The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-10-20
CHAPTER xxIII-continued.

NiuhS W uullus. 's'Ni'
still at the grim outline of the silent
fort. l understood his thoughts, his
desire to aid his comrades; but, for a
moment, my mind was a blank.
could not let him go alone to almost
certain death. No, nor would he aban
don me on such a mission! Was there
no other way by which we could serve!
Suddenly a thought crept into my
mind.
Monsieur" I asked breathlessly
where do you suppose those Illini In
dians to beT'
caves and rocks"
How far from here"
-Four or five miles; there is a trail
from the mouth Of the creek"
"And you know the way? and there
might be many warriors there? they
will remember you, and obey your or
dersY
He Strengthened up. aroused as the
full meaning of my questioning oc-
Cured to him.
cay, there is a chance there, If we
find them in time, and in force enough
to make foray. Sacre! I know not
why such thought has not come to me
before. Could we but fall on those
devils from the rear in surprise, even
with a third Of their number, they
would run like cats. Mon Dieu! /
thank you for the thought"
We plunged into the forest. no longer
endeavoring to advance silently, but
inspired with a desire to achieve our
goal as soon as possible. At the mouth
of a stream entering the river, D'Ar-
tigny picked me up in his arms and
waded across. On the opposite bank
he sought eagerly on hands and knees
for the old trace he dimly remembered.
At last he stood erect.
GAY, lass, it's here to be easily fol-
lowed. What hour do you make it
now?"
about three"
$50 1 would have said; and It's not
daylight until after five. We can scarce
make it, yet we will try"
1t was not as dark here away from
the gloom Of the Rock; the forest was
open, and yet will never know how
D'Artigny succeeded in following that
dim trail at so rapid a gait. As for
me. could see nothing of any path,
and merely followed him blindly. not
even certain of the nature of the
ground under my feet. Again and
again 1 tripped over some obstacle-a
root, a tuft Of grassland continually
unnoted branches tapped against my
face. Once l fell prone, yet so noise
1essly that Rene passed beyond view
before he realized my misfortune, and
returned to help me regain my feet.
Not until then, I think, did he COM
prehend the rapidity Of his movements.
'Your pardon, dear girl" and his lips
brushed my hair, as he held me in his
arms. 81 forgot all but our comrades
yonder. The night is dark to your
eyes,"
81 can see nothing" 1 confessed re-
gretfully, '.yet you have no difficulty"
"'Tis woodsman's training. have
followed many dim trail in dark for
ests, and this is so plain 1 could keep
to it on a run If necessary. All! the
fort is awake and vigilant-that was
rifle fire."
had not only heard the sharp re-
ports but seen the flash of fire cleaving
the darkness.
''The discharges came from the
woods yonder-they were Indian guns.
monsieur. See! those two last were
from the stockade; l could perceive the
logs in the fare"
cay, and that Is all; the lads will
waste no ammunition in the gloom, ex-
cept to tell the savages they are awake
and ready"
"How far have we travelled, mon
sieur?"
"a mile, perhaps. At the crooked
met with no harm when you fell?"
mo more than a bruise. I can go
on now"
We turned to the right, and plunged
into the thicket, the way now so black
that I grasped his jacket in fear of
becoming lost. We were clambering up
a slight hill, careless of everything but
our footing, when there was a sudden
rustling of the low branches on either
side our path. D'Artigny stopped.
thrusting me back, while at that very
instant indistinct forms seemed to leap
forth from the covert. 1t occurred so
quickly. so silently, that before even
realized danger, he was struggling
madly with the assailants. I heard the
crash of blows, an oath of surprise. a
cultural exclamation, groan of pain.
Hands gripped me savagely: felt
naked bodies. struggled wildly to
escape. but was flung helplessly to the
ground, a hand grasping my hair. I
could see nothing, only confused mass
of legs and arms, but D'Artigny was
still on his feet struggling desperately.
From some hand he had grabbed a
rifle, and swung it crashing into the
faces Of those graphing him. Back
he came, step by step, fighting like
fiend, until he stood over me. With
one wide sweep of his clutched weapon
he struck me free, blow which shat
tered the gun-stock, and left him armed
only with the iron bar. But the battle
fury was on him; dimly 1 could see
him towering above me, bareheaded.
his clothes torn to rags, the grim barrel
poised for blow.
"St. Ann" he cried exultantly. "'Tis
"a good fight SO far-would you have
more Of it?'
"Holdr' broke in a French voice
from out the darkness. "What means
this? Are you Of white bloodY"
/ II have always supposed So"