Chronology

Early July 1874: Rob and Luke look for their stolen horses.

July 8: Three hundred policemen, plus Metis scouts and drivers, leave Fort Dufferin for the western prairies as the North-West Mounted Police.

July 14: The troops cross the Pembina River and head over the Missouri plateau; water, firewood, and food are scarce, and the horses are tiring.

July 19: Rob and Luke find North-West Mounted Police camp and join them on their march.

July 24-28: The troops arrive at Roche Percée for rest, good water, and food supplies. The force is split, with Inspector Jarvis and the Steele brothers leading a smaller contingent to Fort Ellice and onwards to Fort Edmonton, the two boys accompany the main force.

August 13-17: The troops arrive at Old Wives Lake, where there is poor water but some game, then they move to Old Wife’s Creek where there is better water. The troops establish contact with the Sioux, set up Cripple Camp for sick and injured men.

August 24: The North-West Mounted Police cross the prairies into the Cypress Hills, where they sight and kill buffalo for food, meet hostile Natives on a trek to find the Belly River and Fort Whoop-Up, without success.

September 22: The troops move south to the Sweet Grass Hills, with winter weather setting in. Colonel French and Colonel Macleod travel to Fort Benton, Montana, for supplies.

September 24-26: In Fort Benton, they make contact with Ottawa and Colonel French is ordered back to Fort Ellice and Ottawa. They secure supplies and arrange further business with I.G. Baker & Co., and engage Jerry Potts as a scout who knew the terrain and Fort Whoop-Up’s location.

October 9: Colonel Macleod travels with troops to Fort Whoop-Up and is invited in to dine by the caretaker, but no whiskey is found.

October 13: The troops vacate Fort Whoop-Up to set up a permanent North-West Mounted Police post to the north west on the Old Man River.

November: The two boys and Inspector Denny recover the stolen horses, and leave Fort Macleod with Jerry Potts for the return home.