The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-09-28
CHAPTER XVII
We 49, III. s,vanea.

We Attack the savages.
II was already so dark that the sol
dler was almost upon us before I ner
ceited his shadow hut it was evident
enough from his first words that o.,
had overheard none OF our conversa
don
There are no Indians 90 the VT
iage" he said gruHly. leaning on his
gun and staring at ms. 81 got across
10 q small island. along the trunk oI
. dead tree. and had good view Of thC
whole bank yonder. The tepees stand
but not q squnw nor o dog Is left"
Were there any canoes IN sight
along the shoreT'
"Only one. broken beyond repair
"Then. as ! read the story. the tribe
ned down the stream, either TO Join
the others on the Illinois, or the whites
AT the for. They were evidently not
attacked. but had news OF the com.
ing Of the lroquols. and escaped with.
out waiting 10 give battle. 'Tis not
likely the wolves will overlook this
village long. Are We ready to 20 for.
warlYH
He disappeared IN the darkness.
vanishing silently and we stood mo
tlonless waiting our turn 20 advance.
Neither spoke. Barbeau leaning Tor.
ward. bis gun extended. alert and
ready. The intense darkness, the
quiet night the mystery lurking amid
those shadows beyond. all combined TO
arouse within me sense of danger
could f,cl the swift pounding Of my
heart. aud { clasped the sleeve Of the
soldiers jacket merely TO assure my.
self OF his actual presence. The pres
sure Of my fingers caused him to
glance about
"Do not be frightened. madame "
he whispered encouraclnsly. There
would be firing youder II tie Iroquol,
blocked our path"
Fear not for me-" ] answered sur
prIsed at the steadincss OF my voice
"It is the lonely silence which makes
me shrink: as soon as we advance I
shall have my nerve again. Have We
not waited long enoughf"
"Ay. come: but he careful where
you place your feet"
He led the way. walking with such
slow caution, that although ! followed
step by step, not a sound reached my
ears We cIrrIed about large rocks
and MP a r1vine. through which we
found barely room for passage tho
walls rising steep and high on either
aide. u was intensely dark down
there. vet impossible for us 70 escape
the trail. and no the end Of that pas
sage we emerged into no open space
inclosed with woods, and having a grit
OF sand underfoot. Here the trail
seemed 10 disappear but Barbcau
struck straight across. and ln the for.
est shade beyond we found D'ArtIgny
waiting.
600 not shoot" he whispered. "
was afraid you MIGHT mlsiudge the
way here, az tire sand leaves no clear
trace The rest Of the passage Is
through the woods, and up q steer
hill You are not greatly wearied.
madame"
"Oh, no; ! have made some false
steps IN the dark. but the pace has
been slow. DO we approach the forty"
"a bali league beyond; hundred
yards more. and we begin The climb
There we WIN he 10 the zone Of dan
ger, although thus far ! perceive no
sign NJ Indian presence. Have you
Barbeau|
"None except this feather OF a war
bonnet picked up at the big rock
below"
"a feather! Is It lroquols"
1T Is cut square, and no Algonquin
ever does that"
lay. let me see! You are right. Bar.
beau twas dropped from n Tuscarora
war bonnet Then the wolves have
been this wny."
We crossed the wood and beran 10
clluIU dN4NuL lOoNf HlNlle~t Uu1 flJ Uud
ing solid rcC% beneath our feet. the
path sklrtlng the edge OF what seemed
20 be a deep cash IN the earth and
winding about wherever Il could find
passage The way grew sleeper aud
sleeper. and more difficult TO traverse
although as we thus rose above the
tree limit. the shadows became less
dense and we were able dimly to per
celve objects a yard or two IN ad-
vance. strained my eyes over Bar
beau's shoulder but could gain no
glimpse OF D'Artlgny Then we
rounded a sharp edge OF rock aud
met him blocking the narrow way.
"The red devils are there" he said
his voice barely audible Beyond the
curve IN the bank. Twas Gods mercy
! bad glimpse n time. or would
have walked straight into their midst
A stoue dropping into the ravinc
wa,ned me. and I crept on all foUrs
30 where could see"
You counted them?"
'IInrlly that In this darkness; yet