the tarn 

 we saw was named years afterwards and called Sherbrooke Lake 

 and, after twenty years, I discovered that the glacier we had 

 looked down upon with the stream flowing from it was the great 

 glacier at the head of the Yoho Valley. 



On the return trip, we had, by this time, become more than 

 chance acquaintances and we had many talks about various sub- 

 jects and, amongst others, I made the acquaintance of Dr. Chedle 

 and an artist of the "Graphic" and Lord Ross, who, with Professor 

 Ball, were the astronomers of the party. I had a wonderful time 

 and made many friends who aided me in the years to come. That 

 winter, I wrote part two of my plant catalogue and planned and 

 prepared other work, that I intended to perform the next year, 

 which was no less than an exploration of the Rocky Mountains. 



I was home only a short time when rumors of trouble in the 

 North West commenced to be talked about and, late that winter, 

 the fight took place at Duck Lake between the half-breeds and 

 the North West Mounted Police, and the rebellion broke out. 

 This caused quite a sensation at Ottawa and Captain Causton, 

 with whom I was well acquainted, told Lord Lansdowne that I 

 was familiar with the country around Batoche. On the invitation 

 of His Excellency, I went down to Rideau Hall and met a large 

 number of gentlemen who were discussing the matter. I was 

 asked if I would not go out to the west and act as advisor for 

 General Middleton, who was going to be the general commanding 

 the forces who were sent out to suppress the rebellion. On the 

 advice of Captain Causton, I refused to go as Middleton was 

 known to be an obstinate man, in fact, an old fool. A few days 

 after this, I was at dinner at Rideau Hall. After dinner, when 

 the ladies retired to the drawing room, the subject of the rebellion 

 was brought up at once and I agreed to lay down on a map the 

 section of country where the fighting was to take place and give 

 my opinions in writing to the Governor. I did so and pointed 

 out on a map, for Lord Melgund, who was to be General Middle- 

 ton's Chief of Staff, what ought to be done when they reached the 

 Saskatchewan, namely that he, or someone else, should lead a part 

 of the troops over Clarke's Crossing on the Saskatchewan where 



