The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-11-09

| mass VI DOuleS, OI WdNluS uulk' VI
blazing eyes. of upllfted steel.
The Iroquols had rallied from their
first shock; already they realized the
small number of the attackers. Those
who had fled were turning back; those
on either flank were running toward
the scene Of fight. l saw the white
renegade burst from the press, urging
these laggards forward. Scarcely had
he attained the outer edge when DAT
tigny fought his way forth also, tear
ing the mass asunder with sweep Of
rife. They stood face to face, glaring
into each others eyes.
The rifle in D'Artigny's hand was
but a twisted bar of iron; the rene
gade's only weapon was murderous
knife, its point reddened with blood.
What word was said, | know not, but
saw D'Artigny fling his bar aside,
and draw the knife at his belt. Mon
Dieu! l could not look; l know not
how they fought; hid my eyes and
prayed. When | glanced up again
both were gone, the fighting mass was
surglng over the spit-but the IrOquoiS
were In flight, seeking only some
means of escape, while out through the
| fort gates the soldiers of the garrison
were coming on a run, pouring volleys
of lead into the fleeing savages. | saw
| De TOnty, De Baugis, De la Duran
taye-ay! and there was NJ. CassiOn.
| hnaIy ~, hO gtpa 1orc NO WING his
sword gallantly in the air. 1t was all
over with so quickly | could but sit
and stare; they ran past me in pur-
suit wild yels echoing through the
woods, but all | thought of then was
VI. d'Artigny. | 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 IlIini already scattered in
merciless, headlOng pursuit. Only a
group of soldiers remained at the edge
of the forest. Among these were De
Tonty and La Forest. Neither noticed
my approach until l faced them.
w nat iuduuIiC' tASid llhCu DC
Tonty. "you here also?" he paused as
though in doubt, "and the Sieur d'Ar
tigny-had he part in this feat Of
arms?"
"A very important part. monsieur"
returned La Forest, stanching wound
on his forehead, yet bowling gal
lantly to me. "'Twas indeed his plan.
and / permitted him command as he
knows these IIlini Indians better than
l."
"But does he live, monsieur" l
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 recommendation NJ. de
TontyY
The other did not answer; he was
watching DArtigny approach, his eyes
filled with doubt. l 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, NJ.
de TOnty?"
Il appreciate the service rendered."
replied the other gravely. But you
are in peril here. NJ. Cassion is yon-
der. and still in command"
D'Artigny glanced tnquiringly at La
Forest. and the latter stepped forward.
a leather-bound packet in his hands
Your pardon, NJ. 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 ear?"
"Ay, 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 well?"
more than triumphant over
all his enemies. He sails for the mouth
of the great river with a French col
ony; Louis authorized the expedition"
And is that allY'
"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, Il 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, NJ. de Tonty."
he said loudly. II was about to call |
those soldiers yonder, and close the
gates. 'Tis hardly safe to have them
left thus with all these strange Indians
about"
"They are Tllini. monsieur-Our al |
lies"
"Pah! an Indian is an Indian to my i
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.
"Mon Dieu! What is this? You
here again, you bastard wood ranger?
had hopes | was rid Of you, even at