Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1916-09-22
CHAPTER XVIII.
Within the Fort.

| doubt if | paused a second,~ yet
that was enough to give me glimpse
Of the weird scene. l saw D'Artigny
lunge with his knife, q huge savage
reeling beneath the stroke, and Bar
beau cleaye passage to the rescue, the
stock of his gun shattered as he struck
fiercely at the red devils who blocked
his path.
Outnumbered, helpless for long in
that narrow space, their only hope lay
in a sorte by the garrison, and it was
my part to give the alarm. Even as
I sprang forward, a savage leaped
from the ruck, but | escaped his
hand, and raced up the dark trail, the
one thought urging me on. God knows
how / made ito me it's but men,
ory Of falls over unseen obstacles, of
reckless running; yet the distance
could have been scarce more than a
hundred yards, before my eyes saw
the dark shadow of the stockade out
lined against the sky.
Crying out with full strength Of my
voice, l burst into the little open space,
then tripped and fell just as the gate
swung wide, and I saw dozen dark
forms emerge. One leaped forward
and grasped me, lifting me partly to
my feet.
mon Dieu! woman he exclaimed
| in startled voice. "What means this,
| in heavens namew
| "Ouick," / gasped, breaking away.
able now to stand on my own 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 tlg-
ures ere they disappeared in the dark
ness. Then I was alone, except for
the bearded soldier who grasped my
| arm.
"Who was that?" I asked, 'the man
who led?'
"Boisrondet, Francois de Boisron-
det."
IAN officer Of La Sales? You, then,
are Of his company"
ST am" bit proudly, "but most OF
| the lads yonder belong with De Bau-
gis. Now we fight common foe. and
| forget our own quarrel. Did you say
Rene d'Artigny was in the fighting
yonder?"
Eyes; he and 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 Barre's men arrived three days
| ago by boat, under popinjay they cal
| Cassion to recruit De Baugis' forces
| De la Durantaye was with him from
| the portage, so that now they out
number us three to one. You know
| this Cassion, madame?
GAY, 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 the
latter made against Rene d'Arhgny-
that he had murdered one of the party
at st. Ignace."
Hugo Chevet, the fur trader"
CAV. that was the name. We of La
Sales company know it to be liz
Sacrei / have served with that lao
two years. and it's mot in his nature
to knife any man in the back. AND
so De Tonty said, and he gave Cas-
sion the lie straight in his teeth.
| heard their words, and but for De
Baugis and De la Durantaye, Fran
co.'s Cassion would have paid well fol
his false tongue. Now you can tel
him the truth
sI shall do that, but even my word
I fear. will not clear D'Ardgny or the
charge. / believe the man to be limo
cent; in my heart there is no doubt
yet there is so little ito be proven"
"Cassion speaks bitterly; he is ar
enemy"
Monsieur Cassion is my husband
said regretfully.
"Your pardon, madame. All, l un
derstand it all now. You were sup
posed to have been drowned in thu
great lake, but were saved by OAR
tigny. Twill be a surprise for mon
sieur. but I'm this land, we witness
strange things. Mon Dieu! see. the.
come yonder; tbs Boisrondet and oil
men,"
They approached in silence. mer'
, shadowy figures. whose numbers
could not count, but those in advance
bore a helpless body In their arms
and my heart seemed to stop It's Deat
; ing. until heard D'Artigny's voice u
! cheerful greeting.