Corporal Cameron of the North West Mounted Police: A Tale of the Macleod Trail

slight, and soldier-like man, keen-eyed and brisk of sp

gang, Sir. Dick Ra

the c

ding, theft,

ioner's fac

ere did you

along the Kootenay trail. A blizzard came on and we feared we had lost them. We fell in with a

he Commissioner's

n eye witness. We followed the trail and came upon two of them

Then with disconcerting swiftn

r na

ron,

re f

ille. I went out shooting, lost my way in a blizzar

missioner sharply. "

His keen eyes rapidly scanned the contents and then ran over the prisoner

e the p

with an expression of utter bewi

were in bad company, you see. I am greatly pleased that my men have been of service to you. We shall continue to do all we can for you. In the meantime I am very pl

ver his wits, so dumbfounded was he

egan, "I hardly k

aid the Commissioner. "We are somewhat hurried these

ttention, now and then arresting him with a question or a comment. When Cam

day," said the Commissioner, "

And I would like to take a hand in

rp look at him. "Well, we'll see. Little Thunder,

large canvas-cove

ian-formerly Chief-supplanted by Red Crow-got into trouble with whiskey traders. Yes, I remember. He

his story the Commissioner

Inspector

appeared, a tall, slight man, with

three to round up a gang of whiskey traders and to run down

f-breed trouble in the north is keeping our Indians

y the way, how are t

t are restless and uneasy. There are a

d Crowfoot

right so far, but of course no man

ough," replied t

e last night with that Macleod man. The old Chief is in town, too

utes. Now, about this Raven gang. You cannot go yourself

erated the cases i

n extremely dangerous man. He is sure to be mixed up with this half-breed trouble. He has very considerable influence with a large sect

owed by Sergeant Crisp, whose face had

ning I shall be glad to have you. The administration of justice by the police ma

ght observe the police methods of administering justice, but especially that he might see somethi

ll the father of the prisoner, old Crowfoot, tall, straight, stately. One swift searching glance the old Chief flung round the room, and then, acknowledging the Commissioner's sal

tercation with a citizen of Macleod, and on being hard pressed had pulled the pistol which was laid upon the desk. There was no defense. The interpreter, however, expla

vely to point out the serious nature of the offense, to emphasize the sacredness of human life and declare the determination of the government to protect all Her Ma

e Commissioner, "you mig

to the interpreter. There was a flick

e no good. He can't

ned the pistol over in his hand, and truly enough the rusty

had been loaded. We cannot allow this sort of thing. However, since it was not lo

ed the explanation without the movement of a muscle or the flicker of

gesture of indescribable dignity, took his son in his arms and kissed him on either cheek. Then, stepping

d with shame. I shall be like a dog kicked from the lodge. My son, I told you to go only to the store. I warned you against bad men and bad places. Your ears were closed, you were wiser than your father. Now we both must suffer, you here shut up from the light of the sky, I in my darkened lodge. But," he contin

missioner, smiting the desk w

t dignity. Then, turning again to his son, he s

they bring you wisdom." Again he kissed his son on both cheeks a

he Commissioner, "find out the man that

ry. He began to understand, too, the secret of the extraordinary hold that the Police had upon the Indian tribes and how it came that so small a force could maintain the "Pax Britannica" over three h

red to say to the Commissioner when the court ro

something to keep the country from going to the

work!" excl

e could tell a story that would make the old Empire not too ashamed of the men who 'ride the line' and patrol the ranges in this far outpost." He opened the

-figh

d child-a prairie fire. The house was lost, but the constable

inger ran d

transporte

a journey of over two hundred miles by do

ed." "Whiskey smugglers captured." "Stolen ho

ioner. "Meant a journey of some eight hundred mi

en on that journey?

ecaptured and finally landed. Got better too. But t

laimed Cameron. "What a pi

ioner lightly, "it's a

facing of Nature's grimmest terrors, the steady patience, the uncalculated sacrifice, the thought of al

s eye to fall upon those simple but eloquent entr

ght naow. I ain't come two hundred mile

voice was he

ait. I want to see yer Ch

y's voice could

him J. B. Cadwaller of Lone Pine, Montana, an

y came in

u, Sir," he said

busi

ealing ca

w hi

rned, followed by, not one,

ame's J. B. Cadwaller,

in the court!" said

with an expression of interested curiosity

ductions," said Mr. Cadwaller. "I was jes goin' to interdooce to you, Jedge, these gentl

the introduction, standing to recei

ee yer Chief of Police.

be the Commissioner.

from us fer some time back. We don't mind a cayuse now and then, but when it comes to a hull bunch of vallable hosses there's where we kic

horses hav

forty fer all I know, they've b

t you repo

ouldn't 'a troubled yuh-and I guess they wouldn't 'a troub

profanity in this court room," said

I don't mean no profanity. I'm

ew if you cannot make your statements without profanity. This is Her Ma

, I'l

interrupting his friend and client. "Perhaps I may mak

nterjected Mr.

