or far enough to
ascertain what the English commander was doing.

After the conference Beverley made haste to join Alice; but he found
that she had gone home.

"One hell of a fix we'll be in if Hamilton comes down here with a good
force," said Helm.

Beverley felt like retorting that a little forethought, zeal and
preparation might have lessened the prospective gloom. He had been
troubled all the time about Helm's utter lack of military precaution.
True, there was very little material out of which that optimistic
officer could have formed a body of resistance against the army
probably at Hamilton's command; but Beverley was young, energetic,
bellicose, and to him everything seemed possible; he believed in
vigilance, discipline, activity, dash; he had a great faith in the
efficacy of enthusiasm.

"We must organize these Frenchmen," he said; "they will make good
fighters if we can once get them to act as a body. There's no time to
be lost; but we have time enough in which to do a great deal before
Hamilton can arrive, if we go at it in earnest."

"Your theory is excellent, Lieutenant, but the practice of it won't be
worth a damn," Helm replied with perfect good nature. "I'd like to see
you organize these parly-voos. There ain't a dozen of 'em that wouldn't
accept the English with open arms. I know 'em. They're good hearted,
polite and all that; they'll hurrah for the flag; that's easy enough;
but put 'em to the test and they'll join in with the strongest side,
see if they don't. Of course there are a few exceptions. There's Jazon,
he's all right, and I have faith in Bosseron, and Legrace, and young
Ronville."

"Roussillon--" Beverley began.

"Is much of a blow-hard," Helm interrupted with a laugh. "Barks loud,
but his biting disposition is probably not vicious."

"He and Father Beret control the whole population at all events," said
Beverley.

"Yes, and such a population!"

While joining in Captain Helm's laugh at the expense of Vincennes,
Beverley took leave to indulge a mental reservation in favor of Alice.
He could not bear to class her with the crowd of noisy, thoughtless,
mercurial beings whom he heard still singing gay snatches and calling
to one another from distance to distance, as they strolled homeward in
groups and pairs. Nor could the impending danger of an enforced
surrender to the English and Indians drive from his mind her beautiful
image, while he lay for the rest of the night between sleepi