The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-12-08
CHAPTER XxiV-continued.

whelming me- Ny eyes were wet with
tears. and could find no words. DAT
tgny seemed TO understand, yet he
made no effort to speak, merely hold
ing me close with his strong arm. SO
I'm silence. our minds upon the past and
the future we followed the savages
through the black night along the dim
trail. For the time | forgot where |
was. my weird, CHASTITY surroundings,
the purpose of our stealthy advance.
and remembered only my father, and
the scenes OF childhood He must
have comprehended, for he made no
attempt 10 interrupt my reverie, and
his silence drew me clOser-the steady
pressure Of his arm brought me peace.
Suddenly before US loomed the shad-
ow of the great rock, which rose a
mighty barrier across the trail, its crest
outlined against the sky. The Indisns
had halted here, and we pressed for
ward through them, until we came to
where the chief and La Forest waited.
There was growing tinge Of light in
the eastern sky, enabling us to perceive
each others faces. All was tense, eX-
pectant. the Indians scarcely yentur-
ing 10 breathe. the two white men con-
versinc in whispers. Sequitah stood
motionless as a statue, his lips tightly
closed
Your scouts ventured no fartherT'
questioned D'Artigny.
mo: twas not safe; one man scaled
the rock. and reports the Iroquois
just beyond"
''They hide in covert where l sus-
pected them; but I would see with my
own eyes. There is crevice here, as
remember. TO give foothOd. Ay, here
IL is. an easy passage enough. Come.
La Forest. a glance ahead will make
clear my plans"
The two clambered up noiseessly.
and outstretched themselves on the Hat
surface above. The dawn frightened,
almost imperceptibly, so | could dis
tinguish the savage forms on either
side. some standing. some squatting on
the grass. all motionless but alert.
their weapons cleaning. their cruel
eyes glittering from excitement. La
Forest descended cautiously and turned
toward me.
MADAME. D'Artigny would have you
join him"
Surprised at the request | rested my
foot in his hand and crept forward
along the smooth surface until | lay
beside Rene. He glanced aside into
my face.
'Do not lift your head" he whis-
pered. Peer through this cleft in the
stone"
Before rs was a narrow opening.
devoid Of vegetation. n sterile patch Of
stone and sand, and beyond this a
fringe OF trees, matted with under
brush below so as 10 make good screen.
but sufficiently thinned out above, so
that. from our elevation, we could look
through the interlaced branches across
the cleared space where the timber had
been chopped away to the palisades OF
the fort. The first space was filed
with warriors. crouching behind the
cover Of underbruSh. Most OF these
were lying down. or upon their knees,
watchfully peering through toward the
fort gates but few were standing. or
moving cautiously about bearing word
of command.
Monsieur" I whispered timidly.
''you can never attack; there are too
many"
They appear more numerous than
they are" ne answered confidently.
"but II will be a stiff fight. Not all
Tuscaroras either; there are Fries yon-
der 10 the tight. and a few renegade
Mohawks with them. Look. by the foot
OF that big tree, the fellow in war bon
net and dyerskin shirt-what make
you Of himf'
"a white man in spite Of his paint"
Twas my guess also. | thought It
likely they had a renegade with them.
for this is not Indian strategy. La
Forest was OF the same opinion. al
though twas too dark when he was
here for Us 10 make sure"
For what are they waiting and
wstchineY
THE gates 70 open. no doubt. IL
they suspect nothing within. they will
send ont a party soon 10 reconnoitcr
the trail. and reach the river below for
water. IT is the custom. and. no doubt,
these devils knowraand will wait their
chance. They urge the laggards now ="
We lay and watched them. his hand
clasping mine Those warriors who
had been lying prone rose 20 their
knees. and. weapons I'm hand. crouched
for = spring: the chiefs scattered. care
ful TO keep concealed behind cover.
Not sound reached us. every move
ment noiseless. the orders conveyed by
gesture of the hand. D'Artigny pressed
my fingers.
Action will come soon" he contin-
ued. his lips az my ear. "and I must
be ready below to AXE the lead. You
can serve Us best here. Adele: there
is no safer spot II you lie low. You
have bit Of ClDth-a handkerchiefg'
Yes. monsieur"
Then watch the fort gates. and II
you see them open drop the cloth over
the edge Of the rock there in signal
AS H-s --,.r-r4.s--- ...