The work on
the fort was nearly completed, and Rene de Ronville would have
soon been relieved of his servile and exasperating employment
under the Irish Corporal; but just at the point of time when only
a few days' work remained for him, he became furious, on account
of an insulting remark, and struck the Corporal over the head with
a handspike. This happened in a wood some miles from town, where
he was loading logs upon a sled. There chanced to be no third
person present when the deed was done, and some hours passed
before they found the officer quite cold and stiff beside the
sled. His head was crushed to a pulp.
Hamilton, now thoroughly exasperated, began to look upon the
French inhabitants of Vincennes as all like M. Roussillon and
Rene, but waiting for an opportunity to strike him unawares. He
increased his military vigilance, ordered the town patrolled day
and night, and forbade public gatherings of the citizens, while at
the same time he forced them to furnish him a large amount of
provisions.
When little Adrienne Bourcier heard of Renews terrible act,
followed by his successful escape to the woods, and of the
tempting reward offered by Hamilton for his scalp, she ran to
Roussillon place well-nigh crazed with excitement. She had always
depended upon Alice for advice, encouragement and comfort in her
troubles; but in the present case there was not much that her
friend could do to cheer her.
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