The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-04-15
CHAPTER XVII.
THE IRoQUOIS.

| Cf1AFIER AAfl1.
| THE IRoQUoIs.
| Even as Sir Arthur and John Law
: clasped hands, there came sudden in
! terruption. A half-score yards deeper
in the wood there arose sudden, half
choked cry, followed by shrill whoop.
| There was 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 stalwart savage,
whose face, hideously painted, appeared
fairly demoniacal as he came bounding
strike down the victim already impaled
by the silent arrow.
"Quick!" cried Law, in a fash catch
ing the meaning of this sudden spec
tacle. Into the fort, Sir Arthur, and
call the men tOgether!"
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 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
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, series of sharp, undulating
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
of terrified Wpmen. In an instant the
peaceful spot had become the scene OF
a horrible confusion. Once more the
wolves of the woods, the IfoQuois, had
fallen on their prey!
Swift as had been Laws movements
Pembroke was but pace behind him
as he wrenched free his blade. The
two turned back together and started
at speed for the palisade. At the gate
they met others hurrying in, Penn
brokes men joining In the rush of the
frightened villagers. Among these the
Iroquois pressed with shrin yells, ply
ing'knife and bow and Ratchet as they
ran, and the Mortified eyes of those
within the palisade saw many trag-
edy enacted.
Watch the gate!" cried Pierre Noir
!. AS he spoke there. came a rush Of
| screaming Iroquois, who sought to gaiI
the entrance.
"Now!" cried Pierre Noir. discharg
ing his piece into the crowded rank!
below him; and shot after shot fol
lowed his own. The packed brown
mass gave back and resolved itself in
1 to scattered units, who broke and raj
for the nearest cover.
'They will not come on again unit
!, dark" said Pierre Noir, calmly lean
. ing his piece against the WALL There
fore may attend to certain little mat
ters"
He passed out into the entry-way
where lay the bodies of three Iroquois
abandoned, under the close and dead
? ly fire, by their companions wher,
they had fallen. When Pierre Noir re
;. turned and calmly propped up agail
the door of slabs which he had re
moved, he carried In his hand tire
e tufts of long black. hair, from which
dripped heavy gouts of blood.
Good God. mani" said Pembroke
: You must not be savage as these In
. dians!"
Speak for yourself, Monsieur An
5 glais," replied Pierre, stoutly. "Yo
need not save these head pieces If yo
5 do not care for them. For myself, Ii
3 part of the trade"
It "Assuredly," broke in Jean Breboeu1
o I'VE keep these trinkets, we voya
e geurs of the French. Make no dout
q that Jean Breboeuf will take bac
s with him full tale of the Indian
q he has killed. Presently / go on
d Zip! goes my knife, and of comes tn
s topknot of Monsieur Indian, him
killed but now as he ran. Then / sha
: dry the scalp here by the fire. an
q mount it ON a bit of willow, and TAX
: it back for present to my sweethear
y Susanna Duchene, on the seignieur
{, at home"
Is Bravo. Jean!" cried out the old II
dian fighter, Pierre Noir, the old bare
% sark rage of the fighting man now ri,
h ing hot In his blood. And look
y Here come more chances for our littl
II ornaments"
b. Pierre Noir for once had been mi!
,h taken and undereStimatad the couras