to be met with in Indian campaign, and we
are without arms, except for Barbeau's gun."

"I retain my pistol," I interrupted.

"Of small value since its immersion in the lake; as to myself I must
trust to my knife. Madame you will follow me, but merely close enough
to make sure of your course through the woods, while Barbeau will
guard the rear. Are both ready?"

"Perhaps it might be well to explain more clearly what you propose,"
said the soldier. "Then if we become separated we could figure out the
proper direction to follow."

"Not a bad thought that. It is a rough road ahead, heavily wooded, and
across broken land. My route is almost directly west, except that we
bear slightly south to keep well away from the river. Three leagues
will bring us to a small stream which empties into the Illinois. There
is a faint trail along its eastern bank which leads to the rear of the
Rock, where it is possible for one knowing the way to attain the
palisades of the fort. If we can attain this trail before dark we can
make the remaining distance by night. Here, let me show you," and he
drew with a sharp stick a hasty map on the ground. "Now you
understand; if we become separated, keep steadily westward until you
reach a stream flowing north."

In this order we took up the march, and as I had nothing to bear
except a blanket, which I twisted about my shoulders, I found little
difficulty in following my leader. At first the underbrush was heavy,
and the ground very broken, so that oftentimes I lost sight entirely
of De Artigny, but as he constantly broke branches to mark his
passage, and the sun served as guidance, I had small difficulty in
keeping the proper direction. To our right along the river appeared
masses of isolated rock, and these we skirted closely, always in the
shadow and silence of great trees. Within half an hour we had emerged
from the retarding underbrush, and came out into an open wood, where
the walking was much easier.

I could look down the aisles of the trees for long distances, and no
longer experienced any difficulty in keeping within sight of my
leader. All sense of fear had passed away, we seemed so alone in the
silent forest, although once I thought I heard the report of a distant
gun, which brought back to mind a vision of that camp of death we had
left behind. It was a wearisome tramp over the rough ground, for while
De Artigny found passage through the hollows wherever possible, yet we
were oblige