Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 31, Number 333, 1 January 1907 — Page 7

"St

Jo

1

THE

EFUGE

By A. CONAN DOYLE, Author of "Tfce Return of Sherlock Holmes"

i

ES

f

COPYRIGHT.

1593.

BY HARPER

BROTHERS

tilth Amos and i"e Catinat looked with the deepest curiosity and interest fit tbe famous leader of eoureurs de

bois, a man whose whole life had been pet.t in pushing westward, ever westward, saying little, writing nothing, but always the first w?rever there was danger to meet or difficulty to overcome. "WIi.it d you think of those fires over yonder, Du Lhut?" asked young Pe la None. The adventurer danced over at the two little plumes of smoke which stood ttraigbt up against the red evening eky. "I don,'t like them," said be. . "They are Iroquois, then?" "Yes." "Well, at least it proves that they are on the other side of the river." Iu Lhut lit his pipe from a tinder paper. '"She Iroquoi are ou this side," aid he. "They crossed to the south." "And you never told us! How do

you know that they crossed, and why did you not tell us?" "I did not know until I saw the fires over yonder." "And how did they tell you?" "Tut! An Indian papoose could have told." said Du Lhut impatiently. "Iroquois on tbe trail do nothing without an object. They have an object, then. In showing that smoke. If their war parties were over yonder there would le no object. Therefore their braves must have crossed the river. And they could not get over to the' north without being seen from the fort." "Then they may be in the woods round ua. We may be In daneer!"

cried De la Noue.

De Catinat cast a glance round him

at the grand tree trunks, tbe fading foliage, the smooth sward underneath, with the long evening shadows barred across it. How difficult it was to realize that behind all this beauty there lurked a danger so deadly and horrible that a man alone might well shrink: from It, far more one who had the woman whom he loved walking within hand's touch of him! It was with a long heartfelt sigh of relief that he saw a wall of stockade in the midst of a large clearing In front of him, "with the stone manor house rising above it. In a line from the stockade were a dozen- cottages, with cedar fhlngled roofs turned up In the Nor

man fashion, In which dwelt the hah

Itants under the protection of the seign

eurs chateau.. At either corner a small brass cannon peeped through an embrasure. As they passed the gate

ine guard inside closed It and placed

me nuge wooden bars Into position. A

little crowd of men, "women and chil

dren were gathered round the door of

me chateau, and a man appeared to le seated on a high backed chair upon

me tnrcsnoid.

ou know my father," said the

3 ng man, with a shrug of his shoul

rs. "He will have it that he h

t left his Norman castle and that he U still the Seigneur de la Noue, the

greatest man within a day's ride of Rouen and of the richest blood of Nor-

manay. lie Is now taking his dues and his yearly oaths from his tenants. He would not think it becoming, if the governor himself were to visit him, to pause in the middle of so august a ceremony. ,v But, if it would interest you. you may step this way and wait until he has finished. Yon, madame, I will take at once to my mother. If you will be so kind as to follow me." The sight was. to the Americans at least, a novel one. A triple row of men, women and children were stand

ing round in a semicircle, the men rough and sunburned, the women homely and clean, with white caps upon their heads, the children open mouthed and round eyed, awed into an unusual quiet by the reverent bearing of

their elders. In the center, on his high

nactea carved chair, there sat an elderly man. very stiff and erect, with an exceedingly solemn face. He was a fine figure of a man. tall and broad, with large, strong features, clean shaven and deeply lined, a huge beak of a nose and strong, shaggy eyebrows, which arched right up to the great .wig. which he wore full and lone, as

it nau oeen worn In France In his youth. On his wig was placed a white hat. cocked jauntily at one side, with

n rea reamer streaming round it. and he wore a coat of cinnamon colored cloth, with silver at the neck and pockt cts. which was still very handsome though it bore signs of having been frayed and mended more than once. As the seigneur rose, his son, who had returned, took De Catinat by the sleeve. "Father." said he. "this is M. de Catinat, whom you may remember ome years ago at Quebec." I The seigneur bowed with much condescension. , "You are extremely welcome to my estates, both you and your body scrv-ants"-"They are my friends, monsieur. This Is M. Amos Green, and Cantain

Epbraim Savage. My wife is traveling with me. but your courteous son has kindly taken her to your lady." "I am honored honored Indeed!" cried the old man. with a bow and a flourish. "I remember you very well. Blr. for it Is not so common to meet tnen of quality in this country. Now that I think of it. the second son of your great-grandfather married the niece of one of the De la Noues of Antielys. which is one of our cadet branches. Kinsman, you are welcome!" He threw his arms suddenly round De Catinat.

