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 # GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
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 JUL 30 1935 
 
 *. s .-•■ . 
 
 lAR 19 
 
 '44 
 
 APR to '43 
 ^ 23 '45 
 
 ||AN 6 '4? 
 
\ 
 
,J> 
 
 The Green Mountain Boys ^^ 
 
 ^-S^^^^^A Historical Tale ' ' "^ 
 
 of the Early Settlement of Vermont ^ ^ t^ 
 
 * ^ By Judge D. P. Thompson 1^3>1 
 
 Chicago and New York * ♦ ♦ 
 Rand, McNally & Company 
 
^\^b. 
 
Inscribed to the 
 
 Honorable Heman Allen, 
 
 Late U. S. Minister to Chili. 
 
 To no one can this work be more appropriately dedicated 
 
 than to the distinguished son 
 
 of one of that 
 
 intelligent, enterprising, and fearless band of brothers, 
 
 The Aliens, 
 
 to whose energetic characters and varied services, 
 
 Vermont is so deeply indebted 
 
 for her existence as an independent State, 
 
 and for the 
 
 foundation of her present prosperity. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 
 LYRASIS members and Sloan Foundation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/greenmountainboy1839thom 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The following pages are intended to embody and illus- 
 trate a portion of the more romantic incidents which actually 
 occurred in the early settlements of Vermont, with the use 
 of but little more fiction, than was deemed sufficient to weave 
 them together, and impart to the tissue a connected interest. 
 In doing this, the author has ventured, for the sake of more 
 unity of design, upon one or two anachronisms; or, in other 
 words, he has brought together, or nearly so, some incidents 
 connected with the portions of the two different periods em- 
 braced in the work, viz., the ISTew York controversy and 
 the Eevolution — which occurred at intervals. Other than 
 this, he is sensible of no violations of historical truth. With- 
 out consulting, as perhaps he should, the models to be found 
 in the works of approved writers in this department of litera- 
 ture, he has endeavored to give a true delineation of the man- 
 ners and feelings of those among whom the scene is laid, to- 
 gether with the deeds and characters of some of the leading 
 actors in the events he has attempted to describe, as gathered 
 from the imperfect published histories of the times, from the 
 private papers to which he has had access, and more particu- 
 larly from the lips of the few aged relics of that period who 
 actively participated in the wild and stirring scenes which 
 peculiarly marked the settlement of this part of the country. 
 How far he has succeeded in the attempt it is for the public, 
 
 not for him, to decide. 
 
 THE 4UTH0E. 
 Montpelier, March, 1839. 
 
^ 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 *'And now for scenes where nature in her pride 
 Roar'd in rough floods, and wav'd in forests wide — 
 Where men were taught the desert path to trace. 
 And the rude pleasures of the montain chase — 
 With light canoe to plough the glassy lake. 
 And from its depths the silvery trout to take — 
 Where nerves of iron grew, and souls of tone 
 To soft refinement's tranquil scenes unknown." 
 
 Those who have wandered along the banks of the Otter 
 Creek, in search of the beautiful and picturesque, may have 
 extended their rambles, perhaps, to lake Dunmore, which lies 
 embosomed among the hills a few miles to the eastward of 
 that quiet stream. If so, their taste for natural scenery has 
 doubtless been amply gratified; for there is no spot in the 
 whole range of the' Green Mountains that combines more of 
 the requisites for a perfect landscape than this romantic sheet 
 of water and its surrounding shores. Of an oblong form, 
 about four miles in length and one in breadth, this lake, or 
 pond, as such bodies of water are more usually denominated 
 among us, lies extended between the main ridge and a col- 
 lateral eminence on the west, of a height but little more than 
 sufficient to serve as a secure embankment to this noble res- 
 ervoir of the hills. From the eastern shore the land rises 
 abruptly into a lofty mountain, which, like some mighty giant- 
 ess, sits enthroned in the mid heavens, her head turbaned 
 with a wreath of white mist, and looking down with seeming 
 fondness and care upon the bright daughter, that reflecting 
 
