For a long while he was cold,
staring, rigid; then the inevitable collapse came, and he wept as
only a strong man can who is hurt to death, yet cannot die.
Adrienne approached him, thinking to speak to him about Rene; but
he did not notice her, and she went her way, leaving beside him a
liberal supply of food.
CHAPTER XX
ALICE'S FLAG
Governor Hamilton received the note sent him by Colonel Clark and
replied to it with curt dignity; but his heart was quaking. As a
soldier he was true to the military tradition, and nothing could
have induced him to surrender his command with dishonor.
"Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton," he wrote to Clark, "begs leave to
acquaint Colonel Clark that he and his garrison are not disposed
to be awed into any action unworthy of British subjects."
"Very brave words," said Helm, when Hamilton read the note to him,
"but you'll sing a milder tune before many minutes, or you and
your whole garrison will perish in a bloody heap. Listen to those
wild yells! Clark has enough men to eat you all up for breakfast.
You'd better be reasonable and prudent. It's not bravery to court
massacre."
Hamilton turned away without a word and sent the message; but Helm
saw that he was excited, and could be still further wrought up.
"You are playing into the hands of your bitterest enemies, the
frog-eaters," he went on.
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