They are at least six hundred strong, all well armed."
"Push that gun to the gate, and load it to the muzzle, Lieutenant
Beverley," Helm ordered with admirable firmness, the purple flush
in his face giving way to a grayish pallor. "We are going to die
right here, or have the honors of war."
Beverley obeyed without a word. He even loaded two guns instead of
one--charging each so heavily that the last wad looked as if ready
to leap from the grimy mouth.
Helm had already begun, on receiving the first report, a hasty
letter to Colonel Clark at Kaskaskia. He now added a few words and
at the last moment sent it out by a trusted man, who was promptly
captured by Hamilton's advance guard. The missive, evidently
written in installments during the slow approach of the British,
is still in the Canadian archives, and runs thus:
"Dear Sir--At this time there is an army within three miles of
this place; I heard of their coming several days beforehand. I
sent spies to find the certainty--the spies being taken prisoner
I never got intelligence till they got within three miles of town.
As I had called the militia and had all assurances of their
integrity I ordered at the firing of a cannon every man to appear,
but I saw but few. Captain Buseron behaved much to his honor and
credit, but I doubt the conduct of a certain gent.
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