"Not one lives," he said soberly, "and there are men, women and children there. The story is one easily told--an attack at daylight from the woods yonder. There has been no fighting; a massacre of the helpless and unarmed." "But who did such deed of blood?" "'Tis the work of the Iroquois; the way they scalped tells that, and besides I saw other signs." "The Iroquois," I echoed incredulous, for that name was the terror of my childhood. "How came these savages so far to the westward?" "Their war parties range to the great river," he answered. "We followed their bloody trail when first we came to this valley. It was to gain protection from these raiders that the Algonquins gathered about the fort. We fought the fiends twice, and drove them back, yet now they are here again. Come, Adele, we must return to the canoe, and consult with Barbeau. He has seen much of Indian war." The canoe rode close 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?"