But in passing she recognized him. It was
Father Beret, and how grim he looked! The discovery was made in
the twinkling of an eye, and its effect was instantaneous, not
only checking the force of her flight, but stopping her and
turning her about to gaze before she had gone five paces farther.
Hamilton's nerve held, startled as he was, when he realized that
an armed man stood before him. Naturally he fell into the error of
thinking that he had been running after this fellow all the way
from the little gate, where, he supposed, Alice had somehow given
him the slip. It was a mere flash of brain-light, so to call it,
struck out by the surprise of this curious discovery. He felt his
bellicose temper leap up furiously at being balked in a way so
unexpected and withal so inexplicable. Of course he did not stand
there reasoning it all out. The rush of impressions came, and at
the same time he acted with promptness. Changing the rapier, which
he held in his right hand, over into his left, he drew a small
pistol from the breast of his coat and fired. The report was sharp
and loud; but it caused no uneasiness or inquiry in the fort,
owing to the fact that Indians invariably emptied their guns when
coming into the town.
Hamilton's aim, although hasty, was not bad. The bullet from his
weapon cut through Father Beret's clothes between his left arm and
his body, slightly creasing the flesh on a rib.
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