Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-09-01
CHAPTER XIII.
We Meet Surprise.

we Meet surprise.
Not until we had felt carefully fro
wall to wall did we admit u disai
pointment. There were no overshaf :
owing trees here, and what small gliln-
mel of light came from the dull skies
found reflection on river and rocks, so
that we could perceive each other, and
gain dim view of our surroundings.
OF the canoe there was absolutely no
trace, and, If arms had been hide
there also, they had likewise disap-
peared. The very fact that the door
stood wide open, its wooden lock
broken, told the story clearly. re-
manned silent. staring about through
the semi-darkness of the interior, rem
dered speeches. by a feeling of utter
helplessness. D'Artigny, after an ut
terance of disappointment, felt his way
along the walls; as he came back to
the open door our eyes met, and he
! must have read despair in mine, for
he smiled encouragingly.
"Swept bare, little girl" he said.
mot so much as an ounce of powder
left. The avage got here before us,
1t seems. Never mind; we shall have
to travel a ways on woodcraft, and 1t
will not be the first wilderness jour
ney l have made without arms. Did
De Tonty mention to you where he
believed the Illini were in hiding?"
mo, monsieur-are they I~ndians?"
eyes; the river tribes, the most
loyal of all to La Sale. 1t was n
of their villages we saw on the bank
of the stream as we approached the
fort from the west. I told Boisrondet
that it stoodthere deserted. but not
destroyed, and 1t was our judgment
the inhabitants were hiding among
the river bluffs. Without canoes they
could not travel far, and are probably
concealed out yonder. If we can find
them our greatest peril is past"
"They are friendlyY
SAY, and have never shed white
blood. l know them well, and with
leadership they would be a match even
for the Iroquois. De Tonty led them
once against these same warriors, and
they fought like fiends. Come, we will
follow the stream. and see If we cannot
find trace Of their covert"
1t was but a cluster of rocks where
the hut stood, and a few yards below
we found the forest creeping down to
the very bank of the river. THE sky
had lightened above us, the obscuring
clouds opening to let the silver CLEAN
of stars through, and we paused a mo-
ment gazing back and upward at the
vast rock on which perched the be-
leaguered fort. We could dimly per-
ceive the vague outline of it silhouet-
ted against the lighter arch of sky. In
massive gloom and silence it seemed
to dominate the night, the grim forest
sweeping up to its very walls. Not a
CLEAN of light appeared; not a sound
reached us. I felt D'Artigny's arm
about me.
81 would that I really knew what
was going on yonder meath the screen
of trees" be said gravely. Some In
dian trick, perchance, which it might
be in my power to circumvent-at least
bear to the lads fair warning"
"You would risk life for thatp'
"Ay, my own readily. That is a les
son of the wilderness; the duty of a
comrade. But for your presence 1
should be climbing the hill, seeking to
learn the purpose of those savages-
else l were no true soldier of France"
"What think you their purpose is,
monsieur?"
San attack in force at dawn. Those
who passed us were heavily armed,
and crept forward stealthily, stripped
and painted for war. There were other
parties, no doubt, creeping up through
the woods from all sides. IT'S my
thought the hour has struck for them
to make their great effort. They have
scattered the friendly Indians, killed
them, or driven them in terror down
the river. Their villages have been
destroyed. Now all the warriors who
have been at that business have re-
turned, filled with blood lust, and eager
to strike at the French"
"But they cannot win? Surely they
cannot capture the fort monsieur?
Why, 1t is all rock?"
"On three sides-yes; but to the
south there is ample space for attack
In force. Those woods yonder would
conceal a thousand savages within a
few hundred yards of the fort gates.
and what of the defense? Opposing
them is one hundred and fifty feet of
stockade, protected at best by fifty
rifles. There are no more in the fort,
officers, Indians, and all; and Boisron.