Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-11-28

signiied any unwil1ingness to- obeY
your commands. Give them, and you
will have no cause to grumbIe."
Forgive me, old fellow!' cried the
impulsive commander. II know you
are true as steel. I 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 men,
He was interrupted by the arrival Of
two more half breed scouts.
Only three miles away was large
hotilla Of boats and canoes with can
non, force of Indians on land and
the British 1ag fying-that was the
report. 4.
"They are moving rapidly said the
spokesman, "and will be here very
soon. They are at least 600 strong, all
we'll armed"
push that gun to the 1Ete and load
it to the muzzle, Lieutenant Beverley"
Helm ordered with admirable Arm-
ness, the purple flush in his face giving
way to a grayish pallor. 1--WE are go
ing to die right here orlhave 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 bad already begun, on receiy-
ing the first report, hasty letter to
Colonel Clark at Kaskaskia. He now
added a 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 instal!ments during the
slow approach of the British, is still in
the Canadian archives, and runs thus
Dear sir-At this time there is an army
within three miles of this place; heard
Of their coming several days beforehand.
I sent spies to find the certainty-the spies
being taken prisoner I never got intelli-
gence till they got within threeA'miles OF
town. AS had called the militia and had
all assurances Of their integrity I ordered
at the firing of a cannon every man to
appear, but I saw but few. Captain
Buseron behaved much to his honor and
credit. but I doubt the conduct of a GER
tain gent. Excuse haste, as the army is
in sight My determination is to defend
the garrison, (sic) though I have but .
twenty-one men but what has left me. +
refer you to Mr.. Vines (sic) for the rest.
The army is within three hundred yards
Of the village. You must think ho~
feel: not four men that 1 really depend
upon; but am determined to act brave
think Of my condition. I know it is out Of
my power to defend the town, as not ono
Of the militia will take arms, though be-
fore sight of the army no drawer men.
There is a flag at small distance Z
A1Yef0 1I,,14
LEOD HELM.
Must stop.
TO Colonel Clark
Having completed this task, the let
ter shows Under what nervous strain.
Helm turned to his lieutenant and
said:
Fire swivel with blank charge.
Well give these weak kneed parlyvoos,
one more call to duty. OF course not a
frog eater Of them all will come. But
l said that gun should be the signal
Possibly they didn't hear the first one
the deaf, cowardly hounds!'
Beverley wheeled forth the swivel
and rammed a charge of powder home.
But when he fired it the effect was far
from what it should have been. = In-
stead of calling in fresh body of mill
tia it actually drove out the few who
up to that moment had remained as q
garrison, so that Captain Helm and
his lieutenant found themselves quite
alone in the fort, while out before the
gate, deployed in fine open order, q
strong line Of British soldiers ap-
preached with sturdy steps, led by a
tall, erect, ruddy faced young officer.
fro BE CONTINUED