QJontell Utttuetaitg Hihrarg 
 
 3tt)aca, -Neui $ark 
 
 BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE 
 
 JACOB H. SCHIFF 
 
 ENDOWMENT FOR THE PROMOTION 
 
 OF STUDIES IN 
 
 HUMAN CIVILIZATION 
 
 1918 
 
Cornell University Library 
 PS 3505.U823K2 
 
 Kathi " of Skenesborough 
 
 3 1924 022 347 821 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022347821 
 
"KATHI" 
 
 OF SKENESBOROUGH 
 
"KATHI" 
 
 OF 
 
 SKENESBOROUGH 
 
 by 
 MAY BELLE CURTIS 
 
 CHAMPLAIN PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 GLENS FALLS, N. Y. 
 
Part First 
 SKENESBOROUGH— 1 774 
 
 Part Second 
 THE CAPTURE — 1775 
 
COPYRIGHT 19U by 
 
 CHAMPLAIN PUBLISHING CO. 
 
 GLENS FALLS 
 N. Y. 
 
THIS VOLUMN IS INSCRIBED 
 
 TO 
 
 EVERY LOYAL HEART WHO LOVES, 
 
 AND 
 
 WHO IS SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH 
 
 IN HISTORY. 
 
Note to the Reader. 
 
 We wish to state that the author is a descendent 
 of a Patriot soldier; not of a Loyalist as some may 
 imagine. Her motive is to tell true history rather 
 than to awaken patriotic sympathies. 
 
 Old journals, private papers, personal letters, and 
 public archives have been searched for data, and in 
 the main the facts of this story have been gathered 
 from original sources. As far as possible the person- 
 alities of these people have been drawn from life, as 
 the author conceives their characters, from her stud- 
 ies of their works and writings, and from contempor- 
 ary descriptions. She has traveled over the trails, 
 and visited every locality described. 
 
 Although many references have been given, they 
 are few compared to the great number of books and 
 documents that have been consulted. 
 
 The thanks of the author is due to all her friends, 
 and acquaintances, who have assisted her in many 
 ways in the compilation of this story. 
 
PART FIRST 
 
Kathi of Skenesborough 
 
 ' ' Mahse Cunnel ! Mahse Cunnel ! Mahse Cunnel ! 
 De Liberty's comin'! De Liberty's eomin'!" yelled 
 Zach as he ran down the path from the blockhouse, 
 vrnich stood at the top of a rocky projection over- 
 looking the bay. He was accompanied by a very 
 energetic collie, which bounded on ahead of him 
 barking with all his might, then leaping back with 
 such force against Zach's legs that he tripped the 
 lad. While sprawling on the ground, the negro boy 
 vigorously cuffed the little beast as he indignantly 
 exclaimed, "take dat, and dat, and dat, you ol' fool 
 Dash!" Scrambling to his feet, they both sped on, 
 the dog in advance, barking as joyously as if he 
 had never been rebuked. 
 
 "Mahse Cunnel! Mahse Cunnel! De Liberty's 
 comin'! De Liberty's comin' !" 
 
 Colonel Philip Skene came out of the iron works 
 at the foot of the hill and met the little darky, whom 
 he had stationed at the blockhouse some time be- 
 fore. "Run, Zach, and tell your mistress." 
 
 1 
 
"De Liberty's comin'! De Liberty's comin'!" 
 shouted the boy as he passed the sawmill. On he 
 raced across the foot bridge suspended over the dam 
 at the lower end of the rapid, which makes a falls of 
 ten feet where the turbid Wood creek mingles with 
 the clearer waters of Lake Champlain. 
 
 "De Liberty's comin'! De Liberty's comin'!" 
 On rushed Zach, with Dash at his heels, along the 
 broad path on the side of Skene mountain. Never 
 once did he pause to take breath until he reached 
 the kitchen door of a large stone house. 
 
 "De Liberty's comin' ! De Liberty's comin' !" 
 
 "De Liberty's comin'!" echoed Chloe as she 
 darted up a pair of stairs, which led from one corner 
 of the room. Through the butler's pantry, and din- 
 ing room, and on into the hall, she ran up two nights 
 of stairs to the spinning chamber, and gasped, "De 
 Liberty's come." 
 
 Elizabeth Skene was so startled she jumped back- 
 wards, overturning the reel which fell to the floor. 
 However, she did not pause to pick it up, but hast- 
 ened down the stairs followed by Chloe. By the time 
 they reached the porch the whole household of ser- 
 vants was hurrying pell-mell to the landing below. 
 
 On hearing the commotion, John Brooks, the Col- 
 onel's agent, laid down his quill, and hurriedly 
 
sprinkling a little blotting sand on his unfinished 
 letter, left the office to join the others. Observing 
 Miss Skene descending the north steps of the house, 
 he was very much amused at her extreme haste, as it 
 was the first time he had ever seen that stately lady 
 when she was not perfectly calm and dignified. 
 
 For once Miss Elizabeth was totally unconscious 
 of her appearance. She did not even stop to teach 
 the little pickaninnies better manners than to hang 
 onto her skirts. Nor did she take time to become 
 dizzy crossing the narrow foot bridge over the falls, 
 but grasping now and then the substantial railing of 
 young saplings on either side, she crossed the creek 
 to where her brother awaited her. Taking his arm, 
 they proceeded more leisurely than the others to the 
 dock below. 
 
 A more handsome couple never walked the streets 
 of London, to say nothing of the wilderness towns 
 of North America. The Colonel when on parade with 
 his regiment never carried his six feet four more 
 gracefully than now. He was a strong, well formed 
 man, forty-nine years of age, with a heavy head of 
 hair which was decidedly gray. His large deep blue 
 eyes had not lost their brilliancy through the hard- 
 ships of a soldier's life. Every feature of his face, 
 from the noble brow to the firm chin, showed the 
 
man's strength of character. Perhaps the most strik- 
 ing part of his countenance was the prominent, but 
 well shaped nose, although after being with him for 
 awhile one became most attracted by the delicate 
 curves of the mouth, and the tenderness so often 
 there expressed. Yet withal, it was not a weak 
 mouth. Indeed, there was not a weak streak to be 
 found anywhere in Philip Skene. 1 
 
 There was a strong family resemblance between 
 brother and sister, and yet, her face lacked the pleas- 
 ant expression that characterized his. The corners 
 of her mouth turned down in a stern, set manner, 
 which indicated that she could hate as well as love. 
 
 In the early days the Indians had no villages in 
 this valley, it being the war path of the Iroquois and 
 Algonquins in their many conflicts. The French set- 
 tlements consisted of merely a few huts around the 
 forts, built by them on ground which they disputed 
 with the English for over seventy years. After the 
 Treaty of Paris in 1763, many of the officers and sol- 
 diers, who had fought in the British army, received 
 grants of land, 2 Philip Skene among them. His was 
 the first permanent settlement made by English 
 speaking people on Lake Champlain. Skenesborough 
 was a very small place compared with some of the 
 New England towns, or with Albany seventy miles 
 
to the southward. Nevertheless it was a very im- 
 portant and promising town. No settlement in 
 America had a more capable, energetic, or better 
 educated leader. In the fifteen years since his first 
 coming, much had been accomplished in spite of 
 many difficulties, and the hardships endured by all 
 first settlers in a wilderness. 3 
 
 During the past few months his mind had been 
 occupied by a great project for his country's good, as 
 well as his own aggrandizement. However, this first 
 day of June 1774 he could think of nothing but the 
 fact that his daughters were coming home from 
 school, his son having gone to Montreal to escort 
 them. 
 
 Notwithstanding the excitement of the arrival, 
 no one seemed to forget his manners, and the crowd 
 respectfully separated, leaving an opening for the 
 Colonel and his sister to pass, so they might be the 
 first to greet the party. The wind being from the 
 north, the Liberty was well around the Elbow, and 
 speeding towards them with the Union Jack flying 
 from her masthead. When opposite the Island, with- 
 in shouting distance of the wharf, they could see the 
 sailors reefing the canvas, and preparing to make 
 the landing. In the bow of the schooner stood the 
 two young ladies waving their handkerchiefs, while 
 
beside them signalled their brother with his hat 
 above their heads. 
 
 Very skillfully the sailors handled the huge tiller, 
 and slowly made a circle of the harbor, bringing the 
 Liberty's side to the end of the dock. Then, with 
 oars and pikes, she was forced against the piling, 
 causing the water to dash over the planks at the feet 
 of the waiting friends. As many a glad shout went 
 up from both parties the gangway was hauled from 
 the ship. 
 
 Mary Skene was the first to reach the out- 
 stretched arms of her father, who warmly clasped 
 her to his breast with more than one kiss pressed to 
 her lips. When released she passed on to embrace 
 her aunt, and greet the others. 
 
 Kathi impatiently awaited her father's welcome. 
 To all outward appearances, Colonel Skene caressed 
 her as lovingly as he caressed her elder sister, in fact, 
 no one but himself knew there was any difference in 
 the warmth of his greetings. However, there was 
 no evidence of any lack of affection between the 
 father and son. 
 
 Two young men followed Andrew. One, stepping 
 forward, shook hands with Philip Skene. "How do 
 you do, Colonel?" 
 
 "Glad to see you, John," was the warm response. 
 
' ' Allow me to introduce, Lieutenant de Piquet, of 
 Montreal," said John Watson. 
 
 "Welcome to Skenesborough, Mr. de Piquet." 
 The colonel turned to present his sister, but she had 
 vanished in the crowd. "I trust you have had a 
 pleasant trip. ' ' 
 
 "Never a better," answered Frederic de Piquet. 
 "You have a fine schooner and well manned." 
 
 The colonel was about to reply when he noticed 
 Juliet, his daughter's colored maid, decked out in 
 gay new garments of many colors. Under each arm 
 she carried a huge bandbox made of birch bark, 
 which prevented her from proceeding further than 
 the gangway. 
 
 "How are you, Juliet?" 
 
 "Thank you, Mahse Cunnel, I'se mighty well, 
 'ceptin' dese yer burdens I'se totin' is pow'ful cum- 
 bersom. ' ' 
 
 "Why don't you set them down on the boat, and 
 send Zach for them?" 
 
 ' ' 0, Mahse Cunnel ! Miss Kathi ud never f ergiv 
 me if anythin' should happen t' dese yer 'dornments. 
 No, Mahse, I jest have t' endure dis discomode." 
 
 ' ' Very well, Juliet, Mr. de Piquet and I will make 
 way for you, but you will have to follow pretty close 
 behind us if you manage to get through the crowd 
 
8 
 
 without knocking some one off the dock with your 
 bonnet boxes." 
 
 Juliet kept close to their heels, greeting the set- 
 tlers on both sides, who answered her with many 
 a jest along with their howd'y's. Her sister, Chloe, 
 relieved her of one of the boxes as she joined the 
 rest of the family servants. 
 
 Miss Elizabeth led the way to the house followed 
 by the others. Last of all came Kathi surrounded 
 by nearly every child in the settlement, trying to tell 
 her all at once of everything which had happened in 
 the past nine months; particularly the new arrivals 
 of calves, pigs, chickens, kittens, pups, and even a 
 little black cub, and a tame crow that could talk. 
 
 The baggage and supplies were being loaded onto 
 the ox carts, which were to carry them across the 
 ford above the rapids, to the house. 
 
II. 
 
 Lieutenant de Piquet sauntered out of the house, 
 and up the path leading toward the barn. John 
 Brooks happened to be going the same way, so they 
 walked along together, talking about the unusually 
 good weather. As they approached a small stone 
 house, Brooks asked, "would you like to come into 
 my office a little while ? ' ' 
 
 "Thanks, I would be pleased to visit you." 
 
 There were two doors to the building. They 
 passed the first, and entered the second. "Take this 
 chair, Lieutenant." Placing the easiest chair in the 
 room for his guest, Mr. Brooks seated himself in a 
 smaller one beside a large table. 
 
 "You have a fine office here," remarked de Piquet 
 as he looked around. "Have you two rooms?" 
 
 "Yes, that's the colonel's private office," motion- 
 ing to the door leading into the adjoining apartment. 
 "He spends very little time here. Now that his 
 daughters are home, I presume he will be with them 
 all he possibly can until he sails." 
 
 "I beg your pardon, but I did not know he was 
 going away." 
 
 9 
 
10 
 
 "Oh, the colonel is generally away. I attend to 
 all his business affairs here. It doesn't make any 
 difference whether he is home or not, he knows I will 
 cake care of everything, just as though it were my 
 own." 
 
 Frederic de Piquet looked up rather surprised, 
 not so much at the words, as the boasting tone with 
 which they were spoken. "You have a great deal 
 to look after here. How much land has the colonel ? ' ' 
 
 Fifty-three thousand, three hundred and fifty 
 acres, in all, but twenty-five thousand is at Crown 
 Point." 
 
 ' ' Indeed, that is quite a grant. ' ' 
 
 "It was not all granted to him. Some he pur- 
 chased. ' ' 
 
 "I am surprised at the money he has laid out in 
 improvements in the short time he has been here. 
 Why, there is a fortune in the iron works alone. ' ' 
 
 "I should say there is. It clears him a thousand 
 a year. He has three saw mills, all kept very busy, 
 and has built twenty-three frame houses on the es- 
 tate for the tenants. ' ' 4 
 
 "That is a good many, aside from the buildings 
 for his own use. I was told he had a stone house, 
 but I had no idea it was so large, and of English 
 
11 
 
 architecture. Did he import a builder to do the 
 ffork?" 
 
 "0, yes, and a man who knew his business too. 
 He was here three years. You have not seen the barn 
 yet. That is the colonel's pride. There is not a barn 
 in all America that compares with it. He says he is 
 building monuments that will stand for hundreds of 
 years, and he hopes his deseendents for generations 
 will enjoy them. ' ' 5 
 
 "I am sure they will all be proud to have such 
 an ancestor. Very likely in time, all these buildings 
 will be covered with old English ivy. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, that's the colonel's idea. He is going to 
 bring back with him roots enough to set around 
 them all. And then there are to be more buildings, 
 and larger ones, you know." 
 
 "No, I did not know." 
 
 "Well, they are not to be built until everything 
 is settled. I mean until the king has accepted the pe- 
 tition." 
 
 ' ' Mr. Brooks, I am a stranger in these parts, and 
 do not know to what petition you refer. ' ' 
 
 "Well, Lieutenant, we have not been talking it 
 to strangers, but just among the prominent people 
 of this pa,rt of the county, who are having such trou- 
 ble over their grants." 
 
12 
 
 "If it is no secret, I should like to know what 
 trouble they are having over their grants." 
 
 Mr. Brooks turned quickly, and looked straight 
 into de Piquet 's eyes, which did not try to evade his 
 gaze, but returned the questioning look. "Are you 
 on your way to Albany? Where do you live?" 
 
 ' ' I live in Montreal. I am going no further than 
 Skenesborough," was the reply without any hesita- 
 tion, or even a blush, although the manner of the 
 questioner was very embarrassing. 
 
 "May I ask what brings you here?" 
 
 In spite of Frederic de Piquet's uncommon self 
 control, he flushed deeply and hesitated a moment. 
 "Mr. Brooks, from the tone of your voice, I take it 
 you think I am here to pry into Colonel Skene 's pri- 
 vate affairs. I hasten to inform you that you are mis- 
 taken. I am a friend of — Andrew's, and on his invi- 
 tation I came home with him to make a visit. I re- 
 turn with the schooner when she is loaded." 
 
 John Brooks acted as if he were much relieved, 
 ^nd laughed outright. ' ' I beg your pardon, Lieuten- 
 ant. Now I understand you are not interested in 
 these parts." 
 
 "No more than one naturally is in those things 
 which interest his friends." 
 
13 
 
 "You would not blame me for being rude, if you 
 knew of the strange doings of some Albany parties. ' ' 
 
 A broad smile played upon de Piquet's face. "I 
 see, you thought perhaps I was here to spy upon 
 you." 
 
 "The truth is, the colonel is in a very trying 
 position. One might say 'between the devil and the 
 deep sea. ' But that 's not what I started to tell you. ' ' 
 
 "How did they happen to get into a dispute over 
 the land grants?" 
 
 ' ' The trouble dates back a good many years. The 
 strip of land east of the Hudson river line, about 
 thirty miles in width, and extending from Otter 
 creek to the Battenkill, was granted by the governor 
 of New Hampshire. The New York authorities claim 
 it as their right, and have been issuing grants, and 
 sending settlers into the same country. You can 
 readily see that there has been much quarreling, and 
 some fighting in a small way." 6 
 
 "Naturally," assented the listener. 
 
 "The colonel has had considerable trouble over 
 lands himself," continued Brooks. "For instance, 
 while he was on the expedition to Martinique, his 
 tenants became discouraged, and most of them left, 
 and squatters came in, and commenced clearing the 
 land that had been granted to him. Naturally, when 
 
14 
 
 a man like Colonel Skene came home, and found 
 what was happening, there was some excitement in 
 the neighborhood right away." 
 
 "Did he drive them away?" 
 
 "Oh, some of 'em, some he compromised with. 
 The colonel needed settlers, and the squatters needed 
 land, so they fixed things up finally. ' ' 7 
 
 "I see," nodded the lieutenant. 
 
 "These Hampshire Granters are a lawless, trou- 
 blesome lot, I can assure you. They're a hard set. 
 They have formed a sort of military organization, 
 and call themselves 'The Green Mountain Boys.' 
 Their leader is a human devil, and they have driven 
 off most of the Yorkers by sheer force." 
 
 "Well, it is hard enough to get land, without 
 fighting to hold it." 
 
 "Yes, but we are forming a plan by which we 
 hope to put an end to the controversy. "We had a 
 meeting in Castleton last month, and all the prom- 
 inent men in the disputed territory were present. We 
 drew up a petition to the king to establish a new 
 province. ' ' 
 
 "Would it cover the belt you mention?" 
 "Oh, yes, and much more. Its bounds are the 
 Connecticut, the line of the Mohawk, Lake Ontario 
 and Canada. Skenesborough will be the capital, and 
 
15 
 
 Skene the governor. He leaves for England on the 
 Liberty's next trip to Canada, with the petition 
 signed by all the prominent men of the Grants." 
 
 "That ought to be a good recommendation for 
 him, but better, his war record will have great 
 weight, and he is not without political backing. ' ' 
 
 "Certainly, there's no doubt about it. Philip 
 Skene will return with a commission as governor of 
 this new province. ' ' 
 
 "That will be a pretty good office to hold." 
 
 "Yes, and the colonel is just the man for the 
 place. He is the most diplomatic person I ever saw. 
 Why, do you know, that through all these years of 
 fighting between the Yorkers and the Granters, he 
 has held his commission as colonel in the New York 
 militia, and is the second highest judge as well. And 
 all the time he is hand and glove with the Green 
 Mountain Boys. Now you know it takes a mighty 
 smart fellow to succeed in standing well with all par- 
 ties under such conditions as he has been forced to 
 labor." 
 
 Before the last sentence was finished a servant 
 appeared at the door to summon de Piquet to dinner. 
 John Brooks left the office at the same time. 
 
 In the adjoining room sat the colonel in a large 
 chair by his desk watching de Piquet until he entered 
 
16 
 
 the house. Philip Skene scratched his head, and 
 muttered to himself. "It may be all right, but it 
 looks suspicious. I certainly understood Andy to say 
 de Piquet had brought a letter to me from Governor 
 Carleton, and if so, why doesn't he make his busi- 
 ness known. If he is an old friend of Andy 's, it 's a 
 mighty queer thing that I never heard of him before. 
 And, why is he so anxious to know all about my 
 private affairs? I'll give Brooks a good talking to. 
 The mutton head ought to know better than to dis- 
 cuss my affairs with strangers like that. His in- 
 fernal love of bragging will get the better of him. 
 He has nothing to boast of himself, so he has to glory 
 in my achievements." 
 
 The colonel was anything but an eavesdropper, and 
 at first had not paid any attention to the conversa- 
 tion in the adjoining room, supposing when they en- 
 tered they had seen him through the half closed door. 
 But when he had heard de Piquet 's question concern- 
 ing his wealth and prospects, he felt it his right to 
 listen further. And as the visit had progressed, he 
 felt it would be unkind, and unnecessary, to em- 
 barrass the young men by making his presence 
 known. 
 
III. 
 
 While the schooner was discharging her cargo, 
 and reloading, Colonel Skene had planned to spend 
 all the time possible with his children, as it might be 
 a year before he could be with them again. 
 
 The morning after their arrival, the colonel in- 
 vited them all to take a row to South Bay, and a 
 picnic lunch in the woods. All accepted but Miss 
 Elizabeth, who considered picnics a waste of time, 
 and therefore wicked. Her motto was, ' ' work while 
 you rest," and she certainly lived up to it, but had 
 never succeeded in inducing the remainder of the 
 family to do likewise. 
 
 The colonel's private bateau was in readiness 
 when the party reached the dock. The visitors had 
 never seen a more handsome pleasure boat. It was 
 thirty feet in length, and eight in breadth through 
 the center, but slightly narrowed at each end, where 
 there were benches for the use of the oarsmen. The 
 center part was covered with an oilcloth awning. 
 Several comfortable chairs were arranged around a 
 small table, all of which were of black walnut to 
 
 17 
 
18 
 
 match the finish of the bateau. The chairs and nar- 
 row seats, which surrounded the enclosure, were up- 
 holstered with leather. 8 No cabinet maker in 
 America could build more artistic, or more substan- 
 tial furniture, than the one Colonel Skene had 
 brought from England several years before, and who 
 was still at work in his little slab sided shop near 
 the mill. 
 
 Jack Anderson, the most intelligent slave on the 
 place, 9 had inspected the entire bateau to be sure 
 everything was in readiness, and in spic-span condi- 
 tion. Miss Kathi failed to discover any dust when 
 she entered the boat. Jack felt well repaid for his 
 pains when she complimented him on having the 
 cleanest bateau she had seen in some time. 
 
 "Where's our banner, Jack?" asked Mary. 
 
 "I reck'n de sail's a pow'ful help dis yere 
 mornin'," replied the negro in apology. 
 
 "You'd better notice the direction of the wind, 
 and reckon again," laughed Andrew. 
 
 Mary held up her handkerchief and remarked, 
 "well you both have finer senses than I if you can 
 discover any wind to talk about. ' ' 
 
 "You are right, Mary," said John Watson, and 
 the admiring look that accompanied the remark was 
 only half hidden. 
 
19 
 
 ' ' Take the blanket sail down, Jack, ' ' ordered the 
 colonel, ' ' and run up the banner. ' ' 
 
 The servant hastened to do the bidding, and 
 Lieutenant de Piquet exclaimed as the king's colors 
 were run up the mast in the bow, ' ' Hurrah ! Hurrah 
 for King George!" 
 
 "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" shouted all in 
 chorus, even the darkies joining in, and John and 
 Andrew ended with an Indian warhoop which set 
 them all laughing. 
 
 When all were seated in the boat, Jack signalled 
 to the two waiting slaves to cast off the lines, and in 
 a few moments they were in their places beside the 
 six others. The bateau drifted from the dock, and 
 eight oars were raised in the air. Jack's deep musical 
 voice rang out clear and strong, "One, two, three, 
 go," and away they glided out of the harbor and 
 down the lake, Jack steering with a long oar in the 
 stern. 
 
 Kathi began to sing, her sweet soprano voice car- 
 rying across the water and echoing back from the 
 cliffs of the Island. She was joined by her sister's 
 alto, and her brother's tenor, and last, but not least, 
 by her father's bass. 
 
20 
 
 Come unto these yellow sands 
 
 And then take hands : 
 Courtesied when you have, and kiss'd 
 
 The wild waves whist, 
 Foot it featly here and there ; 
 And, sweet Spirit, the burthen bear. 
 
 Hark, hark! 
 
 Bow-wow. 
 
 The watch-dogs bark : 
 
 Bow-wow 
 
 Hark, hark ! I hear 
 
 The strain of strutting chanticleer. 10 
 
 "Is this "Wood Creek?" asked Frederic. 
 "No, this is Lake Champlain," answered Kathi. 
 ' ' There has been considerable discussion in this part 
 of the country as to the proper name of these wa- 
 ters. You Canadians have been calling this side of 
 Crown Point, South river, and that is rather confus- 
 ing to our southern neighbors, because in New York 
 they call the Hudson, North river, so you see, we 
 have a South river to our north, and a North river to 
 our south." 
 
 "Well, that is rather complex. Wonder they 
 wouldn't revise the points of the compass. What is 
 the correct name?" 
 
 "It is often called Wood creek, the same as 
 above the falls, and some have called it Skene river, 
 but we have decided, as there is no current below 
 
21 
 
 the falls, that the head of Lake Champlain is at 
 Skenesborough dock. ' ' n 
 
 "We would be thankful," added Mary, "if you 
 would inform your Canadian countrymen that 
 Skenesborough lies at the head of Lake Champlain. ' ' 
 
 ' ' I shall be pleased to do so, Miss Skene, ' ' laughed 
 Frederic. "I will go back home determined to 
 teach the geography of this locality to every person 
 I meet, whether he wants to learn or not. I will tell 
 them Miss Skene insists that every Canadian knows 
 where the head of Lake Champlain is, although it 
 looks more like the tail. ' ' 
 
 "After you have been up South Bay, you can 
 also teach them as to one of its arms. ' ' 
 
 "Oh, here we are at the Elbow," exclaimed 
 Kathi. 
 
 "The elbow of the arm?" teasingly asked de 
 Piquet. 
 
 "No, this is the Fiddler's Elbow ; no part of Lake 
 Champlain's arm." 
 
 "It certainly is well named." 
 
 "Do you see that flat rock ahead, there to the 
 left?" asked the colonel, pointing to an open space 
 on the west side. "We call that Put's Rock. It is 
 the place Israel Putnam fought the French and In- 
 dians sixteen years ago." 12 
 
22 
 
 "Oh, Father, you have always promised to take 
 us there and tell us the story just as General Put- 
 nam told it to you. Can't we stop now?" 
 
 ' ' On our way back will be better than now, as I 
 am sure you girls will find flowers there which you 
 will want to carry home." 
 
 ' ' Just look at those rocks, ' ' exclaimed Kathi. 
 
 ' ' You know, ' ' remarked Andrew, ' ' I told you, de 
 Piquet, that the Lord made this locality last, and 
 dumped all the rock He had left from the rest of 
 the world in Skenesborough. ' ' 
 
 "Don't you believe him," enthusiastically broke 
 in Kathi. ' ' God sent His angel masons here to build 
 us these beautiful stone walls. When we get back 
 home I will show you the stairs they built up the 
 mountain side." 
 
 "I think, Skene, your sister is right," corrected 
 de Piquet seriously. The Creator certainly did not 
 dump His leavings here, but it seems to me it was 
 all made with great care. 
 
 "Yes," said the colonel. "God made His world 
 perfect. Andy is wrong. This granite is the hard- 
 est, and most refractory rock of which our scientists 
 have any knowledge." 
 
 "I am glad to know that," exclaimed Frederic, 
 his expression showing great interest. 
 
2.3 
 
 "So am I," added John Watson. "I had no 
 idea how may times I have made this trip, and I al- 
 ways notice the rocks, but I never knew before they 
 were harder than any other. ' ' 
 
 "You see the precipice facing the west, is the 
 one in which the stone is laid in regular courses of 
 masonry," pointing to the wall of rock across the 
 narrow channel. "There is every evidence that God 
 made this spot first, which he has now given us for 
 our home, ' ' and one of Philip Skene 's pleasant smiles 
 lit up his countenance. 
 
 ' ' Colonel, you certainly deserve all you have. ' ' 
 "Thank you, Watson, I wish every one else felt 
 as you do about it. I am sorry to say, I have my 
 enemies as well as my friends." 
 
 "There never was a great man who did not have 
 enemies." 
 
 "Thanks, Mr. de Piquet, for the compliment," 
 smilingly returned the colonel. "However, without 
 making the application too personal, I have observed 
 the truth of your remark. ' ' 
 
 The merry party sang snatches of familiar songs, 
 and joked each other as the bateau gliding swiftly 
 over the smooth water, entered the mouth of South 
 Bay before they realized they had gone so far. As 
 there was no wind to help propel the boat, the ool- 
 
24 
 
 onel ordered the servants to land at the first little 
 bay they came to, which proved to be at the mouth 
 of a small stream. 
 
 The gentlemen shouldered their fowling pieces, 
 and entered the bordering woods. The ladies gath- 
 ered flowers at the edge of the water. The servants 
 piled dry twigs onto a large flat stone near the shore, 
 ready to light a fire when it was time for dinner. A 
 couple of young trees with crotched limbs were driv- 
 en on either side iof the fireplace, and an iron rod, 
 brought from the boat, was suspended between them 
 on which to hang the game. This done, the negroes 
 returned to the bateau to fish. 
 
 It was not long before Watson and de Piquet 
 came sauntering back, a few birds dangling over 
 their shoulders. Laughingly they declared they 
 never could see any sport hunting, when there were 
 charming ladies to talk with. Andrew and his 
 father were loaded with game when they returned. 
 They were glad to find their guests had supplied 
 enough for the meal, and all enjoyed a hearty 
 lunch. 
 
 It was five o 'clock when they reached home, and 
 judging by their appearance, as they walked up the 
 path to the house, they all had had an enjoyable 
 day. The servants took charge of the fish and game, 
 
25 
 
 but every one else's arms were filled with flowers, 
 which, they deposited on the porch. Miss Elizabeth 
 joined them, and all proceeded to pick out the choic- 
 est blossoms, and when beautiful bouquets were 
 made from each variety, a little procession formed, 
 led by the colonel. 
 
 They followed him up a narrow path, a short dis- 
 tance to the north of the house, and stopped before 
 a plank door, apparently opening into the side of 
 the mountain. Silently, Andrew and his father lifted 
 a large bar from its massive sockets; the colonel 
 unlocked and gently opened the door, the great iron 
 hinges creaking in a most doleful manner. Solemn- 
 ly they all entered the vaulted room, and placed the 
 vases of flowers upon a low bench which extended 
 across the tomb. In the center of the wall, directly 
 in front of the door showed the end of a coffin, sealed 
 with lead, on which was this inscription. 
 
 Katherine Hayden 
 
 beloved wife of 
 
 Philip Skene 
 
 born 1728 
 
 died 1772. 
 
IV. 
 
 "What is next on the program, Mary?" inquired 
 her father as they rose from the table and followed 
 the others across the large hall to the drawing room. 
 At the same time Kathi was being invited to play 
 John Watson's favorite air on the harpsichord, and 
 Andrew was begging Frederic de Piquet to fill his 
 pipe from a jar of tobacco of a choice brand, brought 
 by the colonel from Havana. 
 
 "I should think, Philip, you would desire the 
 girls to be better employed than to waste their time 
 tramping around the woods with a lot of men," ob- 
 served Miss Elizabeth, regretfully. "What you call 
 education is only going to make them forget how to 
 spin and knit." 
 
 "No danger of that, sister. After I am gone you 
 will see to it that the girls do not neglect their do- 
 mestic accomplishments. But until the schooner is 
 loaded we will all take a vacation." 
 
 "That's a good Daddy. I propose a climb to the 
 pinnacle of West mountain. What do you say, 
 Andy?" 
 
 26 
 
27 
 
 "Oh, I'm agreeable, Mary, and we will stop at 
 the Indian lodge, and take the girls along with us. ' ' 
 
 "Ha! Ha!" laughed Kathi. "Of course we 
 could not get brother by the lodge without stopping 
 for Fawn." 
 
 "Who's Fawn?" enquired Frederic. 
 
 ' ' She 's a little half breed whose charms Andy can 
 not resist." 
 
 "Don't you believe anything my sisters tell you. 
 They are only jealous of these little Indians." 
 
 ' ' Jealous, son, that 's putting it too strong, ' ' and 
 the colonel's voice was full of reproach. "You know 
 the girls only like to tease you, same as you do 
 them." 
 
 "You are right, Father, and that's the very rea- 
 son I tell them they are jealous." He turned to de 
 Piquet. "Fawn and Sunshine are two young squaws 
 from one of the Mohawk tribes. In summer the 
 family has its hunting lodge just west of us on the- 
 hill. When we were children we became acquainted 
 with them, and every season they come here to visit 
 us very often." 
 
 "Mary and I have taught them some English, 
 and we have learned many things from them." 
 
 "And pray, Miss Kathi, what were they able to 
 teach you?" enquired de Piquet. 
 
28 
 
 "0, something of their language, and to make 
 baskets," picking up a large willow case from the 
 floor, and handing it to Frederic. "This is one I 
 made, although Sunshine helped me considerably 
 with it." 
 
 ' ' Why, this is a papoose basket. ' ' 
 
 "No," laughed Kathi, "it is something like one in 
 shape but it has no board on which to strap the 
 child. It is carried this way." Tossing the gaily 
 dyed basket to her shoulders, she crossed the straps 
 in front, and buckled them behind. "Now I'm ready 
 for the pinnacle. " 
 
 ' ' Please do not start until we get a lunch in that 
 patent knapsack," implored Andrew. 
 
 "Trust me for that," she answered making for 
 the door. ' ' It will not take Mammy long to fill it. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Wait, Kathi, ' ' called her father. ' ' Jack will see 
 to the lunch, and I will send word to your Indian 
 friends to meet us on the trail. ' ' 
 
 Kathi removed the basket, and the two girls has- 
 tened up stairs to their rooms to don their semi- 
 Indian costumes for the climb. When they again 
 appeared in the drawing room, they found the gen- 
 tlemen had made similar changes in their attire. 
 
 "You look surprised, Mr. de Piquet," laughed 
 
29 
 
 Kathi. ' ' Did you think Fawn and Sunshine had ar- 
 rived?" 
 
 "Oh no, Miss Skene, your complexions are too 
 fair to be mistaken for squaws, however young and 
 beautiful. Your buckskins are very handsome." 
 
 ' ' The Indian girls made them for us. ' ' 
 
 "What's this?" asked de Piquet pointing to a 
 crude picture of a bear, worked in black beads on 
 the front of the short skirt. 
 
 "This signifies that we belong to the Bear tribe, 
 and the striped snake, you see he is playing with, 
 in the form of a letter S, refers to the Skene family, 
 and this campfire between the two denotes we are 
 brethren. ' ' 
 
 "Notice our wampum belts," added Mary. 
 ' ' They were given us by the sachem, Big Eagle, but 
 the one Andy has is far more valuable. Fawn's 
 mother gave it to him," she explained as Frederic 
 examined it carefully. "She is really the ruler of 
 the tribe. We call her the queen. It has some deep 
 meaning that is a great secret, because they will not 
 even tell Andy what special protection it gives him. ' ' 
 
 "How strange. Did they refuse to tell you, 
 Skene, or didn't you ask?" 
 
 "They went through a great ceremony when the 
 
30 
 
 old squaw presented it to me, but I couldn't make 
 out its meaning." 
 
 "Did you let on you didn't understand?" 
 
 "Oh, no; I gave a grunt of consent to every- 
 thing, and it seemed to please Fawn and her mother, 
 but I have never been quite sure whether it is going 
 to keep harm away or bring it to me. I always 
 wear the belt when I go near the lodge, as it seems 
 to be the thing expected. I say, girls, you give me 
 a good chance to-day, and I'll try and coax Fawn to 
 tell what it means." 
 
 "All right, that's just what we'll do. You see 
 Fawn is half French, and she isn't so good at keep- 
 ing secrets as Sunshine." 
 
 "Is her father living with the tribe?" 
 
 "No," replied the colonel, "he was only an 
 adopted prisoner. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Then what ; roasted or stewed ? " 
 
 ' ' Oh, neither, as it happened. According to their 
 custom the young squaws choose their husbands 
 from a neighboring tribe, and have a marriage cere- 
 mony and a feast. The man lives with the squaw in 
 the lodge of her family for the alloted time, which 
 at the longest is only a few months. She then may 
 select another, and so on, until she finds a desirable 
 mate ; then she marries him for life." 13 
 
31 
 
 "Pawn tells us," said Andrew mischievously, 
 that it is necessary for her to marry a young brave 
 who will become a great war chief. So you see, de 
 Piquet, you may find favor in the eyes of the Indian 
 princess ! Now as you are anxious for advancement, 
 you can not be promoted so rapidly in any other way 
 as to become the king of these brave Mohawks. ' ' 
 
 "I'm afraid I don't stand much of a show, Skene, 
 so long as you wear the belt. Anyway, I think I pre- 
 fer the English army with slower progress." 
 
 At the forks of the trail they found the two In- 
 dian girls merrily dancing and chanting. As they 
 ran to meet the Skene party, they concluded their 
 song with a loud peal of laughter. Bach carried in 
 her hand a gus-to-weh 14 embroidered with the most 
 brilliant bands. Fawn was the first to give the cus- 
 tomary greeting, "How!" and every man and wo- 
 man repeated the salutation. 
 
