The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-04-12
CHAPTER Xxx

r ceived the note sent him by
- Colonel Clark and replied to 1t
with curt dignity; but his heart was
quaking. AS a soldier he was true to
the military tradition. and nothing
his command with dishonor.
Lieutenant Governor Hamilton" he
wrote to Clark, "begs leave to &C.
quaint Colonel Clark that he and his
garrison are not disposed to be awed
into any action unworthy Of British
subjects"
VERY brave words" said Helm,
when Hamilton read the note to him,
but you'll sing q milder tune before
many minutes, or you and your whole
garrison will perish in a bloody heap.
Listen to those wild yells! Clark has
enough men, to eat you all UP for
breakfast. You'd better be reason
able and prudent. It's not bravery to
court massacre"
Hamilton turned away without a
word and sent the message; but Helm
saw that he was excited, and could
be still further wrought UP.
You are playing into the hands Of
your bitterest enemies, the frog
eaters" he went on. These creoles,
over whom you've held a hot poker
all winter, are craig to be turned loose
upon you; and you know that they've
got good cause to feel like giving you
the extreme penalty. They'll give 1t
TO you without a finch II they get the
chance You've done enough"
Hamilton whirled about and glared
ferociously.
Helm, what do you mean?" he de-
manded IN a voice as hollow as 1t was
full of desperate passion
The genial Captain laughed, as IL he
had heard a good Joke.
You won't catch any fish II you
swear, and you look blasphemous, he
said with the lightness Of humor char
acteristic OF him at all times. You'd
better say a prayer or two. Just re-
fleet a moment upon the awful sins
you have committed and"
A crash of coalescing volleys from
every direction broke off his levity.
| Clark was sending his response to
Hamilton's lofty note. The guns OF
| freedom rang out a prophecy of
triumph, and the Kissing bullets
{
solid logs of the walls or whisked
| through an aperture and bowled over
| a man. The British musketeers re-
/ turned the fire as best they Gould, with
a courage and stubborn GOODNESS
which Helm openly admired, although
he could not hide his satisfaction
whenever one Of them was disabled.
"Lamothe and his men are refus-
| ing to obey orders" said Farnsworth
little later, hastily approaching
Hamilton, his face flushed and a CLEAN
Of hot anger in his eyes. They're in
! a nasty mood: can do nothing with
them; they have not fired a shot"
"Mutiny?" Hamilton demanded.
/ Not just that. They say they 10
not wish to fire on their kinsmen and
friends. They are all French, you
know, and they see their cousins,
brothers, uncles and old acquaintances
out there in Clark's rabble. can do
nothing with them"
Shoot the scoundrels. Them
1T will be a toss up which Of us
will come out on top if we try that.
Besides, If we begin a fight inside, the
Americans will make short work Of
US"
well, what in hell are we to do?"
"Oh, fight, that's ALL" said Farms
small loop-hole and levehng a field
glass through it. I'VE might make a
rush from the gates and stampede
them" he presently added. Then he
uttered an exclamation Of great sur
prise.
There's Lieutenant Beverley out
there" he exclaimed.
You're mistaken, you're excited"
Hamilton half sneeringly remarked,
yet not without a shade Of uneasiness
in his expression. You forget, sirF'
Look for yourself, it's easily set.
tied" and Farnsworth proffered the
glass. He's there. to a. certainty, Sir. I"
Il saw Beverley an hour ago. said
Helm. II knew all the time that he'd
be on hand"
It was a white lie. Captain Helm
was as much surprised as his captors
at what he heard; but he could not
resist the temptation to be annoying.
Hamilton looked as F'arnsforth d.
rected, and sure enough there was the
young Virginian Lieutenant, stan6ing
on a barricade, his hat Off, cheering
his men with a superb show Of zeal.
Not a hair of his head was missing,
so far as the glass; could be relied
upon to show.
Oncle Jazon's quick old eyes saw
the CLEAN of the telescope tube in the
loop-hole.
81 never could shoot much" he
muttered, and then a little bullet sped
with absolute accuracy from his dis
reputable looking rife and shattered
the object-lens, Just as Hamilton
moved to withdraw the glass, uttering
an ejaculation Of intense excitement.
Such devils OF marksmen" said he,
and his face was haggard. THAT in
ferna1 Indian lied"
Il could have told you all the time
that the scalp Long-Hair brought to
you was not Bevereley's," said Helm
indifferently. II recognized Lieuteu-
ant Barlow's hair as soon as !
saw it."
This was another piece Of off hand
romance. Helm did not dream that
he was accidentally sketching hor-
rible truth.
"Barlow's"' exclaimed Farnsworth.
Yes, Barlow's, no mistake"
Two more men reeled from a port
hole, the blood spinning far out of
their wounds. Indeed. through every
aperture IN the walls the bullets
were now humming like mad hornets.