Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-12-15

1
but i!.cir poor wives and daughters
all. have seen. have seen!
i;Avrrl,y felt pang of terror shoot
throuih his heart as Father Berets
sn.nlc words made him think of Alice
| IN ccrlcc.ion with the Indian massacre.
"Cf cuurs,. of course it's horrible to
thin. ci." said Helm. "bnt my duty Is
clclr. III! ;l.at flag he pointed to
wi;,l.. Ia aun::iere d'Alice Roussillon
was almost blowing away In the cold
| wini-"that flag shall not come down
saw in full honor"
HIS speech sounded prepOsterously
boastful and hollow. but he was man
fully in earnest. Every word came
from his brave heart.
Father Brret's grim smile returned,
lighting up his strongly marked face
with the strangest expression imagina-
BILE.
"We will get all the women inside the
fort" Helm began to say.
"Where the Indians will find them
ready penned up and at their mercy
quickly interpolated the priest. THAT
will not do"
"Well. then. what can be done?" Bev-
erley demanded. turning with a fierce
stare upon Father Beret. Don't stand
there objecting to everything, with moi
suggestion of your own to offer"
Il know what is best for my people"
the old man replied softly, still smil-
ing. Il have advised them to stay in
side their houses and take no part in
the military event 1t is the only hope
of averting an indiscriminate massacre
and things worse
The curt phrase, things worse"
went like bullet stroke through Bev-
erley's heart. 1t flashed an awful pic.
ture upon his vision. Father Beret saw
his face whiten and his lips set them
selves to resist great emotion.
do not be angry with me, my son"
he said, laying Il hand on the young
mans arm. IL may be wrong, but |
act upon long and convincing expert
ence."
Experience or 10 experience" Helm
exclaimed. with an oath, this fort
must be manned and defended. am
commanding l.ere!''
.'Yes. | recognize your authority re-
sponded the priest in firm yet defer
entail tone. "and | heartily wish you
had a garrison. But where is your COM
mand, Captain Heinz
where is my garrison, you ask! Yes,
and can tell you. It's where you
might expect gang Of dad blasted
jabbering French good for nOthings
to he, off high gannicking around
shooting buffaloes instead Of staying
here and defending their wives. chill
dren, homes and country. The few
have in the fort will sneak off. sup
pose"
The French gave you this post on
easy terms. captain" blandly retorted
Father Beret.
"Ycs, and they'll hand it over 10
Hamilton, you think, on the same
basis" cried Helm. but I'll show YOU.
III show you, Mr.. Priest!'
Pardon me, captain. The French are
loyal to you and to the flag yOnder.
They have sworn it. Time will prove
It, But in the present desperate di!cai-
MA we must choose the safer horn
Saying this Father Beret turned
about and went his way. He was
chuckling heartily as he passed out Of
the gate.
HE is right" said Beverley after
few moments of reflection, during
which he was wholly occupied with
Alice, whose terrified face in his an
ticipation appealed to him from the
midst of bowling savages, smoking
cabins and mangled victims of lust and
massacre. His imagination painted the
scene with merciless realism that
chilled his blood. All the sweet ro-
nance fell away from Vincennes.
well, sir, right or wrong, your duty
is to obey orders" said Helm with bru-
tai severity.
I'VE had better not quarrel, cap
tain" Beverley replied. II have not
signitied any unwillingness to obey
Your commands. Give them, and you
will have no cause to grumble"
"Forgive me- old felloww cried the
impulsive commander II know you
are true as steel. s'pOse I'm wound
up too tight to be polite. But the time
is coming to do something Here we
are with but five or six mem
He was interrupted by the arrival Of
two more half breed scouts.
Only three miles away was a large
totilla Of boats and canoes with can
non, a force Of Indians on land and
the British flag Aying-that was the
report.
.They are moving rapidly" said the
spokesman, land will be here very
soon. They are a: least 600 strong, all
well armed"
"Push that gun to the gate and load
| II to the muzle, Lieutenant Beverley
Helm ordered with admirable firm
ness, the purple flush in his face giving
L
way to a grayish pallor. 1--WE are 60
ing to die right here or have the hon.
ors of war"
Beverley obeyed without word. He
even loaded two guns instead OF one,
charging each so heavily that the last
wad looked as If ready to leap from
the grimy mouth.
Helm had already begun, on receiv'
ing the first report, hasty letter 10
| Colonel Clark at Kaskaskia. He no"
added few words and at the last mo-
ment sent it out by trusted man, who
was promptly captured by Hamilton's
advance guard. The missive, evident'
" written in installments during the
slow approach of the British, is still III
the Canadian archives. and runs thus
Dear Sr-At this time there Is an army
within three miles of this place; 1 heare
of their coming several days beforehand
| I sent spies to find the certainty-the spies
| haino taken nrisnper ] reve" get inteiii'