The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-24
[AHeEEH si00IOD pVINGENNES
CHAPTER TX.
The Honors of War.
. 6T. rA9RjCG

he knew all the pacific means 50 SIC
cessfuIly and so long used by r'rench
missionaries and traders TO control saw
age character: but the emergency Low
upon him was startling. It confused
him. The fact that he had taken
solemn oath OF allegiance to the Amer
lean government could have been
pushed aside lightly enough upon press
ing occa sion, but he knew that certain
confidential agents left in Nlncennes by
Governor Abbott had, upon the arrival
OF Helm. gone TO. Detroit. and OF course
they had carried thither a fun report
of all that happened in the church CT
ST Xavier. when Father Gibaut failed
the people together. and at the fort.
when the British flag was hauled down
and la banniere d Alice Ronssilloa run
up in its place His expansive magma
ton did full credit to itself in eXag-
gerating the Importance of his Dart in
handing the post over to the .c5els-
And what. would Hamilton think OF
this2 Would he consider IL treason?
The question certainly bore tragic
suggestion.
NJ Roussillon lacked everything of
being a coward, and treachery had 10
rightful place in his nature. He vas.
however. so in the habit of lighting
windmills and making mountains of
mole hills that he could not at ,irst
glance see any sudden presentnIent
with normal vision. He had no love
for Englishmen and he did like An1er-
leans. but he naturally thought that
Helms talk of fighting Hamilton wss,
as his own would have been in i like
case, talk and nothing more. The fort
could not hold out an hour. he well
knew. Then what? All, he but too
well realized the result.
Resistance would infiame he English
soldiers and madden the Indians ThSre
would be a massacre. and the belts of
savages would sag with bloody soaps.
He shrugged his shoulders and telt a
chill creep up his back
The first thing NJ. Roussillon lid was
to see Father Beret and take Counsel
of him; then he hurried home to dig
a great pit under his kitchen floor in
which he buried many bales % Fur ard
all his most valuable things. He
worked like a giant beaver all night
! long. Meantime Father Beret went
about over the town quietly notifying
the inha bitants to remain in their
houses until after the fort should sur
render, which he was sure would hap
pen the next day.
You viii be perfectly safe, my chill
dren,' he said to them. No harm can
| come to you if you follow my direc-
tions.'
Relying implicitly upon him, they
scrupulously obeyed in every particu-
! lar.
He did not think it necessary to call
at RoussAlon place. having already
given NJ. RoussilIon the best advise he
! could command
Just at the earliest break of day,
While yet the gloom of night scarcely
felt the suns approach, huge figure
made haste along the narrow streets in
the northern part of the town. If any
/ L.
the little holes, called windows. in those
| silent and rayless huts. il would have
! been easy to recognize NJ. Roussillon by
| his stature and his gait, dimly outlined
! as he was. A thought, which seemed to
| him an Inspiration of genius. had taken
possession of him and was leading him,
as If ty the nose. straight away to
Hamilton's lines. He was freighted
| eloquence for the ear of that COM
mander. and as he strobe along facing
! the crisp morning air ne was rehearsing
under his breath. emphasizing his pc
I RODS in tragic whispers with sweeping
/ gestures and liberal facial lcontortions.
/ So absorbed was he in his oratorial
soliioqEy that he forgot due military
| precaution and ran plump into the face
( of a savage picket guard who without
! respect for the great NJ. Roussillons
dignity, sprang-up before him, grunted
! enormously hourished a tomahawk
! and spoke in excellent and exceedingly
| cultural Indian:
'Wah, surrender
/ It is probable that no man ever COM
| piled with modest request in a more
/ docile spirit than did NJ RoussiIlon
| upon that occasion. In fact. his prompt
| ness must have been admirable, for the
savage grunted approval and straight
| way conducted him to HamiIton's
headquarters on batteau in the river.
| The British commander, a hale man of
| sandy complexion and probably under
I middle age. was in no very pleasant
! humor. Some of his orders had been
| misunderstood by the chief of his In
| dian allies, so that a premature ex-
posture of his approach had been made
| to the enemy.
We'll, sir, who are your" he gruffiy
| demanded. when Nj. Roussiilon doomed
| before him.
| Il am GaSpdrd Roussillon, the mayor
| of Vincennes,' was the lofty reply Il
/ have come to announce to you officially
| that my people greet you loyalty and
/ that my town is freely at your COM
| mand." He felt as important as if his
| statements had been true.
4 'Humph. that's it. is it? Well Mr.
( Mayor, you have my congratulations,
| but l should prefer seeing the military
commander and accepting his surren-
/ der. What account can you give me of
| the American forces, their numbers and
| condition.
I Mr.. RoussillOn WINGED, inwardly, at
least, under Hamilton's very undefer-
| entail air and style of address. It
| piqued him cruelty TO be treated as a
| Person without the slightest claim to
| respect. He somehow forgot the rolling
and rlythemical eioquence prepared for
/ the occasion.
| The American commander naturally
would not conflde in me. Monsieur le
( GouVerneur, not at all; we are not
very friendly: he ousted me from Office.
| he Offended. me- he was coughing and
| stammering
] "Oh, the devil. what do I care2 An
swer my question. SIR Hamilton gruf-
| fly interrupted. Tell me the number
of American troops at the fort. sir"
I Il don't know exactly. | have not
! had sdmittance to the fort. 1 might
| De deceived as to numbers; but they're
strong, l believe. Monsieur le GOuver-
! neur. at least they make a great show
| and much noise
! Hamilton eyed the huge bulk before
him for a moment, then turning to d
subalteIn said:
Place this fellow under guard and
see that he doesn't get away. Send
! word Immediately to Captain Farms
J worth that I wish to see him at once"
I The Interview thereupon closed
| abruptly Hamilton's emissaries had
| given sim a detailed account OF Mr..
| Roussliion's share in submitting Vim
eennes TO rebel dominion, and he was
not in the least inclined toward treat 4