 Sunshine held up the fillet as she motioned for 
 Mary and Kathi to remove their hats and kneel, ex- 
 claiming joyously. "Good friends! Love sisters!" 
 "Love, that shall ever remain," chanted Fawn as 
 they crowned the girls. 
 
 Then, with the two girls still kneeling, Fawn and 
 Sunshine chanted a song in Iroquois, which might be 
 translated as follows: 
 
32 
 
 Down through the ages vast 
 
 On wings strong and true, 
 From the Great Spirit comes 
 
 Good will to you. 
 Peace shall here remain. 15 
 
 Then the girls rising, Mary took from a pocket in 
 her skirt a small box. "Dear Fawn and Sunshine, 
 we bring you gifts from Montreal," and placing her 
 arm about Kathi she added, "From sisters to sis- 
 ters, we present you the rings of friendship." 
 
 Then Kathi placed her arm around Sunshine's 
 shoulders and Fawn made the circle complete by em- 
 bracing her sister and Mary in the same manner. 
 "The ring has no end, and so may the friendship 
 between the Mohawks and the English," solemnly 
 quoth Kathi, while Mary opened the box, and took 
 from it a small ring set with a brilliant ruby. 
 
 The expression in Sunshine's face showed that 
 she was rightly named, for it beamed with pleasure 
 as the ring was slipped on her finger. In deliciously 
 soft tones she exclaimed, ' ' I thank you. I wish you 
 joy. Joy to you all. " 
 
 Mary picked out the remaining ring, which was 
 exactly like the other, and was about to place it on 
 Fawn's finger, when that little Indian belle was 
 seized with excitement. Taking the ring she 
 stepped to Andrew's side, and gently twitching the 
 
33 
 
 sleeve of the colonel's hunting jacket she said to 
 him, "Big Chief, put ring on Fawn's finger. Young 
 Chief lead the brave Mohawks. ' ' 
 
 As Philip Skene stepped forward, and placed 
 the ring on her small brown hand, he smiled at her 
 imitation of the white man's marriage. "May Pawn 
 never see any more fighting in this, our country; 
 may your braves be successful in the chase ; and may 
 we all live in peace and abundance." 
 
 "Thank you, Big Chief." Her manner was that 
 of a queen as she swept her hand in a half circle to 
 the south. "The Bears, — the Mohawks, — yes, the 
 whole six nations shall be your friends." 
 
 "Fawn!" exclaimed Sunshine in slow even tones, 
 ' ' you make promises you have no right. ' ' 
 
 Her large black eyes were turned imploringly up 
 to young Skene's face as she tapped her own breast. 
 "Fawn will have the right if Chief Andrew goes to 
 the long house." 
 
 "Not to-day, Fawn. We wish to present our 
 friends from the north, and then we will all go to- 
 gether to the pinnacle." 
 
 After introducing de Piquet and Watson they 
 proceeded, followed by Jack, with the lunch on his 
 back in Kathi's gay Indian basket. When nearing 
 the summit the two visitors stopped beside the nar- 
 
34 
 
 row trail to light their pipes. The others having 
 passed them they lingered a little. 
 
 Frederic whispered, "By Jove! If I am not mis- 
 taken Pawn's French blood is coming to the front." 
 
 "What do you mean? She seems Indian enough." 
 
 "Yes, Indian all right, but you never saw such 
 love in a full blooded Indian as shone in her eyes 
 when she looked at Andy. He is a fool if he is play- 
 ing with that fire brand." 
 
 ' ' I think you are right. He has told me about her 
 before ; how they used to play with the Indian chil- 
 dren, and he was always the Great Chief and Fawn 
 was his squaw." 
 
 "If she didn't have French blood in her veins he 
 would have nothing to fear, but I'm willing to wager 
 that she will never give him up to her dying day." 
 
 "I believe you are right," agreed John. 
 
 "She'll be quiet, probably, so long as he remains 
 single, but if he should marry, that girl would do 
 something desperate." 
 
 The trail was not often used, consequently it was 
 hard climbing. The colonel was not the only one 
 short of breath when they reached the summit. 
 
 Andrew remarked, "Now, boys, I'll show you a 
 panorama that is worth the energy expended in 
 
35 
 
 climbing up here." He led them to the highest 
 rocks. 
 
 "It certainly is a grand view of mountains, riv- 
 ers, lakes, and marshes," commented de Piquet, 
 "and if you only had a stretch of flat sandy coun- 
 try, as we have, the prospect would almost rival 
 Mount Royal itself." 
 
 ' ' Oh, Ho ! ' ' replied Andrew, ' 'we have plenty 
 of flat sandy country a little off there to the south, 
 but you can not see it from this point. It is called 
 the Pitch Pine Plains." 
 
 "Well, then I guess we have little to brag- 
 about," laughed Frederic, "except the St. Law- 
 rence." 
 
 The colonel who had stood silently heretofore, 
 now took up the conversation, designating the points 
 he referred to with a wave of the hand. "That is 
 South Bay, and about there, is where we were yes- 
 terday. Over here to the right is Fiddler's Elbow, 
 and turning further you see the wide mouth of East 
 Bay, through which the Poultney river flows into 
 the lake. See how it winds and turns until it is lost 
 behind Skene mountain, but it continues to curve to 
 the south making a great half circle." 
 
 "Is that stream we see off there to the east the 
 
36 
 
 one that flows through the settlement?" asked de 
 Piquet as he pointed with a stick. 
 
 "No, it flows into our's a little above us, and is 
 called Pawlet river, or better known as Skenesbor- 
 ough creek. Wood creek, which we see down there 
 at the foot of the hill, rises way off to the south, near 
 Fort Edward. It is the short portage from Wood 
 creek to a small branch of the Hudson river which is 
 the only break in water communication between 
 Quebec and New York." 
 
 They took turns standing on the high rock which 
 crowns the pinnacle, while each attempted to de- 
 scribe the emotion which the scene aroused. 
 
 Kathi remarked, as de Piquet helped her de- 
 scend from the rock, "we have so many feelings in 
 life which no language can express. ' ' 
 
 ' ' When Fawn looks from here, ' ' slowly explained 
 the little Indian beauty, "she could fly like an 
 eagle across the valley, and alight on the summit of 
 
 the mountain, but she tries to speak, and " sadly 
 
 she shook her head. 
 
 "We understand, dear," said Kathi softly. "It 
 is like love, there is no words to express the depths 
 of such feelings. ' ' 
 
 "Does Fawn know what it is to love, other than 
 
37 
 
 a sister 's love ? ' ' asked the colonel with that steady- 
 gaze of his that some people found it hard to meet. 
 
 Sunshine seized Kathi's hand in such a firm grip 
 she was frightened, but responded with an affection- 
 ate caress. All stood wondering what this strange 
 child's answer would be to the enquiry, which con- 
 cerned the most sacred emotions of her heart. 
 
 After quietly returning the look the colonel gave 
 her she climbed upon the high rock, and stretching 
 out her arms slowly turned around, and in sweet 
 musical tones she calmly declared. "Pawn loves the 
 forests, the mountains, the rivers, the lakes, and all 
 that lives in them, but the love that Big Chief means 
 could not be exchanged for all." Again she made 
 the circle, and sprang lightly to the ground at 
 Andrew's side. 
 
 ' ' Come away with me, Fawn, ' ' he whispered. ' ' I 
 want to talk with you. We cannot say what we de- 
 sire when others hear." 
 
 "I go with you, my chief, to the end of the 
 world." 
 
 He led the way down the slope, and circling a 
 cluster of huge pines came out onto another space 
 of rocks. Sitting down on a bed of spongy gray 
 moss, Fawn waited for him to speak. 
 
 Andrew Skene was no coward, but he now felt 
 
38 
 
 a lack of courage to ask the Indian maiden a 
 straightforward question. "Fawn, tell me plainly 
 what you mean by my going to the lodge. Do you 
 mean to be your husband?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 This simple answer brought a cold perspiration to 
 his brow, and a faintness to his heart. Never had he 
 been placed in such an embarrassing position. 
 
 "Chief Andrews keeps silent. He does not love 
 Pawn?" She rose to her feet. 
 
 "Not like your husband should love you, but I 
 love you as a dear friend and neighbor," he re- 
 plied rising and looking down into her face. You 
 must marry a brave Mohawk, and I a woman of my 
 own people." 
 
 Without a word she reached forward, and un- 
 tied the wampum belt from his waist, and encircled 
 her own with it. Then she withdrew the ruby ring, 
 but slipped it on his finger, and turned her back to 
 him for a few moments. 
 
 "Come, Pawn, say you will be my friend. In 
 time you will understand that I know what is best 
 for you as well as for myself. ' ' 
 
 Deliberately turning her piercing black eyes upon 
 him she stared desperately, but uttered no word. 
 
 Glancing to the left and to the right, he seized 
 
39 
 
 both her hands in a nervous excitable manner and 
 cried. "Fawn, Fawn, I would do anything in my 
 power to help you, but " 
 
 Silencing him with a gesture, she slowly walked 
 on down the rocks, with head bent low and hands 
 clasped before her. Andrew stood abashed, with 
 tears of mortification filling his eyes. 
 
 "Fawn, Fawn!" called Sunshine from the other 
 side of the pines. 
 
 "Here Sunshine, come this way," answered 
 Andrew, and hastening to meet her, pointed toward 
 her sister disappearing behind some small cedars. 
 "Go to her, but do not ask questions. When she 
 feels better, take her home." 
 
 Before he had finished speaking she was silently 
 gliding across the rocks. A few moments passed. 
 Merry laughter was heard from the party above, 
 which was suddenly checked by a scream from Sun- 
 shine that rent the air, and struck terror to the 
 hearts of all. They ran down the mountain side 
 guided by Sunshine's call for help. 
 
 In his haste Andrew had not taken the best way 
 to get around the cedars and thick underbrush and 
 finally was compelled to retrace his steps. Coming 
 out of the thicket he met de Piquet and Watson, who 
 were ahead of the others. On they all ran as rapidly 
 
40 
 
 as possible down a narrow obscure trail, until they 
 came out onto a large flat rock some forty feet 
 broad, which ended abruptly in a sheer precipice. 
 They were just in time to see Fawn, without the 
 least hesitancy or a backward glance, leap from the 
 edge of the rock. 
 
 It seemed that Andrew would have followed her 
 if Frederic and John had not caught him in their 
 strong arms, and held him struggling like a maniac. 
 The three men were the only witnesses of the trag- 
 edy, the others not having yet reached the open 
 space. 
 
 "Don't hold me," cried the distracted man, "I 
 must go to her. ' ' 
 
 "We will go with you as soon as you control 
 yourself, so that you can guide us down a safe way," 
 replied de Piquet sternly. 
 
 "I am all right now," said Andrew more calmly, 
 "but I do not know the path. Where is Sunshine? 
 Sunshine! Sunshine!" he shouted at the top of his 
 voice. 
 
 "There she is, I caught a glimpse o± her down 
 this way, ' ' exclaimed Kathi running in the direction 
 indicated by her extended arm. "I think I can find 
 the way, I was down there last summer. Fred, let 
 me take your hand." 
 
41 
 
 ' ' If Sunshine would only wait for us, ' ' said John, 
 ' ' I am afraid we are going the wrong way. ' ' 
 
 ' ' No, this is right, we have to go around quite a 
 distance, but if I do not get lost from the path we 
 will not be long. ' ' 
 
 "Come with me, Mary," sadly requested the 
 colonel. "We will go to the lodge and break this 
 terrible news as gently as possible. Her poor mother 
 will be grief stricken." Turning to the slave who 
 awaited orders. "Go with them, Jack, they will 
 need your help." 
 
 At the base of the rugged precipice, some four hun- 
 dred feet in height, they found poor Sunshine kneel- 
 ing beside the mangled form of her sister. They 
 stood silent a few moments. The birds of the forest 
 sang as though they were trying to cheer the hearts 
 of the awestricken party. The pines whispered their 
 sympathies. The June air was laden with the sweet 
 perfume of wood flowers, around which the bees 
 were humming. 
 
 Finally Kathi knelt beside her Indian friend and 
 whispered. "Dear Sunshine, she has gone home to 
 the Great Father to become an angel of love. Some 
 day we too will be with her in the presence of 
 Hawenniio. 16 Come, dear, we must take her poor 
 body to the lodge." 
 
42 
 
 The bereaved child tried to gather the lifeless 
 form in her arms. Andrew stepped forward and said 
 gently. "Please, allow me to carry her." 
 
 The girl looked up into his distressed counten- 
 ance, and rising to her feet silently bowed assent. 
 Kathi took her small brown hand and led her away. 
 Andrew tenderly lifted the bruised body of the lov- 
 ing Fawn in his arms, and de Piquet covered the once 
 beautiful face with his handkerchief. 
 
 When they reached the summit again, John 
 asked, "Andrew, may I not relieve you for a little 
 ways?" 
 
 ' ' No, thank you, she is entitled to this small ser- 
 vice. It is the only thing I will ever be able to do 
 for her." 
 
 A little farther on Sunshine paused, and begged 
 Andrew to rest. At first he refused, but when she 
 told him she desired to speak to them he sat down 
 upon a rock, with Fawn held closely to his breast. 
 
 The Indian girl knelt at his side, and lovingly 
 caressing her sister's gaily embroidered moccasins 
 sighed deeply. 
 
 "Sunshine saw the black cloud coming, saw it 
 settle down on the whole family, and the sunlight 
 was gone, and it was dark." 
 
 ' ' Oh, ' ' groaned Andrew, "if I had only known. ' ' 
 
43 
 
 "Chief Andrew is not to blame. Sunshine saw 
 it all in a dream not many moons past." 
 
 ' ' Tell us, dear Sunshine, what you dreamed, ' ' im- 
 plored Kathi. 
 
 "Fawn was in the forest searching for Chief 
 Andrew, and a spirit whispered to me, 'come', tak- 
 ing my hand and leading me to the very spot where 
 we found my poor sister. Pointing up to the high 
 cliffs, the angel said, 'Pawn's love will lead her over 
 the trail which crosses Death Rock into the presence 
 of the Great Spirit'." 
 
 A sob escaped Kathi as she breathed, "God's 
 will be done." 
 
 "Mother did not know that Chief Andrew would 
 never come to the long house to live or she would 
 not have presented him with the belt. Chief An- 
 drew did not know of Fawn's love for him or he 
 never would have worn the belt." 
 
 ' ' My dear sister, you are kind to say I am not to 
 blame, ' ' said Andrew with a choked voice. ' ' I thank 
 you for your words of comfort at this time of your 
 great affliction. My heart aches for you and your 
 dear sister. May the angel, who led her through the 
 trail of Death Rock, love her as her soul hungers 
 for love." 
 
44 
 
 Kathi placed her arm about the sorrowing girl. 
 "Oh, Sunshine, you have my deepest sympathy. 
 What if I should lose my sister ? How could I bear 
 it ? " Some moments of silence passed. ' ' Come, Sun- 
 shine, let us go and comfort your dear mother. ' ' 
 
V. 
 
 The Indian lodge was not the only house in 
 mourning, as the Skenes had given up all the pleas- 
 ure excursions which had been planned. The young 
 people searched the mountains for flowers which 
 they carried to Fawn's funeral, instead of decorat- 
 ing the house for a ball. 
 
 A few days after this the schooner was loaded, 
 and therefore the guests would soon be leaving, and 
 the colonel starting on his long journey. He had 
 been very busy going from one department of his 
 business to another, giving his last directions to 
 each foreman, and instructing John Brooks to keep 
 a strict account of everything, and particularly en- 
 joining him to keep all his business, both public and 
 private to himself. 
 
 Andrew had been closeted with his father for a 
 considerable length of time, and cautioned to keep 
 an eye on everything in general, and John Brooks in 
 particular. The improvements and repairs that 
 were to be made during the next year were carefully 
 gone over, and the last finishing touches were given 
 
 45 
 
46 
 
 to the rude maps and charts. Certain public and 
 private papers were turned over to the son's care. 
 
 When the two were leaving the office, they met 
 Lieutenant de Piquet, who addressed the colonel in a 
 rather awkward manner, and asked for a private 
 interview. Philip Skene had ceased to wonder what 
 Frederic's business could be, but now in a moment 
 his curiosity was aroused anew. It seemed to him 
 a very queer thing that the man should not deliver 
 Governor Carleton's letter on arriving instead of 
 waiting until the eve of his departure. 
 
 They were seated in the colonel's private office, 
 and that gentleman's patience was being exhausted 
 by de Piquet nervously tapping on the table beside 
 him with a small ruler, while he seemed much inter- 
 ested in staring out of the window. 
 
 If de Piquet was a bashful man, the colonel had 
 not noticed it before; neither had he observed the 
 young man to be of a nervous temperment. On the 
 contrary, he had taken him to be about as calm and 
 self possessed an individual as he had met with in 
 some time. 
 
 "Is it true you bring a letter to me from the gov- 
 ernor?" asked the elder gentleman in anything but 
 a pleasant tone. 
 
 "Yes, sir, I do, but it is of such a private nature 
 
47 
 
 that I did not suppose any one knew of it ; or rather 
 ;hat any one should have told you. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Young man, you speak in riddles. The day you 
 arrived here my son told me you brought a letter to 
 me from Governor Carleton, and I do not understand 
 why you did not deliver it at once. ' ' 
 
 "Colonel Skene, I beg your pardon. You must 
 have thought the governor had chosen a fool to 
 transact business for him. My letter is merely a cre- 
 dential as to my character, instead of, as you have 
 imagined, something concerning the governor's pri- 
 vate or official affairs." 
 
 "Well, I declare, de Piquet, I think this is a 
 joke on me," laughed the colonel. "I have been 
 as curious as an old woman to know what was in the 
 letter." 
 
 Frederic's face flushed, but he smilingly hastened 
 to satisfy that curiosity. "I have come here to ask 
 permission to, — to, — marry your daughter," faltered 
 the young man with some hesitation. 
 
 "My daughter! You surprise me. Why, don't 
 you know, — why, surely you know she loves Wat- 
 son, and I have just given my consent to her mar- 
 riage. ' ' 
 
 " I do not mean Mary. It is Kathi I love. ' ' 
 "Kathi!" exclaimed the colonel incredulously, 
 
48 
 
 and then musingly after a little pause. ' ' Well I sup- 
 pose she is old enough, but I always think of her as 
 a child. Have you told her you love her 1 ' ' 
 
 "I have." 
 
 ' ' What answer did she give you ? ' ' 
 
 "She loves me. It was she who asked the gov- 
 ernor to write this letter to you," handing it over 
 to the colonel, who hastily broke the seal and unfold- 
 ing the note read: 
 "My Dear Friend, Colonel Skene: 
 
 The bearer, Frederic de Piquet, I have known 
 from childhood to be an honorable, and trustworthy 
 young man; an ambitious, painstaking, and capable 
 soldier and officer, whom I believe will progress in 
 the life he has chosen. He will give you his own 
 history. 
 
 Your hearty well wisher, 
 and Humble Servant 
 
 G. Carleton." 
 
 "So you have a history to tell me," questioned 
 the colonel after again perusing the letter. 
 
 "I wish you to know all there is to be known 
 about me, and I am very sorry I am not able to give 
 you a family record to equal your daughter's." 
 
 In very much the same manner as Colonel Skene 
 would inspect the men of his company when on 
 
49 
 
 parade, his eyes scanned the young man before him. 
 He could find no fault with de Piquet's bearing. His 
 shoulders were broad and he carried them as a mil- 
 itary man should. His clothing, although not of the 
 finest quality, was immaculate as the colonel's him- 
 self. His body was large, strong, and healthy, with 
 much grace of movement. His features denoted an 
 honest, straightforward, open hearted nature, a man 
 whose word could be relied upon under any circum- 
 stances. His large brown eyes did not evade the 
 colonel's serious gaze, but met his with that honest 
 expression which told him that Frederic had noth- 
 ing in his life of which to be ashamed. 
 
 At the beginning of their interview the colonel 
 had thought him lacking in self control, and a char- 
 acter too weak to approach a man on business. But 
 after learning the nature of his errand, he could 
 not condemn him for his nervousness, as he remem- 
 bered at de Piquet's age it would have been easier 
 for him to face most any ordeal, than to approach a 
 prospective father-in-law. Yes, de Piquet was brave 
 enough for any station in life, and possessed as 
 much self control as any Skene. 
 
 "Tell me all about yourself that I may be able 
 to judge whether you are a fit man to marry Kathi. 
 Who were your ancestors?" 
 
50 
 
 "I would give every sovereign I possess if 1 
 could answer that question. My story is an uncom- 
 mon one. Colonel Frederic de Piquet, my adopted 
 father, was on a transport with his regiment in the 
 summer of '52 when they came across a wrecked 
 vessel off the coast of Newfoundland. All that re- 
 mained to be seen of the ship was the top of her 
 mainmast, and securely fastened to the mast was a 
 large bundle. This so excited the curiosity of the 
 colonel that he sent out a party to investigate. Im- 
 agine their amazement when they found the bundle 
 contained a live baby, sound asleep." 
 
 "You don't say!" interrupted Philip Skene. 
 
 ' ' I have brought to you every article that was on 
 that baby or in the bundle, as it is all the family 
 record I possess. As de Piquet spoke he unfolded a 
 package containing some infant garments which 
 were much worn. 
 
 "They are not clothes a rich man's child would 
 wear ; neither do they suggest poverty, ' ' was the con- 
 clusion of the older man as he carefully examined 
 the garments. 
 
 Reaching into his pocket Frederic drew forth a 
 gold chain, from which dangled a bloodstone cut in 
 the shape of a small heart. "This was about the 
 baby's neck." 
 
51 
 
 The colonel took it and looked on the clasp to see 
 if there was any engraving on it, but there was noth- 
 ing, not even a monogram. "If you knew their 
 name you could assume what country your parents 
 came from." 
 
 ' ' Colonel de Piquet tried to find out from whence 
 the ship had sailed, but he could learn nothing. ' ' 
 
 "These clothes could be those of a baby from 
 the British Isles," suggested the colonel. "I do not 
 believe they were from France, or any other country 
 I was ever in." 
 
 "It is all conjecture, and I have long ago given 
 up the problem. I may have royal blood in my veins, 
 — or my father may have been a pirate," continued 
 Frederic with a smile, but added rather hastily, "I 
 do not believe he was." 
 
 "Did you say Colonel de Piquet adopted you?" 
 
 ' ' Not formally. There was nothing else for him 
 to do but take care of me until he reached port, and 
 by that time his wife and I had become so attached 
 to each other there was no separating us. She has 
 always been the best of mothers to me, and no 
 father could have been better to an only child than 
 Monsieur de Piquet has been to the poor little aban- 
 doned waif, that he rescued from the sea. ' ' 
 
52 
 
 "That has been a great advantage to you. How 
 did you manage to get into the army?" 
 
 ' ' After the war Colonel de Piquet settled in Can- 
 ada, and became a friend of Governor Carleton, who 
 for my foster father's sake, gave me a commission. 
 My promotion depends mostly upon my own merits, 
 but I have enough confidence in myself to believe I 
 shall be successful. ' ' 17 
 
 Philip Skene arose, and slowly paced the floor 
 with bowed head and hands clasped behind him in 
 a dejected manner. "You will have to give me time 
 to think this over. I cannot give you an answer to- 
 night." 
 
 Frederic, after carefully wrapping up his prec- 
 ious parcel, rose, and took a few steps towards the 
 door. 
 
 ' ' How early in the morning do we sail, Colonel ? ' ' 
 
 "I have set the time at seven," was the reply in 
 an irritable tone, ' ' but it will have to be postponed 
 now. Why did you not come to me with this be- 
 fore?" 
 
 "I failed to find a time when you were not en- 
 gaged, and then too, Kathi wished us to become bet- 
 ter acquainted before I came to you on such an 
 errand. ' ' 
 
53 
 
 "Did she also forbid you to show any affection 
 for her in my presence?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, and when Kathi commands, a soldier 
 obeys without question." 
 
 "Well, Mr. de Piquet, I think her father will 
 question her considerably. She knows very well I 
 will not tolerate any underhandedness in my fam- 
 ily's social relations any more than I would among 
 my employees. And as for Kathi 's 'commanding'," 
 he added with a faint smile, "I know she possesses 
 the airs of a general, but Philip Skene had not re- 
 signed his place as master of the household." 
 
 "I understand, Colonel, I come to you with a 
 petition, and I give you my word I will not do any- 
 thing underhanded, even should you refuse. I love 
 your daughter too well to persuade her to take any 
 step that would bring disagreement between herself 
 and her family." 
 
 "Do you mean you give me your word you will 
 not marry my daughter without my consent, even if 
 she should refuse to obey me?" 
 
 Frederic laid the package upon the corner of the 
 table, and placing his right hand upon it, he looked 
 the colonel straight in the eyes. "I swear to you on 
 these garments, which are to me the most sacred 
 things in the world, that never so long as I live will 
 
54 
 
 I persuade Kathi to disobey you. If we are ever 
 married, it shall be in a manner befitting a lady of 
 her station. I may never have the wealth you have, 
 but I know no man could love her more truly than I, 
 and without love, money will never make her happy. 
 I may be a selfish man in some respects, but I cer- 
 tainly am not in regard to the woman I love. I pray 
 that whatever is best for her will be, even though it 
 may mean that I am to be deprived of her compan- 
 ionship. I trust you will consider well what is nec- 
 essary for her happiness before giving me your 
 answer. ' ' 
 
 "You may depend upon me for that, Monsieur. 
 I shall have no selfish motive in giving or withhold- 
 ing my daughter's hand from any man. You speak 
 like a gentleman, and I believe you are one. I never 
 can have any ill feeling towards you so long as you 
 keep the oath you have just made." 
 
 He held out his hand, and Frederic grasped it 
 eagerly. "When will you give me your answer?" he 
 asked. 
 
 "After I have had a talk with Kathi in the 
 morning. ' ' 
 
 "She was in hopes you would see her to-night. 
 May I not go to the house for her?" 
 Before replying, the colonel looked at his watch. 
 
55 
 
 " It is ten o 'clock, and time she was in bed, but very 
 likely she will not sleep much to-night, so we might 
 just as well have our talk now. ' ' 
 
 "Thank you," and picking up his package 
 Frederic hastened to the house, where he found 
 Kathi sitting on the porch. Her large eyes sparkled 
 with excitement as she rose and held out her shapely 
 hands to her lover. 
 
 "0, Fred, dearest, has father consented?" 
 
 Lovingly he gathered her in his arms and kissed 
 her ardently. "Not yet darling, he wishes to talk 
 to you first. He will give us his answer before we 
 sail in the morning." 
 
 Her arms stole around his neck, "Remember, 
 Fred, no matter what that answer may be, I am 
 yours. I love you with all my heart, and I will marry 
 you if I have to forsake my father to do so." 
 
 "We can only pray that he will consent, and 
 sweetheart I believe he will. He is a just man, and 
 loves you too well to cause you suffering and heart 
 ache." 
 
 ' ' "We will hope he does, but father has never un- 
 derstood me as mother did. She used to say we 
 were too much alike to get along well together. 
 Mary is so much like mother he has always idolized 
 her, and never could refuse her anything. John 
 
56 
 
 Watson is good enough, but he is not the man you 
 are. I know father had very high ambitions for her, 
 but they all went by when she and John pleaded for 
 their love." 
 
 "My dear little woman, I hope you misjudge him. 
 We must have patience, and all will come right. 
 Here, dearest, I want to give you my little necklace, 
 let me clasp it around your throat. ' ' The act follow- 
 ed the words. "Remember the bloodstone is the 
 emblem of courage. It will help you to be brave." 
 
 "Oh, Fred, I thank you." 
 
 She threw her arms about his neck and kissed 
 his lips impulsively, and he drew her close to him 
 and hugged her passionately. She felt his heart 
 beating rapidly; their pulses throbbed with love, a 
 love that would stand the test of time and misfor- 
 tune. They had been conscious of this wonderful, 
 mysterious love for months, but each time Frederic 
 had embraced her they had both experienced a deep- 
 er emotion than they dreamed possible for mortals 
 to feel. For a few moments they silently enjoyed 
 the thrilling, magnetic sensation of personal con- 
 tact, and then Kathi released herself with a sigh. 
 
VI. 
 
 It was the truth that Colonel Skene had enter- 
 tained a very ambitious dream for his favorite child. 
 Among his friends were many a man whom he would 
 have been glad to welcome into his family. But 
 when Mary had come to him in her affectionate way, 
 and had told him of her love for John, he gave up all 
 thoughts of her marrying a man of high rank. 
 Young Watson was abundantly able to provide for a 
 wife, and the colonel had at least the comfort of feel- 
 ing that her home would not be far from his. 
 
 She had promised not to marry until after her 
 father's return. The occasion should be a great 
 event, and Philip Skene would spare no pains or 
 money to make the wedding a notable one. She 
 should not go to her new home empty handed, for 
 he had already left orders that in a few days all the 
 spinners and weavers among the tenants should set 
 to work on her linen. Pine silk and woolen gowns 
 would be made in Europe and brought home to her 
 by himself. Indeed her wardrobe should lack noth- 
 ing. 
 
 57 
 
58 
 
 The cabinetmaker was to build all the furniture 
 he could during the coming year, and plenty of the 
 finest to be found in the old country would come 
 along with the trousseau. It was a great pleasure 
 for the colonel to think of the many things possible 
 for him to do for his beautiful, loving daughter, who 
 was so much like her mother, that he could almost 
 fall at her feet, and worship the spirit of the past. 
 
 Prom the time he had first noticed John Watson 
 was winning Mary's heart, he had, as was his habit, 
 resigned all previous plans he had made for her. He 
 no sooner felt that he had accomplished this within 
 himself, than he discovered that he had not given 
 up his ambition, but had merely transferred it from 
 the elder daughter to the younger. Now a poor lieu- 
 tenant claimed the right of love to take from him 
 this daughter. She was not capable of making a 
 poor man a good wife, because of her fondness for 
 costly things. It was not in her nature to be econ- 
 omical. But Kathi Skene could sit on the throne of 
 England with as much grace as the beautiful Mary 
 Stuart herself, and appear as much at home there. 
 
 The colonel smiled at the thought of her living 
 on a lieutenant 's income. Since she was old enough 
 to choose what she wished to wear, he had never 
 seen her when she was not gowned in the most ex- 
 
59 
 
 pensive clothing that could be purchased. Even her 
 Indian costume, which she wore in the woods, was a 
 very extravagant affair. Mary was more sensible, 
 and did not cumber her's with extra trimmings. 
 Serviceable garments always appealed to her, but 
 Kathi was not satisfied until she had loaded herself 
 with all the Indian decorations obtainable, and then 
 included some valuable gems from her own jewel 
 box. This was offensive to her father, who disliked 
 such display. 
 
 As he sat with one elbow resting on the desk, 
 head in hand, trying to decide his duty to his child, 
 she opened the office door, and entered. Throwing 
 her long white cape on the nearest chair, she stood 
 gazing at him with a forced smile. No one could 
 look at Kathi Skene without being impressed with 
 her beauty of face and form, and every item of her 
 dress, from her powdered wig to satin slipper, was 
 exqrrisite with their curving of lines and blending 
 of colors. Her basque, draped overskirt, and grace- 
 ful train were of the heaviest cream brocade, over a 
 skirt of the same color of plain velvet. At the elbow 
 sleeves, and low neck there lay great folds of rare 
 old lace, made from creamy cobweb thread. Her 
 beautiful throat was circled with a necklace of gar- 
 nets, which matched bracelets and a large broach. 
 
60 
 
 On her fingers glittered many a diamond among the 
 garnet rings. 
 
 Her bright blue eyes imperiously sought her 
 father's, which answered with an expression that 
 caused a faintness to come over her. She sank into 
 the chair her lover had vacated some minutes be- 
 fore, and reaching into the top of her bodice she 
 clasped the bloodstone heart. At the same time her 
 eyes closed, and she prayed for power to persuade 
 her father that she knew what was best. 
 
 Her prayer was interrupted by the colonel's vehe- 
 ment voice. "Katherine, what do you mean by de- 
 ceiving me like this?" He never called her by her 
 full name except when completely out of patience. 
 
 "Why Father," she gasped, "How have I de- 
 ceived you?" 
 
 "In every way you could. You have not been 
 like Mary, all open and above board. You know 
 very well how I hate a sneak and a liar. ' ' 
 
 "Why, Father, I never have lied to you in my 
 life, and I am not a sneak. I — I — ," 
 
 "Your actions have been a lie, all the time. For 
 all I know you have been spooning around with this 
 fellow whenever my back was turned. 
 
 For the first time in her life Kathi Skene felt that 
 she had committed a crime, and the blood rushed to 
 
61 
 
 her face. But she pressed the little heart all the 
 harder. In a moment she raised her eyes from the 
 floor, and looked her father in the face. 
 
 ' ' Daddy, I am guilty of what you accuse me, but 
 I had no idea I was doing wrong. I love Fred with 
 all my heart. I know he loves me, and such a thing 
 as it not being proper for him to caress me never en- 
 tered my head. ' ' 
 
 "I hope, Kathi, you are not playing a part now. 
 Having once deceived me, I shall never know in the 
 future whether you are telling the truth or not. 
 
 He had struck the wrong chord, and awakened 
 her self respect. She sprang excitedly to her feet, 
 and throwing back her head and shoulders, her flash- 
 ing eyes challenged the accusation. "I take no in- 
 sults from any man, not even my father. I confess I 
 am guilty of keeping from you my love until you 
 should come to know my lover, but I would not have 
 done so had I considered it dishonorable. You have 
 called your own child a liar, when that child rever- 
 ences the truth as much as you do." 
 
 ' ' Sit down, Kathi, and calm yourself. When you 
 have proven to me that you are not even now acting 
 a part, I will not further question your words or 
 actions." 
 
62 
 
 "How can I prove it to you when you refuse to 
 believe me?" ^ 
 
 "I mean that your future conduct will be the 
 proof." 
 
 ' ' To-morrow you sail, and do not expect to return 
 for at least a year. How are you to judge me ? Are 
 you going to have every member of the family, in- 
 cluding the servants, keep a record of my words and 
 actions. Also hire the tenants to spy on me ? " 
 
 "Kathi, how dare you use such sarcasm in 
 speaking to me?" 
 
 She sat down and toyed with the real-lace hand- 
 kerchief she held, conscious she had said the wrong 
 thing. "I do not know, Father, I never can talk to 
 you on certain occasions unless Satan seems to pos- 
 sess me." 
 
 "I do not understand why you cannot be as re- 
 spectful to me as Mary always is. Tell me, do you 
 ever try to be like your sister?" 
 
 "I wish I were like her. Anyway, I wish you 
 loved me as much as you do her." 
 
 ' ' When you become the woman she is, I will love 
 you equally well." 
 
 "0 Daddy, I will try with all my might to be." 
 Moving to the arm of his chair she slipped her hand 
 around his neck. "To do just as Mary is doing, at 
 
63 
 
 present, I will have to go up to the house, and find 
 Fred, and take him into the drawing room, and sit 
 on the French settee, and spoon, as you call it." 
 
 The colonel bit his lip, and pushing her from the 
 arm of the chair, motioned for her to sit in the one in 
 front of him. "Mary and John are engaged, and 
 that makes a great difference. No lady allows such 
 familiarities before her betrothal." 
 
 "Well, Daddy, I admit that very likely you are 
 right, but I can't help saying that so far as spooning 
 is concerned Mary has been just as guilty as I, and 
 it is not my fault that Fred and I are not receiving 
 your blessing instead of being accused of impro- 
 priety. ' ' 
 
 The colonel did not care to argue the question 
 further. "I will be plain with you, Kathi. I be- 
 lieve you have become infatuated with this man. 
 Beauty and grace are your idols, and you are 
 charmed with his outward appearance. He will 
 please you just as your fine dolls did, for a time, but 
 when they became the least bit shabby, you gave 
 them away to some poor child, and begged me for 
 others that were even nicer than the old ones. ' ' 
 
 " Oh ! Daddy, don't compare Lieutenant de Piquet 
 to my dolls. I grant when I first met him his hand- 
 some face and fine physique attracted me, but as I 
 
64 
 
 came to know him, I could not help loving him, he is 
 so good." 
 
 "He may be all you think he is, but child you 
 never could live on his salary. Mary could do it, but 
 you — why it is as much as I can do to keep you 
 with my income." 
 
 "I thought we children were to have our share 
 of mother 's estate when we were married. ' ' 
 
 "That is true, but every cent of your mother's 
 money is invested here in the works, and cannot be 
 turned into cash. ' ' Here the colonel looked alarmed. 
 ' ' Have you told him that you would have some prop- 
 erty?" 
 
