[Alice of Old Vincennes by Maurice Thompson]@TWC D-Link bookAlice of Old Vincennes CHAPTER IX 16/25
He boldly advanced to within easy speaking distance and shouted: "I demand the surrender of this fort." "Well, you'll not get it, young man," roared Helm, his profanity well mixed in with the words, "not while there's a man of us left!" "Ye'd better use sof' soap on 'im, Cap'n," said Oncle Jazon in English, "cussin' won't do no good." While he spoke he rubbed the doughty Captain's arm and then patted it gently. Helm, who was not half as excited as he pretended to be, knew that Oncle Jazon's remark was the very essence of wisdom; but he was not yet ready for the diplomatic language which the old trooper called "soft soap." "Are you the British commander ?" he demanded. "No," said the officer, "but I speak for him." "Not to me by a damned sight, sir.
Tell your commander that I will hear what he has to say from his own mouth.
No understrapper will be recognized by me." That ended the conference.
The young officer, evidently indignant, strode back to his line, and an hour later Hamilton himself demanded the unconditional surrender of the fort and garrison. "Fight for it," Helm stormed forth.
"We are soldiers." Hamilton held a confab with his officers, while his forces, under cover of the town's cabins, were deploying so as to form a half circle about the stockade.
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