Father Beret could not resist her fervid eloquence, and he could
not run away from her or stop up his ears while she went on. So he
had to laugh when she said:
"Oh, if you had seen it all you would have enjoyed it. There was
Oncle Jazon squatting behind the little swivel, and there were
Captain Helm and Lieutenant Beverley holding their burning sticks
over the big cannon ready to shoot--all of them so intent that
they didn't see me--and yonder came the English officer and his
army against the three. When they got close to the gate the
officer called out: 'Surrender!' and then Captain Helm yelled
back: 'Damned if I do! Come another step and I'll blow you all to
hell in a second!' I was mightily in hopes that they'd come on; I
wanted to see a cannon ball hit that English commander right in
the face; he looked so arrogant."
Father Beret shook his head and tried to look disapproving and
solemn.
Meantime down at the fort Hamilton was demanding the flag. He had
seen Alice take it down, and supposed that it was lowered
officially and would be turned over to him. Now he wanted to
handle it as the best token of his bloodless but important
victory.
"I didn't order the flag down until after I had accepted your
terms," said Helm, "and when my man started to obey, we saw a
young lady snatch it and run away with it.
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