Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-10-17
"Then you know the nature of the
ground. IT'S all woodland until within

"Then you know the nature of the
ground. IT'S all woodland until within
few hundred yards of the gates. You
recall the great rock beside the trailY
"Ay and the view from the top"
My plan would be to creep up that
far. with thanking parties on the slopes
below. In front as you may remem-
Der, there is an open space. then a
fringe of forest hiding the clearing be-
fore the stockade. The Iroquois will
be gathered behind that fringe of trees
waiting daylight Is my thought right?"
"'Tis the most likely spot"
Then listen; have thought this all
out. You and |. with Sequitah, will
take hundred of your Indians cross
the small river, and advance up the
trail. That leaves fifty warriors TO
creep through the woods on either
slope, twenty-five TO a side. led by your
two couriers du bois. We will wait at
the great rock. and give the signal"
La Forest stood silent a moment,
thinking; then rested his hand on DAT
tigny's shoulder.
ut looks feasible enough, but the
thanking parties may not reach their
positions in time
1.-The one from the west will not
have as far to travel as we do. The
other does not make so much differ
ence, for if the Iroquois break they
will come in this direction-the other
side Of the trail is sheer rock"
"And what about the lady?'
81 shall go with you, messieurs."
said quietly. There will be no more
danger there than here; besides, you
would not leave me alone without a
guard. and you will need every fight
ing man."
felt the grip of Rene's hand. but it
was La Forests voice that spoke.
1.-The right ring to that, hey. DAT
tigny! Madame answers my last ar
gument. But first let US have word
with the chief
He addressed word into the crowd
of indistinguishable figures, and an In
dian came forward. Dim as the light
was, was impressed with the dignity
Of his carriage. the firm character of
his facial outline.
81 am Sequitah. chief of the Mas
coutins," he said gravely. "for whom
the white chief sent"
D'Artigny stepped forward. standing
as erect as the other.
"Sequitah is great chief" he said
quietly, "a warrior of many battles,
the friend of La Sale We have
walked side by side on the war-traii.
Sequitah knows who speaks?"
The French warrior they call D'Ar-
tigny."
Right: it's not the first time you
and l have met the Iroquoisi The
wolves are here again; they have
burned the villages of the Illinois, and
killed your women and children The
valley is black with smoke, and red
with blood. What says the war chief
of the Mascoutins-wil his warriors
fight? Will they strike with us a blow
against the beasts?'
The chief swept his hand in wide
circle.
1--WE are warriors; we have tasted
blood. What are the white mans
words of wisdOm?"
Briefly. in quick, ringing sentences,
D'Artigny outlined his plan. Sequitah
listened motionless, his face unexpres-
sive Of emotion. Twice. confused by
some French phrase. he asked grave
questions, and once courier du bois
spoke up in his own tongue, to make
the meaning clear. AS D'Artigny
ceased the chief stood for a moment
silent
"We leap upon them from Govern
he asked calmly, land the white men
will sally forth to aid us?"
''Tis so we expect-M. de Tonty is
never averse to fight"
81 believe in the Iron Hand; but tbs
told me others command now. If they
fail. we are but few against many"
"They will not fail, Sequitah; they
are Frenchmen."
The Indian folded his hands across
his breast. his eyes on the two men
facing him. There was silence, but
for the slight rustic of moving bodies
in the darkness.
"Sequitah hears the voice of his
friend" he announced at last, ''and his
words sound wise. The warriors of
the Illini will fight beside the white
men,"
There was no time lost. although I
know but little of what occurred. be-
ing left alone there while La Forest
and D'Artigny divided the men. and
arranged The plans of advance. The
dense night shrouded much of this
hasty preparation, for ali l could per
ceive were fitting figures. or the black