Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-09-08

Suddenly Before Us Loomed tho
Shadow of the Great Rock.
There was a growing tinge Of light in
the eastern sky, enabling us to perceive
each others faces. All was tense, ex-
pectant the Indians scarcely ventur-
ing to breathe, the two white men con-
versing in whispers. Sequitah stood
motionless as a statue, his lips tightly
closed.
"Your scouts ventured no farther? 2"
questioned D'Artigny.
mo; twas not safe; one man scaled
the rock, and reports the Iroquois
just beyond"
"They hide in covert where I sus-
pected them; but I would see with my
OWL eyes. There is crevice here, as I
remember, to give foothold. Ay, here
it is, an easy passage enough. Come,
La Forest, a glance ahead will make
clear my plans"
The two clambered up noiselessly,
and outstretched themselves on the fat
surface above. The dawn frightened,
almost imperceptibly, so I could dis
t1nguish the savage forms on either
side, some standing, some squatting on
the grass, all motionless but alert
their weapons cleaning, their cruel
eyes glittering from excitement. La
Forest descended cautiously and turned
toward me.
Madame, D'Artigny would have you
Join him."
Surprised at the request 1 rested my
foot in his hand, and crept forward
along the smooth surface until 1 lay
beside Rene. He glanced aside into
my face.
"Do not lift your head" he whis-
pered. "Peer through this cleft in the
stone"
) Before us was a narrow opening,
devoid Of vegetation, a sterile patch Of
stone and sand, and beyond this a
fringe of trees, matted with under
brush below so as to make good screen,
but sufficiently thinned out above, so
that, from our elevation, we could look
through the interlaced branches across
the cleared space where the timber had
been chopped away to the palisades of
the fort. The first space was filed
with warriors, crouching behind the
cover of underbrush. Most of these
were lying down, or upon their knees.
watchfully peering through toward the
fort gates, but a few were standing, or
moving cautiously about bearing word
of command.
Monsieur" 1 whispered timidly,
''you can never attack; there are too
many"
"They appear NOR numerous than
they are" he answered confidently,
"but it will be a stiff fight. Not all
Tuscaroras either; there are Fries yon-
der to the right, and a few renegade
Mohawks with them. Look, by the foot
of that big tree, the fellow In war bon
net and deerskin shlrt-what make
you of himT"
"a white man in spite Of his paint"
"'Twas my guess also. I thought 1t
likely they had a renegade with them,
for this is not Indian strategy. La
Forest was Of the same opinion, al
though twas too dark when he was
here for us to make sure"
For what + they waiting and
watching?"
1.-THE gates to open, no doubt. If
they suspect nothing within, they will
send out a party soon to reconnoiter
the trail, and reach the river below for
water. 1t is the custom, and, no doubt,
these devils know, and will wait their
chance. They urge the laggards now"
We lay and watched them, his hand
clasping mine. Those warriors who
had been lying prone rose to their
knees, and, weapons in hand, crouched
for a spring; the chiefs scattered, care
full. to keep concealed behind cover.
Not a sound reached us, every move
ment noiseless, the orders conveyed by
gesture of the hand. D'Artigny pressed
my fingers.
"Action will come soon," he contin-
ued, his lips at my ear, sand / must
be ready below to take the lead. You
can serve us best here, Adele; there
Is no safer spot If you lie low. 0
have a bit Of cloth-a handkerchief
Eyes, monsieur"
'sThen watch the fort gates, and II
you see them open drop the cloth over
the edge of the rock there In signal.
! will wait Just below, but from where
we are we can see nothing. You I'M
derstand?"
Surely. monsieur: I am to remain