nt prairie, could not be present to deliver up the post; and as
there was no garrison just then visible, Helm took possession, without
any formalities.

"I think, Lieutenant, that you'd better look around through the village
and see if you can scare up this Captain what's-his-name," said the new
commander to a stalwart young officer who had come with him. "I can't
think of these French names without getting my brain in a twist. Do you
happen to recollect the Captain's name, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, sir; Gaspard Roussillon it reads in Colonel Clark's order; but I
am told that he's away on a trading tour," said the young man.

"You may be told anything by these hair-tongued parlyvoos," Helm
remarked. "It won't hurt, anyway, to find out where he lives and make a
formal call, just for appearance sake, and to enquire about his health.
I wish you would try it, sir, and let me know the result."

The Lieutenant felt that this was a peremptory order and turned about
to obey promptly.

"And I say, Beverley, come back sober, if you possibly can," Helm added
in his most genial tone, thinking it a great piece of humor to suggest
sobriety to a man whose marked difference from men generally, of that
time, was his total abstinence from intoxicating drinks.

Lieutenant Fitzhugh Beverley was a Virginian of Virginians. His family
had long been prominent in colonial affairs and boasted a record of
great achievements both in peace and in war. He was the only son of his
parents and heir to a fine estate consisting of lands and slaves; but,
like many another of the restless young cavaliers of the Old Dominion,
he had come in search of adventure over into Kentucky, along the path
blazed by Daniel Boone; and when Clark organized his little army, the
young man's patriotic and chivalrous nature leaped at the opportunity
to serve his country under so gallant a commander.

Beverley was not a mere youth, although yet somewhat under thirty.
Educated abroad and naturally of a thoughtful and studious turn, he had
enriched his mind far beyond the usual limit among young Americans of
the very best class in that time; and so he appeared older than he
really was: an effect helped out by his large and powerful form and
grave dignity of bearing. Clark, who found him useful in emergencies,
cool, intrepid, daring to a fault and possessed of excellent judgement,
sent him with Helm, hoping that he would offset with his orderly
attention to details the somewhat