Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-14

waist, his hands bound behind him. He was brave
lad, and although his face was pale and drawn bv
suffering, he ronted the Crazed mob that bufeted him
with no sign of fear, his eyes rowing about still
seeking some possible avenue of escape
On a sudden, that shreking, unduating crowd fell
away, and we could see the young man standing alone
bound to stake, his body leaning forward as if held
to its erect posture merely by the bonds The limp
dropping of his head made think him already unCOn
scous, possibly dead from some chance fatal blow.
but as the flames burst out in at his feet and
shot up, red and garng to his waist he gave uteranCe
to one terrible cry of agony and seemed to me gazed
fairly into his tortured eyes and could read their ptu
appeal. Twice [ raised my rifle the sight upon his
heart but burst not fire. No consideration of nv
own peril held back the pressure of the trigger twas
the remembrance of MademOiselle.
Come" | groaned to De Croix my hands pressed
tightly my eyes to shut the sight cit will craze
us both to stay here longer dare we aid the
poor fellow even by a shot"
We crept on together until we came out through the
thick bushes into the open prairie, and faced each
other, lips white and our bodies shaking with the
horror of what we had Just seen.
Mon Dieu!" he faItered, "'twill forever haunt
me-"
In spite of all had seen, it was still my desire to
creep in among the deserted lodges while darkness
Shrouded the outermost of them but felt that some
safe hiding place must first be found for my COM
panon. To attempt to take him with me while in
such nervous state would be only to invite disaster.
"De Croix l asked, 'know you if the Indians have
destroyed the house that stood by the fork of the
north river, where the settler Ouilmette lived?'
Il marked it through Lieutenant Helms field
glass yesterday. IT'S partially burned, yet the walls
still stand"
"Then twill serve us most excellentlv to hide in
for there will be naught left within likely to attract
marauders. We were fully an hour at it. creeping
cautiously along behind the scattered bushes until
passed the forks and swan the rivers northerly
branch.
AT last we came out upon slight knoll and found
ourselves close beside the low charred walls of what
remained of Ouilmette's logcabin.
"Have you got back your nerve, Monsieur" I
asked, as paused before the dark outline, cor
must l also help you to explore within?'
CTS not shadows that terrify me-" he answered.
no doubt thoroughly ashamed of his weakness, and
eager to make amends
lay prone in the grass at the corner of the cabin
my eyes fixed upon the distant Indian village and
gave little consideration to De Croix's exploit = in
deed, had almost forgotten it, when suddenly the
fellow sprang backward out of the open door, a cry
of wild terror upon his lips and his hands oustreched
as if to ward off some unearthly vision
De Croix acted so like Crazed man. groveling face
downward in the grass, that had to hold him. fearful
lest his noise might attract attention.
BE quiet De Croix!' | commanded sternly "What
is it that has driven you out of your senses"
''Twas the face of a dead woman" he gasped,
pointing forward "there, just within tie door! saw
her buried three years ago, swea- God be merci-
full. she awaited me yonder in the gloom"
"Pish" l exclaimed, thoroughly dsgusted "Your
unstrung by what have been through and
you dream of the dead"