6 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS, 
 
 back lier own rude image, lies quietly reposing in her lap, re- 
 ceiving the rich supply of a thousand pearly rills that come 
 gushing to her opening lips. To the north and south open 
 long and beautiful vistas, extending along over the bright 
 extremities of the lake, and terminating among the far off 
 j)eaks of the Green Mountains; while from the western shore 
 the land, after a gentle rise for a short distance, falls off rap- 
 idly toward the Otter, leaving the broad and extensive valley 
 of that stream open to the vision, which now wanders unob- 
 structed to the western borders of the lake Champlain, w^here 
 the long chain of mountains that rise immediately beyond, 
 lies sleeping in the blue distance, and bounds the view of 
 this magnificent scene. 
 
 It was near sunset, on one of the last days of i^pril, and in 
 the same year and month as were marked by the opening 
 scene of our great national drama, that four stout and hardy 
 looking men, two of them about the middle age, and two 
 considerably younger, were seen occupying a large log canoe 
 near the eastern shore of the lake just described, and engaged 
 fishing for trout. -Their success through the day in ensnaring 
 "the pride of the pure waters,^^ as the trout has been appro- 
 priately termed, had been ample, as was evinced by the large 
 strings of this beautiful fish lying on the bottom of the boat 
 beneath the feet of their respective captors. 'Now, however, 
 as the rapidly lengthening shadows of the dark primeval for- 
 est, that thickly lined the shore, had nearly closed over the 
 lake, the party began to manifest a disposition to relinquish 
 the exciting labors of the day. One sat listless and unem- 
 j)loyed in his seat; another was taking in and winding up his 
 line; while the third had handled the oars, and sat patiently 
 awaiting the movements of the fourth, who seemed intent 
 on securing, before quitting the station, one more victim, as 
 "a most severe large one,^' he said, was brushing round his 
 hook. At length the speckled tantalizer, after playing warily 
 round the bait awhile, seized it with a desperation that 
 seemed to imply at once his suspicions and his determination 
 to test them, and was drawn flapping and floundering into the 
 boat, amidst a shout of exultation from the company, who 
 unanimously declared the fish to be a ten-pounder, and the 
 capital prize of all that had that day been taken. All being 
 now in readiness, the boat was rowed slowly toward the shore 
 in the direction of a spot indicated as the place of their tern- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 7 
 
 porary quarters by a slight, wreathy line of blue smoke, which 
 had risen from their boon fires, and still hung undissipated 
 along the precipitous cliffs of the mountain above. On reach- 
 ing the shore the party, after taking out their fish and care- 
 fully concealing their canoe in a thick clump of overhang- 
 ing bushes, proceeded to their retreat, which proved to be a 
 cavern in the rocks, at the foot of the mountain, here shutting 
 dovv^n within a dozen rods of the lake. The front of this cave 
 consisted of a sort of natural porch, eight or ten feet in length, 
 and of, perhaps, about half that number of feet in wdclth, 
 formed by a projection of the rocks above and on each side, 
 so as to enclose the intervening space. From the center of 
 the area thus formed in front, an entrance, wide enough only 
 to admit one person at a time, opened into the interior, or 
 main j^art of the cavern, a spacious and lofty room branching 
 of! in several dark recesses that appeared to extend far into 
 the rocks. This cave had once been a favorite lodge with the 
 Indians, as was evident from the flint arrow-heads, and other 
 indications of aboriginal life, discovered in and about the 
 place; and in late years it had been the usual resort of pro- 
 fessional hunters, and others of the neighboring settlement, 
 when out for more than one day on fishing and hunting ex- 
 cursions on the lake or its vicinity, as it afforded them com- 
 fortable quarters for the night, and such as could easily be 
 secured from the intrusion of wild beasts, or Indians, small 
 parties of whom, though not generally very hostile at this 
 period, were still occasionally seen skulking among these 
 mountains. The party nov/ present, as before remarked, were 
 four in number. The two eldest of these had nothing re- 
 markable in their Appearance to distinguish them from the 
 ordinary run of men, except their broad chests and strong 
 muscular limbs, which they possessed in common with most 
 of the settlers. Of the other two, whom we will more particu- 
 larly describe, one was a young woodsman of very singular and 
 striking appearance. He was full seven feet high, and as 
 straight as an" arrow. From his trunk, which, though strong- 
 ly made, and quite as large as that of a common stout man, 
 looked like a may-pole, rose a long, slender neck, surmounted 
 by a small apple-shaped head. His features might have been 
 regular when he slept, but in conversation, in which he was 
 always sure to have a part, they were made to play such an- 
 tics^ by way of acting as gestures to the queer conceits with 
 
