Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 17, 2025
You and I, with Sequitah, will take a hundred of your Indians, cross the small river, and advance up the trail. That leaves fifty warriors to creep through the woods on either slope, twenty-five to a side, led by your two couriers de bois. We will wait at the great rock, and give the signal." La Forest stood silent a moment, thinking; then rested his hand on De Artigny's shoulder.
Sequitah took his place, not two yards from me, standing like a statue, his face stern and emotionless. It was like a dream, rather than a reality. I was conscious of no thrill, no sense of fear. It was as though I viewed a picture in which I had no personal interest. Out of the darkness came De Artigny, pausing an instant before the chief. "All is well, Sequitah?"
"Very well, then, if it is your wish I take command. Sequitah, a hundred warriors will follow you along the trail you know it well. Have your best scouts in advance, and circle your braves so as to make attack impossible. Your scouts will not go beyond the great rock except on my order. M. la Forest will accompany them. This is clear?"
"Sequitah is great chief," he said quietly, "a warrior of many battles, the friend of La Salle. We have smoked the peace-pipe together, and walked side by side on the war-trail. Sequitah knows who speaks?" "The French warrior they call De Artigny." "Right; 'tis not the first time you and I have met the Iroquois!
"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.
The Indian folded his hands across his breast, his eyes on the two men facing him. There was silence, but for the slight rustle of moving bodies in the darkness. "Sequitah hears the voice of his friend," he announced at last, "and his words sound wise. The warriors of the Illini will fight beside the white men."
They were sadly demoralized, and filled with horror at what they had seen, yet agreed to return here under my leadership." "Who is their chief?" "Old Sequitah you know him?" "Ay, a real warrior. 'Tis better than I dared hope, for I have been in battle with him before. Do you number a hundred?" "And fifty more, though indifferently armed.
What light there was flickered over naked bodies, and revealed savage eyes gleaming from out masses of black hair. De Artigny stepped forward on the exposed root of a tree to where he could see his dusky followers, and La Forest climbed the bank, and joined him. A moment the two men conferred, turning about to question Sequitah. As they separated I could distinguish De Artigny's final words.
"We leap upon them from cover?" he asked calmly, "and the white men will sally forth to aid us?" "'Tis so we expect M. de Tonty is never averse to a fight." "I believe in the Iron Hand; but 'tis told me others command now. If they fail we are but few against many." "They will not fail, Sequitah; they are Frenchmen."
What are the white man's words of wisdom?" Briefly, in quick, ringing sentences, De Artigny outlined his plan. Sequitah listened motionless, his face unexpressive of emotion. Twice, confused by some French phrase, he asked grave questions, and once a courier de bois spoke up in his own tongue, to make the meaning clear. As De Artigny ceased the chief stood for a moment silent.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking