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

ceased the chief stood for a ONE
silent.
I'VE leap upon them from Govern
he asked calmly. "and the white meu
will sally forth to aid u.s."
IT'S so we expect-M. de Tonty il
never averse to a fight"
Il believe in t.e Iron Hand: but 'ts
told me others command now. II they
all. we are but few against many
They will not fail. SsGuitah; they
are Frenchmen."
The Indian folded his hands across
lis breast. his eyes on ne W men
tacing him. There was silence. bu.
for tic slight rustic OF moving bodies
in the darkness.
"SeQuitah hears the voice OF his
friend" he announced at last, "and his
words sound wise. The warriors OF
tho Illini will fight beside the white
men"
There was no time lost, although
know but little Of what ocrLrred, be-
:ng left alone there while La Forest
and D'Artigny divided the men, and
arranged the plans OF advance. TIE
dense night shrouded much OF this
nasty preparation, for all l could per
ceive were fitting figures. or the black
shadow OF warriors being grouped to
gethe-. I could hear voices. never loud.
giving swift orders. or calling to this
or that individual through the gloom.
A party tranped by me, and disap-
peared. twenty or more naked war
Tors, headed by q black bearded
Frenchman, bearing a long riae-the
detachment, no doubt, dispatched 70
guard the slope east Of the trail. and
hurried forth to cover the greater dis
lance. Yet these could have scarcely
advanced far through that jungle
when the others were also in line, wait
ing the word.
The very silence ia which all this
was accomplished. the noiseless bodies,
the almost breathless attention, scarce
~ enabled me to realize the true mean
ing OF 1t all. These men were going
into battle. into a death grapple. They
meant to attack FIVE times their own
lumber. This was NO boys play: il
was war. savage. relentless war. The
stern horror OF Il Seemed to suddenly
grip ne as with icy fingers. Here was
what l had read OF, dreamed Of, being
enacted before my very eyes. I was
even a part OF Il. for was going with
them to the field OF blood.
Yet how different everything was
from those former pictures OF magma
ton. There was no noise. no excite
ment no shr1nk,ng-just those silent,
motionless men standing in the posi-
lions assigned to them. the dim light
cleaning on their naked bodies. their
ready weapons.
1 heard the voices OF the white men,
speaking quietly, giving last instruc-
| tons as they passed along the lines.
Sequitah took his place, not two yards
from me. standing like a statue. his
face stern and emotionless. Out OF
the darkness came D'Artigny, pausing
an instant before the chief.
"All ID well, SeCuitah:"
"Good-'ts as the white chief
wishes"
AASA w baosS az oAlASs Id AoIVSt
will guide the rear; you and I will
march together. Give your warriors
the word"
He turned and took my hand.
You will walk with me, dear one:
you are not afraid:"
mot OF the peril OF coming battle"
I answered. IL think | hardly real
too shot fhox oil nora h,,t <hn ~;ol-
you run. Rene! lift you win. you
will be q prisoner condemned to
death"
He laughed. and bent low. so Z felt
his lips brush my cheek.
"You do not understand, dear girl.
A moment and I will explain-once we
are beyond the stream. Now I must
see that all o together"
We advanced through the woods
down . slight incline. the Indians NOV
ing like so many phantoms. Not q
branch ratified as they glided silently
forward, not q Leaf rustled beneath
tho soft tread Of moccasinedl feet
D'Ardgny led me BY the hand, aiding
me to move quietly over the uneven
ground, but made no effort to speak.
Beside us,. not unlike 4 shadow. strobe
the chief Sequitah. his stern face up
lifted, Swallowed by long black hair. q
nne gripped in his sinewy rms. We
crossed the little river, D'Artigny bear
ing me easily In his grasp, and. on the
opposite shore. waited for the others
to follow. They came, a long line Of
dark. shadowy forms, wading cautious
" through the shallow water, and
ranged themselves just below the bank.
many still standing In the stream.
What light there was hickered over
naked bodies. and revealed savage eyes
cleaning from out masses Of black
haka.
D'Artigny stepped forward on the
exposed root Of Z tree to where be
could z Ais dusky followers. and La
Forest climbed the bank and Joined
him. A moment the two men con-
ferred, tnrning about to question Sc
quitah. AZ they separated l could dis
tinguish D'Artigny's anal words.
"ver3 we'll. then. II It 10 your wish
take eommand. SeOuitah a hundred