8 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 which his brain was forever teeming, that it would have been 
 difficult to tell what any one of them might have been when 
 reduced to a state of quiescence. His mouth with a peculiar 
 twist seemed to move at will in a half circle from one ear to 
 the other; while his nose, playing at cross purposes with his 
 mouth, was seemingly wriggled up to the eyebrows, or let 
 down to the chin at the option of its owner. These, with the 
 e3^es, which were no less singularly expressive, combined to 
 form a countenance to the last degree comical, though, with 
 all its predominating humor, great good nature and consid- 
 erable native intulligence were very visibly mingled in its 
 expression. This man went by the name of Pete Jones, or 
 long-legged Pete, as was his more common appellation among 
 his companions. The other person, the only one of the party 
 now remaining to be described, was evidently far superior in 
 every respect, except physical powers, to the rest, of the com- 
 pany. His exterior exhibited a high degree of manly beauty, 
 both in form and feature, while a fine dark eye, with a clean- 
 ly turned, rectilinear nose, and a high square forehead, indi- 
 cated tastes of an intellectual character. His countenance 
 was expressive of keen perceptions, and manifested also, like 
 that of the person last described, a strong disposition to wit 
 and mirthf Illness; though his disposition unlike that of his 
 rude companion, had been evidently chastened and trained 
 by education and intercourse with refined society, the advan- 
 tages of both of which his language and manners showed he 
 had received. His whole appearance, indeed, was such as 
 would induce to the probable conclusion that a romantic turn 
 of mind, with a love of the exciting scenes of the forests, or 
 still more exciting strife in which the settlers were engaged 
 with the neighboring colony, had led him to a temporary 
 adoption of his present course of life, and that he was rather 
 an amateur woodsman than one from habit or necessity. 
 
 When the party reached their quarters, the person whose 
 description last occupied us, separated himself from the rest, 
 and, clambering up the steep, sat down on a commanding cliff, 
 some hundred feet above the cave, leaving the duties of the 
 cam.p to be performed by those who remained below. The 
 latter, after kindling up a fire in front of the cave, proceeded 
 to bring from the interior a light, portable kettle, and piece 
 of salt junk, articles with which such parties usually went 
 provided, and soon became busily engaged in dressing and 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 9 
 
 preparing a portion of the fruits of tlieir day's labors for an 
 evening repast. 
 
 "Smith/^ said tlie tall woodsman, whose peculiarities we 
 have before noted, now turning to one of his comrades as 
 they were proceeding with their culinary labors; ^^say. Smith, 
 what do you suppose Mr. Selden has perched himself on 
 that old crazy crag up there for? He looks as glum and hazy 
 as a cat-ovd winking at the sun with one eye and watching a 
 tree toad with the other." 
 
 "Well done for you, Pete Jones!" responded the person ad- 
 dressed; "I rather guess you have hit the nail on the head 
 this time; for Selden, I've noticed is fond of looking at 
 prospects — scenery, I think he calls it — well, while he has 
 an eye for that, it's my opinion he is on the look-out for mis- 
 chief, which he thinks ma}^ perhaps be brewing for us some- 
 where — what say you, Brown?" 
 
