in under the bank, Barbeau holding it with grasp
on a great root. He must have read in our faces some message of alarm,
for he exclaimed before either of us could speak.

"What is it?--the Iroquois?"

"Yes; why did you guess that?"

"I have seen signs for an hour past which made me fear this might be
true. That was why I held the boat so close to the bank. The village
has been attacked?"

"Ay, surprised, and massacred; the ground is covered with the dead,
and the tepees are burned. Madame is half crazed with the shock."

Barbeau took no heed, his eyes scarce glancing at me, so eager was he
to learn details.

"The fiends were in force then?"

"Their moccasin tracks were everywhere. I could not be sure where they
entered the village, but they left by way of the Fox. I counted on the
sand the imprint of ten canoes."

"Deep and broad?"

"Ay, war boats; 'tis likely some of them would hold twenty warriors;
the beasts are here in force."

It was all so still, so peaceful about us that I felt dazed, incapable
of comprehending our great danger. The river swept past, its waters
murmuring gently, and the wooded banks were cool and green. Not a
sound awoke the echoes, and the horror I had just witnessed seemed
almost a dream.

"Where are they now?" I questioned faintly. "Have they gone back to
their own country?"

"Small hope of that," answered De Artigny, "or we would have met with
them before this, or other signs of their passage. They are below,
either at the fort, or planning attack on the Indian villages beyond.
What think you, Barbeau?"

"I have never been here," he said slowly, "so cannot tell what chance
the red devils might have against the white men at St. Louis. But they
are below us on the river, no doubt of that, and engaged in some hell
act. I know the Iroquois, and how they conduct war. 'Twill be well for
us to think it all out with care before we venture farther. Come, De
Artigny, tell me what you know--is the fort one to be defended against
Iroquois raiders?"

"'Tis strong; built on a high rock, and approachable only at the rear.
Given time they might starve the garrison, or drive them mad with
thirst, for I doubt if there be men enough there to make sortie
against a large war party."

"But the Indian allies--the Algonquins?"

"One war whoop of an Iroquois would scatter them like sheep. They are
no fighters, save under white leadership, and 'tis likely enough their
villages are already like t