Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1916-10-20
CHAPTER xxIii-Continued.


I chung TO his hands, staring back
still at the grim outline Of the silent
fort. ] understood his thoughts, his
desire to aid his comrades; but for
moment, my mind was blank.
eould 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 Him In
dians TO beY'
Back from the river, in glen of
caves and rocks"
How fur from here?"
-Four or FIVE miles; there is a trail
from the mouth of the creek"
land you know the way? and there
might be many warriors there? they
will remember you, and obey your or
ders?"
He Strengthened up, aroused as the
fun meaning of my questioning oc-
Cured to him.
"Ay, there is a chance there. If we
find them in tine, and in force enough
10 make foray. Sacre! l 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 desire to achieve our
goal as soon as possible. At the mouth
of a stream entering the river, DAT
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.
LAY, lass, it's here to be easily fol-
lowed. What hour do you make 1t
now?"
About three"
$50 I 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
in ond
again I tripped over some obstacle-a
root, tuft of grassland continually
unnoted branches tapped against my
face. Once l fell prone, yet so noise
lessly that Rene passed beyond view
before he realized my misfortune, and
returned to help me regain my feet.
Not until then, | 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"
az can see nothing" I confessed re-
gretfully. yet you have no difficulty"
"'Tis woodsman's training. have
followed many a dim trail in dark for
ests, and this is so plain l could keep
to ii on a run if necessary. All! the
fort is awake and vigilant-that was
rife fire."
l had not only heard the sharp re-
ports but seen the fash of fire cleaving
the darkness.
1.-The discharges came from the
woods yonder-they were Indian guns.
monsieur. See! those two last were
from the stockade: could perceive the
logs In the fare"
SAY, and that is all; the lads will
waste no ammunition in the gloom. ex-
eept to tell the savages they are awake
and ready"
"How far have we travelled, mon
sieur?''
"A mile. perhaps. At the crooked
oak yonder we leave the stream. You
met with no harm when you fell?"
mo more than a bruise. / can go
on now"
We turned to the right, and plunged
into the thicket, the way now so biack
that grasped his jacket In fear OF
becoming lost. We were clambering up
/, a slight hill, careless of everything but
or footing, when there was sudden
-ustIing 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
ou,ckly so silently. that before l even
realized danger. he was struggling
madly with the assailants- l heard the
crash of blows. an oath Of surprise, a
cultural exclamation, groan OF pain.
Hands gripped me savagely; 'feit
naked bodies. struggled wildly to
.Scane. but was flung heiplessly to the
xronnd hand grasping my hair.
ronld see nothing. only confused mass
:, legs and arms. but D'Artigny was
.t.,l on his feet. struggling desperately
prom some hand he had GRABBED q
,,t,e and swung 1t crashing into the
faces of those graphing him Back