Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-12-08
CHAPTER XVIII.
Within the Eart.

| tnat was enough TO give me glimpse
of the weird scene. l saw D'Artigny
lunge with his knife, a huge savage
reeling beneath the stroke, and Bar
beau cleave 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 sortie by the garrison, and 1t was
my part to give the alarm. Even as
1 sprang forward. a savage leaped
from the ruck, but I escaped his
hand. and raced up the dark trail, the
one thought urging me on. God knows
how 1 made ito me tits but mem
DRY 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, burst into the little open space,
then tripped and fell just as the gate
swung wide, and 1 saw a dozen dark
forms emerge. One leaped forward
and grasped me, lifting me partly to
my feet.
mon Dieu! a woman he exclaimed
in startled voice. What means this,
in heavens nameT
"Quick," 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. I felt the rush as they
passed, and had glimpse of vague fig
ures ere they disappeared In the dark
ness. Then I was alone, except for
the bearded soldier who grasped my
arm.
"Who was that?" asked, "the man
who led?"
'Boisrondet, Francois de Boisron-
det."
"An officer of La Sales? You, then,
are Of his company?"
II 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 dArtigny was In the fighting
yonderY'
Eyes; 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 Barre's men arrived three days
ago by boat, under popinjay they call
Cassion to recruit De Baugis' forces.
De ia Durantaye was with him from
the portage, so that now they out
number US three to one. You know
this Cassion. madame"
"Ay, travelled with his party from
Montreal"
"Ah, then you will know the truth,
no doubt De Tonty and Cassion were
at swords points over charge the
latter made against Rene d'Artigny-
that he had murdered one Of the party
at St. Ignace."
Hugo Chevet, the fur trader"
"Ay, that was the name. We Of La
Salle's company know 1t to be a lie.
Sacre! I have served with that lad
two years, and tits not 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. I
heard their words, and but for De
Baugfs and De la Durantaye, Fran
coils Cassion would have paid well for
his false tongue. Now you can tell
him the truth"
II shall do that, but even my word,
l fear, will not clear D'Artigny of the
charge. l believe the man to be inno-
cent; in my heart there is no doubt,
yet there is 80 little to be proven"
"Cassion speaks bitterly; he is an
enemy"
Monsieur Cassion is my husband"
l said regretfully.
"Your pardon, madame. All, IN
derstand It all now. You were sup
posed to have been drowned in the
great lake, but were saved by D'Ar-
tigny. Twill be surprise for mon
sieur, but In this land, we witness
strange things. Mon Dieu! see. they
come yonder; tbs Boisrondet and bis
men,"
They approached in silence, mere
shadowy figures, whose numbers
could not count, but those in advance
bore a helpless body In their arms
and my heart seemed to stop its beat
ing, until heard D'Artlgny's voice in
cheerful greeting.