The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-09-28
CHAPTER XV-continued.

Madame cassion, O'Artiqny and
5arbeau are making their way in ca
noe and on foot to Fort ST. Louis.
was but girl In years. excitement
was still to me delight, and l 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 it's palisades, the vast
cOnc0urse of Indians encamped on the
plains below. and those men guarding
its safety-the faithful comrades of
La Sale In explorations of the I'M
known, De Tonty, BoisrOndet, and all
the others, had long since become to
my mind the incarnation of romantic
adventure. Wilderness born, | 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-
fuenCe of the rivers there was a viii
lage of the Tamaroas, and the PROV
Of our canoe touched the bank, while
D'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.
he turned laughing. and held out his
hand to me.
Come, madame" he said, pleasant
ly, you have never seen a village of
our western tribes; it will interest
you"
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
both paused, stricken dumb by horror
at the sight which met our view. The
ground before us was strewn with
dead, and mutilated 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
deE sob, and sbrank back against
D'Agtigny's arm, hiding my eyes with
my hand He stood and stared, mo-
tionlesA breathing heavily, uncOn-
SciOusy gripping my arm.
Mon Dieuw 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 OF
leaves, his whole manner alert, every
instinct of the woOdsmau 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 l 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 to me.
land there are men, women, and chill,
dren there The story is one easily
told-an attack at daylight from the
woods yonder. There has been nc
fighting; a massacre Of the helpless
and unarmed.'
"But who did such deed of bloOdP
"'Tis the work of the Iroquois; the
way they scalped tells that. and be
sides l saw other signs"
"The Iroquois," l echoed incredu
lous, for that name was the terror Of
my childhood. "HOw came these saw
ages so far to the westward?"
Their war parties range to the
great river" he answered. I'VE fol
lowed their bloody trail when first We
came to this valley. 1t was to gair
protection from these raiders that the
AIgonquins gathered about the fort
We fought the fiends twice, and drove
them back, yet now they are herr
again. Come. Adele, we must return
to the canoe, and consult with Bar
beau. He has seen much of lndiaE
War"