Middletown transcript., 1916-11-04

locked, struggling like mad dogs, fight
ing as devils might, a wild, tangled
mass Of bodies, of waving hair, of
blazing eyes. of uplifted 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. 1 saw the white
renegade burst from the press, urging
these laggards forward. Scarcely had
he attained the outer edge, when D'Ar-
tigny fought his way forth also, tear
ing the mass asunder with sweep of
rife. They stood face to face, glaring
into each others eyes.
The rife in D'Artigny's hand was
but a twisted bar of iron; the rene
gade's only weapon was a murderous
knife, its point reddened with blood.
What word was said, l know not, but
l saw D'Artigny fling his bar aside.
and draw the knife at his belt. Mon
Dieu! 1 could not look; I know not
how they fought; hid my eyes and
prayed. When 1 glanced up again
both were gone, the fighting mass was
surging over the spit-but the Iroquois
were in flight, seeking only some
means of escape, while out through the
fort gates the soldiers of the garrison
were coming on run. pouring volleys
Of lead into the fleeing savages. 1 saw
De Tonty. De Baugis, De la Duran
taye-ay! and there was NJ. Cassion.
back among the stragglers, waving his
sword CALAMITY in the air. 1t was all
over with so quickly l could but sit
and stare; they ran past me in pur-
suit, wild yels echoing through the
woods, but all thought Of then was
NJ. d'Artigny. 1 scrambled down the
rock, falling heavily in my haste, yet
once upon my feet again, rushed forth,
reckless of danger. The ground was
strewn with dead and wounded, the
victorious Illini already scattered in
merciless, headlong pursuit. Only a
group of soldiers remained at the edge
of the forest. Among these were De
Tonty and La Forest Neither noticed
my approach until l faced them.
"What, madame" exclaimed De
Tonty, you here also?" he paused as
though in doubt, "and the Sieur d'Ar-
tigny-had he part in this feat of
armsY'
"a very important part, monsieur"
returned La Forest, stanching a wound
on his forehead, yet bowling gal
lantly to me. "'Twas indeed his plan.
and 1 permitted him command as he
knows these IIlini Indians better than
l."
"But does he live, monsieurY
broke in anxiously.
Give! ay, very much alive-see, he
comes yonder now. Faith, he fought
Jules Lescalles knife to knife, and end
ed the career of that renegade. Is
that not a recommendation. M. de
Tonty"
The other did not answer; he was
watching D'Artigny approach, his eyes
filled with doubt. 1 stepped forward |
to greet him, with hands outstretched. |
He was rags from head to foot, spat !
tered with blood, an ugly wound show
ing on one cheek, yet his lips and eyes
smiled.
"'Twas good work, we'll DONE" he
said cheerily. "'TwiIl be while be-
fore the Iroquois besiege this fort |
again. Is that not your thought, M.
de Tonty?"
81 appreciate the service rendered"
replied the other gravely. "But you
are in peril here. M. Cassion is yon-
der, and still in command"
D'Artigny glanced inquiringly at La
Forest, and the latter stepped forward,
a leather-bound packet in his hands.
''Your pardon. M. de Tonty." he said.
''I had forgotten my true mission here.
bear orders from the king of France"
From Louis? La Sale has reached !
the kings carp
GAY, good results. These are for
you monsieur"
De Tonty took them, yet his thought
was not upon their contents but with
his absent chief.
You saw Sieur de la Sale in
France? You left him well?'
more than weIl-triumphant over
all his enemies. He sails for the mouth
of the great river with a French col
ony; Louis authorized the expedition"
"And is that all?"
'AIl, except it was rumored at the
court that La Barre would not for long
remain governor of New France"
The face of the Italian did not
change expression; slowly he opened
the papers, and glanced at their con-
tents;- then folded them once more,
and lifted his eyes to our faces.
"By grace of the king" he said sim
ply, Il am again in command Of Fort
st. Louis"
We made our way slowly through
the fringe of woods. and across the
open space before the fort gates, which
still stood open. Cassion had disap-
peared; indeed, there was not so much
as a single guard at the gate when
we entered, yet we were greeted in
stantly by his voice.
"'Tis well you return, NJ. de Tonty,"
he said loudly. 81 was about to cali
those soldiers yonder, and close the
gates. 'Tis hardly safe to have them
left thus with all these strange Indians
about"
"They are Illini, monsieur-our al
lies"
"Pah! an Indian is an Indian to my
mind; bid NJ. de la Durantaye come
hither" He stared at D'Artlgny and
me, seeing US first as he stepped for
ward. A moment he gasped, his voice
failing; then anger conquered. and he
strobe forward. sword in hand