Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-01-23

brasures, thus periodically silencing
the cannon. Toward the close OF the
night a relaxation showed itself IN the
shouting and firing all round the line
Beverley's men, especially the creolea,
held out bravely In the matter OF noise.
but even they tagged at length. their
volatility simmering down to desultOry
bubbling and half sleepy chattering
and chatting.
Beverley leaned upon rude fence
and for time neglected to reload his
hot rife. OF course he was thinking Of
Alice-he really could not think in any
other direction; but 1t gave him a shock
and a start when he presently heard
her name mentioned by a little French
man near him on the left.
"There II never be another such n
girl in Post vincennes as Alice Roussil-
on the fellow said in the soft creole
patols. "And to think of her being shot
like dogw
'And by a man who calls himself a
governor, too" said another. "Ah, as
sor myself. I'm In favor Of burning him
alive when we capture him. That's
me-"
"Et moi aussi," chimed In a third
voice. "That poor girl must be aveng-
ed. The man who shot her must die.
Holy Virgin, but If Gaspard RoussllloD
were only hereP'
"But he Is here. l saw him Just after
dark. He was In great fighting temper
that terrible man. 0uf, but should
not like to be Colonel Hamilton ant
fall in the way Of that Gaspard Rous
sillonw
"Morbieu! I should say not. You
may leave me out OF a chance like that.
shouldn't mind seeing Gaspard handle
the governor though. All, that would
be too good! He'd pay him up for
shooting Mile. Alice"
Beverley could scarcely hold himself
erect by the fence. The smoky, foggy
landscape swan round him heavy and
strange. He uttered groan, which
brought Oncle Jazon to his side In
hurry.
"Qu' avez-vous? What's the matterT'
the old man demanded with quick sym
pathy. "Hev they hit ye? Lieutenant
air We hurt much"
Beverley did not hear the old mans
words, did not feel his kindly touch.
"Alice, Alicer he murmured. Dead,
deadr
"Ya-as," drawled Oncle Jazon. II
hearn about It soon as got inter town.
It's a sorry thing, mighty sorry thing.
But mebby won't do little somepin'
to that
Beverley Strengthened himself and
lifted his gun, forgetting that he had
not reloaded II since firing last He
leveled II at the fort and touched the
trigger simultaneously with his
movement an cmbrasure opened and a
cannon flashed, it's roar fanked on ei-
ther side by Il cracking Of British mus
kets. Some bullets struck the fence
and flung splinters into Oncle JaEon'a
face A cannon ball knocked a ridge.
pole from the roof OF house hard by
and sent It whlrling through the air.
"Ventrebleu-et apres? What next
Better knock feller's eyes outr' thu
old man cried. II amt a-doin nothin
TO yer
He capered around rubbing bis
leathery face after the manner OF q
scalded monkey. Beverley was struck
In the breast by fiattened and spent
ball that glanced from a fence picket
The shock caused him 10 stagger and
drop his gun, but he quickly picked Il
up and turned TO bis companion.
"Are you hurt, onele JazOnT he In
quired. Are you hurtf"
"Not a bit; jes' skeert mos into Q
duck ht. Thought q cannon ball had
knocked my whole dang face down
my throatl Nothin' but a handful o
splinters In my pOoty count'nAnce
maxim my head feel like a pOrc'pine
But sort o. thought heard somepin
give you a diff"
Something did hit me-" said Beyer
ley, laying Il hand on his breast "but
don't think II was a bullet They
seem to be getting our range at last
Tell the men to keep we'll under cover
They must not expose themselves until
we are ready 10 charge"
The shock had brought him back "a
his duty as a leader Of his little com
pany and with the funeral bell OF all
his lifes happiness tolling In his ago.
nized heart he turned afresh to direct
ing the fire upon the blOckhOuse.
About this time a runner came from
Clark with an order to cease firing and
let a returning party OF British scouts
under Captain Lamothe re.enter the
fort unharmed. A strange order II
seemed 10 both officers and men, but
II was implicitly obeyed. Clark's genius
here made another fine strategic fash.
He knew that unless he let the scouts
go back into the stockade they would
escape by running away, and might
possibly organize an army OF Indians
with which 10 succor Hamilton. But
II they were permitted TO go inside
they could be captured with the rest
OF the garrison. Hence his order.
A few minutes passed In dead 81
lence. Then Captain Lamothe and his
party marched close by where Bever'