 "Yes, was it not right that I should?" 
 
 ' ' No, you foolish child. That accounts for it. The 
 day you came home I happened to be sitting here, 
 and he and Brooks came into the other room. The 
 door was ajar and I supposed they knew I was here 
 but evidently they did not because de Piquet ques- 
 tioned Brooks all about my private affairs, wanted 
 to know just how much I was worth and what pros- 
 pects there were for an increase in my fortune. At 
 the time I could not imagine what caused the man 
 to be so curious about my business. Now I am con- 
 vinced that to obtain a wife is not the only object he 
 has." > 
 
65 > - 
 
 "Fred is ambitious, but I am sure he would love 
 me just the same if I were penniless. Why, Daddy, 
 I could not love him more were he the wealthiest 
 man in Canada." 
 
 ' ' That may be true, but I doubt very much if he 
 would want to marry you if I were a poor man. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Father, how can you give such a reason for ob- 
 jecting to our marriage. Mother was an heiress 
 when you married her." 
 
 ' ' Very true, but I was not a penniless lieutenant, 
 and your mother was a very economical woman. I 
 have no idea where you got your outrageous ex- 
 travagance. " , 
 
 "I am sure I can live on what we will have, and 
 Fred will be promoted." 
 
 "He never can obtain a high position." 
 
 "Could you " on second thought Kathi did 
 
 not finish the sentence. She meant to ask if he could 
 not give him a position as manager of one of his 
 numerous works, but she knew Fred to be as inde- 
 pendent and proud as she was herself, and it would 
 not be wise to begin by asking favors of her father. 
 She leaned towards him, one jewelled hand out- 
 stretched and pleaded. "Dear Daddy, don't force 
 me to disobey you. I want to be a dutiful child, 
 Dut my heart, yes, my very soul compels me to marry 
 
66 
 
 Frederic de Piquet. Oh father, don't deny me your 
 blessing. ' ' 
 
 "Kathi, come what will, you shall always have 
 from me the prayer, God bless you. I have seen 
 much more of men and women than you have, and 
 have learned to look into the future, and consider 
 what will result from the steps taken at the present, 
 instead of following the blind impulse of the mo- 
 ment. I can not approve of your throwing yourself 
 away like that. I beg of you to promise me you will 
 not marry this man while I am away. ' ' 
 
 Rising she crossed to the window and peered out 
 into the darkness, as she lifted the bloodstone heart 
 to her lips. A deep sigh escaped her, and she turned 
 saying simply, ' ' We will not be married before your 
 return. ' ' 
 
 A gleam of hope flashed in his eye, and holding 
 out a much worn ring he asked, ' ' Will you swear to 
 it on your mother's wedding ring?" 
 
 Taking the small gold band she slipped it back 
 to its accustomed place, on his little finger, ' ' I swear 
 on this emblem of fidelity, and by the memory of 
 my angel mother, that I will not marry until after 
 your return." 
 
 "Will you add to that oath, until my father gives 
 his consent?" 
 
67 
 
 "No, I will wait a reasonable time, but I will 
 marry Frederic de Piquet, even if I have to forsake 
 you, and whatever dowry should be mine. ' ' Raising 
 his hand to her lips, she reverently kissed the wed- 
 ding ring. ' ' As my mother followed the dictates of 
 her own loving heart, so must mine guide me." 
 
 The colonel made no answer except to meet the 
 lips raised to his for a parting kiss. Never in his life 
 had he seen such grace and beauty as stood before 
 him. Her cheeks were rosy from the emotion with- 
 in her breast, but her voice was calm, and the ex- 
 pression of her eyes showed him plainly that she did 
 not speak in a fit of passion. Silently he placed the 
 cape over her shoulders, and after extinguishing the 
 candles followed her out of the door. She rested her 
 hand within the proffered arm, and they slowly 
 walked up the path to the house. 
 
VII. 
 
 The sun was rising, but the high mountain on the 
 side of which the Skene home was built, shaded the 
 windows from its rays. Colonel Skene tapped at 
 Kathi's bed room door, and at her sleepy response, 
 entered. The elegant powdered wig, which she had 
 worn the night before, lay on the dressing table and 
 her own beautiful rich brown locks curled in disor- 
 der around her high brow and shapely neck. 
 
 "Why! Daddy, is it you? What's the matter? 
 Where is Juliet?" 
 
 "It is not time for her to awaken you," he re- 
 plied, sitting down on the edge of the white canopy 
 bed. "My child, I have not slept, so I have had 
 plenty of time to think." 
 
 "I am sorry, Daddy, to be the cause of keeping 
 you awake all night." She caressed the hand that 
 lay on his knee beside her. ' ' I have not slept much 
 myself, but that does not matter because I am not 
 starting on a long voyage as you are." 
 
 ' ' Kathi, I have come to you at this early hour to 
 ask if you will not go with me?" 
 
 68 
 
69 
 
 "Why, Daddy, I could not do that." 
 
 ' ' I will postpone our sailing until your boxes are 
 packed. Listen, Kathi, you are only nineteen. We 
 brought you into this wilderness when you were but 
 a child. You have seen very little of the world, and 
 have met but few men who are your equal. ' ' 
 
 "I have been in Quebec, and met lords and 
 ladies. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Yes, but then you were only the daughter of a 
 colonel. We will not be long in England before I 
 will be governor of a province, and you will be warm- 
 ly welcomed into the best society. In Scotland we 
 will visit my friends and relatives, and in Ireland 
 your mother's old home. And everywhere you will 
 mingle with people of high rank. Why, Kathi, you 
 may even be received by the king and queen. My 
 child, you never were meant for the wife of a poor 
 soldier. You are a born lady, and will not be happy 
 without the luxuries of life. You have the charms 
 that will win admiration from the nobles of Europe, 
 and you will find among them men who will make 
 de Piquet seem very common indeed. Come with 
 me, Kathi, and in a year you will know that I am 
 better able to judge what is best for you. Come, and 
 you will never cease to be thankful that I took you 
 with me." 
 
70 
 
 All the time he was speaking, Kathi's face was 
 turned to the wall, with one arm thrown across her 
 cheek to prevent him from observing the effect of 
 his words. Her heart beat fast, and her breathing 
 was far from natural. 
 
 The recollection of her childhood days spent at 
 Kilmaco, her mother's home, always inspired pray- 
 ers that she might some day return to the old place. 
 The anticipation of seeing London and Paris, with 
 their art galleries and theaters, thrilled her with de- 
 light. 
 
 For a girl of her years, Kathi was a very unusual 
 student. Few women of that period had committed 
 to memory any of the writings of Homer and Shake- 
 speare as she had done. The Skene library was one 
 of the largest in America, yet it did not contain a 
 volume with which she was not familiar. To visit 
 the home of Shakespeare, and others of her loved 
 authors had been for years her dream and hope. 
 Philip Skene was not ignorant of all these desires; 
 neither was he unacquainted with his daughter's 
 talents. 
 
 After waiting some little time without an answer, 
 he continued. "I have heard that the wonderful 
 Christoph von Gluck has gone to Paris. If so, you 
 shall take singing lessons of him. Sir Joshua Rey- 
 
71 
 
 nolds shall paint your portrait. You may buy all the 
 latest books, even the romances to which your aunt 
 objects so strongly. We will see all of the great 
 plays that you love so much. You shall have the 
 genteelest hats and gowns that can be bought. 18 
 Kathi, you are a born princess and must not be bur- 
 ied in this wilderness. All your book learning will 
 be nothing compared to the education this voyage 
 will give. Oome with me, and you never will regret 
 it." 
 
 She raised herself and throwing her arms about 
 his neck burst into tears. 
 
 "There, there, Kathi, don't cry. Come with 
 Daddy and we will have such good times, and we 
 will be so happy." 
 
 "No, no, I cannot," she sobbed. "All you prom- 
 ise has for years been to me as a dream of heaven, 
 but I cannot go and enjoy it all without Fred." 
 
 "You will return better able to judge the man 
 and yourself." 
 
 "No, no, I cannot go. Until I knew Fred, I sup- 
 posed all the joys of life consisted of the things you 
 mention. Now they are nothing compared with his 
 love and companionship." 
 
 "You will not see him in the meantime, so what 
 difference does it make?" 
 
72 
 
 Throwing herself back on the pillows she sighed 
 deeply. "All summer the Liberty will make her reg- 
 ular trips, and in the winter the caravans will come 
 and go, so we will have many chances to send let- 
 ters. In February he is coming for a visit, and that 
 will be a great deal more pleasure than a trip 
 abroad." 
 
 Philip Skene was not accustomed to being dic- 
 tated to by any one, much less by a member of his 
 own family, and he did not take kindly to having his 
 plans thwarted by his youngest daughter, particul- 
 arly as he was sincerely impressed with the belief 
 that she was running counter to her own good. In 
 firm cold tones he spoke authoritatively. 
 
 ' ' Katherine, I forbid you to correspond with this 
 man. Your boxes will be packed and you and 
 Juliet will sail with me Thursday morning. ' ' 
 
 Their eyes met, and suddenly she threw back 
 the covers and sprang out of bed her bare feet sink- 
 ing in the fur of a great white rug. Defiantly she 
 met her father's gaze and spoke slowly as tho 
 weighing every word before uttering it. "A wo- 
 man who is old enough to love as I love Frederic de 
 Piquet, is no longer a child. You call me a born 
 lady; in the future you must treat me as such or I 
 cannot remain under your roof." 
 
73 
 
 The colonel looked at her steadily thinking, ' ' This 
 child has inherited all the pride and will power of 
 her ancestors, but to save her I must not relent. In 
 a firm voice his answer was, "Katherine, I shall 
 never give my consent." Then without a backward 
 glance he left the room. 
 
 Kathi listened to his heavy footsteps as he slowly 
 descended the stairs, heard the door swing on its 
 great iron hinges, and then the clanging of the 
 knocker as he carelessly closed it. Knowing her 
 father's custom of taking all his griefs to the Lord, 
 she felt sure he had gone into his private office to 
 pray for strength to endure this great disappoint- 
 ment. Throwing herself onto the bed she wept until 
 her pillow was wet with tears. 
 
 ' ' Heavenly Father, why should love cause such 
 pain?" As she turned slightly the bloodstone slid 
 across her breast. Eagerly she pressed it to her lips 
 and murmured. "Little sacred heart, will you help 
 me to be as good and brave as Fred, so that I may 
 be worthy of his love?" 
 
 Then she became silent as if expecting the little 
 stone to answer. The jewel did not speak, but a 
 still small voice from the very depths of her soul 
 whispered. "Those whom God hath joined together, 
 let no man put asunder." The tranquility which 
 
74 
 
 permeated her mind and body gave birth to a con- 
 sciousness unknown before. "It is impossible for 
 any man to separate those whom God hath made to 
 love." 
 
 Later she reasoned. "How can a Christian like 
 my father try to prevent his own child from becom- 
 ing the wife of the man for whom God created her? 
 It must be he did not love Mother as Fred loves me. 
 I wish everyone knew the joy of love as we do." 
 
 "0, our Father, Who hath made us, our Father, 
 yes, our Father, for I cannot pray for myself without 
 including Fred, our hearts are filled and overflowing 
 with thankfulness for love. To live and love is to 
 know the bliss of heaven here upon earth. They who 
 really love need no commandment to leave father 
 and mother, and cleave unto each other, — they can- 
 not do differently." 
 
vm. 
 
 The remainder of the summer and fall were very 
 busy seasons for the inhabitants of Skenesborough. 
 The manager of the farm could not obtain half as 
 many men as he needed ; therefore it was necessary 
 to shut down the saw mills and iron works, so that 
 the help could assist in the fields, in order that the 
 abundant crops might be harvested. 
 
 The first of October was one of the four training 
 days of the year. Unusual preparations for the 
 event had been made by all hands in honor of 
 Andrew's recent appointment as major. 
 
 It was one of autumn's bright clear mornings. 
 The mountain side glistened as if the forest's robes 
 of yellow, russet, and scarlet were set with jewels, 
 instead of dew drops. The golden mist dispersed as 
 the bright sun warmed the earth. 
 
 As early as eight in the morning there appeared 
 from every trail, travellers afoot and ahorseback, 
 and along the Salem and Rutland roads several 
 rough ox carts were passed by the more nimble foot- 
 men. Not only men, but women and children at- 
 
 75 
 
76 
 
 tended the gathering. As they arrived in front of 
 the north entrance of the great stone barn they 
 were met and welcomed by Andrew, who with cour- 
 tesy and pride received their congratulations. Miss 
 Elizabeth, with Mary and Kathi, stood in the door- 
 way greeting all very informally. Mr. Brooks found 
 places for them at the rough tables surrounded by 
 crude benches, which had been placed in the end of 
 the barn where the carriages used to be kept. 
 
 A New England breakfast was served by the 
 slaves and employes of Colonel Skene. In the center 
 of the tables were graceful sprays of ground pine 
 and bittersweet berries, which added beauty to the 
 tempting food. But the appetites of the healthy 
 country folks needed no coaxing. 
 
 The tong grass which had been cut from the 
 marsh, and now filled the mow to the roof, perfumed 
 the place with its sweet odor. In the corners and 
 various out of the way places, boxes, benches, and 
 blocks of wood were placed for seats. 
 
 The whole room was magnificently decorated. In 
 one place, great branches from chestnut trees hid the 
 cold stone wall. Some of the green prickly burrs the 
 frost had kindly opened showing their satin linings, 
 and allowing the fresh brown nuts to drop at the 
 
77 
 
 feet of the guests, or tempt the venturesome to prick 
 their fingers in efforts to pluck them from their cells. 
 In another place, tall cornstalks leaned against the 
 walls, the crisp husks turned back forming rosettes 
 about the yellow ears. In front of the corn a row of 
 huge pumpkins, not only added to the beauty of the 
 improvised ball room, but did duty as seats for the 
 wall flowers. In still another part of the room, wild 
 grape vines appeared to have grown within the 
 barn, their strong graceful tendrils clinging to the 
 rough walls in a very natural manner ; the rich pur- 
 ple fruit temptingly hanging within reach of the 
 children, and from the topmost branches the bunches 
 of little sour grapes challenged the high jumpers 
 among the older boys. 
 
 A cellar excavated in the mountain side fur- 
 aiished an excellent dairy, which was always cool 
 in summer, and never froze in winter. Across one 
 end, a spring flowed into a deep trough on through 
 a passage way leading to the stables in the basement 
 of the barn, where on this training day the men, and 
 many of the women, enjoyed the exhibition of finely 
 bred stock. 
 
 In the north end, were the stalls of the milch 
 cows, a half partition separating them from the three 
 yoke of oxen. Another low partition, stood between 
 
78 
 
 them and the horses. Next came the sheep pens, 
 and then the large flock of poultry, well fatted to 
 supply food, which was their mission in life. 
 
 In an outer building, sixty fat hogs wallowed in 
 cornstalks. Great cribs were full of Indian corn. 
 In another cellar were large bins of turnips, 
 beets and potatoes, and huge trays of peas and beans 
 were drying in racks. The granery was full to the 
 roof with rye, oats, barley and wheat. The visitors 
 had no fear that Colonel Skene's family and tenants 
 would be in the slightest danger of starvation the 
 coming winter. 
 
 Samples of the different articles of produce were 
 displayed upon a row of shelves. Cards were at- 
 tached to the finest specimens of fruit and vege- 
 tables, explaining that the article would be the first 
 or second prize for the winner of a certain race, 
 which would take place after the manoeuvres. 
 
 Breakfast being finished, John Brooks climbed up 
 the ladder to the gallery, from whence the winter 
 sleds had been removed to make room for the musi- 
 cians when dancing time came. He signalled for 
 silence by clapping his hands. The diversified crowd 
 ceased its laughter and chatter, and all gathered 
 around him, eager to hear what was about to be an- 
 nounced. 
 
79 
 
 Mr. Brooks cleared his throat with an a-a-hem. 
 "Fellow citizens, neighbors, ladies and gentlemen. 
 Xo expression of the pleasure we are enjoying on 
 this our tenth training day is necessary. Our faces 
 show our happiness. We will begin the day of work 
 and of play as all Christian people should begin each 
 day. Parson Bigelow will lead us in prayer." 19 
 
 The parson had ascended the ladder with Mr. 
 Brooks, and now stepping forward knelt, and with 
 clasped hands began to pray. Every man, woman, 
 and child, with bowed head, reverently listened to 
 the petition. God was implored to give them power 
 to enable them to protect their homes from the 
 treachery of the savages, and the fury of their ene- 
 mies. He ended with heartfelt words of thankful- 
 ness for the peace and security of the moment, and 
 for the abundant harvests just gathered. 20 
 
 Mr. Brooks then announced. "All young men 
 who have become of age since the last muster will 
 now come forward and take the oath." 
 
 From all parts of the room the new recruits came 
 forward, some eagerly, some reluctantly, and gath- 
 ered about the packing box which did service for a 
 desk. A rather motley crowd they made in their 
 coarse homespun garments, shod in heavy copper 
 toed, cowhide boots, which squeaked and clattered 
 
80 
 
 at every step. Their hair was greased to an oily 
 slickness, and tied in a club at the back of their 
 necks. Many a proud father, and doting mother, 
 looked with pride at the martial appearance of the 
 representative of their house in the ranks of the 
 militia, not to mention the shy and tender glances 
 of some buxon maiden, with face half hidden behind 
 a sheltering decoration. Thomas Boggs, the recruit- 
 ing sergeant, slowly and laboriously wrote down the 
 names, depending more on his conception of sound 
 than on any rules of orthography for his spelling. 
 
 "While these details are being attended to," 
 called Mr. Brooks, "Major Skene invites you all to 
 drink his health before forming for drill. ' ' 
 
 "Three cheers for Major Skene," shouted Robert 
 Gordon, "Hip ! Hip ! Hurrah!" He was joined by a 
 score of voices. "Hip! Hip! Hurrah!" Into the air 
 were tossed eoonskin caps and three cornered hats 
 by the dozen, as they hurried to the punch bowl. 
 
 "Hurrah for Major Skene!" continued the sol- 
 diers as they crowded out of the wide doorway in 
 the south end of the barn, and formed in line. 
 
 Andrew was astride his father's mount, Amherst, 
 a big bay horse noted for strength and endurance 
 rather than for breed and beauty. The young major 
 acknowledged the compliment with graceful bows to 
 
81 
 
 all. Many a young lady gazed upon the handsome 
 face, and large full form dressed in a brilliant red 
 and white uniform. They not only watched him ad- 
 miringly, but lovingly, and more than one fair 
 maiden's heart fluttered as she thought of the ball 
 in the evening when she would be dancing the minuet 
 with the major, and when there would be many a 
 smile and a soft little whisper when no one was look- 
 ing. 
 
 Their brothers admired Andrew for his leader- 
 ship, but they know nothing of the charm he pos- 
 sessed in making little compliments to the fair sex. 
 He was not a flirt, but a sincere young man with an 
 art in the manner of expressing his appreciation of 
 grace and beauty. Fawn was not the only maiden 
 who had mistaken Major Skene's gallantry for love. 
 Had he been a conceited man, he would have ob- 
 served the effect of his sweet sayings upon the young 
 ladies whose society he enjoyed, but did not love. 
 Even his sad experience with the Indian princess had 
 not taught him that a time would come when all 
 carelessly sown seed would have to be reaped. 
 
 As the battalion formed (in truth it was only two 
 small companies) and prepared to march to the drill 
 grounds, Mary Skene was not so greatly interested 
 in her brother's triumph as to forget her lover, so 
 
82 
 
 she kept at least one eye on the road leading from 
 the lake. The last platoon had just wheeled into 
 column when John Watson came striding along the 
 path. Much to her aunt's embarrassment Mary ran 
 to meet him, and so far forgot herself, in her aunt's 
 opinion, as to allow her joy to show in the expression 
 of her face. 
 
 "What are the young women of to-day coming 
 to ? " asked Miss Elizabeth. ' ' Would you think, Mrs. 
 Bigelow, that these girls were Philip's and Kather- 
 ine's children? I tell you the training young ladies 
 receive here in America is a great detriment to them. 
 To think any woman of our family would so forget 
 her breeding ! ' ' 
 
 Mrs. Bigelow smiled sympathetically at her dis- 
 tressed friend. "Girls will learn when they get to 
 be our age, that modesty is woman's greatest 
 charm. ' ' 
 
 ' ' If they would only listen to me, — but they just 
 smile, and pat my cheeks, and whisper that it is im- 
 possible for me to understand what love means. I 
 will be so glad when Philip returns. It is altogether 
 too much responsibility for one woman to look after 
 two such girls. I fear they both will disgrace the 
 family, with their bold manners and their wilful- 
 ness." 
 
83 
 
 Mrs. Bigelow did her best to console the dis- 
 tressed lady as they led the way to the house follow- 
 ed by all the matrons with their babies. 
 
 Very early that morning' Mary had entered 
 Kathi's room, and finding Jnliet dressing her sister 
 in a rich brocade of scarlet velvet, which had been 
 imported from France, she exclaimed, "Kathi Skene, 
 for goodness sake take off that gown!" 
 
 "And pray, dear sister, what is there about this 
 gown to shock you so dreadfully? I think it is the 
 very nicest one I have. It fits perfectly, and you 
 know it has no duplicate in the world. That's one 
 thing that made it so expensive. This lace," touch- 
 ing the deep ruffles in the sleeves and the tucker 
 folded so gracefully over the breast, "came from 
 Brassels, and they say no finer has ever reached the 
 coast of North America." 
 
 Mary quite out of patience sank into a chair dur- 
 ing this long matter of fact speech, but was forced 
 to smile at her sister's well feigned innocence, al- 
 though she had rather kept her shocked expression. 
 "Kathi, You know very well why I think you 
 should not wear such a gown on training day. ' ' 
 
 "I must confess, sister, that I am ignorant. Oh, 
 Juliet, look!" pointing to her scarlet silk hose and 
 velvet slippers. ' ' You forgot to change the buckles. 
 
84 
 
 Take the jet ones off, and here," taking from a jewel 
 case two small buckles, "are the pearl ones that go 
 with this lace. You remember, Mary, the last time 
 I wore this gown was to the governor's Christmas 
 dinner at the Chateau de Eamesay. I put on Moth- 
 er's jets and black lace. Fred did not like them, and 
 said they were too old for me, so of course I will 
 never wear them again." 
 
 "You think, Kathi, you are not going to give me 
 a chance to tell you the truth, to explain to you how 
 perfectly ridiculous you will look in that outfit 
 among these poor country folks. Come, dear sister, 
 don't be so absurd." 
 
 "Mary, you have the wrong idea of our neigh- 
 bors. Not one of them has ever seen this gown. At 
 the governor's party there were several beautiful 
 gowns, and every one there was familiar with the 
 customary garb of society ladies, but hardly any one 
 who will be here to-day has ever seen such a dress 
 as this. Don't you think they like to look at pretty 
 things as well as our Canadian friends?" 
 
 "That may be true, but you will cause jealousy 
 among the other girls. They will not understand 
 your reason for wearing this gown, but will call you 
 a vain peacock strutting around to display your fine 
 plumage." 
 
85 
 
 ' ' No, Mary, you cannot be right about that. Cer- 
 tainly no one ever accused me of strutting. Yes, 
 Juliet, those are the beads. ' ' She took a long string 
 of beautiful pink pearls from her maid, and wound 
 them around her throat, pinning a large pearl broach 
 to her low cut basque. She clasped gold bracelets 
 around her plump arms, slipped diamond and pearl 
 rings upon her slender fingers, and then asked the 
 maid for her hat. 
 
 Mary silently watched her sister take the white 
 beaver poke bonnet trimmed with crimson plumes, 
 and tie the ribbon in a double bow under one ear, 
 and asked herself the question. "How can Frederic 
 de Piquet ever support her?" 21 
 
 That was a problem that no one who knew Kathi 
 was able to solve. She herself refused even to think 
 of it. Sometimes she would reply to the enquiry, "I 
 don't know, but I am sure the Lord will provide." 
 
 Mary's idea that the settlers would look on 
 Kathi as a peacock with a spread tail was far from 
 the truth. No such thought ever entered their 
 heads. As usual Kathi entertained everyone around 
 her as unconscious of her clothing as any maid 
 among them. In fact she was as much accustomed 
 to silk and satin, as the others were to homespun 
 linen and wool. If she had been simply and appro- 
 
86 
 
 priately dressed, she would not have been Kathi to 
 them. 
 
 Looking at her as she descended the stairs that 
 morning, a stranger would not have guessed there 
 was anything in common between her and the maid- 
 ens of this wilderness, but to watch her during the 
 day as she moved from one to another gaily chatting 
 and laughing with all of them, she appeared not only 
 to be their queen, but their companion. 
 
 How could the mothers have any words but praise 
 for her when she was always giving them such warm 
 welcomes. No one could censure a girl who was so 
 attentive and sympathetic, and who took such an in- 
 terest in the mischievous pranks and smart sayings 
 of one's children. She was never known to greet a 
 mother with a baby in her arms, without first taking 
 the child, and hugging and kissing the little one, and 
 always had some word of love and praise for the dar- 
 ling. The small bashful child, hiding his face in his 
 mother's skirts, she would succeed in coaxing to her 
 side, and in a few moments have him so charmed 
 with some fairy story that he would unconsciously 
 climb into her lap. The question was often asked, 
 "is Miss Kathi a witch, or how does she manage to 
 draw the most timid children to her?" 
 
 No one tried to explain the mystery, and to 
 
87 
 
 Kathi is was no mystery at all. "I love them, ' ' she 
 would say simply. 
 
 After watching the brave soldier boys out of 
 sight, the young ladies helped themselves to the 
 horses hitched to posts and trees across the road 
 from the stable. As there were not enough to go 
 around, the older girls rode two and three together, 
 and the younger ones were fortunate to find saddle- 
 bags to be tucked into. 
 
 Kathi inspired and directed this "Irregular Cav- 
 alry," as she called it, and as she was about to mount 
 and lead them forth to war, Mary and John appear- 
 ed. After greetings, Kathi mischievously offered 
 John the use of Lightning, her handsome black 
 Spanish horse, which Zach was holding by a long 
 rope some few rods away. 
 
 "You are very kind, Miss Kathi," protested 
 John, "but if I should ride your horse you would 
 have to walk." 
 
 "I can ride with sister." 
 
 "Very true," agreed Mary, "but, John, you can- 
 not ride Lightning. Kathi is only joking." 
 
 "No, I am not. He never tried, so how do you 
 know he cannot?" 
 
 John had heard of others who had failed even to 
 mount the animal, but he was considered to be a 
 
88 
 
 good horseman, and he had never tried to ride a 
 horse yet, that he had not succeeded in managing. 
 Noticing that Kathi's mischievous expression had 
 changed to a serious one, he asked. "Do you mean 
 that for a dare?" 
 
 "Yes. This afternoon I have decided to offer 
 a reward to every man who can succeed in getting 
 astride of him, and remaining there five minutes. If 
 you can ride him to the drill grounds, we will dub 
 you our knight, Sir John Watson." 
 
 With all Kathi Skene's beauty, talents, and the 
 advantages which money could procure, there was 
 but one thing of which she was proud, and that was 
 her incomparable ability to govern dumb animals. 
 She herself could not understand why she had such 
 a power, and was unable to explain or impart the 
 secret to others. 
 
 Colonel Skene had taken the horse on a debt, 
 but had no idea he could ever be trained to the sad- 
 dle. It was not long before he accidently discovered 
 that Kathi had mastered the unruly animal, and was 
 slyly taking little canters each day. At first her 
 father was dreadfully worried, but seeing she pos- 
 sessed proficient skill to manage the wild beast his 
 fears changed to confidence, and instead of forbid- 
 
89 
 
 ding her to ride the horse, he became very proud of 
 her accomplishment. 
 
 John watched Kathi as she patted Lightning's 
 mane, and laid her cheek against his black nose. In 
 his sweetheart's face he saw anxiety, but the others 
 only seemed interested to learn of what stuff he was 
 made. Watson was no coward, and to refuse an " I 
 dare you" from any one, much less a woman, was 
 not in his nature. 
 
 "Miss Kathi, never in my wildest dreams have I 
 hoped to have knighthood conferred upon me. I 
 will ride Lightning to the drill ground." 
 
 " No ! No ! John, do not try. He will break your 
 neck, ' ' cried Mary. 
 
 "He has never broken any one's neck," said 
 Kathi reproachfully as she smoothed her pet's breast. 
 
 "Now that's encouraging," laughed John. "Have 
 no fear, Mary, I am used to training horses to the 
 saddle, and know enough not to let them hurt me." 
 Turning again to Kathi, he asked, "am I to mount 
 him without the boy holding the strap ? ' ' 
 
 "No, Zaeh must hang to the halter until you are 
 on his back." 
 
 A scared expression came into the boy's face, and 
 his eyes bulged out of his head. "I nebber can do 
 it, Miss Kathi. Lightn'd fly me higher 'n a kite." 
 
90 
 
 A roar of laughter prevented Kathi from making 
 herself heard, so she beckoned to a big burly slave 
 who cared for the horses. He came forward, and 
 relieved Zach of the strap. 
 
 Stepping to the horse's side, John spoke to him 
 kindly, and affectionately patted his glossy shoulder. 
 Instantly Lightning's head came against him with 
 such force that he was almost knocked off his feet. 
 The smothered giggles at his back spurred him on 
 to victory or death. Siezing the pommel he was 
 about to spring into the saddle when Lightning 
 jumped to one side so suddenly John lost his grip, 
 and when he looked up he stood squarely in front of 
 the horse. He attempted to get back to his side, but 
 Lightning kept walking around in a circle with his 
 eyes fixed on his would-be master. 
 
 "You will have to get on over his head," called 
 out some one from the crowd. Just then a pair of 
 heels flew up in the air. 
 
 ' ' Well, yes, I guess it is safer at this end than the 
 other." But before the words were out of his mouth 
 the horse's fore foot rose from the ground. John 
 sprang back just in time to escape being crushed, 
 and with a wild snort the horse began tearing up the 
 sod with his hoofs. The girls screamed. 
 
 "Please, don't make so much noise," requested 
 
91 
 
 Watson. "You will frighten him." Again he tried 
 to reach the horse's side but with no better success 
 than before. After half a dozen attempts with the 
 same result, Mary begged him to give up, and remain 
 the rest of his life plain Mr. Watson. 
 
 Somewhat out of breath, and very much discom- 
 posed, he took from Mary his cocked hat, which she 
 had picked up from the ground, and running his 
 fingers through his disordered locks he knelt at 
 Kathi's feet, and raising one of her hands to his 
 lips gallantly kissed it. "1 have never admitted there 
 was a man in America who could handle cattle bet- 
 ter than I, but now I am compelled to acknowledge 
 that there is a woman who is far my superior. Kathi 
 Skene, you are the most wonderful woman I ever 
 heard of if you can mount that beast. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Thank you, John. ' ' Her chin was raised in the 
 air in a proud manner which her friends of the wild- 
 erness had never seen before. Stepping in front of 
 Lightning she quietly gazed for a moment into his 
 fiery black eyes, then playfully patted the side of 
 his head. "You are a naughty boy to prevent Mr. 
 Watson winning the title of Sir John, but I love 
 you just the same if you are not kind to my friends. ' ' 
 
 The moment Kathi took her first step towards the 
 horse he stopped his vicious maneuvers. Leading 
 
92 
 
 Mm beside a stump, she unfastened the strap, and 
 gently but firmly commanded. "Steady, boy, steady, 
 never mind the visitors, they will not hurt you. 
 Listen to me, pet." She laid her face against the 
 animal's nose like a baby sometimes whispers into 
 his mother's mouth. No one heard what she said, 
 but all wondered what the magic words could be 
 that calmed the excited horse. She then sprang 
 lightly into the saddle. Holding the reins with one 
 hand, she saluted her "Irregular Cavalry," and led 
 the way up the road to the drill ground. 
 
 Zach brought out Beauty, Mary's snow white 
 mare, which was the envy of every one who patted 
 her pink nose. The negro man followed with Gill, a 
 bay, Colonel Skene had bought of William Gilliland 
 the year before. After helping Mary into her saddle 
 John sprang astride Gill, and they followed the 
 cavalcade, slowly walking the horses every step of 
 the way, visiting as only lovers know how. 
 
IX. 
 
 The niilitia was being worked hard by the of- 
 ficers when Kathi and her "Irregular Cavalry" 
 reached the drill ground, about a mile south east 
 of Skenesborough Landing. They rode around the 
 edge of the clearing, heartily cheering whenever 
 there was the least excuse for applause. As they 
 made the half circle of the field they came to the 
 bank of a small stream, on the edge of which Ser- 
 geant Fuller was instructing the new recruits. Much 
 to the embarrassment of the boys, the girls were 
 compelled to halt so as not to interfere with the 
 drill. It had been a pleasure to the "Irregulars" to 
 watch the soldiers at drill, but it was a great deal 
 more sport to witness the maneuvers of the awkward 
 squad as they were being initiated into order and dis- 
 cipline. Sergeant Fuller halted the drill, and stern- 
 ly reprimanded the would-be soldiers for paying 
 more attention to the girls than to his orders. In a 
 few moments he resumed. 
 "Poise your firelocks!" 22 
 
 The command was obeyed by the boys, most of 
 
 93 
 
94 
 
 whom carried sham pieces, which had been cut out 
 of wood in the shape of a gun and bayonet. Not even 
 every real soldier owned a firelock, the cost of which 
 was two pounds sterling. 23 
 
 "Cock your firelocks!" 
 
 Before the sergeant a dozen or more rookies 
 stood in a line, which it was impossible for him to 
 keep straight. They pretended to draw back the 
 hammers, and waited for the next order, which 
 however was not given until the instructor had made 
 sure by personal observation that every piece was 
 in proper position. 
 
 "Present!" 
 
 All brought the butt ends of their firelocks to 
 their shoulders, but some of them forgot to place 
 their right feet six inches to the rear. Some stood 
 stock still, others drew back the left foot. Left 
 handed Mathew Burroughs held his gun against his 
 left shoulder with his feet toeing in. 
 
 This was too much for the ' ' Irregular Cavalry. ' ' 
 They clapped their hands and laughed and cheered. 
 The line was broken by many of the boys stepping 
 forward to see who it was had blundered. 
 
 ' ' Hay ! what you fellows doing. Get back there. 
 Right, dress!" shouted Sergeant Puller in a voice 
 that chilled every recruit to the marrow. The of- 
 
95 
 
 fenders quickly stepped back into their places, and 
 with the assistance of considerable vigorous lan- 
 guage from the sergeant a reasonably straight line 
 was again established. Placing himself in front of 
 the squad, he repeated the order. 
 
 "Present!" 
 
 There was very little improvement on the whole. 
 Mathew was nervously engaged in placing the butt 
 of his gun first to one shoulder, then the other, mean- 
 while dancing a heel and toe step. Finally he came 
 to a standstill, with his piece at his left shoulder, 
 and his right toe a foot to the rear. 
 
 Amid the feminine laughter the sergeant stepped 
 to the boy's side, and instructed him in the proper 
 position to take. He then motioned for the young 
 ladies to pass, but he was not in command of Kathi's 
 cavalry, and the girls ignored all orders except such 
 as came through the proper channel. Though pro- 
 voked he was also amused, and respectfully saluted 
 Kathi who answered him in like manner, but gave 
 no order for her troops to retire. The drill went on 
 fairly well until the order, 
 
 ' ' Ground your firelocks ! ' ' 
 The new recruits dropped on one knee, holding 
 their guns to the earth. Mischievous Patsy Thomas 
 was one of the end boys. He pretended to fall over 
 
96 
 
 against his neighbor, who taken by surprise was 
 overbalanced, and fell against the boy next to him, 
 and so on, like a row of dominoes. In a moment the 
 whole squad was sprawling on the sod. 
 
 The ' ' Cavalry ' ' was hysterically applauding this 
 new movement, when much to Sergeant Puller's re- 
 lief Major Skene rode up in the rear. He raised his 
 hat to the ladies, smiled graciously, and politely 
 asked their advice and assistance in arranging the 
 lunch. 
 
 The sergeant had allowed the boys to break 
 ranks. Kathi reined Lightning to Mathew Bur- 
 roughs' side, and leaning over said sympathetically. 
 ' ' Don 't you care, Mat, if they did laugh at you. "We 
 all know no other boy can bring down game with a 
 bow and arrow like you can." 
 
 "Thank you, Miss Kathi. It's fun to hunt with 
 a bow and arrow, but this solderin' is hard busi- 
 ness. I just up and shoot with my bow, but here I 
 have to think of half a dozen things at the same time. 
 I could do it better if he'd let me go it left handed." 
 
