Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-11-02


but a twisted bar of iron; the rene
gade's only weapon was a murderous
knife, it's point Redeemed with blood.
What word was said, know not, but
l saw D'Artigny fling his bar aside,
and draw the knife at his belt. Mon
Dieu! could not look; 1 know not
how they fought; ] hid my eyes and
prayed. When I glanced up again
both were gone, the fighting mass was
surging over the spit--but the Iroquois
were in flight, seeking only some
means of escape, while out through the
fort gates the soldiers of the garrison
were coming on a run, pouring volleys
of lead into the fleeing savages. I saw
De Tonty, De Baugis, De la Duran
taye-ayl and there was NJ. Casslon.
back among the stragglers, waving his
sword CALAMITY in the air. 1t was all
over with so quickly / could but sit
and stare; they ran past me in pur-
suit, wild yells echoing through the
woods, but all I thought of then was
NJ. d'Artigny. 1 scrambled down the
rock, falling heavily in my haste, yet
once upon my feet again, rushed forth,
reckless of danger. The ground was
strewn with dead and wounded, the
victorious Illlni already scattered In
merciless, headlong pursuit. Only a
group Of soldiers remained at the edge
of the forest. Among these were De
Tonty and La Forest. Neither noticed
my approach until faced them.
"What madame" exclaimed De
Tonty, "you here alsop he paused as
though in doubt, "and the Sieur OAR
tigny-had he part in this feat of
arms"
"a very important part, monsieur"
returned La Forest, stanching a wound
on his forehead, yet bowling gal
lantly to me. "'Twas indeed his plan,
and l permitted him command as he
knows these Illini Indians better than
l."
"But does he live, monsieurT I
broke In anxlously.
"LiveI ay, very much alive-see, he
comes yonder now. Faith, he fought
Jules Lescalles knife to knife, and end
ed the career Of that renegade. Is
that not a recommendation, NJ. de
Tontyw
The other did not answer; he was
watching D'Artigny approach, his eyes
filled with doubt. 1 stepped forward
to greet him, with hands Outstretched.
He was rags from head to foot, spat-
tered with blood, an ugly wound show
ing on one cheek, yet his lips and eyes
smiled.
"Twas good work, we'll DONE" he
said cheerily. "'Twill be a while be-
fore the Iroquois besiege this fort
again. Is that not your thought, M.
de Tonty?"
81 appreciate the service rendered."
replied the other gravely. "But you
are in peril here. NJ. Cassion is yon-
der, and still in command"
D'Artigny glanced inquiringly at La
Forest, and the latter stepped forward
leather-bound packet in his hands.
"Your pardon, NJ. de Tonty," he said.
81 had forgotten my true mission here.
1 bear orders from the king Of France"
"From Louis? La Sale has reached
the kings ear?"
"Ay, good results. These are for
you, monsieur"
De Tonty took them, yet his thought
was not upon their contents but with
his absent chief.
"You saw Sieur de Ia Sale in
France? You left him well?"
more than well-triumphant over
all his enemies. He sails for the mouth
of the great river with a French col
ony; Louis authorized the expedition"
"And is that all?'
"All, except it was rumored at the
court that La Barre would not for long
remain governor of New France"
The face of the italian did not
change expression; slowly he opened
the papers, and glanced at their con-
tents; then folded them once more,
and lifted his eyes to our faces.
"By grace of the king" he said sim
ply, 81 am again in command Of Fort
st. Louis"
We made our way slowly through
the fringe of woods, and across the
open space before the fort gates, which
still stood open. Cassion had disap-
peared; indeed, there was not so much
as a single guard at the gate when
we entered, yet we were greeted in
stantly by his voice.
"'Tis well you return, M. de Tonty,"
he said loudly. II was about to call
those soldiers yonder, and close the
gates. IT'S hardly safe to have them
left thus with all these strange Indians
about"
"They are Him, monsieur-our al
lies"
"Pah! an Indian is an Indian to my
mind; bid NJ. de la Durantaye come
hither" He stared at D'Artigny and
me, seeing us first as he stepped for
ward. A moment he gasped, his voice
failing; then anger conquered, and he
strobe forward, sword in hand.
"Mon Dieu! What is this? You
here again, you bastard wood ranger?
had hopes was rid of you, even at