Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-08-24
cHAPTER XVI.
Tn. Words Of Love.

Barbeau?"
"a La Chesnayne could make no
other CHOICE he answered Loyalty.
But we have no time to waste here
in compliment. You know a safe pas
sage, you say"
"Not a safe one. yet a trail which
may still remain open. for it Is known
to but few. Let us aboard, and cross
to the opposite shore, where we will
hide thes canoe, and make our way
through the forest. Once safely afoot
yonder. l will make my purpose clear"
A dozen strokes landed us on the
other >bank, where the ano was
drawn up, and concealed among the
bushes, while we descended a slight
declivity, and found ourselves in the
silence. of a great wood. Here DAT
tigny paused to make certain his
| sense Of direction.
81 will go forward slightly in ad-
vance," he said, at last, evidently hav-
ing determined upon his course.
"And we will move slowly, and as
noiselessly as possible, No n ever
knows where the enemy are to be met
with in Indian campaign, and we are
without arms, except for Barbeau's
gun"
81 retain my pistol" | interrupted.
"Of small value since It's immersion
in the lake; as to myself, l must trust
to my knife. Madame, you will fol-
low me, but merely close enough to
make sure of your course through the
woods, while Barbeau will guard the
rear. Are both ready?
Perhaps it might be well to explain
more clearly what you propose" said
the soldier. "Then if we become sep
arated, we could figure out the proper
direction TO follow"
mot a bad thought, that. 1t Is a
rough road ahead, heavily wooded,
and across broken land. My route Is
almost directly west, except that we
bear slightly south to 'keep well away
from the river. Three leagues will
bring us to a small stream which
empties into the Illinois. There is q
faint trail along its eastern bank
which leads to the Rock, where it is
possible for n knowing the way tC
attain the palisades of the fort. II
we can attain this trail before darb
we can make the remaining distance
by night. Here, let me show you
and he drew with a sharp stick
hasty map on the ground. "Now vol
understand; if we become separated
keep steadily westward until YOU
reach a stream flowing north,'
In this order we took up the march
and as | had nothing to bear except
blanket, which l twisted about m.
shoulders, l found little difficulty il
following my leader. At first the un
derbrush was heavy, and the grounC
very broken, so that oftentimes l los
sight entirely of D'Artigny, but as hi
constantly broke branches to mark hi
passage, and the sun served as guild
ance, | had small difficulty in keeping
the proper direction. To u RICH
along the river appeared masses o
isolated rock, and these we skirte,
closely, always in the shadow an
silence of great trees, Within hal
an hour we had emerged from the re
tarding underbrush, and came out int
an open wood, where, the walking wa
much easier.
!, The sun had not entirely disaI
!, peared when. we emerged from til
! dark wood shadows into a narrow
grassy valley, through which fiowe
: a silvery stream, not broad, but deel
{ Assured that this must be the waite
. we sought, I sank to the ground, cage
for a moments rest, but D'Artign,
. t~ireless still. moved back and forwar
along the edge of the forest to assul
" himself of the safety of our surrount
ings. Barbeau joined him, and que
toned.
= "We have reached the trail?"
II SAY, beside the shore yonder; 81
{ you anything of Indian tepees aero
the stream to the left?"
l Below, there are wigwams the
just in the edge of the grove. VI
Is can see the outlines from here; b
y l make out no moving figures"
l. Deserted then; the towards ha'
j. run away. They could not have be,
r attacked, or the tepees would ha
Is been burned"
"An Algonquin villageT"
n "Mlamis. l had hoped we mig
u gain assistance there, but they ha
'e either Joined the whites in the 70
q or are hiding in the woods. 'Tis e.
Y dent we must save ourselves"
"And how far is it,"
ITO the fort? A league or two, a
~ Ia rough climb at the farther @
"a through the dark. We will wait hi
:, until after dusk, eat such food as
- have without fire, and rest up for
bit Of venture. The next trip "
test us all, and madame is Yves
y enough already"
N. "An hour will put me right" I sa
70 smiling at him, yet making no atten
"A. to rise. 81 have been in a boat
m long I have lost all strength in
Ike limbs"
or "We feel that, all Of u.s." cheerl
"but come, Barbeau, unpack, and
Lth us have what cheer we can"
he l know not when food was G.
more welcome, although It was sim
bis enough to be sure-a bit OF hi
cracker, and some jerked deer me
he washed down by water from
ks stream-yet hunger served to ma
these welcome. The loneliness Q
ne peril OF our situation had tendency
keep us silent, although D'Artlgny
ed deavored to cheer me with kin
speech, and gave Barbeau careful
ne, scription Of the trail leading to
lch fort gate. II aught happened to h
Irt, we we're to press on until we attail
49,