Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-22

tear-dimmed eyes and saw the victory
 won. Seizing her hand. he said hur- riedly:
 You know not what you ask,
 mademoiselle. You would be the first
 to despise me were I to yfeld;" and
 hastily raising her hand to his lips, he
 strode rapidly away. Renee kissed the
 spot where his lips had been, and,
 sinking to the ground, burst into tears
 of mingled despair and joy. The next day when his little canoe
 passed through the straits, lone fig ure waved adieu from the edge of the highest cliff back of the settlement. and when the tiny speck had disap- peared from view repaired to the chapel, there to pray for the safety of one about to encounter great peril.
 Tonti reached Fort Miami at the mouth of the river in safety and there found his men who had preceded him in larger vessel They were all we'll and had made a good-sized fleet of ca noes, but were much disturbed at ru- mors they had heard that, during the early summer, the Iroquois had made a grand invasion of the country of the Illini and had driven them from their homes, murdering and scattering the tribes. Tonti, with this corroboration of the Indians vision, was still more alarmed for the safety of his friend, and pushed on with all speed. They found plenty of deer and buffalo, and were thus enabled to lay in bountiful supply of meat As they drew near the great town of the Illini their fears were confirmed. Instead of the noise of great encampment they found si- lence. The meadow below the high rock was one scene of devastation and ruin. The charred remains of the lodges were all of human habitation that remained standing Bones and skulls were strewn about in great abundance. The Indian graves ele- vated on four poles had been broken down and their contents scattered. A horde of wolves fled from the ghastly repast at their approach. while crowd of buzzards wheeled above their heads with angry cries at being thus dis turbed.
 The rumors were indeed true. While making an attack on the eastern white settlements another portion of the ferocious Iroquois confederacy had gone westward to annihilate their red enemies. No signs of human life were there left to tell of the disaster that had befallen. Tonti hastened with his men on down to the widening in the river near which Fort Creve-Couer had been erected. This, too, was ruin, al- though destroyed by other hands than the IroQuois. The uncompleted vessel still stood on the stocks, on whose side was scrawled, 'Nous sommes tous sauvages." This told the story of fur ther treachery and desertion on the part of La Salle's followers. Leaving the most of his party at this spot, Tonti continued his journey with Pom- pon and a canoe full of picked men. They descended the. river until they reached the Mississippi, but no traces of "a Sale were to be found. As they progressed they could discern the spot where the retreating Illini had camped on one side of the stream, while on the opposite side their foes had kept a sharp watch over their retreat. Re- turning again, they rested with their entire force at the site of Fort Creve- CcIsr. The autumn was rapidly pass ing, so they finally determined to go back to Fort Miami and take up winter quarters, sending out search parties in all directions to try and discover any trace of La Salle and the remnant of his men.