The Irish standard., 1890-06-07

On the f1vef D30R. @AIC9T@ - 516W@ -
ment's parley, 8 raft was aimed q Sa q,
pushed across the stream, but aoo,n a re-
turned with . stranger who was led to \
the spot where SelWyn and Renwiok
stood. The man was ragged. haggard
and faint from fatigue and WAnts q food.
.'Who are your asked #Selwyn. The
man gave the military salute. .s a .
'.Jabez Locke, Sir, scout and ranger."@
| ''And where is Captain Marden7
"a prisoner to the French, sir. " 5ss.
s.You could not aid him, though you
escaped yonrselfg'
| .'No, sir; and :Lhad his orders to 90
| just what / did if he was taken. You
see we had got all the information We
wanted and were on the way back TO
Oswego, when he was surprised in his
sleep"
Glow did you find this placer?
81 struck your trail this morning
..Sit down and have something to eat,
said Renwick, you look pretty we'll
used up"
II an" said Jabe, and he dropped
down exhausted A plentiful supper,
however. revived him and he began to
ask questions.
| s'Whose command Is this"
Captain Selwyn's Mohawk rangers.
Jabe reflected. Selwyn was Mardens
friend. to whom Ariel carried the letter.
Ariel must have succeeded, therefore,
and this force, the mum bers Of which he
estimated by their trail, was the result
of that mission. His next quest1on was
'sWhere is Ariel?"
Selwyn knew this man by the half
breeds narrative of the expedition up
the river, and he explained the reason
of his absence.
"Imust start for the fort IN the morn
| ing" said Jabe, .'to warn them that the
French are coming on in force by land
and the gun-boats from Fort Frontenac
will attack them from the lake"
eff the redskins left this place to
ioin their friends said Renwick, ''they
must have destroyed their canoes or
hidden them" ...
'.They wouldn't destroy Them" said
Jabe, quickly. ''They must have hidden
them on the other side of the river, and
we must find them, for if they come
back they'll be creeping over here in
the dark to pick up scalps"
The wisdom of this suggestion being
| obvious, it was decided to act on 1t Dy
daylight, and, the necessary arrange
! ments being made to relieve guard
| through the night, the tired rangers
sought repose
With the first pale light OF morn
ing the camp was astir. To Brant
and his Mohawks was assigned the duty
of searching for the canoes, while
the rangers raised a breastwork OF logs
to protect the river bank. The Indians
had little difficulty in finding the
canoes, which were hidden under brush
wood near the river. Jabe selected one
and commenced his journey to the fort.
The work on The Notifications cons
sumed the forenoon. and Selwyn had
reason to congratulate himself on the
rapidity Of the work, for Brant with
his scouts came in with the news that
the enemy were approaching in force
the Hurons III front, and umbering
about shree hundred. The red chief
volunteered to check the approach OF
the hosciles, and, having received per.
mission, disappeared. The afternoon
was spent in inspecting the surround
ings of che camp, fortifying weak places
and making all other preparations for
defense.
The excitement Of the rangers was in-
1 the sounds of battle. At first the shots
were distant and scattering, but in
creased in frequency and volume az
they drew nearer, until it seem; as II q
general engagement was in progress,
and Selwyn resolved to send a party OF
rangers to the assistance OF tho red
chief. Calling for twenty volunteers,
| the entire force responded, and when he
had selected his men Renwick claimed
the right to lead them.
"You had your share of glory the
! other day, Charley" he said, land now
it's my turn. Besides your presence is
needed here" So saying he stepped
into canoe followed by the volunteers.
Guided by the firing and the yells OF
! the savage combatan is, he made de-
tour through the dense timber in order
to gain the rear, and soon gained posi-
ton which revealed the fact that the
Mohawks were slowly retreating,
while, judging by the heavy tramp, q
party Of regulars was coming to the aid
of the Hurons. Quickly placing his men
in ambush, Renwick awaited the ap-
| proach of the latter. On they came, un"
suspecting danger until half their force
of fifty men had passed the ambush,
when the rangers opened fire.
Taken by surprise, decimated and ig~
norant of the number of their assailants,
the Frenchmen fell into confusion.
| Their officers brave]y ondeayored to
rally them, and were Picked of one by
one, until the panic-srricken survivors
threw down their arms and fed into the
| forest. Tho Hurons, who were pressing
hard upon Brant and his braves, paused
| when they heard the sounds of battle in
their rear, while the red chief, suspect
ing the cause, shouted the war-cry of
the Mohawks and pressed them in his
turn. The Frenchmen being disposed
of, Renwick advanced cautiously on the
rear of the Hurons, who, instead OF the
assistance they expected, finding them
selves between two fires, retraatad in
! confusion. While the Mohawks were