The young guardsman was only too e!ipbted find himself admitted to such an intimacy. "I will not intrude long upon your fcospltallty." said he. "We are journeying down to Lake Cbamplain. and we bo; in a day or two to be reader to g on." -A suit of rooms ha! be laid at your disposal i"? Ions ns vou do roe the "hon

or to remain nere. reste: it is not every day that I can open my gates to a man with god Mood in his veins. Ah. sir. that is what I feel most in my exile, for who is there with whom I can talk r.s equal to equal? You are weary and hungry, you and your friends. Come up with me to the tapestried saloon, and we shall see if my stewards can find anything for your refreshment. You play pfquet. if I remember right. Ah, my skill is leaving me. and I

should be glad to try a hand or two

with you."

The manor house was high and

strong, built of graystone in a framework of wood. Tbe large Iron clanmed

door through which they entered was

pierced ror musketry fire and led into a succession of cellars and storehouses

in which the beets, carrots, potatoes.

cabbages, cured meat, dried eels and other winter supplies were placed. A

winding stone staircase led them through a huge kitchen, flagged and

lorty, rroin which branched the rooms of the servants, or retainers, as the old nobleman preferred to call them. Above this again was the principal suit, centering in the dining hall, with its huge fireplace and rude homemade furniture. The seigneur explained that be had already supped; but, having allowed himself to be persuaded into joining them, he ended by eating more than Epbraim Savage and drinking more than Du Lhut.

T

CHAPTER XXI.

WO days were spent by the trav

elers at the seigneury of Ste. Marie, and they would very wlllinsrly have snent Ionrr

for the quarters were comfortable and the welcome warm, but already the reds of autumn were turning to brown, and they knew how suddenly the Ice and snow came in those northern lands and how impossible it would be to finish their journey If winter were once fairly upon them. The old nobleman had sent his scouts by land and bv wa

ter, but there were no signs of the Iroquois upon the eastern bank, so that it was clear that Du Lhut had been mistaken. Over on the other side, how

ever, the gray plumes of smoke still streamed up above the trees as a sicn

that their enemies were not very far

oir. The refugees were rested now and

reiresnea ana of one mind about push

ing on. "I am not frightened, Amory, and I am quite rested now," said Adele.

"We shall be so much more happy when we are in the Enclish nrovinoeo

for even now how do we know that

that dreadful friar may not come with

orders to drag us back to Quebec and Paris?" It was indeed very possible that the

vindictive Franciscan, when satisfied

that they had not ascended to Montreal

or remained at Three Rivers, might seek them on the banks of the Richelieu. The seigneur was friendly, but

tne seigneur could not disobey the governor's order. A areat hand stretch

Ing all the way from Versailles seemed to hang over them, even here in the

heart of the virzin forest, readv tr

snatch them up and carry them back Into degradation.

But the seigneur and his son. who

knew nothing of their pressinir rea

sons for haste, were strenuous in urging De Catinat the other wav. and in

this they were supported by the silent

uu Lhut.

You have seen my little place." said

the old nobleman, with a wave of his

beruffled, ring covered hand. "It is

not what I should wish it but. such

as It Is, It Is most heartily yours for the winter If you and your comrades would honor me by remaining. As to madame, I doubt not that my own dame and she will find plenty to amuse and occupy them, which reminds me, De Catinat, that you have not yet been presented. Theuriet. go to your mistress and inform her that I request her to be so good as to come to us in the hall of the dais."

De Catinat was too seasoned to be easily startled, but he was somewhat taken aback when the lady, to whom the old nobleman always referred in

terms of exaggerated respect, proved

to be

as like a full blooded Indian

squaw as the hall of the dais was to I , ."e spu tUy a,on tne trail- itb a French barn i hiS musket cocked in his hand, the

deavoring to persuaae our rriends to

remain with, us at Ste. Marie.

