Middletown transcript., 1916-09-23
CHAPTER XV-continued.

NTUAT 81 NN-SVIlhIUdGQs
Madame Cassion, D'Artiqny and
earbeau are making their way In ca
noe and on foot to Fort ST. Louis.
was but girl in years. excitement
vas still to me a delight, and l hal
listened to so many tales. romantic,
wonderful. Of this wilderness fortress
2erched upon a rock, that my vivid
imagination had weaved about it an
atmosphere of marvel. The beauty of
the view from its palisades. the vast
eoncourse of Indians encamped on the
plains below. and those men guarding
It's safety-the faithful comrades of
Ia Sale in explorations Of the un-
Known, De Tonty, BOisrondet. and all
the others, had long since become to
nv mind the incarnation of romantic
adventure. Wilderness born. | could
comprehend and appreciate their tolls
and dangers. and my dreams centerPd
about this great. lonely rock. on which
they had established a home. But the
end was not yet. Just below the con-
Guence of the rivers there was a vii
age of the Tamaroas. and the prov
If our canoe touched the bank, while
O'Artigny stepped ashore amid a
tangle Of lOw-grOwing bushes, that he
might have speech with some Of the
warriors. and thus learn conditions at
the fort. With his foot on the bank.
le turned laughing. and held out his
land TO me.
Come, madame" he said, pleasant
fy. you have never seen a village of
our western tribes; it will interest
VOu."
Joined him gladly. my limbs feel
ting awkward under me, from long
:ramping in the boat. yet the climb
was not difficult, and he held back the
boughs to give me easy passage. Be-
Vond the fringe of brush there was an
open space. but as we reached this.
both paused. stricken dumb by horror
at the sight which met Dur view. The
ground before us was strewn with
lead, and mutiIated bodies, and was
black with ashes where the tepees had
Oeen burned. and their contents scat
tered broadcast.
Never before had l seen such view
Of devastation. of relentless, savage
,ruelty. and | gave utterance to sud
Zen sob, and shrank back against
D'Artigny's arm. hiding my eyes with
my hand. He stood and stared, mo
tiOnless, breathing heavily, uncon-
SciOusly gripping my arm.
Mon Dieur' he burst forth, at last.
what meaneth this? Are the wolves
again loose in the valleyY
He drew me back. until we were
both concealed behind q fringe OF
leaves, his whole manner alert, every
instinct of the woodsman instantly
awakened.
Remain here hidden" he whis-
pered, until learn the truth; we
may face grave peril below"
He left me trembling and white
dipped, yet | made no effort to re-
strain him The horror of those dead
bodies gripped me. but l would not
have him know the terror which held
me captive With utmost caution ne
crept forth, and l fay in the shadow
of the covert, watching his move
ments. Body after body he ap-
proached, seeking some victim alive
and able to tell the story. But there
was none. at last he stood erect.
satisfied that none beside the dead
we're on that awful spot and came
back to me.
Not one lives" he said sOberly,
'and there are men, women, and chill
'ren there The story is one easily
told-an attack at daylight from the
lods youder. There has been nc
fighting; a massacre Of the helpless
and unarmed"
"Hut who did such deed Of bloodT
"'Tis the work of the TrOquois; the
way they scalped tells that, and be
dceS | saw other signs"
The IrOQuOis." | echoed incredu'
IouS, for that name was the terror o.
my childhood How came these sav'
ises 50 far to the westward?'
Their war parties range to the
great river" he answered 1--WE FOL
lowed their bloody trail when first We
came to this valley. It was to gain
pr ection from these raiders that the
@onpljns gathered about the fort
We fought the fends twice. and drove
them back. yet now they are here
a-an. Come. Adele. we must return
70 'ue canoe. and consult with Bar
by.r t.r haa seen much Of IndiaI
a.