 "Yes, I know, Mat, but that wouldn't be right. 
 But after awhile it will come easy as shooting an 
 arrow. ' ' 
 Mathew shook his head. "No, Miss Kathi, Dad 
 
97 
 
 says I'm a punkinhead. That my brains just rattle 
 around like seeds in a ripe punkin'." 
 
 Instead of Kathi laughing at him as he expected 
 she would, she looked at him with more affection 
 than the boy was accustomed to see even in his moth- 
 er's eyes, who was the only one who seemed to 
 understand his slow brain. "Mat, you can learn to 
 be just as good a soldier as any boy in Skenesbor- 
 ough. All you have to do is to keep practicing. 
 Your father never gives you any instruction. I tell 
 you what we'll do. My father has a copy of the 
 Sixty Fourth, and it tells just what to do. You 
 come to me and I'll teach you so you'll know more 
 about it than Major Skene himself." 24 
 
 ' ' 0, Miss Kathi, you are so good. How can I ever 
 pay you?" 
 
 The joyful expression on the boy's face was pay 
 enough for Kathi, but she replied. "You can teach 
 me how to use a bow and arrow. Come Wednesday 
 morning, ' ' she called back at him as she galloped off 
 after the others, whom the major was escorting 
 around the clearing. 
 
 The training continued, and became more inter- 
 esting to the spectators, as well as to the partici- 
 pants. Presently Major Skene took command, and 
 drilled the two companies as a battalion. Then 
 
98 
 
 came the great event of the day, the sham battle. 
 He sent Captain Tozer with his men to one end of 
 the field to prepare to make the attack. 
 
 As Andrew sat quietly on his horse awaiting 
 events, he was very proud of his backwoods sol- 
 diers. "A finer lot of fellows never breathed," he 
 said to himself as he watched Captain Burroughs 
 posting his pickets, and deploying his company along 
 the edge of the clearing. In order to give his oppon- 
 ent as little time to prepare, as possible, Captain 
 Tozer hurried his men to the position assigned him, 
 and immediately ordered an assault. Down the 
 slight incline they came, shoulder to shoulder, in a 
 well kept line. Burroughs' green troops began to 
 show symptoms of uneasiness. His pickets fearing 
 they would be run over and trampled in the dirt 
 made a break for cover. Tozer was keeping his 
 command well in hand, and at this point gave the 
 order to fire at will. Pop, pop, pop, all along the 
 line, sounded the blank cartridges, two or three of 
 the reports having a suspicious bing to them. 
 
 Touching spurs to Amherst, Major Skene gal- 
 loped around the flank of the oncoming company, 
 ordered Tozer to halt, reform and rest, which being 
 accomplished he beckoned the officers to his side 
 some distance in the rear. He dismounted, and 
 
99 
 
 looking at them earnestly for a moment, exclaimed. 
 "Gentlemen, there's foul play here." 
 
 "How so, Major," asked Elishama. 
 
 "Some of those blanks were loaded. Captain, 
 can you explain it?" 
 
 "No, I am confident the blanks issued were all 
 right. I can't understand it. Are you sure you 
 were the intended victim?" 
 
 "Well, yes, reasonably sure. I don't care to take 
 my hat off, for the men are looking, but if you will 
 glance at the brim on the right side you will see a 
 mark that was never caused by any blank cartridge. 
 What say you, Captain Tozer?" 
 
 "Have you had a personal quarrel with any of 
 the men, Major?" 
 
 "Absolutely none. We will let the matter drop 
 now, officially, but I shall expect, gentlemen, the 
 next time blank cartridges are issued, greater care 
 shall be exercised in their inspection." 
 
 "Do you suspect any of the men, Major? I 
 would like to see an example made of him. ' ' 
 
 ' ' The best way is to let it drop now. ' ' 
 
 "Well, I'd like to know who it was for my own 
 satisfaction," declared Captain Burroughs. 
 
 ' ' Shall I tell you frankly what I have heard said, 
 Major?" asked Lieutenant Brundige. "It may 
 
100 
 
 partly explain this attempt to do away with you." 
 
 "As you please, Daniel, although if it is against 
 me, I know more mean things about myself than any 
 other person can possibly know, ' ' acquiesced Andrew 
 with a laugh. 
 
 "Well, they say they don't know where you 
 stand, that you either have no opinions or are afraid 
 to express them." 
 
 ' ' Yes, they say, they say, they say, ' ' repeated the 
 major impatiently. "But, gentlemen, it isn't nec- 
 essary for me to defend myself to you. You, and I, 
 and all of these soldiers here, are sworn to do our 
 duty, and obey the constituted authorities. It is ours 
 to perform our oaths, to do and not to say. ' ' 
 
 There was no expressed dissent to this, but it was 
 plain to see that the sentiments met with no hearty 
 approval on the part of his listeners. And the major 
 added, " It is the duty of you company officers to im- 
 press on your men the importance of discipline and 
 obedience. Assure them that those whose duty it is 
 to form and express opinions, are competent to take 
 care of that end of the business. And now knowing 
 your duty, see that you perform it more punctually 
 hereafter. ' ' 
 
 There was obviously no answer to make to this, 
 and after the silence had continued some moments, 
 
101 
 
 Andrew resumed. ' ' On second thought I will admit 
 I have suspicions. Indeed, I am confident I know 
 who the villain is who would like to injure me. And 
 he has nothing against me personally," continued 
 the speaker bitterly, ' ' for I never did him a favor in 
 my life. ' ' But I will attend to this case myself, and 
 that is why I desire the matter should drop here. ' ' 
 
 At this, significant glances were exchanged be- 
 tween the officers for it was well known that two or 
 three different men whom the colonel had helped 
 time and again were now his most bitter enemies. 
 Andrew did not fail to observe the visible embar- 
 rassment that pervaded the circle, and it disturbed 
 him not a little, but he thought it best to pretend 
 not to notice it. 
 
 Looking up at the sun he remarked. "You may 
 dismiss the men to their dinner now, but assemble 
 at one-thirty sharp for target practice. And, Quar- 
 termaster, be sparing of the liquor. They will prob- 
 ably say I'm not so generous as my father, but after 
 the drill you may open up the casks and if any of 
 them prefer to sleep in the ditch, why let them have 
 their choice." 
 
 As dinner was being concluded Sergeant Puller 
 and a squad of markers were sent out to fix the tar- 
 gets to trees at the edge of the clearing. These tar- 
 
102 
 
 gets were designed to be dummies to simulate men 
 standing, kneeling, and prone, but like the alleged 
 man in the moon, it required a vivid imagination to 
 recognize the resemblance. 
 
 "Hollo! Cockburn," 25 called out a burly young 
 corporal of Green Mountain sympathies, as the first 
 ef&gy was put in place, "did you bring your sur- 
 veyin' tools with you?" 
 
 "No, he didn't," exclaimed another, "cause he 
 aint got any to bring. Ethan Allen busted 'em all 
 up." 
 
 "He'll get his big head busted 'fore long," 
 growled an old man only half audible in the general 
 laugh. 
 
 The second dummy was intended to represent a 
 gentleman. The smalls had been cut from an old 
 blue flannel petticoat of Mary's. The waistcoat a 
 butternut brown, one of Andrew's when he was 
 much smaller than now. A scarlet vest and white 
 lace frills, from Kathi's cast off clothing showed real 
 rank in life. 
 
 "He's a high-mucky -muck. Boys take your hats 
 off to him. Ladies, drop him a curtsy," cried Rob- 
 ert Gordon. 
 
 "Don't you do it, he's the agent from Albany 
 
103 
 
 who's been selling your land," came a voice from 
 somewhere. 
 
 "Tar and feather 'im and ride 'im on a rail," 
 cried another. 
 
 "String 'im up to a tree," yelled still another. 
 
 Many jokes and boasting threats were heard on 
 all sides during the contest at the end of which the 
 effigies were fairly riddled with bullets. And then, 
 a very serious question had to be decided. It was 
 most important to know which were the fatal shots. 
 Those which had passed through the heads, or those 
 which had pierced the abdomens of the so called 
 Yorkers. 26 
 
 After the target practice, the remainder of the 
 afternoon was spent in games and races. Then they 
 returned to the barn where a roast pig supper await- 
 ed them. After the meal they danced to the music 
 of a fiddle and bass viol. 
 
 Sad to say, not a few took advantage of the ma- 
 jor's liberal orders to the quartermaster, and before 
 midnight many a sturdy youth was sodden and help- 
 less, dead to the world in some out of the way 
 corner. 
 
 As the militia was leaving the drill ground, John 
 Watson and Mary Skene took a two mile canter up 
 the Salem road. As they turned towards home 
 
104 
 
 Mary, somewhat out of breath, suggested. "Let us 
 walk our cattle a short distance. Oh, what fun we 
 have had to-day!" 
 
 "Yes, we always do have a good time when we 
 are together." 
 
 "How good it will be when we are always to- 
 gether. ' ' 
 
 "Mary, I cannot tell you how sorry I am that 
 we promised your father not to marry until his re- 
 turn. Don't you think he would forgive us if we did 
 not keep our promise?" 
 
 "What do you mean?" 
 
 "Oh, Mary, I wish you could understand me. I 
 pray you to consent to our marriage this very even- 
 ing. Parson Bigelow can perform the ceremony." 
 
 ' ' Why, John Watson ! Are you willing to break 
 a vow like that? My father forgive a daughter for 
 bringing disgrace to the Skene name ? How can you 
 suggest such a thing?" 
 
 John was silent. He longed to tell her his reason 
 for wishing to do such a dishonorable act, but he 
 dared not open his heart to her on such a subject. It 
 might be the cause of misunderstanding, and to- 
 day's experience had convinced him that there was 
 trouble enough brewing in this peaceful settlement. 
 
105 
 
 The men had taken pains to prevent the ladies learn- 
 ing of the episode of the loaded cartridges. 
 
 "My darling Mary," as he spoke he leaned to- 
 ward her, and took her free hand in his, "do yon 
 not believe that there are times when it is more hon- 
 orable to break an oath than to keep it?" 
 
 "Perhaps," answered Mary reflectively. "But 
 there is no reason in the world why we should be 
 married before next summer." 
 
 "Many things are liable to happen before then. 
 Oh! Mary, my darling, my heart sinks within me 
 when I think that you might be taken from me. ' ' 
 
 "Why, John!" her cheeks grew pallid when she 
 saw the expression in his eyes, and noted that his 
 face was deathly pale. "Why do you expect any- 
 thing ill to happen? It is not like you to be so mor- 
 bid." 
 
 "I cannot tell you, dearest. You will have to 
 trust my judgment. Believe me, I am justified in 
 asking you to marry me now. ' ' 
 
 His voice was so full of an indiscribable appeal 
 that Mary was frightened. It was some moments be- 
 fore she answered. "John, it seems to me I could 
 do almost anything to please you, but I have been 
 taught from infancy never to make a promise with- 
 
106 
 
 out considering well what it meant. Not to keep 
 my oath would be to disgrace the name of Skene. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, dear, I know. Suddenly a gleam of hope 
 flashed from his black eyes, "Mary will you swear 
 by the name of Skene, which you honor so much, 
 that you will marry me no matter what may hap- 
 pen?" 
 
 In vain her blue eyes searched his face for in- 
 formation, then she turned from him and peered into 
 the forest. She wondered what he could mean to 
 wish her to plight her troth the second time ? What 
 could come between them to cause her to break the 
 most solemn promise she had ever given? Did he 
 imagine her love for him to be so transient that it 
 would not last a single year? No. His own love 
 must tell him better than that. 
 
 "John, there is but one thing that would induce 
 me not to keep my promise to be your wife." 
 
 "What is that, dearest?" asked John falteringly. 
 
 "If you should prove dishonorable, and not the 
 true loyal gentleman I believe you to be, — Oh John, 
 the very thought makes me faint. ' ' 
 
 "Forgive me, sweetheart. It is wicked in me to 
 cause you such distress." He held her hand more 
 firmly. "Remember, as long as I live, never will I 
 do anything that my conscience tells me is not hon- 
 
107 
 
 orable. But we may differ in our ideas of loyalty 
 and honor." 
 
 "John, if the colonies should take up arms 
 against the king would you not be loyal to the 
 crown?" Her cheeks grew red, and her voice and 
 manner excitable. 
 
 ' ' Do not worry, Mary, that question will soon be 
 settled, and not by bloodshed. ' ' 
 
 Tears rushed to her eyes. "It would break my 
 heart if you became a — a — rebel." 
 
 "Don't cry, loved one." He raised her hand to 
 his lips. "Let us not worry over things that are not 
 going to happen." 
 
 The horses walked on for a distance their riders 
 brooding in silence. Finally John exclaimed, "It 
 was very foolish for me to talk as I have. See, the 
 sun is going down behind the mountain. Let us 
 hurry on, and the wind will blow the morbid 
 thoughts out of our heads." 
 
At • last February came. Although Mary and 
 Kathi had been kept so very busy, it seemed to them 
 that the time would never come when their sweet- 
 hearts would pay them the promised visit. 
 
 Miss Elizabeth had not enjoyed the preparations 
 for the house party, which were now complete, as 
 she had those for the Training Day, and the Christ- 
 mas Festival. She had protested against her nieces 
 entertaining gentlemen while their father was away. 
 Although they were always respectful and obedient 
 to their aunt, they generally could not agree with 
 her ideas of propriety. 
 
 It was evident there was a reason for Elizabeth 
 Skene 's distrust of all men, except her brother, upon 
 whom she seemed to lavish enough love, which if 
 evenly distributed among her male acquaintances 
 would have sufficed for a liberal portion for each. 
 
 Philip Skene and his wife had forbidden their 
 children when small to even mention their aunt's 
 dislike of men, or to tease her about any gentleman. 
 It was made plain to them that her history was a 
 
 108 
 
109 
 
 sad one, but they were left to imagine the story for 
 themselves. 
 
 Now that the hearts of both of the young ladies 
 had been pierced by Cupid's penetrating little arrow, 
 they understood better and sympathized more truly 
 with the unfortunate woman. Still they could not 
 allow her prejudices to deprive them of their long 
 anticipated happiness. 
 
 Amherst and Gill joyfully pranced along, jing- 
 ling the chimes of bells suspended from their high 
 hames, while Andrew, upon the front seat of the low 
 sleigh, held the reins. He was completely enveloped 
 in a beaver coat and cap. Over his feet and limbs 
 was wrapped a seacow's robe, which was as white as 
 the glistening snow. 27 Another made from the skin 
 of the same animal, which Andrew had helped to 
 catch in the St. Lawrence, was snugly tucked about 
 Mary and Kathi, who nestled in the deep fur of a 
 black bear's hide in the back seat. Although it was 
 extremely cold, they felt it not in their beautiful 
 long sable coats and close fitting hoods, their feet 
 and ankles encased in fur lined moccasins and leg- 
 gins. 
 
 All three were very happy and merry, as they 
 glided along over the snow covered ice to meet their 
 guests some distance down the lake. Their gaiety 
 
110 
 
 increased as Kathi called their attention to what she 
 termed the fairies' creation. 
 
 "Look up there! The angel masons' old gray 
 walls are fringed with huge icicles. Notice their 
 opalescent colors as the sun shines on them ; and that 
 bank covered with diamond beads. Why do people 
 say there is no beautiful scenery in winter?" 
 
 ' ' Because they can see only what they look for, ' ' 
 replied Mary. ' ' I see the beauty in things to which 
 you call my attention, which I never would have no- 
 ticed at all if you had not been with me." 
 
 "Why, sister, do you mean to say you would not 
 notice how beautiful these leafless trees are? Look 
 at their graceful gray branches all ridged with pearls 
 and spangled with precious stones." 
 
 Andrew turning emitted a hearty laugh. "Kathi, 
 I would give a good deal for your imagination. 
 These old dry limbs do seem different, some way, 
 when you tell me they are loaded with pearls in- 
 stead of ice. 
 
 "Kathi, what do you see in the evergreens?" 
 asked Mary. 
 
 ' ' Oh dear me ! Can I never teach my elders to 
 see things as they really are ? If your eyesight were 
 only a little better you would perceive that every 
 
Ill 
 
 pine, spruce, and hemlock in this forest has donned 
 its cloak of ermine." 
 
 ' ' My eyesight is not good enough to see ermine, ' ' 
 drawled Andrew after a prolonged gaze in different 
 directions. "But what's that ahead? A flurry of 
 dead leaves?" 
 
 The girls peered around their big furry brother, 
 and Kathi exclaimed in disgust. "Leaves! Oh, 
 Andy, don't call my pet snow birds leaves." 
 
 "Your snow birds. Why do you think they are 
 yours? There are other snow birds than the ones 
 you feed at home." 
 
 "Because they act as if they knew us, and ex- 
 pected to be fed," was the reply, which was heard 
 only by Mary, as the horses had become frightened 
 by the dark flock of birds, which came whirring by 
 their ears. They pranced and plunged requiring all 
 of Andrew's strength and dexterity to manage them. 
 He called sternly for them to stop their foolishness, 
 but they only laid back their ears and ran desper- 
 ately for a couple of miles or more. The young ladies 
 snuggled deeper into the seat, and held to the sides 
 with all their strength to keep from being thrown 
 out, as the sled swerved and swayed as it rounded 
 the many sharp turns in the beaten path. 
 
 Snow clods from the horses hoofs flew into And- 
 
112 
 
 rew's face as he pulled vigorously oil the reins crying 
 soothingly. "Whoa, Am! Whoa, Gill! Whoa 
 Boys ! Steady now ! ' ' Presently, much to the driv- 
 er 's relief, the horses tiring of the sport slackened 
 their mad pace. 
 
 "Are you both here?" asked Andrew as he 
 turned and looked at his sisters. 
 
 "I guess I'm here," answered Mary, "but I think 
 my wits were spilled out some way back." 
 
 ' ' I don 't doubt it, " laughed Kathi. ' ' I kept ask- 
 ing her if the horses were running away, and all 
 she would say was to keep still." 
 
 "You silly. What made you ask such a foolish 
 question?" 
 
 ' ' I felt like old Granny Hepizibah did when their 
 oxen ran away. I wanted Andy to stop and let me 
 out." 
 
 Just at that moment, a team and sled glided 
 around the bend in the narrow lake, and Andrew 
 suddenly reining his horses out of the track brought 
 them to a halt facing the high cliffs of Bald Moun- 
 tain. 
 
 "Good afternoon, Sir," called out the driver of 
 the passing sleigh. "How far is it to Skenesbor- 
 ough?" 
 
113 
 
 "About five miles," politely replied Andrew. 
 "Are you from Montreal?" 
 
 " Worse 'n that," responded the stranger. "I hail 
 from Quebec, and my destination is Albany. Is 
 there a good inn at Skenesborough?" 
 
 "There is no inn, but we are always pleased to 
 welcome travellers." 
 
 "Am I speaking to Colonel Skene?" 
 
 "The colonel is my father." 
 
 "How is the road to Albany, Mr. Skene?" 
 
 "Fail", but you will not find the easy level trav- 
 elling you have had the last hundred and fifty 
 miles. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Guess you are right there. ' ' 
 
 "Lake Champlain is the largest body of water 
 in America that is used in winter as a highway," 
 informed the major. "Are there many teams behind 
 you?" 
 
 "Plenty of them. But I am cold and hungry 
 and must be hurrying on." 
 
 "Stop at Skenesborough House, and tell old 
 Mammy I told you she was to give you a good sup- 
 per, and have the barn man care for your team. ' ' 
 
 "Thank you, Mr. Skene. That sounds pretty 
 good to me. Geddap Ponies!" and off they trotted. 
 
 While Andrew was conversing with the stranger, 
 
114 
 
 another sleigh appeared in view from behind the 
 bend, and although its occupants were so bundled in 
 fur as scarcely to be distinguished one from the oth- 
 er, they were promptly recognized by the girls as 
 their expected guests, and all manner of jolly greet- 
 ings were exchanged. John Watson and Frederic 
 de Piquet sprang from their seats, and disregarding 
 all the proprieties kissed their loved ones, while 
 Andrew and Eliza Gilliland in mock amazement, 
 chided such indecorous conduct. John fairly drag- 
 ged Mary out of the sled, and carried her to his own. 
 Touching his horses smartly with his whip, and 
 holding Mary to his side, they glided away laughing 
 merrily. Eliza drew her robe more closely about her, 
 and wished she had accepted Andrew 's invitation to 
 ride with him. Indeed both of them seemed very 
 lonely, compared with their companions. 
 
 Lieutenant de Piquet had left Miss Gillland's 
 side to join his sweetheart, who whispered to him 
 that words could not express her joy at being with 
 him again after nine long months of separation. Both 
 of their faces beamed with the light of love, and 
 the excitement of meeting. 
 
 After many an enquiry and answer, Kathi asked. 
 "Have you enjoyed the trip?" 
 
 "Not like the one last June," he replied in a 
 
115 
 
 whisper. "With you at my side, dear, I would like 
 to cross the great desert. Oh! Kathi, I am so 
 happy." 
 
 "So am I, Fred." 
 
 "Yes, dearest, I have enjoyed every mile of the 
 way. It was good to know that every moment 
 brought me nearer to the one little woman, who is 
 dearer than all the world to me." 
 
 ' ' I have felt the same way, Fred. I have said to 
 myself every night, 'another day has passed, and I 
 am one day nearer to the greatest desire of my 
 heart.' And now you are really here, I can hardly 
 realize " 
 
 Andrew interrupted. "Did you have any bad 
 luck on the way?" 
 
 "Not at all. We never left the lake but once, and 
 that was down here about three miles this side of 
 Fort Ti, where there is a crack in the ice that ex- 
 tends from point to point across a narrow part of 
 the lake." 28 
 
 "Were you not afraid to cross?" asked Kathi. 
 
 "No one tried to cross. There were evergreens 
 stuck up in the snow to show where to leave the lake. 
 Anyway we could see the fissure plain, as water was 
 flooding through it." 
 
 "Did you have to go far to get around it?" 
 
116 
 
 "Only about a mile." 
 
 "Do you mean to say, Lieutenant, that was the 
 only fissure you had to go ashore for ? There usually 
 are several." 
 
 "There were others, but their edges had been 
 driven together with such force that they were 
 raised up in great ridges, and we drove right over 
 them. To me it was a great sight to see the ox 
 teams doubling up until sometimes there were four 
 and five yoke hauling big loads over these hills. But 
 I suppose, Major, you are used to seeing such 
 things. ' ' 29 
 
 ' ' Yes, our oxen in this country are very valuable 
 beasts of burden." 
 
 "I was surprised at the number of caravans we 
 passed, with ever so many teams in each. I could 
 not help wondering where all that merchandise is 
 going." 
 
 "During the last few years this country has be- 
 come settled very rapidly. Last year, Rob Gordon 
 alone, had five caravans of twelve yoke each, and 
 no telling how many he will have this year before 
 the lake breaks up. They are always accompanied 
 by settlers. I have seen as many as thirty sleds start 
 out from here together, and a great many more will 
 join them before they reach Montreal." 
 
117 
 
 "Does Gordon furnish all this part of the coun- 
 try with supplies?" 
 
 "Well, pretty much." 
 
 "Do you send all of your produce to Canada?" 
 
 "Oh no, a great deal of it goes to Albany in the 
 winter when sleighing is good, but of course the 
 roads are much harder to travel than the lake, and 
 we can make the trip to Montreal in almost as short 
 a time as to Albany. Considerable also goes to Bos- 
 ton." 
 
 "Indeed!" exclaimed Frederic. 
 They had reached Skenesborough Landing, and 
 Andrew pointed to a sled in front of the shop, on 
 which the blacksmith was making some repairs. 
 ' ' That is a load of potash which came from Chimney 
 Point, opposite Fort Amherst, and is on its way to 
 Boston. This is the fellow's second trip this winter, 
 and he expects to make yet another one before the 
 season closes." 
 
 "What is the other man's load," enquired de 
 Piquet. 
 
 "He's carrying gunpowder to the forts. Next 
 week I am going to send down a load of lead. ' ' 
 
 "What are they doing, — stocking up?" 
 
 ' ' Well, yes. I was at Ti last week, and Delaplace 
 
118 
 
 told me their powder was all wet. The fort is in bad 
 shape. ' ' 
 
 "I understand the works are being strength- 
 ened." 
 
 "A little, but nothing like they should be, or like 
 they will be when father conies home. Then there 
 will be a good deal of money laid out on them.'" 
 
 "I wish your father were here now." As he 
 spoke Frederic frowned deeply, but smiled when he 
 noticed Kathi's face of alarm. 
 
 Their conversation was interrupted as they had 
 reached the house. 
 
 The home had been profusely decorated for the 
 holidays. Although the graceful sprays of ground 
 pine had now lost its deep green shades, it added 
 much to the picture which the gay dinner party 
 made to-night. Above the richly laid table hung a 
 chandelier with a dozen lanterns, as many more can- 
 delabrae lined the mantles over the two fireplaces, 
 and several lights were suspended from brackets 
 along the side of the long dining-room. 
 
 At one end of the table sat Andrew, in light blue 
 satin trimmed with gold braid, and deep frills of 
 duchesse lace falling from the stock at his throat 
 and over his hands. As he moved a jewelled gorget 
 dangled against the gold embroidered white satin 
 
119 
 
 vest. Buckles of turquoise and pearls adorned his 
 slippers and knee breeches. A pink ribbon tied the 
 short queue of his powdered, French puffed wig. 
 
 John Watson and Frederic de Piquet were cloth- 
 ed in similar apparel although with less trimmings, 
 and perhaps of a cheaper quality. Gershom Beach, 
 Andrew's most intimate friend, 30 sat next to his 
 richly atttired host, dressed in a simple black 
 broadcloth, with not even a bit of lace to give a soft 
 touch to his plain white linen stock, or to cover his 
 rough, hard hands. The sweet smiles he was bestow- 
 ing upon Eliza Gilliland were sufficient adornments 
 to attract the attention of any young lady. 
 
 Mr. Beach was not particularly fond of Miss Gil- 
 liland, but noticing that Andrew was making a great 
 effort to bridle his love making tongue, he became 
 very much amused at the many excellent opportuni- 
 ties that were passing for affectionate little compli- 
 ments, which his friend had never before been 
 known to miss. Gershom tried to solve the mystery. 
 Could it be that Andrew did not admire her as much 
 as he had in the past, or had his sad experience with 
 poor Fawn taught him a lesson. It might be such a 
 thing that he had really fallen in love with her, and 
 was trying to hide the fact from them all. Knowing 
 Andrew so well, he came to the conclusion that this 
 
120 
 
 last conjecture must be the reason for his unnatural 
 manner. 
 
 Gershom could not resist the temptation to tease 
 him by paying a great deal more attention to Eliza 
 than to any one else. At every opportunity he com- 
 plimented her. It was first her complexion he ad- 
 mired, then her eyes, her hair, and even her gown. 
 But Andrew took it all good naturedly, even prais- 
 ing his rival's boldness. 
 
 At the other end of the table, Miss Elizabeth 
 graced the party. Her pearl gray dress, of such 
 heavy silk that it could almost stand alone, was in 
 harmony with her prim stately manner. Gershom 
 Beach's insincere remarks were anything but pleas- 
 ing to her sense of decorum, but she politely ignored 
 them all. It was not so hard to overlook his faults, 
 as it was to endure the silly speeches Mary and 
 Kathi were continually making. She was ashamed 
 of her nieces' conduct. What possessed them to 
 giggle at everything the gentlemen said. When she 
 was young, girls did not simper all the time. They 
 talked sensibly, or better yet, did not talk at all un- 
 less spoken to. What was the world coming to. 
 These young people acted as tho they did not pos- 
 sess a grain of common sense. Little did the digni- 
 fied spinster dream that her presence was holding in 
 
121 
 
 check a spirit of frivolousness far beyond her com- 
 prehension. 
 
 The last course had been served, and a toast 
 drank to each of the ladies when Frederic de Piquet 
 stood up, and raising a glass of French Wine pro- 
 posed, "Let us drink the health of our host, Major 
 Andrew Philip Skene. Long may he live to make 
 love to the ladies." 
 
 " No ! No ! " cried Kathi springing to her feet. 
 She caught his arm as he was about to sip the wine, 
 causing him to spill a portion of it down the front of 
 his lavender waistcoat. "Oh! I beg your pardon, 
 I'm so sorry for my carelessness," added Kathi re- 
 pentantly. 
 
 "Never mind my clothes, Kathi, don't let a little 
 thing like that spoil a good deed. What were you 
 going to add to my toast ? ' ' 
 
 "May he meet a girl who is his equal in the gen- 
 tle art of love making, and — " but nothing more 
 could be heard in the laughter and cries of ap- 
 proval, as the toast was enthusiastically consum- 
 mated. 
 
 Such boisterous and ungenteel behaviour was 
 more than Miss Elizabeth could put up with. In a 
 few moments she arose, and immediately every one 
 gave her his full attention. So far she had taken 
 
122 
 
 very little part in the conversation, but she now felt 
 it was her duty to give the young people under her 
 chaperonage a lesson in duty and propriety. Raising 
 her glass impressively she said, "Let us drink the 
 health of our king. God bless him. May we, his 
 subjects in America, love and obey his laws." 
 
 Before she had ceased speaking, Andrew with his 
 two sisters and Frederic had risen to their feet, each 
 holding a delicate wine glass after her respectful 
 manner. John Watson, and his neice, and Gershom 
 Beach remained seated with their faces tense and 
 serious. The silence which followed Miss Elizabeth's 
 toast was most embarrassing. The three guests who 
 had refused her well meant invitation bowed their 
 heads. 
 
 Mary Skene was so shocked at her lover's con- 
 duct, she faltered and nearly dropped her glass. 
 Andrew's heart sank within him, as he realized that 
 his friend by his side had, by this mute act, declared 
 himself a rebel, and thought, "Gershom Beach and 
 John Watson opposed to the king. My God ! what is 
 the country coming to." Now he realized why 
 Gershom had received all his plans so indifferently, 
 why he had seemed bored instead of interested, and 
 why he had had no suggestions to offer. Miss Eliza- 
 
123 
 
 beth was in almost a state of collapse at such un- 
 heard of disloyalty. 
 
 The awkward silence was broken by Kathi, whose 
 quick wit had taken in the situation. "Come into 
 the drawing room, we are going to have some music. 
 Fred will sing for us a new song. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, the words and tune are new," said de 
 Piquet with forced gaiety, "but the theme is the 
 same old love story that Adam sang to Eve in the 
 Garden of Eden." 
 
 Kathi led the party from the room, with a pre- 
 tense of light-heartedness that was but half success- 
 ful, as she declared. ' ' Love is just as fascinating a 
 subject to-day as it was in the beginning of the 
 world." 
 
 "Oh, yes," lamely agreed Andrew, "I have no 
 doubt but that Fred can sing a love song quite as 
 well, as ever old Adam could. How about you, John. 
 Are your vocal chords in proper tune for a love 
 ditty?" 
 
 Poor John was not as yet able to command voice 
 enough to speak, let alone sing a love song, or even 
 to look into the outraged eyes of the woman he 
 adored, so he made no reply. - 
 
 The drawing room was beautifully decorated, and 
 the two great fireplaces were sending out a warm 
 
124 
 
 welcome to enter, and partake of comfort and good 
 cheer. The apartment was elegantly furnished with 
 new Heppelwhite, which the colonel had purchased 
 in England immediately upon his arrival, and had 
 shipped so that it might be brought to Skenesbor- 
 ough before the Liberty was laid up for the winter. 
 Governor Skene must have the latest, and most ex- 
 pensive furniture, that could be obtained. 
 
 The family portraits, which hung on the walls, 
 seemed to view the apartment with approval, but 
 Miss Elizabeth's toast had taken the joy out of each 
 young heart. Much to their relief, she had gone to 
 her room to pray for her wicked guests, and after- 
 wards to write Philip all about it. 
 
 Kathi sat down to the harpsichord, and played 
 the new music that Frederic had brought while the 
 others gathered around her. All tried to forget the 
 unpleasant incident, but the gloom that had settled 
 over the company was not to be dispelled, and the 
 party broke up, each feeling that the evening had 
 been a miserable failure. Eliza felt that her ro- 
 mance was ended. The gallant major never would 
 overlook her refusal to honor the king. Andrew 
 and Gershom, who had been the warmest friends 
 from boyhood, saw visions of a widening breach be- 
 tween them. John Watson had good reason to fear 
 
125 
 
 Mary's high spirit would prove superior to love, and 
 she suddenly understood why John had urged her to 
 marry him the last training day. 
 
 The guests had been invited to remain a week, 
 and altho the first evening had turned out so un- 
 fortunately, yet it did not altogether spoil the re- 
 mainder of the visit. After dinner toasts were si- 
 lently eschewed, and Miss Elizabeth withdrew her- 
 self as much as possible from their frivolous amuse- 
 ments. So many diversions were planned and car- 
 ried out, no time was left for meditation. One day 
 it was a sleighride out the Salem road; another a 
 coasting party over on the Island; then a snowshoe 
 race to East Bay. After dinner the large dining 
 room was cleared, and the evenings were spent in 
 dancing, playing games, popping corn, cracking 
 nuts, eating fruit, and candies, and at times listen- 
 ing to the shivery ghost stories of some old dame, or 
 to tales of frontier perils and adventure from the 
 lips of the patriarch of the settlement. But running 
 through it all seemed to be too much of the spirit, 
 ' ' Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we 
 die." 
 
33. 
 
 John Watson and Gersbom Beach had managed 
 to have a private conversation, and had decided it 
 was their duty to enlighten Andrew on certain ex- 
 isting public conditions. Therefore they asked him 
 for an opportunity to talk the matter over as 
 friends, for the country's good, as well as for their 
 own. He was pleased to gratify their desire, and 
 ordered a fire built in his father 's private office that 
 they might not be interrupted. 
 
 As they sat before the fireplace filling their pipes, 
 Gershom opened the subject with, — "In the first 
 place, it is understood that not one of us here has 
 any more love for his country than another." He 
 stooped to the fire, and drew out a blazing splinter 
 with which to light his pipe. "It is simply a differ- 
 ence of opinion how best we may serve her. ' ' 
 
 "That's true, Gershom," agreed Andrew, as he 
 accepted the proffered match. "We will pass this 
 brand around like a pipe of peace," and smiled as 
 he handed it to Watson. 
 
 John held it to the tobacco in his favorite old 
 
 126 
 
127 
 
 corncob, and after puffing it into a glow passed it on 
 to Frederic de Piquet. Then leaning back comfort- 
 ably in his chair calmly said. "You see, boys, its 
 like this. Back here in this wilderness we have been 
 so engaged in our own affairs we have not realized 
 how near we are to civil war. Beach can tell you of 
 the outlook, better than I. ' ' 
 
 Andrew sat on the corner of the table, and delib- 
 erately removing his pipe from his mouth sent a 
 whiff of smoke curbing toward the ceiling. "I 
 dare say, John, I know more about the proceedings 
 in Boston, and the rest of the coast settlements, than 
 from my remarks you have been led to believe. ' ' 
 
 "I do not doubt that, Andy." 
 "I claim the less public talk there is these days 
 the better it will be for all of us. I do not mean 
 that I object to discussion of the great questions in- 
 volving our country, among ourselves like this, but 
 men like Brooks, who are continually jangling, and 
 even coming to blows over their senseless argu- 
 ments, are stirring up and egging on trouble, which 
 cooler and wiser heads would allay." 
 
 "Yes, Major, I have no patience with such fel- 
 lows." 
 
 "I try to keep peace in the settlement," contin- 
 ued Andrew, "and for my pains am dubbed both a 
 
128 
 
 rebel and a tory. I will not deny that it grieves me 
 to see symptoms of disloyalty among my dearest 
 friends, but no doubt all of us will have many deeper 
 griefs to endure within a few years. Evidently, 
 John, you take it, that I have not threshed out this 
 subject of taxation." 
 
 "Hardly that, Andy. All of us were small boys 
 when the first stamp act was passed, and no son of 
 a British colonist in America can be ignorant of the 
 subject. I meant that you did not realize the extent 
 of the persecutions inflicted upon the New England 
 people. ' ' 
 
 "Pardon, Watson," apologetically exclaimed de 
 Piquet, "but good loyalists claim that they are the 
 persecuted. Still that is not exactly the question. 
 What we should discuss is by what method we can 
 best serve our country, which we have agreed no 
 one of us loves better than another. Do you consider 
 the colonists, who have banded themselves together 
 in lawless mobs, going about the country destroying 
 property, and driving the king's officers out of their 
 homes, — 1 say, do you consider they are serving 
 their country?" 
 
