From Batoche the rebels moved to Duck Lake and occupied Stobart, Eden and Company’s store. Scouting details were constantly on the roads east and west toward Carlton and Humbolt. They killed cattle regardless of ownership wherever they came upon any, being short of food. Harry Ross and John W. Astley while scouting from Carlton one night were captured near Duck Lake and made prisoners. Gabriel Dumont, Baptiste Dishon and a third man made this arrest. Indian Agent, J.B. Lash and Peter Tompkins were also made prisoners. Fleury and Laviolette could not recall when or where.

The next thing the rebels heard was that the police were coming. The scouts reported them advancing from Carlton with Thomas McKay in the lead. Fleury immediately seized a horse, mounted without a saddle and rode away to meet the troops. Gabriel Dumont, Riel and others tried to stop him, calling, to him, “Hold on: Wait!” but Fleury paid them no attention. He went on alone and met the troops.

Reaching the Indian reserve he encountered two Mounted Police Scouts. They asked him where he was bound. “I am going to see Tom McKay,” he replied after learning from them that McKay was with the party. The scouts wheeled and galloped back ahead of Patrice. A mile farther on he met McKay on horseback at the head of a number of sleighs containing several men each. Said McKay:

“Well, Patrice, I never expected to see you in an affair like this.”

Patrice: “Well, you see me.” They shook hands. “I am not looking for trouble. Where are you going?”

McKay: “I am going to Henry Kelly’s for oats.”

Patrice: “You won’t be able to go. You won’t reach there. It will be better for you if you turn here. If you don’t, although there are a good many of you, you are likely all to be arrested.” McKay: “Who’s going to stop us -- who can stop us?”

Patrice looked round. Behind him at the point where he had met the two scouts the half-breeds from Duck Lake were coming at a furious gallop. “Tom,” said Patrice, “look! There are the men who will stop you. There were about thirty rebels in the approaching company. Gabriel Dumont, James Short, Edouard Dumont and another were in the lead; behind, the whole half breed cavalry. Said McKay: “Patrice, go and meet them; don’t let the get too close. We’ll talk a little.” Patrice went toward them. “Stop, Gabriel, stop a moment.” The leaders halted at a distance of about ten yards. The others crowded up behind them. Said McKay:

“Gabriel, can’t we speak to one another before starting any trouble?”

James Short: “Tom, what are you going to talk about? You’re forever trying to damage your own people the half-breeds.” Gabriel rode up to McKay. “What’s the use of talking? I know what you are after. When I meet Tom McKay, I don’t meet him with any friendly feeling.”

Gabriel threw up his gun. As he raised it, Patrice thinks the trigger caught on his belt and the gun was discharged in the air. Patrice had lifted his hand and struck up Gabriel’s gun and he shouted to the half-breeds: “Don’t shoot first.”

McKay: “That’s right, don’t shoot first.”

The parties to the parley stood between the two opposing companies, loyalists and rebels. The soldiers in the sleighs now turned and whipped their horses and McKay went with them. The half-breeds stood watching them.

Fleury jumped off his horse and running to the rear police sleigh jumped on and rode for some distance.

“My reason for this was that I dreaded some hot-headed fool would begin shooting and start trouble, but I knew they would not shoot while I was on the sleigh,” Patrice explained. “There were six or eight sleighs and about fifty men in all.

After riding some way Patrice dropped off and started back afoot. James Short met him with his horse. The half-breeds returned together to Duck Lake for dinner. While they were eating scouts arrived hurriedly. “Now, here come the police!” they announced.

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