Mexico Missouri message., 1916-09-21
CHAPTER XVI.
The Words Of Love.


His eyes frightened, and his hand
sought mine.
"The spirit Of the old days; the
words of a soldiers daughter, hey.
BarbeauT
"A La Chesnayne could make no
other choice" he answered Loyalty.
"But we have no time to waste here
in compliment. You know safe pas
sage. you say?"
mot a safe one. yet a trail which
may still remain open. for 1t 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
decllvity, and found ourselves in the
silence of a great wood. Here DAT
tigny pause1 to make certain his
sense OF direction.
~ will go forward slightly in adj
vance," he said, at last, evidently hav-
| ing determined upon his course.
"And we will move slowly, and as
noiselessIy as possible. No one ever
knows where the enemy are to be met
with in Indian campaign, and we are
without arms, except for Barbeau's
gun"
81 retain my pistol" 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 it might be well to explain
more clearly what you propose" said
the soldier. "Then If we become sep
arated, we could figure out the proper
direction to follow"
"Not a bad thought, that. 1t Is 6
rough road ahead, heavily wooded
and across broken land. My route II
almost directly west, except that we
bear slightly south to keep well away
I
bring US to a small stream which
empties into the Illinois. There is {
faint trail along its eastern bank
which leads to the Rock, where 1t Il
possible for one knowing the way t.
attain the palisades of the fort. i
we can attain this trail before darl
we can make the remaining distanc,
by night. Here. let me show you.'
and he drew with a sharp stick /;
hasty map on the ground. "Now yol
understand; If we become separated
keep steadily westward until yol
reach a stream flowing north"
In this order we took up the march
and as / had nothing to bear except
blanket, which / twisted about N!
shoulders, I found little difficulty II
following my leader. At first the IN
derbrush was heavy, and the groun,
very broken, so that oftentimes l los
sight entirely of D'Artigny, but as h
constantly broke branches to mark hi
passage, and the sun served as guild
ance, had small difficulty in keepIn
the proper direction. To our righ
along the river appeared masses O
Isolated rock, and these we skIrte
closely, always in the shadow an
silence of great trees. Within hal
, an hour we had emerged from the II
} tarding underbrush, and came out int
an open wood, where the walking wa
: much easier.
The sun had not entirely disal
} peared when we emerged from Ii
: dark wood shadows into marrow
: grassy valley, through which fiowe
: a silvery stream, not broad, but dee
:, Assured that this must be the wat'
3 we sought, sank to the ground, eagI
e for moments rest, but D'Artign
: tireless still, moved back and forwai
: along the edge of the forest to assul
e himself Of the safety of our surroun
}, ings. Barbeau Joined him, and que
{; toned.
t ave have reached the trailT'
o "Ay, beside the shore yonder; 9