Cadwaller indignantly. "Tha

eserve. More than that, Mr. Raimes has seen the horses in the possession

aller. "And we want them-eh-eh-co

horses on the Blood reserve, Mr. R

ted, with a fine sense of propriety and with great skill and accu

een

you lose y

lly the while, then, having delivered himself with the same delicacy

no, eighte

the trail immedi

Jim E

Ebe

sation in the light of an interference with the more im

orses yourself on

up and s

you saw them the

o d

te sure abou

ur

ickson!" ordered

kson appeared

om these gentlemen from Montana and that these horses are now on the Blood reserve

Cadwaller breathlessly. "A coupl

at

e regulations of the court room considerabl

ave only some eighty men all told at this post. Our whole

ou mean for this Sta

Western Canada. Al

ou cover?" enquired the

housand square miles, besides taking an o

w many

, I imagine, in Montana and Dakota

ff my hat. Ten thousand Indians! By the holy poker! And fi

p them down. We try

d Mr. Raimes, dexterously

ey'll massacree yuh sure!" said Mr. Ca

e a very good lo

all under graound. Five hundred men! Jeerupiter! Say, Sl

Montana and Dakota I happen to know

ritory, about the same number of Indians and about one-eighth the number of police. Sa

than kill 'em, I guess,"

Cadwaller, "you ain't goin' to send

we cannot sp

ll wait outside the reserve till this picnic's over

pector Dickson? Will

ir," replied

can you

arter of

aller to himself, as he followe

ill you let me in on th

" enquired the Commissioner, letting his eye

Ivor, Sir-"

and we want men like you. We have no vacancy among the officers, but you

" exclaimed Cameron. "I

y, "we will take you. You are physically s

, perfectly fit,"

pector Dickso

ll have his application taken and filled in later, and we will

p!" commanded the

ood up, took the Bible in his hand and repea

red of me as a member of the North West Mounted Police Force, and will well and truly obey and perform all lawful orders a

r will see about your outfit and later you will receive instructions as to yo

eeded at the Macleod post and the Commissioner had an eye that took

taken," he said to the Inspector as Cameron we

d the Inspector. "We'll

er men have something else in them besid

p and Cameron, with the three American citiz

n given a horse

was not a little comforted to notice that Sergeant Crisp, too, was showing signs of distress, while District Attorney Sligh was evidently in the last stages of exhaustion. Even the steel and whalebone combination that constituted the frame of the Inspector a

waller as the Inspector set off again. "

se not," said the Inspector cu

ller, "a hole would be a blam

any trouble?" enquired Mr. H

Crisp, as if to him it were a

said Raimes. "But we've got t

ld be seen a number of horses and cattle grazing. They had not ridden far along the va

s our hosses right there

" enquired the Inspecto

t one!" sa

nspector. "I see there are some Indians herding them apparently

dly. "Bring him down, Inspector! Bring him down! Quick! Here, let m

ster. I am in command of this party and I must have absolute and prompt obedience. Mr. Cadwaller, it will be at your peril that y

Mr. Cadwaller in an undertone, dropping back b

to get the stolen horses bunched together and separated from the rest of the animals grazing in the valley, and by the time this was accomplished Indian riders had appeared

aid Mr. Cadwaller, nervousl

tor in a loud voice. "Towar

y fell in behind the party who, going before, finally s

find the Chief. Here," he continued, addressing a young Indian brave who had rid

bearing, apparently impressed the young brave, for he wheeled his pony and set

the corral, Sergeant Crisp and Cameron being between them and the excited Indians. Cameron had seen Indians before about the trading posts. A shy, suspicious, and subdued lot of creatures they had seemed to him. But these were men of

n bare limbs and observed their graceful motions. But to the Americans they were a hateful and fearsome sig

rgeant's face nor a muscle of his body moved except that the near spur slightly touched his horse's flank and the fingers tightened almost imperceptibly upon the bridle rein. Like a flash of light the Sergeant's horse wheeled and with a fierce squeal let fly two wicked heels hard upon the pony's ribs. In sheer terror and surprise the little beast bolted, throwing h

r appeared, followed b

he Inspector as they reached the corr

sed his braves

the Inspector, "and get tho

ose wild yells of protest and from every side a rush was made toward the corral. But Sergeant Crisp kept his horse o

spur and hold him up tight,

ver, only increased. Guns began to go off, bullets could be heard whistling overhead. Red Crow's voice apparently could make no impression upon the maddened crowd of Indians. A minor C

k blank redskin!" he roared

the Inspector was at his side and

tated. "Sergeant Crisp, arrest that man!" The Inspector's v

t gun!" said

er handed o

pector to Sergeant Crisp.

p. White Horse, in the centre, was talking fa

id the Inspector quietly. "I will

the Inspector and Mr. Cadwaller with White Horse and

ll Back's horses last fall!" shout

camp and away from the corral and drawing the crowd with him. "Tel

tirrups, he held up his hand and called out a number of names. Instantly ten men rode to his side.

"I see my brother is stron

out a name. There

not here,

Fort two days to meet White Horse, Bull Back, and any Indians who know about this man; and what is right will be don

er before him, rode off after the others of the party

d cry White Horse galloped up and again seized Mr. Cadwaller

r hands quic

le rein. The Inspector hand

gun and covered the Indian. In a twinkling White Horse found himself with handcuf

aller, and here take your own-b

ans with levelled rifles. For the first time the Inspector hesitated. Through the lin

hite Horse, chief. My y

p his mind. "I let him go now. In two days I

disregarding the angry looks and levelled rifles, rode slowly off

Sir. It looked rather ugly fo

aller, not too fast." The Inspector slowed his horse down to a walk, which he g

ill they came to the Kootenay River, having cro

tion of riding on to the Fort for reinforcemen

nch to-morrow morning. Mr. Cadwaller, you remember you are to remain at the

ait for them blank blank devils? Sa

ise the Indians,"

too! But say, you were je

or. "The Police never break a

of time to oblige a friend, but that he should delay his journey to answer the charges o

ee to this," said the Inspe

to laugh and continued la

last he exclaimed. "It's a joke

ck plug. "Good joke, too, but not on John. I guess that's how five

ould feel the collar of his tunic catch him on the back of the neck and was conscious of a