Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-03-10
!coNT1NuED.1
BY MAURICE

VIZ Id Ultillle. iii.
He kicked in the door and CROPPED his
way to the liquors. While he hastily
swigged and smacked he heard the
firing begin with cracking, desultory
volley. He laughed jovially there in
the dark, between drafts and deep
signs of enjoyment.
"Et moi aussi," he nurmured, like
the vast nurmur of the sea, II want
to be in that dance! Pardonnez mes
sieurs. Moi, je veux danser. Sill vous
plat"
And when he had filled himself he
plunged out and rushed away, wrought
up to the extreme fighting pitch of
temper. Diable! If he could but come
across that Lieutenant Barlow, how he
would smash him and mangle him! In
magnifying his prowess with the lens
Of Imagination he swelled and pulled
as he numbered along.
The firing sounded as If it were be-
tween the fort and the river, but pres
emily when one Of Hamilton's cannon
spoke NJ. Roussillon saw the yellow
spike of flame from Its muzzle leap
directly toward the church, and he
thought it best to make wide detour
to 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 man
hurrying toward the fort. 1t was
Captain Francis jacksonville. one Of
Hamilton's chief scouts, who had been
out on a reconnaissance and, cut off
from his party by some of Clark's
forces, was trying to make his way to
the main gate Of the stockade.
NJ. Roussillon knew jacksonville as Il
somewhat desperate character. lead
er of Indian forays and trader in
human scalps. Surely the fellow was
legitimate prey.
"Ziff! Diable de gredin!" he snaried.
and leaping upon him choked him to
the ground. "Je vais vous scalper i'm
mediatement!'
Clark's plan Of approach showed
mastery strategy. Lieutenant Bailey.
with fourteen regulars, made Il show
of attack on the east, while Major
Bowman led q company through the
town, on line near where Main street
in Vincennes is now located, to point
north Of the stockade. Charleville, 81
brave creole, who was at the head of
some daring fellows, by a brilliant
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, was
sent to look for a supply of ammuni-
ton and to gather up all the French
men in the town who wished to join in
the attack. Oncle Jazon and ten other
available men went with him.
They all made a great noise when
they felt that the place was completely
invested. Nor can we deny, much as
we would like to, the strong desire for
vengeance which raised those shouting
voices and nerved those steady hearts
to do or die in an undertaking which
certainly had a desperate look. The
thought was tremendously stimulat-
ing.
Beverley, with the aid of Oncle Ja-
zon, was able to lead his little company
as far as the church before the enemy
saw him. Here volley from the near
est angle Of the stockade had to be an
swered, and pretty soon cannon be-
gan to play upon the position.
1--WE kin do better some'rs else," was
Oncle Jazon's laconic remark, flung
back over his shoulder as he moved
briskly away from the spot just swept
by 6 FOUNDER. Come this yer way,
lieutenant. I hyer some O. the fellers
a-talkin' loud jes' beyant Legrace's
place. They amt no sort O. sense AIRY
in to hit anything a-shootin' in the
dark nohow."
When they reached the thick Of the
town there was strange stir in the
dusky streets. Men were slipping from
house to house, arming themselves and
Joining their neighbors. Clark had
sent an order earlier in the evening
forbidding any street demonstration by
the Inhabitants, but he might as we'll
have ordered the wind not to blow or
the river to stand still. Oncle Jazon
knew every man whose outlines he
could see or whose voice he heard. He
tailed each one by name:
"Here, Roger, fall in. Come, Louis.
Alphonse, Victor, Octave-venez lei,
here's the American army. come with
mev' His rapid French phrases leaped
forth as if shot from a pistol, and his
shrill voice, familiar to every ear in
Vincennes, drew the creole militiamen
to him, and soon Beverley's company
had doubled its numbers, while at the
same time its enthusiasm and ability
to make noise had increased in q far
greater proportion. In accordance with
an order from Clark they now took po-
eiton near the northeast corner of the
stockade and began firing, although
IN the darkness there was but little op-
portunity for craftsmanship.
Oncle Jazon had found Citizens L.
grace and Bosseron, and through them
Clark's men were supplied with am
inunition, Of which they stood greatly
IN need, their powder having got wet
during their long watery march. BY
8 o'clock the fort was completely
surrounded. and from every direction