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

|.
III u so that they might be turned
upon the door. all further re-
/ sistance would have been vain. but Du
Lhut's presence Of mind had saved
! them from that danger. The two guns
upon the river face and the canoes
were safe. for they were commanded
by the windows Of the house. But
their numbers were terribly reduced.
and those who We're left were weary
and wounded and spent. Nineteen had
gained the house. but one had been shot
through the body. while a second had
his shoulder cleft by a tomahawk and
could no longer raise his musket Du
Lhut. De la Noue and De Catinat were
uninjured. but Ephraim Savage had a
bullet hole IN his forearm and Amos
was bleeding from cut upon the face
a few shots from the barricaded
windows suficed 70 clear the inclo-
sure, For 1t was all exposed to their
| aim, but on the other hand the In
dams had the shelter OF the stockade
now. and from the farther side OF it
they kept up a fierce fire upon the
windows. Half n dozen OF the censi-
taires returned the fusillade. while the
leaders consulted as 70 what had best
be done
I'VE have twenty-five women and
| fourteen children" snid the seigneur
II am sure that you will agree with
me. gentlemen. that our first duty Is
toward them. Some OF you. like my.
self. have lost sons or brothers this
day. Let Us az least save our wives
and sisters"
NO Iroquois canoes have passed up
the river" said one OF the Canadians
III the women start IN the darkness
they can get away TO the fort"
BY Ste. Anne OF Beaupre~' ex.
claimed Du Lhut. Il think IL would be
we'll II you could get your men out OF
this also. FOR cannot see how II is TO
! be held until morning"
Tut tut. What nonsense IS thisr'
cried De Ia Nouc Are we 70 aban-
don the manor house OF Ste. Marie 10
the first gang OF savages who choose
% make an attack upon IL? No no
gentlemen; there are still nearly 4
score OF US. and when the garrison
learns that we are so pressed, which
Will be by tomorrow morning at the
latest they will certainly send us re-
lief"
III you stand by the fort I will not
desert you" said Du Lhut. "and yet il
is a pity 10 sacrifice brave men for
nothing"
The canoes will hardly holI the
| women and children as it is" cried
Theuriet There are but two large
and four small. There is not space
for a single man"
The IroQuois were very quiet now,
and an occasional dropping shot from
the trees or the stockade was the only
sign OF their presence. The twilight
was gathering In and the sun had al.
ready sunk beneath the treetops.
Leaving Waterman at each window,
the leaders went round 10 the back OF
the house, where the canoes were lying
upon the bank. There We're no signs
OF the enemy upon the river TO the
north OF them.
1--WE are In luck" said Amos. The
clouds are gathering, and there will be
little light
1T is luck, indeed. since the moon is
only three days past the full" answer
ed Du I-hut. Il wonder that the Iro-
quois have not cut us of upon the wa
ter, but II Is likely that their canoes
have gone south 10 bring up another
war party"
I'm an hour Il might be dark enough
to start"
Il think that there is rain In those
clouds, and that viii make IL darker
still"
The women and children were as
sembied, and their places in each boat
We're assigned TO them. To Omega, the
Indian wife OF the seigneur. who was
as wary and as experienced as a war
sachem OF her people, the command OF
the women was intrusted.
1T Is not very far. Adele" said De
Catinat. 1T Is but league or two"
But / do not wish 10 leave you.
Amory. We have been together In all
our troubles"
My dear love. you Will tell them an
the fort how things are with us, AMI
they will bring US help"
Let the others do that. and I win
stay. / viii not be useless. Amory.
omega has taught NE 10 load a gun.
will not be afraid. indeed VIII not
You must not ask It, Adele. II Is
impossible, child. could not let Won
stay. II Is for my sake. dear. You
DO not knew what a load II will be
from my heart when know that you
are safe. And you need not be afraid
for me. We can easily hold the place
until morning"
Adele was silent, but her hands fight
ened upon his arm. Her husband was
stiil endeavoring to reassure her when
groan burst from the watcher in the
window which overlooked the stream.
There is a canoe on the river TO the
north OF usr' he cried.
How many warriors ara IN tt,v CD