Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-09-19
CHAPTER XVII.
We Attack the savaqes.

We Attack the Savaqes.
1t was already so dark that the sol
der was almost upon US before l per
ceived mis- shadow, but it was eviden
enough from his first words that b,
had overheard none of our converse
ton.
There are no Indians in the vii
lage," he said gruftiy, leaning on hi:
gun and staring at us. 81 got acros!
to small island. along the trunk O
dead tree, and had good view of thu
whole bank yonder. The tepees stand
but not squaw nor a dog is left"
"Were there any canoes in sigh
| along the shore?''
"Only one. broken beyond repair.
Then, as l read the story, the tribe
fed down the stream, either to joir
the others on the Illinois, or the white:
at the fort. They were evidently no
| attacked. but had news of the com
ing of the Iroquois, and escaped with
out waiting 70 give battle. IT'S no
likely the wolves will overlook thi!
village long. Are we ready to go for
ward"
He disappeared in the darkness
vanishing silently, and we stood mo
tionless waiting our turn to advance
Neither spoke, Barbeau leaning for
ward, his gun extended, alert an(
ready. The intense darkness, tn,
; quiet night, the mystery lurking amid
those shadows beyond, all combined t.
arouse within me a sense of danger
l could feel the swift pounding of my
heart, and 1 clasped the sleeve OF The
soldiers jacket merely to assure my
self of his actual presence. The pres
sure of my fingers caused him tt
glance about.
do not be frightened, madame,
he whispered encOuragingly. "Thert
would be firing yonder if the Iroquol'
blocked our path"
Fear not for ME-" I answered. sur
prised at the steadiness of my voice
''It is the lonely silence which makes
shall have my nerve again. Have We
not waited long enough?"
GAY, come; but be careful where
you place your feet"
He led the way, walking with suct
slow caution, that, although l followed
step by step, not sound reached my
ears. We circled about large rocks
and up a ravine, through which we
found barely room for passage, the
walls rising steep and high on either
side. 1t was intensely dark down
there, yet impossible for us to escape
the trail. and at the end of that pas
sage we emerged into an open space
inclosed with woods, and having a grit
of sand underfoot Here the trai
seemed to disappear but Barbear
struck straight across, and in the for
est shade beyond we found D'Artigny
waiting.
do not shoot" he whispered. 81
was afraid you might misjudge the
way here, as the sand leaves no clear
trace. The rest of the passage is
through the woods. and up steer
hill. You are not greatly wearied
madame?"
"Oh, no; l have made some false
steps in the dark, but the pace has
been slow. Do we approach the fort?'
"a half league beyond; a hundred
yards more, and we begin the climb
There we will be in the zone of dan
ger, although thus far l perceive nc
sign of Indian presence. Have you
Barbeau?"
bonnet l picked up at the big rocL
below"
"A feather! Is it Iroquois?"
''It is cut square, aud no Algonquin
ever does that"
"Ay, let me see! You are right, Bar
beau; twas dropped from a Tuscarora
war bonnet. Then the wolves have
been this way"
We crossed the wood. and began to
climb among loose stones, finally find
ing solid rock beneath our feet, the
path skirting the edge Of what seemed
to be deep cash in the earth. and
winding about wherever it could find
passage. The way grew sleeper and
sleeper, and more difficult to traverse
although, as we thus rose above the
tree limit, the shadows became less
dense, and we were able dimly to per-
ceive objects a yard or two in ad-
vance. | strained my eyes over Bar.
beau's shoulder, but could gain no
glimpse of D'Artigny. Then we
rounded a sharp edge of rock. and
met him blocking the narrow way.
1.-THE red devils are there" he said
his voice barely audible Beyond the
curve in the bank. Twas Gods mercy
had a glimpse in time, or l would
have walked straight into their midst
A stone dropping into the ravine
warned me, and l crept on all tours
to where could see."
You counted them?"
Hardly that in this darkness: yet
it's no small party. 'Twould be my
Judgment there are twenty warriors
| there"
"And the fort?"
short rifle shot away. Once past
this party, and the way is easy. Here
is my thought. Barbeau. There is No
firing. and this party OF wolves ere
evidently hidden in ambush They
have found the trail. and expect some
parry from the fort TO pass this way"
Or else" said the other thought
fully. they lie in wait for an assault
at daylight-that would be Indian
war"