The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-03-09
Beyond the
Frontier
~ RANDALL PARRISH
A Romance Of Early Days :
In the Middle West +.
AutAof o. "Keith Of the Border" my
Lady Of Dsabt," '~The Maid
Of the Forest" etc.
CHAPTER xxIv-continued.

is
I cannot describe my feelings-toy,
sorrow, memory Of the past over
whelming me. Ny eyes were wet with
tears. and I could find no words. DAT
tigny seemed to understand. yet he
made no effort to speak. merely hold
ing me close with his strong arm. So
in silence, our minds upon the past and
the future, we followed the savages
through the black night along the dim
trail. For the time l forgot where l
was, my weird. CHASTITY surroundings.
the purpose OF our stealthy advance,
and remembered only my father, and
the scenes Of childhood. He must
have comprehended, for he made no
attempt to interrupt my reverie, and
his silence drew me closer-the steady
pressure Of his arm brought me peace.
Suddenly before us doomed the shad-
ow of the great rock, which rose a
mighty barrier acros the trail, its crest
outlined against the sky. The Indians
had halted here, and we pressed for
ward through them. until VI came to
where the chief and La Forest waited.
There was . growing tinge Of light In
the eastern sky, enabling US to perceive
each others faces. All was tense, cx-
pecta1t, the Indians scarcely yentur-
Ing to breathe, the two white men con-
versing in whispers. SeQuitah stood
motion!css q q statue, his lips tightly
closed.
your scouts ventured no farther p
questioned D'Artigny.
mo; twas not safe: one man scaled
the rock, and reports the IroQuois
Just beyond"
'They hide in covert where l sus-
pected them: but I would see with my
W eyes. There Is crevice here. as I
remember, to give foothold. Az. here
it Is. an easy passage enough. Come.
La Forest. Z glance ahead will make
clear my plans"
The two clambered up noiselessly,
and outstretched themselves on the dat
surface above. The dawn frightened.
almost imperceptibly, 60 l could dis
tinguish the savage forms on either
side. some standing, some squatting on
the grass. all motionless but alert.
their weapons cleaning, their cruel
eyes glittering from excitement. La
Foiest descended cautiously and turned
toward me.
MADAME. D'Artisny would have you
Join him."
Surprised at the request I rested my
foot in bis hand. and crept forward
aloss.g the smooth surface until l lay
beside Rene. lie glanced aside into
my face.
"T,c not lift your head" he whis-
nered. peer through this cleft in the
stone.Y
Before us vas a narrow opening.
devvid OF vegetation. q sterile patch Of
stone and sand. and beyond this q
fringe OF trees. matted with under
brdsll below go as to make good screen.
but sufficiently thinned out above. so
that. from our elevation. we could look
through the interlaced branches across
the cleared space where the timber had
heen chopped away to the palisades OF
the fort. The first space was filed
With warriors. crouching behind the
rover Of underbrush. Most Of these
were lying down. OF upon their knees.
watchfully peering through toward the
fort gates. but q few were standing. or
moving cautiously about bearing word
~ command.
Monsieur" l whispered tmidly,
you can never attack; there are too
many"
'"They appear more numerous than
hey are" he answered confidently,
hut It win be q sti6 Aght. Not all
,Cuscaroras either; there are Fries yon-
der to the right, and a few renegade
4ohawks with them. Look, by the foot
" that big tree. the fellow in war bon
net and deerskin shirt-what make
Jou OF him1'
"A white man IN. spite Of his paint"
"'Twas my guess also. / thought 1t
likely they had Z renegade with them.
lor this Ii not Indian strategy. La
Forest was Of the same opinion, al
though twas too dark when be was
isere tor 10 10 make sure"
FOR what are they waiting and
1atcn109y
.sThe gates to open. 40 doubt. II
they suspect nothing within. they will
oenl 1ut Z party soon to reconnoitsr
- trail. ana reach the river below for
water. Il 10 the custom. and, NJ doubt.
theee devils know. and will wait their
ohance. They urge the laggards now"
Ne ~ and watched them. his hand
4leeplng mine. Those warriors who
Aa6 ben lying prone rose to their
$780, ~. weapons II hand. crouched
~ ooje3ng: tho chiefs scattered. care
IA = ts1p coacealod behind cover.
net ; 5000 reached - evsry move
inent nolsb3ess, the orders conveyed BY
eesture n - land. D'Artigny pressed
.ArssSosw,ll como soon." b sDntin-
90. - n ID my ~. and ! must
~ rSo6y A6kag1S1 - taks ths lead. Ton
ean S1fxSO6 beet here. Adele: there
= no aa~ferfspee * yOu ~ low. Ton
have Z III = e1oth-a handkefch1sfY
eyes. moneisur...
Then watch thu fort gates, and II
#NEI - ~ st kA~AH