You are to go with him up the river and
intercept a British force. Move lively, Helm is waiting for you,
probably."
There was no time for explanations. Evidently Clark expected
neither questions nor delay. Beverley's love of adventure and his
patriotic desire to serve his country came to his aid vigorously
enough; still, with Alice's love-song ringing in his heart, there
was a cord pulling him back from duty to the sweetest of all
life's joys.
Helm was already at the landing, where a little fleet of boats was
being prepared. A thousand things had to be done in short order.
All hands were stimulated to highest exertion with the thought of
another fight. Swivels were mounted in boats, ammunition and
provisions stored abundantly, flags hoisted and oars dipped. Never
was an expedition of so great importance more swiftly organized
and set in motion, nor did one ever have a more prosperous voyage
or completer triumph. Philip Dejean, Justice of Detroit, with his
men, boats and rich cargo, was captured easily, with not a shot
fired, nor a drop of blood spilled in doing it.
If Alice could have known all this before it happened, she would
probably have saved herself from the mortification of a rebuke
administered very kindly, but not the less thoroughly, by Colonel
Clark.
The rumor came to her--a brilliant creole rumor, duly inflated--
that an overwhelming British force was descending the river, and
that Beverley with a few men, not sufficient to base the
expedition on a respectable forlorn hope, would be sent to meet
them.
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