Semple took his reply from the French Canadian's mouth. 'What do you want?' he questioned in plainer English.
'We want our fort,' said Boucher.
'Go to your fort,' answered Semple.
'Why did you destroy our fort, you d—d rascal?' exclaimed the French Canadian.
The two were now at close quarters, and Governor Semple had seized the bridle of Boucher's horse.
'Scoundrel, do you tell me so?' he said.
Pritchard says that the governor grasped Boucher's gun, no doubt expecting an attack upon his person. The French Canadian leapt from his horse, and at this instant a shot rang out from the column of the Nor'westers. Lieutenant Holt, a clerk in the colony's service, fell struggling upon the ground. Boucher ran in the direction of his own party, and soon there was the sound of another musket. This time Governor Semple was struck in the thigh. He called at once to his men:
'Do what you can to take care of yourselves.'
The band ignored this behest, and gathered round him to ascertain the extent of his injury. The Nor'westers now began to bring the two ends of their column together, and soon Semple's party was surrounded. The fact that their foe was now helpless did not keep the Nor'westers from pouring in a destructive fire. Most of Semple's men fell at the first volley. The few left standing pulled off their hats and begged for mercy. A certain Captain Rogers hastened towards the line of the Nor'westers and threw up his hands. He was followed by John Pritchard. One of the Bois Brûlés shot Rogers in the head and another rushed on him and stabbed him with a knife. Luckily Pritchard was confronted by a French Canadian, named Augustin Lavigne, whom he had formerly known and who now protected him from butchery.
The wounded governor lay stretched upon the ground. Supporting his head with his hand, he addressed Cuthbert Grant: