The state herald., 1917-01-26

| AuASCu SomhAbcAoAAs auu AuOWb nc
more of Indian war than a Quebec
storekeeper. The garrison numbers
fifty men, all told; two-thlrds soldiers
and poor lot"
"With ammunition and foodr"
"Ample to eat, but Boisrondet tells
me with scarce a dozen rounds per
man. The Iroquois are at the gates
and will attack at daylight"
"You know thtsf"
'The signs are plain. We passed
one party clambering up the cliff-no
less than fifty warriors, naked and
painted for war. Tuscaroras, madame
said from the words she overheard as
they slipped past where we hid. 'Tia
not likely they made reconnaissance
alone. The nends have been 4 week
In this valley. and have swept all clear
Of our Indian allies: now they can
bring their full force against the fort" ("
'No doubt you are right"
"Twas my Judgment, at least, and
we sought help when we ran into you.
What Indians have your
''Illini, mostly, with a handful of
Miamis and Kickapoos. We met them
at the crossing, hiding in the hills.
They were sadly demoralized. and
filled with horror at what they had
seen, yet agreed to return here under
my leadership"
"Who Is their chief?'
"Old Sequitah-you know himf"
"Ay, real warrior. IT'S better than
I dared hope, for have been in battle
with him before. Do you number a
hundredf"
"And fifty more, though indiffer-
emily armed"
"And fifty more, though indifferently
armed. Never have l seen the Illlrl
in action. D'Artigny; they seem to me
poor lot, so frightened of the wolves
rs to be valueless."
$50 they are IL left to themselves,
but under white Leadership they stiff
fen. They will tight II given the In
dian style. They will never stand in
defense, but II we lead them to q sur
prise. they'll give good account of
themselves. That is my plan. La For
est-that we creep up through the
woods behind the Iroquois lines. They
will expect no attack from the rear.
and will have no guard. II we move
quickly while 1t remains dark, we
ought to get within few yards of the
red demons without discovery. They
will fight desperately, no doubt, for
their only hope Of escape would be to
either plunge down the rocky banks on
either side. or cut way through. You
have been at the fort?"
"Twice before"
"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 trail"
"Ay and the view from the top"
"My plan would be to creep up that
far, with nanklng parties on the slopes
below. In 'front.' rs you may remem-
Der, there IL an open space. then q
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 rightr
"'Tis the most likely spot"
'sThen listen: I have thought this all
out. You and I. with sequitah. will
take hundred Of your Indians. cross
the small river, and advance up the
trail. That leaves nifty 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"
In Forest stood silent moment,
thinking: then rested his hand on DAT
tigny's shoulder.
ut looks feasible enough. but the
hanking 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 30 much differ
cnce. for II the lroquois break they
will come In this Objectionable other
side Of the trnil ID sheer rock"
"And what about the ladyT'
~ shall go with you. messieurs." I
said quietly. There will be no more
danger there than here: besides, you
would not leave me alone without .
guard. and you viii need every nght-
Ing man."
Ifelt the grip Of Rene's hand. but It
was La Forests voice that spoke.
"The right ring to that. hey. D'Ar.
tigny! Madame answers my last ar.
gument. But first let US have word
with the chief"
He addressed word into the crowd
OF indistinguishnble figures. and an In.
dian came forward. Dim as the light
was, I WAS impressed with the dignity
Of his carriage. the arm character Of
his facial outline.
~ am scquitah. chief Of the Mas.
coutins," he said gravely. "for whom
tho white chief sent"
D'Artigny stepped forward. standing
as erect 40 the other.
"sequitnh IL great chief" he said
quietly. u warrior Of many battles.
the friend Of La Sale. We have
1 A.