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

- think that we had best wait for
nightfall before we make our way sn.
Since the IreQuois scouts are out as
far as this Il IS likely that they lie
thick round Potion. and we may find
the last step the worst unless we have
a care" He paused a moment with
slanting head aud sidelong ear. by
Ste. Amer be muttered. I'VE have not
shaken them OF. They are still upon
our trail"
You hear them9"
YES: they are no great way from
US. They viii find that they have fol-
lowed US once too often this time.
Slip OF your moccasins. monsieur"
DE Catinat pulled OF his shoes as
directed and Du Lhut did the same
Put them on as II they were
gloves" said the pioneer. and an IN
slant later Ephraim Savage and Amos
had their comrades shoes upon their
hands.
You can swing your muskets over
your back So Now down on ali
fours. bending yourselves double. with
your hands pressing hard upon the
earth That IS excellent. Two men
can leave the trail Of four. Now come
with me. monsieur"
He fitted from tree 70 tree on line
which was parallel 10 but a few yards
distant from that OF their comrades.
Then suddenly he crouched behind a
bush and pulled De Catinat down be-
side him.
''They must pass US In n few min
utes." he whispered. "Do not fire II
you can help e." Something cleaned
In Du Lhut's hand. and his comrade.
glancing down. saw that he had drawn
keen little tomahawk from his belt.
suddenly he saw something move. II
fitted like n shadow from one trunk
TO the other. so swiftly that De Catinat
could not have told whether Il were
beast or human. And then again he
saw 80. and yet again. sometimes one
shadow, sometimes two shadows. Then
| for n few moments all was still once
more. and then in an instant there
crept out from among the bushes the
most terrible looking creature that ever
walked the earth-an Iroquois chief
upon tbs war trail.
He was a tall. powerful man. and
his bristle OF scalp locks and eagle
feathers made him look like a giant In
the dim light. for a good eight feet lay
between his beaded moccasin and the
topmost plume OF his headgear. One
side OF his face was painted in SCOT.
ocher and vermillon 20 resemble a dog
and the other half as a fowl His gun
was thrown forward. aud ne crept
along with Blended knees. peering. lis
tening. pauslng. hurrylng on. breath.
Ing Image Of caution. Two PAGES be-
hind him walked a lad OF fourteen.
clad aud armed IN the same fashion.
but without the painted face
They were just abreast OF the bush
when something caught the eye OF the
younger warrior. some displaced twig
or huttering leaf. and he paused. with
suspicion IN every feature. Another
1 instant and he had warned his com.
j na niar hue - 49,. -s--~... ,,,. .,-r
buried bis Ratchet Ia the skull OF the
! older warrior De Catinat heard n dull
| crash, as when an ak splinters its way
into a rotten tree and the man fell
like log. kicking aud striking with
his powerful limbs. The younger war
rior sprang Ike deer over his fallen
comrade and dashed on into the wood
But an instant later there was gun
| shot among the trees In front. followed
by faint waillng cry.
THAT Is his death whoop." said Du
Lhut composedly.
As be spoke the two others came
back. Ephraim ramming a fresh charge
into his musket.
All, he's gone" said Du Ihut. As
be spoke the Indian gave n last spasm
with bis hands and feet and lay rigid.
Hes great chief" said Du I.hut.
1T Is Brown Moose OF the Mohawis.
and the other Is bis second son. We
have drawn hrst blood. but I do not
think that Il VIII be the last. for the
lroquois DO not allow their war chiefs
10 die unavenged lie was a mighty
fighter"
They turned away. leaving the red
figure stretched under the silent trees.
AS they passed on they caught n
| glimpse OF the lad lying doubled up
among the bushes whore he had fallen.
The pioneer walked very swiftly until
he came 20 little stream which pratt
tied down 20 the big river. Here he
slipped OF his shoes and lcggings and
waded down II with his companions for
half a mile or 50.
They will follow our tracks when
they find him. said ne. but this vii.
throw them OF. for IL Is only on run
ming water that an IroQuOls can find
no trace And now we shall lie In this
| clump until nightfail. for we are little
over mile from Fort Poitou. and II Is
dangerous TO 20 forward for the ground
becomes more open"
And so they remained concealed
among the alders while the shadow
turned from short 10 long. and the
white drifting clouds above them were
tinged with the pink OF the setting sun
Du Lhut coiled himself into a ball. with
his pipe between his teeth. and dropped
into light sleep. pricking up his ears
and starting at the slightest sound.
The two Americans whispered together
for a long time but NJ last the soothfp q