The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-04-21

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the entrance.
'Now!" cried Pierre Noir, discharg-
ing his piece into the crowded ranks
below him; and shot after shot fol-
lowed his own. The packed brown
mass gave back and resolved itself in
to scattered units, who broke and ran
for the nearest cover
"They will not come on again until
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 where
they had fallen. When Pierre Noir re-
turned and calmly propped up again
| the door of slabs which he had re-
moved, he carried in his hand three
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
slais." 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 voya-
geurs of the French. Make no doubt
that Jean Breboeuf will take back
with him full tale of the Indians
he has killed. Presently | go out.
Zip! goes my knife, and off comes the
topknot of Monsieur Indian, him
killed but now as he ran. Then | shall
dry the scalp here by the fire, and
mount it on bit of willow, and take
it back for present to my sweetheart,
Susanna Duchene, on the seignieury
at home"
Bravo. Jean!" cried out the old In
dian fighter, Pierre Noir, the old bare.
sark rage of the fighting man now ris-
Ing hot in his blood and look!
Here come more chances for our little
ornaments"
Pierre Noir for once had been mis-
taken and underestimate the courage
of the warriors 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
palisade. Again the little party OF
whites maintained steady fire, and
again the lroquois, bafIled and enraged,
fell back into the wood, whence they
poured volley after volley rafting
against the walls of the sturdy fortress.
Il am sogry, sir said Sergt. Gray to
Pembroke, but It's 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 his chest.
'Peste! If this keeps up" said
Pierre Noir. there will not be many
of us left by morning. | never saw
them fight so well. 'Tis a good watch
We'll need this night"
In fact, all through the night the
Iroquois tried every stratagem of their
savage warfare With ear-splitting
yells they came close up to the stock
ade, and in one such charge two or
three of their young men even man
aged to climb to the tops of the point
ed 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 cir
cles which terminated at last in little
Earring thuds. where blazing arrows
fell and stood in log, or earth, or I'M
protected roof. These projectiles,
wrapped with lighted birch bark,
served as fire brands, and danger
enough they carried. Yet, after some
fashion, the little garrison kept down
the terrified Illini, repulsed each re-
peated charge of the Iroquois, 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 it, PIERCE" asked Law.
what does the fellow want?"
Il care not what he wants." said
Pierre Noir, carefully adjusting the
lock of his piece and steadily regard
ing 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 barrel of the levelcd gun. 81
believe he would talk with u.s.
What does he say, PIERCE" asked
Law. Speak to him, if you can"
"He wants to know" said Pierre, as
the messenger at length stopped and
began a harangue, whether we are
English or French. He says something
about there being a big peace between
Corlaer and Onontio by which he
means, gentlemen. the governor at
New York and the governor at Que
bee"
Tell him." cried Pembroke, with
sudden thought, that | am an officer
of Corlacr, and that Corlaer bids the
Iroquois to bring in all the prisoners
they have taken. Tell him that the
French are going to give up all their
prisoners to us, and that the Iroquos
must leave the war path, or my Lord
Rellomont will take the war trail and
wipe their villages off the EARTH
Something in this speech as CON
veyed to the savage seemed to give
+, OF 10
and presently his place was taken by
tall and stately figure, dressed in
the full habiliments Of an Iroquois