Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 8, 1917, Page 2

CHAPTER XXiil—Continued. eres 1 clung to his hands, staring back still at the grim outline of the silent fort. I understood bis thoughts, his desire to ald bis comrades; but, for a Moment, my mind was a blank. I could not let him go alone to almost certain death. No, nor would he aban- don me on such 2 mission! Was there no Other way by which we could serve? Suddenly a thought crept into my { mind. ; “Monsieur,” I asked breathlessly, “where do you suppose those Illini In dians to be?” “Back from the river, in a glen of caves and rocks.” low far from here?” “Four or five miles; there fs a trafl from the mouth of the creek.” “And you know the way? and there might be many warriors there? they will remember you, and obey your or- ders?” He straightened up, aroused as the full meaning of my questioning oc- curred to him. “Ay, there Is a chance there, if we find them in time, and in force enough to make foray. Sacre! I know not why such thought has not come to me before. Could we but fa'l on those devils from the rear In surprise, evefi Frontier 6Y RANDALL PARRISH A Romance of Early Days in the Middle West he came, step by step, fighting like a fiend, until he stood over me. With one wide sweep of his clutched weapon he struck me free, a blow which shat- tered the gun-stock, and left him armed only with the fron bar. But the battle fury was on him; dimly I could see} him towering above me, bareheaded, his clothes torn to rags, the grim barrel poised for a blow. “St. Aun!” he cried exultantly. “’Tis a good fight so far—would you have more of it?” “Hold!” broke in a French voice from out the darkness. “What means this? Are you of white blood?” “I have always supposed so.” “A renegade consorting with devils of the Iroquois?” “Mon Dieu! No! St. Louls.” An officer of Fort I could see the white man thrust aside the Indian circle, and strike through. His face was invisible, al though I was upon my knees now, but he was a short, heavily built fellow “Stand back! ay, make room. Saint Guise, we are fighting our own friends. If you are of the garrison, name your- self. D'Artigny, still cla rel, reached out his Ufted me to my feet. ’Perchance,” he said were a stickler for etiquett ng his rifle bar. er band, and cop dea I might coolly, 1 with a third of thelr number, they 7 would run like cats, Men Dieu! 1| 88k you first for some explanation of thank you for the thought.” this attack. ‘However, we have made We plunged into the forest, no longer | *°™¢ heads ring, so I watve that privi endeavoring to advance ullently, but| ese. I am the Sieur d'Artigny, a leu- inspired with a desire to achieve our | tenant of La Salle’s.” | goal as soon as possible, At the mouth “Mon Dieu!" the other stepped for- of a stream entering the river, D'Ar-| Ward, his hand outstr ad. "Tis , tigny picked me up In his arms and |? unknown name to although we | waded across. On the opposite bank | b4ve never before met by some chance ‘ he sought eagerly on hands and knees | —1 8m Francois de la Forest.” 4 for the old trace he dimly remembered.| “14 Forest! You were in France ¥ At last he stood erect. three months ago.” “Ay, lass, It’s here to be easily fol- “A I was there when Sieur de la 4 lowed. What hour do you make it| Salle landed. He told me the whole ; now?” tale. I was with him when he had + “About three.” audience with Louls. I am here now i “So I would have said; and ’tis not | Dering the orders of the king, coun daylight until after five. We can scarce tersicned by La Barre at Quebec, re- | make it, yet we will try.” storing De Tonty to commagd at Fort It was not as dark here away from St. Louis, and bidding De Maugis and | the gloom of the Rock; the forest was Ba ed Cassion ios to New openpand yet T wil nyver know how pt : . \ D’Artigny nitcoted ig following that D'Artigny ctushell any man's hand dim trail,ateso rapid/a gait. As for tn both his own, dropping the rifle bar 1 me, I could see nothing of any path, rel to the ground. His voice trembled and merely followed him blindly, not even certain of the nature of the w ground under my feet. Again and : i again I tripped over sc obstacle—a 1 root, a tuft of grass—and continually unnoted branches flapped against my face. Once I fell prone, yet so nolse lessly that Rene passed beyond view before he realized my misfortune, and returned to help me regain my feet Not until! then, I think, did he com prebend the rapidity of his movements. | “Your pardon, dear