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DAILY CAWTAL JOURNAL, 8ALEM, OREGON, 8ATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1Q04.
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(Continued.)
CHAPTER XVII.
A MAI1C1I THIIOUOII COLD WATEH.
N the nth day of February.
1771), Colonel George Rogers
Clark led an army across tlio
Kusknskln river and cumncd.
This was the llrst step In his march
toward the Wabash. An army I Do not
smile. Fewer than 200 men, It Is true,
answered the roll call when Father
GUinult lifted the cross nnd blessed
them.
It was an army, small Indeed, but
yet nn army, even though so rudely
equipped that, could wo "now seo t be
fore us, we might wonder of what use
It could possibly bo In n mllltnry way.
Clark knew when ho sot out on his
murch to Vlneennes thnt ho was not
Indulging hi visionary Impulse. The
enterprise wus 0110 that called for all
that manhood could endure, but not
more. With the genius of a born lead
er ho measured his task by his means.
IIo know bis own courago and fortl
tudo and understood the best capacity
of his men. IIo had genius that Is ho
possessed the secret of extracting from
himself and from his followers the last
reUncnient of devotion to purpose.
Thero was n certainty, from first to
last, that effort would not flag nt any
point short of the topmost possible
strain.
Tho march before them lay over a
magnificent plain, mostly prairie, rich
as tho delta of the Nile, but extremely
dllllcult to traverse. Tho distance, ns
tho route led, wns about 170 miles. On
account of nn open nnd rainy winter
all the basins and flat lands wcro In
undated, often presenting leagues of
water ranging In depth from n few
Inches to three or four feet. Colonel
Clark understood perfectly tho stra
tegic Importanco of Vlneennes ns a post
commanding tho Wnbash and as a
baso of communication with tho many
Indian tribes north of tho Ohio nnd
cast of tho Mississippi. Francis Vigo
(mny his name never fade!) hnd
brought him a comprehensive nnd nc
curnto report of Hamilton's strength
and tho condition of tho fort and gar
rlsou. This Information confirmed bis
belief that It would bo possible not only
to capturo Vlneennes, but Detroit ns
well.
Just seven day.s after tho march be
gan tho Uttlo nray encamped for a
night's rest nt tho edge of a wood, nnd
here, Just nfter nightfall, when tho flres
wero burning merrily and tho smell of
broiling buffalo steaks burdened the
dump nlr, a wizened old man suddenly
appeared, how or from whoro nobody
had observed. IIo was dirty nnd In
every way disreputable In nppearnnce,
looking like nn animated mummy,
bearing a long rlllo on his shoulder and
walking with tho somewhat halting
activity of n very old yet vivacious and
energetic simian. Of course It was On
clo Jazou, "Ouclo Jnzon sul generis," ns
Father Borot had dubbed him.
"Well, hero I ami" ho cried, ap
proaching tho Tare by which Colonel
Clark and some of his olllcera were
cooking supper. "But yo can't guess In
n nillo o' who I nm to Bave yer livers
an' lights."
IIo danced a few stiff steps, which
mado tho wutor gush out of his tat
tered moccasins, then doffed his nonde
script cap nnd nodded his scalploss
head in salutation to tho commander.
Clark looked Inquiringly at him,
whilo the old fellow grimaced and
rubbed his shrunken chin.
"I smelt yer fat n-fryln soraepln'
lflto a mllq away, an' It set my ln'ards
to grumbliu' for a snack, so I Jos'
thought I'd drap In on ye an' chaw
wittlos wl' yo."
"Your looks are decidedly against
you," remarked tho colonel, with a dry
smile. He bud recognized Onclo Ja
zon after a little sharp scrutiny. "I
suppose, howovor, that we etui let you
gnaw tho bonos ufter we've got off the
meat."
. "Thank 'eo, thank ee, plenty good.
A fellor 'at'a as hongiy as I am kin go
through n bono Uko a fecsh through
water."
Clark laughed and said:
"I don't seo nny teeth that -you have
worth mentioning, but your gums may
be unusually sharp."
"Yn-n-s, 'bout ns sharp as yer wit,
Colonel Clark, an' Bharper 'a yer eyes,
a long shot. Ye don't know me, do
ye? Take ernothor squint at me, on
seo 'f ye kin 'member a good lookln'
man!"
