Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1904-04-21


cause Of freedom; moreover, they cor
daily hated Hamilton. and their hearts
beat high at the prospect Of change
in masters at the fort. Every cabin
had its hidden gun and supply OF am
munition despite the order TO disarm
issued 10y Hamilton. There was
hustling TO bring these forth. which
was accompanied with guarded yet
irreprcssible chattering, delightfully."-
French and infinitely volatile.
"Tiens. Je vais frotter mon fusil! Jai
WI TN singer said Jacques Bourcier to
his daughter, the pretty Adrienne, who
was coming out OF the room in which
Alice lay.
II saw a monkey just now. I must
rub up my gum lie could not be
solemn. not he. The thought of an OPP
portunity TO get even with Hamilton
was like wine In his blood.
II you had seen those hardy and
sinowy Frcnchmcn gliding In the dusk
of evening from cottage TO cottage,
passing the word that the Americans
had arrived. saying airy things and
pinching one another a. they met and
hurried on, you would have thought
something very amusing and wholly
jocund was I'm preparation for the peo-
pie Of Nincenncs.
There wac current belief I'm the
town TINT Gnspard Roussillon never
missed II good thing and always some
how got the lions share. He went out
with the ebb 20 return on the flood.
Nobody was surprised. therefore, when
he suddenly appeared I'm the midst OF
his friends. armed Co the teeth and
cmotlonnlly warlikc TO suit the occa-
sion. OF course he took charge OF ev-
erybody and everything. You could
have heard him whisper a bow shot
away.
"Tnisons" he Kissed whenever he
met an acquaintance. I'VE VIII sur
prise the fort and scalp the whole gar
rison Aux arines. Les Americans
viennent d'arriver"
At his own house he knocked and
| called In vain. lie shook the door VIC
| lcntly. for he was thinking OF the stores
under the floor. OF the grimy bottles,
| Of the fragrant bordeaux All. his
| throat. how IL throbbed But where
was Nine RoussillonI Where was
! Allcc7 Jean, Jenn." he cried, forget
ting all precaution Come here, you
scamp. and let me I'm this minute"
A profoundly impressive silence gave
him 60 understand that his home was
deserted.
Chit, Frightened and gone to stay
with Nine. Goderc. suppose. and so
| thirsty! Bah! Hum. hum. Apres 10
Vim In batnille. ZiI"
lie kicked In the door and CROPPED his
way To the liquors. While he hastily
swiggcd and smacked he heard the
firing begin with cracking. dcsultory
vollcy. lie laughed jovially there In
the dark. between drafts and deep
signs OF enjoyment
EFT moi aussi," he murmured, Ike
the vast murmur OF the sea, II want
20 be In that dance. Pardonnez mes
sicurs. Moi. je veux danscr, sill vous
plat"
And when he had filled himself he
plunged out and rushed away. wrought
up 10 the extreme fighting pitch OF
temper. Diable. IL lac could but come
across that Lieutenant Barlow. how he
would smash him and manglc him, In
mngnifylng his prowcss with the hens
~ Imagination he swellcd and pulled
as he numbered along.
The firing sounded rs II II were be
tween the fort and the river, hut pres
emily when one of Hamilton's cannon
spoke NJ Roussillon saw the yellow
spike Of flame from It's muzzle leaT
directly toward the church. and he
thought II best To make wide detoui
10 avoid going between the firing lines
Once or twice he heard the whine OF
stray bullet high overhead. Before
he had gone very far he met n mar
hurrying toward the fort. II was
Captain Francis Maisonyillc, one OF
Hamlltons chief scouts who had beer
out on n reconnaissance and. cut on
from his party 10y some OF Clark''
forces. was trying 10 make his way tC
the main gate OF the stockadc.
NJ Roussillon knew jacksonville as 9
somewhat desperate character, lead
or OF Indian forays and q trader II
human scalps. Surely the fellow was
legitimate prey.
"Zinl Diablc do gredin!' ne snarled
and lcnping upon him choked him tC
the ground "Je vais vous scalpcr i'm
mcdiatement!'
Clark's plan OF approach showed
mastery strategy. Lieutenant Bailey
with fourteen regulars. made show
Of attack on the east. while MaJo
Bowman led n company through th'
town on n line near where Main stree
I'm Nincennes Is now located. TO n poin
north of the stockAde. Charlcville,
brave creole, who was nj the head o
some daring fellows, 10y n brillian
dash got position under cover of nat
ural terrace at the edge Of the prairie
opposite the forts southwestern angle
Lieutenant Beverley, In whom the com
mander placed highest confidence, wa
sent 10 look for n supply of ammunl
ton and to gather up Hll the French
f,pn In the town who wished TO Join ii