Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-08-11
Beyond the Frontier
Continued from page 6

ley, and the garrison has less than
fifty men, all told. 1t was luck we got
through so easily. Ay, Boisrondet, we
are ready"
That was my first glimpse of the
interior of a frontier fort, and. al
though I saw only the little open space
lighted by a few waving torches, the
memory abides with distinctness. A
body Of men met us at the gate, dim,
andistinct figures, a few among them
evidently soldiers from there dress,
but the majority clothed in the ordi-
nary garb of the wilderness. Save for
one Indian squaw, not a woman was
visible, nor did I recognize a familiar
face, as the fellows, each man bear.
ing a rife, surged about US in noisy
welcome, eagerly questioning those
who had gone forth to our rescue. Yet
we were scarcely within. and the
gates closed, when a man pressed his
way forward through the throng. IN
voice of authority bidding them stand
aside. A blazing torch cast its red
light over him, revealing a slender fig
ure attired in frontier garb, a dark
face, made alive by a pair of dense
brown eyes, which met mine in a stare
of surprise.
: "Back safe, B%oisrondet," he ex.
claimed sharply, "and have brought In
a IT'S a strange sight in this
land. Were any of u lads hurt?"
"None worth reporting, monsieur.
The man they carried was a soldier of
M. de la Durantaye. He was struck
down before we reached the party.
There is an old comrade here"
can old contradict! Lift the torch,
Jacques. Faith, there are so few left
I would not miss the sight of such a
face"
He stared about at US, for an in
slant uncertain; then took a quick
step forward, his hand outstretched.
Irene d'Artigny!" he cried, his JOY
finding expression In his face. "Ay,
an old comrade, indeed, and only less
welcome than M. de la Sale himself.
Twas a bold trick you played tonight,
but not unlike many another 1 nave
seen you venture. You bring me mes
sage from MONSIEUR"
OllI iAdL Lie oho aAiS o1ASAy 49,
France to have audience with Louis
L saw him aboard ship, and was bid
den to tell you to bide here in patience
and seek no quarrel with De Baugis."
easy enough to say; but In all
truth I need not seek quarrel-it
comes my way without seeking. De
Baugis was not so bad-a bit high
strung, perhaps, and boastful Of his
rank, yet not so i'll a comrade-but
there is a newcomer here, a popinjay
named Cassion, with whom I cannot
abide. All, but you know the beast,
for you journeyed west in his COM
pany. Sacre. the man charged you
with murder, and I gave him the lie
to-hhs-tA-Net two hours ago we
had our swords out. but now you can
answer for yourself"
D'Artigny hesitated, his eyes meet
ing mine.
"I fear, Monsieur de Tonty," be said
finally, "the answer may not be so
easily made. If 1t were point of
sword, now, 1 could laugh at the man.
but he possesses some ugly facts diff
cult to explain"
"Yet twas not your hand which did
the deed"
1T pledge you my word to that. Yet
this is no time to talk Of the matter.
1 have wounds to be looked to, n
would learn first how Barbeau fares.
You know not the lady; but of course
not. or your tongue would never have
spoken so freely-Monsieur de Tonty,
Madame Cassion."
He Strengthened u p his eyes on my
face. For an instant he stood mo-
tioniess; then swept the hat from his
head, and bent low.
"Your pardon, madame; we Of the
wilderness become rough of speech. l
should have known. for a m a
reached me of your accident. You
owe life, no doubt, to Sieur d'Art1gny."
Eyes. monsieur; he has been my
kind friend"
"He would not be the one I love
else. We know lei OF this frontier
madame, and this lad hath seen years
of service by my side" His hand
rested on D'Artigny's shoulder.
"'Twas only natural. then. that I
should resent M. Cassion's charge Of
murder"
ST share our faith in the innocence
of M. d'Artigny," 1 answered firmly
enough, 'but beyond this assertion I
can say nothing"
Naturally not, madame. Yet we
must move along. You can walk.
ReneT'
SAY, my hurts are mostly bruises"
The torches led the way, the dane
ing flames lighting up the scene. There
was hard, packed earth under our feet,
nor did 1 realize yet that this Fort st.
Louis occupied the summit of a great