Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-04-12
cavating . new magazine in which to

tlOu Us we'll as INC ofcisiShe u 49,
excavation"
60 on" cried Tonti impatiently, as
the yells of the savages rose louder
than before, indicating that an adj
vance had been made.
, Il thought it might be a good plan
sometime to have a mine laid ready to
be exploded"
$50 you"
Il made the excavation so that 1t
would lie just beneath the outside
path some score of feet from the top"
"Sangue di Dio!" cried Tonti JOY
ously, as the idea of the young man
flashed into his mind. I'VE are saved.
You mean to fire the magazine beneath
their very feet, and make an opening
in the path they can never CROSSE"
That was my thought" replied the
I young man modestly, flushing with
pleasure as he saw his leader approved
it. 1.-THE powder has not been stored
there yet, but can be in a very few
moments"
take three men with you," ordered
Tonti, 'and place half of all our stock
of powder in the new magazine, and
arrange so that it can be exploded on
a given signal"
In 20 minutes it shall be ready" re-
piled the youth, and FASTENED away to
carry out the command.
Hold out for a half-hour longer and
we shall blow these devils to perdi-
ton" 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.
1T is accomplished" he reported with.
a smile.
Just then a strange lull in the con-
fused sounds of the combat occurred.
1t 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 a 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
5 in his arms the form of his beloved
With a cry he sprang after him,
: Miron heard his voice, and, having
c gained the top, turned to meet his foe
Tonti felt for his pistol that he hat
placed in his belt but found that il
had dropped out in his hasty prog
9 ress. Nothing daunted, without
weapon, he rushed up the little laddel
s and grappled with his enemy. Mirol
e dropped Renee to the platform and re
It ceived Tonti with a smile OF savag'
joy, brandishing his knife. Tont
struck the arm holding the weapon
furious blow with his iron hand, tt
force him to drop it, and seized hi
g throat with the other.
It Miron still retained his knife ant
Tonti by the fast increasing light say
II the blade descend, and felt as it were
IS red-hot iron plunged into his shoulder
S. Again it fell, this time into his bach
II A blackness fell suddenly before hi
y eyes. His hold upon the throat OF hi
4 adversary loosened, a roaring filled hi
g ears, followed by a great explosio
II which seemed to shake the platfor1
s on which they stood, and he fell bac
: and knew nc more.
4 Miron did not stop, but THROWN
! his knife aside, stopped down and gath
y cred Renee, who called loudly for hell
" within his arms again. He %approache
Q the palisade and had already mad
preparations for his descent when /
~ saw Pompon appear upon the rampar
= With an oath he drew back, and pu
i,e ting Renee down nce more, mac
~ ready to receive this new attacl
Neither of the men had a weapon, b'
is each sprang at the others throat Ill
VI some ferocious animal; they clinche
u and struggled to and fro; neither WI
- able to throttle the other, so even
ho was their strength matched. Rene
a with streaming hair and terror-stricI
W en- eyes, dragged herself towards Il
y, motionless form of Tonti out of tt
~ way Of the combatants, who sway
~, from side to side in their desperate G
he Govt. NJ, n1;ron hos tho advarta,
us as he strives to trip his adversar,
y. but Pompon, quick and agile, recove
his footing, and the struggle Is r
newed on equal terms. Backward tn
~, rush, and Miron barely saves himst
nv from falling from the platform in
Y the yard of the fort by a despera
ny wrench. They turn and twist and tn
Il. again. The rough planks beneath the
IL feet creak under their tread: the whit
'e structure vibrates with the violence
'N the fight.
At length Pompon's strength beg
to fail, and he felt the grip on !
4. throat tighten, while his own SLOW
relaxed. They were alone; the din
battle, the shouts of the French, a
the war-cries of the Indians, reach
:. his ears from the other side OF t
fort. There was no aid near.
could not maintain the struggle long
He glanced at Renee, %crouching he
less and terrified beside his wound
friend, and a look Of high resolve cal
into his eye that made his ugly SCARF
a.. countenance glow with the beauty
a noble purpose, a look his antagon
saw and dreaded. Renee met
~ glance and understood. With the c
"Adieu, mon Capitaine!" he forced
~, foe back by one supreme effort. 4
other step toward the outer edge