The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-03-02

stands there Is n, evidence. II. Cas-.
sion holds command by virtue or Ia
Ba-re's commission, and knows no
more OF Indian war than & Quebec
storekeeper. The garrison nunbers
City men al! told; two-thirds soldier.
and a 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 this?"
The signs are plain. We passel
one party clanbering up the cliff
less than FIFTY warriors. naked and
painted for war. Tuscaroras. MADAME
said from the words she overheard az
they slipped past where we hid. 'Tis
not likely they made reconnoissan nee
alone. The iends have been q week
IN this valley, and have swept all clear
OF our Indian allies: now they can
bring their full force against the fort
mo doubt you are right"
"Twas my judgment. at lea st. and
we sought help when we ran into you.
What Indians have your
"Illini. mostly. with a handful Of
Miamis and K~ickapoos. 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 Seqnitah-you know him.
~Ay, q real warrior. IT'S better than
I dared hope. for l ha We been In battle
with him before. DO you number c
hundredT'
And nifty more. though indirer-
emily armed"
And fifty more, though indiferently
armed. Never have | seen the Iiiini
in action, D'Artigny: they seem to me
a poor lot, SO frightened OF the wolves
as to be valueless."
$50 they are II left TO themselves.
but under white leadership they stif-
fen. They viii fight II given the IN
dian style. They will never stand In
defense, but If we lead them to a sur
prise, they'll give good account Of
themselves. That is my plan. La For
est-that ye creep up through the
woods behind the IroGuois lines. They
will expect no attack from the rear.
and VIII have no guard. II We move
quickly while 1t remains dark. we
ought to get within a 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. OF cut Z way through. You
have been At the fort"
Twice before"
Then you know the nature Of the
ground. IT'S all woodland until within
a few hundred yards OF the gates. You
recall the great rock beside the traiir'
LAY and the view from the top"
my plan would be to creep up that
far, with Ranking parties on the slopes
below. In front, as you may remem-
Der, there IL a 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 right?
Its the most likely spot"
Then listen: / have thought this all
out. You and I, with Sequltah. will
take q hundred OF your Indians. cross
the small river. and advance up the
trail. That leaves fifty warriors 10
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"
La Forest stood silent a moment,
thinking: then rested his hand on D'Ar-
tigny's shoulder.
ut looks feasible enough. but the
thanking parties may not reach their
positions in time"
The one from the west will not
have ~ far to travel AZ we do. The
other does not make 50 much differ
ence, for II the Iroquois break they
will come in this direction-ths other
side Of the trail il sheer rock"
And what about the LADY,?
II shall 20 with You, messieurs," I
said quietly. There will be no, more
danger there than here: besides, you
would not leave me alone without 4
guard. and you will need every light
Ing man."
r felt the grip OF Rene's hand, but It
was La Forests voice that spoke.
The right ring to that, hey. D'Ar-
t1gny! Madame answers my last ar
gHment But nrst let ~ have word
with the chief"
He addressed q word into tho crowd
OF indisting uishable figures, and an In
dian came forward. Dim 10 the light
was, I was Impressed with the dignity
OF his carriage. the drn character OF
his facial outline.
II am SeQuitah. chief OF the Mas
coutins." he said gravely. "for whom
the white chief sent"
D'Ardgny stepped forward, standing !
- erect ~ the other.
"SeQuitah II great chief" he said
quietly. - warrior OF many battles.
tho friend Of La sallA We have