Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-01-03

4
The matter was explained to him, and
after many courteous phrases treaty
was arranged by which the three officers
promised their neutrality and engaged
to remain within doors. Thus the pow
der magazine would seem to have been
captured by Dumas singlehanded. 1t
has the air of brilliant achievement,
and the picture of the hero alone in the
fort, his fingers on the triggers of his
gun, courteously but firmly controlling
his three opponents, is most dramatic
scene. When writing the account of his
adventure, from which we take these
particulars. however, Dumas forgets that
in the official report furnished to the
Moniteur, twenty-three years before, he
had stated that three of his friends were
waiting at the gate.
Thus successful, he opened the gate,
and found his friend Bard. To him he
handed over the charge of the powder
magazine, and went away to deal with
the commandant of the fort, LINERS. He
found this officer Just risen, and discuss
ing the news of the sudden appearance
of the flag on the cathedral. Dumas
laid down his gun at the door, intro
duced himself, and made his demand
for an order to remove the powder. The
other declined to acknowledge Gen. Ger
rard's order, and said that there was
scarcely any powder in the magazine
The commandant seemed, in fact, rather
amused, and smiled scornfully, when
Dumas answered that the party at the
magazine were his prisoners. Alexan-
Dire, replying that he would 60 back at
once and bring proof under their hand
that the powder was there, made his bow,
and retired. He flew back, found that
he was right, and returned presently
with satisfactory proof that large
quantity of power was in magazine.
But when he reached the commandments
Office, he found that the party had been
increased during his absence, and that
Lenferna, an officer of gendarmes, and
Bonvilliers, Colonel of the Engineers,
were there, in full uniform, and armed.
The commandant addressed him in a
sort of bantering tone, telling him that
he had sent for these officers, who, with
: him, were in command of the town, in
order that he might have the pleasure OF
hearing M. Dumas explain his mission.
The young man saw that boldness was
his only resource. and coolly told them
that he had been engaged by Lafayette
to bring the powder to Paris, or lose his
life, and he insisted on the eommandant
, handing over the powder to him. The
officers passed on Gerard's order from
one to the other with a sort of smiling
! contempt.
And So" said the commandant il
the same tone-"so single-hand, Mon
sieur Dumas-I think you said that wa.
your name-you propose to force me t.
; do this. You see that we are four"
The young man saw that things wer,
!. coming to a crisis, and took promp
resolution. He stepped back, pulled hi
!, double-barreled pistols from his pocket
h and presented them at the startled party
6 " You are four" he said, gentlemen
4 we are FIVE. If that order be not signe,
a in five seconds, | give you my word o
.. honor / will blow your brains out, be
n ginning with the commandments there I
!, He owned he felt little nervous
:, but he was determined.
d Take care" he went on; /" 4 mea
,r what / say. | am going to count. On
10 -two-three -
lol At this critical moment a side doc
a was flung open, and lady flung herse
of among them in paroxysm of alarm.
agree! agree ]" she cried. "Ot
as this is another revolt of the negroes
a Think of my poor father and mothe
as whom they murdered in st. Domingo
OF Alexandra owned that the lady's mi
o. take was excusable, considering his ow
DIX natural tint (deepened by violent brow
d. ing from the sum, and the peculiar cha
at acter Of hair and voice. But we ms
In wonder at the insensibility to ridicu
al. which could prompt him to set dow
TX such a jest at his own expense. II
lte truth was, he was so filled with vanit
* that all nicer senses became blunteC
be and he was even unconscious of the roa
is of laughter which these foolish con
ce. dences produced. The commando
ms could not resist the entreaties of his wi
lb- Alexandra declared that he had infni
to respect for the lady. but entreated h
he husband to send her away, and let t
Ith men finish the business. The poor col
ne mandant protested that his self-respe
un must be respected. He could not q
M. Gently yield to a single man. Alexa
nd DIRE then offered to sign paper to {
nd effect that the order had been extort
1