ce heard from Adrienne the story of Farnsworth's conduct and his
humiliating discomfiture at the hands of Father Beret. She was both
indignant and delighted, sympathizing with Adrienne and glorying in the
priest's vigorous pugilistic achievement.

"Well," she remarked, with one of her infectious trills of laughter,
"so far the French have the best of it, anyway! Papa Roussillon knocked
the Governor's cheek nearly off, then Rene cracked the Irish Corporal's
head, and now Father Beret has taught Captain Farnsworth a lesson in
fisticuffs that he'll not soon forget! If the good work can only go on
a little longer we shall see every English soldier in Vincennes wearing
the mark of a Frenchman's blow." Then her mood suddenly changed from
smiling lightness to almost fierce gravity, and she added:

"Adrienne Bourcier, if Captain Farnsworth ever offers to treat me as he
did you, mark my words, I'll kill him--kill him, indeed I will! You
ought to see me!"

"But he won't dare touch you," said Adrienne, looking at her friend
with round, admiring eyes. "He knows very well that you are not little
and timid like me. He'd be afraid of you."

"I wish he would try it. How I would love to shoot him into pieces, the
hateful wretch! I wish he would."

The French inhabitants all, or nearly all, felt as Alice did; but at
present they were helpless and dared not say or do anything against the
English. Nor was this feeling confined to the Creoles of Vincennes; it
had spread to most of the points where trading posts existed. Hamilton
found this out too late to mend some of his mistakes; but he set
himself on the alert and organized scouting bodies of Indians under
white officers to keep him informed as to the American movements in
Kentucky and along the Ohio. One of these bands brought in as captive
Colonel Francis Vigo, of St. Louis, a Spaniard by birth, an American by
adoption, a patriot to the core, who had large influence over both
Indians and Creoles in the Illinois country.

Colonel Vigo was not long held a prisoner. Hamilton dared not
exasperate the Creoles beyond their endurance, for he knew that the
savages would closely sympathize with their friends of long standing,
and this might lead to revolt and coalition against him,--a very
dangerous possibility. Indeed, at least one of the great Indian
chieftains had already frankly informed him that he and his tribe were
loyal to the Americans. Here was a dilemma requiring consummate
di