Here, quick! They saw me
take it, they may be following me. Hurry, hide it somewhere!"
He comprehended now, rising from his knees with a queer smile
broadening on his face. She put the banner into his hands and gave
him a gentle push.
"Hide it, I tell you, hide it, you dear old goose!"
Without sneaking he turned the staff over and over in his hand,
until the flag was closely wrapped around it, then stooping he
lifted a puncheon and with it covered the gay roll from sight.
Alice caught him in her arms and kissed him vigorously on the
cheek. Her warm lips made the spot tingle.
"Don't you dare to let any person have it! It's the flag of George
Washington."
She gave him a strong squeeze.
He pushed her from him with both hands and hastily crossed
himself; but his eyes were laughing.
"You ought to have seen me; I waved the flag at them--at the
English--and one young officer took off his hat to me! Oh, Father
Beret, it was like what is in a novel. They'll get the fort, but
not the banner! Not the banner! I've saved it, I've saved it!"
Her enthusiasm gave a splendor to her countenance, heightening its
riches of color and somehow adding to its natural girlish
expression an audacious sweetness. The triumphant success of her
undertaking lent the dignity of conscious power to her look, a
dignity which always sits well upon a young and somewhat
immaturely beautiful face.
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