Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1904-01-14
CHAPTER TX.
THE nosoRs or WAR.

NNssiuhy anu ~ ipiH uhtu W L lfl'n
missionaries and traders 20 control sav.
age character but the emergency now
upon him was startling II confused
him. The fact that he had taken n sol
emn oath OF allegiance 10 the American
government could have been pushed
aside lightly enough upon pressing =.
casion, but he knew that certain conn.
Dental agents left In vincennes by
Governor Abbott had, upon the arrival
Of Helm. gone 10 Detroit. and OF course
they had carried thither a full report
Of all that happened In the Church 81
NJ Xavier when Father Gibault call
ed the people together, and nj the fort
when che British flag was hauled down
and Ia bannicre d'Alice Roussillon run
NJ In Its place. His expansive lima gina.
tion did full credit Ia itself In eXagger.
aung the importance OF his part In
handing the post over 10 the rebels
And what would Hamilton think Of
thisi Would he consider II treasonl
The question certainly bore n tragic
suggestion.
NJ. Roussiilon lacked every thing OF
being q coward. and trca chcry had no
rightfui place In bis nature lie was
however. ~ In the habit OF flghting
windmiils and making mountains Of
molchills that he could not az FIRST
glance So any sudden presentment
with a normal vision. lie had no love
foe Englishmen. and he did like Amer
kans. but be- naturally thought that
Helms talk ~ hghting Hamilton was
AZ his own would have becn In a Ike
case. talk and nothing more The fort
couh not hold out an hour. be well
knew. Then WHAT All. he but too
veil rcahscd tho result
Rs@istance would innAme the English
soldiers and madden the Indians There
would u a MASSACRE. and the belts OF
savagcs would sag with bloody scalps.
lie shrugged his shoulders and felt
chill creep up bis bach.
The FIRST thing NJ Roussillon did was
60 see Father Bepst and take counsel OF
him. then he hurried home To dig a
great pit under his kitchen floor In
which he buried many bales OF fur and
all bis most valuable things lie work
~ like a giant beaver all night long.
Meantime Father Beret went about
over the town quietly notifying the In
habitants 90 remain I'm their houses un-
I'll after the fort should surrender.
which. he was SURF. would happen the
next day.
you VIII b. perfectly safe. my chill
drcn." he said 10 them. mo harm can
come 90 you II you follow my direc-
Mons"
Relying implicitly upon him. they
serupulousiy obeyed In every pnrticu-
lar.
lie did not think II necessary 10 call
a. Roussiiion place, having already
given NJ. Roussalion the best advice be
could command.
Just az the earliest break OF day,
while yet the gloom OF night scarcely
felt tbe suns approach, huge figure
made haste along the narrow streets In
the northern part OF the town. II any
psrson had been looking out through
the little holes called windows In those
silent and rayhss huts II would have
bis stature and his gait. dimly outlined
~ bs was. A thought which seemed Co
him an inspiration OF genius had taken
possession OF him and was leading him
80 II by tho nose straight away Ia Ham
nton's lines. lie was frcighted with ell
oquence for tho, ear of.that commander,
AMI as he strDde along facing the crisp
morning air he was rehcarsing under
his breath. emphasizing his periods In
tragic Whispers with sweeping gestures
and liberal facinl contortlons. So alb
sorbed was he I'm his oratorical solilo-
guy that.hs forgot due military precau-
ton ond ran plump into the face OF n
savage picket guard. who, without re-
sIat for the great NJ Roussillon's dig
nifty, sprang up before him, grunted
enormously nourtshed tomahawk
and spoke In excellent and exceedingly
cultural Indian:
"wah, sufrendari"
II N probable that no man ever com
pied with a modest request In n more
dociie spirit than did NJ. Roussllon
upon that occasion. In fact, his
promptneas must have been admirable
Cor tho savage grunted approval and
ptraightway conducted him 10 Hamil-
toms headquarters ON batteau In the
river
The British commander. a hale man
us sandy complexion and probably TN
der middle age. was In no very pleas
ant humor. aorns Of his orders had
been misunderstood by the chief of his
Indian ailias so mat premature ex-
posure Of big approrch' had been made
70 the enemy.
swell, sir. who ara your" he grufiiy
H1dcd when NJ. Roussillon doomed
| ~ him
n Gasnesd 'Ronsstllon the mayor
s.cennes" was .ths! bufty reply. Il
fcome TO announce 70 you officially
hat my people greet you loyalty and
mat my town ia fycsfy at your COM
nand." He felt az Important ms IL his
rtatsmsnts had been tsue.
.Humphi rhssf' sbsss IT.. Val,