 "I hope good will be the result," said Gershom 
 Beach as he rose, and leaned against the corner of 
 the mantel piece. "No doubt there has been unnec- 
 
129 
 
 essary destruction of property, and loss of life. 
 There always is in times like these. ' ' 
 
 "The trouble is," remarked Andrew, "that the 
 colonists have no regard for the law. When enough 
 British soldiers have landed to enforce obedience, 
 we will have no more such disgraceful riots." 
 
 ' ' Andrew, ' ' exclaimed G-ershom solemnly, ' ' if the 
 mother country had not sent an army over here to 
 coerce the colonists there would have been peace 
 and security, instead of all this destruction and 
 bloodshed." 
 
 "The British army is in Boston for their protec- 
 tion the same as my regiment is in Canada," ven- 
 tured Lieutenant de Piquet. 
 
 "No, that is not the object," asserted Watson as 
 he gazed into the open fire. "We Americans need 
 no protection to-day, except from the unjust de- 
 mands of Parliament." 
 
 "There is a difference, John, in our opinions of 
 justice. I believe the government has not de- 
 manded that which we should not yield." As he 
 spoke Andrew slid from his place on the corner of 
 the table, and sat on a chair, his legs astride the 
 back. "Three pence per pound on tea is a paltry 
 tax to make such a fuss about." 
 
 "It is not a question of three pence per pound, 
 
130 
 
 Major. It is a question whether we are to remain 
 free British subjects, or beeome slaves to a king," 
 exclaimed Gershom hotly. 
 
 "A king?" queried Major Skene. 
 
 "Aye a king, The king, if you will have it so." 
 
 "Be careful, Beach, be careful, old man," cau- 
 tioned Andrew soothingly. 
 
 "Taxation without our consent is tyranny," 
 continued Gershom. "We refuse to pay the tax 
 on exactly the same principle John Hampton ap- 
 pealed to years ago. It is not a question whether 
 or not we can afford to pay a certain sum of money. 
 But are we going to give up the libetry of this free 
 land of ours, and are we going to allow ourselves 
 to become slaves." 
 
 "That is the truth, gentlemen," commented 
 Watson. "Are we going to sit still, and see our 
 country lose the liberty our ancestors suffered so 
 much to attain. And it is not only our civil rights 
 that are in danger, but our religion as well. ' ' 
 
 "0, Watson! that's all nonsense," hastily inter- 
 posed Skene. "That idea originated in the imagin- 
 ative brain of some agitator, who was trying to set 
 the people against the king. The Church has no in- 
 tention of coercing the colonies." 
 
 "I beg your pardon, Major," said Gershom. 
 
131 
 
 "When I was in Boston I visited my uncle, who at 
 the time was entertaining a churchman from London. 
 He was very enthusiastic over the fair prospects in 
 America, taking it for granted that all present were 
 as anxious as he to see a state church established in 
 this country. He told us plainly that it was the firm 
 intention of the authorities to bring this about. The 
 man had no conception of the American idea of leav- 
 ing every person free to worship God in his own 
 manner." 
 
 Then followed a few moments of silence in which 
 each seemed to be interested in watching the logs of 
 burning wood, but the fire before them was not the 
 subject of their thoughts. Presently Andrew re- 
 marked. "Boys, there are many conflicting state- 
 ments these days, but we should not heed them all. 
 Probably the man whom you heard was a candidate 
 for an American bishopric, which he hoped to see 
 created for his benefit. ' ' 
 
 "That's exactly what he was, Andy," assented 
 Beach with a laugh. "This ambitious aspirant was 
 also very proud of his knowledge of court affairs, and 
 made no secret of the common belief that the princi- 
 pal object of the king in taxing the colonies was to 
 rival the grandeurs of the court of France. His 
 Majesty has the idea he would like to build a palace, 
 
132 
 
 which might bear comparison with the glories of 
 Versailles. To attempt this requires a larger reve- 
 nue than the Parliament will settle on our sover- 
 eigns." 31 
 
 "I have little faith in such stories," declared 
 Skene. ' ' Court tales are likely to have little founda- 
 tion in fact. But, gentlemen, for my part I cannot 
 for one moment entertain a disloyal thought. Why, 
 I believe I must have taken the oath of allegiance 
 before I was born. At any rate I began to compre- 
 hend its meaning when I was eight years old, at 
 which time, in consideration of Father's services in 
 the army, I was nominated ensign in the 27th Foot. 32 
 When Father brought me my commission he im- 
 pressed upon my mind very solemnly that the first, 
 and most essential duty of a soldier, was obedience. ' ' 
 "True, very true, Andrew," assented de 
 Piquet. 
 
 "And as I grew older I better understood the 
 meaning of the word, and the necessity of living up 
 to its teaching. Several years ago I adopted Fath- 
 er's motto — 'Be loyal to God, to king, to parents, 
 and to my own conscience.' I would no more think 
 of being disloyal to George the Third than I would to 
 Father." When Andrew began to speak he was 
 very much in earnest, and as he continued his voice 
 
133 
 
 gradually gained a positiveness that de Piquet felt 
 could not help but convince any man of his truth and 
 sincerity. 
 
 Gershom placed his hand on Andrew's shoulder 
 in the familiar way which had been their custom for 
 years. "Look here, Skene, no one wants you to be 
 disloyal. But it is a spirit of patriotism which we 
 would arouse within you. It is for the love of your 
 country that we ask you to consider well the spirit 
 of injustice, yes of tyranny, which seems to govern 
 the actions of our sovereign and his ministers. Do 
 you approve of free Britons meekly submitting to, 
 for example, this edict which prohibits all manufac- 
 turing on this side of the water? Why, do you 
 know, Andy, that by the law you have no right to 
 work your forges and smelter, but should send your 
 ore to England to have it run into iron. ' ' 33 
 
 ' ' Boys, ' ' said Andrew after a pause, ' ' I have con- 
 sidered these things. I am sorry the colonists have 
 forced the authorities to adopt such measures. If 
 they had been good obedient subjects such laws 
 would never have been made. ' ' 
 
 "Andrew, be fair. You are not answering my 
 question. Why do you continue to manufacture iron 
 if you believe it right for the English Parliament to 
 prohibit it?" 
 
134 
 
 "I will admit if the law was ever enforced I 
 would consider it unjust. But I believe it is very 
 unwise for us to refuse to pay the tax Parliament 
 has demanded." 
 
 Frederic clapped him on the shoulder and ex- 
 claimed, "Now, Skene, you are talking! I know 
 some things that you men do not. The colonists 
 may as well pay the tax now as to be forced to do so 
 later. We will see the day when the poor devils who 
 are leaders in this rebellion will hang for their dis- 
 loyalty to the crown. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Come, boys, let us sample this bottle of Father 's 
 choice madeira?" As he spoke Andrew filled the 
 glasses. 
 
 "Here's to the health of the new governor," ex- 
 claimed de Piquet. Four goblets clicked, and the 
 wine was drunk, but no good cheer accompanied the 
 toast. 
 
XII. 
 
 Gershom Beach had said good bye to all but 
 Miss Elizabeth, who seemed to be confined to her 
 room most of the time during the house party, which 
 was surprising considering her usual good health. 
 Andrew accompanied his friend for a short distance, 
 that he might bid him farewell where no prying eyes 
 or eavesdropping ears could intrude. On Gershom 's 
 back was strapped his baggage. As he believed in 
 independence, and lived up to his belief, he asked 
 no help of man or beast to do his travelling. He 
 thought nothing of walking home to Rutland. 
 
 When a few rods beyond the barn Andrew broke 
 the silence. "I cannot tell you how grieved I am 
 that we differ so widely in our ideas of loyalty." 
 
 "Neither of us can change his belief. We can 
 only regret that we do not agree as to the solution 
 of this great problem. Each of us shall have to fol- 
 low the dictates of his own conscience. ' ' 
 
 "Yes," sadly answered Andrew, "no man can 
 do better than to live up to what he honestly believes 
 to be right, but, Gershom, come what will, remem- 
 
 135 
 
136 
 
 ber you will always be to me the same old comrade 
 you have been in the past." 
 
 "I ask you to be the same, Andy. We will hope 
 that our country's troubles will have been settled 
 by the time we meet again. I go to Boston next 
 week for an extended visit." 
 
 "It is unlike you not to have told me that be- 
 fore." 
 
 "Yes, I am sorry to admit, I have not been able 
 to be as frank with you as heretofore. ' ' 
 
 "I hope it will not be long before we will again 
 be exchanging confidences." 
 
 ' ' To tell you the truth, Andy, I have fears that it 
 will be some little time. Old John Bull's children 
 are as stubborn as himself. As long as his soldiers 
 are stationed here in these colonies, they will find 
 they are facing a people who will stand for what 
 they believe to be their rights as long as a drop of 
 blood remains in their veins. ' ' 
 
 ' ' You are right, Gershom, if there are many such 
 fellows as you and Watson. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Good bye, Andy, ' ' pulling off bis buckskin mit- 
 ten he offered his hand to his old friend, who 
 grasped it warmly, and each noticed a suspicion of 
 moisture in the other's eyes. 
 
137 
 
 "This is hard lines, old boy, but we must take 
 life as it comes. Good bye. ' ' 
 
 Kathi and Frederic had managed to have several 
 little secret visits during the week. It was consid- 
 ered a joke by the rest of the party how slyly they 
 accomplished their desire to be alone occasionally. 
 
 But John and Mary had not availed themselves 
 of the opportunities that had been offered them for 
 private interviews. To be sure there were several 
 times when John had hastily given her a little hug, 
 and a sly kiss, when he had discovered they were 
 alone, and there had been a few times when the oth- 
 ers' backs were turned that they cut up such capers. 
 But there had been nothing said about their wedding 
 next summer, or the home for which John had 
 ranged the woods for many days, marking the choic- 
 est trees, which when summer came again would 
 be converted into a substantial and commodious 
 dwelling upon his large estate in Willsborough. 
 
 "Watson glanced out of the window and saw that 
 Zach was bringing his team to the house. He turned 
 to the group within, who were in a great commotion 
 with the many parting requests. Eliza Gilliland was 
 expressing her thankfulness for the pleasure enjoyed 
 as Mary and Kathi were warming her wraps before 
 the fire. 
 
138 
 
 John caught Mary by the arm, and with the 
 great love in his heart flashing from his large black 
 eyes he implored her in a whisper. ' ' Dearest, I can- 
 not go without a word with you. ' ' 
 
 "Come into the dining room," she replied in a 
 very low voice. 
 
 Chloe was diligently clearing the breakfast table, 
 but when they entered she rushed from the room into 
 the butler's pantry, and down the stairs as if she 
 had been caught stealing Missis' choice fruit cake. 
 
 John immediately folded Mary in his arms, and 
 kissed her affectionately. "Darling, darling mine," 
 he entreated, "do not let political troubles interfere 
 with our marriage." 
 
 ' ' John, I love you with all my heart, yes, my very 
 soul. I never knew how much I loved you until — 
 until you told me last fall what you did. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, Mary, I know. It seemed to me before 
 then that no man ever loved a woman quite so much 
 as I loved you, but when I became aware that there 
 was — was danger of my losing you, then I realized 
 that I loved you far more than I supposed I did be- 
 fore. I pray of you do not make both of us miserable 
 all of our lives by breaking your solemn pledge to 
 me." 
 
 Trembling in his arms, and not daring to meet 
 
139 
 
 her lover's eyes, for fear she could not utter the 
 words which duty demanded of her, she tried to 
 speak, but only a sigh escaped her. He tried to force 
 her to look at him, by tenderly tilting her chin so 
 that her face was turned up to his. So closely did 
 he hold her unresisting form that he could feel her 
 breath upon his cheek, but her eyes closed, and tears 
 trickled from under their lids. 
 
 With every moment of silence, John grew more 
 hopeful, and at last breathed. "If your love is as 
 great as mine, and I believe it is, I am sure you never 
 will give me up." 
 
 She opened her eyes, and freed herself from his 
 embrace. "John, if you love as I do, you never can 
 be so — so wicked as to join any rebel army." 
 
 "Mary, would you ask me not to obey my con- 
 science T Would you love a hypocrite 1 No, I know 
 you would not." 
 
 Her arms went around his neck, and for the first 
 time she not only received his kisses, but pressed her 
 lips to his in a hungry passionate caress. ' ' Oh, John ! 
 John ! My Love ! I can never, never cease loving 
 you, no, never, but, dear, I never can marry you so 
 long as — as you are disloyal to the king, I know 
 you believe you are in the right, but to me a rebel is 
 no better than a criminal. I have tried so hard to 
 
140 
 
 see tilings from your standpoint, but I cannot sym- 
 pathize with any such resistence as I have heard 
 preached from your lips, and encouraged by your 
 example. Let us swear allegiance to our sovereign, 
 and do all we can to protect his people from these 
 outrageous, murderous mobs." As she spoke, she 
 raised her eyes to heaven. 
 
 "I John Watson, do solemnly swear in the name 
 of God to do all in my power to protect you, my 
 love. ; To be loyal to my country, and to you, whom 
 God intended for my wife." He paused, drew her 
 to him again, and reverently kissing her forehead 
 added, "I pray, as I have never prayed before, that 
 peace will soon come again to this distracted land. 
 Then will I drink with you, to the health of George 
 the Third." 
 
 Once more he kissed her, and then took a step 
 towards the door. She caught his hand detaining 
 him. ' ' Oh, John ! I have had such hopes that your 
 love for me would guide you. If father were only 
 home I am sure he could explain this question to you 
 so you could see it. Oh, dear! don't you love me 
 enough to — to give up this feeling you have against 
 our motherland?" 
 
 "Darling, this is no new question. I have pond- 
 ered it for years. But again I plead with you, my 
 
141 
 
 little loyalist, don't let this difference of opinion pre- 
 vent you from becoming my wife next June. ' ' 
 
 For a moment she did not answer. Then as if 
 gathering together all her will power, she straight- 
 ened up, and taking a step backward said in a 
 choked voice. ' ' I will marry you, when you too are 
 a loyalist." 
 
 He stood between her and the door and held out 
 his arms, but she did not enter them, but passed 
 through the door, and ascended the stairs in a man- 
 ner which seemed to John, who stood in the cold 
 hall watching her, as if she could hardly drag one 
 foot after the other. She was strongly tempted to 
 glance back as she gained the top step, but she was 
 master of herself, and without looking to right or 
 left entered her chamber, which she did not leave 
 for a week. 
 
Part Second 
 
XIII. 
 
 "The shot" had been fired at Lexington, and 
 although as yet it had not been "heard around the 
 world" its rumblings had awakened the inhabitants 
 of the colonies to the fact that the war had begun. 
 A week after the battle of Lexington, the Provincial 
 Assembly of Connecticut agreed that one of the first, 
 and most essential things necessary for the patriot 
 army to accomplish was the capture of the British 
 forts upon Lake Chaniplain, the northern gateway to 
 the colonies. The munitions of war which these forts 
 contained were needed for the use of the army gath- 
 ering at Cambridge and Roxbury. 
 
 Edward Mott and Noah Phelps were appointed 
 a committee to proceed to the frontier towns, and 
 raise the force that was necessary for the enterprise. 
 On reaching Pittsfield, they, with the few men whom 
 they had gathered on the way, were joined by Col- 
 onel Easton with his regiment of militia, and at Ben- 
 nington by Colonel Ethan Allen and his Green Moun- 
 tain Boys. A council was held at the Catamount 
 tavern, where Noah Phelps volunteered to spy upon 
 
 143 
 
144 
 
 Ticonderoga, and report at the rendezvous at Castle- 
 ton. Scouting parties were ordered to guard the 
 roads and trails leading towards Lake George and 
 Lake Champlain. A fleet footed Indian runner 
 glided noiselessly from the village gate to notify 
 Captain Remember Baker to assemble his company, 
 in the vicinity of the Winooski river, and proceed 
 up the lake, and join the expedition at the forts. 
 
 On the seventh of May, although these good peo- 
 ple were in the habit of puritanically observing the 
 Sabbath, just at dusk there was a great gathering of 
 men at Zadock Remington's tavern at Castleton. 
 Colonel Allen observed Parson Bigelow with a trusty 
 rifle over his shoulder, a well worn hunting knife in 
 the holster at his hip, a bullet pouch hanging from 
 his belt on one side, and on the other his powder 
 horn and canteen. 
 
 The colonel greeting him with a loud laugh, 
 grasped the preacher's hand in his rough, firm grip. 
 "Well, Parson, you don't look as if you had come to 
 hold a prayer meeting." 
 
 "I believe in praying, Ethan, — I mean, Colonel, — 
 but it's a good time to pray while we march." 
 
 "Amen. Now you are preaching. By Jehovah, 
 Parson, you have spent enough time trying to save 
 the souls of the damned tories from going to hell." 
 
145 
 
 The colonel indulged in a few more of his favorite 
 oaths. "Now is the time to persuade them with a 
 little gun powder that right is right, eh, Bigelow?" 
 
 "Ah, Ethan, Ethan, such language is blasphem- 
 ous. You should learn to have more respect for your 
 Lord and Maker. I have passed hours praying that 
 God will be with us on this expedition, and how can 
 I expect to have my prayers answered if our colonel 
 takes His holy name in vain." 
 
 The parson's serious tone and manner impressed 
 the colonel as much as his words, and although 
 Ethan Allen's expression was anything but a smile, 
 inwardly he was chuckling to think the good man 
 considered such language blasphemous. "What would 
 the parson think if he should really let himself 
 loose. 
 
 "Well, Bigelow, seeing 's you believe we can't do 
 it without God's help I'll try to, — yes, by Je- by Jee- 
 rusalem I'll, well, I'll promise you that the Great 
 Jehovah will help us on this expedition, because I 
 will see to it that He does. But I say, Parson, what 
 if the Redcoat's chaplain is asking God to help 
 them?" Unconsciously several more oaths slipped 
 from the colonel 's lips. 
 
 Before the parson could answer a large, strong, 
 young man saluted, and asked to speak to Colonel 
 
146 
 
 Allen. The only thing that denoted his rank were 
 the knots upon the shoulder of his coarse homespun 
 coat. But a uniform was the last thing to be consid- 
 ered by these backwoodsmen. Even the colonel did 
 not possess a complete outfit, yet his authority was 
 none the less respected. 
 
 "What can I do for you, Major Beach?" 
 
 ' ' I want to ask if the rumor is true that I am to 
 be put in command of the expedition you are going 
 to send to sieze Skenesborough?" While he spoke 
 his eyes were on the ground, but at the last word he 
 looked into his colonel's face. 
 
 In this instance Allen did not attempt to restrain 
 his propensity to curse. "Gershom, I'll thrash the 
 cuss who says I'd send one of my boys to do a dirty 
 job I wouldn't do myself." 
 
 "I thought so, Colonel, but I wanted to hear you 
 say it. There is no doubt but you will have com- 
 mand here : I have talked with the Connecticut and 
 Massachusetts men, and they all agree that you are 
 the officer to have charge up here." 
 
 I believe they will do the right thing at the coun- 
 cil at Dick Bentley's in the morning. Which one of 
 the New England captains do you think would be 
 the best man to send to Skenesborough?" 
 
 "I should think Herrick would be. I have had a 
 
147 
 
 talk with him, and explained the necessity of keep- 
 ing the works going for the benefit of the inhabi- 
 tants. I told him Captain Noah Lee would be just 
 the man to leave in charge there after the place was 
 taken. You know he is a man of good character, and 
 trusty in business matters." 
 
 "Well, yes, he will be just the man, and Brooks 
 can be left to manage the works. ' ' 
 
 "I do not agree with you there, Colonel. You 
 do not know the man as I do. He is a worse enemy 
 to the country than either Andrew or his father. ' ' 
 
 " I '11 be damned ! Is that so ? Well, Gershom, he 
 couldn't do any harm if he was a prisoner." 
 
 "Why not. It is a very easy thing to send an 
 Indian to Canada, and inform them of all our 
 schemes. ' ' 
 
 There belched from the colonel's lips a score of 
 oaths. "You are right, Major, and one enemy in the 
 city is worse than a dozen outside." 
 
 ' ' I wish, Colonel, Skenesborough did not have to 
 be taken, but I know it is necessary," said Gershom 
 in some distress. 
 
 "You are right, my boy. Its a shame to have to 
 make prisoners of our friends. I believe if Colonel 
 Skene had been home this past year he would be 
 with us now." 
 
148 
 
 "Yes, I believe he would, although. Andy says 
 not." 
 
 "Andy doesn't go to the bottom of things like 
 his father does." Allen slapped his boot with the 
 flat of his sword, and endulged in a few oaths. "He 
 has brought the boy up to obey his betters without 
 any consideration of the right and wrong of it. If 1 
 had a chance to explain a few things to the colonel, 
 he would be with us now, of that I am certain. Lord ! 
 what a help he and his followers would be. ' ' 
 
 "Yes indeed, Colonel. Where do you intend to 
 use me?" 
 
 "Have you a good horse?" 
 
 "Horse ! What do I want of a horse?" 
 
 "I want you to summon the boys through Rut- 
 land, Pittsford, Brandon, Middlebury, and Whiting 
 to meet me at Hand's Cove." 
 
 "I can make the trip afoot. Perhaps I can't go 
 qiute as straight as a crow can fly, but pretty near 
 it. A horse would only be a burden to me." 
 
 "I know, Major, you always prefer shank's 
 horses, but you'll have to cover about sixty miles, 
 and the time is short. ' ' 
 
 "I'll do it in twenty-four hours," replied Beach 
 simply. 
 
 "I'll be damned if you can. — No, I'll be 
 
149 
 
 damned if you can't." The colonel extended his 
 hand, and pressed the young major's in a hearty 
 grip. 
 
 At the council of war the following day, Major 
 Beach received his orders, and immediately left the 
 room. Knowing what the nature of them would be, 
 he had prepared himself for the trip. He carried no 
 blanket or unnecessary baggage. His equipment was 
 the simplest. His rifle in his hand, and a canteen, 
 and ammunition pouch suspended by strong cordis 
 from his shoulders. 
 
 After his talk with Colonel Allen, he had mental- 
 ly drawn a map of the country through which he 
 would travel. Over this route he now sped with the 
 fleetness and endurance of an Indian runner. No 
 man of the wilderness knew the territory better or 
 how to cover the ground in a shorter time. As he 
 strode swiftly along, he studied how he could give 
 his message in the fewest possible words. 
 
 Before reaching a cabin he blew a blast on a 
 small horn, which brought the inhabitants promptly 
 to the door. Without slackening his pace he cried. 
 "To arms! Allen summons. Hand's Cove to-mor- 
 row night. ' ' 
 
 On he sped with never a backward look. As he 
 skirted a marsh, he remembered at the next home- 
 
150 
 
 stead lived a boy, who could carry the message for 
 him to a couple of settlers some miles to the east. 
 Then as he struck into the woods he glanced at his 
 compass to make sure of his course. Over fallen 
 logs he clambered, through thick tangled brush he 
 crowded his way, until he came out on a clearing 
 near where a man and a boy were plowing, and 
 startled them with his call. 
 
 "To arms! Allen summons. Hand's Cove to- 
 morrow night. Pete go tell Jones and Thompson." 
 Turning he entered the woods at right angles, and 
 shortly after as she crossed the road he saw the boy 
 on one of the horses galloping on his errand. 
 
 On he went, climbing the mountains, fording th* 
 rivers, and wishing it were possible to swim the 
 lakes. Every beast and bird of the forest were as 
 much startled by his sudden appearance as the coun- 
 try folks to whom he called, ' ' To arms ! ' ' All day 
 and all night he traveled, seldom on a trail and less 
 often on a road, never stopping to rest, eating his 
 lunch when hungry, and drinking water from the 
 hollow of his hand as he waded through the streams. 
 Forgetting no one in his haste, and not wasting a 
 moment of precious time, he carried the summons 
 to the scattered dwellers of sixty miles of wilder- 
 ness. 34 
 
- 151 
 
 His mission accomplished, he threw himself upon 
 the ground, accepting for a pillow one of the Green 
 Mountain Boy 's blankets. "Tell the colonel when he 
 arrives, he'll be damned, because I did it." 
 
 "What do you mean? I don't understand," 
 stammered the man to whom he addressed this enig- 
 matical speech. 
 
 There was no response. Gershom Beach was al- 
 ready sleeping the slumber of the just, in spite of 
 the gathering of the soldiers a short distance from 
 his mossy couch. 
 
 After Beach had left the council, Captain Her- 
 rick, with thirty of his Connecticut men, were on 
 their way to Skenesborough when they were sum- 
 moned back to the tavern at Castleton. Benedict Ar- 
 nold had arrived, and claimed the right to command 
 the expedition. The captain swore profusely at this 
 delay, but ordered his men to return to headquarters. 
 They were just in time to join with the rest of the 
 soldiers in their refusal to take orders from any 
 stranger. 
 
 Arnold had some time before heard of the plan 
 of the Connecticut men to sieze the posts on the 
 lakes, and adopting these plans as his own laid them 
 before the Committee of Safety of Massachusetts. 
 They were promptly approved, and he was given a 
 
152 
 
 commission as colonel with authority to enlist volun- 
 teers for the enterprise. He had not proceeded far 
 before he learned he was likely to be anticipated, so 
 leaving his half formed regiment to follow after him, 
 he hastened forward, arriving at Castleton in the af- 
 ternoon, just as Colonel Allen was forming his army 
 for the march. Presenting his credentials, he imme- 
 diately assumed command. 
 
 The Green Mountain Boys swore they would re- 
 turn home before they would see their honored col- 
 onel displaced by any New Englander. The fact 
 that he was clad in a splendid new full dress uni- 
 form, and accompanied by his valet, did not tend to 
 raise him in the estimation of those rough frontiers- 
 men. 
 
 When Arnold found his beautifully engrossed 
 parchment made no impression on the stubborn 
 mountaineers, he, raved and swore in a manner to 
 excite the admiration of Ethan Allen himself. He 
 concluded by throwing his commission at the col- 
 onel 's feet, and demanding permission to accompany 
 the expedition as a volunteer private. This was ac- 
 ceded to, but the decision was afterwards keenly re- 
 gretted by Allen and most of his men, as the stranger 
 proved to be a disturbing element throughout the 
 whole campaign. 
 
XIV. 
 
 On Wednesday afternoon Andrew and John 
 Brooks went to the tannery to direct the workmen 
 to make certain necessary repairs. They took along 
 their fowling pieces, and bagged enongh game for 
 a feast. While they were on their way back Captain 
 Herrick and his thirty men suddenly came upon 
 them. 35 
 
 The gruff Captain greeted them very unceremon- 
 iously with, "You are my prisoners." At the same 
 time they were roughly siezed and their guns and 
 game taken from them. Andrew made no resistance, 
 but John Brooks cursed and struggled until he was 
 beaten into submission. 
 
 Dash was not conquered so easily. He sprang 
 at the throats of the men, and whenever he was able 
 to embed his sharp teeth he tore clothes and flesh 
 profusely. 
 
 "Make your dog behave, or I'll shoot him," 
 sharply commanded the captain as he drew his pistol 
 from its holster. 
 
 "Down, Dash, down," ordered Andrew firmly, 
 
 153 
 
154 
 
 and the dog instantly responded. He had been as 
 well trained to obedience as the slaves of the house- 
 hold. 
 
 The soldiers had managed to tie Brooks, hand 
 and foot, and Andrew was being closely watched. 
 So sudden had been the attack that only now were 
 the prisoners beginning to grasp the meaning of this 
 abusive treatment. 
 
 "Attention! Forward, March!" rang out Cap- 
 tain Herrick's loud harsh voice. 
 
 Mary and Kathi sat upon the porch dressed in long 
 skirted riding habits waiting for a little negro child 
 to find Zach to saddle their horses for them. It was 
 a very busy season, and evidently the boy was em- 
 ployed in some one of the many works. 
 
 ' ' My dear sister. There are no two ways about it. 
 Father will never consent to you marrying Fred. 
 You will have to give him up. " 
 
 "Would you ever give John up for such a rea- 
 son?" 
 
 "Well, Kathi, that would be a very different 
 thing. Altho he is not as wealthy as father, yet he 
 has enough to satisfy my ambitions. I could live 
 on a lieutenant's income, and be happy, but you 
 know very well you never could. Why, Sis, the day 
 Fred drew his pay you would spend every penny of 
 
155 
 
 it for some luxury you had set your heart on. Then 
 when you became hungry, and there was nothing to 
 eat, you would find your love had vanished up the 
 chimney. ' ' 
 
 ' ' What nonsense, Mary. If Fred ran away from 
 me because I spent all his money, he would go out 
 the door instead of dissolving in smoke," teasingly 
 corrected the ever optimistic young lady. 
 
 ' ' Kathi dear, will you not for this once be serious, 
 and tell me how you expect to live on Fred's in- 
 come?" 
 
 ' ' Yes, Mary, I will. You must not think because 
 I laugh at you that I never seriously consider the 
 fact that while my love belongs to a poor man, my 
 natural tastes need a husband of wealth. But one 
 thing is sure. It is useless for me, or any one else, 
 to try and change my heart. There would be just as 
 much sense in trying to make this tall slim body of 
 mine into a short fat one. ' ' 
 
 "Yes," sighed the broken hearted Mary, "I 
 know, dear, no matter what John becomes, I will 
 still love him. But so long as he is not a loyal Brit- 
 ish subject I will never marry him. Tell me, Kathi, 
 would you marry Fred if he were a rebel?" 
 
 "Yes, Sister, I would. I would have to marry 
 him even were he a highway robber, or a cutthroat. 
 
156 
 
 I'd rather be miserable with him than miserable 
 without him." 
 
 "Why, Kathi Skene!" exclaimed the shocked 
 Mary. "Yon must be crazy!" 
 
 "May be I am. I don't know. It doesn't seem 
 that I can be insane, and be so full of joy clear to 
 the depths of my soul. But I have heard of crazy 
 people being perfectly happy. Yet, do you know, 
 Mary, I'd rather be mad and happy, than be sane 
 and not love Fred in this unreasonable, desperate, 
 
 reckless, all absorbing, peaceful, heavenly, " 
 
 "Stop, Kathi!" cried her sister in alarm. "You 
 frighten me. I can stand your making light of seri- 
 ous things, but such language when you are in ear- 
 nest!" She paused, "But tell me, Kathi, how do 
 you expect to live on Fred's salary." 
 
 "We will live principally upon love. For meat, 
 Fred can hunt, I can fish, and no doubt he can earn 
 enough to buy salt for the seasoning. I have a good 
 stock of clothes, enough to last me for years, for I am 
 going to learn to dress dreadfully economical." 
 
 "You had better begin now to practice economy, 
 so as to get used to it, ' ' laughed Mary. 
 
 ' ' That is just what I have been doing. I am hav- 
 ing woven now a lot of homespun, and you know 
 how I hate it." 
 
157 
 
 ' ' You will never wear it, Kathi, so what is the use 
 getting it?" 
 
 ' ' Yes, I will. Just to show Fred I can come down 
 to common things when I have to, I am going to neg- 
 lect my harpsichord practice, and my reading, and 
 spend my time spinning, weaving, sewing, knitting, 
 and Juliet is going to learn to cook the game and 
 fish. "We will have a cozy little cabin near the cita- 
 del. It will not be any larger than the home of the 
 habitant where we stopped when Governor Carleton 
 took us out to his country house at Montmorenci 
 Falls. I have planned just how it will be furnished. 
 Why, Mary, I even know right where every chair is 
 going to be placed." 
 
 "Bless your dear little heart, Kathi. I only wish 
 Father could have been persuaded to give his con- 
 sent, he would have given you the chairs, and the 
 rest of the furniture. I will certainly do all I can to 
 help you furnish your little home. ' ' 
 
 "You dear sweet sister, I know you will help 
 me. 
 
 "Oh, Kathi, you have me real enthusiastic over 
 your little cottage. My, but I will be glad when you 
 are all settled. I can just see how dear you will look 
 with your matron's cap, and your key bag dangling 
 at your side." 
 
158 
 
 "I shall have prettier bags than Aunt Elizabeth's. 
 And say, Mary, don't you suppose I can afford one 
 to match each gown?" 
 
 "Well, dear little sister, if you can't I guess I 
 can furnish them for you." 
 
 ' ' That will be awfully good of you, and will you 
 put a piece of sweet flag in each bag?" 
 
 "Why, yes," answered Mary perplexedly. "But 
 you can get all the sweet flag you want up there. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, but if I should have the qualms the flag 
 would drive them away so much quicker when I 
 thought your loving hands had gathered it for me." 
 
 "Well, Kathi, that being the case, you shall be 
 well supplied. I don't want to discourage you, dear, 
 but I don't see how you can possibly go back to 
 Canada with Fred if father were at home. You know 
 he would not allow you to go aboard the Liberty. ' ' 
 
 "I have thought of that. I can ride Lightning to 
 the point opposite Fort Ti, and overtake them 
 there." 
 
 "Dear, you have no idea what caution father 
 will take. If he says 'no' you will have to wait till 
 some future time when he is not at home. ' ' 
 
 "No, Mary. Fred needs me. I am all he has in 
 this world. I must go to him," she explained as they 
 
159 
 
 left the porch, and slowly walked towards the 
 barn. 
 
 "What would you do if Father should lock you 
 in your room? The Liberty always leaves in the 
 morning. ' ' 
 
 "The night before I would climb out of my win- 
 dow, and drop to the ground. It is only a few feet. 
 I did it the other day just to see if I could. I would 
 awaken Zach, and he would saddle Lightning for me. 
 I will take the boy with me. I can " 
 
 "You mean he will ride my horse?" broke in 
 Mary anxiously. 
 
 "Oh, no, don't be alarmed. Beauty is too conspic- 
 uous. And then too, such a trip might spoil her beau- 
 tiful pink complexion, and that would make you 
 shed tears. Gill will make the journey better." 
 
 "Zach never could bring Lightning back. What 
 would you do with him when you took the boat ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' Lightning shall go to Canada if I ride him every 
 step of the way. He is my horse and I shall need 
 him." 
 
 As they had reached the barn, Kathi finished in a 
 whisper for fear some of the workmen might over- 
 hear. Lightning was glad to be taken out of the 
 stable on such a fine spring day, and expressed his 
 
160 
 
 delight with many a snort and prank, as he kicked 
 clods of dirt high into the air." 
 
 "Oh, Kathi, please do make him stop," called 
 Mary, shaking the mud from her shoulders before 
 jumping upon Beauty's back. "He will hurt some- 
 body the first thing you know." 
 
 ' ' Oh, fiddlesticks, Mary, you are always so fussy. 
 He is only showing us how glad he is at being taken 
 out for a canter. You and I ought to feel just as 
 happy as he does. ' ' 
 
 "Do you think we ought to show it in the same 
 way?" 
 
 "Hardly, dear sister, hardly. But we have so 
 much to be thankful for I think we ought to just 
 shout for joy this afternoon." 
 
 "How I wish I felt that way. It seems to me 
 there is nothing but trouble ahead. Come, Kathi, 
 are you never going to start ? ' ' 
 
 After some coaxing Lightning stood still long 
 enough for his mistress to spring from the stump, 
 upon which she had been standing, into the saddle. 
 "Mary, I dare you to cross the creek and ride to 
 the hunting lodge." 
 
 "The water is pretty high, Sister, but if you 
 think it is safe I am willing to try it. ' ' 
 
 Mary was no coward, but she was much more pru- 
 
161 
 
 dent than her sister. Beauty went down the hill 
 in as sedate, even melancholy a mood as her young 
 mistress. But Lightning carried his rider into the 
 brush at the side of the road, and when he reached 
 the water's edge, stopped with his fore feet braced. 
 
 "Oh, Kathi, lookout!" 
 "Now Mary, how often have I told you it is 
 enough to manage this horse without attending to 
 you," answered Kathi in a perfectly calm voice. 
 "Softly, Lightning, I know the water is cold." She 
 stroked the animal's shoulder coaxingly. "That's a 
 good boy. Go right along, and soon you will be on 
 dry land again. "—Lightning did not obey but kept 
 backing until he was beside Beauty. 
 
 ' ' Oh, Kathi, let 's give it up. The water is too cold. 
 You can't get him to go in." 
 
 "If I allowed him to disobey me this time he 
 would think he could do so again. No Mary, he 
 must cross the creek. Will you please go first?" 
 
 "Certainly, if it will help any." Beauty did not 
 enjoy the cold water, but after a little she waded 
 into the stream. 
 
 Drawing a tight rein Kathi said firmly, "Come 
 boy, you must mind me." But the horse did not 
 move. Kathi seldom used a whip but on this occa- 
 sion she emphasized her second command with a gen- 
 
162 
 
 tie stroke. Into the water he plunged so suddenly 
 that Kathi was instantly bespattered. While gather- 
 ing up her skirts with one hand she unconsciously 
 reined her mount into the deeper water above the 
 ford. 
 
