Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-12-22
CHAPTER XVII.
We Attack the Savages.

VIC ClhuNN AlO SHN"6Ss'
II was already so dark that the sol,
der was almost upon us before ! per
Ceivcd his shadow, but It was evident
enough from his first words that he
had overheard none Of our Conversa-
ton.
There arc no Indians in the vii
lagc," he said grulfly, leaning on his
gun and staring at us. Il got across
to a small island, along the trunk OF
a dead tree, and had good view Of the
whole bank yonder. The tepees stand.
but not a squaw nor n dog Is left"
Were there any ano in sight
along the shoreY"
"Only one, broken beyond repair"
"Then, as | read the story, the tribe
fed down the stream, either to join
the others on the Illinois, or the whites
at the fort. They were evidently not
attacked, but had news Of the com
ing Of the Iroquois, and escaped with
out waiting to give battle. IT'S not
likely the wolves will overlook this
village long. Are we ready to 90 for
ward?"
He disappeared in the darkness,
vanishing silently, and we stood mo-
t~ionless waiting our turn to advance.
Neither spoke, Barbeau leaning for
ward, his gun extended, alert and
ready, The intense darkness, the
quiet night, the mystery lurking amid
those shadows beyond, all combined to
arouse within me a sense OF danger.
heart, and | clasped the sleeve Of the
soldiers Jacket merely to assure my.
self Of his actual presence. The pres
sure Of my fingers caused him to
glance about.
"Do not be frightened, madame
he whispered e~ncouragingly. There
would be firing yonder II the ~lroQuois
blocked our path"
Fear not for me" | answered. sur.
prlsed Mt the steadiness OF my voice
ut is the lonely silence which makes
hi' NAllih e. oS pN'h 90 W.
shall have my nerve again. Have We
not waited long e%noughY'
"Ay. come; but be careful whcr,
you place your feet"
He led the way, walking with sucl
slow caution, that, although | followed
step by step. not a sound reached my
ears. We circled about large rocks
and up a %ravine. through which w,
found barely room for passage. TIT
walls rising steep and high on eithe
side. II was intensely dark dow
there, yet impossible for us to escap,
the trail, and at the end OF that pas
sage we emerged into an open space
Enclosed with woods, and having a gri
OF sand underfoot. Here the traI
seemed to disappear, but Barbea'
struck straight across, and In the fol
est shade beyond we found D'Artign,
waiting.
$40 not shoot" he whispered. -
was afraid you might miSjudge tn
way here. as the sand leaves no clea
trace. The rest OF the passage 1
through the woods, and up n stee
hill. You are not greatly weariet
madame?"
ooh, no: | have made some falls
steps In the dark, but the pace ba
been slow. Do we approach the fort?
"A half league beyond; a hundre
yards more, and w begin the clint
There we will be In the zone OF dar
ger, although thus far I perceive n
sign Of Indian presence. Have 20,
Barbeau?"
"None except this feather Of a wa
bonnet l picked up at the big roc
below"
"A feather! Is It Iroquois7"
"It Is cut square, and no Algonquin
ever does that"
"Ay, let me see! You are right, Bal
beau: twas dropped from a Tuscaror
war bonnet. Then the wolves hav
been this way"
We crossed the wood, and began I
climb among loose stones, finally find
ing solid rock beneath our feet, tn
path skirting the edge OF what seeme'
to be a deep cash in the earth, ant
winding about wherever 1t could 1nt
passage. The way grew sleeper ant
sleeper, and more difficult to traverse
although, as we thus rose above tn
tree limit, the shadows became les
dense, and we were able dimly to per