HALSEY ES Ir.nrni-**., i i . w n . i , ~ ............. 2 2 ——- —— —- ^ T h e R ed R oad Uneasy Arabia A Rom ance of B raddock’s D efeat By Hugh Pendexter llltu tT u iw m by CHAPTER VI— Continued —1 6— — Repeating my Instruction*, and re minding him that he would be favor­ ably received as a scout tor the col­ onies, the Onondaga and I swung Into the path and made for the cabins. Having already been guests In the village, we did not go through the form ality of shouting our names. We went to the cabin set aside for strangers and were promptly served with meat and a coarse bread. It was evident that Queen Allaqulppa did not wish us to delay our departure. We did not propose leaving, however, until Cromlt had put In hl* appear­ ance. News forwarded from Du­ quesne would be useless unless the McDowell’s mill man was waiting to carry It to the army. Before depart­ ing for the fort, I bad to satisfy my­ self that Cromlt would not be re­ fused shelter In the village; so we ate onr meat leisurely and fought the minute*. Having finished and wiped our lin­ ger* on little bundles of dried grass I proceeded to mend my moccasin* After I had made my foot-gear as good as new I advised the Onondaga to take hl* time. When I believed an boor bad elapsed, I peered through a small hole at the end of the cuhln and beheld Cromlt striding from the woods. He baited and shouted the guest call and was promptly confronted by several warriors. They talked with him for a few moments and then gladly shouted: “ Ingellshman I Ingellshman I” They seized his hands and patted his shoulders and In a hospitable pantomime waved their arms and pointed townrd the cabins. He entered the village and the word was rapidly passed that he was ‘‘Ingellshman” ; and where we had re­ ceived scowls and frowns he beheld nothing but beaming countenances. He wandered about and passed our cabin and beheld us but gave no sign of recognition. A warrior must have Informed him that we were French In our sympathies for he paused and mude derisive gestures at us, whereat the savages laughed In great enjoy­ ment. 1 was afraid the audacious rus- cal would challenge us to a tight, or play some other trick. Now satisfied hl* welcome would be permanent I picked up my rifle and, with the Onon­ daga, stepped outside. That day we advanced with great caution and made slow progress, it was the buck trail that held our at­ tention. More than once we drew to one side of the path and waited to learn If we were pursued. All timber originally crowding against the fort had been leveled for a considerable depth. Vast cornfields stretched for a fourth of a mile up the Allegheny and the Mononguhela. In addition to these, there were many kitchen gardens along the Allegheny. On the Monongahela, there were a number of mills. We struck the clearing at a point opposite the eastern gate, a rather pre teutlous portal of ten feet In width, swinging on binges and having a wicket In the middle. Inside the stock­ ade were two storehouses, or maga sines, as many barracks, a guardhouse and prison, the commandant's resi­ dence and the chapel. All these were very stoutly built of heavy logs and backed up to within three feet of the Blockade, the Intervening space being packed with earth, nnd the board roofs at the eaves lying level with the ramparts. There were no pickets, nor pointed palisades, nnd front our post tlon It looked as If the whole enclosure was roofed over. We enwrged from the woods and made fo i^th e eastern gate, aud our coming seemed to be unnoticed. One of the Canadian m ilitia wns lazily guurding the gnte, half asleep because of the hot sun. After scrutinizing us for a few moments he said: “ 1 greet you, m’sleu. You would see Captain de Beaujeu?” 1 ezpressed that desire, and he ynwued and called a soldier nnd told him to take my name to the com uinndunt. Very soon the messenger returned ami said I wns to follow him The Onondaga dropped behind to stroll about the enclosure. I was conducted to the commandant’s house between the guardhouse and the western gate. All the way from Allaqulppn’s town 1 had been schooling my nerve* for this meeting. There could be no par­ tial success; either I would retnslu unsuspected, or go Into a Huron ket tie. I realized that some tongue might have wagged since my former visit for news travels fnst In the forest All doubts vanished however when Captain Beaujeu ran from the bouse and embraced me warmly. In dress and apia'nrance. I was only a coureui de hols, but on onr first meeting I had given the name of an old family whose fortunes were ruined, but whose blood held good. Captain Iteaujen was forty foui years ot age. a native ot Montreal Ills father hud been a eaptuln at Three R iv e r* and forest fighting ran I d the blood. The son already wore tbs cross of a Knight of St l.oule and hart served us commandant at Niagara He was absolutely Ineapabte ot feat and possessed a soul rourag» that went well with his heart tlthei Frenchmen who did little In m nipari ■on with Ids supreme accomplishment I r w in M y e r s O *p y rl< h t by H u