The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-11-05

had located the Indian force.
It consisted of nearly a hundred war
riors, in full war costume. They wer
oncamped in what had once been
stone quarry. The granite blocks o
which Fort Beau Sejour was built wer
cut out of it, and in quarrying then
the workmen had cut through a grea
hill of rock in such a way as to form
an artificial precipce of great height
At the foot of it sat poor Henri dt
Blavier, with his legs bound tightly to-
gether, and stalwart Indian guart
lounging beside him. Some playful
savage had daubed his face with patch.
es of black paint, but no distigure-
ment could disguise his pitiful condi-
tion, as he watched, with agonized fea-
lures, the movements of a party OF
young Indian braves, who were busly
employed near him.
A stout stake had been firmly driven
into the ground and around this they
were keeping up small fires, intending
evidently to girdle the little knoll it
crowned with a path of red-hot Goals.
Anderson took in the situation at a
glance. Henri was to be tied loosely
to the stake, and, e-footed, was to
be baited around the track of glowing
Goals with fire. brands and blazing pine
knots, and anything else handy that
could be utilized to agonize the human
frame.
To thus torture the son almost with
in sight OF his fathers stronghold
would be as much of bliss as a Micmac
could hope to experience this side of
the happy hunting grounds.
well, whispered the scout to HIM
self, after a moments contemplation
OF the careful preparations with which
the occasion was being honored, "a
bullet would soon stop that work, and
1t shall be stopped that way If there
amt no other. but wish l could bring
him off alive"
Even while he was speaking a pos
sible means of rescuing the boy oc-
CURED to him. When out in search of
game he always carried a strong piece
of rope. In case he should kill more
than he could carry home with him,
he would then have the means of Sc
curing the surplus in tree, out of the
reach of forest prowlers.
He observed too that Henris guard
took such an interest in the perpara-
tions for Indian fun going on around
BILE to keep away from it. and every
once in while would leave his charge
for few seconds, and saunter over
to lend hand at the fascinating job.
guard over the worn-out. helpless
boy seemed indeed wholly superfiuous,
and no doubt the wisest in the camp
would have considered 1t all-sufficient
to merely keep an eye On him; and
this was evidently his jailer's view of
the situation, as his excursions to the
spot where all the hilarity of the camp
was concentrated became more fire.
quent and his stays longer.
There's just one chance" muttered
the old scout, as once more he COM
menced to creep through the bushes
towards the brow of the precipce un-
der which the unfortunate Henri was
seated.
In order to avoid the Indian scouts
he was obliged to make a wide detour,
and when he at last reached it, and
cautiously peered over, Henri was still
sitting at its foot and his guard, anx-
ious to have the fun begin, was eager
ly assisting in the horrible prepara-
tions for an aboriginal kind Of amuse-
ment.
They were almost complete, and ev-
cry one seemed intent on the finishing
touches.
1T is now or never" thought Ander-
son, as he put his mouth against the |
rock in such way as to make it con-
duct his voice, and gave a gentle
"S-s-t," Immediately following it by
Don't move, Henri. It's me, Ander-
son. I'm going to send you down a
rope, but don't move till you see it
swaying before your eyes"
The hunter put the end of the line |
over the cliff, and had let it down a |
foot or two, when the Indian guard |
suddenly bethought himself of his
charge, and hurried over to where he |
sat.
Henri had the wit and self-possession
to look so utterly hopeless and terror |
stricken that a single glance sufficed |
the savage, and he hurried back to the |
stake, now almost completely girdled |
by track Of glowing Goals.
Down went the rope again; this time |
until 1t reached the eager grasp of the
strong, young hands.
1t was new and well-twisted: there
was courage, muscle and intelligence
at both ends of it, and luck was on the
right side that day, or rather night
for no Indian looked their way until
De Blavier was over the cliff. Once
out of sight and they were safe, for
even an Indian cannot follow a trail
in the darkness.
Before daybreak they were back in
the fort. Boundless thanks and valu-
able gifts were lavished on the brave
scout by its garrison, but he never
recounted the story of the rescue Of
Young Henri de Blayer without re-
GREETING that he couldn't have stayed
10 see the disappointment among
them varmints when they found
.hey'd got no use for them good live