Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-08-17

/ glanced at D'Artigny. and his
eyes gave me courage.
Monsieur, you are a French sol
der" l answered. Fan educated man,
also. and my fathers friend. I will
listen gladly"
His eyes smiled. and he swept the
earth with his cap.
"Then my plan is this-leave Mon
sieur Cassion to go his way, and let
me be your guide southwark. I know
the trails, and the journey is not diff
cult. NJ. de la Durantaye is camped
at the portage of the Des PLANES.
having but a handful of men, to be
sure, yet he is a gallant officer, and no
enemy to La Sale. although he serves
the governor. He will see justice
done, and give you both safe convoy te
Fort st. Louis, where De Tonty knows
how to protect his officers. Faith! l
would like to see Francois Cassion try
to browbeat that one-armed Italian
'twould be one time he would meet
his match"
7 D'Artigny laughed.
cay, you are right there, my friend.
l have felt the iron hook, and wit
messed how he wins his way with
white and red. Yet he is nc longer in
command at Fort st. Louis; l bring
him orders now from Sieur de la
Sale bidding him not to interfere
with the governors li%eutenants. TITS
the Chevalier de Baugis with whom
We must reckon"
"True, he has control, and men
enough. with Cassion's party, to en-
force his order. And he is a hot-head.
c%onceited, and holding himself a bit
better than others, because he bears
commission in the Kings Dragons,
IT'S said that he and De Tonty have
had many a stiff quarrel since he
came; but he dare not go too far,
There are good men there ready to
draw sword If it ever come to blows
De Tonty, B~oisrondet, L'Espirance.
De Marie, and the Algonquins camped
on the plain below. They would be
tigers if the italian spoke the word
while l doubt not NJ. de la Durantaye
would throw his influence on the side
Of mercy; he has small love for the
captain of dragons"
/ spoke quickly, and before D'Ar-
tigny could voice decision.
"We will accept your guidance
monsieur. It is the best choice, and
now the only one, for the time is pas
when we can expect the return OF
the canoes. Can we not at once begir
the Journeys"
1t was an hour later, after we haG
eaten, that we left the bluff, and
turned westward into the. great woods
the bank of a small stream, and
followed, with D'Artigny close be
hind. AS we had nothing to carry
except the soldiers rifle and blanket
we made rapid progress, and in less
than half an hour we came to thu
Indian trail, which led southwark
from Green Bay to the headwaters o.
the Des PLANES.
1t was late in the afternoon of the
second day when we arrived at the
forks of the Chicago river, There wal
a drizzle of rain in the air, and never
saw l a more desolate spot; a bare
dreary plain, and away to the east
ward a glimpse of the lake.
A hut of logs, a mere shack scarcely
fit for shelter, stood on a slight emf
nence, giving wide view in every di
r%ection, but it was unoccupied, tn,
door ajar. Barbeau, in advance
stared at it in surprise, gave utter
ance to an oath. and ran forward t.
peer within. Close behind him,
caught a glimpse Of the interior, m.
own heart heavy with disappointment
If this miserable place had beel
the headquarters of M. de la Duran
taye, evidently it was so no longer
Not a vestige of occupancy remained
save a rotten blanket on the floor, ant
a broken bench in one corner. Rud
hunks lined two walls, and a tabl
hewed from a log stood in the cente
of the dirt floor. On this was a pape
pinned to the wood by a broken knife
blade. Barbeau grasped it, and rea,
the writing, handing it back to me
1t was a scrawl of a few words, We
told the whole story.
"Francois Cassion, under commits
sion of Governor la Barre, arrive
with party of soldiers and Indians
At his orders we accompany the fore
to Fort st. Louis.
"DE LA DURANTAYE."
"Perhaps it is as WELL" commente
D'Artigny lightly. "At least as far q
my good health goes; but tbs like
make a hard journey for you, ms
DAME"
SIS it far yet until we attain th
fortW
"a matter of twenty-five leagues; Q
no moment had we a boat in which {
hoat downstream, but the trail, as
remember. is rough"
"Perchance there may be a boat,
intercepted Barbeau. "There was I'll
wreck of an Indian canoe a mile b,
low here on the Des PLANES, not s
damaged as to be beyond repair, an
} here is q Ratchet which we will fin
useful" He stopped and picked it u
: from under the bench. zone thing
certain-'tis useless to remain her,
they have left the place as bare a
a desert. IT'S my choice that we max
the Des PLANES before dark"
The Des PLANES was a mario,
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