At least leave your white lilv at

Ste. Marie," said the dusky princess, speaking in excellent French and clasping with her ruddy fingers thivory hand of Adele. "We will hold her safe for you until the ice softens and the leaves and the partridge berries come once more. I know my jcople, monsieur, and I tell you that the woods are full of murder." De Catinit was. more moved by the impressive manner of his hostess than by any of the other warnings which he bad received. Surely she, if any

one, must be able to read the signs of

the times.

I know not what to C'jT' he cried in

despair. T mut go on, and yet how

can I exio.e her to these perils? I

would fata stay th winter, but you. must take ray word for it, sir, that it is not possible." "Du Lliut, you know how ' thing should be ordered," said the seigneur. "What should you advise my friend to

do, since lie is so set upon getting to the English provinces before the winter comes?"

"There is but one way," said Du Lhut. "thoug'j even in it there is danger. The woods are safer than the river, for the reeds are full of cached canoes. Five leagues from here is the blockhouse of Poitou, and fifteen miles beyond that of. Auvergne. We will go tomorrow to Poitou through the woods and see if all be safe. I will go with you, and I give you my word that if the Iroquois are there Greysolon du Lhut will know it. The ladv we Khali

leave here, and if we find that all is safe we shall come back for her. Then in the same fashion we shall advance to Auvergne, and there vou must wait

until you hear where their war parties are. It is my mind that it will not be very long before we know."

And so It was at last aereed. and

Adele was consigned to the care of the lady of Ste. Marie, while De Catinat

swore that without a pause he would

return from Poitou to fetch her. The

old nobleman and his son would fain

have joined them in their adventure.

out they bad their wn charee to watch

and the lives of many in their keoDimr.

while a small party was safer in the woods. "

From La Noue to Poitou was but

twelve miles down the river, but by

the woodland route the distance was

more than doubled. The four men walked in single file, Du Lhut leading. De Catinat walked behind, then Ephraiin Savage, and then Amos, all with their weapons ready and with every sense upon the alert. By midday they were more than halfway and baited in a thicket for a scanty meal of bread and cheese. For an hour moreMhey picked their way through the woods, following in the steps of the old French

pioneer. Suddenly Du Lhut dropped upon his knees and stooped his ear to the ground. He rose, shook his head and walked on with a grave face. "Did you hear something?" whispered Amos. Du Lhut put his finger to his lips and then In an instant was down upon his face with his ear fixed to the ground. He sprang up with the look of a man ,who has heard what he expected to hear. "Walk on," said he quietly, "and be-

nave exactly as you have done all day." "What is it, then?" ' "Indians." "In front of us?" "No; behind us. They are following

us two, I think. Do not look round.

Walk on as before. Thev are Iro

quois."

"And pursuing us?" "No; we are pursuing them. "How far off are they?" "About 200 paces. I think." "They cannot see us then?" "I think not. but I cannot be snw

They are following our trail, I think." j

hat shall we do then?" " 'Let us make a circle and tret he- I

hind them." ' ' J

.turning sharp to the left, he led them in a long curve through the ' woods, hurrying swiftly and yet si- i Innlln . 1 . t 1 . I

uuuer me aarKest snadow of the trees. Then he turned again and presently halted. "This is our own track," said be. "Aye, and two redskins have passed over it!" cried Amos, bending down and pointing to marks which were entirely invisible to Ephraim Savage and De Catinat. "A full grown warrior and a lad on his first warpath," said Du Lhut. "They are moving fast, you see, for you can hardly see the heel marks of

tneir moccasins. They walked one behind the other. Now let us follow them as they followed us and see if

we have better luck."

He sped swiftly along the trail, with

a French barn.

"Allow me to present you, M. de Catinat." said the Seigneur de Ste.

"Allow me to present you, M. de Catinat." Marie solemnly, "to my wife, Onega de la Noue de Ste. Marie, chatelaine by right of marriage to this seignenry, while retaining in her own right the hereditary chieftainship on the distaff side vf the nation of the Onondacas. Mr antrel. I have been en-

others following hard upon his heels.

but there was no sound and no sign of life from the shadowy woods in front of them. Suddenly Du Lhut stopped and grounded his weapon. "They are still behind us," he said. "This is the point where we branched off. They have hesitated a moment, as

j-ou can see by. their footmarks, and

tnen they have followed on.