"You have somewhat the appearance
of nn old scamp of the name of Jazoc
that formerly loafed around with 1
worthless gun on his shoulder, and
used to run from every Indian he saw
Tlieo. M. Barr
Snceeuor to
-AKD-
' Hot Air, Hot Water and
Steam Heatin? a Specialty.
- - - - - - ' OREGON
SALEM,
of OLD
By MAURICE THOMPSON
DOWEN-MERBILL COMPANY
lown yonder In Kentucky." Clark held
tut his hand and added cerdially:
"IIow Uro you, Jazon, my old friend,
and where upon earth have you como
rrom?"
Ouclo Jazon pounced upon the banal
nnd gripped It In his own knotted fin
gers, gazing delightedly up Into Clark's
bronzed and luughlug face.
"Whero'd I como frutn? I.come frum
evcr'wberes. Fust tlmo I ever got
lost In all my born days. I'vo been a
troinpln round In tho water seems
lljto a week, crnzy as a plzcncd rat, not
o-knowln' north f'om south ner my
big toe f'om a turnip 1 Who's got somo
tobackor?"
Onclo Jnzon's story, when presently
he told It, Interested Clark deeply.
IIo and Kenton had, with wise Judg
ment, separated on escaping from tho
Indian camp. Kenton striking out for
Kentucky, while Onclo -Juzon went to
ward Kaskaskla.
The Information that Beverley would
be shot as soon as ho was returned to
ITamllton caused Colonel Clark serious
worry of mind. Not only tho fact that
Beverley, who had been a charming
friend and n most gallant ofllccr, was
now In such Imminent danger, but tho
Impression (given by Onclo Jazon's ac
count) that lie had brokon his parole
was deeply painful to the bravo and
scrupulously honorablo commander.
Still friendship roso above regret, and
Clark resolved to push his little col
umn forward alt the moro rapidly,
hoping to nrrlvo In tlmo to provent tho
Impending execution.
Next morning tho march was resum
ed at tho break of dawn, but a swollen
stream caused some hours of delay,
during which Beverley himself arrived
from the rear, a haggard and weirdly
unkempt apparition. IIo had been for
three days following hard on the or-
"Vive Xhonh, Vatintonl"
my's track, which he camo to far west
ward. Ouclo Jazon saw him first In
tho distance, and his old but educated
eyes made no mistake,
"Ynndor's that youngster Beverley!"
ho exclaimed. ,"Hf it ain't I'm n
squaw!"
Nor did ho parley further on the sub
ject, but not off at a rickety trot to
nioi't ami (us: t tho fugged and excited
young man.
Clurk had given Onclo Jazon his
tiask, which contained n few gills of
whisky. This wnH tho first thing of
fered to Beverley, who wisely took
but a nwallow. Ouclo Jazon was so
elated ho waved his cap on high and,
unconsciously fulling Into French, yell
ed in a piercing voice;
"Vivo Hhorzh VuHinton! Vivo la
baunlere d'AIIco Itousslllon!"
Seeing Bevurley reminded him of
AIlco nnd the flag. As for Beverley,
the sontlment braced him nnd tho bo
loved name brimmed his honrt with
sweotnoss.
Clark went to moot thorn ns thoy
camo In. He hugged tho gaunt lieu
tenant with genuine fervor of Joy,
whllo Onclo Jnzon run around thorn
making a series of grotosquo capers.
Tho wholo commnnd, hearing Ouclo
Jazon's patriotic words, set up a wild
shouting on the spur of n general Im
pression that Beverley came us a mes
Bcngor bearing glorious news from
Washington's army in tho east.
It was a great relief to Clurlc when
ho found out that his favorlto lleuten
nnt hud not broken his parole, but hud
iustoad boldly resurrondured hlmsolf.
declaring the obligation no longor bind
ing and notifying Hamilton of his in
tention to go nwuy with the purposo
of returning and destroying him and
his command. Clark laughed heartily
Brr t PetitJ.
1 '- '
wnen tnis explanation brought our
Beverley's tender Interest In Alice, bi t
ho sympathized cordially, for he him
self knew what lovo is.
