Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-08-31

and grasped me, lifting me partly to
my feet.
Mon Dieu! a woman" he exclaimed
in startled voice. what means this,
in heavens name?"
"Quick," l gasped, breaking away
able now to stand on my W feet.
They are fighting there-two white
men-D'Artigny-"
what, Rene. Ay, lads. TO the res
cue! Cartier, take the lady within
Come with me, you others"
They swept past me, the leader well
in advance. l felt the rush as they
passed, and had glimpse of vague hg-
ures ere they disappeared in the dark
ness. Then | was alone, except for
the bearded soldier who grasped my
arm.
Who was that?" l asked, "the man
who led?"
"Boisrondet, Francois de Boisron-
det."
IAN officer of La Sales? You, then,
are of his company"
81 am" a bit proudly, "but most of
the lads yonder belong with De Bau-
gis. Now we fight a common foe, n
forget our own quarrel. Did you say
Rene d'Artigny was in the fighting
yonder?"
Yes; he and a soldier named Bar
beau"
The fellow stood silent, shifting his
feet.
"'Twas told us he was dead" he
said finally, with effort. Some more
of La Rarre's men arrived three days
ago by boat, under a popinjay they call
Cassion to recruit De Baugis' forces.
t De la Durantaye was with him from
: the portage, so that now they out
. number us three to one. You know
:, this C~assion, madame?"
t SAY, Travelled with his party from
: Montreal"
"Ah. then you will know the truth
no doubt. De Tonty and Cassion were
at swords points over a charge thu
e latter made against Rene d'Artigny-
that he had murdered one of the part,
g at st. Ignace."
Hugo Chevet, the fur trader"
II "Ay, that was the name. We of l.
Y Sales company know it to be Il liz
Sacre! | have served with that Ia
e two years, and tits not in his natur
to knife any mar in the back. An
le so De Tonty said, and he gave Cas-
u sion the lie straight in his teeth.
n. heard their words, and but for d
" Baugis and De la Durantaye, Fral
s. co.'s Cassion would have paid well &c
ID his false tongue. Now you can tie
~ him the truth"
&c 81 shall do that, but even my wor'
~ I fear. will not clear D'Artigny of IL
charge. l believe the man to be inn
i'd cent; in my heart there is no doub
l." vet there is so little to be proven"
m "Cassion speaks bitterly; he is 9
n enemy"
ut, Monsieur Cassion is my husband
ID l said regretfully.
"Your pardon, madame. All, Il
derstand it all now. You were su
. nosed to have been drowned in t
a great lake, but were saved by DA
z tigny. Twill be a surprise for mo
. sieur, but in this land, we witne
strange things. Mon Dieu! see, tn
come yonder; It's Boisrondet and |
q men,
IA They approached in silence, me
9# shadowy figures, whose numbers
4E could not count, but those in advar
bore a helpless body in their arr
~ and nv heart seemed to stop its be
ing, until I heard D'Artigny's voice
cheerful greeting.
l what, still here, madame, and
IN gate beyond open! He took my ha
and lifted 1t to his lips. "My congI
AM ulations, your work was well do
and our lives thank you. MAZDA
lKN Cassion, this is my comrade, Franc
VA Boisrondet, whose voice | was ne
M more glad to hear than this night.
I'M commend him to your mercy"
Boisrondet, a mere shadow in
"a night, swept the earth with his
"a 81 mind me the time" he said c.
teously, when Rene did me eC
service"
"The savages have 1ed?"
- "'Twas short and sweet, mazda
Ref and those who failed to fly are l.
yonder."
the "Yet some among you are hurt
"Rarbeau hath an ugly wound
bear him along, lads, and have the
the looked to-but as for the rest OF
The there is no serious harm done"
was was gazing at D'Artigny,
swift marked how he held n hand t.
v up side.
u all "And you, monsieur; you are
thing scathedT"
hand, Except for a small wound
living and a head which rings yet from
of age blows-no more than a nj
eyes rest will remedy. Come, madame
bran time we were within, and the
ng In closed"
rs there still danger, then? S
v the now that we are under prote
gain there will be nj attackT
yainst mot from those we nave pa
t him but it's told me there are more Il
truck thousand Iroquois warriors In thu
/, and ley, and the garrison has less
way fifty men, all told. 1t was luck "
Bar through SO easily. Ay, Boisronde
ahead are ready"
h up That was my nrst glimpse 0
faced interior Of a frontier fort, an
nd. though | saw only the little open
t. he lighted by a few waving torche
o my memory sbides with ~distinctnes
hodv az men met Us at the gate