"If we go round again and. quicken

our pace we may overtake them." "No; they are on their iruard now

Lie here behind the fallen log, and we

shall see if we can catch a glimpse of

them."

A great rotten trunk, all green with

mold and blotched with pink and pur

ple fungi. lay to one side of where they stood. Behind this the Frenchman

crouched, and his three companions followed his example, peering through

the brushwood screen in front of them

Ten minutes passed, and there was

no sign of any living thing behind them. "They are over in yonder thicket," whispered Du Lhut. "nave you seen them?" "No." "How do you know, then?" "I saw a squirrel come from his hole In the great white birch tree yonder, ne scuttled back asrain a if

' something had scared him. From his

hole he can see down Into that brushwood." , "Do you think that they Ww that we ar here?" They cannot see us. But ey ara auspicion." "Shall we rush for the brushwJ?" "Thy would pick two of ns off Ml ,

b aona like shadows through thf f

woods,

way

"But they will follow us." "I hardly think that they will. ye are four and they are onlj- two, and they know now that we are on our guard. We must push on fast now, for where there are two Iroquois there are likely to be 2X) not vcrv far nfT

I Ah, here is the Ajidaumo creek, whom

i the Indians set tne sturgeon nets. It

is stiil seven miies to Poitou."

"We shall be there before nightfall,

then

"I think that we had best wait for

nightfall before vre make our way in. Since the Iromiois scouts are nut n

far as this it is likely that they lie

thick round Poitou. and we mav find

the last step the worst unless we have a care." He paused a moment with

slanting head and siJeloug ear. "Bv

J Ste. Anne!" be muttered, "we have not shiken them off. They are still upon

our trail."

"You hear them?"

"Yes: thej-. are no great way from

us. They will find that they have fol

lowed tis once too often this time.

Slip off your moccasins, monsieur.

De Catinat pulled off his shoes as

directed and Du Lhut did the same.

l'ut tnem on as ir they were

gloves," said the pioneer, and an instant later Enhraim Savasre and Amo?

had their comrades shoes upon their

bands. "You can swing your muskets over your back. So! Now down on all fours, bending yourselves double, with

your hands pressing hard upon the earth. That is excellent. Two men can leave the trail of four. Now come with me, monsieur." He flitted from tree to tree on a line which was parallel to but a few yurds distant from that of their comrades. Then suddenly he crouched behind a bush and pulled De Catinat down be

side him. 'They must pass us in a few minutes," he whispered. "Do not fire if you can help it." Something gleamed in Du Lhut's hand, and his comrade, glancing down, saw that he had drawn a keen little tomahawk from his belt. Suddenly he saw something move. It

flitted like a shadow from one trunk to the other, so swiftly that De Catinat

could not have told whether it were beast or human. And thju again he saw It, and yet again, sometimes one shadow, sometimes two shadows. Then for a few moments all was still once more, and then In an Instant there

crept out from among the bushes the most terrible looking creature that ever walked the earth an Iroquois chief upon the war trail. lie was a tall, powerful man, and his bristle of scalp locks and eagle feathers made him look like a eiant in

the dim light, for a good eight feet lav

between his beaded moccasin and the

topmost plume of his headgear. One side of his face was painted in soot, ocher and vermilion to resemble a dog and the other half as a fowl. His gun was thrown forward, and he crept along with bended knees, peering, listening, pausing, hurrying on, a breathing image of caution. Two paces be

hind him walked a lad of fourteen, clad and armed in the same fashion, but -without the painted face. They were just abreast of the bush when something caught the eye of the younger warrior, some displaced twlir

or fluttering leaf, and he paused, with suspicion in every feature. Another instant and he had warned his companion, but Du Lhut sprang out and buried his hatchet in the skull of the older warrior. De Catinat heard a dull

crash, as when an ax splinters Its way into a rotten tree, and the man fell like a log. kicking and striking with his powerful limbs. The younger warrior sprang like a deer over his fallen comrade and dashed on into the wood. But an Instant later there was a gunshot among the trees in front, followed by a faint wailing cry. "That is his death whoon." said T

