The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-01-10
CHAPTER XXIlI.

" UT their case was very eNi
* oEe. Had the guns been los,
n SO that they might be turne
upon the door, an further re
slstnnce would have been vain, hut lN
Lhuts presence OF mind had savu
them from that danger The two guns
upon the river face and the canoc
were safe, for they were commanded
by the windows OF the house BUt
their numbers were terribly reduced
and those who were left were weary
and wounded and spent Nineteen had
gained the house, bui one had been shut
through the body, while second had
his shoulder cleft by tomahawk and
could no longer raise his musket Du
Lhut. De Ia Noue and De Catinat were
uninjured but Ephraim Savage had q
bullet hole in his forearm and Amos
was bleeding from cut upon the face
A few shots from the barricaded
windows sufIiccd TO clear the inclo-
sure. for II was all exposed to their
aim, but on the other hand the In.
dians had the shelter of the stockade
now, and from the farther side Of 1t
they kept up fierce fire upon the
windows. Half n dozen Of the censi-
taires returned the fusilade, while the
leaders consulted as TO what had best
be done
I'VE have twenty-five women and
| al GniI "a nj
II am sure that you will agree with
me. gentlemen, that our first duty IL
toward them. Some Of you, like my
self, have lost sons or brothers this
day. Let us at least save our wives
and sisters"
"No Iroquois canoes have passed up
the river" said one Of the Canadians.
IF the women start IN the darkness
they can get away to the fort"
"By Ste Anne of Beauprew ey.
| ..a,rifeu Du i,su,, tiiifK II WOulu bc
well If you could get your men out Of
this also, for | cannot see how 1t Is to
be held until morning"
Tut tut. What nonsense is thisw
cried De Ia Nouc, "Are we TO aban
don the manor house of Ste, Marie to
the first gang Of savages who choose
to make an attack upon it? No, no,
gentlemen; there are still nearly a
score of us, aud 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"
"If you stand by the fort | will not
desert you" said Du Lhut, "and yet it
is a pity TO sacrifice brave men for
nothing"
'The canoes will hardly hold the
women and children as 1t 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 st0ckade was the only
sign Of their presence The twilight
was gathering in and the sun had al
ready sunk beneath the treetops
Leaving watchman at each window,
the leaders went round TO the back Of
the house, where the canoes were lying
upon the bank. There were no signs
Of the enemy upon the river to the
north Of them.
I'VE are In luck" said Amos "The
clouds are gathering, and there will he
little light"
1T is luck. indeed. since the moon Is
only three days past the full" answer.
cd Du I.hut II wonder that the Iro-
quols have not cut us of upon the wa
tor, but II is likely that their canoes
have gone south TO bring up another
war party"
Tn an hour II might be dark enough
TO start"
II think that there Is rain in those
Clouds aud that VIII make II darker
still"
The women and children were as.
semblcd, and their places In each boat
were assigned to them. To Omega. the
Indian wife OF the selgncur, who was
as wary and as experienced as a war
sachem Of her people. the command Of
the women was lntrustcd.
1T Is not very far Adele" said De
Catinat IN is but a league or two"
But | do not wish 10 leave you,
Amory. We have been together in all
our troubles"
My dear love. you viii tell them at
the fort how things are with us. and
they viii bring us help"
LET the Others do That, and | will
stay. will not DE useless Amory.
Omega has taught the 10 load a gun.
win not be afraid indeed win not"
rYau must not ask Il, Adele. II Is
impossible. child. | could rot let yoI
stay. II Is for my sake. dear You
do aot know what load II VIII be
from my heart when know that YOU
are safe. Aud you need not be afrald
Tor me. We can easily hold the place
until morning"
Adele was silent. but her hands tiallt.
encd upon his arm Her husband VAS
siili cndeavoriag 20 reaAgure her wien
gsoan burt from the watcher 10 The
window which overlooked the stream.
There is d canoe on tile river 10 the
north " u.s. be cried
How many warriors are in itY' ask
cd the seignear
u cannot see The Hight Il not worry
good. aud u Is in the shadow u The
bank"
Which way is Il comingYf
1T Is coming this way An. Il shoots
out into The opcn now. ami can see
~ May the good Lord be praisedw
What Is II tbenp cried Dc IA Noue
inpatientiy.
u, Is no, an Iroquols canoe. There
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