Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-10-24

were coming on run. pouring volleys
of lead into the fleeing savages. | saw
De Tonty, De Baugis, De la Duran
taye-ay! and there was NJ Cassion.
back among the stragglers. waving his
sword CALAMITY in the air. 1t was all
over with so quickly l could but sit
and stare; they ran past me in pur-
| suit, wild yels echoing through the
woods, but all l thought of then was
NJ. d'Artigny. l scrambled down the
rock, falling heavily in my haste, yet
once upon my feet again, rushed forth.
reckless of danger The ground was
strewn with dead and wounded, the
victorious Illini already scattered in
merciless, headlong pursuit. Only a
group of soldiers remained at the edge
of the forest. Among these were De
Tonty and La Forest Neither noticed
my approach until l faced them.
What. madame" exclaimed De
Tonty. you here also?" he paused as
though in doubt, land the Sieur OAR
| tigny1,had he part in this feat of
arms?"
"A very important part. monsieur"
| returned La Forest, stanching a wound
on his forehead, yet bowling gal
| lantly to me. "'Twas indeed his plan.
and I permitted him command as he
knows these Illini Indians better than
l."
But does he live. monsieur?"
broke in anxiously.
Live! ay, very much alive-see. he
comes yonder now Faith, he fought
Jules Lescalles knife to knife, and end
ed the career Of that renegade. Is
that not a recommendation. NJ de
| Tonty?"
The other did not answer; he was
watching D'Artigny approach, his eyes
filed with doubt. l stepped forward
to greet him, with hands outstretched
He was rags from head to foot. spat-
tered with blood, an ugly wound show
| ing on one cheek, yet his lips and eyes
smiled
"'Twas good work, we'll DONE" he
said cheerily. "'Twill be a while be-
fore the Iroquois besiege this fort
again. Is that not your thought, NJ.
de Tonty?"
81 appreciate the service rendered"
replied the other gravely. But you
are in peril here. NJ. Cassion is yon-
| der. and still in command"
D'Artigny glanced inquiringly at La
Forest, and the latter stepped forward,
! leather-bound packet in his hands.
"Your pardon, NJ. lie Tonty," he said.
81 had forgotten my true mission here.
bear orders from the king of France"
From Louis? La Sale has reached
the kings carp
"Ay, good results. These are for
you, monsieur"
De Tonty took them, yet his thought
was not upon their contents but with
his absent chief.
"You saw Sieur de la Sale in
France? You left him well?'
"More than well-triumphant over
all his enemies. He sails for the mouth
of the great river with French col
ony; Louis authorized the expedition"
"And is that all?"
| "All. except it was rumored at the
court that La Barre would not for long
remain governor of New France"
The face of the Italian did not
change expression; slowly he opened
the papers. and glanced at their con-
| tents; then folded them once more.
and lifted his eyes to our faces.
by grace of the king" he said sim
Div. 'T am again in command of Fort
| ST. Louis"
We made our way slowly through
the fringe of woods, and across the
open space before the fort gates, which
| still stood open. Cassion had disap-
peared: indeed, there was not so much
as a single guard at the gate when
we entered, yet we were greeted in
stantly by his voice. ..
"'Tis well you return, NJ. de Tonty,"
he said loudly. II was about to call
those soldiers yonder, and close the
| gates. IT'S hardly safe to have them
left thus with all these strange Indians
about"
"They are Illini, monsieur-our al
lies.'
"Pah! an Indian is an Indian to my
mind; bid NJ. de la Durantaye come
hither." He stared at D'Artigny and
me. seeing us first as he stepped for
ward. A moment he gasped, his voice
falling; then anger conquered. and he
strobe forward, sword in hand.
"Mon Dieu. What is this? You
here again, you bastard wood ranger?
had hopes | was rid of you, even at
the cost of a wife. Well. l soon will
be. Here, Durahtaye, bring your men:
we haYe a prisoner here to stretch
rope. De Tonty. l command you in
the name of France.''
The point of his sworc was at DAT
| tigny's breast, but the younger man
stood motionless, his lips smiling, his
eyes on the others face.
"Perchahee. monsieur" he said qui-
city. 1T might be best for you first to
speak with this friend of mine"
What friend? Sacre! What is the
fellow to me? Who is he-another one
of La Sales spawn?P
| La Forest. still bareheaded, his fore
head bleeding. pressed down the sword
blade.
THE company is a good one" he
said bluntly enough, land just now
well worth belonging to. | am Fran
co.'s de Ia Forest, monsieur, one-time
commandant at Detroit; at present
messenger from the king of France"
Kings messenger - oui Mon
! Dieu! you look it. Come. man, what
mummery is this?''
No mummery, monsieur. | left
France two months since, bearing the
kings own word TO NJ la Barre. 'Tis
with his Endorsement journeyed
hither to restore Henri de Tonty to his
rightful command of Fort ST. Louis"
You lie!' Cassion cried hotly, eyes
blazing hatred and anger. Its some
helliSh trick