Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-10-20

Will SulQ0 TIE rear, yOu anu VIII
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"
answered. Ell think hardly real.
lie 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 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 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
fitted, Swallowed by long black hair,
rifle 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
~ through the shallow water, and
ranged themselves just below the bank,
many still standing in the stream.
What light there was flickered 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 ne
could see his dusky followers, anu La
Forest climbed the bank and joined
him. A moment the two men cOn7
ferred, turning about to question Sci
quitah AS they separated l could dls1
tinguish D'Artigny's final words.
every we'll, then, if it is your WISH
I take command. Sequitah, hundred
warriors will follow you along the
trail-you know it well. Have your
best scouts in advance, and circle your
braves so as to make attack impos-
sible. Your scouts will not go beyond
the great rock except on my order.
M. la Forest will accompany them.
| This is clear?'
The Indian muttered response In his
own tongue; then spoke more rapidly,
| and the mass Of warriors below
changed formation, the greater number
climbing the bank, and grouping
themselves in the darker shadow OF
| the woods.
"Who has charge Of the othersT
asked D'Artigny.
"Bastian Courtray," replied La For
est. "He is yonder.''
''Then, Courtray, listen: You follow
| the stream. but do not venture from
cover Post your men below the stock
ade and wait to intercept fugitives. We
will do the fighting above. Are the
| warriors with you armed?"
GAIL but ten have rifles, monsieur
but / know not if they be OF value
"You must make the best use OF
them you can. Above all things, be
quiet, and do nothing to alarm the lro-
quois You may co.
leaned forward, watching them az
they waded downstream, and then
climbed the bank, disappearing in the
underground. Sequitah had moved
past me, and heard his voice speak
ing in Indian dialect. Along the forest
aisles his warriors glided by where
stood, noiselessly as shadows. In an
other moment D'Artigny and | were
alone, the black night all about us, and
not sound reaching our ears to tel
Of those vanished allies. He took my
hand, a caress in his touch, sugges
ton Of pride in his voice.
"The old chief is warrior STILL" hi
said land, unless all signs fail, thu
Iroquois will long remember this day
Come, Adele, twill not do for us t.
be far behind, and we have walked this
trail before together"
i Had I not tested it with my owl
ears, never would I have believed
hundred men could have made way 81
noiselessly in the dark, through sucf
thick forest, rock strewn and deeply
rutted. Yet not sound OF the1l
stealthy passage was waited back t.
us on the wind-no echo OF voice, M
rasping Of foot, no rustic Of leaves
Ghosts could not have moved more 81
lently. Somehow the very thought thai
these grim savages We're thus creep
ing forward to attack and kill, theil
hearts mad with hate, wild beasts o.
prey stalking their victims, yielded mi
a strange feeling of horror. cluns
to D'Artigny's arm, shrinking from th'
shadows, my mind filled with name
less fear.
"Adele," he whispered, tenderly
"you will fear for me in this venture? z
eyes, monsieur"
sUThora iS M mood YOu heard II$