Before this date, however, the criminal had secured some official eulogy in the West.  And it happened in this wise.  Some time after the appointment of Mr. Archibald to the Lieutenant-Governorship of Manitoba, several bands of Fenians threatened to invade the territory, and set up above the plains a green flag with a harp and a shamrock upon it.  Mr. Archibald had at hand no force to resist the threatened attack, and he became almost delirious with alarm.  So he sent a messenger to M. Riel, the untried felon, whose crime was at the time the subject of voluminous correspondence between Canada and the Colonial Office, accepting a proposal made by the ex-Rebel to call out the half-breeds in defence of the new Province.  The Fenians did not carry out their threat, but it was much the same for the murderer of poor Scott as if they had.  When the danger was blown over the Lieutenant-Governor walked in front of the ex-Rebel lines, expressed his gratitude to the men, and warmly shook hands with Riel and Lepine.

The presence of Riel was yet a standing menace to peace among the half-breeds beyond the limits of the new province.  The Canadian Government began to devise means of getting him out of the country.  They tried persuasion, but this was not an effective mode.  It was at this juncture that a sum was put into the hands of Archbishop Tache to pay the felon in consideration of his withdrawal.  All this time Ontario was crying out for the capture of the man; and it was while the amount was being placed to the murderer’s credit with the Archbishop, that Sir John raised his eyes toward heaven and said: 

“I wish to God I could catch him!”

So Riel took himself out of Canada, and traversed American territory till he found a district it Montana, thickly inhabited by half-breeds.  Here he established himself in a sort of a fashion, sometimes tilling the soil, frequently hunting, but all the while talking about Red River.  He soon began to forget Marie, and to cast languishing eyes upon some of the half-breed girls living upon the airy uplands. [Footnote:  It is stated upon certain authority, how good I don’t know, that the brave M. Riel rejoices in the possession of three wives.  One is said to be a French Metis, the other a Scotch half-breed, and the third a beautiful Cree squaw with large dusky eyes.] He was regarded as a great hero by these maidens, for long before his coming the daring, brilliancy, and great achievements of Monsieur Riel had been told with enthusiasm at the fireside of every half-breed in Montana.  We shall leave M. Riel in Montana, sometimes working, sometimes hunting, always wooing, and take a very brief glance at the causes which led up to the present outbreak.