Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-12-15
CHAPTER XVI.
Tho Words Of Love.

Tho Words OF Love.
His eyes frightened, and his hand
sought mine.
1.-THE spirit of the old days; the
words Of soldiers daughter, hey
Barbeau"
"A La Chesnayne could make nc
other choice" he answered loyalty
"But we have no time to waste here
in compliment. You know safe pas
sage. you say?'
"Not a safe one, yet trail which
may still remain open. for it Is known
to but few. Let us aboard. and cross
to the opposite shore, where we will
hide the canoe, and make our way
through the forest. Once safely afoot
yonder. will make my purpose clear"
A dozen strokes landed us on the
other bank, where the canoe was
drawn up, and concealed among the
bushes, while we descended a slight
declivity, and found ourselves in the
silence Of great wood. Here DAT
tigny paused to make certain his
sense of direction.
II will go forward slightly in ad-
vance,. he-said. at last, evidently hay
ing determined upon his course.
"And we win move slowly, and as
noiselessly as possible. No one ever
knows where the enemy are to be met
with in Indian campaign, and we are
without arms, except for Barbeaus
gun"
II retain my pistol" I interrupted
"Of small value since Its immersion
in the lake; as to myself, must trust
to my knife. Madame, you will fol-
low me, but merely close enough to
make sure Of your course through the
woods, while Barbeau will guard the
rear. Are both readyT"
perhaps 1t might be we'll to explain
more clearly what you propose" said
the soldier. "Then II we become sep
arated, we could figure out the proper
direction to follow"
mot bad thought, that. II is a
rough road ahead, heavily wooded,
and across broken land. My route is
almost directly west, except that we
bear slightly south to keep well away
from the river. Three leagues will
bring US to a small stream which
empties into the Illinois. There Is a
faint trail along its eastern bank,
which leads to the Rock, where It is
possible for one knowing the way to
attain the palisades of the fort. II
we can attain this trail before dark
we can make the remaining distance
by night Here, let me show you,"
and he drew with a sharp stick a
hasty map on the ground. "Now you
understand; If we become separated,
keep steadily westward until you
reach a stream flowing north"
In this order we took up the march,
and as had nothing to bear except a
blanket which l twisted. about my
shoulders, found little difficulty d
following my leader. At first the I'M
derbrush was heavy, and the ground
very broken, 30 that oftentimes | lost
sight entirely of D'Artigny, but as he
broke branches to mark his
passage, and the sun served as guild
ance, l had small difficulty In keeping
the proper direction. To our right
along the river appeared masses of
Isolated rock, and these we skirted
closely, always in the shadow and
silence Of great trees. Within half
an hour we had emerged from the re-
tarding underbrush, and came out into
an open wood, where the walking was
much easier.
The sun had not entirely disap-
peared when we emerged from the
dark wood shadows into q narrow,
grassy valley, through which flowed
a silvery stream, not broad, but deep.
Assured that this must be the water
we sought, sank to the ground, eager
for a moments rest, but D'Artigny,
tireless still, moved back and forward
along the edge of the forest to assure
himself of the safety Of our surround.
lngs. Barbeau Joined him, and ques-
toned.
We have reached the trailT'
"Ay, beside the shore yonder; see