Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-03-11
CHAPTER XXI.
SOME TRANSACTIONS IN SCALP,

ly romantic at every turn If the novel
lists were able to control its current
Fortunately neither one nor the other
has much influence, and the result in
the long run Is that most novels are
shockingly tame, while the large body
of history is loaded down with plctur-
esque incidents which if used in fiction
would be thought absurdly romantic
and improbable.
Were our simple story of old Vim
cennes mere fiction we should hest
tate to bring in the explosion of mag
azine at the fort with a view to sud
den confusion and by that means dis
tracing attention from our heroine
while she betakes herself out of a sit
uatiOn which, although delightful
enough for blessed minute, has quick
ly become an embarrassment quite I'M
endurable. But we simply adhere to
the established facts in history. Ow-
ing to some carelessness there was in
deed an explosion Of twenty-six {
pound cartridges, which made a mighty
roar and struck the newly installed
garrison into heap, so to say, scatter
ing things terribly and wounding six
men, among them Captains Bowman
and Worthington.
After the thunderous crash came a
momentary silence, which embraced
both the people within the fort and the
wild crowd outside. Then the rush
and noise were indescribable. Even
Clark gave way to excitement, losing
command of himself and of course of
his men. There was a stampede to-
ward the main gate by one wing of the
troops In the hollow square. They lit
orally ran over Beverley and Alice,
flinging them apart and jostling them
hither and yonder without mercy. OF
course the turmoil quickly subsidized.
Clark and Beverley got hold of them.
selves and sang out their peremptory
orders with excellent effect 1t was
like oil on raging water. The men
obeyed in a struggling way, getting
back into ranks as best they could.
"Ventrebleu"' sQueaked Oncle Jazon.
"Ef l didn't think the ole world had
busted into a million pieces"
He was jumping up and down not
three feet from Beverley's toes, waving
his cap eXcitedly.
But wasn't I skeert! va, va, va.
Vive la banniere d'Alice Roussillon!
Vive Zhorzh Vasintonv'
Hearing Alice's name caused Bever-
ley to look around. Where was she?
In the distance he saw Father Beret
hurrying to the spot where some of the
men burned and wounded by the ex-
plosion were being stripped and cared
for. Hamilton still stood like a statue.
He appeared to be the only cool person
In the fort.
where Is Alice - Miss Roussillon ?
Where did Miss Roussillon go? Bev-
erley exclaimed. staring around like a
lost man. "Where is sher'
"D'know," said Oncle Jazon. resum.
ing his habitual expression Of droll dig.
nifty. "She shot apast me jes' as tibet
thing busted loose, an she went like er
hummin' bird skitch-jes' tibet way
an 1 didn't see 'er no more, cause
was skeert mighty nigh inter seven fits;
'spect that 'splosion blowed her clean
away? Ventrebleu! Never was 90
plum outen breath an dead crazy weak
O. bein' afeard"
Lieutenant Beverley" roared Clark
In his most commanding tone, "go to
the gate and settle things there! Thai
mob outside is trying to break in!'
The order was instantly obeyed, but
Beverley had relapsed. Once more his
soul CROPPED in darkness while the
whole Of his life seemed unreal, a wav-
ering, misty, hollow dream. And yet
his military duty was all real enough
He knew just what to do when he
reached the gate.
Back there at oncew he command
ed, not loudly, but with intense force,
back there" This to the inward surg.
ing wedge Of excited outsiders. Then
to the guard:
"Shoot the first man who crosses the
linew
"Ziff! me voici! Moi! Gaspard Rous-
sillon. Laissez-moi passer, messieurs.'
A great body hurled itself frantically
past Beverley and the guard, going out
through the gateway against the wall
Of the crowd, bearing everything be.
fore 1t and shouting:
Back, fools! You'll all be killed. The
powder is on fire! Ziff! Run"
Wild as a March hare, he bristled
with terror and foamed at the mouth
He stampeded the entire mass. There
was a wild howl, a rush in the other
! direction followed, and soon enough
the esplanade and all the space back tc
the barricades and beyond were quite
deserted.
Alice was not aware that a serious
accident had happened. Naturally she
thought the great, rafting, crashing
noise of the explosion a mere part OF
the spectacular show. When the rush
followed, separating her and Beverley
1t was a great relief to her In some
way, for sudden recognition of the
boldness of her action in the little scene