The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-05-13
CHAPTER XVII.
THE IROQUOIS.

Even as Sir Arthur and John Law
clasped hands, there came a sudden in
terruption. A half-score yards deeper
in the wood there arose sudden, half
choled cry, followed by shrill whoop
There was a crashing as of one run"
ming, and Immediately there pressed
into the open space the figure of an
Indian, an old man from the village
of the Illini. Even as his staggering
footsteps brought him within gaze, the
two startled observers saw the shaft
which had sunk deep within his breast.
He had been shot through by an In
dian arrow, and upon the instant it
was all too plain whose hand had sped
the shaft. Following close upon his
| heels there came a stalwart savage,
whose face, hideously painted, appeared
| fairly demoniacal as he came bounding
| on with uplifted Ratchet, seeking to
strike down the victim already impaled
by the silent arrow.
"Quick!" cried Law, in flash catch
ing the meaning of this sudden spec
tacle. Into the fort, Sir Arthur, and
call the men togetheri"
Not stopping to relieve the struggles
of the victim, who had now fallen
forward, gasping, Law sprang on with
drawn blade to meet the advancing
savage. The latter paused for an I'M
certain moment, and then with a shrill
yell Of defiance, hurled the keen steel
Ratchet full at Laws head 1t shore
away a piece of his hat brim, and sank
with edge deep buried in the trunk of
tree beyond. The savage turned, but
turned too late. The blade of the
swordsman passed through from rib
to rib under his arm, and he fell chok-
ing, even as he sought again to give
vent to his war cry.
And now arose in the woods beyond
and in the fields below the hill, and
from the villages Of the neighboring
Indians, a series of sharp, undulatine
yells. Shots came from within the
fortress, where the loop-holes were al
ready manned. There were borne from |
the nearest wigwams of the Illini the |
screams of wounded men, the shrieks |
peaceful spot had become the scene of
a horrible confusion. Once more the
wolves of the woods, the Iroquos, had
fallen on their prey!
Swift as had been Laws movements
Pembroke was but a pace behind him
as he wrenched free his blade. The
TWO turned back together and started
1T speed for the palisade At the gate
hey met others 4lurrying in, Penn
oroke's men joining in the rush of the
frightened villagers. Among these the
roquois pressed with shrill yells, ply
ng knife and bow and Ratchet as they
an, and the Mortified eyes of those
within the palisade saw many trag-
'dy enacted.
Watch the gate" cried Pierre Noir,
rom his station in the corner tower
Is he spoke there came a rush OF ,
Dreaming Iroquois, who sought to gain ,
he entrance.
"Now!" cried Pierre Noir, discharg- &.
nr his piece into the crowded ranks s
Glow him; and shot after shot fol- {
owed his own. The packed brown
lass gave back and resolved itself in s
} scattered units. who broke and ran +
Dr. the nearest cover. @
"They will not come on again until g
ark" said Pierre Noir, calmly, lean [
ig his piece against the wall. There b
IRE may attend to certain little mat {
,rs" n
He passed out into the entry-way, 81
here lay the bodies of three Iroquois, q
bandoned. under the close and dead u
fire, by their companions where
icy had fallen. When Pierre Noir re- VI
,rned and calmly propped up again
lie door of slabs which he had re- 81
owed. he carried in his hand three "
fits CT long black hair, from which :