The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-01-26
XVI.
Tho Words Of Love.

n Wor00 OF Love.
His yes Frightened, and his hand
sought mine.
1.-THE spirit Of the old days: the
words OF a soldiers daughter, hey
Barbeau7"
"A La Chesnayne could make nc
other choice" he answered loyalty
but we have no time to waste here
In compliment. You know a safe pas.
sage. you sayw
mot a safe n yet a trail which
may still remain open. for 1t Is known
to but few. Let us aboard. and cross
to the opposite shore, where we will
hide the canoe. and make our way
through the forest. Once safely afoot
yonder. l will make my purpose clear
A dozen strokes landed vi IN the
other bank. where the canoe was
drawn up. and concealed among the
bushes, while we descended q slight
declivity. and found ourselves in the
silence OF 4 great wood. Here OAR
tigny pause1 to make certain his
sense Of direction.
II will 60 forward slightly In ad-
vance," he said, at last, evidently hav-
ing determined upon his course.
And we will move slowly. and as
no~iseleesly A. possible. No one ever
knows where the enemy are to be met
with In Indian campaign. and we are
without arms, except for Barbeau's
gun"
II retain my pistol" I Interrupted.
"Of small value since Its immersion
In the lake; as to myself. l must trust
to my knife. Madame. you will fol
low me. but merely close enough to
make sure Of your curse through the
woods, while Barbeau will guard the
rear. Are both ready?"
Perhaps 1t might be we'll to explain
clearly what you propose" said
the soldier. ''Then II we become sep
arated. We could figure out the proper
direction to follow"
"Not a bad thought. that. It IL a
rough road ahead, heavily wooded.
and across broken land. Ny route is
almost directly west. except that we
bear slightly south to keep well away
from the river. Three leagues will
bring us to q small stream which
empties into the Illinois. There Ia a
faint trail along it's eastern bank.
which leads to the Rock, where II Is
possible for one knowing the way to
attain the palisades OF the fort. IL
we can attain this trail before dark
we can make the remaining distance
by night. Eere, let me show you
and he drew with q sharp stick a
hasty map on the ground. Nov you
understand; II we become separated,
keep steadily westward until you
reach q stream flowing north"
In this order we took up tie march.
and as l had nothing to bear except a
blanket, which l twisted about my
shoulders, I found little difficulty in
following my leader. At first the un-
derbrush was heavy. and the ground
very broken, SO that oftentimes lost
sight entirely Of D'Artigny. but as he
constantly broke branches to mark his
pnssaee, and the sun served as guild
ance, / had small difficulty in keeping
the proper direction. TO our right
along the river appeared masses OF
isolated rock. and these we sklrted
closely. always in the shadow and
silence Of great trees. Within half
I'm hour we had emerged from the re-
tarding underbru1h, aud came out Into
an open wood, where the walking was
much easier.
The nj had not entirely d;sap-
peared when We .yed from the
dark wood shadows into a narrow,
grass, valley, through which flowed
q silvery stream, not broad. but deep.
Assured that this must be the water
we sought. I sank to the ground. eager
for q moments rest. but D'Artigny,
ureless still. moved back and forward
along the edge OF the forest to assure
himself OF the safety OF II surround
inKs. Barbeau Joined him. and QueG-
toned.
I'VE have reached the trc!l?"
"Ay beside the Ckpre yonder: gee