Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-08-24
CHAPTER XV-continued.

Madame cassion, D'Artigny and
Barbeau are making their way in Ca
noe and on foot to Fort St. Louis.
| was but a girl in years, excitement
was still to me a delight, and l had
listened to so many tales, romantic,
wonderful, Of this wilderness fortress.
perched upon a rock, that my vivid
Imagination had weaved about it an
atmosphere of marvel. The beauty of
the view from its palisades, the vast
concourse of Indians encamped on the
plains, below. and those men guarding
its safety-the faithful comrades of
La Sale in explorations of the I'M
known, De Tonty, Boisrondet, and all
the others. had long since become to
my mind the incarnation Of romantic
adventure. Wilderness born, l could
comprehend and appreciate their tolls
and dangers. and my dreams conferred
about this great, lonely rock, on which
they had established a home. But the
end was not yet. Just below the con-
T1uence of the rivers there was a vii
Aage of the Tamaroas, and the prov
of u canoe touched the bank, while
D'Artigny stepped ashore amid a
tangle of low-growing bushes, that he
might have speech with some of the
warriors. and thus learn conditions at
the fort. With his foot on the bank.
he turned laughing. and held out his
hand to me.
Come, madame" he said, pleasant
iy, you have never seen a village of
our western tribes; it will interest
you"
l Joined him gladly. my limbs feel
ing awkward under me, from long
cramping in the boat, yet the climb
was not difficult, and he held back the
boughs to give me easy passage. Be
yond the fringe of brush there was an
open space, but as we reached this,
both paused, stricken dumb by horror
at the sight which met our view. The
ground before us was strewn with
dead, and mutilated bodies, and was
black with ashes where the tepees had
been burned, and their contents scat
tered broadcast.
oof devastation, of relentless, savage
cruelty. and | gave utterance to a sud
den sob, and shrank back against
D'Artigny's arm. hiding my eyes with
my hand. He stood and stared. mo
tionless. breathing heavily, uncon'
~sciously gripping my arm.
Mon Dieur' he burst forth, at last
What meaneth this? Are the wolves
again loose in the Valley"
He drew me back, until we were
both concealed behind a fringe o.
leaves, his whole ann alert, ever!
instinct Of the woodsman instantly
awakened.
Remain here hidden" he whls
pered. until l learn the truth; W
may face grave peril below"
He left me trembling and white
Tipped, yet l made no effort to re
strain him. The horror Of those dea'
bodies gripped me, but l would no
have him know the terror which he'll
me captive. With utmost caution b
.crept forth. and 1 lay In the shado'
of the covert, watching his move
ments. Body after body he al
preached. seeking some victim allv'
and aSle to tell the story. But ther
wal none At last he stood cree
satisfied that none beside the dea
were on that awful spot, and can
back to me.
Not one lives,' be said soberl,
"and there are men. women, and chi
-dren there. The story Is n east
told-an attack at daylight from Il
woods yonder. There has been I
fighting: a massacre Of the helplet
and unarmed."
"But who did sueh deed Of blood
"'Tfs the work OF the %Iroquois; d
-way they scalped tells that, and b
sides | saw other signs"
'sThe Iroquois." l echoed incred
Ious, for that name was the terror
my childhood. How came these sa
ages so far to the westwardT
.'Thelr war parties range to d
great river" he answered. 1--WE Il
lowed their bloody trail when first '
came to this valley. 1t was to ga
protection from these raiders that I
AIgonquins gathered about the 70
We fought the iends twice, and dro
them back, yet now they are he
again. Come. Adele, we must retu
to the canoe. and consult with Bt
bean. He has seen much Of Indi
@ar." y