Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-27

against the wall. Therefore I may attend
to certain little matters"
He passed out into the entry-way, where
lay the bodies Of three Iroquois, abandoned,
under the close and deadly fire, by their
companions where they had fallen. When
Pierre Noir returned and calmly propped
up again the door of slabs which he had
moved. he carried in his hand three tufts
of long black hair, from which dripped
heavy gouts of blood.
Good God. man." said Pembroke. "You
must not be savage as these Indians
Speak for yourself Monsieur Anglais,"
replied Pierre stoutly. You need not save
these head pieces If you do not care for
them. For myself. it's part of the trade
"Assuredly," broke in Jean Breboeuf. I'VE
keep these trinkets, we voyageurs of the
French. Make no doubt that Jean Breboeuf
will take back with him full tale of the In
dams he has killed. Presently go out. Zip!
goes my knife, and off comes the topknot of
Monsieur Indian, him I killed but now as
he ran. Then I shall dry the scalp here by
the fire, and mount 1t on a bit Of willow,
and take 1t back for present to my sweet
heart, Susanna Duchene, on the seignieury
at home"
Bravo Jeanv' cried out the old Indian
fighter, Pierre Noir, the old baresark rage
of the fighting man now rising hot in his
blood. And look! Here come more chances
for our little ornaments
Pierre Nor for once had been mistaken
and underestimate the courage Of the war
riors of the OnOndagos. Lashing themselves
to fury at the thought of their losses they
came on again, now banding and charging
in the open close up to the walls of the pail
SADIE. Again the little party of whites main
tanned a steady fire, and again the Iroquois,
baffled and enraged fell back into the wood
whence they poured volley after volley rat
ting against the walls Of the sturdy for
tress.
II am sorry, sir" said Sergeant Gray to
Pembroke, '"but tits all UP with me- The
poor fellow staggered against the wall, and
in few moments all was indeed over with
him. A chance shot had pierced mis- chest.
Peste! If this keeps up said Pierre
Noir, there will not be many of us left by
morning. ! never saw them fight So we'll
IT'S good watch We'll need this night
In fact. all through the night the Iroquois
tried every stratagem of their savage war
fare. With ear-spitting yells they came
close up to the stockade, and in one such
charge two or three of their young men
even managed to climb to the tops of the
pointed stakes, though but to meet their
death at the muzzles of the muskets within.
Then there arose curving lines of fire from
without the walls, half circles which ter
minated at last in little EARRING thuds.
where blazing arrows fell and st ocd in log
or earth, or unprotected roof. These pro-
Jectiles, wrapped with lighted birch bark.
served fire brands. and danger enough
they carried. Yet. after some fashion, the
little garrison kept down these incip;en.
blazes, held together the terrified Illiui.
repulsed each repeated charge of the Iro-
quois. and so at last wore through the long
and fearful night.
The sun was just rising across the tops of
the distant groves when the Iroquois MADE
their next advance 1t came not in the form
of concerted attack, but of an appeal for
peace. A party of the savages left their
cover and approached the fortress, waving
their hands above their heads One of them
presently advanced alone.
What is 1t. Pierre?' asked Law. "What
does the fellow want 2"
i care not what he wants. said Pieri G
Noir. carefully adjusting the lock OF his
piece and steadily regarding the savage as
he approached; but I'll wager you years
pay he never gets alive past yonder stump ~
Stay cried Pembroke. catching at the