The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-01

ard ut the orders of the Seigneur the
two gates were now secured with huge
bars of oak fitted into iron staples on
either side. The children were placed
in the lower storeroom with few
women TO watch them. while the 9TH
ers were told off to attend 80 the fire
buckets and to reload the muskefS
The men had been paraded. fifty-two
of them in all. and they were divided
mo parties now for the defense Of
each part of the stockade. On one
side it had been built up to within
few yards Of the river. which not only
relieve | them from the defense OF that
face. but enabled them to Get fresh
water by throwing n bucket at the end
of rope from the stockadc. The
/ boats and canoes of Ste Marie were
drawn up on the bank just under the
wall and were precious now as offer
ing last means of escape should all
else fail. The next fort, st. Louis, was
but few leagues mp the river. and
he In Noue had already sent swift
messenger TO them with news of the
danger. At least il would be point
on which they might retreat should the
worst come to the worst
And that the worst might come 10
the worst was very evident To SO ex-
perienced woodsman ms Amos Green.
He had left Ephraim Savage snoring
in deep sleep upon the floor and was
now walking round the dcfenScs with
his pipe i'm his mouth examining with
a critical eye every detail i'm connec-
ton with them. The stockade was
very strong. nine feet high and closely
built of oak stakes. which were thick
enough TO turn n bullet. Halfway up
it was loopholed i'm long. narrow Sits
for the fire of the defenders But on
the other hand. the trees grew TO with
in hundred yards of it and formed L
screen for the attack. while the garri-
son was SO scanty that it could not
spare more than twenty men ut the
utmost for each face. His face dark
ened as he thought of the young wife
who had come so far in their safe
keeping and of the women and chill
dren whom he had seen crowding into
the fort
Would it not be better il you could
send them up the river?" he suggested
TO the seigneur.
II should very gladly do so, mon
sieur. and perhaps. If we are all alive,
we may manage it tonight il the
weather should be cloudy, but | can
not spare the men to guard them and
cannot send them without guard
when we know that Iroquois canoes
ire on the river
You are right. 1t would be mad
less"
HAY rfnf he n-<<
ace with your friends and with fif-
cen men. NJ. de Catinat, will you
command the partyg'
Willingly"
81 will take the south face, as II
seems TO be the point OF danger Du
-.hut can take the north, and five men
hould be enough to watch the river
ide."
"Have we food and POWDER"
Il have -four and smoked cells enough
0 see this matter through. As to pow
Ter. we have all our trading stores to
raw upon.'
I'VE have not time to clear any OF
hese trees" asked the soldier
Impossible. They would make bet
pr cover down"
But af least I might clear that patch
( brushwood round the birch sapling
-hich lies between the east face and
he edge of the forest IL Is good cover
Or their skirmishers."
Eyes: that should be fred without
clay"
"Nay; ] think that might do bet
err" said Amos. "We might bait n
for
owder of which you spoker'
''Theuriet. the major domo. is giving
ut powder in the main storehousc."
Very good Amos vanished up
tairs and returned with large linen
az in his hand. This he filled with
owder. and then, singing ii over his
boulder, he carried IL out to the clump
{ bushes and placed IL at the base of
ne sapling, cutting q strip out of the
ark Immediately above the spot
hen with few leafy branches and
allen leaves he covered the powder
ag very carefully over so that it
'oked like little hillock of earth.
Iaving arranged all to his satisfaction,
e returned.
Il think that we are all ready for
lem now safu the Sefgneur- Il WOuiu
lat the women and children were in
safe place Has any one heard any
ling of Du I.hutf'
Jean has the best ears Of any OF US,
our excellency," said one man from
side the brass corner cannon. "Hc
ought that hdr Heard shots few
inutes ago" .-t ~
'.Then he has come into touch of
EN-. Efienne, take ten men and go
the withered oak TO cover them IL
ey are retreating, but do not go an
her yard on any pretext. ! am too
ort handed already. Perhaps, De
Itinat. you wish to sleep?'
No: / could not Sleep
We can do no more down here.
hat do you say to a round III two OF
luet.+'
They assembled to the upper hall.
lere Adele came and sat by her hns-
nd, while the swarthy Omega crouch
by the window, looking keenly out
% the forest.
Men are rushing from the woods