Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-03-05
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They did not go out at once, bnt
stood near the lower door. listening
for sound and watching for something
to move.
"They are gone" Jeems finally
said. but there may he stragglers
behind. and 1t is safer not to show
ourselves too soon
II was easier for them to talk after
this. Quite calmly. as II looking back
on a distant thing. Toinette told
Jeems Of the tragedy Of Tonteur
manor Her mother. he learned, had
left for Quebec two days preceding
the coming of the Indians. Toinette
expressed her thankfnlness because of
this, but no great gladness was in her
voice She could nor remember In
vivid details all that had happened.
1t had been so sudden and over
wheming. like a stream OF fire ell
gulfing black night. Peter Lubbock
WAS with Dieskau. and Heoise. his
young wife. had cnme to stay with
her. Both were asleep when the saw
ages attacked In the early morning,
and she was of the opinion that most
Of the killing was over before they
were fairly awake--and before any
guns were fired. Then came shots and
her fathers voice roaring throngh the
big house They were out of their bed
when the seigneHr came In and told
them to dress and keep to their room.
She did not know what had happened
until she looked out OF her window,
and then she saw what seemed to be
hundreds Of naked sayages running
about She rushed after her father,
but he WIS gone. When she returned
to her room. Heloise had disappeared
and she did not see her again. She
could hear screaming and terrible
cries, anil dressing hnrriedly as her
father had commanded. she dis0beyed
him by going downstairs calling for
him and for Heloise. The front pnrt
OF the house was filled with flame and
smoke. and when she turned To the
servants quarters size WAS cIt of by
fire and there was no response to her
cries II was then size thought Of the
mill which she h:id often heard her
f1ther say WIS iinnreunahle against
both fire and guns. Sn descended
into The cellar and wer, from 1t
through Il short underground massage
To all Hsifinar caxpan nitltles nf sod
and stones. In which they kerf fruit
and vegetables during he winter She
hid herself in this earthly place, and
then dared 10 raise the surface door
little. The worst must have been
over. for she could see only few In
dians about. and everything was on
fire. There was yelling IN the distance
where the savages were attacking the
farmers homes When she assembled
the body OF old Babin. the miller, who
had fallen with mnsket in his hands.
She took the musket and went to the
mill, and after TINT she did nor see an
Indian about the seigneurie Sickness
overcame her. and she was half uncon-
scious In the tower room. Later, look
Ing through one of the narrow win
dows. she saw four men come from
the south. She was sure they were
white men, but was afraid to reveal
herself because their appearance was
70 terrible. They were like monsters.
remaining only little while to look
Mt the dead. Now, since she had seen
the white warrior among the Mohawks,
she was even more positive that they
belonged to the war band and that
she was fortunate to have kept herself
concealed. When she found that
Habin's musket was loaded she re-
GREETED that she had not used 1t to
kill one OF the mnrderers. That was
why, mistaking him for another strag-
Eler, she had fired at Jeems.
One might have expected excite
ment In her narrative. but 1t was told
quietly as she looked from Jeems
across the clearing. 1t was a 4ecItal
OF fact without the establishment of
pathos or drama, and Ieems remained
silent for time when it was ended.
Then he told OF his visit to Lussan's
and Of his race home and what he
found there. He spoke OF Hepshah.
He must ksre discovered the Mo
hawks on TIE far side OF the valley
and started the fre which he had AL
ways told me to expect. After that, he
tried to reach us and they killed him."
He may have escaped suggested
roinette hopefully.
: Jeems shook his head.
He would have come to us. He Is
dead"
His voice possessed the Unconditional
certainty with which she had re-
Eerred to her father and Heloise.
There was no possibility of his uncle
being alive. He repeated that belief,
md added that their salvation was
little short OF a miracle But now, he
hought, their Way would be clear to
'riends farther down the river. The
indians could not have gone many
niles In that direction, for evidently
hey were hnrrying back before Baron
0ieskau learned OF their presence In
he French country and set out forces
o cut them of. n did not occur 10