Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-09-29

Richelieu. The woods VIII not be safe.
fear. until the partridge berries are
out once more. You must stay at Ste.
Marie until then.
Il had rather stay there forever than
expose my wife to such devils"
AYE. devils they are II ever devils
walked upon earth. And now we are
on the very borders OF the clearing.
and the blockhouse lies yonder among
the clump OF naples. You did not
come as near 70 ste. Marie unchal-
lenged. and yet De Lannes IS rs old a
soldier as De la Noue. We can scarce
see now, but yonder near the river, is
where he exercises his men"
He does 50 now" said Amos. Il
see dozen OF them drawn up in a line
at their drill"
''No sentnels. and all the men at
drill." cried Du Lhut ia contempt 1T
Is as you say. however. for ! can see
them myself. with their ranks open
and each as stin and straight as n
pine stump. One would think. TO see
them stand 40 still. that there was not
an Indian nearer than Orange"
Du Lhut advanced from the bushes
as he spoke. and the four men crossed
the open ground In the direction OF the
line OF men who waited silently for
them IN the dim twilight They were
within fifty PAGES. and yet none OF
them had raised hand or voice 10 chal-
lenge their approach. There was some
thing uncanny IN the silence. and
change came over Du Lhut's face as
he peered in front OF him.
"Aiy Godr' he screamed. Look at
the fort"
They had cleared the clump OF trees.
and the outline OF the blockhouse
should have shown up In front OF them.
There was no sign OF il. IL was gone.
SO unexpected was the blow that
even Du Lhut. hardened from his
childhood to-every shock aud danger.
$3.50 -ss'sh,u osr,i st---.~--e.s. u'ls-ss.
with an oath, he ran az the top OF his
speed toward the line Of figures.
As they drew nearer they could see
through the dusk that II was not In
deed n line. A silent aud motionless
officer stood out some twenty PAGES in
front OF his silent and motionless men.
They We're dashed 20 low posts with
willow wlthes. some twenty OF them.
naked al and twisted and screwed in
20 every strange shape which an agon-
lied body could assume. For mo-
ment the four comrades stared In ST.
lent horror az the dreadful group
Then each acted rs his nature babe
him. De CatInat staggered up against
a tree trunk and leaned his head upon
his arm, deathly sick; Du I.hut fell
down upon his knees and said some
thing 20 heaven, with bis two clinched
hands shaking up AZ the darkening
sky; Ephraim Savage examined the
printing Of his gun. with a frightened
lip and cleaning eye. while Amos
Green. without a word. began 10 cast
round IN circles in search OF a trail.
But Du Ihut was on his feet again
in a moment and running up and down
like a sleuthhound. noting a hundred
| things which even Amos would have
| overlooked. He circled round the
bodies again and again: then he ran
q little way toward the edge or the
woods and then came back 20 the char.
red ruins OF the blockhOuse.
There IS no sign OF the women and
children" said he. They are keeping
the children 70 burn at their leisure in
their villages. The women they may
torture or may adopt. as the humor
| takes them"
ASK him. Amos" said the seaman.
'why we are yawing and tacking
here when we should be cracking on
] all sail 10 stand after them"
, Du Lhut smiled and shook his head
your friend is a brave man." said he.
If he thinks that with four men we
can follow a hundred and fifty"
Tell him, Amos. that the Lord will
bear US up" said the other excitedly
Say that he viii be with us against
the children OF Jeroboam. and we will
cut them on utterly"
But Du Lhut waved aside the sea
mans suggestions. 1--WE must have a
care now" said he, cor we shall lose
eur own scalps and be the caVse OF
those at Ste. Marie losing theirs as
we'll"
ste. Mariei, cried De Catinat. "Is
there. then, danger at Ste. Marie?"
AYE, they are in the VOLTS mouth
now. This business was done last
night. The place was stormed by a
war party OF hundred and fifty men.
| This morning they left and went north
\ upon foot They have been cached
among the woods ali day between Poi
| tou and Ste. Marie"
Then we have come through them p
"Yes. we have come through them.
They would keep their camp today
and send out scouts. Brown Moose
and his son We're among them and
struck our trail Tonight
Tonight they Will attack Ste. Ma
rie!
1T is possible. And yet with so
small a party 1 should scarce have
thought that they would have dared.
Well, we can but hasten back as quick
~ as we can and give them warning
Of what is hanging over them"
And so they turned for their weary
backward journey. though their minds