Although Beverley was half stnrv?il
and still suffering from tho kicks nnd
blows given him by Long Hair and his
wnrrlors, his exhausting run on the
trail of Clark and his hand hnd not
worked him serious harm. All of the
officers and men did-their utmost to
serve him. Ho wub feasted without
stint nnd furnished with everything
flint the sennt supply of clothing on the
puck horses could afford for his com
fort. He promptly asked for nn 11'
slgnment to duty In his company nnd
took his place with such high enthus'
asm thnt his companions regarded biro
with ndmlrlng wonder. None of them
save Clark and Onclo Jnzon suspected
thnt love for a fair haired girl yonder
In Vlneennes was tho secret of uW
unitizing zeal and Intrepidity.
In one respect Clark's expedition wit
sadly lacking In Its equipment for the
march. It hnd absolutely no means of
transporting adequate supplies. Tli"
pack horses were not nblo to carry
moro than n little extra nmmunltlon
n few articles of clothing, somo slm
pie cooking utensils and such tools ni
were needed In Improvising rafts nnd
ennoes. Consequently, nUhougu but
Jolo nnd doer wero sometimes plentiful
they funilrtied no lasting supply o
meat, becnime It could not bo trans
ported, and as tho army neared Vln
eennes wild nuluinls became scarce, so
that the men began to suffer from hun
ger when within but n fow days of
their Journey's end.
Clurk made nlmost superhumnn ef
forts In urging forwnrd his chilled, wa
ter soaked, footsore command. To
wnrjl the epd of tho long march n de
cided fall ' of temperature added loo
to the water through which our dnunr
less patriots waded and swam for
miles. The wind shifted northwester
ly, taking on a searching chill. Ench
gust, indeed, seemed to shoot wintry
splinters into the very emrrow of tho
men's bones. Tho weaker ones began
to show tho npprouch of utter exhaus
tion Just at tho tlmo when a final spurt
of unflinching power wus needed.
True, they struggled herolcnlly, but na
ture wns Hearing tho lnexomblo limit
of endurance. Without food, which
thore was no prospect of getting, col
lapse wns sure to come.
Stnndlng nenrly waist deep In freez
ing water and looking out upon tho
muddy, sealike Hood that stretched fat
uwuy to the channel of the Wnlmflb
nnd beyond, Clurk turned to Reverie)
and said, speaking low, bo ns not to
be overheard by any other of1 his of
ficers or men:
"Is It pcwlltlp. Lieutenant Beverley,
that we hre to full, with VJneennoH nl
most In sight of us"
"No, sir. It N not possible," was the
firm reply. "Nothing must, nothing
can, stop us. Look tit that brnve child,
lie sots the hrrolc example."
Beverhy pointed us ho spoke at n
boy but fourteen years old. who wis
using his drum us n float to bear htm
up while hi courageously swum beside
the men.
Clark's clouded face cleaved onv
more. "You tiro right." ho sold. "Conir
on! We must win or die!"
"Sergeant Pewit." he udded, turnlnp
to an euurmously tall and athletic nmr
nenr by. "take that lltte drummer niul
his drum on your shoulder nnd lend the
way. nnd. sergeant, make him pound
thnt drum like tho devil bentlug tan
burl;!"
The huge man caught the spirit of
his commander's order. In a twlnkllnx
he hntl the boy astride of bis neck with
the kettledrum resting on his head,
and then the rattling music begun.
Clurk followed, pointing onward with
his sword. The hulf frozen and totter
ing soldiers sent up a shout thut wont
back to where Captain Bowman wan
bringing up tho rear under orders to
shoot i'vr.v man that straggled or
shrank from duty.
Now cuiuo u tlmo when not a mouth
ful of food was loft. A wholo day they
floundered on, starving, growing faint
er at every step, tho temperature fall
ing, tho lco thickening. They camped
on high land, and next morning they
heard Hamilton's distant sunrise gun
boom over tho water.
"One half ration for tho men," said
Clark, looking disconsolately in the
direction wheuco the sound had come,
"Just fivo mouthfuls apiece, oven, nnd
I'll have Hamilton and his fort with
in forty-eight hours."
"Wo will liavo tho provisions, colonel,
or I will die trying to got thorn,!' Bev
erley responded. "Depend upon mo."
Thoy had constructed somo canoes
In which to transport tho weakest of
tho ingn.
