rm, while yet the sky is sweetly blue and serene.
When she reached home the house was full of people to whom M.
Roussillon, in the gayest of moods, was dispensing wine and brandy.

"Vive Zhorzh Vasinton!" shouted Oncle Jazon as soon as he saw her.

And then they all talked at once, saying flattering things about her.
Madame Roussillon tried to scold as usual; but the lively chattering of
the guests drowned her voice.

"I suppose the American commander will send a garrison here," some one
said to Father Gibault, "and repair the fort."

"Probably," the priest replied, "in a very few weeks. Meantime we will
garrison it ourselves."

"And we will have M. Roussillon for commander," spoke up Rene de
Ronville, who was standing by.

"A good suggestion," assented Father Gibault; "let us organize at once."

Immediately the word was passed that there would be a meeting at the
fort that evening for the purpose of choosing a garrison and a
commander. Everybody went promptly at the hour set. M. Roussillon was
elected Captain by acclamation, with Rene de Ronville as his
Lieutenant. It was observed that Oncle Jazon had resumed his dignity,
and that he looked into his cap several times without speaking.

Meantime certain citizens, who had been in close relations with
Governor Abbott during his stay, quietly slipped out of town, manned a
batteau and went up the river, probably to Ouiatenon first and then to
Detroit. Doubtless they suspected that things might soon grow too warm
for their comfort.

It was thus that Vincennes and Fort Sackville first acknowledged the
American Government and hoisted the flag which, as long as it floated
over the blockhouse, was lightly and lovingly called by everyone la
banniere d'Alice Roussillon.

Father Gibault returned to Fort Kaskaskia and a little later Captain
Leonard Helm, a jovial man, but past the prime of life, arrived at
Vincennes with a commission from Col. Clark authorizing him to
supersede M. Roussillon as commander, and to act as Indian agent for
the American Government in the Department of the Wabash. He was
welcomed by the villagers, and at once made himself very pleasing to
them by adapting himself to their ways and entering heartily into their
social activities.

M. Roussillon was absent when Captain Helm and his party came. Rene de
Ronville, nominally in command of the fort, but actually enjoying some
excellent grouse shooting with a bell-mouthed old fowling piece on a
dista