Lhut composedly. As he spoke the two others came back. Ephraim ramming a fresh charge into his musket, "Ah. he's gone," said Du Lhut. As he spoke the Indian gave a last spasm with his hands and feet and lay rigid. "He's a great chief," said Du Lhut. "It Is Brown Moose of the Mohawks, and the other is bis second son. We

have drawn first blood, but I do not

think that it will be the last, for the

iroquois do not allow'their war chiefs

to die unavenged. He was a mighty

ngnter. They turned away, leaving the red

ngure stretched under the silent trees. As they passed on they caught a glimpse of the lad lying doubled up among the bushes where he had fallen. The pioneer walked very swiftly until he came to a little stream which prattled down to the big river. Here he slipped off "his shoes and leggings and waded down it with his companions for half a mile or so. "They .will follow our tracks when they find him," said he. "but this will throw them off. for It is only on running water that an Iroquois can find no trace. And now we shall lie in this clump until nightfall, for we are little over a mile from Fort Poitou. and it is dangerous to go forward, for the ground

uecomes more open." And so they remained concealed among the alders while the shadows turned from short to long, and the white drifting clouds above them were tinged with the pink of the setting sun. Du Lhut coiled himself into a ball, with his pipe between his teeth, and dropped Into a light sleep, pricking up his ears and starting at the slightest sound. The two Americans whispered together for a long time, but at last the soothing hum of a gentle breeze through the branches lulled them off also. De Catirat alone remained awake, his nems in a tingle from a strange, sudden shadow which had fallen upon his soul. So clear it was and so vivid that it was

with a start that he came suddenly to

nimseir and found that the night was creeping on in the forest and that Du

mut had roused himself and was ready

ior a start.

"Have you been awake?" asked the

pioneer. Have you heard anything?"

'Nothing but the hooting of the owl." 'It seemed to me in mv sleen that T

lnard a gunshot iu the distance."

"In your sleep?" "Yes. I hiar as well asleen as awake

and remember what I hear. Bnt now

you must follow me close, and we shall

te m the fort soon.

"Pe-te! You are a woodman indeed!" "I lelieve that these woods are

fwarmine with IronUoi. ulthonch

1. ...... r -

t naa ine seed fortune to miss J

mem. so great a cnier a ltrown Moose would irt start on the path with a small following or for a small object. They must mean - mischief ujxm the IIP

V

Du Lhut sprang out and buried his hatchet in the skull of the xcarrlor. Richelieu. The woods will not be safe.

I fear, until the partridge berries are

out once more. You must stay at Ste.

Mane until then.

"I had rather stay there forever than

expose my wife to such devils."

"Aye, devils they are if ever devils

walked upon earth. And now we are

on the very borders of the clearing, and the blockhouse lies yonder among

the clump of manles. You did not

come as near to Ste. Marie unchallenged, and yet De Lannes is as old a soldier as De la Noue. We can scarce

see now, but yonder, near the river, is

where he exercises his men."

"He does so now." said Amos. "I

see a dozen of them drawn up in a line at their drill."

"No sentinels, and all the men at drill!" cried Du Lhut in contempt. "It is as you say, however, for I can see them myself, with their ranks open and each as stiff and straight as a nine stiimn. Om would thintr

'them stand so still, that there was not

an Indian nearer than Orange." Du Lhut advanced from the bushes as he spoke, and the four men crossed the open ground in the direction of the line of men who waited silently for them in tbe dim twilight. They were within fifty paces, and yet none of them had raised hand or voice to chal

lenge their approach. - There was something uncanny in the silence, and a change came over Du .Lhut's face as he peered in front of him. "My God!" he screamed. "Look at the fort!" They had cleared the clump of trees, and the outline of the blockhouse should have shown up in front of them. There was no sign of it. It was gone. So unexpected was the blow that even Du Lhut, hardened from his chlldhooa to every shock and danger.

