I am quite willing to have Captain Helm join freely in our conference." "And I refuse to permit his acceptance of your favor," responded Clark.
"Captain Helm, you will return with Mr.Hamilton to the fort and remain his captive until I free you by force.

Meantime hold your tongue." Father Beret, suave looking and quiet, occupied himself at the little altar, apparently altogether indifferent to what was being said; but he lost not a word of the talk.
"Qui habet aures audiendi, audiat," he inwardly repeated, smiling blandly.

"Gaudete in illa die, et exultate!" Hamilton rose to go; deep lines of worry creased his face; but when the party had passed outside, he suddenly turned upon Clark and said: "Why do you demand impossible terms of me ?" "I will tell you, sir," was the stern answer, in a tone in which there was no mercy or compromise.

"I would rather have you refuse.

I desire nothing so much as an excuse to wreak full and bloody vengeance on every man in that fort who has engaged in the business of employing savages to scalp brave, patriotic men and defenseless women and children.