Were our simple story of old Vincennes a mere fiction, we should
hesitate to bring in the explosion of a magazine at the fort with
a view to sudden confusion and, by that means, distracting
attention from our heroine while she betakes herself out of a
situation which, although delightful enough for a blessed minute,
has quickly become an embarrassment quite unendurable. But we
simply adhere to the established facts in history. Owing to some
carelessness there was, indeed, an explosion of twenty-six six-
pound cartridges, which made a mighty roar and struck the newly
installed garrison into a heap, so to say, scattering things
terribly and wounding six men, among them Captains Bowman and
Worthington.
After the thunderous crash came a momentary silence, which
embraced both the people within the fort and the wild crowd
outside. Then the rush and noise were indescribable. Even Clark
gave way to excitement, losing command of himself and, of course,
of his men. There was a stampede toward the main gate by one wing
of the troops in the hollow square. They literally ran over
Beverley and Alice, flinging them apart and jostling them hither
and yonder without mercy. Of course the turmoil quickly subsided.
Clark and Beverley got hold of themselves and sang out their
peremptory orders with excellent effect. It was like oil on raging
water; the men obeyed in a straggling way, getting back into ranks
as best they could.
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