The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-04-27
CHAPTER XIV.

SHOWS THAT THE LIFE OF AN EX-
PLORER IS FAR FROM TAME.
After Tonti's departure for Quebec,
La Sale had proceeded to occupy his
force az best he might until his return.
The building of a vessel progressed
but slowly, owing to continual dissatis-
faction and unrest among his men.
Thinking to find a work that would
engage all their strength and time, he
set out with one of the more trust
worthy, the young Sieur de Boisrondet,
| together with two Recollet friars,
Father Membre and Father Ribourde,
and assembled the river to the spot
where lay the great city of the Illini.
He had long felt that If the height
overlooking this town could be forth
fled and held, an impregnable fortress
would be secured which would serve
not only as a menace to all the In
dams of the region, but would become
an admirable storehouse for the furs
that could be collected. While thus
engaged at the town Of the friendly
Illihi, n of the men who had been
left behind at Fort Creve-Coeur ar
rived, bringing the disastrous news
that the entire force remaining there
had mutinied, destroyed the fort, and
taken to the woods to lead the free
rowing life Of the coureurs-de-bois that
they all SO much desired. Thus were
these three Frenchmen and the two
priests left alone. They made their
quarters in the Illini town. There was
now no hope of fortifying the rock
even. until Tonti's return.
Thus passed the spring. With the
early summe came the news that car
ried dismay to the hearts Of all their
savage allies; the ferocious Iroquois
were on the march to attack them.
Confusion reigned. The white men
were instantly accused of being Iro-
quOis spies. and the approaching at
tack wns attributed to their doings.
For a time 1t looked to all as though
in tue heat and excitement of che mo-
ment they would be sacrificed to the
fear and anger of the frightened saw
ages. But La Sale boldly proclaimed
that the whites were friends of the
Illini, and to prove this said they
would join them in their defense
against the oncoming enemy. This
served to stop any active measures
against the French, although they
were still viewed with suspicion.
A few days later the advance guard
of the attacking force appeared. and
hurried preparations were made to re-
sist. The squaws and children were
hurried down the river to an island,
where they were left with a small force
10 guard them, while the main body Of
the warriors remained to meet their
foe. The faces Of the braves were
creased, their bodies painted, and the
night spent in dancing their war
dances, singing their war-songs, and
working up their courage to meet the
coming battle. The scouts brought in
ever-increasing reports of the size OF
the force that was making ready to fall
upon them. La Sale offered to medi-
ate between the two nations, SO adj
vancing with two of his companions,
he held out a belt of wampum as q sigu
OF peace. When the Iroquois COM
menced firing on them-La Sale sent
the others back, and. proceeding alone,
soon entered the Iroquois lines. He
inquired hsughtily what they. the al
lies Of the French, meant by coming on
a warlike errand against the nlini, who
were the children Of the great Onontio
and who were under his special pro-
lection. Ho stood unflinching amid a
group of bowling. threatening savages.
Ono brave. Intoxicated with dreams Of
blood and murder. struck at him with
a knife, but the blade that was intends
ed for his heart, striking a rib, glanced
on, infic.ing an ugly flesh wound. AM
other seized his hair with one hand,
and with the other made the motions
Of scalping him. La Sale. without
weapons or any means of defense. bold
w chided them for their behavior, and
demanded z council OF the chiefs.e This
was held. and he repeated his demands
that the Illini be lett in pencn. thrcAt-
ening the IroQuois Nth the wrath Of
France II they were harmed.
After I long md tedious season Of
harangues from many Of the cAiofA
lthay hronakx forth six uaakaseu u