Willmar tribune., 1903-12-09

WOODS lingo with the ease of long prac-
ticc
"As is a-comin' in fom a-huntin' l
tuck notice at somepin' was up. l see
lot O. boats on the river an some fel-
slipped by 'em all an come in the back
way. They's plenty Of 'em. tell you
what! l can't shoot much. but tuck
one chance at buck Indian out yam
der an jes' happened to hit i'm in the
lef eye. He was one of the gang at
scalped me down yander in Kaintuck."
The greasy old sinner looked as if he
had not been washed since he was
born. He glanced about with furtive,
shifty eyes and grimaced and winked
after the manner of an animal just
waking from lazy nap.
where's the rest of the fighters?
he demanded quizzically, lolling out his
tongue and peeping past Helm so as to
get a glimpse Of the English line.
"Where's yer garrison? Have they all
gone to breakfas'?'
The last question set Helm of ours
ing and swearing in the most melo-
dramatic rage.
Oncle Jazon turned to Beverley and
said in rapid French, "Surely the mans
not going to fight those fellows yon-
der?" 7'1~l T.g~7 :1
Beverley nodded rather gloomily. e
"Well," added the old man. lingering
his rifles stock and taking another
glance through the gate, Il can't shoot
wo'th cent, bein' sort O. nervous like,
but I'll STAN by ye awhile jes' for luck.
might accidentally hit one O EN-"
When man is truly brave himself
there is nothing thf It touches him like
an exhibition Of absolutely unselfish
gameness in another. A rush of admi-
ration for Oncle JaZOn made Beverley
feel like hugging him.
Meantime the young British officer
showed flag of truce and, with a file
Of men, separated himself from the
line, now stationary, and approached
the stockade. At hundred yards he
halted the file and came on alone, wav-
ing the white clout. He boldly ad-
vanced to within easy speaking dis
tance and shouted:
Il demand the surrender of this
fortr'
"Well, you'll not get it, young man,
roared Helm, his profanity we'll mixed
4 man Of us left!'
"Ye'd better use sof' soap on i'm,
cap'n," said Oncle Jazon in English.
"Cussin' won't do no good" While he
spoke he rubbed the doughty captains
arm and then patted it gently.
Helm, who was not half as excited
as he pretended to be, knew that Oncle
Jazon's remark was the very essence
Of wisdom, but he was not yet ready
for the diplomatic language which the
old trooper called soft SOAP
"Are you the British commander"
he demanded.
NO." said the officer, ''but speak
for him."
mot to me, sir. Tell your command
er that 1 will hear what he has to say
from his own mouth. No understrapper
will be recognized by me-"
That ended the conference. The
young officer, evidently indignant,
strobe back to his line. and an hour
later Hamilton himself demanded the
unconditional surrender of the fort and
garrison.
Eight for itv' Helm stormed forth.
1--WE are soldiers!'
Hamilton held a confab with his Of
Acers, while his forces, under cover of
the town cabins, were deploying so
as to form half circle about the stock
ade. Some artillery appeared and was
planted directly opposite the gate, not
three hundred yards distant. One blast
Of that battery would, as Helm well
knew, level large part of the stock
ade.
"S'posin' l hev' a cannon, too, seein'
it's the fashion," said Oncle Jazon. II
can't shoot much, but I might skeer
'em. This little one IL do me- :
He set his rifle against the wall and
With Beverley's help rolled one Of the
swtvels alongside the guns already in
position. 49,. #%sEr ?
In a few minutes Hamilton returned
under the white flag and shouted: sss
Upon what terms will you surren-
der? =, ; ..$ .s. E. MA ,4.;; ,4I,.;
"All the honors Of war; Helm firmly
replied. ITS that or fie6t, and don't
care which, : s S$s 49,.
Hamilton half turned away, as II
done with the parley, then facing the
fort again he said: ..st1t.1 fts5S ss5ss
VERY well, sir Haul down your