Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-08-25
CHAPTER Xxx.
.rycr,z ~

vi
curt dignity, but his heart was
quaking. AS soldier he was true to
the military tradition, and nothing
could have induced him to surrender
his command with dishonor.
Lieutenant Governor Hamilton" he
wrote to Clark, "begs leave to acquaint
Colonel Clark that he and his garrison
are not disposed to be awed into any
action unworthy of British subjects"
Every brave words said Helm when
Hamilton read the note to him, but
You'll sing a milder tune before many
minutes or you and your whole gar
rison will perish in bloody heap.
Listen to those wild yells. Clark has
enough men to eat you all up for break
fast. You'd better be reasonable and
prudent. It's not bravery to court mas
sacre.'
Hamilton turned away without
word and sent the message, but Helm
saw that he was excited and could be
still further wrought up.
''You are playing into the hands Of
your bitterest enemies, the frog eat
ers," he went on. "Thesc creoles, over
whom you've held hot poker all win
ter, are crazy to be turned loose upon
you, and you know that they've got
good cause to feel like giving you the
extreme penalty. They'll give it to
you without a finch IL they get the
chance. You've done enough"
Hamilton whirled about and glared
ferociously.
tfTTa1p1 xyhat Ia ~ no fIn-
manded in a voice as hollow as it was
full Of desperate passion.
The genial captain laughed as If he
had heard a good joke.
You won't catch any fish If you
swear, and you look blasphemous," he
said with the lightness of humor char
acteristic of him at all times. you'd
hetter say a prayer or two. Just re-
feet moment upon tne awful Sfny
you have committed and
A crash of coalescing volleys from
every direction broke Off his levity.
Clark was sending his response to
Hamilton's lofty note The guns Of
freedom rang out n prophecy of tri-
umph, and the kissing bullets clucked
sharply as they entered the solid logs
of the walls or whisked through an
aperture and bowled over man. The
British muskeeters returned the fire
as best they could, with courage and
a stubborn cooiness which Helm open
ly admired, although he could not hide
his satisfaction whenever one of them
was disabled.
'"Lamothe and his men are refusing
- IN
tie later, hastily approaching Hamll-
ton, his face flushed and n gleam Of
hot anger in his eyes. They're in a
nasty mood. / can do nothing with
them. They have not fired shot"
"Mutinyr' Hamilton demanded.
"Not just that. They say they do
not wish to fire on their kinsmen and
friends. They are all French, you
know, and they see their cousins, broth
ers, uncles and old acquaintances out
there in Clark's rabble. can do moth
ing with them"
"Shoot the scoundrels thenp
"It will be toss up which of us
will come out on top IL we try that
Besides, IL we begin fight inside, the
Americans will make short work of
u.s."
swell, what are we to do, then?"
"Oh, fight, that's ALL" said Farms
worth alphabetically, turning to a small
loophole and leveling q field glass
through 1t. 1--WE might make rush
1 from the gates and stampede them,"
| he presently added. Then he uttered
an exclamation Of great surprise.
There's Lieutenant Beverley out
there" he exclaimed.
you're mistaken; you're excited"
| Hamilton half sneeringly remarked,
! yet not without shade of uneasiness
In his expression. You forget, sir"
Look for yourself. It's easily set
| tied" And Farnsworth profered the
glass. Hes there, to certainty, SIR"
/, II saw Beverley an hour ago." said
Helm. 81 knew all the time that he'd
be on hand"
1t was n white lie. Captain Helm
was as much surprised as his captors
at what he heard, but he could not re-
sist the temptation to be annoying.
Hamilton looked as FarnsEorth d.
rected, and, sure enough, there was
the young Virglnian lieutenant stand
ing on barricade, his hat off, cheer
| ing his men with superb show of
zeal. Not hair of his head was miss
Ing, SO far as the glass could be relied
upon to show.
Oncle Jazon's quick old eyes saw the
CLEAN of the telescope tube In the loop
hole.
~ never could shoot much," he NUT
tered, and then a little bullet sped
with absolute accuracy from his dis
reputable looking rife and shattered
the object lens just as Hamilton moved
to withdraw the glass. uttering an
| ejaculation OF intense excitement.
"Such devils of marksmenv' said he,
and his face was haggard. THAT in
fernal Indian lied"
~ could have told you all the time
that the scalp Long Hair brought to
you was not Bever!ey's," said Helm
indifferently, II recognized Lieuten-
ant Barlow's hair as soon as | saw II"
This was another piece OF oifhand
romance, Helm did not dream that
he was accidentally sketchlng a horrl.
BILE truth.
| "Barl0W ~" exclaimed farnSWofth.
eyes, Barlow's, no mlstake"-
Two more men reeled from port
hole, the blood spinning TAR out OF
their wounds, Indeed, through every
aperture In the walls the bullets were
now humming like mad hornets.
"Close that portholev stormed Ham
ilton. Then turning 10 Farnsworth he
added: eve cannot endure Tits long
Shut up every place large enough for
q bullet 10 get through. Go all around,
give strict orders TO all. See that the
men do not foolishly expose them
selves. Those rufiians out there have
located every crack"
His glimpse OF Beverley and the
sinister remark Of Helm had CAM
pletely unnamed him before his msr
fell Now II rushed upon him that IL
he would escape the wrath of the mad
dened creoles and the vengeance OF
Alice's lover he must quickly throw
himself upon the mercy OF Clark. 1t
was his only hope. He chafed In
wardIy, but bore himself with stern
coolness, He presently sought Farms
worth, pulled him aside and suggested
that something must be- done 10 pre-
vent an assault and a massacre. The