 Mary had reached the opposite shore and turning 
 to watch her sister saw her peril and screamed, 
 "Oh! Oh! Look out!" 
 
 Dropping her skirt Kathi tried to bring Light- 
 ning back to the solid rock bottom of the ford, but he 
 was sinking deeper and deeper into the soft mud. 
 ' ' Steady, dear, steady, steady. ' ' The water was now 
 up to the horse's body, and he snorted and called in 
 the terrible voice of distress that belongs only to 
 dumb animals. 
 
 "Help! Help! Help!" shouted Mary. 
 
 Some women and children, from the tenement 
 houses on the side hill, came running down the bank 
 yelling at the top of their lungs, which only fright- 
 ened the horse more. 
 
 "Don't be alarmed," Kathi called. "Lightning 
 can swim." 
 
 The sentence was no more than finished when 
 the floundering animal lost his footing entirely, and 
 the velvet gowned Kathi was plunged head foremost 
 into the cold turbid stream. Fortunately for her 
 
163 
 
 she did not let go the reins. As she rose, she grasped 
 the pommel of the saddle, and drew herself upon the 
 back of the struggling horse, just as he succeeded 
 in getting on his feet. At last, with the help of the 
 current, he managed to reach the firm bottom with 
 Kathi astride, her long black skirt hanging over his 
 tail. It was all she could do to cling to his back 
 when he shook the water from him. Trembling, 
 gasping, sputtering, she reached the shore, and slid 
 to the ground. 
 
 "Oh sister, sister, sister," cried Mary hysteri- 
 cally throwing her arms around Kathi 's neck. 
 
 "Don't be frightened, Mary, I'm all right now," 
 said Kathi bursting into a laugh. "I always told 
 you Lightning would save my life some day." 
 
 "Oh!" gasped Mary, "Just as if he did not come 
 within one of drowning you. My, Kathi, if you could 
 only see yourself. Well, I am sure you would not be 
 proud of your drapery." 
 
 The women gathered around them, and altho a 
 few moments before they were scared almost out of 
 their wits, they now laughed at Kathi 's appearance. 
 Putting her hand up to her Gainsborough hat, she 
 took hold of one of the ostrich plumes, which was 
 once white, but was now a dripping, dirty, sticky 
 thing, drooping over one ear. 
 
164 
 
 ' ' My pride has taken a fall. I think, Sis, if you 
 don 't mind we wont go to the lodge to-day. I would 
 rather wait until Sunshine and her tribe return. ' ' 
 
 ' ' I think, Kathi, home is the best place for you at 
 present. ' ' 
 
 She shivered as she tried to draw her wet gar- 
 ments from her. ' ' Strange to say I do not feel very 
 comfortable. My riding habit clings to me as though 
 it were lined with glue. I am not afraid to go back 
 across the creek, but I do wish I were home this 
 minute. ' ' 
 
 She mounted, and reined Lightning back into the 
 water. He had lost some of his friskiness, but still 
 was not very easy to manage. Kathi paid no atten- 
 tion to her skirt trailing in the creek, but this time 
 watched her horse closely. 
 
 Mary kept by her side, and asked, "Kathi, were 
 you trying to see if Lightning could swim?" 
 
 "Mercy, no, not in this rig, and this water. I 
 love tan, but not tan water." 
 
 "I believe, Kathi, you would laugh if you knew 
 you were going to be drowned." 
 
 "Well, maybe I wouldn't know any better. I'm 
 not anxious to prove it though." 
 
 As they ascended the bank they heard strange 
 voices and sounds in the vicinity of the barn. Mary 
 
165 
 
 was more alarmed than she pretended, but her sis- 
 ter's thoughts were so occupied in planning how she 
 could leave her shivering horse in Zach's care, and 
 reach the house unobserved, that she paid little at- 
 tention to the noise. As they came to the drive, 
 which led from the house to the barn, Captain Her- 
 rick with some of his men were passing. Seeing the 
 girls, he motioned to a couple of soldiers to sieze 
 their bridles, and commanded them to dismount. 
 
 Mary turned pale and slid from Beauty's back 
 without a word, but Kathi sternly protested. "Let 
 go that bridle or I '11 strike you. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Ha, Ha ! hear the young chit of a tory. ' ' And 
 altho the man ridiculed the threat, he managed to 
 keep out of reach of the whip, but did not release 
 his hold on the bridle. ' ' What has happened to you, 
 young lady. You look like a drowned rat." 
 
 Kathi had received criticisms as well as compli- 
 ments in her life, but to be compared to a rat was 
 something new. "Who are you, sir, who dares to 
 insult the daughter of Colonel Skene?" 
 
 ' ' Colonel eh, Colonel of what ? Tories? ' ' 
 
 Without answering Kathi drew a tight rein, and 
 struck Lightning sharply with her whip. Suddenly 
 the lanky Connecticut farmer was lifted into the air, 
 and Kathi 's wet riding skirt slapped him in the face 
 
166 
 
 as he fell to the ground. The horse dashed on to 
 the barn. 
 
 On seeing her brother and Mr. Brooks under 
 guard of a rough looking young fellow, and the oth- 
 ers hastening on to the Landing, Kathi's courage for- 
 sook her, and she slid from her wet mount, and 
 cried out to Andrew, "What does this mean?" 
 
 "Oh, Kathi," answered Andrew. "What have 
 they done to you?" 
 
 "Nothing, I — I — " stammered his embarrassed 
 sister. Even the excitement did not make her un- 
 conscious of her appearance. Turning to the guard 
 she demanded. "Who are you bandits? Where do 
 you come from?" 
 
 "We're no robbers, Miss, we're soldiers, and have 
 captured these men, and I reckon by this time the 
 whole settlement is ours. ' ' 
 
 ' ' The whole settlement will not surrender to any 
 such mob. Andy, where "s your gun. I'll, — I'll — " 
 
 "You're a bold un all right, Miss. I likes your 
 grit, but I reckon we've got the drop on you this 
 time." 
 
 She stamped her wet riding boot, spat ! spat ! into 
 the soft earth. "By what authority do you demand 
 our surrender, sir?" 
 
167 
 
 "Authority? You mean who's leadin' th' expe- 
 dition?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 ' ' Colonel Ethan Allen is our commander, and Cap- 
 tain Samuel Herrick is in charge of this company. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Colonel Allen ! Impossible ! ' ' 
 
 "Ethan Allen!" exclaimed Andrew in amaze- 
 ment. 
 
 ' ' What have I told you all along, ' ' put in Brooks 
 as he rubbed his bruised shin. 
 
 "Who's Herrick?" 
 
 ' ' I don 't know, ' ' drawled the soldier. " He comes 
 from Connecticut, and that's all I know about 'im." 
 
 ' ' Bun, sister, and tell the captain that I will make 
 terms with him." 
 
 Kathi gathered up her heavy skirt, and was 
 about to start, but the guard stopped her. "Sorry, 
 Miss, but you'll have to step along side these men," 
 motioning to where the men were forced to stand, 
 by the stone wall along the edge of the approach to 
 the barn floor above. 
 
 "Zach, Zach!" called Andrew. 
 
 The little darky peeped his head out of the stable 
 door and answered. "Yes, Marse," but made no 
 movement to come any nearer. 
 
168 
 
 "Come here you little black imp," drawled the 
 guard, " or I '11 have the big captain spank you. ' ' 
 
 Zach emerging from the stable felt the wool on 
 his head rise, and cold quakes shiver down his spine. 
 His jet black face grew a shade lighter every step 
 he took. 
 
 "There is nothing to be afraid of Zach," as- 
 sured Andrew. "No one will hurt you if you are 
 a good boy and obey orders. Eun and find the cap- 
 tain. He is probably at the Landing, and tell him 
 your master will make terms with him." 
 
 "Yes, Marse," answered Zach as he passed far 
 beyond the reach of the guard, who was laughing 
 heartily at the boy's cowardice. 
 
 "Be a brave little man, Zach," called Kathi, 
 which seemed to put new life into the lad. His shuf- 
 fling pace changed to a quick step, and as he realized 
 the importance of the message he was entrusted with, 
 he broke into a run. 
 
 Kathi was chilled through before Captain Her- 
 rick arrived, and gave her permission to go to her 
 room. It would have been humiliating enough to 
 have had a mob of rough men swoop down on them 
 when she was dressed at her best, but to be forced to 
 stand in the barn yard with a dripping, mud stained 
 riding habit clinging to every part of her shivering 
 
169 
 
 form, and with a bedraggled plume reeling drunk- 
 enly over her ear, was a most painful trial indeed. 
 Drowning might be hard to endure, but at least the 
 agony would soon be over with. She had at last 
 found a predicament in life at which she could find 
 nothing to laugh. 
 
 Miss Elizabeth was very much alarmed over her 
 niece's chills, but Kathi assured her she would soon 
 be all right, that her pride had suffered more than 
 her health. After administering a cup of ginger 
 tea, her aunt insisted on wrapping her in a large 
 fluffy wool blanket, and tucking her snugly in bed. 
 Not knowing what to do, and wondering what would 
 happen next, Miss Elizabeth sat down in a low chair 
 by the window, nervous and agitated. 
 
 After Mary had succeeded in calming the fright- 
 ened servants, who gathered in the kitchen, she 
 joined her sister and aunt. "What shall we do? 
 They have taken every weapon in the house. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Of course they have, child. Sit down here and 
 wait until we hear from Andrew. He is trying to 
 make the brutes leave the settlement." 
 
 "Oh, our jewels," exclaimed Kathi springing 
 from the bed, and unlocking her desk. She took 
 from a secret drawer a chamois bag, which she hung 
 about her neck. Her aunt and sister hastened to 
 
170 
 
 their rooms for their own valuables. After gathering 
 all the money in the house, and dividing it among 
 them, Kathi went back to bed, and the others sat 
 beside her. 
 
 Suddenly Mary glanced out of the window and 
 gasped, ' ' Oh Look ! They are going into the vault. ' ' 
 
 Kathi bounded from the bed. "What! They 
 shall not enter Mother's tomb." She was leaving 
 the room when her aunt stepped before her. 
 
 "Child, are you mad? Don't you dare leave my 
 side while these wicked men are on the premises. 
 Would you go out doors with nothing on but your 
 night rail?" 
 
 Kathi did not answer, but began to dress as rap- 
 idly as possible. Mary stood by the window, and 
 watched the two soldiers raise the heavy plank from 
 its iron sockets, and try the padlock. "It is securely 
 locked. They cannot get in," she told her compan- 
 ions. "But Oh, Look, they are going to break the 
 door." 
 
XV. 
 
 With the aid of the plank, the patriot soldiers 
 burst a hole through the door, and looked inside. 
 
 "Howly Mither av all ! I've two good eyes in me 
 head, but nary a bit kin I say. Jim, we 've got to do 
 a bit more ramniin' to get in 'ere." 
 
 "Well, Pat, if there's nothing to see there's noth- 
 ing to get. ' ' 
 
 "Praid is ye? Fraid to crawl into a wine cellar? 
 Pwhat wud ye talk av runnin' the sojers out av th' 
 forts?" 
 
 "No, I'm not afraid of any dark cellar, but I 
 don't go round bragging all the time how I'm going 
 to scare the life out of the whole British army, or 
 try to make out every one a coward but myself." 
 
 They had taken up the big plank, and rammed it 
 again into the solid door, making a space large 
 enough to crawl through. Jamesi Rogers entered, 
 followed by Patrick O'Plahrity. After lighting a 
 candle with his flint and steel, and holding it to the 
 side of the vault O'Plahrity exclaimed. "A divil a 
 
 171 
 
172 
 
 bit av wine is they 'ere. Pwhat is this blooming hole 
 in th' ground?" 
 
 "Hold the candle over here, Pat," requested 
 Rogers. "Here's something that aint dirt or stone." 
 kicking over a vase of flowers he reached down, and 
 tossed them into a corner. 
 
 "Howly Mither, Jim, ets lead! "We'll soon dis- 
 kiver f'what th' old divil saled et up so fine. Be- 
 gorra, there 's some scratchin on ut, but ye '11 have to 
 do th' radin'." 
 
 Taking the proffered candle Rogers knelt on the 
 damp earthern floor, and silently read the inscrip- 
 tion. Rising he scratched his head. "I think, Pat, 
 we'd better let that box alone." 
 
 "What does et rade?" 
 
 "I can't read French." 
 
 "So ye 're f'r laving ut be wid good thick lead a 
 coverin' up hidden treasure. Ye same to disremem- 
 ber Colonel Allen's order to kape yer eye paled f'r 
 lead." 
 
 "Oh! let up with your clatter. We'll get what- 
 ever is here. ' ' 
 
 Pat picked up a piece of the door, and motioned 
 to Jim to shove it under the box as he lifted the end. 
 "We'll yank ut out, and rip off th' precious lead. 
 
173 
 
 Now, heave-yo-he ! ' ' Out came the leaden casket 
 about two feet. 
 
 "Well, dang it," exclaimed Rogers. "She's a 
 long fellow aint she?" 
 
 Again Pat " Heave-yo-he 'd," and the two strong 
 men dragged it a couple of feet further, which was 
 as far as it could come until what remained of the 
 door was removed. Pat straightened up, and mop- 
 ping the perspiration from his face with his dirty 
 hand remarked. "Begorra, we'll 'ave 'nough lead 
 to storm Quebec, or I'm not th' son av me own 
 mither. ' ' 
 
 "Pat, what do you suppose is in this long box," 
 mischievously enquired Corporal Rogers. 
 
 The fading twilight filtered through the hole in 
 the door just enough to reveal to Pat's sharp eyes 
 the expression on his comrade's face. "Howly Mith- 
 er," he reverently exclaimed as he crossed himself, 
 "f'rgive me if I've disturbed th' paceful dead." 
 
 Rogers leaned against the casing of the door, and 
 pointing to one of the dark corners asked, ' ' Pat, has 
 that rum we had gone to my head, or do I see some- 
 thing over there." 
 
 O'Flahrity looked in the direction indicated, and 
 suddenly tried to step over the end of the coffin to 
 
174 
 
 crawl through the hole in the door, but Jim inter- 
 fered. 
 
 "Fwhat ye want to kape th' comp'ny av ghosts? 
 F'r me part I'll take th' livin ef ets only Skane's 
 nigger slaves." 
 
 "We'll look for better company after we rip the 
 lead off the box." 
 
 "Th' divil take th' lead. Its nary a bit av ut me 
 two hands will disturb." 
 
 "What's all this jangling about?" asked a rough 
 voice from without as Captain Herrick stooped, and 
 peered through the battered door. "Who broke 
 open this door?" 
 
 "Faith, Captin, ut was meself wit th' slight ade 
 av th' jintle Jim." 
 
 Rogers shoved Pat from the hole, and stepped 
 through into the open air. Touching his poor old 
 cap he explained. "We found this cellar locked, 
 and so burst the door. We understood your orders 
 not to destroy anything, but we thought we could 
 easily make another door." 
 
 "What has the old tory in here? Liquor?" en- 
 quired the Captain. 
 
 "Sorry to say, no. This is no wine cellar," ans- 
 wered Rogers with his back against the opening. Pat 
 gave him a poke in the ribs with the muzzle of his 
 
175 
 
 firelock, which made him wince, but instead of mov- 
 ing from the spot he braced himself against the 
 door, and winking at the captain continued. "You 
 remember they told us that old skinflint, Skene, 
 wouldn't give his dead woman a decent burial, be- 
 cause her folks had left money, which was to be paid 
 to her so long as she remained above ground. "Well, 
 they don't know she's dead yet. Any way, that's 
 the way I size it up." 36 
 
 Pat had stopped poking Roger's ribs, and listened 
 to the story, the conclusion of which made his hair 
 stand straight up. A little dirt rattled down in a 
 corner of the vault, where Jim had pretended to see 
 something. Pat stared into the darkness, and sure 
 enough there stood a tall figure with gauzy flowing 
 robes. To be sure, he could not distinguish her face 
 or even her form plainly, but he had heard enough 
 of ghosts in his life to recognize one when he saw it. 
 
 "Howly Mither, let th' likes av me out av this, 
 and I'll revenge th* dere laady's wrongs if ut takes 
 the rest av me days." 
 
 Rogers could not have prevented Pat pushing 
 him away had not Captain Herrick assisted him. 
 "I thought you were the Irishman who had no fear, 
 and would show us fellows how to scare the life out 
 of the king's troops?" 
 
176 
 
 "Ah, Captin, yer 'onor I'm th' bravest mon ye 
 'ave win et comes to stormin' forts, and killin' live 
 sojers." The men moved aside enough to permit Pat 
 to stick his head out of the hole, "But win et comes 
 to facin' a dead laady whose own husban' begrudged 
 her a dacent burial, and spent her money to cross th' 
 briney say, an enfloonce the king to put a tax on 
 tay, the money belongin' to some poor kith and kin 
 en me own country, I say, Captin, yer 'onor, will 
 ye plaze let me bring th' rist av me body over th' 
 top av th' poor laady 's coffin'?" 
 
 The men stepped aside. "Rogers, you go down 
 to the shop, and find some tools, and come and take 
 the door off its hinges. If you'd been smart you'd 
 done that in the first place. And hereafter I want 
 you fellows to understand I mean what I say. 
 There's to be no more distruction of property." 37 
 
 In Pat's haste to get out, his heel slipped on the 
 leaden casket, and he sprawled on his hands and 
 face, his boots tearing a hole through the sheet lead. 
 The Captain roughly helped him up. 
 
 "Pat," Rogers teasingly asked, "What's the 
 difference whether you tear the lead off that box 
 with your two hands or with your two feet 1 ' ' 
 
 "Howly Mither! Sure now me days are num- 
 bered." 
 
177 
 
 ' ' I guess that 's right, Pat. I never heard of any 
 one falling over a coffin but that the devil got 'em. ' ' 
 
 " 'Quest, Captin, is that a fact?" 
 
 Herrick nodded his head. 
 
 "Plaze, Captin, will ye excuse me fr'm th' rest 
 av this job. I'm not falin' well ut all, ut all, and I 
 needs a sip av gin an' to say me prayers." 
 
 "I'm sorry, Pat, but I can't spare you just now." 
 He took from his pocket a flask, and handed it to the 
 trembling Irishman. ' ' Put a drop of this inside you, 
 and see if it wont go down into those shaking legs. 
 You can say your prayers while you are ripping the 
 lead off that box and helping to bury the corpse over 
 there in the garden." 
 
 "For th' love av Gawd, Captin, ye don't mane to 
 say ye'r goin to make bullets av th' lead fr'm th' 
 dead laady's coffin?" 
 
 "Why not? "We'll need more than we will find 
 here before we capture the forts, and scare the life 
 out of the whole British army. ' ' 
 
 Pat raised the flask to his lips for the second time, 
 and gulped several swallows of the strong liquor. 
 "Ugh! Ugh! May th' Howly Virgin have pity on ye, 
 Captin, and save ye'r soul fr'm everlasting domna- 
 tion." 
 
 "Thank you, Pat," replied the officer, somewhat 
 
178 
 
 shamed by the poor Irishman's seriousness. "Rogers 
 will soon be back to help you, and I '11 send a couple 
 of men to dig the grave." 
 
 Pat made no reply, and without further comment 
 Herrick left the vault. As O'Flahrity watched the 
 Captain disappear from view he soliloquized: 
 
 "Th' hathens! Sure its ashamed I is to be found 
 dead in company wid such a lot av hathens. ' ' Pick- 
 ing up his firelock he looked in every direction to see 
 if any one was watching him. "The divil take th' 
 whole bunch av th' craytures." In the deepening 
 twilight he discerned a narrow path which ran along 
 a ledge of rock. "Faith an' I'll just see where this 
 ends." 
 
 He soon found he was higher up the mountain 
 side, and out of view of the guard. Pursuing the 
 path, he branched off onto another ledge which bore 
 to the southeast. "Sure Bridget I did wrong t' lave 
 ye and th' brats, and go sarching f 'r glory wid a dom 
 lot av knaves, what calls thimsel's patriot sojers, 
 makin' bullets out av th' lead fr'm a poor laady's 
 coffin to kill th' king's troops wid, and take posses- 
 sion av th' land. Faith an' begorra, fwhat kind av a 
 country would we have wid th' likes av these hathen 
 a bossin' th' paple. Sure an' ut would be no dasent 
 place f'r christian mon like Patrick O'Flahrity to 
 
179 
 
 be livin' in. Ut may take me a divil av a time to 
 find me way back to ye Bridget, and I may starve to 
 death in this Gawd forsaken wilderness. Neverthe- 
 less, I'll be home wid ye Bridget just as fast as me 
 two legs kin carry me." 
 
 Onward he trudged in the growing darkness. 
 "The captin kin find a bigger fool than Patrick 
 O'Flahrity to rip th' lead aff th' beautiful laady to 
 make bullets to pepper her own family wid. I may 
 have lost me chance of setting me foot on th' golden 
 t'rone in hevin, but one sure t'ing I'll not lift me 
 two hands to take the poor laady 's lead. Ah, me, 
 pretty Bridget, et's much your dear Patsy would 
 giv' to be wid ye and th' brats this very minnit, in 
 our snug little cabin aten* pork and praties." 
 
XVI. 
 
 Miss Elizabeth and Mary screamed when they 
 saw the men beat the plank against the entrance of 
 the vault, but Kathi only clinched her fists and grit- 
 ted her teeth. "This is the way the people of the 
 Grants are showing their appreciation of what father 
 is doing for them." 
 
 ' ' What can they want to get into the vault for 1 ' ' 
 asked the perplexed Mary. 
 
 "Just to be mean," bitterly replied her aunt. 
 "They will destroy everything on the place." 
 
 "And to think, Ethan Allen, one of father's best 
 friends, is leading such a mob," said Mary as she 
 wiped the tears from her eyes. 
 
 "They will all see the day they will be sorry 
 they raided this settlement," spitefully observed 
 Kathi. "I guess there are enough law abiding citi- 
 zens left in the country to see justice done to a man 
 like Father. I will — " instead of finishing the sen- 
 tence she opened the door in response to her broth- 
 er's rap. 
 
 "I am glad to find you all here," he said, sitting 
 
 180 
 
181 
 
 down on the edge of the disordered bed. I was 
 afraid Kathi would not know any better than to 
 leave the house." 
 
 ' ' Indeed, Andrew, ' ' confessed his aunt, ' ' she does 
 not seem to realize our peril, but would have gone 
 out there," motioning to the north window, "with 
 nothing on but her night rail if I had not stopped 
 her." 
 
 "Kathi, for heaven's sake don't make things 
 worse than they are already. The house is closely 
 guarded. Don't one of you dare leave it until we all 
 go together." 
 
 "What do you mean, brother," cried Kathi, 
 "Surely they are not going to take us away from 
 here." 
 
 "Yes, we are prisoners of war," said Andrew 
 with tears in his eyes. "The captain has orders to 
 send us to Hartford. Oh, what will Father think of 
 me?" 
 
 Kathi 's arms went around his neck. "Why, 
 Andy, you couldn't help it." 
 
 "No, my boy, your father could not have done 
 any better than you have." Miss Elizabeth affec- 
 tionately stroked his shoulder. It was the first time 
 in years she had approved of anything he had done. 
 
 "I think," suggested Andrew, "we had better all 
 
182 
 
 go down stairs, and see if we cannot help Brooks to 
 control himself. He is fairly frothing at the mouth. ' ' 
 
 Poor old Mammy found it very hard work to pre- 
 pare dinner that night, as there were continually 
 from three to six husky militiamen in the kitchen 
 clamoring to be fed. It was late when Chloe suc- 
 ceeded in setting the table for the family. It was 
 a scanty, poor meal, and very different from what 
 they had always found awaiting their healthy appe- 
 tites. But it made little difference, for eating was 
 not their mood to-night. They merely tasted of the 
 different dishes, and their unfortunate plight was the 
 only topic of conversation. 
 
 From where Kathi sat she could see out of the win- 
 dow in the direction of the vault, and noticing a light 
 nickering among the bushes she wondered what the 
 men could be doing there. Finally when she could 
 bear it no longer, and without asking to be excused, 
 she arose and went to her room. Softly she raised 
 the east window, and listened. There was not a 
 sound in the rear of the house, but along the ledge, 
 over in the flower garden, she heard low, gruff 
 voices. 
 
 "I have got to know what they are doing," she 
 thought. Turning to the bed, she removed a large 
 blanket, and folding it placed it on the window 
 
183 
 
 ledge, and catching up a white shawl threw it over 
 her head. As she raised her foot to put it through 
 the window she noticed her light blue slipper. She 
 hastily drew back, threw off her slippers, and shipped 
 her feet into a pair of soft moccasins. Then gather- 
 ing up her long train, she pinned it about her waist, 
 and putting first one foot and then the other over 
 the sill, she dropped to the ground, taking the 
 blanket with her. 
 
 Presently she faced Captain Herrick, who stood 
 in the door of the vault. "Pray, tell me, sir," she 
 indignantly asked, "what are you doing in my 
 mother's burial place?" 
 
 As he held a lantern up to her face, the captain 
 muttered something she did not understand. Then 
 emitting a low laugh, as much to say he was very 
 much relieved. "Ah, it's you, Miss Skene. I thought 
 at first you were a ghost." 
 
 Kathi stamped her foot. "What are you doing in 
 the vault?" 
 
 "All right, Captain, that job is finished," came a 
 voice from behind the English hawthorn 38 bush at 
 Herrick 's right. "She'll do no damage to the 
 health of the — God! What's that? Am I seeing 
 things as well as O'Flahrity?" 
 
 "Hush, Rogers, this is Miss Skene." The inter- 
 
184 
 
 ruption had given him time to think. "Did you 
 say, Miss, your mother was huried in the cellar?" 
 
 "Its not a cellar, but a tomb where our whole 
 family will be buried. What right had you men to 
 break open the door?" 
 
 "Miss Skene, you are right. They had no busi- 
 ness to destroy anything. It was strictly against or- 
 ders, but I'll tell you the truth. Two of the boys 
 broke open this door because they thought it was a 
 wine cellar. I am very sorry, and will have a new 
 door made and hung, even if it does delay the cap- 
 ture of Fort Ti." 
 
 ' ' Thank you, Sir. ' ' She turned to Rogers. ' * What 
 were you doing in the garden?" 
 
 "Diggin' worms to go fishing," promptly replied 
 James Rogers, whose good old puritan family rever- 
 enced the truth even as they did the bible. 
 
 Herrick as well as Rogers were thankful she 
 could not see their faces in the darkness. "Now, 
 Miss Skene, don't you think you had better go back 
 to the house. Your people will be worried when 
 they miss you." 
 
 ' ' They will not miss me. They think I am in my 
 room. I, — I, hate to ask you, but — " 
 
 "What is it, Miss, I shall be glad to assist you in 
 any way I can, ' ' 
 
185 
 
 ' ' Really, do you mean it t " 
 
 "Certainly." 
 
 Kathi bowed her head as she nervously switched 
 one corner of her shawl. "They would not let me 
 out of the house, you know." 
 
 "How did you get out? I thought I had the 
 house guarded." 
 
 "I jumped out of my window." 
 
 "I see,— I see. Well, I'll take you in." 
 
 "No, no, please, Sir, I had rather you helped me 
 back through my window. It would save me a lot 
 of explaining, and possibly prevent my aunt from 
 having a fit." 
 
 "I understand," laughed the captain. "I'll help 
 you in where you got out. ' ' 
 
 They had taken but a few steps when Kathi 
 stopped, and eagerly asked. "Oh, would you be so 
 kind as to first go with me across the creek to the 
 tenements. There are several poor people over there 
 who must be so frightened. I am sure I can com- 
 fort them. It would take only a short time to run 
 over, and I would sleep so much better to-night if I 
 knew they were all right. ' ' 
 
 Her sweet low voice was full of pleading which 
 no brute could have resisted, much less Samuel Her- 
 
186 
 
 rick. ' ' Well, Miss Skene, ' ' he said thoughtfully, ' ' I 
 guess I'll have to humor you this time." 
 
 "Thank you. Let us go this way, so as not to 
 pass too near the house." 
 
 Herrick followed her, and on reaching an open 
 space she led him along a narrow path which skirted 
 the flower garden. "I should think your men would 
 not have time to go fishing if you are on your way 
 to storm the fort. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Well, Miss, we have to eat you know, and then, 
 going down the lake the men can fish from the boat 
 and not waste any time. ' ' 
 
 "I did not think of that," she replied innocently, 
 and Captain Herrick was glad he had thought of it. 
 When they reached the broad path Kathi paused 
 as she nervously asked. ' ' Captain, are you very sure 
 my brother and Mr. Brooks cannot get out of the 
 house." 
 
 "Well, no, I am not positive, since you found a 
 way out," laughed the officer jokingly. 
 
 "If I had only worn my dark cape," she thought. 
 The idea that she was so inappropriately dressed an- 
 noyed her. ' ' Could you manage to hide your lantern 
 under your coat until we get across the foot 
 bridge?" A sigh of relief escaped her. "There, 
 
187 
 
 that's better. O-o-o! How cold it is here over the 
 water. ' ' 
 
 "I think, Miss, you're losing some of your 
 clothes, ' ' awkwardly stammered Captain Herrick. 
 
 "What makes you think so?" she asked as she 
 stopped, suddenly let go her shawl, and caught up 
 her skirt at each side. 
 
 "Something's dragging behind." 
 "Oh, it's my train," laughed the much relieved 
 maiden, gathering up the heavy silk fabric. 
 
 "Train! Do you mean to say you wear one of 
 these court trailers out here in the wilderness. ' ' 
 
 "Certainly," and she asked contemptuously, 
 "Don't you suppose ladies, no matter where they 
 happen to live, wear full dress at dinner?" 
 
 "I beg your pardon, Miss, I did not know," and 
 added sheepishly, "I thank you for telling me." 
 
 They had reached the first tenement house, a low 
 cabin built of slabs. Kathi requested the captain to 
 rap on the unplaned door. A poorly clad man open- 
 ed it, and peering out a moment cried in amazement, 
 "What, you, Miss Kathi?" 
 
 "Yes, Jeremiah, it is I. The captain here has 
 been kind enough to bring me over to see how you 
 all are." The man of the house stood speechless as 
 she and Herrick passed him. It was the first time 
 
188 
 
 she had ever entered the Burroughs cabin without 
 many warm words of welcome. 
 
 "Are you all right, Tabitha?" She addressed a 
 buxom young woman with a baby in her arms, and 
 two small children hanging at her skirts. 
 
 ' ' Yes, thank you, Miss Kathi, ' ' answered the ma- 
 tron with an embarrassed air. "God bless you for 
 thinkin' of us this dreadful night, when you are so 
 full of your own troubles." 
 
 "What is the matter with you and Jeremiah? 
 You don't act like yourselves?" queried Kathi as 
 she looked from one to the other, and then around 
 the room. 
 
 Upon the rough home-made table were the re- 
 mains of supper. In front of the smoldering fire 
 sat two strangers on a bench, who suddenly turned 
 their backs to the company. 
 
 "There's nothing the matter, Miss Kathi. I only 
 thought the captain might be cross to find some of 
 his men in here. ' ' 
 
 Kathi caught the sly wink that Burroughs passed 
 to Captain Herrick, and it told her more than 
 words. "Yes, yes, I understand," she said simply. 
 ' ' Well, as there is nothing I can do, I will go on and 
 see if all the rest are as comfortable as you are." 
 
189 
 
 "I think you will find they are, Miss Kathi," 
 volunteered Tabitha. 
 
 She flashed a look at the woman, which caused 
 her to lower her eyes. ' ' I will see for myself. ' ' Her 
 shawl had dropped onto her shoulders. She placed 
 it over her head, and without bidding them good bye 
 proudly passed out of the door, which Herrick held 
 open. 
 
 The captain could hardly keep up with her as 
 she ran along the path to the next cabin. This time 
 instead of waiting for him to knock, she rapped on 
 the rough door with her ungloved hand, then lift- 
 ing the latch, walked in. An old lady sat near the 
 fire knitting. Prom near her feet a large black cat 
 rose, and stretching herself mewed a greeting to the 
 visitors. 
 
 "Good evening, Aunt Lucretia." 
 
 "Why bless you child. I'm so glad to see you. 
 What a dreadful calamity has come to us," exclaim- 
 ed the old lady. "Who's this man with you, Kathi?" 
 
 "It is the commander of this mob which ha& 
 taken possession of our home. ' ' 
 
 "Kathi, he's no fit escort for you." 
 
 "I beg your pardon, Madam, but Miss Skene is 
 perfectly safe in my care." 
 
 "Where's the rest of the family, Aunty?" 
 
190 
 
 "Gone to Aleck Ranney's to listen to the lies the 
 wicked rebels are telling about how your dear pa is 
 an enemy to the country. It's such as he," pointing 
 to Herrick with her knitting needle, "that's the 
 enemy we have to fear. My dear husband who's 
 dead this ten years coming August, always said 'twas 
 the ignorant who opposed the laws of the land. ' ' 
 
 "That's the truth, Aunty, but these poor mis- 
 guided people will have to learn it by sad experience. 
 The king will soon put a stop to these outrageous 
 brutal riots. Tell me, dear Aunty, are there many 
 of the tenants who are not loyal to father and the 
 king?" 
 
 "Don't tell that I told you, dear, but your poor 
 old Aunt Lucretia aint never forgot all your pa 
 done for her and her'n, and you've been one bright 
 sunbeam in my poor lonely life. You're the only 
 livin' soul who'll listen to my stories of the good old 
 days. God bless you, child. I'm so sorry for you, 
 and all I can do to help you is to pray. But you can 
 depend if my poor prayers are answered you'll never 
 have no more troubles." 
 
 ' ' Thank you, dear Aunty. Are there many of the 
 tenants who are rebels?" Kathi put an emphasis on 
 the word rebels, that Captain Herrick never forgot. 
 
 "Sorry to say my dear they's a good many, and 
 
191 
 
 then they's many more who don't know what they 
 be. They are royalists this morning and rebels to- 
 night, and when your pa gets back with an army 
 they will be royalists again. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, Aunty, I know. But tell me, are any of 
 the tenants in distress. I thought these men would 
 frighten them." 
 
 "No, child, no one is afraid of the likes of them. 
 They're nothing but a possey of cowards, swooping 
 down on a peaceful settlement before a man has a 
 chance to lay his hand on a firelock." 
 
 Kathi glanced at the captain to see how he was 
 enjoying the conversation, but his broad smile made 
 her only the more indignant. Throwing her chin 
 into the air, her expression challenged him, as well 
 as her words. She addressed the old lady, but look- 
 ed straight into the captain's eyes. "Never mind, 
 Aunty. They will not succeed in capturing Port Ti, 
 and they will be begging for quarter the next you 
 hear from them." 
 
 Never in his life had Samuel Herrick seen such 
 a beautiful picture as Kathi presented. The rough 
 bark covered log cabin, and the cobble stone fire 
 place furnished a contrasting background for the 
 tall graceful figure clothed in pale blue silk, which 
 outlined her graceful form perfectly. Slowly the 
 
192 
 
 white shawl slipped to the floor, as if it understood 
 he would appreciate the delicate pink throat and 
 arms which it uncovered. Blood rushed to the cap- 
 tain's face so profusely that it showed through the 
 the thick tan, and the accumulated dirt of a hard 
 day's march. He was surprised that Kathi did not 
 blush. Awkwardly he stooped and picked up the 
 shawl, which had been kind enough to disclose so 
 much beauty to him, but did not place it over her 
 shoulders or hand it to her. He stood mute in simple 
 admiration. He had completely forgotten her de- 
 fiant boast. 
 
 Instead of answering he asked in a tone that re- 
 minded Kathi of a child begging for some extraor- 
 dinary favor. ' ' Please, Miss Skene, would you be so 
 kind as to let down your train, so I can tell my wife 
 when I go home just how it looks." 
 
 "Don't you do anything of the kind," exclaimed 
 the old lady. "You just put on your shawl, and run 
 as fast as you can to your aunt and brother. Oh, if 
 Jake was only here to see you home." 
 
 "Have no anxiety about me, Aunty. This man 
 has been kind enough to bring me over here, and I 
 am not going to be so ungrateful as not to show him 
 my train when he never has seen one." 
 
 She spread out her skirt, and stepping about the 
 
193 
 
 room displayed to his admiring gaze, the grace and 
 dignity of the born lady. 
 
 ' ' Thank you, Miss, I think that 's fine. Pray tell 
 me, does Queen Charlotte have any finer frocks than 
 that." 
 
 ' ' Oh, my yes, lots of them. I myself have several 
 much more beautiful than this." 
 