stood shaken and dismayed. Then, with an oath, he ran at the top of his speed toward the line of figures. As they drew nearer they could see through the dusk that it was not indeed a line. A silent and motionless officer stood out some twenty paces in front of his silent and motionless men. They were lashed to low posts with

willow withes, some twenty of them, naked all and twisted and screwed in

to every strange shape which an agonized body could assume. For a moment the four comrades stared In silent horror at the dreadful group. Then each acted as his nature bade him. De Catinat staggered up against a tree trunk and leaned his head upon his arm. deathly sick; Du Lhut fell down upon his knees and said something to heaven, with his two clinched hands shaking up at the darkening sky; Ephraim Savage examined the priming of his gun, with a tightened

up and a gleammg eye. while Amos Green, without a word, began to cast round in circles In search of a trail. But Du Lhut was on his feet again In a moment and running up and down

like a sleuthhound, noting a hundred things which even Amos would have

overlooked. He circled round the bodies again and again; then he ran a little way toward the edge of the woods and then came back to the charred ruins of the blockhouse. "There is no sign of the women and children," said he. "They are keeping the children to burn at their leisure in their villages." The women they may torture or may adopt, as the humor takes them." , "Ask him, Amos," said the seaman, 1 "why we are vawincr and tnrk-inr!

here when we should be cracking on

all sail to stand after them." Du Lhut smiled and shook his head. "Tour friend is a brave man,' said he.

-If be thinks that with four men we

can follow a hundred and fifty." "Tell him, Amos, that the Lord will

bear us up," said the other excitedly. "Say that he will be with us a trains t

the children of Jeroboam, and we will cut them off utterly." But Du Lhut waved aside the seainnn siif Tttinna "Wr minsf l...-

care now," said he, "or we shall' lose ! . .

our own scaips and re the cause of j

those at , Ste. Mane losing theirs as j

well; "Ste. Marie!" cried De Catinat. "Is

there, then, danger at Ste. Marie?" "Aye, they are in the wolf's mouth now. This business was done last night. The place was stormed by a war party of a hundred and fifty men. This morning they left and went north upon foot. They have been cached among the woods all day between Poitou and Ste. Marie." "Then we have come through them?" "Yes. we have come through them. They would keep their camp today and send out scouts. Brown Moose and his son were among them and

struck our trail. Tonight" "Tonight they will attack Ste. 51a-

those which were lefore.

Dark as it was. Du Lhut walked as swiftly as during the sunlight and never hesitated about the track. His comrades could see, however, that he was taking them a different way from that which they had gone in the morning, for twice they caught a sight of the glimmer of the broad river upon

their left, while before they bad only ficen the streams which flowed into it. 5 On the second occasion ho pointed to where oa the farther side they could s see dark shadows. j "Iroquois canoes," he whispered. 1 "There are ten of them, with eight : men in each. They are another party." i "How do you know that they are j another pirty?' j "Becaue we have crossed tho trail j of the first within the hour." j De Catinat was filled with a marement at this marvelous man who could j hear in his sleep and could detect a !

trail when the very tree trunks were Invisible to ordinary eyes. lu Lhut ! halted a little to watch tbe canoes and j then turned his back to tho river and j plunged into the woods once more uu- ! til thpy came to the edge of a moonlit j clearing. Du Lhut was about to skirt j this, as he had done others, when sud- j

d?uly he caught De Catinat the shoulder and pushed him down behind a clump of sumac, while Amos did the same with Ephraim Savage. A man was walking down the other

skle of the open space. He had just j emerged and was crossing It diagonal- j ly, making In the direction of the riv- j er. His body was lent double, but as j he came out from tjie shadow of the j trees they could see that be was an Indian brave in full war paint, with 1

r leggings, loin cloth and musket. Close

at his heels came a second, aud then a j third and a fourth, on and on. until it i

seemed as if the wood was full of men j and that the line would never come to j fin prwl T.fKLt rtf all tfnnii i min fin tliA .

j fringed tunic of a hunter, with a cap . j and feather upon his head. He passed ; across like the others, and they van- j j ishedInto the shadows. It was five! j-minutes before Du lhut thought it I

safe to rise from their shelter. j "By Ste. Anne!" he whispered. "Did I

you count them?" i

"Three hundred and ninety-six," said Amos. "I made it 402." . "And you thought fbat there were only a hundred and fifty of them!" criedJDe Catinat. "Ah. you do not understand. This Is a fresh band. The others who took th

blockhouse must be over there, for their trail lies between us and the river. In their cam;i there are now nearly 600 warriors. Unless we warn them at Ste. Marie tbse devils will lay some trap for them. Their parties are

assembling by land nd by water, and there may be a thousand before daybreak. We must push on and give our warning." "They had one who was dressed like a white man," remarked Amos. "Aye. and the most deadly of the lot His father was n Dutch trader, his mother an Iroquois, and he gses by the name of the Flemish Bastard. By Ste. Anne, I have a score to settle with him, and I may pay it before this business is over."