girl.” and his Iips brushed my h as he held me in his arms. “I forgot all but our comrades | yonder, The night is dark to your | 4 eyes.” | “1 can see nothing,” I confessed re- gretfully, “yet you have no difficulty.” “Tis a woodsman’s training. I have followed many a dim trail in dark for- ests, and this is so plain I could keep to it on a run if necessary. Ah! the fort is awake and vigilant—that was rifle fire.” I had not only heard the sharp re- ports but seen the flash of fire cleaving the darkness. “The discharges came from the woods yonder—they were Indian guns, monsieur. See! those two last were from the stockade; I could perceive the logs in the flare.” “Ay, and that Is all; the Inds will waste no ammunition In the gloom, ex- cept to tell the savages they are awake and ready.” “How far have we traveled, mon- sieur?” “A mile, perhaps. At the crooked oak yonder. we leave the stream. You met with no harm when you fell?” “No more than a bruise. I can go on now.” We turned to the right, and plunged into the thicket, the way now so black that I grasped his jacket In fear of becoming lost. We were clambering up a slight bill, careless of everything but our footing, when there was a sudden rustling of the low branches on either side our path. D’Artigny stopped, thrusting me back, while at that very instant indistinct forms seemed to leap forth from the covert. It occurred so quickly, so silently, that before I even realized danger, he was struggling madly with the assailants. I heard the crash of blows, an oath of surprise, a escape, but was flung helplessly to the a hand grasping my hair. I lof the as he made answer. “He won the king’s favor? he con vinced Louis?” Yo doubt of that—never saw I a greater miracle.” “And sur de la Salle—has he re- turne ay; be remains in France, to fit out an expedition to sall for the mouth great river. He hath spectal commission from the king. To me was en the honor of bearing his mes. Ah! but La Barre raved like a mad bull when I handed him the king’s order I thought he would burst a blood vessel, and give us a new gover nor. But no such luck. Pah! I stood | there, ing to keep a straight face, had no cholce but obey. "Twas a hard dose to swallow, but there was Louis’ orders in his own hand, all d sealed; and a command that I be dispatched hither with the message.” “How made you the journey in so short a time?” “Overland from Detroit, the same trail you traveled with La Salle; 'tis much the shorter,” “Alone?” “With two couriers du bois; they are with me now. But what is this, D'Ar tigny, you have with you—a woman?* CHAPTER XXIV. Warriors of the Iilinl. “Yes, M. de la Forest,” I said, step- ping forward to save Rene from a question which would embarrass him. “I am the daughter of Captain la Ches- nayne, whom the Sieur d’Artigny hath taken under his protection.” “La Chesnayne’s daughter! Ah, I heard the story told in Quebec—twas La Barre's aid who gave me the facts with many a chuckle, as though he held it an excellent joke. But why are you here, madame? Is not M. Cassion in the fort yonder?” “'Ts a long tale, La Forest,” broke in D’Artigny, laying his hand on the other's shoulder, “and will bide a bet- ter time for telling. I am a soldier, and you may trust my word. We are La Salle's men; let it go at that, for there is graver duty fronting us now than the retelling of camp gossip. Madame is my friend, and my hand will defend her reputation. Is ‘that enough, comrade?” “Ay, enough. My best regards, ma- dame,” and he bowed low before me, THE CASPER DAILY TRIBUNE stands there is no evidence. M. Cas- sion holds command by virtue of La Barre’s commission, and knows no more of Indian war than a Quebec storekeeper. The garrison numbers fifty men, all told; two-thirds soldiers, and a poor lot.” “With ammunition and food “Ample to eat, but Bolsrondet tells me with scarce a dozen rounds per man. The Iroquois are at the gates, and will attack at daylight.” “You know this?” “The signs are plain. We passed one party clambering up the cliff—no less than fifty warriors, naked and painted for war. Tuscaroras, madame said from the words she overbeard as they slipped past where we hid. "Tis not Ikeiy they made reconnolssan alone. The fiends have been a week in this valley, and have swept all clear of our Indian allies; now they can bring thelr full force against the fort.” “No doubt you are right.” “Twas my judgment, at leasty and we sought help when we into you. What Indians b: you? “IlMni, mostly, with a handful of