Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1917-01-12
CHAPTER xxIIl-continued.

fort. understood his thoughts, his
desire to aid his comrades; but, for
moment. my mind was a blank. I
could not let him go alone to almost
certain death. No, nor would he aban-
don me on such mission! Was there
no other way by which we could serve?
Sudde aly a thought crept into my
mind
Monsieur" asked breathlessly.
"where do you suppose those Illini In
dams to be?"
"Back from the river, in glen of
caves and rocks"
How far from hereT
-Four or FIVE miles: there is trail
from the mouth of the creek"
sand you know the way? and there
might be many warriors there? they
will remember you, and obey your or
ders2"
He Strengthened up, aroused as the
full meaning of my questioning oc-
Cured to him.
"Ay. there is a chance there, II we
Ind them I'm time, and In force enough
to make foray. Sacre! know not
why such thought has not come to me
before. Could we but fall on those
devils from the rear In surprise. even
with a third of their number, they
would run like cats. Mon Dieu! I
thank you for the thought"
We plunged into the forest. no longer
endeavorlng to advance silently, but
inspired with desire to achieve our
goal as soon as possible. At the mouth
of a stream entering the river, D'Ar-
dgny picked me up In his arms and
be sought eagerly on hands and knees
for the old trace he dimly remembered.
At last he stood erect.
cay, lass. It's here to be easily fol-
lowed. What hour do you make 1t
n0w?"
about three"
$50 1 would have said; and tbs not
daylight until after five. We can scarce
make 1t, yet we will try"
1t was not as dark here away from
the gloom of the Rock; the forest was
open. and yet will never know how
D'Artigny succeeded in following that
dim trail at so rapid a gait. AS for
me. could zee nothing of any path.
and merely followed him blindly, not
even certain of the nature of the
ground under my feet. Again and
again tripped over some obstacle-a
root, tuft Of grassland continually
unnoted branches tapped against my
face Once fell prone, yet so noise
lessiy that Rene passed beyond view
before he realized my misfortune, and
returned to help me regain my feet
Not until then. I think. did he COM
prehend the rapidity of his movements
~Your pardon, dear girl" and his lips
brushed my hair. as he held me in his
arms. 81 forgot all but our comrades
yonder. The night is dark to your
eyes"
81 can see nothing" confessed re-
gretfully, '.yet you have no difficulty"
"'TIs a woodsman's training. have
followed many a dim trail in dark for
ests, and this is so plain l could keep
to 1t on a run If necessary. All! the
tort is awake and vigilant-that was
rife fire."
I had not only heard the sharp re-
ports but seen the fash Of fire cleaving
the darkness.
'The discharges came from the
woods yonder-they were Indian guns.
monsieur. See! those two last were
from the stockade; 1 could perceive the
logs Ia the fare"
&k.k t. ha laA
waste no ammunition in the gloom, ex-
cept to tell the savages they are awake
and ready"
"How far have we Travelled, mon
sieurT
~ mile. perhaps. At the crooked
oak yonder we leave the stream. You
met with no harm when you fell?"
mo more than bruise. can go
on now"
We turned to the right, and plunged
Into the thicket. the way now so black
that I grasped his jacket in fear of
a slight hill. careless Of everything but
our footing, when there was a sudden
rustling of the low branches on either
side our path. D'Artigny stopped,
thrusting me back. while at that very
instant indistinct forms seemed to leap
forth from the covert 1t occurred so
quickly. SO silently. that before I even
realized danger. he was struggling
madly with the ASSISTANTS. heard the
crash Of blows. an oath Of surprise,
cultural exclamation, groan of pain.
Hands gripped me savagely; felt
naked bodies. struggled wildly to
escape. but was flung helplessly to the
ground, hand grasping my hair.
could see nothing. only confused mass
Of legs and arms, but D'Artighy was
still on bis feet, struggling desperately.
From some hand he had grabbed a
rine. and swung 1t crashing into the
Saeoo Of thofe graphing him. Back