0

Tier "It is possible. And yet with so mall a party I should scarce have thought that they would have dared. Well, we can but hasten back as quickly as we can and give them warning of what is hanging over them." And so they turned for their weary backward journey, though their minds were too full ta spare a thought upon

CHAPTER XXII. ?

AY was just breakiue as th

four comi ades entered the gate

of the stockade, but early as It

was the ceusitalres and their i families were ail afoot. De Catinat' burst through th? throng and rushed i

upstairs to Adele. who had herself flown down to u eet him. so that they met In each other's arms.. Together,! with his arm around her, they ascended j to the great hall. "Ah, monsieu.V said the old noble-' man. with his courtly bow, "I am indeed rejoiced to see you safe under mv 1

roof again, not only for your own sake, but for that of madame. You are doubtless hungry and weary. When you are yourself again. I must claim my revenge in piquet, for the cards lay against me the other night." But Du Lhut had eMered at De Catinat 's heels" with bis v.Jings of disaster. "You w.!i have another 'ame to play, M. de Ste. .Marie," paid be. "There are 600 Iroquois in the woods, and they are preparing to attack." "Tut, tut! Vie cannot allow our arrangements to be altered by a handful

u savages," said the seigneur. "I must apologize to you. my dear De Catinat. that you should be annoyed by such people while you are upon my estate. Now, when I played piquet last with De Lanues of Poitou'"De Lannes of Poitou Is dead, and all his people," said Du Lhut. "Tbe blockbouse is a heap of smoking ashes." The seigneur raised his eyebrows. "I always told him that bis fort would be taken unless he cleared away those maple trees which grew up to the very walls. They are all dead, yon

say?" "Every man." - "And the fort burned?" "Not a stick was left standing." "Have you seen these rascals?" "We saw the trail of a hundred and fifty. Then there were a hundred in

canoes, and a war party of 400 passed us under the Flemish BastanL Th.fr

camp is five miles down the river, and there cannot be less than 6j0." "You are fortunate in escaping them."

"But they were not so fortunate in escaping us. We killed. Brown Moose and his son." "Excrnt! Excellent!" said tbe

: seigneur, clapping gently with his dainty hands. "You have done very well indeed, Du Lhut You are, I presume, very tired?" "I am not often tired." "Then perhaps you would pick a few men and go back into the woods to see what these villains are doing?" "I shall be ready in five minutes." "Perhaps you would like to go also. Achille?" His son's dark eyes and Iudian face lit up. "Yes. I shall go also," he answered.

"Very good. And we shall make all ready in your absence. Madame, you will excuse these little annoyances which mar the pleasure of your yisit. Next time that you do me the honor to come here I trust that we shall have cleared all these vermin from my estate. Y'ou will excuse me now, as there j are oue or two things which demand

my attention. ' if f'atinut - - 1

- u t.. 1 t . a. 1 triM soldier, and I should be glad of j

vour adrlcu"

s.s hriciit duvlinht now. and ih

square inelosure within the stockad was filled with an anxious crowd who had just learned the evil tidings. The scouting party under Du Lhut and

Achille de la Noue had already left. . and at the orders of the seigueur tho two gates were now secured with huge bars of oak fitted into iron staples on cither side. The children were placed in the lower storeroom with a few women to watch them, while the others were told off to attend o the fire buckets and to reload the muskets. The men had beeu paraded, fifty-two of them in all. aud thov were divided

