The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-04-10

feet and staring.
Gentlemen" said Helm, with an
impressive oath, ''that~is Clark's sol
diers. and they will take your fort;
but they ought not to have spoiled this
apple, today
oh, the devilr' said Hamilton, for
chilly resuming a calm countenance,
IT is only a squad Of drunken In
dams coming in. Wen forego excite
ment; there's no battle on hand, gen.
tlemen."
I'm glad you think so. Governor
Hamilton" Helm responded, but 1
should imagine that ought to know
the crack of a Kentucky rife. I've
heard one occasionally in my life.
Besides, got a Whit Of freedom just
now"
Captain Helm is right" observed
Farnsworth. THAT Is an attack
Another volley this time nearer
and more concentrated, convinced
Hamilton that he was, indeed, at tho
opening Of q fight. Even while he was
giving some hurried orders to his
officers, a man was wounded at one
Of the port holes. Then came a series
Of yells, answered by a ripple OF
sympathetic French shouting that
ran throughout the town. The patrol
guards came struggling in. breath
less with excitement. They swore to
having seen a thousand men march.
ing across the water-covered meadows.
Hamilton was brave. The approach
Of danger stirred him like a trumpet
strain. His fighting blood rose to full
tide. and he gave his orders with the
steadiness and commanding force of
born soldier. The officers fastened to
their respective positions. On all sides
sounds indicative of rapid prepare
tons for the fight mingled into a con-
fused strain of military energy. Men
marched to their places; cannon were
wheeled into position, and soon
enough the firing begun in good
earnest.
Late in the afternoon a rumor OF
CIark's approach had gone abroad
through the village; but not a French
Sip breathed It to a friend of the
British. The creoIes were loyal to the
cause of freedom: moreover, they cor
daily hated Hamilton. and their
hearts beat high at the prospect Of a
change in masters at the fort. Every
cabin had its hidden gun and supply
of ammunition, despite the order to
disarm issued by Hamilton. There was
a hustling to bring these forth, which
vas accompanied with a guarded Vet
lrrepressible chattering, delightfully."-
French and infinitely volatile.
ITEMS. je vais frotter mon fusil
Jai WI un singe"' said Jaques Bour-
oier to his daughter. the pretty Ad-
rienne, who was coming out OF the
room In which Alice lay.
It saw a monkey Just now; I must
rub up my gum He could not be
solemn: not he. The thought OF an
opportunity to get even with Hamilton
was like wine in his blood.
If you had seen those hardy and
sinewy Frenchmen gliding in the dusk
Of evening from cottage to cottage,
passing the word that the Americans
had arrived, saying airy things and
pinching one another as they met and
hurried on, you would have thought
something very amusing and wholly
jocund was In preparation for the
people Of Vincennes.
There was a current belief in the
town that Gaspard Roussillon never
missed a good thing and always some
how got the lions share. He went
out with the ebb to return OF the
food. Nobody was surprised, there
fore. when he suddenly appeared I'm
the midst of his friends, armed to the
teeth and emotionally warlike to suit
the occasion. OF course he took
charge of everybody and everything.
You could have heard him whisper a
bOwshot away.
"Taisons" ne Kissed, whenever he
met an acquaintance. I'VE will sur
prise the fort and scalp the whole
garrison. AUX armes, les Americans
viennent d'ar-river!'
At his own house he knocked and
called in vain. He shook the door
violently; for he was thinking Of the
stores under the floor, Of the grimy
bottles, Of the fragrant Rordeaux-
ah, his throat, how it throbbed, But
where was Madame Roussiilon?
Where was Alice? Jean! JEAN he
cried, forgetting all precaution, come
here, you scamp, and let me In this
minute
A profoundly impressive silence
gave him to understand that his home
was deserted.
"Chifr. frightened and gone to stay
with Madame Godere. I suppose-and
I so thirsty, Bah, hum, hum, apres
evin Ia bataille, ziff"'
lie kicked in the door and CROPPED
his way to the liquors. While he
hastily swigged and smacked, he
heard the firing begin with a crack
ling, desultory volley. He laughed jo-
vially, there in the dark, between
draUghts and deep swlgs Of enjoy
ment.
EFT moi aussi," he murmured, like
the vast murmur OF the sea. II want
10 be in that dance, Pardonnez, mes
sieUrs. Mol, je veux danser. s'iI 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 wi+h the
lens Of imagination he swelled and
puffed as he numbered along.
The firing sounded as if it were be-
tween the fort and the river; but
presently when one of Hamilton's
cannon spoke, NJ. Roussillon saw the
yellow spike a flame from its muz-
zle leap directly toward the church,