Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-10-27

over WITH so quickly l COulu out SIT
! and stare; they ran past me in pur-
suit, wild yells echoing through the
woods, but all thought of then was
NJ d'Artigny I 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
group of soldiers remained at the edge
of the forest. Among these were De
Tonty and La Forest. Neither noticed
my approach until I faced them.
"What madame" exclaimed De
Tonty, "you here also?" he paused as
though in doubt, "and the Sieur OAR
tigny-had he part in this feat Of
arms?"
ga very important part, monsieur"
returned La Forest, stanching 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, monsieurw
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, M. de
Tonty?"
The other did not answer; he was
watching D'Artigny approach, his eyes
| filled with doubt. I 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, well DONE" he
said cheerily. "'Twill be while be-
fore the Iroquois besiege this fort
again. Is that not your thought, M.
de Tonty?"
81 appreciate the service rendered."
replied the other gravely "But you
are in peril here. M. 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 M de Tonty," he said.
81 had forgotten my true mission here.
I bear orders from the king Of France"
''From Louis? La Sale has reached
the kings carr"
GAY, 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 wellw
''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 alp
"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
ply, 81 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, M. de Tonty,"
he said loudly 81 was about to call
those soldiers yonder, and close the
gates. TITS hardly safe to have them
left thus with all these strange Indians
about"
.They are Iflini, 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
failing; then anger conquered, and he
strobe forward, sword in hand.
sMon 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, soon will
be. Here, Durantaye, bring your men;
we have a prisoner here to stretch
rope. De Tonty, command you in
The name Of France!'
The point of his sword was at DAT
tigny's breast, but the younger man
stood motionless. his lips smiling, his
eyes on the others face
"Perchance, monsieur" he said qui-
city, ''it might be best for you first to
speak with this friend Of mine."
"What friend? Sacre! What is the
fellow to me? Who is ha-another one
of La Sales spawn?"
La Forest, still bareheaded, his fore
head bleeding, pressed down the sword!
blade.
THE company is good one" he