and with a thud the
heavy old pistol fell upon the ground beside her.

Father Beret sprang nimbly to sustain Farnsworth, snatching up the
pistol as he passed around Alice.

"You are hurt, my son," he gently said, "let me help you." He passed
his arm firmly under that of Farnsworth, seeing that the Captain was
unsteady on his feet.

"Lean upon me. Come with me, Alice, my child, I will take him into the
house."

Alice picked up the Captain's sword and led the way.

It was all done so quickly that Farnsworth, in his half dazed
condition, scarcely realized what was going on until he found himself
on a couch in the Roussillon home, his wound (a jagged furrow plowed
out by slugs that the sword's blade had first intercepted) neatly
dressed and bandaged, while Alice and the priest hovered over him busy
with their careful ministrations.

Hamilton and Helm were, as usual, playing cards at the former's
quarters when a guard announced that Mademoiselle Roussillon wished an
audience with the Governor.

"Bring the girl in," said Hamilton, throwing down his cards and
scowling darkly.

"Now you'd better be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove," remarked
Helm. "There is something up, and that gun-shot we heard awhile ago may
have a good deal to do with it. At any rate, you'll find kindness your
best card to play with Alice Roussillon just at the present stage of
the game."

Of course they knew nothing of what had happened to Farnsworth; but
they had been discussing the strained relations between the garrison
and the French inhabitants when the roar of Alice's big-mouthed pistol
startled them. Helm was slyly beating about to try to make Hamilton
lose sight of the danger from Clark's direction. To do this he artfully
magnified the insidious work that might be done by the French and their
Indian friends should they be driven to desperation by oppressive or
exasperating action on the part of the English.

Hamilton felt the dangerous uncertainty upon which the situation
rested; but, like many another vigorously self-reliant man, he could
not subordinate his passions to the dictates of policy. When Alice was
conducted into his presence he instantly swelled with anger. It was her
father who had struck him and escaped, it was she who had carried off
the rebel flag at the moment of victory.

"Well, Miss, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?" he demanded
with a supercilious air, bending a card between his thumb and finger o