Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-12-11
CHAPTER Y.

NJ. RoUssILLoN ENTERTA1Ns COLONEL
HAMILTON.
N DAY or two after the arrival
"a of Hamilton the absent garri-
"a son of buffalo hunters strag
glcd back to Nincennes and
were duly sworn to demean themselves
as lawful subjects of Great BrtaN,
Rene de ROnville was among the first
to take the OATH and it promptly fol-
lowed that Hamilton ordered him
pressed into service rs woodchopper
and log haulcr during the erection of q
new blockhouse. large barracks and
the making of some extensive repairs
of the stockadc. Nothing could have
been more humilating to the proud
young Frenchman. Every day he had
to report bright and early to a burly
Irish corporal and be ordered about as
If he had been Il slave. cursed at,
threatened and forced TO work until his
hands were blistcred and his muscles
sore. The bitterest part of it all was
that he had to trudgc past both Rous-
sillon place ard the Bourcier cabin
with the eyes of Alice and Adrienne
upon him.
/ Hamilton did not forget NJ. Roussil
lon in this connection. The giant or
ator soon found himself face to face
with a greater trial even than Rene's.
/ He was calmly told by the English
commander that he could choose be-
tween death and telling who it was
that stole the flag.
"Ill have you shot, sir, tomorrow
morning if you prevaricate about this
: thing any longer" said Hamilton, with
a right deadly strain in his voice YOU
told me that you knew every man,
woman and child in Vincennes at sight.
know that you saw that girl take the
| flag. Lying does not serve your turn.
| give you until this evening to tell me
who she is. If you fail you die at sun
rise tomorrow
In fact. it may be that Hamilton did
not really purpose to carry out this
I bloodthirsty threat-most probably he
relied upon NJ. Roussilons Imagination
to torture him successfully the ef-
feet. as time proved, could not be ac-
curately foreseen.
Captain Farnsworth had energy
enough for a dozen ordinary men. Be
fore he had been in Nincennes twelve
hours he had seen every nook and cor
ner of its surface. Nor was his activity
due altogether to military ardor. al
though he never let pass an opportuni-
ty to serve the best interests of his
commander All the while his mind
was on the strikingly beautiful girl
whose saucy countenance had so daz-
zled him from the roof top of the fort
what time she wrenched away the reb-
ell flag.
I'll find her high or low" he thought
'for never could fail to recognize that
face. She's trump"
1t was not in Alice's nature to hide
from the English. They had held the
town and fort before Helm came, and
she had not found them troublesome
under Abbott. She did not know that
NJ. Roussillon was prisoner the fam
lily taking it for granted that he had
gone away to avoid the English. Nor
was she aware that Hamilton felt so
keenly the disappearance of the flag.
her greatly-was that Beverley had
been well treated by his captor. With
this In her heart she went about Rous-
sillon place singing merry snatches OF
creole songs, and when at the gate,
which still hung lopsided on account
of Beverley's force in shutting it, she
came Unexpectedly face to face with
Captain Farnsworth, there was no
great surprise on her part.
He lifted his hat and bowed very
his somewhat ruddy face. He spoke
in French. but in drawing tone and
with a bad accent.
"How do you do, mademoiselle.
am right glad to see you again"
Alice drew back pace or two. She
was quick to understand his alluson,
and she shrank from him, fearing that
he was going to inquire about the flag
Don't be afraid" he laughed. II am
not so dangerous. l never did hurt a
girl in all my life. In fact, l am fond
of them when they're NICE
~ am not In the least afraid" she re-
piled, assuming an air of absolute dis
missal, land you don't look a bit Zero
cious, monsieur. You may pass on if
you please"
Suppose that l don't pass on?" he
presently ventured, with just suspi-
cion of insolence in his attitude, but