Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-05-09

III was bfiInl uANll@ul now. ana Il'
square Enclosure within the stOckade
was filed with an anxious crowd who
had just learned the evil tidings. The
scouting party under DU Lhut and
AchiIle de Ia Noue had already left.
and at the orders Of the ]seigueur 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 a few
women to watch them. while the 9th
ers were told off to attend to the fire
buckets and TO reload the muskets.
The men had been paraded, ffty-two
of them in all. and they were divided
into parties now for the defense of
each part of the stockade. On u
side it had been built up to within a
few yards of the river, which not only
relieved them from the defense of that
face, but enabled them to get fresh
water by throwing a bucket at the end
Of q rope from the stockade. The
boats and canoes of Ste. Marie were
drawn up on the bank just under the
wall and were precious now as offer
'N
ing a last means of escape should all
else fail. The next fort, st. Louis, was
but a few leagues up the river, and
De la Noue had already sent a swift
messenger to them with news of the
danger. At least it would be a point
on which they might retreat should the
worst come to the worst.
Al +hof +hn Tnrct n1iUht nnmn IN
the worst was very evident to so ex-
%perienced a woodsman as Amos Green.
He had left Ephraim Savage snoring
in a deep sleep upon h floor and was
now walking round the defenses with
his pipe in his mouth, examining with
a critical eye every detail in cOnnec-
ton with them. The stockade was
very strong, nine feet high and closely
built of oak stakes, which were thick
enough 10 turn a bullet. Halfway up
1t was loopholed in long. narrow Sits
for the fire of the defenders. But, on
the other hand. the trees grew to with
in a hundred yards of il and formed a
screen for the attack. while the garri-
son was so scanty that it could not
spare more than twenty men at 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 if you could
send them up the river?' he suggested
to the %seigneur.
81 should very gladly do so, mon
sieur, and perhaps, if we are all alive,
we may manage it tonight If the
weather should be cloudy, but | can
not spare the men to guard them and
l cannot send them without a guard
when we know that Iroquois canoe
are ON the river"
you are right. 1t would be mad
hess"
81 have stationed you on the eastern
face with your friends and with fif,
teen men. NJ. de Catinat. will you
command the partyy"
"Willingly."
Il will take the south face, as It
seems to be the point of danger. Du
Lhut can take the north, and five men
should be enough to watch the river
side"
"Have we food and POWDER"
81 have -four and smoked eels enough
TO see this matter through. AS to pow
der, we have all our trading stores to
draw upon"
"We have not time to clear any Of
these trees?" asked the soldier.
impossible. They would make bet
ter cover down."
"But at least | might clear that patch
OF brushwood round the birch sapling
which lies between the east face and
the edge of the forest. 1t is good cover
for their s~kirmishers."
Eyes; that should be fired without
delay"
NAY; | think that | might do bet
ter" said Amos. I'VE might bait a
trap for them there. Where is this
powder of which you spoke?"
'Theuriet, the major domo. is giving;
out powder in the main st~orehouse."
very good Amos vanished up.
stairs and returned with a large linen
bag in his hand. This he filled with
powder, and then, singing it over his