 "You don't say. Well, I would like to see them. 
 I wish my wife had one just like that. She's a 
 mighty pretty little woman, and she'd look like a 
 princess in a dress like that. ' ' 
 
 The old lady had risen, and stood leaning on her 
 cane. "Ah, child, you have only one father, vanity. 
 Mind what I tell you. Praise from a man like him, 
 is the evil one enticing you to become his slave. If 
 you listen, your soul will be lost. Now be a good 
 girl, and run home, and tell your dear aunt that my 
 heart aches for her, and you all. God bless you and 
 keep you, my angel." 
 
 ' ' Thank you, Aunt Lucretia. I have stayed long- 
 er than I intended. I came to ask if I could do any- 
 thing for you, but it looks as if none of the tenants 
 needed my help." 
 
 "Some of them have forgotten your kindness in 
 the past. I told them they ought to be goin' to see 
 
194 
 
 what they could do for you, but no cue will listen to 
 what I say." Tears filled both women's eyes. 
 
 Kathi took the shawl from the captain, threw it 
 over her head, and gathered up her train under one 
 arm. She kissed the old lady tenderly. "Good 
 night, Aunty. It will all come right soon. Have no 
 fear. When the king's troops come they will teach 
 these people the difference between war and maraud- 
 ing." 
 
 "If they do, Miss Skene," said Herrick, "you'll 
 have the pleasure of seeing a lot of us dangling by 
 the neck from the shade trees in your front yard." 
 
 "The trees about our house are all choice speci- 
 mens, and we think too much of them to hang rebels 
 on. But there are plenty in the forest which are fit 
 only for firewood and such things. Good night, 
 Aunty. ' ' 
 
 The captain followed her out into the darkness, 
 laughing to himself at the strange way this young 
 lady had entertained him. "What would my dear 
 little woman say," he thought, "if she knew I was 
 skylarking around Skenesborough with a real born 
 lady, dressed in such a magnificent frock. I like 
 her grit, but I'd hate to have a daughter of mine 
 climbing out of windows, and running off with one 
 of the enemy, even if he were an officer." 
 
195 
 
 Kathi was too much interested in what she had 
 learned regarding some of the tenants, whom she 
 had supposed were good loyal subjects, to think of 
 what Frederic might say to her if he knew of this 
 night's adventure. She was somewhat concerned 
 about getting back into her room unobserved. 
 
 They crossed the stream, and climbed up the 
 bank. Being so near the house they thought it best 
 not to talk. When they reached Kathi 's window 
 they listened. Voices came from the kitchen, but all 
 was still at the back of the house. She picked up 
 the white blanket from the ground, and threw it over 
 the sill. Herrick placed a hand on each side of her 
 waist, and was just in the act of boosting her into 
 the open window, when a voice came out of the 
 blackness behind him. 
 
 ' ' Halt ! Halt ! Halt ; or I'll fire. ' ' 
 
 "Be quiet, Sentry. This is Captain Herrick." 
 
 The guard had reached them. "I beg your par- 
 don, Captain, I had no idea it was you. ' ' 
 
 "I am very glad you did not shoot," said Kathi 
 trembling. 
 
 "I say, Miss, will you take a little walk with 
 me?" 
 
 "Shut up, you fool, and go about your business," 
 
196 
 
 ordered Herrick, and picking up Ms charge lie sat 
 her bodily into the window. 
 
 Turning she said, ' ' I thank you sincerely for your 
 kindness. ' ' 
 
 "You are welcome, Miss, and I hope you will be 
 successful in keeping the knowledge of this escapade 
 from your family. ' ' 
 
 "Thank you, Good night." 
 
 "Goodnight." 
 
 Softly she drew the window shades in, and push- 
 ed the bolt which held them together. 
 
 Herrick turned to the sentinel. "Don't you dare 
 take your eyes off the windows in the back of the 
 house until you are relieved. If the rest of the fam- 
 ily have the grit this one has, they'll outwit us yet." 
 He then went personally to repeat the order to the 
 sergeant of the guard. 
 
XVII. 
 
 "Where have you been so long?" sternly de- 
 manded Miss Elizabeth as Kathi rushed into the 
 drawing room. 
 
 "Up stairs, trying to learn something by listen- 
 ing at the windows," answered the excited girl ig- 
 noring her austere aunt's severe tone. 
 
 "Did you hear anything?" questioned the elder 
 woman, her curiosity getting the better of her sense 
 of propriety. 
 
 "I should say I did. They broke into the vault 
 because they thought it was a wine cellar. A lot of 
 the tenants are at Ranney's telling these ruffiians 
 lies about Father. Now that the settlement is in 
 their hands they openly admit they are rebels. Even 
 Jeremiah and Tabitha are not loyal." 
 
 ' ' Impossible ! After all your father has done for 
 them!" 
 
 "Some one must go and warn Captain Dela- 
 place," insisted Kathi. 
 
 "If such a thing were possible," asked Andrew, 
 
 197 
 
198 
 
 "don't you suppose I would have done it already. 
 They have the whole place guarded." 
 
 ' ' Oh, how we do need the secret passage Father 
 has talked so much of digging," said Mary regret- 
 fully. 
 
 ' ' There is no use mourning over what we haven 't 
 got, ' ' snapped Kathi, ' ' but we must find some means 
 of warning the garrison at Port Ti. ' ' 
 
 ' ' We would be very thankful, Miss Skene, if you 
 could suggest some way to accomplish it, ' ' ventured 
 John Brooks. The house is guarded on every side. 
 The main army of the rebels is on the only road to 
 Ti, and all the boats are in the possession of the 
 enemy. ' ' 
 
 "Well, you can all sit here and talk as long as 
 you please about the things we cannot do. I am go- 
 ing to at least try and do something," obstinately 
 persisted Kathi, as she turned to leave the room, but 
 her brother stepped between her and the door. 
 
 Miss Elizabeth caught her by the arm with a 
 gleam of hope as well as anxiety in her eyes. "In 
 what way do you propose to warn the fort?" 
 
 "lam going to try and bribe the guard, get pos- 
 session of a canoe and send a messenger down the 
 lake," proudly answered the energetic young lady. 
 
 "Who could you get to carry the message?" 
 
199 
 
 asked her brother without showing much enthusiasm 
 over the plan. "Every negro on the place is under 
 guard. ' ' 
 
 Kathi stood beside John Brooks, and noticing 
 they were about the same height, exclaimed with a 
 sudden inspiration. "I have it. I can leave the 
 house all right, but I could not paddle a canoe so 
 far, but Mr. Brooks, you could. I will dress you up 
 in my clothes, and arrange with the sentinel to let 
 you out of my window." 
 
 ' ' How do you know he will take a bribe ? ' ' asked 
 Brooks. 
 
 "He saw me looking out of my window, and in- 
 vited me to take a walk with him." 
 
 "The beast," cried Andrew clinching his fist. 
 "I'll break his neck." 
 
 "No you won't, Andy. I was dreadfully mad 
 when he asked me, but now I'm glad. Can't you see 
 he will think I am going to take a walk with him." 
 
 After more details of the venture had been plan- 
 ned, John Brooks was dressed in an old gown of 
 Miss Elizabeth's, as Kathi did not possess one suit- 
 able for the occasion. His beard was shaved off and 
 the hood of a long black cape covered his short hair. 
 Kathi put on a similar costume, and gently unbolt- 
 
200 
 
 ing the window sash once more pushed it open, call- 
 ing softly, ' ' Sentry, are you there ? ' ' 
 
 Steps were heard coming nearer and nearer, and 
 in a moment a soldier stood in front of the window. 
 ' ' What is it, Miss, ' ' he asked in a low tone. 
 
 "Every one is abed, and I thought I would take 
 a little stroll up the mountain if you'd promise to 
 bring me back, and lift me into the window again. ' ' 
 
 Her voice and manner was nervous and excited, 
 but the unexperienced country lad assumed it was 
 because she was afraid of being caught by some one 
 of her family. The discipline of war hung very 
 lightly over the shoulders of a frontier militiaman 
 of that day, and for the moment the instructions of 
 his officer were completely forgotten. 
 
 "Of course I'll bring you back. Jump right 
 down. The sentry on the other side of the house will 
 not hear you." 
 
 "Wait just a second till I see if any one is in 
 the hall." She disappeared. 
 
 In a few moments John Brooks silently dropped 
 to the ground, and without a word followed the sol- 
 dier up the mountain side. On reaching the upper 
 ledge the unsuspecting sentinel paused till Brooks 
 caught up with him, then throwing his arm around 
 the waist of his charmer was about to kiss her cheek, 
 
201 
 
 when he was felled to the ground with a terrific blow 
 on the head, and lay quietly, without even a groan. 
 Brooks bent over and stuffed a handkerchief into his 
 mouth, and snatching his rifle and ammunition stole 
 stealthily along the ledge. 
 
 When he arrived at some little distance beyond 
 the dam he cautiously climbed down to the lower 
 ledge. The only sound he could hear was the roar 
 of the water pouring over the falls. Picking his way 
 over rocks and around bushes, he followed the edge 
 of the mountain till he was opposite the Island. There 
 was just enough light from the moon to enable him 
 to locate the ford that connected the Island with 
 Skene Mountain. Taking off his cape and gown, he 
 wrapped them into a bundle with his food, rifle and 
 ammunition, and placing them on top of his head 
 waded into the water. His teeth chattered, but 
 there were worse things to endure than the cold. He 
 could now hear voices upon the deck of the Liberty 
 moored at the dock, and he knew the boat was in the 
 possession of the soldiers. 
 
 On reaching the land, he followed as closely to 
 the water's edge as possible and keep in the shadow 
 of the bushes. At the side of a large boulder he de- 
 posited his burden, and stripping off the rest of his 
 clothes once more waded into the water. The rock 
 
202 
 
 bottom gradually dropped off beyond his depth, and 
 he quietly swam across to the end of the sand bar. 
 The chill air numbed him to the marrow, but there 
 was nothing for him to do but creep softly along the 
 beach until he came to where the boats were hauled 
 up on the sand. Fortunately the sentinel was at the 
 other end of his beat, and the first boat was a small 
 light canoe with its paddle secured under a strap. 
 Gently drawing it away from the others, he raised it 
 over his head, and ran down the bar towards the 
 point. Pausing to listen, he concluded there was no 
 one following, and for the first time since he had 
 left the house he felt hopeful of escaping. The worst 
 part was over, and he had secured a canoe, but the 
 realization of what he had accomplished so excited 
 him that he dropped the frail craft into the water 
 before he had intended. The splash alarmed him, 
 and he sprang in, and paddled with all his might to 
 the big boulder on the Island. 
 
 He had just landed, and gotten into his under- 
 clothes, when he observed two men in a boat not far 
 away. What could he do? To try and get away 
 from them by water was useless. There was only 
 one possible avenue of escape, and without consider- 
 ing its difficulties, he quickly replaced the light 
 canoe upon his head, and rushed into the bushes. 
 Desperately he struggled up the bank, crashing first 
 
203 
 
 into one tree; then into another; falling into holes; 
 tripping over vines and boulders; and sprawling 
 over logs and stumps. At last he reached the rocks 
 on the east side of the hill bruised and scratched, but 
 through the woods and with a clear way to escape. 
 Down the slope he ran into the water, expecting to 
 find the two boatmen coming around the south end 
 of the Island. But there was no one in sight. Jump- 
 ing into the canoe, his bleeding hands plied the pad- 
 dle with a strength he did not know he possessed. 
 On, on he sped through the water, past the smaller 
 island, insensible to pain, realizing only that he must 
 get beyond the reach of his pursuers. 
 
XVIII. 
 
 Captain Herrick's party had been delayed by 
 many unexpected incidents, aside from the first one 
 of Benedict Arnold claiming the right to command 
 the expedition, but none of them had bothered the 
 captain more than the hour Miss Skene had in- 
 veigled him to spend in her company. He was great- 
 ly annoyed at the possibility of his escapade becom- 
 ing known, and the details exaggerated to a moun- 
 tainous degree. There was danger of it going down 
 in history that he purposely detained the expedition 
 at Skenesborough, while he took a moonlight prom- 
 enade with the beautiful daughter of the manor. 
 
 He was embarrassed as he counted the few men 
 he could spare to leave with Captain Lee in charge 
 of the prisoners and property. He had no confidence 
 in Arnold 's promise that a reinforcement of three or 
 four hundred were hastening through the woods to 
 join him. He had grave fears that the crew of the 
 schooner was disaffected, and it would be necessary 
 to take several of his own men to help sail the vessel. 
 Altogether, the harassed captain was in a very per- 
 
 204 
 
205 
 
 turbed state of mind as he walked back to the land- 
 ing. 
 
 "Are you ready to start?" he asked of the mas- 
 ter of the Liberty. 
 
 "Not quite, but I guess the boys will have her 
 ready to weigh in a short time," slowly replied 
 Thomas Roberts. 
 
 "Now, see here. Its almost ten o'clock, and we 
 are not going on any pleasure excursion. Will you 
 start now, or do you prefer to turn the boat over 
 to me, and you and your crew join the prisoners in 
 the guard house?" 
 
 There was no question in Roberts' mind but that 
 Captain Herrick meant what he said. "Well," he 
 answered in slow drawling tones, "I didn't know 
 you were in such an all fired hurry as that. But 
 seein' you be, I guess we can manage to push her off. 
 The wind is fair, and we will make the fort easy 
 enough before daylight. I made the trip to Crown 
 Point once — " 
 
 "Never mind what you have done," broke in 
 Herrick. "Step lively now and let me see what you 
 can do." 
 
 "All right, Captain," replied Roberts, but his 
 tone and the manner in which he turned and saunter- 
 ed aft did not indicate any intention to hasten. 
 
206 
 
 Herrick watched him until he disappeared in 
 the darkness, and then turning to some of his own 
 men on the dock, he said in a low voice. "Boys, I 
 think if we leave Skenesborough in this ship to- 
 night, we will have to sail her ourselves. I don't 
 like the actions of this man who is running her. 
 Where's Dunning?" 
 
 "Here, sir," and Josiah Dunning stepped to the 
 front. 
 
 "Do you suppose, Joe, you can handle this 
 schooner?" 
 
 "I reckon I can, sir." 
 
 "Well, then you are appointed master of her, 
 and now be quick and get some men for your ser- 
 vice." Turning to the others, "Two of you come 
 with me, the rest stay here and guard this gangway. 
 Arrest anybody who leaves the boat." 
 
 "Have you slashed the rigging?" inquired Cap- 
 tain Roberts of his mate in a whisper. 
 
 "Yes, it will be some time before they raise any 
 canvass on this old tub. ' ' 
 
 "Cut the grummets?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Rudder unshipped?" 
 
 "Yes, all done." 
 
 "Then have the men take to the small boat. 
 
207 
 
 Wish we had done it an hour ago. ' ' The mate turn- 
 ed to do his bidding. 
 
 At a motion from Herrick his two men emerged 
 from their hiding, and seized the double faced mas- 
 ter. The captain followed the mate, and called for 
 help. The plotters were taken by surprise. The 
 mate and some of the crew surrendered while others 
 jumped overboard. Some of Herrick 's party imme- 
 diately manned the small boat, and picked up some 
 of the escaping sailors, but whether all were account- 
 ed for they never knew. The prisoners were placed 
 in the cabin under guard, as it was thought advis- 
 able to take them to Ticonderoga for safe keeping, 
 the garrison that could be spared to leave at the 
 works being very small as it was. 
 
 The damage that had been done to the schooner 
 was soon discovered. It was impossible to make re- 
 pairs to enable them to start to-night, and it would 
 never do to attempt the trip by daylight. The sick- 
 ening realization of the failure of his plans almost 
 overwhelmed the harassed leader. What could he 
 do now? Not to meet Allen before morning, and 
 be in at the taking of the fort was heartbreaking. 
 Herrick cursed his ill luck, but cursing would not 
 mend matters. It required no vivid imagination to 
 picture the scene when Colonel Allen heard of this 
 
208 
 
 miserable miscarriage. He could see now the mis- 
 takes that had been made. The expedition should 
 have been timed to reach the settlement in the fore- 
 noon instead of late in the day, and he should have 
 been well supplied with boatmen, while as it ap- 
 peared he had no more than three or four men who 
 had even a speaking acquaintance with a sailing 
 craft. 
 
 ' ' What 's you name ? ' ' inquired Herrick of a man 
 who stood near, and seemed to be a person of some 
 consequence in the settlement. 
 
 "Fuller, and this is Burroughs," placing his 
 hand on the shoulder of a tall spare man next to him. 
 ' ' Captain, we are to blame for this. We should have 
 known Roberts better than to have trusted him. 
 When we talked with him he was a patriot, but 
 when Brooks talked to him, as we have just learned, 
 he was a rank loyalist. It is hard to tell who is 
 your friend until it comes to a test like this. ' ' 
 
 "Well, Fuller, I guess you are right. We sup- 
 posed you men knew your neighbors, but the truth 
 is, these days, no one knows even his own brother." 
 
 "Might's well let your men get some rest now," 
 suggested Burroughs, "and in the morning I think 
 we can pick up a crew that will make the repairs, 
 
209 
 
 and work the schooner. It isn't likely Allen will 
 try to cross until you get there with the boats. ' ' 
 
 ' ' That 's so, " added Fuller. " A f ew men couldn 't 
 take the fort even if they got across. Allen will 
 need all his force to make the attempt." 
 
 "Well, there's nothing else to be done, so we 
 might as well go to bed as standing here mourning. 
 Sergeant, you see to the guard. The rest of you find 
 some place to sleep." And turning to Dunning, 
 "Are you sure none of the crew escaped?" 
 
 ' ' I think the whole crew is in the cabin, but there 
 might have been some of the boys of the settlement 
 on board." 
 
 "Corporal, take a couple of men in a boat, and 
 row over to the bar and around. See that the guard 
 is vigilant, and warn them to be on the lookout es- 
 pecially for trouble from the water. 1'he counter- 
 sign is Lexington." The last word he whispered as 
 the corporal left to make his rounds. 
 
 The party had only placed themselves in their 
 boat when they heard a splash in the distance near 
 the point of the sand bar. "A canoe dropped into 
 the water then or I'm a fool," exclaimed Burroughs 
 as he sprang into the boat beside the corporal with- 
 out asking permission of the captain. "Be careful 
 
210 
 
 where you lay your gun, young man. There 's water 
 in the bottom." 
 
 In a few moments the listening ears heard the 
 canoe grate over the sandy beach, then another 
 splash as its occupant leaped into the water. 
 
 "Pull, men, now pull together. He's got a good 
 start but we will soon overtake him. Pull now, 
 steady, together." 
 
 "There he goes, with the birchbark on his back. 
 He's going to cross the island, and will expect us to 
 follow him on this side, but we'll fool him. We'll 
 head him off below." 
 
 "He's a desperate cuss to try and get through 
 there," observed Jeremiah. " 'Pears to me he 
 doesn't know the island very well, or else he's an 
 idiot." 
 
 "Don't suppose he's going to hide there, do 
 you?" enquired the corporal. 
 
 "He'd sure be a fool to try that. It's only a 
 small island." 
 
 Rapidly the boat shot through the water to Fid- 
 dler's Elbow, a half mile below. After making the 
 sharp turn they lifted their oars and waited. Pres- 
 ently the sound of a muffled paddle stole faintly 
 through the quietness, and the eager ears could de- 
 
211 
 
 tect the swish of the water as the sharp stem of a 
 light canoe cleaved the glassy surface of the lake. 
 
 "Halt! Who goes there?" sharply demanded 
 the corporal as his men swung their boat quickly 
 across the channel. Before Brooks could recover 
 from his surprise his canoe came along side the sol- 
 diers, and Burroughs leaning over laid hold of the 
 light craft. 
 
 "Well, old man, I guess you'll change your 
 course. We don't agree with you that this is quite 
 the proper occasion to be taking a pleasure trip. 
 Who the devil are you anyway? Pull ashore, Jim, 
 and let's have a look at him." 
 
 "He holds his head down like he'd been doin' a 
 dirty job," said the corporal. 
 
 As the boats came to the rocky shore, Brooks 
 made a sudden spring, thinking perhaps he might 
 elude his captors, but Burroughs was too quick for 
 him. "No, you don't, you scamp." Then he rec- 
 ognized who it was and laughed. "Ha, ha! Oh, 
 Brooks! I know your nose, even by moonlight. 
 Shaved off your beard. Goin' to fool somebody. 
 Oh, ho!" 
 
 "Well, I admire his pluck," commented the cor- 
 poral. "Say, Mr. Brooks, you're too brave a man to 
 be a tory." 
 
212 
 
 "Oh, Johnny Brooks. It's bad business you're 
 in these days. Well, we'll see that you don't get 
 into any more mischief. ' ' 
 
 "Be easy, Burroughs. Don't hit a man when he's 
 down. ' ' 
 
 "You don't know this fellow, as- 1 do. Say, I 
 bet Kathi Skene sent you to warn the fort, and you 
 didn't dare refuse for fear the colonel'd discharge 
 you." 
 
 Hitherto Brooks had preserved a perfect silence 
 although he was shivering with the cold and excite- 
 ment, unwilling to accept his fate, yet seeing no way 
 to escape it. "That's a lie," he thundered. 
 
 "All right, Johnny! You know. Well, now we 
 will take a little moonlight ride back to the landing, 
 and then we will see you get some rest. Want to stop 
 at the island and get your clothes?" 
 
 Brooks only groaned as he weakly climbed into 
 the row boat. Securing his light craft astern the 
 corporal was soon back to the schooner, and deliver- 
 ing his prisoner to the sergeant of the guard, de- 
 parted again to complete his round of the sentinels. 
 
XIX. 
 
 On making a more thorough investigation it was 
 found that the Liberty had been disabled far more 
 than had appeared the night before. A more sys- 
 tematic canvass of the men in the settlement was 
 made by Fuller and Burroughs, and every man was 
 required to enlist in the patriot army or join the 
 confined prisoners. Guards were placed within the 
 house as well as without, and the rest of the men 
 were employed making the necessary repairs to the 
 schooner. 
 
 Captain Herrick found it hard to encourage his 
 men, when he himself could not see how it would 
 be possible for them to reach Ticonderoga in time to 
 be of an assistance in transporting the troops across 
 the lake. His orders were to send the Skenes to 
 Hartford, but it was impossible to furnish men for 
 this guard, to sail the schooner, and to garrison the 
 place from the small force at his command. 
 
 Just at dusk there marched into the settlement 
 fifty of the four hundred men promised by Connecti- 
 cut. They were greeted warmly by Herrick and his 
 
 213 
 
214 
 
 officers, who were greatly encouraged by their ar- 
 rival. Although it would yet be impossible to reach 
 Ticonderoga in time to be with Colonel Allen in his 
 attack upon that fort, yet they would be ready by 
 the fourteenth, and with a few guns mounted on the 
 Liberty they could proceed to Crown Point, and per- 
 haps there might yet be a chance to smell their own 
 powder, and hear the hiss of the enemy's bullets. 39 
 
 As Captain Herrick drew his blanket over him 
 that night he scratched his head, and promised him- 
 self. "There's one sure thing, I'll not be such a 
 fool as to trust myself again in the hands of that 
 tory maid. I didn't know there was a weak streak 
 in me, but there is. I'll steer clear of the witch 
 hereafter. No one but a brute could have denied 
 her the way she asked it, especially after they had 
 disturbed the body of her dead mother. Ugh! 
 Pretty hard to need lead so badly you have to get it 
 that way. "Well, war's war, and we can't expect it to 
 be anything else." 
 
 "I guess there's only one man in the party who 
 can be trusted to escort them safely to Hartford, and 
 that's Li Sheldon. Even with him, its an even chance 
 that girl will escape, and he'll be fortunate if she 
 doesn't get away with the whole bunch. Egad! It's 
 in her to turn the tables, and march the guard pris- 
 
215 
 
 oners to St. Johns. Poor Lish has got his troubles 
 ahead of him, I can see that. I pity the man who 
 marries her. Thank God my little woman is not that 
 kind." A sigh of relief escaped him as he turned 
 over and went to sleep. 
 
 The next morning he sent for Sheldon, and gave 
 him his orders with positive and precise instructions. 
 ' ' That Brooks is a desperate man, and will need the 
 closest watching. If you think necessary shackle 
 him. I would not trust Skene too far, although he 
 appears a mild sort of a chap. I guess you'll have 
 no trouble with the old lady, and the light haired 
 girl, but the tall, slim, dark haired one you'd better 
 look out for every second." 
 
 "Why, Captain," questioned Sheldon, "do you 
 think she'd be fool enough to try and get away? She 
 would not want to leaA r e the rest of them." 
 
 "I don't know as to that, but you watch her. 
 Detail two men to keep their eyes on her all the 
 time, and don't allow any of the guard to speak to 
 her under any circumstances. You do all the talk- 
 ing with her yourself, and make that as brief as pos- 
 sible. She has a sort of power over people, conjures 
 them so they forget their business." 
 
 "Ah, Captain," laughed Sheldon, "do you speak 
 from experience?" 
 
216 
 
 "Well, I've seen her, and I judge she is what 
 they tell me." Herrick searched the other's face 
 trying to discern how much he knew. 
 
 "I guess I'm too old to be conjured, as you call 
 it, by any slip of a tory's daughter." 
 
 "I hope you are. But don't brag about being 
 immune to woman's charms. Guess you never had 
 much experience with girls like her anyway. You 
 remember what I tell you, she has a witchery that 
 brings people to do her bidding. You keep shy of 
 her. Now these are positive orders, and I '11 put it in 
 writing if you doubt it. ' ' 
 
 Herrick 's manner was so serious that Sheldon re- 
 pressed the smile he was about to indulge in and 
 asked. "Are you afraid she will convert me, and 
 the rest of the guard, into king's men?" 
 
 ' ' Hardly that Elisha, but I believe a person who 
 has the power she has to train wild animals, can do 
 most anything with a domestic beast. They tell me 
 she rides that black horse while no man has ever 
 been able to even get onto his back." 
 
 Captain Sheldon now indulged his repressed 
 laugh. ' ' I saw a couple of boys from Massachusetts 
 trying it last night. I'd give a good deal to see her 
 do it, but I'd hate to be responsible for her after she 
 was on his back." 
 
217 
 
 "We'd be minus a prisoner pretty quick, and 
 Fuller says she 'd never stop short of Montreal. Riv- 
 ers and mountains are equally easy for that horse. 
 She was just swimming him across the creek when 
 we came. Everyone in the settlement worships her. ' ' 
 
 "Well, Captain, never fear for me. I'll not mis- 
 take her for an angel, but will lead her with a long 
 tether." 
 
 "Keep her away from Bigelow and the others. I 
 know well enough she played some trick on the sen- 
 try when Brooks got out of the house." 
 
 "Are you sure she had a hand in that?" asked 
 Sheldon quickly. 
 
 "I'm sure of it." 
 
 "Well, you can trust me, Captain," he replied 
 seriously, and away he strode to inform the family 
 that they must prepare to start very soon. 
 
 It was a sad family which Sheldon interrupted 
 at breakfast. He entered the dining room without 
 being announced. No one greeted him with a good 
 morning, although they all rose to receive his mes- 
 sage, which was blunt and commanding enough. 
 
 "Major Skene, see to it that you and your wo- 
 men are ready to leave in an hour. The negroes will 
 remain." 
 
 During these days of trial the major's military 
 
218 
 
 training was evidenced in his ability to control him- 
 self on all occasions. "May I ask, sir, if all neces- 
 sary preparations have been made for such an ex- 
 tended journey?" 
 
 Andrew's manner in addressing the officer 
 brought from him a more respectful tone. ' ' We have 
 attended to everything." 
 
 Young Skene was not quite satisfied. "I sug- 
 gest, sir, that the smallest yoke of oxen be used to 
 carry the baggage as they will stand the trip bet- 
 ter." 
 
 "We will take no baggage, therefore no oxen will 
 be necessary. What few clothes you will need, the 
 packhorse can carry. The prisoners will walk. ' ' 40 
 
 ' ' What ! ' ' exclaimed Andrew, his face turning 
 from white to scarlet. "Walk these ladies to Hart- 
 ford when we have plenty of cattle?" He clinched 
 his fists as he comprehended the meaning of the cap- 
 tain's words. 
 
 "The orders are for the prisoners to walk," re- 
 plied Sheldon briefly. 
 
 Miss Elizabeth gasped as she sank into a chair, 
 and fanned herself with a handkerchief. "The man's 
 crazy. I couldn't walk five miles." 
 
 Mary tried to say something but burst into tears. 
 Kathi stepped in front of Sheldon and in an imperi- 
 
219 
 
 ous tone demanded, ' ' Sir, will you please tell Captain 
 Herrick that I wish to see him at once. ' ' 
 
 "The captain has other business, just now, than 
 calling upon ladies. You had better take off that 
 finery, and put on some clothes that will better stand 
 a long journey. Remember you will be able to take 
 very little except what you wear. I would advise 
 you to put on strong thick soled shoes." 
 
 He was turning to leave when Kathi caught bis 
 sleeve detaining him. "Why, sir, should we not 
 ride?" 
 
 "The orders are that the prisoners will walk, 
 madam," answered the captain. 
 
 ' ' But surely you will allow my aunt to ride. She 
 never walked a league in her life. She could not 
 possibly stand such a journey on foot." 
 
 ' ' The orders are that the prisoners will walk, ' ' re- 
 peated Sheldon doggedly, and making a hasty exit 
 escaped further expostulation. 
 
XX. 
 
 Ever since Brooks' failure to warn the fort, 
 Kathi had been planning to escape, and believed that 
 her opportunity would come when they started for 
 Hartford. She reasoned, if she was once fairly on 
 Lightning's back she could get away before the 
 guard would have time to shoot, and once out of 
 gunshot, she had no fear that any other horse could 
 overtake her. 
 
 Her intention was to ride to Colonel Reid's, at 
 the mouth of Otter Creek, and from there send his 
 Indian boy, Neshobe, to Canada to acquaint the gov- 
 ernor with the perilous condition of the posts on 
 Lake Champlain. 41 
 
 The day before had been spent by the family and 
 servants in packing their clothing and valuable arti- 
 cles. Captain Sheldon's orders not only caused much 
 inconvenience and confusion, but they awakened 
 more bitter resentment than had been felt before. 
 The change was particularly hateful to Kathi, as it 
 spoiled all her plans to escape. 
 
 There was no time to lament their sad fate, for 
 
 220 
 
221 
 
 there was much to do to prepare themselves for the 
 journey. It was necessary also to give the servants 
 a great many instructions, which they received with 
 tears running down their black faces. Some of them 
 were almost in hysterics at the thought of being left 
 behind to wait upon rebel soldiers, while their loved 
 family was suffering far from home. 
 
 Kathi held her bloodstone heart in one hand as 
 she descended the stairs into the kitchen, and with a 
 glance surveyed the apartment. Near one end of the 
 long table sat William Nichols, devouring corn 
 cakes and maple syrup as fast as poor old Mammy 
 could fry and transfer them from her griddle to his 
 plate. Much to his surprise Kathi slid onto the end 
 of the bench at his side, and when seated spoke 
 softly. 
 
 ' ' The other night I had a long talk with Captain 
 Herrick, and he told me if I had any more requests 
 to ask of him to simply desire one of his men to 
 take me to him. Will you please be so kind?" 
 
 ' ' Did he give you an order to pass the sentries ? ' ' 
 asked Nichols quite embarrassed. 
 
 "Why, no. But if you tell the guard you have 
 orders to take me to Captain Herricfi I am sur,e it 
 will be all right. If you are not through with your 
 breakfast you can finish it when you return." 
 
222 
 
 The result was, Kathi had another interview with 
 the captain, who supposed that his duties on the 
 Liberty would protect him from such another expos- 
 ure to the charms of the female tempter. Experience 
 had taught him he was not absolutely proof against 
 her wiles. 
 
 Afterwards he could not understand why he had 
 told her he was glad to see her once more, when as 
 a matter of fact he certainly never wanted to set 
 eyes on her again. Neither did he realize how she 
 had interfered with his previous plans until he had 
 issued an order permitting the ladies to ride. How- 
 ever, he did not seriously regret making the change. 
 To be sure, they needed the horses for work on the 
 estate, but the guard would be back with them in a 
 couple of weeks, and they could get along somehow 
 in the meantime. 
 
 There was not one faithful friend among the set- 
 tlers to bid them good bye. Those who were loyal 
 were confined in the improvised guard house, and 
 the others did not have any desire to witness the dis- 
 tress of the family, who had been so kind and helpful 
 to them in the past. 
 
 Amid the wailings of the servants, Juliet caught 
 Kathi 's skirts and sobbed. "Oh! Missy, don' yo' 
 
223 
 
 nebber try t' git away. Wy, deys ten of 'un, all 
 totin' fiah ahms. Dey'll shoot yo' sho pop." 
 
 "Don't worry, Juliet. They have to send a guard 
 to protect us as well as keep us prisoners. Be a 
 good girl, and help the rest of the family to be 
 brave. It will not be long before the army from the 
 north will rescue us." 
 
 Dash seemed to realize the injustice of the treat- 
 ment, as he barked defyingly in front of the soldiers, 
 and bounded to the side of first one and then another 
 of his loved ones, sympathizingly licking their hands, 
 and leaping up trying to reach their faces. 
 
 "Here, you little black imp," called Captain 
 Sheldon to Zach. "Stop your blubbering, and tie 
 that dog up, and remember if he follows us I'll shoot 
 him." Zach made a dive for Dash's collar, trembling 
 for fear the beloved dog would be killed. 
 
 Kathi stepped to Sheldon's side. "I beg your 
 pardon, sir, but my horse is not here." 
 
 "Captain Herrick's orders are for you to ride 
 one of these horses," was the short reply. 
 
 "He is making a mistake," persisted Kathi, still 
 hopeful. "Because Lightning will be of no service 
 to any one else, and these cattle can be put to most 
 any kind of work." 
 
 ' ' Orders are orders, and there is no use you try- 
 
224 
 
 ing to get me to change mine," and added scorn- 
 fully, ' ' even if you have been able to get the captain 
 to change his. ' ' 
 
 Kathi tried to hide her disappointment, and in a 
 moment her hopes had risen again. "Captain," she 
 exclaimed with feeling, "I want to ask a favor of 
 you, altho I presume to you it will seem foolish. 
 Lightning is my favorite pet, and wont you please 
 let me stop at the stable a moment ,and bid him 
 good bye?" 
 
 "No, you cannot," replied Sheldon sternly. He 
 knew nothing of such love as existed between Kathi 
 and Lightning, and his orders were not to let her 
 near the horse. 
 
 She had not told the others of her intentions, for 
 fear they would be afraid to have her attempt such 
 a dangerous thing. Now she was thankful, as she 
 did not want any one else to suffer her disappoint- 
 ment, after having such hopes of being able to send 
 a message to Governor Carleton. Every moment the 
 chance seemed more hopeless, but with every breath 
 she drew she prayed for an opportunity to elude the 
 guard, and make for Colonel Reid's settlement. 
 
 Mary insisted on her aunt riding Beauty, as she 
 had much the easiest gait of any of the horses. She 
 mounted Amherst, while Kathi, lamenting her fate 
 
225 
 
 even more than the others, was helped to the saddle 
 upon Gill. 
 
 One of the men stepped to her horse's head, and 
 fastened a long strap to the bridle. Holding the 
 other end of the strap he waited for the order to 
 march. With that act, the last gleam of hope that 
 Kathi had cherished vanished. Every muscle in her 
 body relaxed, and her usual erect stately form 
 drooped wearily. With head bent low, scalding, bit- 
 ter tears dropped upon her chamois glove, as one 
 hand rested on the pommel of the saddle, and with 
 the other she clasped the bloodstone heart. 
 
 Ever since she had recovered from the shock of 
 the settlement falling into the hands of rebels, she 
 had been buoyed up by the hope of the materializa- 
 tion of her scheme to escape. Now there was no use 
 to try and get away from the guard. She would 
 not succeed, and it would cause her captors to de- 
 prive her of the limited liberty she now enjoyed. 
 
 "Forward, March," ordered Captain Sheldon. 
 
 Juliet grabbed desperately at Kathi 's skirt al- 
 most pulling her from her horse. She tried to say 
 good bye to her faithful maid, wailing and moan- 
 ing at her side, but her own emotions choked her 
 so she was not able to speak. She had only time to 
 pat the poor girl's wooly head before she was drag- 
 
226 
 
 ged back by one of the soldiers. She slunk off with, 
 many a backward look at her dear family, and 
 joined the sobbing servants in front of the kitchen. 
 
