then ran, the flag streaming bravely behind her in the wind, her heart
beating time to her steps.

It was plainly a great surprise to Father Beret, who looked up from his
prayer when she rushed in, making a startling clatter, the loose
puncheons shaking together under her reckless feet.

"Oh, Father, here it is! Hide it, hide it, quick!"

She thrust the flag toward him.

"They shall not have it! They shall never have it!"

He opened wide his shrewd, kindly eyes; but did not fairly comprehend
her meaning.

She was panting, half laughing, half crying. Her hair, wildly
disheveled, hung in glorious masses over her shoulders. Her face beamed
triumphantly.

"They are taking the fort," she breathlessly added, again urging the
flag upon him, "they're going in, but I got this and ran away with it.
Hide it, Father, hide it, quick, quick, before they come!"

The daring light in her eyes, the witching play of her dimples, the
madcap air intensified by her attitude and the excitement of the
violent exercise just ended--something compounded of all these and
more--affected the good priest strangely. Involuntarily he crossed
himself, as if against a dangerous charm.

"Mon Dieu, Father Beret," she exclaimed with impatience, "haven't you a
grain of sense left? Take this flag and hide it, I tell you! Don't stay
there gazing and blinking. Here, quick! They saw me take it, they may
be following me. Hurry, hide it somewhere!"

He comprehended now, rising from his knees with a queer smile
broadening on his face. She put the banner into his hands and gave him
a gentle push.

"Hide it, I tell you, hide it, you dear old goose!"

Without sneaking he turned the staff over and over in his hand, until
the flag was closely wrapped around it, then stooping he lifted a
puncheon and with it covered the gay roll from sight.

Alice caught him in her arms and kissed him vigorously on the cheek.
Her warm lips made the spot tingle.

"Don't you dare to let any person have it! It's the flag of George
Washington."

She gave him a strong squeeze.

He pushed her from him with both hands and hastily crossed himself; but
his eyes were laughing.

"You ought to have seen me; I waved the flag at them--at the
English--and one young officer took off his hat to me! Oh, Father
Beret, it was like what is in a novel. They'll get the fort, but not
the banner! Not the banner! I've saved it, I've saved it!"

Her enthusiasm gave a splendor to her counten