"I will tako a dugout and somo pick
ed fellows. Wo will pull to tho wood
yonder, and thero wo shall find somo
kind of game which has been forced to
sholtor from tho high water."
It was a cheerful view of a forlorn
nopo. Clurk grasped tho hand extend
ed by Bevcrloy and they looked en
couragingly Into each other's eyes.
Oncle Juzon volunteered to go In the
pirogue. IIo was ready for anything,
everything.
"I can't shoot wo'th a cent," he
whined as they took their places In the
cranky pirogue, "but I might Jes' hap
pen to kill a squlr! or a elephant or
somepln' 'nother."
"Very well!" shouted Clark In a loud,
cheerful voice, whon they bad paddled
away to a constdornbjo distance. "Bring
tho meat to tho woods on tho hill yon
der," pointing to a distant Island-like
ridge far beyond tho creeping flood.
"We'll bo thero ready to eat UP'
He said this for the ears of his men.
Thoy hoard and answered with a strag
gling but determined chorus of ap
proval. They crossed tho rolling cur
rent of tho Wabash by a tedious proc
ess pf ferrying, and at last found
themselves once more wading in back
water up to their arnipiU. breaklwr ice
an' liich thick ns they Went it was
the closing struggle to reach the high
wooded lands. Many of them fell ex
hausted, but their stronger comrades
lifted them, holding their heads above
wnter, and dragged them on.
Clark, always leading, always Inspir
ing, was first to set foot on dry land.
Ho shouted triumphantly, waved Mb
Bword and then fell to helping the men
out of the freezing flood. This accom
plished, he ordered Area built, but
there was not a soldier of them nil
whose bands could clasp an ax handlo,
so weak and numbed with cold wero
tliey. He wns not to bo baffled, how
ever. If Are could not bo had, cxcrclRO
must servo its purposo. Hastily pour
ing somo powder Into his hand, ho
dampened It and blncked his face.
"Victory, men, victory!" ho shouted,
taking off his hat and beginning to
leap nnd dunce. "Como onl We'll
have a war duueo nnd then n feast ns
soon ns the meat arrives that I havo
epnt for. Dance, you brave lads, dancct
Vlctoryl Victory!"
Tho strong men, understandlng'thclr
colonel's purposo, took hold of tho dclt
cato ones, and tho leaping, tho caper
ing, tho tumult of voices and tho
stamping of slushy moccasins with
which they assaulted that stately for
est must havo frightened every wild
thing thereabout Into a deadly rigor.
Clark's Irrepressible energy and op
timism worked a veritable charm upon
Ills fnlthful.btU almost dying cqiupan
'ons In arms. Their trust In lilm made
them feel sure that food would soon
be forthcoming. Tho Oiought afforded
a stimulus moro potent than wluo. It
drove them into nu ecstasy of frantic
motion and shouting which soon warm
ed them thoroughly.
It is said that fortune favors tho
bravo. The larger meaning of tho
sentence may bo given thus: God
guards those who deserve his protec
tion. History tells us that Just when
Chirk halted his command almost In
Bight of Vlneennes Just when hunger
wus about to provent tho victory so
close to his grasp n party of his
scouts brought In tho haunch of a buf
fnlo captured from some Indians. Tho
scouts were Beverley and Onclo Jazon.
A.'id with the meut they brought In
dian kettles In which to cook It.
With consummnte forethought Clurk
arrunged to prevent his men doing
themselves Injury by bolting their food
or eutlug It hulf cooked. Broth was
first made and served hot; then small
bits of well broiled steak wero doled
out, until by degrees tho flno effect of
nourishment set In, nnd nil the com
mand felt the fresh courugc of healthy
reliction.
"I ain't nn gln'ral, nor corp'ral, nor
uotliln'," lemurked Onclo Jnzon to
Colonel Chirk, "hut f l's you I'd h'lst
up every dud dinged olo Aug In tho
rlg'inent, w'en I got reudy to show my
self to 'em, uu' I'd make 'cm think,
over yiinder nt tho fort, 'nt I had 'bout
ninety thousuu' men. lilt 'd skeer that
windy faced gov'nor over thero till he'd
think his backbono wns u-comln' out'n
'I111 by tho rootH."
