Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-01-26
CHAPTER XIV.
The Charge Of tho lIlnI.

still dim and spectral, making those
savage figures below appear strange
and inhuman, while, through the tree
barrier, the more distant stockade was
little more than q vague shadow.
could barely distinguish the sharp
pointed logs, and II any guard passed,
his movements were indistinguishable.
Had | not known where they were.
even the position OF the gates would
have been a mystery. Yet lay there,
my eyes peering through the cleft In
the rock, every nerve in my body throb-
bling. All had been intrusted to me:
It was to be my signal which would
send D'Artigny. La Forest, and their
Indian allies forward. | must not fall
them; I must do my part. Whatever
the %cost-cvcn though 1t be his life
nothing could absolve me from this
duty.
The Iroquois were masslng toward
the center, directly In front OF the
closed gates. The change In formation
was made with all the stealthiness or
Indian cunning, the warriors creeping
silently behind the conceallng bushes,
and taking up their new positions ac-
cording to motions Of their chiefs.
Those having rifles loaded their weap-
ons, while others drew knives and tom
ahawks from their belts, and held them
glitterIng In the gray light. The white
leader remained beside the big tree,
paying no apparent heed to anything
excepting the stockade in front. The
daylight frightened, but mist clouds
ovcrhung the valley, while floating
wrcaths Of fog drlfted between the
great rock and the fort gates, Occa-
sionally even ~obscuring the lroquois
in vaporous folds. There was no sound,
no sight, of those hidden below, wait
ing my word. | seemed utterly alone.
Suddenly I started, lifting myself
| slightly on one arm, so IA to see more
clearly. Ay, the gates were opening
| slowly at first, as though the great
wooden hinges made resistance; then
the two leaves parted, and | had a
glimpse within. Two soldiers pushed
against the heavy logs, and, as they
opened wider, a dozen or more men
were revealed. leaning carelessly on
their rifles. Bolsrondet. bearing gun
in the hollow Of his arm, stepped for
ward into the opening, and gazed
carelcssly about over the gray. mist.
shroudcd scene.
The arm Of the white renegade shot
into the air, and behind him the
massed ~Iroquois arose to their feet,
| c%rouching behind their cover ready to
spring. | reached owe the rock edge,
and dropped the handkerchief.
| must have seen what followed, yet
do not know; the incidents seem
burned on my memory, yet are so con
fused | can place them in no order
The white renegade seemed waiting
his arm appraised. Ere 1t fell in sigma
TO dispatch his wild crew to the slaugh.
ter. there was q crash OF rifles al
about me, the red flare leaping into
the gray mist-a savage yell from
hundred throats, and a wild rush OF
naked bodies.
| saw warriors of the 1tOquols tiinl
up their arms and fall; | saw then
shrink and shrivel. break ranks and
run. Surprised. stricken, terrified by
the warwhoops OF the maddened Illini
realizing only that they were caught
between enemies, their II and only
thought was escape. Two OF theil
chiefs were down, and the white rene
gade, stumbling and falling as though
also hurt. dived into the underbrush
BEFORE they could rally, or even com
prehend what had occurred, their ms
sailants were upon them, Leapins
across the open. over rock and sand
yelling like ticnds. weapons cleaning
In the dull light. the frenzied Illini. en-
famed with revenge, maddencd witt
hate, flung themselves straight a
them. Rifles flashed In their faces
tomahawks whirled In the air, but
nothing stopped that rush. Warrior,
fell, but the others stumbled oyer the
naked bodies. I saw D'Artigny
stripped to his shirt, and that In rags
from the bushes he had plunged
through, his rifle barrel gripped, a yard
in front Of them all. | saw La Forest
bare headed, and Seqlitah, his lndiar
StolciSm forgotten in mad blood lust
Then they struck and were lost ir
the fierce maclstrom Of struggle, Strik
ing, falling, red hands gripping az rec
throats, rife butts flung high, toma
hawks dealing the death blow. knives
cleaning rs Sinewy arms drove then
home, | could not longer distinguish
enemy from friend; they were inter
locked, struggling like mad dogs, fight
Inc as devils might, : wild, tangled
mass Of bodies, OF waving hair, OF
blazing eyes, Of uplifted steel.
The lroquois had rallied from thell
first shock; already they realized the
small number of the attackers. Those
who had fled were turning back; those
on either flank were running towart
the scene Of fight, | saw the whit,
renegade burst from The press, urgin.
these laggardS forward. Scarcely ha(
he attained the outer edge. when OAR
| tisny fought his way forth also, tear