st imperceptibly, so I
could distinguish the savage forms on either side, some standing, some
squatting on the grass, all motionless, but alert, their weapons
gleaming, their cruel eyes glittering from excitement. La Forest
descended cautiously, and touched the arm of the chief.

"You see?"

The Indian shook his head.

"Sequitah know now; he not need see. We do what white chief says."

La Forest turned toward me.

"And you, Madame, De Artigny would have you join him."

Surprised at the request I rested my foot in his hand, and crept
forward along the smooth surface until I lay beside Rene. He glanced
aside into my face.

"Do not lift your head," he whispered. "Peer through this cleft in the
stone."

Had I the talent I could sketch that scene now from memory. It must
ever abide in my mind, distinct in every detail. The sky overcast with
cloud masses, a dense mist rising from the valley, the pallid spectral
light barely making visible the strange, grotesque shapes of rocks,
trees and men. Before us was a narrow opening, devoid of vegetation, a
sterile patch of stone and sand, and beyond this a fringe of trees,
matted with underbrush below so as to make good screen, but
sufficiently thinned out above, so that, from our elevation, we could
look through the interlaced branches across the cleared space where
the timber had been chopped away to the palisades of the fort. The
first space was filled with warriors, crouching behind the cover of
underbrush. Most of these were lying down, or upon their knees,
watchfully peering through toward the fort gates, but a few were
standing, or moving cautiously about bearing word of command. The
attention of all was in front riveted upon the silent, seemingly
deserted fort. Not a face did I note turned in our direction, not a
movement to indicate our presence was suspected. It was a line, in
many places two deep, of naked red bodies, stretching down the slope
on either side; the coarse black hair of the warriors gave them savage
look, while here and there a chief sported gaudy war bonnet, and all
along was the gleam of weapons. The number of them caused me to gasp
for breath.

"Monsieur," I whispered timidly, "you can never attack; there are too
many."

"They appear more numerous than they are," he answered confidently,
"but it will be a stiff fight. Not all Tuscaroras either; there are
Eries yonder to the right, and a few renegade Mohawks with them. Look,
by the foot of tha