Riel learned of this, and taking a body guard with him, went to the Dauphinais house, intending to seize the credentials.

Hardisty arrived with his precious documents.

Meanwhile, the Loyalists had made Riel's men prisoners, and when Riel attempted to interfere, Pierre Laveiller, a loyal French half-breed, put his loaded pistol to the Dictator's head, and threatened his life.

Sixty or seventy of the Loyalists escorted Hardisty and his papers to Mr.Smith in Fort Garry.
[Illustration: Train of Huskie Dogs, Fort Garry, north gate (Governor's entrance still standing), Toboggan with Hudson Bay trader IN FORT GARRY PARK, WINNIPEG Permission Steele & Co., Winnipeg] Now in possession of his documents, the Commissioner called a general meeting of the people for January 19th, and one thousand men appeared on that day in the Court Yard of the Fort.

As there was no building in which they could assemble, the meeting was held in the open air, with the temperature 20 deg.