The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-10-27
CHAPTER xV-Contlnued.

Madame Cassion, D'Artigny and
Barbeau are making their way in ca.
noe and on foot to Fort st. Louis.
was but girl in years, excitement
was still to me a delight, and | had
listened to so many tales, romantic,
wonderful, OF this wilderness fortress
perched 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
concourse OF Indians encamped on the
plains below. and those men guarding
its safety-the faithful comrades OF
La Sale in explorations OF the un-
known. De Tonty, Boisrondet, and all
the others, had long since become to
my mind the incarnation OF romantic
adventure. Wilderness born, l could
comprehend and appreciate their tolls
and dangers, and my dreams centered
about this great, lonely rock, on which
they had established a home. But the
end was not yet. Just below the con-
fluence of the rivers there was vii
lage of the Tamaroas, and the prov
of our canoe touched the bank, while
D'Artigny stepped ashore amid
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.
he turned laughing, and held out his
hand to me.
"Come, madame" he said, pleasant
ly, you have never seen village OF
our western tribes; it will interest
you"
l Joined him gladly. my limbs feel
Ing awkward under me, from long
Cramping in the boat. yet the climb
was not difficult, and he held back the
bOughs TO give me easy passage. Be
yond 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 our view. The
ground before us was strewn with
dead. and mutiated bodies, and was
black with ashes where the tepees had
been burned. and their contents scat
tered broadcast
Never before had seen such view
OF devastation, OF relentless, savage
cruelty and gave utterance TO sud-
den sob. and shrank back against
D'Artgny's arm, hiding my eyes with
my hand. He stood and stared, mo-
tionless, breathing heavily, uncon-
sciously gripping my arm.
"Mon Dieu" he burst forth, at last.
"What meaneth this? Are the wolves
again loose in the valley"
He drew me back, until we were
both concealed behind a fringe or
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
tipped. yet made no effort to re-
strain him. The horror OF those dead
bodies gripped me, but | would not
have him know the terror which held
me captive With utmost caution he
crept forth, and lay in the shadow
Of the covert, watching his move
ments Body after body he ap-
preached. 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
were on that awful spot and came
back 10 me.
Not one lives" he said soberly,
"and there are men. women, and chill
lrau ftara Tho story IL ono pazilV
told-an attack at daylight from the
woods yonder. There has been no
sgstpg. a massacre OF the helpless
and unarmed." ...
"But who did such deed Of bloodT'
"'Tis the work OF the 1roquois; the
way they scalped tells that, and be-
rides | saw other signs"