The five men of history, Hamilton, Helm, Hay, Clark and Bowman,
were not distinguished diplomats. They went at their work rather
after the hammer-and-tongs fashion. Clark bluntly demanded
unconditional surrender. Hamilton refused. They argued the matter.
Helm put in his oar, trying to soften the situation, as was his
custom on all occasions, and received from Clark a stinging
reprimand, with the reminder that he was nothing but a prisoner on
parole, and had no voice at all in settling the terms of
surrender.
"I release him, sir," said Hamilton. "He is no longer a prisoner.
I am quite willing to have Captain Helm join freely in our
conference."
"And I refuse to permit his acceptance of your favor," responded
Clark. "Captain Helm, you will return with Mr. Hamilton to the
fort and remain his captive until I free you by force. Meantime
hold your tongue."
Father Beret, suave looking and quiet, occupied himself at the
little altar, apparently altogether indifferent to what was being
said; but he lost not a word of the talk.
"Qui habet aures audiendi, audiat," he inwardly repeated, smiling
blandly. "Gaudete in illa die, et exultate!"
Hamilton rose to go; deep lines of worry creased his face; but
when the party had passed outside, he suddenly turned upon Clark
and said:
"Why do you demand impossible terms of me?"
"I will tell you, sir," was the stern answer, in a tone in which
there was no mercy or compromise.
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