Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-02-22
Xxx.
IN WHICH SOME DISCOVERIES ARE
MADE.

Xxx.
IN WHICH SOME DISCOVERIES ARR
l MADE.
The advance of the party was no
rapid, because of the inability of tn.
captives to make long marches. TIL.
leader was evidently a subordinat,
chief who feared to ill-treat his white
prisoners lest the responsibility of hav.
ing provoked hostilities with tn
French should be laid at his door. Al
night a special shelter was provided
for Renee, while Tonti and the Mohe-
gan We're permitted to rest on the
ground near by. Four of the number
were detailed TO procure food, which
they did in great abundance. An Offer
was even made to provide a sort of
bark litter for Renee, swung from the
shoulders of two of the braves. She
refused this, however, as it would have
separated her from Tonti, whom she
silently appealed to more and more
for protection. He noticed her
changed demeanor, but attributed it
10 the TACT that he was La Salle's friend
and the only white man present. Aft
er the little camp was still at night
ne heard the call of a distant schreech-
owl that he recognized as the signal of
the ever-faithful Pompon, who was
evidently following on their trail. On
their journey to Quebec, after escap-
ing from the Hurons they had devised
a code of signs in case they should
ever be separated. The number of
boots correspondent to a letter of the
alphabet, the whole preceded by TIRES
series OF cries of three calls each.
Thus Tonti was able to spell out dur
ing the night the communication in
tended for him. "C-o-u-r-a-g-e," came
the cheering message, IT s-h-a-l-l
1-l-n-d m-e-a-n-s for YOUR e-s-
c-a-p-e."
Six days they %iourneyed thus. At
length on the morning of the seventh
the far-off barking of dogs was heard,
the prisoners knew they were ap.
preaching their destination. About
noon they came upon a clearing about
ten acres in extent, situated on a plat
eau overlooking a beautiful lake some
half-dozen miles long. On this plateau
about go dwellings of varying sizes
were scattered irregularly. Their adj
vent was heralded by the yelping of
a horde of naked children, who sur
rounded them, followed by a swarm Of
indian ours, who barked vociferously.
The warriors bestowed a succession of
cuffs and kicks when they approached
too near, and led the captives to one
OF the smaller lodges, which was I'M
occupied.
The sides of this house were formed
a double row of tall saplings planted
1lrmly in the ground, whose tops were
bent over and dashed together at the
top to form the roof. The many in
of the branches served for the
of the smoke from a fire which
SmoulGered on tie ground in the mid
die Of the floor. Over all were spread
sheets OF bark like the clapboards of
a civilized dwelling. From a number
cross poles near the roof were sus-
pended a quantity of skins, clothing,
pieces of smoked meat, and rows of
Tried ears of maize. Around the in
.erior, about three feet from the
ground, ran a shelf or s~caffolding, COW
sred with a few mats and skins. which
evidently served for sleeping places
or the inmates. Here in an atmos-
]here rendered almost unbearable by
he heat and smoke of the fire, the
hree prisoners were left to await the
'eturr of the head chief and his men.
Who were off on a hunting expedition [
or the day. A guard at the door pre-.
7ented any intrusion, and the weary
ravelers were left in peace. Tonti
managed to collect a sufficient number
t skins to curtain off one end Of the
Dom and form a soft pile on which I
lenee could rest. She received this
attention without thanks. 6
ut yet without the resistance with
1hich she had formerly met Tonti's :
indy Offices.
TIC Be Continued 4.