Miamis and Kickapoos. We met them at the crossing, hidiug in the hills. They were sadly demoralized, and filled with horror at what they had seen, yet a to return here under my leadersth “Who is their chief? “Old Sequ h—you know him?” “Ay, a real warrior, ‘Tis better than I dared hope, for I have been in battle with him before. Do you number a hundred?” “And fifty ently armed.” “And fifty more, though indifferently armed. Never have I seen the Ilint in action, D'Artigny; they seem to me a poor lot, so frightened of the wolves as to be valueless.” “So they are if left to themselves, but under white leadership they stif- fen, They will fight if given the In- dian style. They will never stand in defense, but if we lead them to a sur- they'll give good account of themselves. That is my plan, La For- est—that we creep up through the woods behind the Iroquols lines. They will expect no attack from the rear, and will have no guard, If we move quickly while it remains dark, we ought to get within a few yards of the red demons without discovery. They will fight desperately, no doubt, for their only hope of escape would be to either plunge down the rocky banks on either side, or cut a way through. You have been at the fort?” “Twice before.” “Then you know the nature of the ground. °Tis all woodland until within a few hundred yards of the gates. You recall the great rock beside the trail?” “Ay and the view from the top.” “My plan would be to creep up that far, with flanking parties on the slopes below. In front, as you may remem- ber, there is an open space, then a fringe of forest hiding-the clearing be- fore the stockade, The Iroquois will be gathered behind that fringe of trees aiting daylight, Is my thought right?” "Tis the most likely spot.” “Then listen; I have thought this all out. You and I, with Sequitah, will take a hundred of your Indians, cross the small river, and advance up the trail, That lea fifty warriors to creep through woods on either our two couriers du boils. We will wait at the great rock, and give the signal.” La Forest stood silent a moment, thinking; then rested his hand on D'Ar- tigny’s shoulder, “It looks feasible enough, but the flanking parties may not reach their positions in time.” ad “The one from the west will have as far to travel as we do. ” more, though indiffer- prise, the slope, twenty-five to a side, led b: not rhe other does not make so much differ ence, for if the Iroquois break they will come in this direction—the other side of the trail Js sheer roc “And what about the tady?” “] shall go with you, messieurs,” I said quietly. “There will be no more danger there than here; besides, you would not leave me alone without a guard, and you will need every fight- Ing man.” I felt the grip of Rene's hand, but it was La Forest's voice that spoke. “The right ring to that, hey, D’Ar- tigny! gument. But first let us have word with the chief.” He addressed a word into the crowd of indistinguishable figures, and an In- dian came forward. Dim as the light twas, I was impressed with the dignity of his carriage, the firm character of his facial outline, “I am Sequitah, chief of the Mas- coutins,” he said gravely, “for whom the white chief sent.” D’Artigny stepped forward, standing as erect as the other. “Sequitah is great chief,” he said quietly, “a warrior of rtany battles, the friend of La Salle. We have smoked the peace-pipe together, and walked side by side on the war-trail. Seguitah knows who speaks?” “The French warrior they call D'Ar- “Right; ‘tis not the first time you and I have met the Iroquois! The wolves are here again; they have burned the villages of the Ilinois, and killed your women and children. The valley is black with smoke, and red with blood. What says the war chief of the Mascoutins—will his warriors fight? Will they strike with us a blow against the beasts?” The chief swept his hand in wide circle. “We are warriors; we have tasted blood. What are the white man’s words of wisdom?” Briefly, in quick, ringing sentences, D’Artigny outlined his plan. Sequitah Mstened motionless, his face unexpres- sive of emotion. Twice, confused by some French phrase, he asked grave Madame answers my last ar-| questions, and once a courler du bois spoke up in his own tongue, to make the meaning clear. As D’Artigny ceased the chief stood for a moment silent. “We leap upon them from cover?” he asked calmly, “and the white men will sally forth to aid us?” “"Tis so we expect—M. de Tonty is never se to a fight.” “I believe in