With M. Roussillon and Rene both
fugitives, tracked by wily savages, a price on their heads, while
every day added new dangers to the French inhabitants of
Vincennes, no rosy view could possibly be taken of the situation.
Alice did her best, however, to strengthen her little friend's
faith in a happy outcome. She quoted what she considered
unimpeachable authority to support her optimistic argument.
"Lieutenant Beverley says that the Americans will be sure to drive
Hamilton out of Vincennes, or capture him. Probably they are not
so very far away now, and Rene may join them and come back to help
punish these brutal Englishmen. Don't you wish he would, Adrienne?
Wouldn't it be romantic?"
"He's armed, I know that," said Adrienne, brightening a little,
"and he's brave, Alice, brave as can be. He came right back into
town the other night and got his gun and pistols. He was at our
house, too, and, oh!--"
She burst out crying again. "O Alice! It breaks my heart to think
that the Indians will kill him. Do you think they will kill him,
Alice?"
"He'll come nearer killing them," said Alice confidently, with her
strong, warm arms around the tiny lass; "he's a good woodsman, a
fine shot--he's not so easy to kill, my dear. If he and Papa
Roussillon should get together by chance they would be a match for
all the Indians in the country.
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