The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-04-12

command at Fort st. Louis; I brinf
him orders now from Sieur de Ia
Sale bidding him not to interfere
with the governors !~ieutenants. Til
the Chevalier de Baugls with whom
we must reckon"
"True, he has control. and mer
enough. with Cassion's party, to en-
force his order. And he Is a hot-head
conceited, and holding himself a BIZ
better than others, because he bears
commission in the Kings Dragons.
IT'S said that he and De Tonty have
had many a stiff quarrel since he
came; but he dare not go too far.
There are good zen there ready to
draw sword II 1t ever come to blows
De Tonty, ~Boisrondet, LEspirance.
De Marie, and the A%lgonquins camped
on the plain below. They would be
tigers II the italian spoke the word:
while I doubt not NJ. de la Durantaye
would throw his influence on the side
Of mercy; he has small love for the
captain Of Dragons"
spoke quickly, and before D'Ar-
tigny could voice decision.
1--WE will accept your guidance.
monsieur. 1t Is the best choice, and
now the only one, for the time is past
when we can expect the return Of
the canoes Can we not at once begin
the ~journeyT"
It was an hour later, after we had
eaten, that we left the bluff, and
turned westward into the great woods.
Barbeau led the way, moving along
the bank OF a small stream, and I
followed, with D'Artigny close be-
hind. AS we had nothing to carry,
except the soldiers rifle and blanket,
we made rapid progress, and in less
than half an hour we came to the
Indian trail, which led southwark
from Green Bay to the headwaters Of
the Des PLANES.
It was late In the afternoon Of the
second day when we arrived at the
forks OF the Chicago river. There was
a drizzle Of rain In the air, and never
saw | a more desolate spot; a bare,
dreary plain, and away to the east
ward n RIflDSe OF UDt Idke.
A hut OF logs, a mere shack scarcely
fit for shelter, stood on a slight emf
hence, giving wide view In every d.
r~ection, but ii vas ~unoccupled, the
door ajar. Barbeau, In advance,
stared at 1t In surprise, gave utter
ance to an oath, and ran forward to
peer within. Close behind him. T
caught a glimpse Of the interior, my
own heart heavy with disappointment.
If this miserable place had been
the headquarters Of NJ. de la Duran.
taye, evidently II was so no longer.
Not a vestlge Of occupancy remained,
save a rotten blanket on the floor, and
Il broken bench In one corner. Rude
hunks lined two walls. and a table
hewed from a log stood in the center
OF the dirt floor. On this was a paper
pinned to the wood by a broken knife
blade. Barbeau g1sped it, and read
the writing, handing 1t back to me.
1t was a scrawl Of a few words, yet
told the whole story.
FRANCOIS Cassion, under commits
sioH VI bOFeTIOr Ia Barre, aTrlNeu
with party Of soldiers and Indians.
At his orders we accompany the force
to Fort st. Louis.
"DE La DURANTAYE."
Perhaps 1t Is as we'll" commented
D'Artlgny lightly. "At least IS far as
my good health goes; but It's like to
make a hard journey for you, ma
as 1t far yet until we attain the
"a matter Of twenty-five leagues; OF
no moment had we a boat In which to
float downstream, but the trail, as
remember. Is rough"
"Perchance there may be a boat"
Intercepted Barbeau. There was the
wreck Of an Indian canoe a mile be-
low here on the Des PLANES, not so
as to be beyond repair, and
here Is a Ratchet which we will find