about the flag--the flag
you took away from the fort."

She had been half expecting this; but she was quite unprepared, and in
spite of all she could do showed embarrassment.

"I have come to get the flag; if you will kindly bring it to me, or
tell me where it is I--"

She quickly found words to interrupt him with, and at the same time by
a great effort pulled herself together.

"You have come to the wrong place," she flung in. "I assure you that I
haven't the flag."

"You took it down, Mademoiselle."

"Oh, did I?"

"With bewitching grace you did, Mademoiselle. I saw and admired. Will
you fetch it, please?"

"Indeed I won't."

The finality in her voice belied her face, which beamed without a ray
of stubbornness or perversity. He did not know how to interpret her;
but he felt that he had begun wrong. He half regretted that he had
begun at all.

"More depends upon returning that flag than you are probably aware of,"
he presently said in a more serious tone. "In fact, the life of one of
your townsmen, and a person of some importance here I believe, will
surely be saved by it. You'd better consider, Mademoiselle. You
wouldn't like to cause the death of a man."

She did not fairly grasp the purport of his words; yet the change in
his manner, and the fact that he turned from French to English in
making the statement, aroused a sudden feeling of dread or dark
apprehension in her breast. The first distinct thought was of
Beverley--that some deadly danger threatened him.

"Who is it?" she frankly demanded.

"It's the Mayor, the big man of your town, Monsieur Roussillon, I think
he calls himself. He's got himself into a tight place. He'll be shot
to-morrow morning if that flag is not produced. Governor Hamilton has
so ordered, and what he orders is done."

"You jest, Monsieur."

"I assure you that I speak the plain truth."

"You will probably catch Monsieur Roussillon before you shoot him." She
tossed her head.

"He is already a prisoner in the fort."

Alice turned pale.

"Monsieur, is this true?" Her voice had lost its happy tone. "Are you
telling me that to--"

"You can verify it, Mademoiselle, by calling upon the commander at the
fort. I am sorry that you doubt my veracity. If you will go with me I
will show you M. Roussillon a tightly bound prisoner."

Jean had crept out of the gate and was standing just behind Alice with
his feet wide apart, his long chin elevated, his head resting far back
bet