The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-04-20
CHAPTER XIII.

CONTAINS SOME HAPPINESS, A
COMPACT, A VISION, AND A CA
LAMITY.
Arriving at Fort Niagara, Renee was
turned over to the three nuns sta
toned there. They sympathized with
her in her hardships and gave devout
thanks for her escape. One of them
was filled with zeal to take the place
OF her who was drowned on the trip,
and, much to 2enee's delight, obtained
permission to leave for Michilimacki-
MAJ when the vessel started. A week
was lost Rcrfecting all arrangements.
At the end Of this time both Tonti
and Renee were ready to proceed. al
though the latter was still unable to
walk without support. The men with
the stores had transported them frsm
their boat, at the mouth of the river,
to the fort. Tonti chose two vessels,
the larger one for the supplies and the
men conveying them, the other, small
er, for the use of his party, which was
now increased by the addition of one
of the priests from Fort Frontenac
who decided to take advantage of this
opportunity to push ON his way west
ward. The tiny cabin was fitted up for
h two women SO as to be as comfort
able as possible. A plentiful supply
OF provisions was taken, although for
fresh meat they depended on the SIC
cess of their hunts on shore. The larg-
er boat started first, with orders to
stop at Michilimackinac only long
enough to apprise them of the coming
of the nurses and then proceed to the
fort on the Miami, there to build a
sufficient number Of canoes while
awaiting Tonti's arrival.
The day Of their departure was aus-
picious. A fair wind rufied the deep
blue surface Of the lake; the sky was
clear and the summer sun warmed
without shifting them. Renee's heart
danced in untson with the boat for
sheer happiness. Her presence was q
delight to all on board. The priest,
when not engaged with his breyiary.
listened with pleasure to her chatter,
while the nun soon loved her as her
own sister. Even Pompon so far for
got his hostility to the sex as to con,
descend to entertain her at times with
tales from his adventurous life, or
amuse her by exhibiting the contents
OF his wonderful leather pouch, show
ing the PHOSPHORUS paste that had
stood them In such good stead during
their Huron captivity, the sleeping
powder whose power the innkeeper at
Ecouen and the Iroquois sentinel had
tested. and the yellow ointment pos
sessed Of most extraordinary healing
virtues for wounds that he had en-
ployed upon her ankle. He often
talked to her about Tonti and found
in her a willing listener to all the
praises OF his hero that came so read
lily to his lips. Thus a real amity
sprang up between them, which was
finally sealed into a solemn compact
n day when Tonti lay asleep and
Pompon managed the boat. He had
been dwelling upon his friends loyalty
to himself and La Sale when Renee
said musingIy:
Would that I were a man that I
might become a fourth comrade to
you all, but lam only a woman, weak
and alone. However. I can still be q
friend II my friendship n worth aught
10 any one. Come, M. Pompon," she
said. rousing herself. Il have that from
the other two. May I not find In you a
friend and ally alsof"
rompon hooked at her outstretchei
hand gravely for q moment 1T IL not
q Light think yon ask- False srlAnds