This etext was produced by Gardner Buchanan.
THE RISING OF THE RED MAN
A Romance of the Louis Riel Rebellion
by JOHN MACKIE
Author of "The Heart of the Prairie," "Tales of the Trenches,"
"The Cannibal Island," "Daring Deeds in Far Off Lands,"
"The Prodigal's Brother," "The Man Who Forgot," etc.
PROLOGUE
I. IN THE GREAT LONE LAND
II. TIDINGS OF ILL
III. THE STORM BREAKS
IV. HARD PRESSED
V. TO BATTLEFORD
VI. THE GRIM BLOCKADE
VII. DETECTED
VIII. IN THE JUDGMENT HALL
IX. THE DWARF AND THE BEAR
X. THE UNEXPECTED
XI. THE RETREAT
XII. A MYSTERIOUS STAMPEDE
XIII. ROOFED
XIV. A THREE-CORNERED GAME
XV. CHECKMATED
XVI. THE FATE OF SERGEANT PASMORE
XVII. A CLOSE CALL
XVIII. ACROSS THE ICE
XIX. CAPTURED BY POUNDMAKER
XX. THE BATTLE OF CUT-KNIFE
XXI. BACK TO CAPTIVITY
XXII. ANTOINE IN TROUBLE
XXIII. THE DEPARTURE OF PEPIN
xxiv. THE INDIANS' AWAKENING
XXV. A PROPOSAL FROM PEPIN
XXVI. A BOLD BID FOR LIBERTY
XXVII. AN ONLY WAY
XXVIII. THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW
The 16th of March, 1885, was a charming day, and LouisDavid Riel, fanatic and rebellion-maker, was addressinga great general meeting of the half-breeds and Indiansnear Batoche on the Saskatchewan river in British NorthAmerica. There were representatives from nearly everytribe; Poundmaker and his Stonies, who were always spoilingfor trouble, being particularly well represented. Roundthe arch malcontent were a score of other harpies almostas wicked if less dangerous than himself. Among them wereGabriel Dumont, Jackson, Maxime, Garnot and Lepine. Riel'semissaries had been at work for months, and as the timewas now ripe for a rising he had called them together todecide upon some definite course of action.
The weather was comparatively mild, and the Indians sataround on the snow that before many days was to disappearbefore the sudden spring thaw. Their red, white, and greyblankets against the dull-hued tepees [Footnote: Wigwams.]and the white wintry landscape, gave colour and reliefto the scene. Two o'clock in the afternoon and the sunshone brightly down as he always does in these latitudes.Riel knew exactly how long it would continue to shine,for had not the almanac told him and all the world—withthe exception of the ignorant half-breeds and Indianswhom he was addressing—that there was to be an eclipsethat day. The arch rebel knew how strongly dramatic effectappealed to his audience, so he was prepared to indulgethem to the full in this respect, and turn the matter toaccount. Being an educated man there was a good deal ofmethod in his madness.
The red-bearded, self-constituted prophet of the metis[Footnote: Half-breeds.] stood on a Red River cart andspun out his pleasant prognostications concerning thathappy coming era in which unlimited food, tobacco andfire-water would make merry the hearts of all from theMissouri in the south, to the Kissaskatchewan in thenorth, if only they would do as he told them. As for PereAndre and his fulminations against him, what did theywant with the Church of Rome!—he, Louis David Riel, wasgoing to start a church of his own! Yes, St. Peter hadappeared to him in a vision, and told him that the Popeshad been on the wrong tack long enough, and thathe—Riel—was to be