Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-04-05

One OF their number, an Illini youth,
made prisoner in their previous raid
and adopted by his captors, was sent
as a spy to mingle with his former
elansmen. He had reported to them
the absence of a considerable force or
a hunting expedition to the westward;
the rivalry and ill-feeling between
lTonti and the chevalier, and the sense
Of security that seemed to I'LL the
minds of all the allies. They deter
mined upon an immediate advance,
after sending their spy back to mingle
again with the unsuspecting victims,
and render what assistance he could
at the assault upon the fort which
would have to be taken. A young
Miami, wandering to the east on the
trail of a bear, had been suddenly sur
rounded, scalped, and left for dead. He
had revived, and managed, despite his
wounds, to reach the fort ahead of the
approaching enemy.
Tonti Immediately sounded the
alarm. The fort was manned by all the
soldiers and a few Indians, among
whom was the %Iroquois spy; messen-
gers were sent to recall the hunting
party; the ONE and children were
all taken to an island near the further
side of the river. A barricade was
hastily erected some quarter of a mile
from the fort; scouts were dispatched
to learn the position of the enemy,
Thus the remainder of the night was
spent. The light of the burning lodges
of those tribes situated farthest from
the fort was seen, indicating that the
I%roquois were advancing. Day dawned.
and the scouts returning announced
that the enemy were about 2,00(
strong, and lay in ambush less than
mile away. They reported that the
expedition seemed to be led by a white
chief called lie Loup.' Tonti and
Pompon exchanged glances on hearing
this. Ma fol! manami,' said thu
first, shall we not give my forme,
host a warm welcome?"
"As hot as fire can make it." ex'
claimed Pompon.
MAY, nay" replied Tonti, mot 81
fierce. Although he has turned savage
| we have not. If he can only be cap
y tured, l shall take great pleasure il
forcing a sword into his hands ant
giving him two seconds in which II
! place himself en- garde."
l 1.-TWO seconds too long" muttere,
> Pompon, between his teeth. eff l eve
r get hold of him l can promise you
9 shall never let GO until one or both 0
us are dead" =,
Work on the barricade, which wa
semi-circular in shape, went rapidly O.
during the day. Tonti had expecte
( TO take command of this portion of hi
force himself, but the chevalier in
4 terposed, pray give me the post, a
a token of our reconciliation, and
: afford me an opportunity of provin
y my qualities as a soldier. You ca
best direct the whole defense from tn
= fort; besides, / think you are needle
:. there"
Tonti reluctantly consented. He o.
dered a succession of brush-heaps t
:. be prepared between the fort and tn
~ barricade so that if the attack cam
y at night, as it probably would, the ligf
from them would aid the defender
= He went about among his Indian a
lies, assigning them positions and er
couraging them. There was evider
need of this latter work, for he foun
that the hostile approach of the Irt
auois had brought back memories
;. past raids, and that the old terror
the hated name had been awakene
" The French soldiers, being more a
= customed to fighting with long ran
" weapons, were kept to guard the fol