 The prisoners, surrounded by the guard, headed 
 by Captain Sheldon and followed by Captain Bige- 
 low, marched slowly on past the barn. 42 Turning 
 into the Rutland road they wound leisurely over 
 the hills, and through the dells to the east, until the 
 Connecticut was reached. Then the river road took 
 them south to Hartford, which was the rendezvous 
 of most of the continental prisoners, especially those 
 poor unfortunates who were assumed to be tories, 
 and who through jealousy, fear, revenge, or cupidity 
 local authorities had arrested and sent away from 
 home. 43 
 
 No one, who has not endured similar hardships, 
 can realize their suffering. It was heart breaking 
 to be forced to leave the home, which had cost years 
 of patient labor, and leave it in the doubtful care 
 of an irresponsible mob, who believed that tories 
 were not entitled to the slightest consideration. 
 Skenesborough represented every dollar that had 
 been handed down from one generation to another 
 unto Philip and Elizabeth Skene, and this inherit- 
 ance, considerable as it was, was small in comparison 
 to that which came to the children through their 
 mother's family. 44 
 
227 
 
 Not one of them had the courage to look into the 
 faces of the others to see how they were meeting this, 
 the severest trial they had ever been called on to 
 endure. 
 
XXI. 
 
 A couple of days after their arrival at Hartford, 
 Major Skene succeeded in obtaining a hearing from 
 the Provincial authorities. He pleaded to be paroled, 
 and for the privilege of taking Brooks with him, and 
 returning to his property, agreeing not to leave the 
 estate without permission. His request was refused, 
 but the authorities concluded it had been a mistake 
 to make the women prisoners. Therefore the guard 
 was ordered to escort them to the Canada line, re- 
 turning as far as Skenesborough by the same route 
 they had come. At their old home they remained 
 one night, and then set out by boat for the north. 45 
 
 On the evening of June 23rd, Colonel Arnold, 46 
 Captain Herrick, and John Watson, sat in the yard 
 at the south side of the officers' quarters at Fort Ti- 
 conderoga, watching a bateau which was rapidly ap- 
 proaching from the south. As it passed from view 
 around the point, the colonel sent his servant to 
 learn who had arrived; and their conversation con- 
 cerning the capture of the forts was resumed. 
 
 The man soon returned, and touching his cap in 
 
 228 
 
229 
 
 response to their interrogative look said, "Captain 
 Sheldon and Captain Bigelow with three women 
 prisoners." 47 
 
 "What's that?" exclaimed Herrick before the 
 colonel had a chance to make a remark. 
 
 The servant repeated the news. 
 
 "What are the women's names?" demanded the 
 captain. 
 
 "They called one of 'em Miss Skene." 
 
 Suddenly John Watson jumped up, and started 
 around the corner of the building in the direction 
 of the old French lines. Captain Herrick followed 
 him with equal celerity. Colonel Arnold was visibly 
 annoyed at such lack of military etiquette on the 
 part of his subordinate officers, and called. ' ' Hold ! 
 What's the matter with you fellows?" 
 
 The escaping fugitives halted, and the captain 
 replied. "Beg your pardon, Colonel. We will be 
 back in a few minutes." 
 
 "Well, don't be long. We will have supper with 
 our fair guests, and, Watson, we will depend on 
 you to help them forget they are prisoners." 
 
 "Colonel, you must excuse me this time. I am 
 no good at entertaining ladies, and in this particular 
 case I am the very one who would not put them at 
 
230 
 
 ease. I have known the family from childhood and 
 — well, they despise rebels." 
 
 "Ah, I see, I see," said the colonel, as he searched 
 Watson's face, and wondered how any young man 
 could refuse to dine with ladies of such rank and 
 accomplishments, especially as such opportunities 
 were infrequent at the fort. "Very well, but, Cap- 
 tain, you will not fail me. ' ' 
 
 "I am greatly obliged to you for the invitation, 
 but really I haven't the time." 
 
 ' ' Oh, there are other days for business, but I am 
 sure the ladies are here only for to-night. I heard 
 you say yourself they were most charming girls." 
 
 "Yes. Well, Colonel, if you insist, I guess I will 
 have to help you entertain them. ' ' 
 
 John could not understand why Captain Herrick 
 seemed so reluctant to meet the Skene's, but con- 
 gratulating himself on his own escape started imme- 
 diately on a long tramp. 
 
 At St. Johns the guard was glad to be relieved 
 of their charge. The long hot days they had spent 
 in tedious travel through insect infested woods, with 
 their loyalist prisoners was far from an enjoyable 
 excursion. The guardsmen pronounced them to be 
 the most proud, haughty, contemptuous, revengeful 
 tories of which they had ever heard. 
 
231 
 
 The Misses Skene declared their escorts to be 
 uncouth, ignorant, even brutal rebels, and made no 
 secret of their belief that their day of punishment 
 was close at hand, and broadly hinted that they 
 would not be greatly concerned at the severity of 
 that punishment whatever it might be. 
 
 They hired a man with a team and carriage to 
 carry them to Montreal, where they stopped for a 
 time with friends. On being advised of their arrival, 
 Lieutenant de Piquet hastened to them, and was very 
 much distressed to learn of their long journey under 
 such trying circumstances. It was a comfort how- 
 ever to feel that they were now safe on Canadian soil. 
 "At last, Kathi, we are alone," cried Frederic as 
 he took her by the hand and led her from the narrow 
 path to the mossy bank of the river. 
 
 "Yes, Fred, and the best of it all is that we 
 never shall be separated for any length of "time 
 again. ' ' 
 
 A balmy breeze rippled the St. Lawrence at their 
 feet. A gorgeous sunset illuminated the western sky 
 before them. The birds in the trees over their heads 
 harshly chirped their displeasure at being disturb- 
 ed of their rest. But the lovers paid no attention to 
 any of their surroundings. They did not even notice 
 they were sitting upon a bed of wild flowers. To be 
 
232 
 
 sure they glanced around occasionally to see if any 
 one could see them ; not that they were ashamed of 
 their affectionate position, but to them love was too 
 sacred for the public eye. 
 
 After a half hour had flown altogether too swift- 
 ly, Kathi began to wonder why Frederic did not men- 
 tion their marriage. Finally her impatience got the 
 better of her pride, and while he was saying some- 
 thing to the effect that although the world was full 
 of suffering and sorrow where there was love there 
 was joy, she was trying to think of how she could 
 best introduce the subject of marriage. 
 
 "I tried to coax Aunt Elizabeth to remain here 
 a few days, but she will not because Father will ar- 
 rive in Quebec before we do." 
 
 "Have you any hopes, Dear, that he will give 
 his consent to our marriage ? ' ' 
 
 "No," she answered decidedly, "my wildest 
 dreams can never picture such a thing as my father 
 giving up his determination to marry me to some 
 man of wealth and position." 
 
 There was not a note of sadness in her tones but 
 the words plunged de Piquet into the very depths 
 of despair. He tried to think of something to say, 
 but every thought that came into his mind he feared 
 would have a like effect upon his loved one. How 
 
233 
 
 thankful he would be if it were possible for her to 
 remain as happy as she was at present, but the time 
 had come when he must confess his oath to her 
 father. 
 
 At length Kathi became impatient waiting for 
 him to speak. She edged a little closer and laughed, 
 a nervous little laugh as if she was only half in 
 earnest. "What do you say to planning our elope- 
 ment now?" 
 
 "Not this evening, dearest," he whispered. 
 
 "But, Fred, this is the very time. 0, you old 
 slow poke! why don't you ask me to marry you 
 this very night. You will not have to coax very 
 hard. To tell you the truth I have made all prepara- 
 tions. " She drew a letter from her chatelaine bag. 
 "I have written this note for Mary to give Aunt 
 after we are married." 
 
 ' ' Kathi, that would not be right. You must go on 
 to Quebec with them, and try and persuade your 
 father that your love for me is not merely a fleeting 
 fancy. ' ' 
 
 "He knows it is not. There is no vacillation in 
 the family blood, and I possess an unyielding will as 
 well as himself. What is the use in my going with 
 them, and then you would have to go to all that 
 expense to come there after me? Father would be 
 
234 
 
 sure to make a scene, and it's hard enough to steal 
 away from Aunt Elizabeth without adding him to 
 my guard. Now I'll tell you what we'll do." 
 
 Her face beamed with enthusiasm, and Frederic 
 was sure God had never endowed another woman 
 with such charms. 
 
 "We will walk around by the Chaplain's, and he 
 will perform the ceremony. I thought maybe you 
 would not happen to have a gold piece in your pocket 
 to give him, so I brought one along." 
 
 She drew a bright sovereign from the bag that 
 dangled at her side, and put it into his hand. The 
 act, as well as her words, cast a spell of utter help- 
 lessness over him. When she looked the other way 
 he slipped the money back into the bag. He felt he 
 must confess, but his throat refused to voice the 
 thoughts which came to his turbulent mind; so 
 Kathi was allowed to ramble on with her plans. 
 
 "As usual, Aunt scolded like everything because 
 I put on this gown, but I was so happy I could not 
 even look cross at her. I feel sure Mary surmised 
 the reason. There certainly never was a dress too 
 nice for a wedding gown. We must get the good of 
 our clothes while we are young, for it will not be 
 long before we are old folks, and then homespun 
 will be all we need. Still, Fred, I hope you will al- 
 
235 
 
 ways notice what I wear, and tell me what you like 
 best." 
 
 Suddenly she became aware that he had not sug- 
 gested one thing, nor even approved of her plan. A 
 flush of wounded pride spread over her beautiful 
 face, and she said no more. Her words had been 
 painful enough to Frederic, but her silence was still 
 more unbearable. She made up her mind that he 
 would be the first to speak, and in vain she tried to 
 solve the mystery. The sun was nearing the horizon, 
 and her patience was nearing its end. Darkness 
 would soon envelope them. Her heart ached; her 
 very soul was begging for a word from her God- 
 given mate. 
 
 Frederic longed to bear their cross alone. He 
 hoped she would understand he had made the prom- 
 ise because of his great unselfish love for her. Young 
 as he was, he had had enough experience with ladies 
 to know that it is beyond the power of a man's im- 
 agination to guess how a woman will take anything. 
 Kathi was the greatest of all mysteries to him, and 
 he trembled when he thought how she might look up- 
 on his act. He raised his eyes to heaven as if to in- 
 voke the angels to descend and help him. 
 
 "Kathi, I love you with all my soul." His voice 
 was scarcely above a whisper, and the hand that held 
 
236 
 
 hers shook with nervousness. "You are all I have 
 in this or any other world. I could go through any 
 amount of suffering for your sake. I would gladly 
 do anything in my power to please you. Indeed to 
 please you is my greatest joy. But Kathi, I — I — 
 cannot marry you without — without your father's 
 consent. ' ' 
 
 ' ' What kind of a foolish notion have you got into 
 your head now? Is it not God's command that a wo- 
 man should leave her parents and cleave to her hus- 
 band?" 
 
 "Yes, dearest, and you are the only person to 
 whom I owe duty." His courage increased, and his 
 voice became more steady. "I must not be selfish, 
 but deny myself of your companionship for your own 
 good." 
 
 "I am sure Fred, I cannot see any logic in your 
 words. My good certainly lies in your companion- 
 ship. My first duty is to you, and so long as Father 
 does not approve of my following the guidance of 
 the Divine Spirit within my soul, I owe him noth- 
 ing." 
 
 Another awkward silence ensued, during which 
 Frederic hurled pebbles into the river. 
 
 ""Well," she exclaimed, as she sprang to her 
 feet. "I am sorry I suggested — what I did. I sup- 
 
237 
 
 posed of course you were — that is I thought you 
 desired — " 
 
 "Kathi, you know I desire marriage above every- 
 thing else in the world." 
 
 "If you do, then why do you say you cannot 
 
 " she burst into tears, and hid her face on his 
 
 shoulder. 
 
 "Don't cry, pet, our time will come. Surely you 
 can persuade your father in some way." 
 
 She suddenly brushed her tears away, (with a 
 dainty lace handkerchief which cost more than de 
 Piquet's whole wardrobe) and defyingly stood be- 
 fore him. "See here, Fred, I will tell you once and 
 for all my father's sanction has nothing to do with 
 it. You confessed you loved me, and asked me to be 
 your wife. I did not consider my father's desires 
 when I answered you, and I do not now, and I nevei 
 shall." 
 
 Gradually her height increased as her pride rose 
 with every sentence she uttered. Frederic kicked 
 the stones into the water, and in vain racked his 
 brain for an answer to make. 
 
 "If your proposal contained any such clause I 
 do not remember it. I am ashamed that I so forgot 
 
 myself as to — be so immodest as to " 
 
 "Kathi, my dearest, my all, don't misunderstand 
 
238 
 
 me. You have said nothing unladylike. It was tot 
 your own good I made the promise." 
 
 "What promise?" 
 
 "I gave your father my word of honor I would 
 not marry you without his consent." 
 
 She pressed her hand to her heart, and gasped 
 for breath. He caught her in his arms for fear she 
 was going to faint, but the dizziness lasted but a 
 moment, and her temper came to her assistance. She 
 sprang from him, a glow of anger brought still more 
 blood to her flushed face. Hot words burst from 
 her lips. 
 
 "Why did you not tell me at once? Why have 
 you deceived me for a whole year? How could you 
 make such a promise ? ' ' 
 
 "My great love for you compelled me." 
 
 ' ' Your love? — Your love? You ask me to marry 
 you, and then your love prompts you to give your 
 word of honor to my father that you will break yoiir 
 vow to me? Love — You do not know the meaning 
 of the word." 
 
 "0, darling," he cried, "you cannot doubt my 
 love!" 
 
 "Doubt it? I do not have to doubt it. You 
 never did love me or you would not have made such 
 a promise. You have deceived me. You have used 
 
239 
 
 the sacred terms of a lover to express your admira- 
 tion for my outward appearance. You do not even 
 know that there is an inner, higher part of myself. 
 I have believed you sincere, and have not only let 
 you look into my heart, but I have opened the cov- 
 ers of my very soul for you to read as from a book. 
 Now I am so humiliated at the thought of my past 
 actions. ' ' 
 
 "Kathi, Kathi! don't say such things. You do 
 not understand. It is your happiness I desire above 
 everything else." 
 
 "If that were true why did you do such a thing? 
 How could you expect such an oath to give me any 
 pleasure?" 
 
 "I never can support you in the way you have 
 been accustomed to live," he stammered painfully. 
 
 ' ' You believed that I would prefer things, gowns 
 like this and be separated from you, to the cheapest 
 clothing and be your wife. You do not know me any 
 better than you know what it is to love. ' ' 
 
 With both hands she had caught up one side of 
 her overskirt and at every emphasized word she gave 
 it a jerk splitting the sheer brocaded silk until the 
 slit had reached the hem. 
 
 "It's my fine clothes you care for, and you don't 
 want me unless my father will keep me in silks and 
 
240 
 
 satins. Aunt is right— no man ever did really love 
 a woman — they only say they do." 
 
 She turned to leave him but he clasped his arms 
 around her waist and sank to his knees. Looking up 
 into her face he cried beseechingly, "Kathi, for 
 God's sake ! don't leave me like this. You are angry 
 now, and cannot look at it reasonably. ' ' 
 
 "Reason? A woman does not love according to 
 reason. Let go of me this moment ! ' ' 
 
 He paid no attention to her command, but groan- 
 ed, and held her all the more firmly. 
 
 "Lieutenant de Piquet, I demand to be released 
 instantly." 
 
 "Kathi, I pray of you listen to me. Now I see 
 my mistake. I believed you would not be happy 
 without the luxuries you have always been ac- 
 customed to have. I will do anything in my power 
 for you. I will break my oath, and marry you this 
 very night." 
 
 "Stand upon your feet!" 
 
 The harsh voice that thundered upon his ear 
 drums was a strange one to him. "Without a word he 
 obeyed it. 
 
 "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. 
 That is why I told you I knew my father would 
 
241 
 
 never give his consent. He has sworn to me that 
 he never would." 
 
 She clasped her hands behind her, and backed 
 away from him. His heart was scarcely beating. 
 There was no answer he could make, and nothing he 
 could say. 
 
 "If we should ever meet again in this world it 
 shall be as strangers. In heaven there are no mar- 
 riages to unite or money to separate lovers. If God 
 brings us together there we will meet under differ- 
 ent circumstances." 
 
 She parted the bushes at her side, and disappear- 
 ed behind them. He threw himself upon the sod, 
 and groaned aloud. Only a faint tinge of red traced 
 the line between the sky and earth, and then it be- 
 came dark. 0, so dark! The gentle breeze had 
 turned to a chilling wind, which played a most dole- 
 ful dirge through a clump of pines behind him. A 
 nighthawk sailed over his head, and added his nasal 
 ' ' peent, peent ' ' to the unbearable sounds from out of 
 the blackness. 
 
XXII. 
 
 When Kathi told Frederic that her father was 
 expected to arrive in Quebec before she could reach 
 there, 48 he was sailing away from them instead of 
 towards them. While in the Gulf of St. Lawrence 
 his vessel spoke a ship from which they learned that 
 the forts at Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and Skenes- 
 borough had been taken by the Green Mountain 
 Boys. This changed all previous plans, and Quebec 
 was not considered a desirable port, and the vessel 
 turned about, and made for Philadelphia. 49 
 
 The Continental Congress was in session when 
 they reached that city. Immediately upon landing 
 Philip Skene was arrested, and all his papers taken 
 from him, the most important of which was the com- 
 mission signed by the king appointing him Governor 
 of the new province. 50 
 
 Prom Philadelphia he, and his faithful servant 
 Jack Anderson, with others, were taken to Hartford, 
 where he found Andrew and Brooks. Later the Gov- 
 ernor and his son were released from jail on parole, 
 but John Brooks was not to be trusted with any sucb 
 liberty. 51 
 
 242 
 
243 
 
 The young major could not bring himself to re- 
 spect such lawless authority as had made them pris- 
 oners. He reasoned they were but a mob bent upon 
 opposing the Government. He tried to make his 
 father understand they were under no moral obliga- 
 tion to observe a parole exacted from them under 
 such circumstances; while the Governor endeavored 
 to impress upon his son the value of always keeping 
 one's word no matter to whom it was given. 
 
 With the assistance of the slave, Andrew stole 
 away, 52 and reaching New York sailed for Quebec, 
 where his aunt and sisters had been furnished with 
 a cottage by Governor Carleton. Later Philip Skene 
 was exchanged, and joined the family. All their 
 time, strength and money were expended in aid of 
 the King, and to regain possession of their estates, 
 which were in the possession of the rebels. 53 
 
 The American siege and assault of the city dur- 
 ing the winter of '75- '6 was a very trying time for 
 the family, but the following season not only peace 
 was enjoyed, but a gay social life shortened the 
 dreary days for the exiles. Mary and Kathi did 
 their best to appear as happy as their associates, and 
 were thankful for the assistance of the swirl of so- 
 ciety to help them to bear the heavy cross, which 
 was suspended from their hearts. 
 
244 
 
 The great sympathy between the sisters helped 
 them to endure their broken hearted lives. The 
 names of the lovers seldom crossed their lips, but 
 each understood. 
 
 Two years had passed, and Mary had not heard 
 one word in any way from John Watson. After 
 Carleton's and Arnold's naval battle at Valcour, 
 Kathi read in the gazette that Frederic de Piquet's 
 bravery had been rewarded by his promotion to the 
 command of a company. 
 
 The part which the Governor and Andrew Skene 
 played in Burgoyne's invasion is a story in itself. 
 The following letter is here inserted because it gives 
 another picture of the old home. 
 
 My Dearest Mary & Kathi : 
 
 I have just time to let you know that I am well 
 and things are doing well. The forge and iron 
 works with the mills are burned. My mills at Port 
 Ann are standing; our army is in possession of them. 
 Our tenants are chiefly here and have been useful. 
 Generals Burgoyne and Philips are at our house. 
 Andy is asleep, and well. God bless you all. My 
 love to your Aunt. Shall write my next opportunity. 
 
 I am My Dears, your affec. 
 
 P. SKENE. 54 
 Skenesborough House the 11th July 1777. 
 
245 
 
 The night of General Burgoyne's defeat at Still- 
 water, Andrew was despatched with the sad news to 
 Governor Carleton. Governor Skene hurriedly 
 scribbed a note on a bit of soiled paper, and sent it to 
 Kathi. 
 
 My Dear Child : 
 
 The fortunes of war have dealt very harshly 
 with us. No doubt I shall again be a prisoner when 
 you read this. In time all our estates will be con- 
 fiscated, and we shall be penniless. 
 
 When I forbade your marriage things were very 
 different from what they are now. I pray that you 
 and Frederic may enjoy a long life of happiness to- 
 gether. God bless and keep you Both. Please ex- 
 cuse haste. I am My Dear, your affec. 
 
 P. SKENE. 55 
 Headquarters 7th Oct. 1777. 
 
 Instead of the letter giving its recipient joy it 
 only caused more sorrow and regret. The father's 
 sanction had come too late. Even if her lover had 
 survived the battle she herself had fixed a gulf be- 
 tween them for life. 
 
246 
 
 Andrew told her he had seen the captain several 
 times during the campaign, and once after the battle 
 of Freeman's Farm, in which he had received slight 
 wounds. To her enquiry if he had ever asked about 
 her the brother sadly shook his head. 
 
 The last Sunday in November Kathi awoke with 
 a severe headache, caused by the loss of sleep, so she 
 did not accompany the family to church. The sun 
 glistened like diamonds upon the fresh clean snow 
 and beamed through the small panes of the cottage 
 windows. But she felt so miserable she paid no at- 
 tention to the beauties of nature. 
 
 A white linen cap hid her luxurious hair. A 
 coarse homespun linsey-woolsey gown, made by her 
 own hands from the plainest of patterns, was too 
 large for her extremely slim figures. She was just 
 in the act of peeping into the stew-pot when a rap 
 on the living room door startled her. Slipping off 
 her apron, and forgetting to roll down her sleeves, 
 she hastened to discover who had come to call during 
 the hours of service. 
 
 "Good morning!" she said as she opened the 
 door, and saw a man in a captain's uniform standing 
 upon the stoop. 
 
 "How do you do, Kathi?" he asked in a low 
 voice. 
 
247 
 
 With never a glance into the street to see if any 
 one were passing she cried, "Fred!" and threw her 
 arms around his neck, and drew him into the room. 
 
 He smothered her with kisses. "Dearest, my 
 own, you have forgiven me ! 0, please let me hear 
 you say you have forgiven me. ' ' 
 
 She burst into tears of joy, and as she was un- 
 able to find her handkerchief, Captain de Piquet 
 wiped her eyes with his own, which was none too 
 clean. 
 
 "0, Fred dear, no tongue can tell what I have 
 suffered. I knew Father would hunt for you, and 
 as we did not hear from him I felt sure you were 
 killed in the battle. I am the one to beg your par- 
 don. I have repented over and over again for the 
 things which I said to you when I was so angry. 0, 
 if I could have only seen then from your stand- 
 point. ' ' 
 
 "I knew, dear, you could not. The years have 
 been so long since we parted. The battles and hard- 
 ships I have been through were nothing in compari- 
 son with the longing for you which I have suffered." 
 "Yes, dearest, I know how long they have been, 
 and how hard it was to endure the separation. 
 my! this great scar on your cheek tells a dreadful 
 tale." She lovingly caressed both cheeks. 
 
248 
 
 "Kathi, it is nothing to the heartache I have suf- 
 fered. There are many stories to tell, but there is 
 one I can hardly wait to relate." 
 
 ' ' Please come right into the kitchen, and tell me. 
 You see the others are at service, and will soon be 
 home, and I must have dinner ready for them." 
 
 She led him into the back room in time to rescue 
 the Irish stew from boiling over into the fire. He 
 seized the hook, and caught the crane, turning the 
 pot out over the hearth. When the accident had 
 been avoided, she begged for his story, and began 
 to set the table, with heavy bluestone china. 
 
 ' ' I will not take time to tell you much about the 
 battle. I had received this gash in my face during a 
 hand to hand fight over our cannon, and I lost so 
 much blood I was dizzy towards the last. I had 
 scarcely any of my men left. By this time the battle 
 had become a disorderly retreat. It was dark, and 
 we mistook a party of rebels for Kings men, and 
 they captured us. I attempted to escape, and a ruf- 
 fian hit me over the head from behind. I presume he 
 left me for dead." 
 
 "Oh dearest, thank God you did escape," cried 
 Kathi stopping to kiss him, with a plate of butter in 
 one hand, and a pitcher of cream in the other. 
 
 "I came to presently, and revived enough so I 
 
249 
 
 could walk. It rained all night, and most of the time 
 terrifically. ' ' 
 
 "Mercy! And you bleeding to death. Could 
 you not return into camp?" 
 
 ' ' I could if I had known the way, but in the dark- 
 ness I did not know front from rear, nor our right 
 flank from our left. I lay down under some bushes, 
 and lived my life over a hundred times. I would 
 first pray to live, and then to die; but no matter 
 which it was, the sum of my petition was always the 
 same, to be with you. ' ' 
 
 "God has answered your prayers and mine," she 
 breathed. ' ' 0, how I have longed only to hear from 
 you if nothing more, these past years. Do tell me 
 how you got away." 
 
 Regardless of the pan of biscuit she was putting 
 into the stone oven, he caught her in his arms, and 
 kissed her rapturously. She dropped the pan, and 
 regretted the time it took to clean up the muss more 
 than the loss of the biscuit. 
 
 "At break of day your father went in search of 
 me," resumed the captain. "The surgeon said he 
 found me in the nick of time. The army retreated to 
 Saratoga that night leaving the hospital, but again 
 your father saved my life by binding me to his 
 
250 
 
 horse, and leading it. We had been there a week 
 when General Burgoyne summoned me to headquar- 
 ters. Your father had told him the story of our love. 
 He asked me if I was able to travel. I answered 
 that I was a well man compared to what I had been 
 the last march. He said that he had important mes- 
 sages to send to Governor Carleton; that we were 
 surrounded by the enemy, and he did not know how 
 a fellow could get through the lines, but he believed 
 if any one could I was the man. I asked why he had 
 so much confidence in me, and he answered, that 
 with a man of my stamp who had a sweetheart like 
 Kathi Skene for a goal, the devil himself would find 
 it hard to block his way. ' ' 
 
 "God certainly has brought you safe to me," 
 she cried. 
 
 "Yes, dearest, the angel of love guided me all 
 the way, and made it possible for me to elude many 
 a foe." 
 
 The door of the front room opened, and the sound 
 of voices announced the worshippers' return. 
 
XXIII. 
 
 To Governor Skene, 
 Care of General Burgoyne, 
 Cambridge, Mass. 
 
 Quebec the 3rd Dec. 1777. 
 Dear Father: — 
 
 We are all so thankful to receive your letter, 
 which has just reached us. The governor sent it to 
 our Cottage. We cannot realize General Burgoyne 
 has been compelled to capitulate. It is hard for us 
 to understand why he might not have brought back 
 at least a part of his army to Canada. 
 
 When Aunt read that you were the last man to 
 sign the parole, and you wrote after your name, "a 
 poor follower of the British Army, ' ' 56 she burst into 
 a fresh flood of tears. She insists that your name 
 should have been among the colonels, because you 
 had that rank in the militia. 
 
 We are all well except Mary. She is pale and 
 thin and has no appetite, but it is all due to a broken 
 heart. I sympathize with her greatly. 
 
 251 
 
252 
 
 There are no words in the English language to 
 express my appreciation of your saving my lover's 
 life, and giving your consent to our marriage. I can 
 only Pray that God will reward you, and I am sure 
 He will. 
 
 The day after Fred arrived, we walked to the 
 church, and the ceremony was performed by our 
 good old friend Reverend Scott. 
 
 In years past I have spent hours planning an 
 elaborate wedding. There were to be flowers every- 
 where, and I would wear the most exquisite gown 
 that could be purchased with everything to corre- 
 spond. Well, Daddy, I would not even let Fred buy 
 me a ring. Aunt Elizabeth gave me Grandma Skene's 
 wedding ring, and I appreciate it more than a new 
 one. Everyone tried to get me to dress up in the 
 best I have, but my old extravagant tastes were the 
 cause of our separation, and I cannot bear to wear 
 any of my fine gowns now. I put on that old butter- 
 nut brown of Mother's, and the Skene tartan cape 
 with the hood, which your grandmother wove when 
 you were a boy. 
 
 We have a little room which is not much larger 
 than our hall bedroom at home, and the woman we 
 
253 
 
 rent it from lets me get our meals in her kitchen. 
 It is not much of a home, but we are very happy, 
 and do not need more room to make us comfortable 
 for the winter. 
 
 Right here I want to tell you another bit of good 
 news, — there is so little good news these days, — 
 Fred is now a Major, and the Governor is going to 
 send him and me on the first vessel in the spring to 
 carry special messages to the Court. 
 
 I hope Andy is wrong in thinking we will lose 
 everything. Dear Daddy, my heart aches for you, 
 again a prisoner of War and Skenesborough in the 
 hands of the enemy. I do hope the servants will not 
 be misused, and that another year you can return 
 home, and not only get possession of your property 
 but your province. 57 
 
 Remember if you do lose everything else you still 
 have our Love, you dearest and best of fathers. It 
 is all very good to have Money and a fine Estate, 
 but it is nothing compared with Love. You used to 
 think the luxuries of life were essential to my happi- 
 ness, but they never satisfied me like this great Love 
 for my Husband. Those who really and truly Love 
 have the greatest blessing in the world for Love 
 will make a Heaven out of a desert. 
 
254 
 
 We all send you our Love and sympathy and pray 
 for your speedy release. 
 I am my dear Father, 
 
 Your Most Affectionate Daughter, 58 
 
 To Governor Skene, 
 China Walk, 
 Chelsea, London. 
 
 Amsterdam, 26th Sept. 1788. 
 Dear Father: — 
 
 I natter myself notwithstanding the Badness of 
 the weather since my dear Husband's departure that 
 both he and my Darling Philip are with you at pres- 
 ent. May their presence give you as much joy as 
 their absence has occasioned me grief and anxiety. 
 
 I cannot help being very uneasy. It is now the 
 fifth week since they left, and I have received no 
 letter. I fear some accident has happened to them. 
 I cannot help reproaching myself for persuading 
 Fred to undertake a voyage so late in the year, when 
 he seemed but little inclined to, but the fear of you 
 being offended at not sending Philip according to 
 your desire made me persuade him going. 
 
255 
 
 Since our boy could distinguish objects he has 
 been taught to Reverence and Love you, therefore I 
 am under no apprehension of his wanting in that re- 
 spect. Indeed I may say without being too much the 
 i'ond mother that a finer, nobler, little fellow does 
 not exist than he. 
 
 "I recommend my Beloved to your care and af- 
 fection, dear Father. You must know what pain it 
 cost me to part with him. Should it be inconvenient 
 for you to keep him because of your circumstances, 
 say so. Little as I have it would grieve me to in- 
 commode you. 
 
 There is nothing here very agreeable to tell. They 
 have curtailed the officers' pay almost every month 
 so at last we shall have nothing left. It is rather 
 hard, but God's will be done. 
 
 My Love and Duty to you, dear Father, and Ev- 
 erybody, especially to my Dear Husband and Dar- 
 ling Son. I pray of you to write me as soon as you 
 receive this even if your letter gives me bad news. 
 Nothing can be worse than this terrible suspense. 
 
 In whatever situation, 
 
 I remain your dutiful daughter, 59 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 AUTHORITIES and NOTES. 
 
 1. William Forbes Skene's "The Skene Family." 
 
 Asa Fitch's "Historical, Topographical, and Agricul- 
 tural Survey of the County of Washington." 
 Lewis Kellogg's "Historical Address." 
 
 2. Montgomery's "Leading Facts of American History." 
 
 3. New York Secretary of State's Records. 
 Skene Papers. 
 
 Documentary History of New York. 
 Connecticut Colonial Records. 
 
 4. New York Secretary of State's Records. 
 
 5. Skene Papers. 
 
 6. Documentary History of New York. Vol. IV. 
 
 7. New York Secretary of State's Records. 
 Colonial Documents of New York. 
 
 8. Isaac Weld's "Travels Through North America." 
 
 9. Connecticut Colonial Records. 
 
 10. H. W. Mabie's "Old English Love Songs." 
 
 11, Fitch's Washington County. 
 
 12 David Humphrey's "Life of Israel Putnam." 
 Fitch's Washington County. 
 
 13. Parkman's "Jesuits in America." 
 
 14. A kind of head-dress. 
 
 Lewis H. Morgan's "League of the Iroquois." 
 
 15. Alice Fletcher's "Indian Story and Song." 
 
 16. S. C. Kimm's "The Iroquois." 
 
 17. British Army List. 
 
 18. Philip Skene's Letter, June 22, 1784. 
 
19. Howe's "Bigelows of America." 
 
 20. Alice Morse Earle's "Customs and Fashions in Old 
 
 New England. 
 
 21. Philip Skene's Letter to Mary. Skene Papers. 
 
 22. C. K. Bolton's "Private Soldier Under Washington." 
 
 23. Sabin's Dictionary. VIII, 30771. 
 
 24. The drill regulations of the early Revolutionary per- 
 
 iod are contained in a small volume called — "The 
 Sixty Fourth." 
 
 25. Heaton's "Story of Vermont." 
 
 26. Alice Morse Earle's "Customs and Fashions in Old 
 
 New England." 
 
 27. Lamb's Journal. 
 
 28. Opposite Wrights, N. Y. 
 
 29. Gilliland's Journal. 
 
 30. Elisha Phelps' Letter 1775. 
 
 31. Edward E. Hale's "History of the United States." 
 
 32. Skene Papers. 
 
 33. Hezekiah Butterworth's "History of the United 
 
 States." 
 Henry Belcher's "America's First Civil War." 
 
 34. L. E. Chittenden's "The Capture of Ticonderoga." 
 
 35. Skene Papers. 
 
 36. The first reference to this incident that the author 
 
 finds is in the Bigelow letter (1832), but it seems 
 to have been current from the earliest times. It is 
 repeated and amplified by Lossing, Kellogg, Fitch, 
 and many others. 
 
 37. Connecticut Colonial Records. 
 
 38. English hawthorns are to-day growing about the ruins 
 
 of Fort Amherst, the plantings of which were 
 brought from England before this time. 
 
 39. In Colonel Benedict Arnold's "Regimental Memoran- 
 
 dum Book, Written while at Ticonderoga and 
 Crown Point, 1775." Under date of May 14, he 
 writes of the men enlisted, and the arrival of the 
 Liberty. She was immediately supplied "with four 
 
carriages, and six swivel guns, and proceeded to 
 Crown Point with 50 men in the Schooner." 
 
 40. The only descendent of Philip Skene, Mrs. Jemina 
 
 Skene Booth, in a letter to the author states the 
 family walked from Skenesborough to Salisbury, 
 Conn. But the author has reason to believe altho 
 the order was that they should walk it was sub- 
 sequently modified. 
 
 41. Thompson's "Green Mountain Boys." 
 
 42. Arnold's Regimental Book. 
 
 43. Sabin's "Loyalists." 
 
 44. William Forbes Skene's "Skene Family." 
 
 45. Connecticut Colonial Records. 
 
 46. After the capture of Fort Ticonderoga the Green Moun- 
 
 tain Boys returned to their homes. As Arnold's 
 importance rose, Allen's waned. On May 27th, Ar- 
 nold wrote to the Massachusetts Committee of 
 Safety that Allen had entirely given up command. 
 Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. 
 Vol. VIII. 
 
 47. Arnold's Regimental Book. June 23, 1775. 
 
 48. He sailed from London for Quebec on the ship Sally 
 
 in May, 1775, Haddon's Journal. 
 
 49. Connecticut Historical Society Collection, Vol. I. 
 
 50. The same. 
 
 51. Journals of Congress. 
 
 52. Letter to Silas Deane from his brother. 
 
 53. Connecticut Historical Society's Collection, Vol I. 
 
 54. Whitehall Chronicle, July 20, 1906. 
 
 55. Skene Papers. 
 
 56. Parole of Burgoyne's Army. 
 
 57. Clinton Papers, Vol. VIII, page 326. 
 
 58. Skene Papers. 
 
 59. Letter in possession of the Author. 
 
 60. Most authorities spell the name Piquet, but it will be 
 
 noted that in Kathi's signature the q has the ap- 
 pearance of a g. In the British Army List it is 
 given both ways. Whenever the name is referred 
 
to in Col. Skene's handwriting the de is generally 
 omitted, and as there is little or no loop to his 
 letter it is difficult to tell whether he means it for 
 a Q or a G. 
 
 Major de Piquet's early life is shrouded in mys- 
 tery. Some say he was an Austrian, some German 
 and some French, but no one seemed to know. He 
 was killed at the battle of Ulm in 1805. 
 
 Kathi's son, Philip, referred to in the letter, 
 became a Captain in the British Army, and was 
 killed in 1809, while storming a land port at St. 
 Vincent under Sir George Prevost, who after- 
 wards was the unfortunate British Commander at 
 the Battle of Plattsburgh.