Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-10-06

FOUND that * WAS more tldu
nesh and blood could endure 20 remain
waiting ot their posts while the fates
OF their wives and children were being
decided at the back. All was quiet az
the stockade and the Indians appeared
10 be as absorbed as the Canadians in
what was passing upon the river. One
10y one. therefore. the men on guard
had crept away and had assembled at
the back To cheer the shot and TO gro0n
as the remaining canoe sped like a
bloolhouud down the river in the wake
OF the fugitives. But the savages had
one nj their head who was as full Of
Vyiles and resource as pu Lbut him
self The Flemish Bastard had
watched the house from behind the
stockade as a dog watches rat hole.
and DE had instantly discovered that
the defenders had left their post With
q score of other warriors he raised !
great log from the edge OF the forest.
and, crossing the open space unchal-
lenged. De and his men rushed it
against the door with such violence
as 20 crack the bar across and tear
the wood from the hinges. The first
fntimation which the survivors had OF
the attack was the crash Of the door
gent watchmen who had been seized
and scaiped I'm the hall The whole
basement floor was in the hands OF the Z
Indians, and De Catinat and his enemy /
the friar were cut on from the foot OF /
the stairs
Fortunately. however. the manor /
houses Of Canada were built with the 4
ono idea OF defense against Indians.
the defenders. a wooden ladder which 4
could be drawn up in case OF need |
hung down from the upper windows 20 /
the ground upon the river side. De I
Catinat rushed round 60 this followed /
by the friar lie felt Cor the ladder in /
the darkness. II was gone.
Then. indeed. his heart sank 10 de- /
spair. Where could Dee Gy to2 The /
boat was destroyed The stockndes /
lay between him and the forest and /
they were in the hands ~ the IroQuois. |
suddenly ho heard a voice from some |
where in the darkness above him.
"Give me your gun. lad" IL said. u /
see the loom of some OF the heather |
down 10y the wall"
1T IS I, II Is I. Amos" cried De |
Catinat Down with the ladder or /
am dead mani"
"IIave care. IL may be a ruse." /
said the voice OF Du Ihut
NO. no. I'll answer FOR st. cried
Amos. and an instant later down came /
the ladder De Catiuat aud the friar
rushed up g. and they hardly had ;leir
feet upon the runcs when swarm o.
warriors burst out from the door and
poured along the river bank
II was o. very small band who now
hold the llst point 90 which they could |
retreat only nine of them remained !
the seigneur Du Ihut. the two Ameri-
cans, the triar. De Catnat. Theuriet
the major domo and two OF the censi- /
taires. The stone staircase ran straight |
up from the kitchen 60 the main hall.
ma the door which had been barricad-
cd across the lower part by two mat
tresses commanded the whole flight
The cards were st.ll laid ont al one
end 81 the table. with the tricks over
tapping each other. as they had left
them. But there was something else
there OF more interest 20 them. FOR the
breakfast had not been cleared away.
and they bad been fighting all day
with hardly bite or sup. Even when |
face 20 face with death Nature stiH
men turned sav0ge!y upon the loaf.
the ham and the cold Wild duck. A ,
little cluster Of wine bottles stood upon
the buffet. and these had their necks |
knocked OF and were emptied down
parched threats
Tor four hours sounds or riot. OF |
dancing and OF reveling rose UP from
the st0rehouse. and the smell OF the |
open brandy casks filed the whole air |
More than once the savages quarreled |
and fought among themselves. and II /
seemed ms II they had forgotten their
enemies above. but the besieced s0or
found that il they attempted 10 pre- |
sumo upon this they were as closely |
watched as ever. The major Gomo !
Ineuriet passing between a Ioopnole /
and a light. was killed instantly by
bullet from the stockade. and both
Amos ana the old seigneur had narrow
escapes.
Slowly the light crept UP the eastern !
sky. a little line Of pearl. then "a band !
OF pink, broadening. stretching spread |
ing. until it shot its warm color across |
the heavens. tingeing the edges of the |
drifting clouds. De Catinat stood at |
Tic iAN0M 4ypNiA5 vHt NASA oH1ANAi9 !
his eyes fell on a dark SPOT upon the l
river 10 the north Of them
There is a canoe coming upw he I!
cried.
IN an instant they had all rushed 10
the opening. but Du Lhut sprang after
them and pulled them engrily toward
the door. DO you wish 20 die before
your time?" he cried
AYE. aye" said Captain Ephraim.
who understood the gesture II not the
words. I'VE must leave a watch on
deck. Amos. lad lie here with me
and be ready II they show"
The two Americans and the old pio-