Meantime both were as happy and as
restlessly dissatisfied as love and uncertainty could make them.
Amid the activities in which Hamilton was engaged--his dealings
with the Indians and the work of reconstructing the fort--he found
time to worry his temper about the purloined flag. Like every
other man in the world, he was superstitious, and it had come into
his head that to insure himself and his plans against disaster, he
must have the banner of his captives as a badge of his victory. It
was a small matter; but it magnified itself as he dwelt upon it.
He suspected that Alice had deceived him. He sharply questioned
Father Beret, only to be half convinced that the good priest told
the truth when he said that he knew nothing whatever on the
subject beyond the fact that the banner had mysteriously
disappeared from under his floor.
Captain Farnsworth scarcely sympathized with his chief about the
flag, but he was nothing if not anxious to gain Hamilton's highest
confidence. His military zeal knew no bounds, and he never let
pass even the slightest opportunity to show it. Hence his
persistent search for a clue to the missing banner. He was no
respecter of persons. He frankly suspected both Alice and Father
Beret of lying. He would himself have lied under the existing
circumstances, and he considered himself as truthful and
trustworthy as priest or maiden.
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