Cheyenne record., 1917-02-15
CHAPTER xxlll-con.lnusd.

CHAPTER xxiIl-centlnusd
III
chung to his hands, staring back
still at the grim outline Of the silent
fort. understood his thoughts, his
desire to aid his comrades; but, for
moment, my mind was blank I
could not let him go alone to almost
certain death. No, nor would he aban-
don me on such a mission! Was there
no ether way by which we could server
Suddenly q thought crept into my
mind.
!. Monsieur" asked breathlessly,
where do you suppose those Illini In
dams to ber'
Back from the river. in a glen of
caves and rocks"
"How far from hereT
"Four Or FIVE miles; there il trail
from the mouth Of the creek"
"Aud you know the way1 and there
might be many warriors there? they
dersr
He Strengthened up, aroused as the
full meaning of my questioning oc-
CURED to him.
"Ay, there is q chance there, II We
nnd them in time, and in force enough
to make fbray. Sacrei I know not
why such thought has not come to me
before. Could we but fall on those
devils from the rear in surprise, even
with a third Of their number. they
would run like cats. Mon Dieu!
<hapk voy, for fho thOu1hto
We plunged into the forest no longer
endeavorlng to advance silently, but
/, inspired with desire ito achieve our
goal as soon as possible. At the mouth
of a stream entering the river, DAT
tigny picked me up in his arms and
waded across. On the opposite bank
he sought eagerly on hands and knees
for the old trace he disuly remembered.
At last he stood erect.
.Ay, lass. it's here to be easily fol-
lowed. What hour do you make it
now?"
"About three"
$50 would have said; and tbs not
daylight until after fve. We can scarce
make 1t. yet we will try"
It was not As dark here away from
the gloom of the Rock; the forest was
open. and yet / will never know how
D'Artigny succeeded in following that
dim trail at SO rapid a gait. As for
me. could see nothing of any path.
and merely followed him blindly. not
even certain of tbs nature of the
ground under my feet. Again and
again tripped over some obsta acle-a
root, tuft of grassland continually
unnoted branches tapped against my
face Once I fell prone, yet so noise
lessly that Rene passed beyond view
before le realized my misfortune. and
returned to help me regain my feet.
Not until then, think. did he COM
prehend the rapidity of his movements.
"Your pardon. dear girl" and his lips
brushed my hair. az he held me In his
arms. "T forgot all but our comrades
yonder. The night is dark to your
eyes" N
az can see nothing" confessed re-
gretfully. 'yet you have no difficulty" !"
"'Tis a woodsman's training. have
followed many dim trail in dark for
ests, and this is SO plain could keep
to II on a run II necessary. All! the
fort is awake and vigilant-that was
rife fire. :. -.
I Ind not only heard the sharp re-
ports but seen the fash OF fire leaving
the darkness
.The discharges came from the
woods yonder-they were Indian guns.
npsIeur. See! those two last were
from the stockade: could perceive the
logs in the aare."
"Ay. and that is all; the lads will
waste no ammunition in the gloom, ex-
cept to tell the savages they are awake
and ready"
"How far have. we travelled, mon
sieur?"
"a mile. perhaps. At the crooked
oak yondcr we leave the stream. You
met with no harm when you fellT'
. "No more than q bruise. can go
on now."
We turned to the right, and plunged
Into the thicket, the way now so black
that grasped his jacket in fear Of
becoming lost. We were clambering up
a slight hill, careless Of everything but
our. footing, when there was sudden
Z rustling Of the low branches on either
side our path. D'Artigny stopped,
thrusting me back, while at that very
instant indistinct forms seemed to leap
forth from the covert It occurred 80
quickly. 20 silently. that before even
realized danger, he was struggling
madly with the assailants. I heard the
crash of blows. an oath Of surprise. a
guttural exclamation. groan Of pain.
: Hands gripped me savagely; I felt
naked bodies, struggled wildly to
escape. but was 6ung heiplsasly to the
ground, hand gfaspins my hair. I
-ouId see nothing. oniy confused mass
Of legs and arms, but D'Aftisny was