.Clark lnughed, but his face showed
that the old man's suggestion struck
him forcibly and seriously.
"We'll seo about thut presently,
Ouclo Juzon. Wnlt till wo reach tho
hill yonder, from which tho wholo town
can obsorvo our maneuvers; then wo'II
try It, maylio."
Once more tho men were lined up,
the roll call gono through with satis
factorily nnd tho question put:
"Aro wu rendy for another plungo
through the mud nnd water?"
Tho answer camo In tho affirmative,
with a unanimity not to bo mistaken.
Tho weakest heart of them all boat
to tho time of the charge stop. Again
Clurk and Beverley clasped hands and
took the lead.
Whon thoy reached tho next high
ground they gazed in silence across tho
slushy pralrlo plot to whoro, on a
slight elevation, old Vlneennes and
Fort Sackvtllo lay in full view.
Beverley stood apart. A rush of sen
sations uffected him so that ho shook
Uko ono whoso strength was gone. HU
vision was blurred. Fort and town,
swimming In a mist, wore silent and
still. Savo tho British flag twinkling
abovo Hamilton's headquarters noth
ing indicated that tho pluco wus not
deserted. And AIlco? With tho awoet
name's echo Beverley's heart bounded
high, then sunk fluttering at tho recol
lection that Bho was either yonder at
tho mercy of Hamilton or already the
victim of an uuspeakablo cruelty. Was
It weaknoss for him to lift his clasped
hands benvonward and send up a voice
less pruyor?
A little luter Clark approached hasti
ly and said:
"I have beon looking for you. The
march has begun. Bowman and
Charlevlllo aro moving. Como; there's
no tlmo to lose."
CHAPTER XVIII.
A DUKI. UY MOONLIGHT,
HEN Hamilton, nfter running
somo distance, saw that ho
was gaining upon Alice and
would soon overtako her, it
added fresh energy to his limbs, ne
had quickly realized tho foolishness of
what ho had done in visiting the room
of his prisoner at bo late an hour lu
the night. What would his officers and
men think? To let AIlco cscapo would
be extremoly embarrassing, nnd to bo
seen chasing her would give good
ground for ridicule on tho part of bis
entire command. Therefore his first
thought, aftor passing through tho pos
tern and realizing fully what oort of
predlcumont threatened him, was to re
capture her'und return her to the
prison room in the blockhouse without
attracting attention. This now prom
ised to be nn easier task than be bad
at first feared, for In tho moonlight,
which on account of the dispersing
clouds was fast growing stronger, he
saw hw seem to falter' and weaken.
Certanly her flight was checked and
tzzt ss. seoaajrjc turn, as If .como ob-
W
structlon bad barred her way. no
rushed on, not seeing that as Alice
swerved a man intervened. Indeed,
he was within a few strides of laying
his hand on her when he saw her make
tho strange movement. It was as If,
springing suddenly aside, Bho had be
come two persons Instead of one. But
Instantly the figures coincided again,
nnd in becoming taller faced about nnd
confronted htm.
Hamilton stopped short In his tracks.
The dark figure was about fivo paces
from him. It was not Alice, and a
sword flashed dimly but unmistakably
In a ray of the moon. The motion vis
ible was that tot an expert swordsman
placing himself firmly on his legs, with
his weapou at guard.
Alice saw the man lfTbcr path Just
In time to avoid running against htm.
Lightly as a flying bird when It whisks
Itself In a short semicircle past a tree
or a bough she sprnng aside and
swung around to tho rear of him,
where she could continue her course
toward tho town. But In passing she
recognized him. It was Father Beret,
and how grim he looked! Tho discov
ery was mado In tho twinkling of an
eye, and its effect was Instantaneous,
not only checking tho forco of her
flight, but stopping her and turning
her about to gaze before she bad gone
Ave paces farther.
Hamilton's nerve held, startled no he
was, when he realized that an armed
man stood before him. Changing the
rapier, which he held In tils right
bind, over Into his left,' "he drew
imall pistol from tho breast of hi
coat and fired. Tho report was sharp
and loud, but It caused no uneasiness
or Inquiry in tho fort owing to tho
fact that Indians Invariably emptied
their guns when coming Into tho town.
