Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-01-26
CHAPTER XXIV-Continued.

tears, and ! could find no words. Ar
tlgny seemed to understand, yet nc
made no EFFORT TO speak, merely mold
in silence, our minds upon the past ana
Che future. we followed the saVages
through the black night along the dim
trail. For the time ! forgot where
was, my weird, CHASTITY surroundings
the purpose OF our steaIthy advance
and remembered only my father, ana
the scenes OF childhood. He must
have c~omprehendcd, for he made no
attempt to interrupt my %reverie, ana
his silence drew me closer-the steady
pressure Of his arm brought me peace.
Suddenly before us doomed the n
ow Of the great rock, which rose n
mighty barrier across the trail, Its crest
outlined against the sky, The Indians
had halted here, and We pressed for
ward through them, unit we came to
where the chief and La Forest waited.
There was n growing tingc Of light In
the eastern sky, enabling us to perceive
each others faces. All was tense, ex'
\ pcctant. the Indians scarcely vcntur-
mig TO breathe, the two white men con
vcrslng in whispers, Sequitah stood
motionlcSs rs n statue, his lips tightly
closed.
your scouts vcnturcd no farther2"
questioned D'Artigny.
"No: twas not safe; one man scaled
the rock, and reports the lroquois
just beyond"
"They hide In covert where ] sus-
pected them; but | would see with my
own eyes. There Is %crevlce here, as |
remember, to give foothold. Ay, here
II IL. an easy passage enough. Come.
In Forest. a glance ahead will make
clear my plans
The two clambered up nolsclcssly
and outstrctchcd themselves on the fiat
surface above. The dawn frightened,
almost imperceptlbly, so | could dis
tinguish the savage forms on either
side, some standing, some squntting on
the grass, all motionless but alert,
their weapons cleaning, their cruel
eyes gllttcrIng from excitement. La
Forest descended cautiously and turned
toward me.
MADAME, D'Artlgny would have you
Join him.
Surprised ut the request | rested my
foot in bis hand, and crept forward
along the smooth surface until | lay
beside Rene. He glanced aside into
my face.
40 not INT your head" he whis-
percd. Peer through this cleft in the
stone"
Before us was n narrow opening.
devoid OF vegetation. n sterile patch Of
stone and sand, and beyond this n
fringe Of trees, matted with under
brush below so as to make good screen.
but sufficiently thlnned out above, so
that, from III elevation, we could look
through the interlaccd branches across
the cleared space where the timber had
been chopped away to the palisades OF
the fort. The first space was filled
with warriors, crouching behind the
cover Of underbrush, Most OF these
were lying down, or upon their knees,
watchfully peering through toward the
fort gates, but n few were standing, or
moving cautiously about bearing word
OF command.
NTAy.tn,,~ - VrhtgnAInI ttV,iI1u
you can never attack; there are too
many"
They appear more numerous than
they are" he answered confidently
"but II will be a stir fight. Not all
1%uscaroras either, there are Fries yon-
der to the right, and n few renegade
Mohawks with them Look. by the foot
Of that big tree, the fellow In war bon
net and deerskln shirt-what make
you Of him.
"A white man In spite Of his paint
"'Twas my guess also. | thought II
iikely they had n renegade with them.
for this Is not Indian strategy. La
Forest was Of the same opinion, al.
though twas too dark when he was
here for us TO make sure"
For what are they waiting and
watchiugE'
THE gates 70 open, no doubt. II
they suspect nothing within, they will
send out a party q o 10 r~ccounoiter
the trail. and reach the river below for
water, 1t is the custom, and, no doubt,
these devils know, and will wait their
chance. They urge the laggards now
We lay and watched them, his hand
claspinc mine. Those warriors who
had been lying prone rose to thciI
knees, and, weapons in hand, crouchcd
for a spring; the chiefs scattered, care.
ful to keep concealed behind cover
Not a sound reached us, every move.
nent noiseleSs. the orders conveyed by
gesture of the hand, D'Artigny pressed
my fingers.
"Acticn will come soon," he contin.
ued. his lips at my ear, and | must
be ready below to take the lead. You
can serve us best here. Adele; there
is no safer spot If you lie low, You
have a bit of cloth-a handkerchief? z
Yes. monsieur"
~Then watch the fort gates, and ii
you see them open drop the cloth over
che edge Of the rock there in signal