tory. "But take this girl and confine her. Show her no favors.
I hold you responsible for her until to-morrow morning. You can retire."

There was no room for discussion. Farnsworth saluted and turned to
Alice.

"Come with me," he gently said.

Hamilton looked after them as they went out of his room, a curious
smile playing around his firmly set lips.

"She's the most beautiful vixen that I ever saw," he thought. "She
doesn't look to be a French girl, either--decidedly English." He
shrugged his shoulders, then laughed dryly. "Farnsworth's as crazy as
can be, the beggar; in love with her so deep that he can't see out. By
Jove, she IS a beauty! Never saw such eyes. And plucky to beat the
devil. I'll bet my head Barlow'll be daft about her next!"

Still, notwithstanding the lightness of his inward comments, Hamilton
regarded the incident as rather serious. He knew that the French
inhabitants were secretly his bitter enemies, yet probably willing, if
he would humor their peculiar social, domestic and commercial
prejudices, to refrain from active hostilities, and even to aid him in
furnishing his garrison with a large amount of needed supplies. The
danger just now was twofold; his Indian allies were deserting him, and
a flotilla loaded with provisions and ammunition from Detroit had
failed to arrive. He might, if the French rose against him and were
joined by the Indians, have great difficulty defending the fort. It was
clear that M. Roussillon had more influence with both creoles and
savages than any other person save Father Beret. Urgent policy dictated
that these two men should somehow be won over. But to do this it would
be necessary to treat Alice in such a way that her arrest would aid,
instead of operating against the desired result,--a thing not easy to
manage.

Hamilton was not a man of fine scruples, but he may have been, probably
was, better than our American historians have made him appear. His
besetting weakness, which, as a matter of course, he regarded as the
highest flower of efficiency, was an uncontrollable temper, a lack of
fine human sympathy and an inability to forgive. In his calmest
moments, when prudence appealed to him, he would resolve to use
diplomatic means; but no sooner was his opinion questioned or his
purpose opposed than anger and the thirst for revenge overpowered every
gentler consideration. He returned to his bed that night fully resolved
upon a pleasant and successful interview wit