Hamilton's aim, although hasty, was
not bud. Tho bullet from his weapon
cut through Father Buret's clothes be
tween his left arm nnd his body, slight
ly crcnslug the flesh on n rib. Beyond
him it struck heavily and audibly.
AIlco fell limp nnd motionless to the
toft, wet ground, where cold puddles of
miter wore splintered over with lco.
Sho lay pitifully crumpled, ono arm
outstretched In tho moonlight Father
Beret heard tho bullet hit her and
turned in tlmo to seo her stagger back
ward with a hand convulsively pressed
over her heart Her face, slightly up
turned as sha reeled, gavo the moon a
pallid target for its strengthening rays.
Sweet beautiful, Its rigid features
flashed for a second and then half
turned from the light and wont down.
Father Beret uttered a short, thin
cry and moved as If to go to the fallen
girl, but Just then he saw Hamilton's
sword pass over again into his right
hund and knew that there was no time
for anything but death or fight. Tho
good priest did not shirk what might
have mado the readiest of soldiers
nervous. Hamilton wns known to be a
great swordsman nnd proud of tho (lit-
"If you, U Ut"
Unction. Father Beret bad seen him
feuco with Farnsworth In rcmurkab'le
form, touching him nt will, and in min
istering to tho men in tho fort he had
hoard them talk of tho governor's in
comparublo skill.
A priest Is, In perhaps all cases but
the lust out of a thousand, 11 mun of
pence, not to be, forced Into a fight,
but tho oxeeptlounl one out of tho ten
hundred It Is well not to stir up If you
nro looking for an easy victim. Ham
ilton was in tiie habit of considering
every nntugonlst Immediately conquer
able. Ills domineering spirit could not,
whon opposed, reckon with any possi
bility of disaster. As he Bprang toward
Father Beret there was a mutual rec
ognition and we speck guardedly
something that sounded exactly like an
exchange of furious execrations. As
for Father Beret's words, thoy may
have been a moro priestly formula of
objurgation.
The moon wns accommodating. With
a beautiful white splondor It entered
a space of cloudleRS sky, where It seem
ed to slip along the dusky blue Hurfaco
among the Htnrs. far over In tho west.
"It's you. U It?" Hamilton exclaimed
between teeth that almost crushed one
another. "You prowling hypocrite!"
Father Buret suld something. It was
not complimentary, and It Bounded sul
phurous, If not profane. Remember,
howevor, that u prlost can scnrcoly
hopo to bo bettor 'than rotor, and
Peter did actually roako tho slmon
pure romnrk when hard pressed. At
all events. Father Borot said something
with vigorous emphasis, and met Ham
ilton half way.
Both men, stimulated Jto the fingor
tips by a draft of Imperious passion,
fairly plunged to the Inovltnblu con
flict Ah, if Alice could have seen her
beautiful weapons cross, If she could
have heard the flno, farroacblpg clink,
clink, clink, whllo sparks leaped forth
Culling even, in the moenlight: If h
coma' nave irotca the admirable nay,
the amazing play as the men, regain
ing coolness to some extent gathered
their forces and fell cautiously to tho
deadly work, It would have been
enough to chango tho cold shimmer of ,
her face to n flush of worm delight
For sho would havo understood overy
feint, lunge, parry, and scon at a glance
how Father Beret set tho pace and led
the race at tho beginning. She would
havo understood, for Father Beret had
taught her all sho knew about the art
of fencing.
Hamilton quickly felt and with a
sense of Its strangeness, tho priest's
masterly command of his weapon. The
urprlso called x up all bis caution and
cleverness. Before ho could adjust
himself to such an unexpected con
dition ho came near being spitted out
right by a pretty pass under his guard.
The narrow escape, whllo It put him on.
his best mettle, sent a waro of supcr
jtltlou through hla bruin1, no recalled
what Barlow had Jocularly said about
tho doings of tho dovll-prlest or priest
devil at Rousslllon place on that night
whon tho patrol guard nttomptcd to
toko Gaspard Kousslllon. Was this
Indeed Father Beret, that gentle old
man, now before htm, or was It an
avenging demon from tho shades?
Tho thought flitted electrically across
his mind, while ho deftly parried,
feinted, lunged, giving his dark antag
onist nil ho could do to meet the play.
