Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-08-25

1oAo
guessed, as their features were unfa-
miliar. They gazed at me curiously,
as I stood In the doorway, but with
out changing their attitudes. Plainly
I was held prisoner also; M. Cassion's
threat was being put into execution.
This knowledge merely served TO
strengthen my decision, and I closed
and barred the door again, smiling as
/ did SC.
It grew dusk while I made almost
vain effort to eat, and, at last, push
ing the pewter plate away, I crossed
over, and cautiously opened the wood
en- shutter of the window. The red
light of the sunset still illumined the
western sky, and found glorious refec-
ton along the surface of the river.
It was a dizzy drop to the bed of the
stream below, but Indians were on the
opposite bank, beyond rife shot. In
noes drawn up on the sandy shore, and
several fires burning. They were too
far away for rne to judge their tribe,
yet a number among them sported wal
bonnets, and I had no doubt they were
~Iroquois.
So far as | could perceive elsewhere,
there was no movement, as my eyes
Travelled the half-circle, over a wide
vista of hill and dale, green valley
and dark woods, although to the left
I could occasionally hear the sharp re-
port OF a rifle, In evidence that besieg-
ing savages were still watchful of the
fort entrance. / could not lean out far
enough to see in that direction, yet as
the night grew darker the vicious splits
of fire became visible. Above me the
solid log walls arose but a few feet
a tall man might stand upon the win
dow ledge, and find grip of the roof;
but below was the sheer drop to the
river-perchance two hundred feet be-
meath. Already darkness shrouded
the water, as the broad valley faded
into the gloom of the night.
There was naught for me to do but
sit and wait. The guard which M.
Cassion had stationed at the door pre-
vented my leaving the room, but its
more probable purpose was to keeT
others from communicating with me.
De Tonty had evidently resorted to
dinlomacy. and instead of quarreling
with the three officers when they ap
proached him, had greeted them all SO
genially as to leave the impression that
he was disposed to permit matters to
take their natural course. He might
be watched of course, yet was no
longer suspected as likely to help res
cue the prisoner. All their fear now
was centered upon me, ard my pos.
sible influence.
If I could be kept from any further
communication with either D'Artigny
or De Tonty, 1t was scarcely probable
that any of the garrison would make
serious effort to interfere with their
plans. De Tonty's apparent indiffer
ence, and his sudden friendliness with
De Baugis and Cassion, did not worry
me greatly. I realized his purpose In
thus diverting suspicion. His pledge
| of assistance had been given me, and
his was the word of a soldier and gen
tleman. In some manner, and soon
before midnight certainly would re-
ceive message from Boisrondet.
Yet my heart failed me more than
once as l waited. How long the time
seemed, and how deadly silent was the
night. Crouched close beside the door,
/ could barely hear the muttered con-
versation of the soldiers on guard;
and when I crossed to the open viz
dow l looked out upon a black void,
utterly soundless.
Not ever the distant crack of a rifle
now broke the solemn stiffness, and
the only spot of color visible was the
dull red glow Of a campfire on the op-
posite bank Of the river. ! had no way
OF computing time, and the tagging
hours seemed centuries long, as terri
flying doubts assailed me.
Every new thought became an agony
of suspense. Had the plans failedf
Had Boisrondet discovered the pris-
oner so closely guarded as to make res
cue impossible? Had his nerve, his
daring. vanished before the real dam
ger of the venture? Had D'Artigny
refused to accept the chances? What
had happened; what was happening
out there in the mystery?
All 1 could do was pray, and wait.
Perhaps no word would be given me
the escape might already be accom-
plished, and I left here to my fate.
B%oisrondet knew nothing of my deci-
sion to accompany D'Artigny in his
exile. II the way was difficult and
dangerous, he might not consider 1t
essential to communicate with me at
all. De Tonty had promised, to be