The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1905-12-08

~. VIA. bscauss tina scheme NJ e
apparent failure II Arst. was impris-
oesa by Mazarin and forgotten, and
who died within the mouth II starva-
tioa 10 ne Bastiiisf"
Tonti gazsd In Astonishment. "You
know" be began. but the other In
terposed with q graceful gesture Of his
hand containing tho scented Bit Of
lace.
"Ycs. ! Know all. How you entered
the French army ct 10 m cadet; fought
four campaigns on board ship and
three In the galieys. How At MessinA
you were placed In charge Of n camp
Of 10000 men. How at Yibisso a
grenade shot away your left hand.
and how. because Of the delay in the
arrival Of the chirurgien. yoa ampu-
tated the remnant Of your hand with
your dagger. How you were known as
Tho Man with the Iron Hand be-
cause Of the iron mechanism you lad
made TO take the place Of the lest
member. and which you still wea'.
How. taken prisoner at Libisso. yo,i
were confined at Mctasse for six
months ami were exchanged for the
son Of the governor. On your return
to France the King rewarded you with
n paltry 800 livres and a ~captaincy.
and sent you back to join In the ST.
Gillian campaign In the gallcys. How
peace has thrown you out Of employ
mcnt. How you are restless and I'M
happy. and are eager. now that the
king has no further need Of you. 10
take up with whatever adventure
promises the most gold and glory,
How now, Am I not right DO I not
know ali.'
During the rapid sketch Of Tonti'a
career. he became more and more BE-.
wiiicred "a the speaker went on. and
when he ceased speaking he could
make no reply.
"Ahl mon ami" said Ia Sale. kind
~. do not be disturbed NJ my knowi'
edge. a friend has told me. The
Prince Dc Cont. whom I consulted IL
my search for q comrade. n lieutenant
told toe you were suited for the post
with n hand indeed Of iron and a heart
~ oak. That Is exactly the sort 81
man I need"
by this time Ton,l had recovered
| himself. and led the way 20 the table
motioning his visitor into n chair
lie then took the sole remaining BIZ
| Of gold from his pocket. gave IL TO Pom
pom, and ordered him to get n bottle a
the choicest Anjou wine from thu
nearby cabaret. lie then turned Il
the stranger.
"The Prince de Cont was a gallan
leader to serve under In war. but
did not suppose he would have been q,
warm In his recommendation. Win
do you wish me TO do7"
"Ah! that Is n question easily an
swered." replied La Sale. as he cav
ono farewell vhin ut his handkerchief
then put II away. and. s~iraightcnini
himself IN the chair. spoke earnestly
and with rapidly. All manncrism o
the court dandy was gone. and the III
rect. business-iike air Of . mar Of tn
world who has 90 deal with anaifs o
moment took It's plnre,
II have. aa you know, made som
explorations In New France. startin
out from my possessions near Mon
treai. But am satisfied that niue
lies beyond: that there We are parti
on our way TO China. and that or
long one q his majes,y's ships ca'
sail direct from the harbor Of La Ito
cheile past Quebec and Montreal I
China and the Indies. II Is n rlorlon
life. a warfare against nature an
wild men. with great difficulties TO b
overcome and victories 10 be gained
but free; free air. free action. FIRE
range. once beyond the settlcmen
Of Montreal and one need be answer
able to no man. With help from IN
governor. we can build up 80 large
trade In beaver-skins within q fe'
years that great wealth will be our
greater than u soldier Of the kin
could ever hope 10 gain In all his life
service"
pompon returned with the wine. ant
after filing the glasses, stood benin
Tonti's chair. watchful to set an
hear all that went on.
II have here letters from Comte d
Frontcnac. governor Of New Franc
10 Colbert. Already the king ha
granted me several audiences. an
both he and his minister are favorabl
10 my plans. lie has awarded certal
moneys. and I have collected all b.
1000 francs Of the necessary n
mainder from my relatives IN
friends"
Tonti here bcthuGsht himself OF pr'
senting Pompon. and after he ha
sent him out again on a needless e.
rand. told La Sale what he knew
, his history. When he returned J.
: Sale eyed him critically during the
: conversation. and finally. after arou'
ing their enthusiasm by shown
them rude maps Of the wilderness an
relating tales OF adventure that stirrt
. the blood. he wound m by asking the
/. both to accompany him on his me-
expedition, that was 10 start shortly
you viii thus. Capt. de Tonti,'