iftly across the area. All eyes were turned upon
it. Hamilton recoiled, as pale as death, half lifting his hands, as if
to ward off a deadly blow, and then a gay flag was flung out over his
head. He saw before him the girl he had shot; but her beautiful face
was not waxen now, nor was it cold or lifeless. The rich red blood was
strong under the browned, yet delicate skin, the eyes were bright and
brave, the cherry lips, slightly apart, gave a glimpse of pearl white
teeth, and the dimples,--those roguish dimples,--twinkled sweetly.

Colonel Clark looked on in amazement, and in spite of himself, in
admiration. He did not understand; the sudden incident bewildered him;
but his virile nature was instantly and wholly charmed. Something like
a breath of violets shook the tenderest chords of his heart.

Alice stood firmly, a statue of triumph, her right arm outstretched,
holding the flag high above Hamilton's head; and close by her side the
little hunchback Jean was posed in his most characteristic attitude,
gazing at the banner which he himself had stolen and kept hidden for
Alice's sake, and because he loved it.

There was a dead silence for some moments, during which Hamilton's face
showed that he was ready to collapse; then the keen voice of Oncle
Jazon broke forth:

"Vive Zhorzh Vasinton! Vim la banniere d'Alice Roussillon!"

He sprang to the middle of the area and flung his old cap high in air,
with a shrill war-whoop.

"H'ist it! h'ist it! hissez la banniere de Mademoiselle Alice
Roussillon! Voila, que c'est glorieuse, cette banniere la! H'ist it!
h'ist it!"

He was dancing with a rickety liveliness, his goatish legs and
shriveled body giving him the look of an emaciated satyr.

Clark had been told by some of his creole officers the story of how
Alice raised the flag when Helm took the fort, and how she snatched it
from Hamilton's hand, as it were, and would not give it up when he
demanded it. The whole situation pretty soon began to explain itself,
as he saw what Alice was doing. Then he heard her say to Hamilton,
while she slowly swayed the rippling flag back and forth:

"I said, as you will remember, Monsieur le Gouverneur, that when you
next should see this flag, I should wave it over your head. Well, look,
I am waving it! Vive la republique! Vive George Washington! What do you
think of it, Monsieur le Gouverneur?"

The poor little hunchback Jean took off his cap and tossed it in
rhythmical emphasis, kee