Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-09-28
CHAPTER xxlll-continued.

fort. l understood his thoughts, his
desire to aid his comrades; but, for a
moment, my mind was a blank. |
could not let him go alone to almost
certain death. No, nor would be aban-
don me on such a missionl Was there
no other way by which we could serve?
Suddenly a thought crept into my
mind.
Monsieur" | asked breathlessly,
where do you suppose those Illini In
dians to be?'
Back from the river, in a glen of
caves and rocks"
"How far from here?"
"Four or five miles; there is a trail
from the mouth of the creek"
"And 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
full meaning of my questioning &C.
Cured TO him.
"Ay, there is a chance there, If we
find them in time, and in force enough
to make foray. Sacre! I 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"
Wn pI1noa5 into +ba forest no IODpnr
tendeavoring to advance silently, but
inspired with a desire to achieve our
goal as soon as possible. At the mouth
of a stream entering the river, DAr-
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.
"Ay, lass, it's here to be easily fol-
lowed. What hour do you make it
now?"
"About three"
$50 | would have said; and it's not
daylight until after five. We can scarce
make it, yet we will try"
IL was IOL US udlh Hele away IlOhI
the gloom of the Rock; the forest was
open, and yet l will never know how
D'Artigny succeeded in following that
dim trail at so rapid a gait. AS fol
me, l could see nothing of any path
and merely followed him blindly, moi
even certain of the nature of the
ground under my feet. Again anC
again l tripped over some obstacle-a
root, a tuft Of grassland continually
unnoted branches tapped against my
face. Once l fell prone, yet so noise
Iessly that Rene passed beyond view
before he realized my misfortune, ant
returned to help me regain my feet
Not until then, l think, did he com
prehend the rapidity Of his movements
"Your pardon, dear girl" and his lip!
brushed my hair, as he held me in hi
arms. 81 forgot all but our comrades
yonder. The night is dark to you.
eyes"
81 can see nothing" l confessed re
gretfully, yet you have no difficulty.
otis a woodsman's training. hav,
followed many a dim trail in dark for
ests, and this is so plain l could keel
to it on a run if necessary. All! tn
fort is awake and vigilant-that wa
rifle fire."
l had not only heard the sharp re
ports but seen the fash of fire cleavin
the darkness.
"'The discharges came from tn
woods yonder-they were Indian guns
monsieur. See! those two last wer
from the stockade; I could perceive th
logs in the fare"
GAY, and that Is all; the lads wi
waste no ammunition in the gloom, e!
,cept to tell the savages they are awak
and ready"
Glow far have we Travelled, MOI
sieur?"
"a mile, perhaps. At the crooke
oak yonder WI leave the stream. Yc
met with no harm when you fell?"
"No more than a bruise. | can {
on now"
We turned to the right, and plunge
into the thicket, the way now so blaC
that l grasped his jacket in fear
becoming lost. We were clambering l
a slight hill, careless of everything b
our footing, when there was a sud-,
rustllng Of the low branches on eth
side our path. D'Artigny stoppe
thrustlng me back, while at that We
instant indistinct forms seemed to lie,
forth from the covert. 1t occurred
quickly. SO silently, that before | ev
realized danger, he was strugglil
madly with the assailants. | heard [
crash of blows, an oath Of surprise,
cultural exclamation, a groan Of pa.
Hands gripped me savagely; l f
naked bodies. struggled wildly
escape, but was flung helplessly to I
ground, a hand grasping my hair.
could see nothing, only a confused ms
of legs and arms, but D'Artigny W
still on his feet, struggling desperate
From some hand he had grabbed
rife, and swung 1t crashing into
faces OF those graphing him. Ba
he came. step by step, fighting like
fiend, until he stood owe me. w
n wide sweep of his clutched weap
he struck me free, a blow which sh
tered the gun-stock, and left him arm
only with the iron bar. But the bat
fury was on him; dimly could
him towering above me. barehead
his clothes torn to rags, the grim bar
poised for a blow.
"St. Amir he cried exultantly. q"
n good fight SO far-would you BIZ
more OF itY
'Holdfv broke In a French 70
from out the darkness. what me-
at.o ,o. - ..hfto hto.sf az