the Iron Hand; but "tis told me ¢ »rs command now. If they fail, we are but few against many.” “They will not fail, Sequitah; they are Frenchmen.” The Indian folded his hands across his breast, his e. on the two men facing him. There was silence, but pfor the slight rustle of moving bodies in the darkness “Sequitah hears the | friend,” he announced at t., “and his db warriors of fight beside the white v voice of his sound wise. e Tiling will | words the rere was no time lost, although I know but little of what occurred, be- jing left alone there while La Forest }and D’Artigny divided the men, and narra the plans of advaace. The dense night shrouded much of this hasty preparation, for all I could per ceive were flitting figures, or the black shadow of warriors being grouped to gether. I could bear voices, never loud, giving swift orders, or calling to this or that Individual through the gloom varty tramped by me, and disap- pes the stream, but do not venture irom cover. Post your men below the stock- ade and wait to intercept fugitives. We will do the fightiic above. Are the warriors with you armed?” “All but ten have rifles, monsieur, but I know not if they be of value.” “You must make the ‘best use of them you can. Above all things, be quiet, and do nothing to alarm the Iro- quois. You may go.” I leaned forward, watching them as they waded downstream, and then climbed the bank, disappearing in the undergrowth. Sequitah had moved past me, and I heard his voice speak- ing in Indian dialect. Along the forest aisles his warriors glided by where I stood, noiselessly as shadows. In an- other moment D'Artigny and I were the black night all about us, and not a sound reaching our ears to tell of those nished allies. He took my hand, a caress in his touch, a sugges- tion of pride in his voice. “The old chief is warrior still,” he said “and, unless all signs fail, the Iroquois will long remember this day. Come, Adele, ‘twill not do for us to be far behind, and we have walked this trail before together.” Had I not tested it with my own ears, never would I have belleved a hundred men could have made way s0 nolselessly in the dark, through such thick forest, rock strewn and deeply rutted. Yet not a sound of their stealthy passage was wafted back to us on the wind—no echo of voice, no rasping of foot, no rustle of leaves. Ghosts could not have moved more sl- lently. Somehow the very thought that these grim savages were thus creep- alone, ed, twenty or more naked war. riors, headed by a_ black-bearded Frenchman, bearing a long rifle—the detachment, no doubt, dispatched to gnard the slope east of the trail, and hurr! forth to cover the greater dis. tane Yet these could have reely advanced far through that jungle when the others were also in line, wait- Ing the word. 7 The silence in which all this was accomplished, the noiseless bodies the almost breathless attention, scarce- ly enabled me to realize the true mean- ing of it all. These men were going into battle, into a death grapple. They meant to attack five times their own number. This was no boy’s play; it was war, savage, relentless war. The stern horror of it seemed to suddenly grip me as with icy fingers. Here was | what I had read of, dreamed of, being | enacted before my very eyes. I was even a part of it, for I was going with them to the ‘eld of blood. Yet how different everything was from those former pictures of Imagina- tion. There was no noise, no excite- ment, no shrinking—just those silent, motionless mon standing in the posi- tions assigned to them, the dim light gleaming on thelr naked bodies, their ready weapons. I heard the voices of the white men, speaking quietly, giving last instruc- tions as they passed along the lines. Sequitah took his place, not two yards from me, standing like a statue, his face stern and emotionless, Out of the darkness came D’Artigny, pausing an instant before the chief. “All is well, Sequitah?” a ag the white Wishes.” “Then we move at once; La Forest will guide the rear; you and I will march together. Give your warriors the word.” | He turned and took my hand. “You will walk with me, dear one; you are not afraid?” | “Not of the peril of coming battle,” Tanswered. “I—I think I hardly real- ize what that ali means; but the risk ve chief ‘ou run. Rene! If—if you win, you will be a prisoner condemned to death.” He laughed, and bent low, so I felt his lips brush my cheek “You do not ur . dear girl. A moment and I will explain—once we are beyond the stream. Now