Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-03-23

beverley submitted 10 NlHrk plan
with what patience he could, and all
night long fred shot for shot with the
best riflemen in his squad 1t was a
fatiguing performance, with apparent
~ little result beyond forcing the garri.
son now and again to close the EN-
brasures, thus periodically silencing
the cannon. Toward the close Of the
shouting and firing all round the line
Beverley's men, especially the creoles,
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 a rude fence
and for time neglected to reload his
hot rifle. OF course he was thinking of
Alice-he really could not think in any
other direction; but it gave him shock
and start when he presently heard
her name mentioned by little French
man near him on the left.
"There III never be another such a
girl in Post Vincennes as Alice Roussil-
lon," the fellow said in the soft creole
patois. "And to think Of her being shot
like dog"'
"And by man who calls himself a
governor, too," said another. "Ah, as
for myself I'm in favor of burning him
| alive when we capture him. That's
me.''
EFT moi aussi," chimed in third
voice. THAT poor girl must be aveng-
ed. The man who shot her must die.
Holy Virgin, but if Gaspard Roussillon
were only here!'
dark. He was in great fighting temper,
that terrible man. OUT, but should
not like to be Colonel Hamilton and
fall in the way of that Gaspard Rous.
sillon!'
~Morbleu! l should say not You
may leave me out OF chance like that.
I 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 q groan, which
brought Oncle Jazon to his side in a
hurry.
"Qu' avez-vous? What's the matter?"
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, Alice" he murmured. Dead,
dead!'
"Ya-as," drawled Oncle Jazon. 6"
hearn about it soon as got inter town.
It's sorry thing, q mighty sorry thing.
But mebby l won't do q little somepin'
to that
Beverley Strengthened himself and
lifted his gun, forgetting that he had
not reloaded it since firing last. He
leveled it at tue fort and touched the
trigger. simultaneously with his
movement an cmbrasure opened and d
cannon flashed, its roar flanked on Ell
ther side by cracking of British mus
kets. Some bullets struck the fence
and flung splinters into Oncle Jazon's
face. A cannon ball knocked a ridge.
pole from the roof of house hard by
and sent it whirling through the air.
"Ventrebleu-et apres? What next
Better knock feller's eyes outr' thu
old man cried. II amt a-doin' nothin
to ye!'
He capered around rubbing his
leathery face after the manner of 8
scaldcd monkey. Beverley was struck
in the breast by fattened and spen
ball that glanced from a fence picket
The shock caused him to stagger ant
drop his gun, but he quickly picked i
up and turned to his companion.
care you hurt, Oncle JazonT' he in
Quired. Are you hurtT
mot bit; jes' skeert mos into
duck fit. Thought cannon ball ha>
knocked my whole dang face dow
my throat! Nothin' but a handful q
splinters in my poorly continuance
maxim my head feel like a porcpine
Put sort O thought heard somepin
give you diff"
something did hit me-" said Beve1
ley, laying a hand on his breast, 'bu
o I don't think 1t was q bullet. The
seem to be getting our range at las>
|, Tell the men to keep we'll under cover
d They must not expose themselves unit
8 we are ready to charge"
?. The shock had brought him back t
8 his duty as leader of his little CON
n pany. and with the funeral bell of a.
= bis life's happiness tolling in his age
nized heart he turned afresh to direc,
o ing the fire upon the blockhousc.
:. About this time runner came fro1
II Clark with an order to cease firing an
J.. let returning party of British scout
= under Captain Lamothe re-enter til
e fort unframed. A strange order !
e seemed to both officers and men, bu
1t was implicitly obeyed. Clarks geniu
l. here made another fine strategic fasl
l. he knew that unless he let the scout
- 60 back into the stockade they woul
escape by running away, and NIGH
possibly organize an army Of Indian
with which to succor Hamilton. Br
If they were permitted to go insid
they could be captured with the, REF
Of the garrison. Hence his order.
A few minutes passed in dead 8
, lence. Then Captain Lamothe and hi
- party marched close by where Beve
ley's squad was lying concealed.
was difficult task to restrain the or,
oles for some of them hated I.amoth
Oncle Jazon squirmed like a snak
while they filed past all unaware tn:
an enemy lurked so near. When the
! r10chp1 the fort ladders uoro n,