" He
passed his arm firmly under that of Farnsworth, seeing that the
Captain was unsteady on his feet.
"Lean upon me. Come with me, Alice, my child, I will take him into
the house."
Alice picked up the Captain's sword and led the way.
It was all done so quickly that Farnsworth, in his half dazed
condition, scarcely realized what was going on until he found
himself on a couch in the Roussillon home, his wound (a jagged
furrow plowed out by slugs that the sword's blade had first
intercepted) neatly dressed and bandaged, while Alice and the
priest hovered over him busy with their careful ministrations.
Hamilton and Helm were, as usual, playing cards at the former's
quarters when a guard announced that Mademoiselle Roussillon
wished an audience with the Governor.
"Bring the girl in," said Hamilton, throwing down his cards and
scowling darkly.
"Now you'd better be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove,"
remarked Helm. "There is something up, and that gun-shot we heard
awhile ago may have a good deal to do with it. At any rate, you'll
find kindness your best card to play with Alice Roussillon just at
the present stage of the game."
Of course they knew nothing of what had happened to Farnsworth;
but they had been discussing the strained relations between the
garrison and the French inhabitants when the roar of Alice's big-
mouthed pistol startled them.
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