White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-08-17
CHAPTER Vl-Continued

OOiy tSCcAtSu Us SCOul IUT Ju0 COl.
onies, the Onondaga and l swung into
the path and made for the cabins.
Having already been guests In the
village, we did not go through the
formality of shouting our names.
We went to the cabin set aside for
strangers and were promptly served
with meat and coarse bread. 1t was
evident that Queen Allaquippa did not
wish US to delay our departure. We
did not propose leaving, however,
until Cromit had put In his appear
ance. News forwarded from Du
quesne would be useless unless the
McDowells mill man was waiting to
carry 1t to the army. Before depart
Ing for the fort, had to satisfy my
self that Cromit would not be re
fused shelter in the village; so we ate
our meat leisurely and fought the
minutes
Having finished and wiped our fin
gers on little bundles of dried grass
proceeded to mend my moccasins
After had made my foot-gear as
good as new advised the Onondaga
to take his time.
When believed an hour had
elapsed, l peered through a small hole
at the end of the cabin and beheld
Cromit striding from the woods. He
halted and shouted the guest call and
was promptly confronted by several
warriors. They talked with him for
few moments and then gladly
shouted:
"Ingelishmanl Ingelishman!''
They seized his hands and patted
his shoulders and in hospitable
pantomime waved their arms and
pointed toward the cabins.
He entered the village and the word
was rapidly passed that he was
"1ngelishman"; and where we had re-
ceived scowls and frowns he beheld
nothing but beaming countenances.
he wandered about and passed our
cabin and beheld US but gave no sign
of recognition. A warrior must have
Informed him that we were French In
our sympathies for be paused and
made derisive gestures at us, whereat
the savages laughed in great enjoy.
ment. was afraid the audacious ras-
cal would challenge us to fight, or
play some other trick. Now satisfied
his welcome would be permanent /
picked up my rifle and, with the Onon-
daga, stepped outside.
That day we advanced with great
caution and made slow progress. 1t
was the back trail that held our at
tention. More than once we drew to
one side Of the path and waited to
learn if we were pursued.
All timber originally crowdlng
against the fort had been leveled for
considerable depth. Vast cornfeIds
stretched for fourth of a mile up the
Allegheny and the Monongahela. In
addition to these, there were many
kitchen gardens along the Allegheny
On the Monongahela, there were a
number of mills.
We struck the clearing at point
opposite the eastern gate, rather pre-
tentious portal of ten feet in width.
swinging on hinges and having q
wicket In the middle. Inside the stock
ade were two storehouses, or maya
zines. as many barracks. a guardhouse
and prison, the commandant's resi-
dence and the chapel. All these we're
very stoutly built of heavy logs and
backed up to within three feet of the
stockade. the intervening space being
packed with earth, and the board
roofs at the caves lying level with the
'ramparts. There were no pickets, nor
pointed palisades, and from our posi-
ton 1t looked as If the whole enclosure
was rooted over.
We emerged from the woods and
made for the eastern gate, and our
coming. seemed to be unnoticed. One
of the Canadian militia was lazily
guarding the gate, half asleep because
of the hot sun. After scrutinizing US
for few moments he said: ~ greet
you, msieu. You would see Captain
de Beaujeu?"
1. expressed that desire, and he
yawned and called q soldier and told
him to take my name to the com
mandant. Very soon the messenger
returned and said ! was to follow him.
The Onondaga dropped behind to stroll
about the enclosure. was conducted
to the commandments house between
the guardhouse and the western gate
All the way from Allaquippa's town
had been schooling my nerves for
this meeting. There could be 90 par.
tial success; either would remain
unsupported, or go into Huron ket
tle realized that some tongue might
have wagged since my former visit
for news travels fast In the forest.
All doubts vanished. however. when
Captain Beaujeu ran from the house
and embraced me warmly. In dress
and appearance, was only coureuf
de bois but on our first meeting had
given the name of an old family
whose fortunes were ruined but whose
blood held good.
Captain Beaujeu was forty -four
years Of, age, native OF Montreal
His father had been a captain al
Three Rivers, and forest fighting ran
in the blood. The son already wore
the cross of Knight of ST. Louis
and had served as commandment at
Niagara. He was absolutely incapable
of fear and possessed soul courage
that went well with his heart Other
Frenchnen. who did little in compari