I must see that all move togethe We advanced through the woods down a slight incline, the Indians moy- ing like so many phantoms Not a branch rattled as they glided silently forward, not a leaf rustled beneath the soft tread of moccasined feet. D'Artigny led me by the hand, aiding me to move quietly over the uneven ground, but made no effort to speak. Beside us, not unlike a shadow, strode lifted, shadowed by long black hair, a rife gripped in his sinewy arms. We to follow. dark, shadowy forms, wading cautious- ly through the shallow water, and ranged themselves just below the bank, many still Resming from out masses of black hair, DArtigny stepped forward on the him, A moment the two nen con- tinguish D’Artigny’s final words. “Very well, then, if it is your wish warriors will follow you along the | trail—you know it well. Have your best scouts In advance, and circle your braves so as to make attack impos- sible. Your scouts will not go beyond the great rock except on my order. M. la it will accompany them. ‘This {s clear?” yThe Indian mattered response in his own tongue; then spoke more rapidly, and the mass of warriors below changed formation, the greater number clmbing the bank, and grouping themselves tn the darker shadow of the woods. ‘““Who has charge of the others?” cae asked D'Artigny. “Bastian Courtray,” est. “He is yonder.” “Then, Courtray, listen: You follow crossed the little river, D'Artigny bear-| ftom your husband. ing me easily in his grasp, and, on the | him the king's order for the arrest of opposite shore, waited for the others | M-. They came, a long line of | commissioned by La Barre to return ing forward to attack and kill, their hearts mad with ha wild beasts of prey stalking their victims, yielded me a strange feellng of horror. I clung to D’Artigny’s arm, shrinking from the shadows, my mind filled with name- 8 fear. dele,” he whispered, “you will fear for me in this venture “Yes, monsieur.” “There is no need. You heard La Forest say be bore orders of the king to give De Tonty command once more of Fort St. Louis.” “Yes, monsieur; ready been tried Even if they have shoot you h the: transport to Quebe “There would be battle first, know my old comrades well. that there is no cause to fear. be given fair trial now, and welcome It. My fear has been for you—the ven- | geance of Cassion, if ever you came within his grasp again. Buc that also is settled.” “Settled? me “This, sweetheart; you should know, although I would that some other might tell you. La Forest whispered it to me while we were alone yonder, for he knew not you were estranged tenderly, but you have al- and condemned. not authority to have power to if I No, as to | I shall What is it you would tell the chief Sequitah, bis stern face up-|“’Tis a Good Fight So Far; Would You Have More of It?” He bears with Cassion. Captain de Baugis is him safely to Quebec for trial.” “On what charge?” “Treason to France; the giving of i standing in the stream. | false testimony against a king’s offi- What light there was flickered over] cer, and the concealing of official rec- naked bodies, and revealed savage eyes | ords.” “Mon Dieu! Was it the case of my father?” “Yes; the truth has been made clear. expesed root of a tree to where he} There is, as I understand from what | could see his dusky followers, and La} La Forest told me, not sufficient evi- | Forest climbed the bank and joined | dence against La Barre to convict, yet ‘tis believed the case will cost him his ferred, turning about to question Se-| office. But M. Cassion was his agent, quitah. As they separated I could dis-| and is guilty beyond a doubt.” “But, charges? monsieur, who made the Who brought the matter to I take command, Sequitah, a hundred | the attention of Louis?” “The Comte de Frontenac; he was your father’s friend, and won him. res- toration of his property. Not until La Forest met him in France was he aware of the wrong done Captain le Chesnayne. Later he had converse with La Salle, a Franciscan once sta tioned at Montreal, and two officers of the regiment of Carignan-Salliers. Armed with information thus gained, he made appeal to Louls. "Tis told me the king was so angry he signed the order of arrest with his own hand, and handed it to La Forest to execute.” governor knows?” : yet La Forest felt It best to keep the secret, fearing he might be de- replied La For-| tained, or possibly ambushed on the The dangerous cold is the neglect- edcold. 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