ster for all
his future plans. As it was, the release of Long-Hair caused a great
deal of dissatisfaction and mutinous talk. Even Beverley now felt that
the execution ordered by the commander ought to have been sternly
carried out.

A day or two later, however, the whole dark affair was closed forever
by a bit of confidence on the part of Oncle Jazon when Beverley dropped
into his hut one evening to have a smoke with him.

The rain was over, the sky shone like one vast luminary, with a nearly
full moon and a thousand stars reinforcing it. Up from the south poured
one of those balmy, accidental wind floods, sometimes due in February
on the Wabash, full of tropical dream-hints, yet edged with a winter
chill that smacks of treachery. Oncle Jazon was unusually talkative; he
may have had a deep draught of liquor; at all events Beverley had
little room for a word.

"Well, bein' as it's twixt us, as is bosom frien's," the old fellow
presently said, "I'll jes' show ye somepin poorty."

He pricked the wick of a lamp and took down his bunch of scalps.

"I hev been a addin' one more to keep company o' mine an' the tothers."

He separated the latest acquisition from the rest of the wisp and
added, with a heinous chuckle:

"This'n's Long-Hair's!"

And so it was. Beverley knocked the ashes from his pipe and rose to go.

"Wen they kicks yer Oncle Jazon's ribs," the old man added, "they'd
jes' as well lay down an' give up, for he's goin' to salervate 'em."

Then, after Beverley had passed out of the cabin, Oncle Jazon chirruped
after him:

"Mebbe ye'd better not tell leetle Alice. The pore leetle gal hev hed
worry 'nough."

CHAPTER XXII

CLARK ADVISES ALICE

A few days after the surrender of Hamilton, a large boat, the Willing,
arrived from Kaskaskia. It was well manned and heavily armed. Clark
fitted it out before beginning his march and expected it to be of great
assistance to him in the reduction of the fort, but the high waters and
the floating driftwood delayed its progress, so that its disappointed
crew saw Alice's flag floating bright and high when their eyes first
looked upon the dull little town from far down the swollen river. There
was much rejoicing, however, when they came ashore and were
enthusiastically greeted by the garrison and populace. A courier whom
they picked up on the Ohio came with them. He bore dispatches from
Governor Henry of Virginia to Clark and a letter for Beverley from his
fat