The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-12-08
CHAPTER XIV.
The Charge Of the Illinl.

!
ments. for the light OF early dawn was
still dim and spectral. making those
savage figures below appear strange
and inhuman, while. through the tree
barrier. the more distant stockade was
lirle more than a vague shadow.
could barely distinguish the sharp
pointed logs. and il any guard passed,
his movements We're indlstinguishable
Had l not known where they were.
even the position OF the gates would
have been a mystery. Yet | lay there,
my eyes peering through the cleft in
the rock. every nerve in my body throb-
bing. All had been intrusted to me:
it was to be my signal which would
send D'Artigny. La Forest. and their
Indian allies forward. | must not fail
them must do my part Whatever
the cost-eSen though il be his life
nothing could absolve me from this
! duty.
The Iroquois were masSing toward
the center. directly in front OF the
closed gates. The change in formation
was made with all the stealthiness OF
Indian cunning, the warriors creeping
! silently behind the concealing bushes.
| and taking up their new positions ac-
cording to motions OF their chiefs.
Those having rifles loaded their weap-
ons. while others drew knives and tom
ahawks from their belts. and held them
glitterinG in the gray light. The white
leader remained beside the big tree.
paying no apparent heed to anything
excepting the stockade in front. The
daylight frightened, but mist clouds
overhung the valley, while floating
{ wreaths OF fog drifted between the
| great rock and the fort gates. occa-
! siOnally even obscurng the lroquois
| in vaporous folds There was no sound,
no sight. OF those hidden below, wait
! ing my word. | seemed utterly alone.
Suddenly l started. lifting myself
| slightly on one arm, so as TO see more
clearly. Ay. the gates were opening,
slowly at first, as though the great
wooden hinges made resistance; then
the two leaves parted, and / had a
glimpse within. Two soldiers pushed
against the heavy logs, and, as they
opened wider. dozen or more men
were revealed. leaning carelessly on
| their rifles. Bosrondet, bearing gun
in the hollow OF his arm, stepped for
ward into the opening. and gaZed
carelessly about over the gray, mist
! shrouded scene.
The arm Of the white renegade shot
! into the air, and behind him the
| massed IrOquois arose TO their feet,
| crouching behind their cover ready TO
| spring. | reached over the rock edge,
and dropped the handkerchief.
| must have seen what followed, yet
| I do not know: the incidents seem
| burned on my memory, yet are so con-
! fused | can place them in no order.
| The white renegade seemed waiting.
| his arm upraised. Ere it fell in signal
| to dispatch his wild crew to the slaugh-
| ter, there was a crash OF rifles all
about me. the red flare leaping into
| the gray mist--a savage yell from n
| hundred throats, and wild rush of
naked bodies.
l saw warriorsspf the Iroquols fling
! up their arms and fall: | saw them
| shrink and shrivel. break ranks and
run. Surprised, stricken. terrified by
! the warwhoops OF the maddened Him,
realizing only that they were caught
| between enemies. their one and only
| thought was escape. Two OF their
chiefs were down. and the white rene
gade, stumbling and falling as though
also hurt. dived into the underbrush.
Before they could rally. or even COM
prehend what had occurred, their as
sailants were upon them. Leaping
across the open. over rock and sand.
yelling like 1ends. weapons cleaning
| I'm the dull light, the frenZied Illlni en-
famed with revenge. maddened with
hate flung themselves straight at
them. Rifles flashed I'm their faces.
tomahawks whlrled in the air. but
nothing stopped that rush. Warriors
fell. but the others stumbled over the
naked bodies. saw D'Artigny.
stripped 10 his shirt. and that I'm rags
from the bushes he had plunged
through. his rife barrel gripped. yard
in front OF them all. saw La Forest.
bare headed, and Sequltah. his Indian
stoicism forgotten I'm mad blood lust.
Then they struck and were lost I'm
the fierce maelstrom Of struggle. strik-
ing. falling. red hands gripping at red
throats. rife butts flung high. toma-
hawks dealing the death blow. knives
cleaning as Sinewy arms drove them
home. I could not longer distinguish
enemy from friend they were inter
locked. struggling ike mad dogs. fight.
Ing as devils might. a wild. tangled
mass OF bodies. OF waving hair. Of
blazing eyes. OF nplfted steel
The Iroquols had rallied from their
first shock: already they realized the
small number Of the attackers Those
who had fed were turning back: those
on either flank were running toward
The scene OF fight saw the white
renegade burst from the press. urging
ises IaSgards forward. Scafeely had
he attaiped the outer edge. wheR DAT
hsny fought bis way forth also, tear
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