"
She was gone before Jean could say a word. She meant to face
Hamilton at once and be sure what danger menaced M. Roussillon. Of
course, the flag must be given up if that would save her foster
father any pain; and if his life were in question there could not
be too great haste on her part.
She ran directly to the stockade gate and breathlessly informed a
sentinel that she must see Governor Hamilton, into whose presence
she was soon led. Captain Farnsworth had preceded her but a minute
or two, and was present when she entered the miserable shed room
where the commander was having another talk with M. Roussillon.
The meeting was a tableau which would have been comical but for
the pressure of its tragic possibilities. Hamilton, stern and
sententious, stood frowning upon M. Roussillon, who sat upon the
ground, his feet and hands tightly bound, a colossal statue of
injured innocence.
Alice, as soon as she saw M. Roussillon, uttered a cry of
sympathetic endearment and flung herself toward him with open
arms. She could not reach around his great shoulders; but she did
her best to include the whole bulk.
"Papa! Papa Roussillon!" she chirruped between the kisses that she
showered upon his weather-beaten face.
Hamilton and Farnsworth regarded the scene with curious and
surprised interest. M. Roussillon began speaking rapidly; but
being a Frenchman he could not get on well with his tongue while
his hands were tied.
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