The giant orator soon found himself face to face with a greater trial even than Rene's.

He was calmly told by the English commander that he could choose between death and telling who it was that stole the flag.
"I'll have you shot, sir, to-morrow morning if you prevaricate about this thing any longer," said Hamilton, with a right deadly strain in his voice.

"You told me that you knew every man, woman and child in Vincennes at sight.

I know that you saw that girl take the flag--lying does not serve your turn.

I give you until this evening to tell me who she is; if you fail, you die at sunrise to-morrow." In fact, it may be that Hamilton did not really purpose to carry out this blood-thirsty threat; most probably he relied upon M.Roussillon's imagination to torture him successfully; but the effect, as time proved, could not be accurately foreseen.
Captain Farnsworth had energy enough for a dozen ordinary men.