Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-26

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 Well, as M. le Capitaine left tht entire task to me, the choice of situa. tion as well as the oversight of the excavation"
 "Go on." cried Tonti inpatiently, as
 the yells of the savagcs rose louder
 than before. indicating that an ad-
 vance had been made.
 Y thought 1t might be good plan
 sometime to have mine laid ready tc
 be exploded"
 "So you"
 q made the excavation so that ii
 would lie just beneath the outside
 path some score of feet from the top. J
 'sangue di Dio!" cried Tonti joy ously. as the idea of the young man
 flashed into his mind. We are saved. You mean to fire the magazine beneath their very feet. and make an opening
 in the path they can never cross?"
 "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, land place half of all our stock of powder in the new magazine. and arrange so that it can be exploded on given signal" @
 ''In 20 minutes it shall be ready" re- piled the youth, and hastened away to carry out the command.
 Hold out for half-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. 'It is accomplished" he reported with a smile. -,a
 Just then strange Hull in the con- fused sounds of the combat occurred. It lasted but a few seconds; but dur ing that silence there came to the ears of the men the sound of a 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 rapid pace, Tonti shouting to the Sieur de Bois- rondet to take command until his re- turn. More agile than his friend, rerved 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 cry he sprang after him. Miron heard his voice, and, having gained the top, turned to meet his foe T0nti felt for his pistol that he had placed in his belt but found that 1t had dropped out in his nasty prog ress. Nothing daunted. without weapon, he rushed up the little ladder and grappled with his enemy. Miron dropped Renee to the platform and re- ceived Tont with a smile of savage joy, brandishing his knife. Topti struck the arm holding the weapon a furious blow with his iron hand, to force him to drop 1t, and seized his throat with the other.
 Miron still retained his knife and Tonti by the fast increasing light saw the blade descend, and felt as 1t were a iron plunged into his shoulder. Again 1t fell. this time into his back. A. hlackness fell suddenly before his eyes. His hold upon the throat of his adversary loosened, a roaring filled his ears, followed by a great explosion which seemed to shake the platform on which they stood, and he fell back and knew no more.
 Miron did not stop, but throwing his knife aside, stopped down and gath cred Renee, who called loudly for help, within his arms again. He approached the palisade and had already made for his descent when he saw Pompon appear upon the rampant. With an oath he drew back. and put ting Renee down once more, made ready to receive this new attack. Neither of the men had a weapon, but each sprang at the others throat like some ferocious animal; they clinched and struggled to and fro; neither was able to throttle the other, so evenly was their strength matched. Renee, with streaming hair and terror-strick- en eyes. dragged herself towards the form of Tonti out of the way of the combatants, who swayed from side to side in their desperate ef forts. Now Miron has the advantage as he strives to trip his adversary; but Pompon, quick and agile, recovers his footing, and the, struggle is re- newed on equal terms. Backward they rush. and Miron barely saves himself