Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-04-12
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CHAPTER xXvI.-CoNrrNuEp.
WILLIAM z. A. WILSON

Reinforced by others from the In
terror of the woods. they prepared for
another advance. This time, instead
of rushing directly in n solid line.
they separated, running a few steps
and then suddenly crouching down
close to the ground. The barricade
was finally reached, and after wait
ing to receive its fire, they precipi-
tated themselves upon it before the
defenders could load again. The
brush-heaps were ignited, and their
light served to render the foe more
easily distinguishable. The chevalier
was seemingly at every spot along the
line at once, cheering his allies n
ably directing the defense. At this
moment, however, just as the tide
seemed about to turn against the at
lacking force, the dreaded lroquois
yell was heard from the river at the
rear of the defenders. Terror seized
them, believing themselves TO be sur
rounded by the enemy, and despite all
the efforts of Baugis to rally them they
fed southwark along the rivers edge.
A score of willy Iroquois had entered
the river above, and swimming noise
lessly down until they were well past
the fort, had landed and approached
the besieged form the rear, making as
much noise as possible, hoping to be
able to deceive them into thinking that
! a large force was behind them. They
succeeded admirably, and soon the en-
tire space. about the base Of the fort
was one mass of ferocious hostile
faces.
Tonti in the meantime had directed
the fire of both of the cannon and the
guns Of his men to the best advantage.
The young Indian he had posted to
watch the river for any approach from
that direction had reported nothing,
and was nowhere to be found when
the wells of the small Iroquois band
proclaimed the success of their under
taking. He saw with tears Of rage in
his eyes the retreat of the allies under
Baugis. There was nc time to afford
him aid, as the fort was surrounded
before he could order a portion OF his
men to their assistance. AS has been
stated, the rock was absolutely mac
cessible from three sides, so the whole
attention of both the attacking party
and the defenders of the fort was d.
rected towards the remaining side.
The approach here was by a zigzag
path, less than four feet in width,
fashioned out of the rock. Up this
path the savages swarmed, only to be
shot down or crushed by stones let
drop from the walls above. The num-
Der of %Iroquois, however, was so great
. that no sooner did one fall than an
other took his place.
Tonti was surprised in not seeing
Miron anywhere, for he had sufficient
knowledge of Indian warfare to recog-
nize his directing hand in the mode Of
attack, so different from the methods
usually employed by the savages
Pompon, with eye alert to catch sigh
of the villains face, moved rapidly
about the enclosure, finding time occa
~sionally to run back to the lodge wher'
the nuns and Renee were, to assure he
of Tonti's safety and report the prog
ress of the defense. He always re
turned, however, to Tonti's elbow, aid
ing him in the carrying out of their Ell
forts to repulse the horde slowl,
climbing the pathway, a painful fac
made evident by the glare Of the blaz
ing brush-fires.
The side of the fort towards tn
river being furthest from these fire
was in comparative darkness. TIL
shade was not so deep, however, as t
prevent an observer, had he been pres
cnt, from seeing the figure of the youn
Iroquois spy slip out from a place
concealment, and, mounting the plat
form, peer ~anxiously over the edge int
the river below. In answer to som
signal he stopped, and picking up
long object, fastened one end abou
the flagstaff on the platform and thre'
the other into the river. He waite
until he heard a splash, then, noun
ing over the edge of the palisade, b
disappeared. He had procured a stron
vine rope and thus effected his escap
He had been gone but a short tim
when a sound as of some n ascen(
ing the rope could have been hear
and soon a hand touched the top an
the half-naked figure of a man al
peared. He cautiously gained Il
shadow and rapidly approached or
after another of the small buildings
The enclosure, listening at each n b
fore passing on to the next. At lengt
he came to the one in which the null
and Renee were a%nXiously awaiting Il
outcome Of the fight. The nuns we
praying, while Renee, with rosary
nand, sat beside the burning pine knc
listening for every sound. Pompt
had just left her. She strove to co
centrate her mind upon the beads
her hand. She looked down. A moi
at the door aroused her. Perhaps
was Pompon returning with bad new
She gave a shrek of terror. The do
had opened and the Comte de Miro
in all the ferocity Of his Iroquois wa
paint, with a knife held between /
teeth, stood before her.
The nuns on seeing this terrible a
partition ran to the farthest cornt
Miron approached Renee before $
could overcome her terror sufficient
to move, snatched up the light, a
piled it t o the bark wall Of the lodi
which quickly ignited, seized Renee
his arms and was gone.
The battle still ragged furiously I
the possession of the gate. Alrea
bad the line of crawling, climb
devils almost gained the top Of t
path. The situation was despera
The young Sieur de B%olsrondet 9