Mexico Missouri message., 1916-10-26

| the meaning clear. As D'Artipny
ceased the chief stood for a moment
silent.
1--WE leap upon them from coverY
he asked calmly, "and the white men
VIII sally forth to aid usr'
""Tis so we expect-M. de Tonty Is
never averse to q fight"
| Il believe in the Iron Hand; but Ills
told me others command now. II they
fail, we are but few against many"
"They will not fail, Sequitah; they
are Frenchmen."
The Indian folded his hands across
his breast, his eyes on the two men
facing him. There was silence, but
for the slight rustic of moving bodies
In the darkness.
"Sequitah hears the voice Of his
FRIEND" he announced at last "and his
words sound wise. The warriors of
the Illini will fight beside the white
men,"
There was no time lost, although
know but little of what occurred, be-
ing left alone there while La Forest
and D'Artigny divided the men, and
arranged the plans of advance. The
dense night shrouded much of this
hasty preparation, for all could per
ceive were fitting figures, or the black
shadow of warriors being grouped to-
gether. l could hear voices, never loud,
| giving swift orders, or calling to this
or that individual through the gloom.
A party tramped by me, and disap-
| nnornd fJUn
riors, headed by a black-bearded
Frenchman, bearing a long rihe-the
detachment, no doubt, dispa tched to
guard the slope east of the trail, and
hurried forth to cover the greater dis
lance. Yet these could have scarcely
| advanced far through that jungle
when the others were also in line, wait
ing the word.
The very silence in which all this
was accomplished, the noiseless bodies,
the almost breathless attention, scarce
| ly enabled me to realize the true mean
| ing Of 1t all. These men were going
into battle, into death grapple. They
meant to attack five times their own
number. This was no boys play; it
was war, savage, relentless war. The
stern horror of it seemed to suddenly
grip me as with icy fingers. Here was
what had read of, dreamed Of, being
enacted before my very eyes. I was
even part of 1t, for 1 was going with
them to the field of blood.
Yet how different everything was
from those former pictures of magma
ton. There was no noise, no excite
ment, no shrinking-just those silent,
motionless men standing in the nosi-
tons assigned to them, the dim light
cleaning on their naked bodies, their
ready weapons.
heard the voices Of the white men,
speaking quietly, giving last instruc-
tons as they passed along the lines.
Sequitah took his place, not two yards
| from me, standing like a statue. his
| face stern and emotionless. Out OF
the darkness came D'Artigny, pausing
an instant before the chief.
GAN is well, Sequitah"
"Good-'tis as the white chief
wishes"
"Then we move at once; La Forest
will guide the rear; you and 1 will
march together. Give your warriors
the word"
He turned and took my hand.
"You will walk with me, dear one;
you are not afraid?"
"Not of the peril of coming battle"
I answered. "I-I think hardly real
ize what that all means; but the risk
you run. Rene! Tiff you win, you
will be a prisoner condemned to
DEATH"
He laughed, and bent low, so I felt
his lips brush my cheek.
"YOu do not understand, dear girl.
A moment and will explain-once we
are beyond the stream. Now / must
see that all move together"
We advanced through the woods
down slight incline, the Indians NOV
ing like so many phantoms. Not a
branch ratified as they glided silently
forward, not a leaf rustled beneath
the soft tread OF moccasined feet.
D'Artigny led me by the hand, aiding
me to move quietly over the uneven
ground, but made no effort to speak.
Beside us, not unlike a shadow, strobe
the chief Sequitah, his stern face up
lifted, shadowed by long black hair.
rife gripped in his sinewy arms. We
crossed the little river, D'Artigny bear
ing me easily in his grasp, and, on the
opposite shore, waited for the others
to follow. They came, long line of
dark, shadowy forms, wading cautious
ly through the shallow water, and
ranged themselves just below the bank,
many still standing in the stream.
What light there was hickered over
naked bodies, and revealed savage eyes
cleaning from out masses Of black
hair.
D'Artigny stepped forward on the
exposed root of a tree to where he
could see his dusky followers, and La
Forest climbed the bank and Joined
him. A moment the two men con-
ferred, turning about to question Sc
quitah. AS they separated could dis
tinguish D'Artigny's final words.
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