The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-21


saw engraved and enameled on its
massive case the Beverley crest. but
she did not know what it meant. There
was something of the sort Ia the back
OF her iocket, she remembered with
satisfaction.
just then there was a peculiar stir in
the Tagging crowd. Someone had ar
rived, a coureur de bois from the north.
Where was the commandant? the
coureur had something important for
him.
Beverley heard a remark in a star
tied voice about the English getti
ready for descen1 upon the Wabash
valley. This broke the charm which
thralled him and sent through his
nerves the bracing shock that only a
soldier can feel when a hint of COM
ing battle reaches him
Alice saw the fash irr his face )
Where is Captain Heinz 1 must
see him Immediately. Excuse me-" he
said, abruptly turning away and look
ing over the heads of the people: ''yon-
der he is. l must go to him."
The coureur de boiS, Adolphe Dut-
remble by name, was Just from the
head waters of the Wabash. He was
speaking to Helm when Beverley came
up. NJ. Roussillon followed close upon
the hentenantS heels, as eager as he
to know what the message amounted
to; but Helm took the coureur aside,
motioning Beverley to join them. M;
Roussilion included himself in the
conference.
After all it was but the gossip of
savages that Dutremble communicate
ed; still the purport was startling in
the extreme. Governor Hamilton, so
the story ran, had been organizing a
large force: he was probably now on
his way to the portage of the Wabash
with a flotilla of batteauX, some COM
panies of disciplined soldiers, artillery
and a strong body of Indians.
Helm listened attentively to Dutrem-
bles lively sketch, then cross-ques-
toned him with laconic directnesS.
send Mr.. Jazon to me-" he said TO
NJ. Roussillon. as if speaking to
servant.
The master Frenchman went
promptly, recognizing Captain Helms
right to command, and sympathizing
with his unpleasant military predica-
ment if the news should prove true
After the conference Beverley made
haste TO join Alice; but he found that
she had gone home.
lone hell of a fix We'll be in if Ham
ilton comes down here with a good
force said Helm
Beverley felt like retorting that lit
tie forethought, zeal and preparation
might have lessened the prospective
gloom He had been troubled all the
time about Helms utter lack of mill
| tary precaution. True, there was very
little material out of which that OPP
timistic officer could have formed
body of resistance against the army
probably at Hamiltons command; but
Beverley was young, energetic, belli-
cose, and to him everything seemed
possible; he believed in vigilance,
| discipline, activity, dash: he had
great faith in the efficacy of enthusi-
asm.
I'VE must organize these French
men," he said; they will make good
/ fighters if we can once get them to act
as d body. There's no time to be lost;
but we have time enough in which 10
do a great deal before Hamilton can
arrive, if we go at it in earnest
Your theory IS excellent, lieutenant.
! but the practice of it won't be worth a
DAMN Helm replied, with perfect good
| nature. I'd like to see you organize
| these parly-voos. There amt a dozen
of 'em that wouldn't accept the Eng
! Iish with open arms 1 know EN-
They're good hearted. polite and all
| that; they'll hurrah for the flag; that's
/ easy enough; but put 'em to the test
I
side, see if they don't OF course, there
are a few exceptions. There's Jazon,
| he's all right, and / have faith in Bos-
seron, and Legraee and young Rom
! VILE
"Roussillon-'' Beverley began.
| as much Of blow-hard, Helm in
| terrupted with laugh. "Barks loud
but his biting disposition is probably
not vicious"
'sHe and Father Beret control the
whole population at all events" said
Beverley.
Yes, such a popuiation,"
While joining in Captain Helms
laugh at the expense OF Vincennes.
Beverley took leave TO indulge a men
tai reservation in favor, of Alice. He
could not bear to class her with the
crowd of noisy. thoUghtless, mercurial
beings whom he heard still singing gay
! snatches and calling TO one another
| from distance 10 distance, as they
strolled homeward in groups and pairs.
Nor could the impending danger of an
enforced surrender to the English and
Indians drive from his mind her beau
/ tifui image, while he lay for the rest
of the night between sleeping and wax
ing on his primitive bed, alternately
hearing over again her every phrase
| and laugh. and striving TO formulate
some definite plan for defending the
! town and fort His heart was full OF
her. She had surprised his nature and
filed it, as with a wonderful, haunting
I song His youth, his ina gination, all
that was fresh and spontaneously gen
4 tie and natural in him, was flooded
] with the Magnetic splendor OF her
beauty. And yet, in his pride land ii
I was not 4 false pride. but rather no.
bic regard for his birthrighO he vague