Chapter I: Front Matter

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

Small caps in the text is denoted by UPPERCASE.

Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book.

THE WAR TRAIL OF BIG BEAR

CHIEF OF THE PLAINS CREES.

_Frontispiece._
]

THE WAR TRAIL
OF BIG BEAR

_Being the Story of the connection of
Big Bear and other Cree Indian
Chiefs and their followers with the
Canadian North-West Rebellion of
1885, the Frog Lake Massacre and
events leading up to and following it,
and of Two Months’ Imprisonment
in the Camp of the Hostiles_

BY

WILLIAM BLEASDELL CAMERON

SMALL MAYNARD & COMPANY
BOSTON, MASS.
1927

_Printed in Great Britain_

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE FROG LAKE SETTLEMENT 9

II. THE ANNUITY PAYMENTS AT FORT PITT 15

III. WHEN POUNDMAKER DEFIED THE N.W.M.P. 24

IV. THE WINTER OF 1884-5 43

V. BEFORE THE OUTBREAK 47

VI. BIG-LIE DAY 52

VII. IN THE POWER OF THE HOSTILES 57

VIII. THE MASSACRE 66

IX. OUT OF THE GLOOM 77

X. IN THE CRUCIBLE 87

XI. BIG BEAR SCORES HIS FOLLOWERS 100

XII. A COUNCIL OF WAR 105

XIII. THE FALL OF FORT PITT 111

XIV. THREE SCOUTS 120

XV. PERILOUS MOMENTS 127

XVI. DAYS IN CAMP 132

XVII. AN INDIAN CANNIBAL 144

XVIII. IN THE RED MAN’S BOOK 147

XIX. MORE DAYS IN CAMP 153

XX. THE TURNING OF THE TIDE 162

XXI. THE THIRST DANCE 169

XXII. MEEMINOOK 178

XXIII. THE BATTLE OF FRENCHMAN’S BUTTE 182

XXIV. SAFE! 194

XXV. WITH THE ALBERTA FIELD FORCE 200

XXVI. FORT PITT ONCE MORE 211

XXVII. THE INDIAN TRIALS 220

XXVIII. THE EXECUTIONS 231

XXIX. CONCLUSION 242

THE FROG LAKE MEMORIAL 254

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

BIG BEAR _Frontispiece_

BIG BEAR TRADING AT FORT PITT _facing page_ 22

QUINN’S LAST WRITING ” 68

FOUR SKY THUNDER AND OKEMOW PEEAYSIS ” 80

IMASEES ” 88

GROUP AT FORT PITT ” 110

THE THIRST DANCE ” 169

KAHNEEPOTAYTAYO ” 252

FINE DAY ” 252