Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-09-18
banquet which King George might

in another direction"
who goes therc?' shouted sentinel
on the river bank. After a few mo-
ment's parloy, 4 raft was manned and
| pushed across the stream, but soon re-
turned with stranger who was led to
the spot where Sclwyn and Renwick
stood. The man was ragged, hGggard
and faint from fatigue and want of food.
WHO are you?" asked Sclwyn. The
man gave the military salute.
''Jabcz Locke, sir, scout and ranger
| "And where is Captain Marlen?"
~ prisoner to the French, sir
You could not aid him, though you
escaped yourself?'
NO, sir; and had his orders TO do
| just what | did if he was taken. You
see we had got all the information We
wanted and were on tho way back to
| Oswego, when he was surprised in his
| sleep"
"Uow did you find this placc?"
81 struck your trail this morning"
''Sit down and have something to eat"
said Renwicll, you look pretty we'll
used up
81 am" said Jabe, and he dropped
| down exhausted. y plentiful supper,
! however, revived him and he began to
| ask questions.
Whose command is this?"
Captain Sclwyn's Mohawk rangers"
Jabe reflected. Selwyn was Mardon's
fSicnd, to whom Ariel carried the letter.
| Ariel must have succeeded, therefore,
and this force, tho mum bers of which he
estimated by their trail, was the result
of that mission. His next question was:
| "Whcrc is Ariel?"
Sclwyn knew this man by the half
| breeds narrative of the expedition up
the river, and he explained the reason
| of his absence.
Il must start for the fort III the morn
! ing" said Jabe, Ito warn them that the
French arc coming on in force by land,
| and the gun-boats from Fort Frontenac
| will attack them from the lake"
! IF the redskins left this place to
| join 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 tho 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 it by
| daylight, and, the necessary arrange
mcnts being mado 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 Mohawlls was assigned the duty
I-r +ln l., IL,
| the rangers raised a brcastwork of logs
to protect the river bank. Tho Indians
had little difficulty in finding the
canoes. which were hidden under brush
wood near the river. Jabc selected one
and commenced his journey to the fort.
The work on The Notifications con-
| sumed the forenoon, and Sclwyn had
| reason to congratulate himself on tho
rapidity of the work, for Brant with
his scouts came in with the news that
| tho enemy were approaching in force,
tho Iurons in front, and numbering
about three hundred. The rcd 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 the camp, terrifying weak places
and making all other preparations for
| defense.
| The excitement of the rangers was in
| tense, for the wind bore to their ears
| the sounds of battle. At first the shots
were distant and scattering, but in
creased in frequency and volume as
| they drew nearer, until it seemed as if a
! general engagement was in progress,
and Sclwyn resolved to send a party of
rangers to the assistance of the 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 yclls of
the savage combatants, he made a 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 rctreating,
while, judging by the heavy tramp, a
party of regulars was coming to the aid
of the Hurons. Quickly placing his men
! proach of the latter. On they came, I'M
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 Frenchmcn fell into confusion.
Their officers bravely endeavored to
rally them, and were picked off one by
one, until the panic-stricken survivors
threw down their arms and fed into the
forest. The 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. Tho Frenchmen being disposed
| of, Renwick advanced cautiously on the
rear of the Hurons, who, instead of the
assistance thcy expected, finding them
| selves between two fires, reiterated in
| confusion. While the Mohawlzs were
engaged in scalping and plundcring the
dead, the rangers collected the arms and
ammunition of the French, the muskets
being furnished with bayonets which
| Renwick thought might be made avail
able, and tho entire force returned to
| the camp.
| When night came the Mohawks cele-
brated their victory by llindling q great
e = - -11E,,