In! i parties now for the defense of each pirt of the stockade. On oue skle It h.id been built up to within a few yan!s of the river, which not on'y relieve ..I them from the defense of that face, but enabled them to get fresh water by throwing a bucket at tho end of a rope from the stockade. Tho boats and canoes of Ste. Marie wens drawn up cn the bank just under the wall and were precious now as offering a last means of escape should all else fail. Tbe next fort, St. Louis, wm but a few league up tbe river, and De la Noue had already scut a swift messenger to them with news of tho danger. At least it would Ik? a point on which they might retreat should tbe

worst come to the worst. And that the worst might come to the worst was very evident to o experienced a woodsman ns Amos Green. He had left Ephraim Savage snoring in a deep sleep upon the floor and was now walking round the defenses with his pipe in his mouth, examining with a critical eye every detail in connection with them. The stockade was very strong, nine feet high and closely built of oak stakes, which were thick enough to turn a bullet. Halfway up It was loopholed in long, narrow slit

tor the tire of the dclcnders. But. 011 the other band, the trees grew to within a hundred yards of it and formed a

screen for the attack, while the gnrrison was so scanty that it could not spare more than twenty men at the utmost for each face. His face dark-, enod as he thought of the young wif who had come so far In their safe .

keeping and of the women and children whom he had seen crowding Into the fort. "Would it not be letter if you could send them up the river?" he suggested to the seigneur. "I should very gladly do so, monsieur, and perhaps, if we are all alive.

we may manage It tonight If thj weather should be cloudy, but I cannot spare the men to guard them ami I cannot send them without a guard when we know that Iroquois canoes are on the river." "You are right. It would be madness." ' "I have stationed you on the eastern face with jour friends and with fifteen men. M. de Catinat, will you command the party?" "Willingly." "I will take the south face, as It eeeins to be the point of danger. Du Lhut can take the north, and five men bhotild be enough to watch the river side." "Have we food and powder?" "I have flour and smoked eels enough .

to see this matter through. As to powder, we have all our trading stores to draw upon." "We have not time to clear any of these trees?" asked the soldier. , "Impossible. They would make better cover down." "But at least I might clear that patch of brushwood round the birch sapling which lies ltctween the cast face and the edge of the forest. U Is good cover

for their skirmishers." "Yes; that should be fired without delay." "Nay; I think that I might do better." said Amos. "We might bait a trap for them there. Where is this powder of which you sjoke?" "Theuriet. the major domo. Is giving out powder in the main storehouse." I "Very good." Amos vanished upstairs and returned with a large linen , bag In his hand. Thi he filled with powder, and then, clinging It over his shoulder, he carried it out to the clump of bushes and placed It at the base of tho sapling, cutting a strip out of the bark immediately alMjve the spot. Then with a few leafy branches and fallen leaves be covered the powder bag very carefully over, so that it looked like a little hillock of earth. Having arranged all to hts satisfaction, he returned. "I think that we are all ready for them now," said the Migneur. "I would that the women and children were In

a safe place. Has any one beard anything of Du Lhut?" "Jean has the best, cars of any of u, your excellency, said one man from Ieslde the brasH-oruer , cannon. "He thought that . helJerfrVi; shots a few minutes ago." .A ," "Then he has come into touch of them. Eticnue, take ten men and g to the withered oak to cover them if they are retreating, but do not go another yard on any pretext. I am too thort banded already. Perhaps, De Catinat. yon wish to sleep?" "No; I could not sleep."We can do no more . down here. What do you ay to a round ;k two of piquet?" , . They ascended -to 'the upper hall, where Adele came and sat by her hus

band, while the swarthy Onega crouched by the window, looking keenly out Into the forest. "Men are rushing from the woods!" cried Onega. . "Tut! It grows serious!" said the nobleman. "We can finish tbe game later. Remember that the deal lies with you. Let us see what It all means." De Catinat had already rushed to the window. Du IJiut. young Achille de la Noue and eight of the covering party were miming with their heads bent toward the stockade, the door of whi-h had been opened to admit them. Here and there from behind tbe trees came little blue puffs of smoke. As the gate swung into place behind the little party the brass cannon at the corner gave a flash and a roar, while the whole ontline of the wood was traced

In a rolling cloud, and the shower of bullets rapped up against the wooden wall like hail nron a casement.

(To Be Oontinuad.)

Artificial gas, the ZOtb Cwtnry fnaL 10-tf