Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-11-30

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hand, sat beside the burning pine knot
listenin" for every sound. Pompoa
had Just left her. She stroye to con
ccntrate her mind upon the beads in
her hand. She looked down. A noise
at the door aroused her. Perhaps it
was PompOn returning with bad news:
She gave a sh hriek OF terror The door
had opened and the Comte de Miroa,
IN ali the ferocity of his Iroquois war
',aint, with a knife held between his
;eeth. stood before her.
The nuns on seeing this terrible ap-
partition ran to the farthest corner
hiron approached Renee before she
could overcome her terror sufficiently
10 move, snatched up the light. aD-
Ulicd it to the bark wall of the lodge
which quickly ignited seized Renee in
| is arms and was gone.
The battle still ragged furiously for
the possession of the gate. Already
lad the line of crawling, climbing
cevils almost gained the top of the
path. The situation was desperate.
The young Sieur dc Boisrondet APP
preached at a signal from TOnti Tell
the men if the gate is gained and
forced we must make a last stand just
within the entrance. We can do moth
iag if these fieuds once really enter
the yard"
The young man saluted and then in
n hesitating tone, said: m. le Capt.
taine will not be offended If a subor-
ainate We're to make a suggestion? 1t
is only our great extremity that leads
me to speak"
Non, certainement," replied Tonti.
"Speall up and let us know what YOU
have in mind"
You will remember some time ago
you placed in my care the work OF ex,
ravating new magazine in which to
store our powder?"
"Yes."
We'll, as NJ. lie Capitaine left the
entire task to me, the choice of situa-
ton as we'll as the oversight OF the
excavation"
Go on" cried Tonti impationtly. as
the yells of the savages rose louder
than before, indicating that an adj
vance had been made
Il thought it might be 2 good plan
sometime 10 have mine laid ready 10
be exploded"
80 YOU"
81 made the excavation so that it
would lie just beneath the outside
path some score of feet from the top"
"Sangue di Dio," cried Tonti joy
ously. as the idea of the young man
flashed into his mind. I'VE are saved.
You mean to fire the magazine beneath
their very feet, and make an opening
in the path they can never crosse"
THAT was my thought" replied the
young man mOdestly, flushing with
pleasure as he saw his leader approved
it. THE powder has not been stored
there yet. but can be in very few
moments"
Take three men with you" ordered
TOnti, and place half of all our stock
of powder in the new magazine. and
arrange so that it can be exploded on
a given signal"
"In 20 minutes it shall be ready" re-
piled the youth, and hastened away to
carry out the command.
Hold out for a haIf-hour longer and
We shall blow these devils to perdi-
tion,' shouted POmpOn in the ears of
the line of men defending the pass. A
cheer was the response. Soon the
young Sieur de Boisrondet returned
1T is accomplished" he reported with
a smile.
Just then a strange lull in the con-
fused sounds of the combat occurred
1t lasted but few seconds; but dur.
ing that silence there came to the ears
of the men the sound of woman's
scream from the interior of the fort
yard. Both Tonti and Pompon recog-
niZed the voice and turned together
The light of the burning building was
seen, and they started at a rapid pace.
TOnti shouting to the Sieur de Bois-
| rondet to take command until his re-
turn. More agile than his friend.
Ecryed to action by the fear in his
heart for Renee's safety, he gained the
other side OF the fort first BY the
light of the blazing lodge he beheld his
enemy ascending the platform bearing
in his arms the form of his beloved
With a cry he sprang after him
| Miron heard his voice and having
gained the top, turned to meet his foe
Tontl felt for his pistol that he had
placed in his belt but found that it
| had dropped out in his hasty prog
ress. Nothing daunted, without a
weapon, he rushed mp the little ladder
/ and grapplcd with his enemy Mirou
| dropped Renee to the platform and re-
I celyed Touti with a smile of sayag.
Joy. brandshing his knife. Tontl
struck the arm holding The weapon a
furious blow with his iron hand. 10
force him to drop it, ana seized his
throat with the other.
Miron still retained his knife and
Tonu by the fast increasing light saw
the blade descend. ana felt as it were a
red-hot iron plunged into his shoulder
/ Again IL fell. this time into his hack