They have sworn it. Time will prove it. But in the present
desperate dilemma we must choose the safer horn."
Saying this Father Beret turned about and went his way. He was
chuckling heartily as he passed out of the gate.
"He is right," said Beverley after a few moments of reflection,
during which he was wholly occupied with Alice, whose terrified
face in his anticipation appealed to him from the midst of howling
savages, smoking cabins and mangled victims of lust and massacre.
His imagination painted the scene with a merciless realism that
chilled his blood. All the sweet romance fell away from Vincennes.
"Well, sir, right or wrong, your, duty is to obey orders," said
Helm with brutal severity.
"We had better not quarrel, Captain," Beverley replied. "I have
not signified any unwillingness to obey your commands. Give them,
and you will have no cause to grumble."
"Forgive me, old fellow," cried the impulsive commander. "I know
you are true as steel. I s'pose I'm wound up too tight to be
polite. But the time is come to do something. Here we are with but
five or six men--"
He was interrupted by the arrival of two more half-breed scouts.
Only three miles away was a large flotilla of boats and canoes
with cannon, a force of Indians on land and the British flag
flying,--that was the report.
"They are moving rapidly," said the spokesman, "and will be here
very soon.
Pages:
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168