Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-01-19

spoke up in his own tongue. to max,
the meaning clear. AS D'Artlgny
ceased the chief stood for a moment
silent.
ave leap upon them from Govern
he asked calmly. "and the white me1
Will sally forth to aid u.s."
otis so we expect-M. de Tonty ii
never averse to a fight"
Il believe in the Iron Hand; but It's
told me others command now. II they
fail, we are but few against many
They will not fail, SeQuitah; they
are Frenchmen."
The Indian folded his hands across
bis 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, land his
words sound wise. The warriors of
the Illini will fight beside the white
men"
~ wac III llnlC lOsL, dlluOuku L
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 all l could per.
ceive were fitting figures, or the black
shadow of warriors being grouped to-
gethe-. I could hear voices, never loud,
giving swift orders, or calling to this
or that individual through the gloom.
A party tramped by me, and disap-
peared, twenty or more naked war
riors, headed by q black-bearded
Frenchman, bearing a long rife-the
detachment, no doubt, dispatched to
guard the slope east Of the trail, and
hurried forth to cover the greater dis
lance. Yet these could have scarcely
advanced far through that jungle
when the others were also in line, wait
ing the word.
The very silence in which all this
was accomplished, the noiseless bodies,
the almost breathless attention, scarce
ly enabled me to realize the true mean
ing Of it all. These men were going
into battle, into q death grapple. They
meant to attack five times their own
number. This was no boys play; 1t
was war, savage, relentless war. The
stern horror Of it seemed to suddenly
grip mt as with icy fingers. Here was
what | had read Of, dreamed Of, being
enacted before my very eyes. I was
even a part Of 1t, for I was going with
them to the field Of blood.
Yet how different everything was
from those former pictures of magma
ton. There was no noise, no excite
ment, no shrinking-just those silent,
motionless men standing in the posi-
tons assigned to them, the dim light
cleaning on their naked bodies, their |
ready weapons.
l heard the voices Of the white men, |
speaking quietly, giving last instruc-
tons as they passed along the lines.
Sequitah took his place, not two yards
from me, standing like a statue. his
face stern and emotionless. Out of
the darkness came D'Artigny, pausing
an instant before the chief.
"All Is well, Sequitah?"
"Good-'tls as the white chief
wishes"
"Then We move at once; La Forest
guide the rear; you and | will
march together. Give your warriors
the word"
He turned and took my hand.
"You will walk with me, dear one;
you are not afraid?"
"Not Of the peril Of coming battle"
answered. 81 think I hardly real
lie what that all means; but the risk
you run. Rene! lift you win, you
will be a prisoner condemned to
He laughed, and bent low, so l felt
MS lips brush my cheek.
"You do not understand, dear girl.
. moment and I will explain-once we
ire beyond the stream. Now l must
see that all move together"
We advanced through the woods
Town a slight incline, the Indians NOV
ng like so many phantoms. Not a
branch ratified as they glided silently
Onward, not a leaf rustled beneath
he soft tread Of moccasined feet.
)'Artigny led me by the hand, aiding
ne to move quietly owe the uneven
but made no effort to speak.
Beside us, not unlike a shadow, strobe
he chief Sequitah, his stern face up
fitted, Swallowed by long black hair. a
life gripped in his sinewy arms. We
rossed the little river, D'Artigny bear
ng me easily in his grasp, and, on the |
pposite shore, waited for the others .
o follow. They came, a long line of {
ark, shadewy forms, wading cautious /
through the shallow water, and
anged themselves just below the bank,
lany still standing In the stream. (
What light there was fickered over c
aked bodies, and revealed savage eyes Q
from out masses Of black
air.
D'Arttgns stepped forward on the
xposed root of a tree to where he 7
ould see his dusky followers, and La
crest climbed the bank and Joined d
i'm. A moment the two men con- y
erred, turning about to question Sc n
utah. AS they separated l could dis a
nguish D'Artigny's final words.
"Nprv uolI Than if n 10 vonr wicS