Priest or devil, ho thought ho cared
not which ho would reach his vital!
presently. Yet there lingered with bin
a haunting half fear or tenuous awe
which may havo aided; rather than
hindered, his excellent, swordsman
ship. Uudcrfoot It was slushy with mud,
water and Ice, tho consistency varying
from a souiowhut solid crust to pud
dles that half Inundated Hamilton's
boots nnd quite overflowed Father
Beret's moccnslns nn execrable field
for the little matter In hand. They
gradually shifted position. Now It
wns the governor, thou tho priest who
had udvantago nn to tho light, For
somo tlmo Father Boret seemed quite
tho shiftier and surer fighter, but (wai
his agu tolling on him?) ho lost per
ceptibly In supploness. Still Hamil
ton failed to touch him. There was a
baffling something In tho old ruan'i
cscapo now aud agnln from what ought
to have been nn Inevitable stroke
Was It luck? It scorned to Hamilton ,
more than that a sort of uncanny eva
sion. Or was It supremo mastery, tho
last and subtlest reach of tho fencer's
craft?
Youth forced ago slowly backward
In the utrugglo, which at times took
on spurts so furious that the Blonder
blades, becoming more glints of acicu
lar stool, split tho moonlight back and
forth, up and down, 00 that their meet
ings, following ono anothor in a woll
nigh continuous stroke, sent a Jarring
noise through tho air. Father Borot
lost Inch by inch, until tho fighting wb
almost ovor the body of Alice, and now
for tho first time Hamilton became
aware of that motionless something
with tho whlto, luminous faco In pro
fllo against tho ground; but ho did not
lot even that unsettle his fencing gaze,
which followed tho sunken and dusky
eyes of his adversary. A perspiration
suddonly flooded his body, howevor,
and began to drip across his face. His
arm was tiring. A doubt crept like a
chill Into his honrt Then tho priest
appeared to add a cubit to hla stature
and waver strangely In tho soft light
Bohiiid him, low ngulnU tho sky, a
wide winged owl shot noiselessly
across Just abovo tho prairie.
Tho soul of a true priest is doublo;
It Is the soul of a saint and the soul of
a worldly man. What is most beauti
ful In this duality is the supreme cour
ago with which tho saintly spirit at
tacks tho worldly and so oftan hero
ically masters it In tho beginning of
the fight Father Boret let a passion of
tho earthly body tako him by storm.
It wus well for Govoruor Henry Ham
ilton that tho priest was bo wrought
upon aa to unsettlo but nerves; other
wise tboro would have been an evil
heart Impaled midway of Fathor Bo
rot's raptor. A Uttlo lator the saintly
spirit began to assert Itsolf, feebly In
deed, but surely. Then It was that
Father Boret socmed to bo loHlng agil
ity for awhllu uu ho bucksteppod away
from Iluuiiltou'u Incrcuulug energy of
assault. lu his heart the priest wns
saying: "I will not murder him. I
must not do that no deserves doath,
but vengeance Is not mine. I will dis
arm him." Step by step ho retreated,
playing orratlcully to mako an opening
for a trick ho meant to use.
It was singularly looso play, a sort
of wavering, shifty, Incomprehensible
show of curelessncsa that caused Ham
ilton to entertain n doubt, which was
really a fear, as to what was going to
happen, for, notwithstanding all thin
neglect of duo precaution on the
priest's part to touch him seemed Im
possible, miraculously so, and ovory
plan of attack dissolved Into futility
In tho most maddening way.
"Priest, dovll or ghost!" raged Ham
ilton, with a froth gathering around
hla mouth. "I'll kill you, or"-
Ho mado n lunge when his adversary
left an opening which appeared abso
lutely beyond dofenno. It wus u quick,
dexterous, vicious thrust. The blado
leaped toward Father Borct's heart
with a twinkle Uko lightning.
At that moment, although warily
alert and hopeful that his opportunity
was at hand. Father Beret came near
lotting his life, for ns he sidestepped
and easily parried Hamilton's thrust
which he hod Invited, thinking to en
tangle his blade and disarm him, he
caught his foot lu Alice's skirt and
stumbled, nearly falling across her.
It would havo been easy for Hamilton
to run him through had ho instantly
followed up the udvantago, but the
moonlight on Alice's face struck his
eyes, and, by that Indirect ray of vlsloa