 "Well, I don't know," replied the latter, a plain, blunt, and 
 lomewhat dogged looking man; "there may be something in 
 your idee — and come to think . of it, I guess it is so : You 
 know we caught a glimpse or two of a fellow skulking round 
 the shore over yonder, last evening, as we were coming across 
 to take up our quarters here; and I remember that Selden 
 seemed to watch his movements as if he had some suspicions 
 that the fellow might be a spy upon us." 
 
 "That's it," rejoined Smith; "and if Selden named the 
 affair to the Captain when he joined us last night, as I'll 
 warrant you he did, seeing they had considerable private talk 
 together, most likely he got orders to keep a spare eye for 
 breakers to-day. I" have noticed several times this afternoon 
 that he seemed to be looking round the lake rather anxiously; 
 and it was that which set me to thinking." 
 
 "By the way," interposed Jones; "what in the world can 
 have got the Captain, that he aint in by this time? N'ot a 
 single loud word has his rifle spoken to-day, to my hearing." 
 
 "He has doubtless taken a wide range to-day," replied 
 Smith, who assumed to be the best guesser of the trio; "but 
 an eye as keen, and an aim as sure as the young Captain's, 
 never need be exercised a whole day for nothing on these 
 mountains. He don't come home empty to-night you'll find." 
 
 "I wish he would come, however," observed Brown; "I 
 am anxious to know what are to be the orders for to-morrow. 
 I hope he won't make us wait here another day for more to 
 
10 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 Join us before we proceed on the business we came for. We 
 Lave now been nearly three days, coming and here, without 
 a chance of setting our seals to the back of a single Yorker. 
 I wouldn^t have volunteered and left my work at this busy 
 season but for Captain Warrington^s promise to let us have 
 right at ^em, and be off again. And I wouldn't at no rate, if 
 he had not fought so like a young lion for me at the time these 
 land sharks turned us, wife, little ones, and all, out into the 
 snow. He did me God's service at that time; so I thought I 
 ought to oblige him by coming. Though, be sure, I was 
 obliging my own feelings about as much; for, so help me 
 Heaven! I would go fourteen miles barefoot in January for 
 a chance to pay off scores upon those same York gentry." 
 
 "So would I," remarked Smith; "for what was your case 
 may soon be mine, unless we all turn out, and drive the scoun- 
 drels from the Grants every time they put foot within them. 
 So we must not grudge a little time spent in paying off our 
 debts in this manner, seeing we shall be doing the public 
 a service at the same time. Only think of Warrington! He 
 has spent more than half his time in this way for the last 
 three years; and all he has ever got by -it has been to have a 
 price set upon his head." 
 
 "They have set a price on my head, too," gloomily re- 
 sumed the other;* "but as for the Captain, he will have his 
 reward in heaven; while they have made me so savage and 
 murderous in my feelings that I begin to fear that heaven will 
 be no place for me." 
 
 ■ "Well, I owe the scamps nothing in particular myself, I 
 believe," observed Jones; "but not knowing how soon I 
 might, seeing as how I had lately bought a new lot down 
 there near Old Ti, I thought I might as well join you a spell 
 to learn the way and manner of fixing the chaps. And I cal- 
 culated if any body could show me 'twas Captain Charley, 
 who they say is a trifle braver than Julius Caesar, besides hav- 
 ing a heart as big as a meeting house." 
 
 "What would you say of Ethan Allen at that rate?" asked 
 Smith, laughing. 
 
 * The persons outlawed by the New York Assembly, for the ap- 
 prehension of whom a reward of fifty pounds for each was offered, 
 were Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, Remember Baker, Rob't Coch- 
 ron, P. Sunderland, S. Brown, J. Smith, and J. Brackenridge. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 11 
 
 "Ethan Allen? Lordy! why, two Alexanders, with half a 
 dozen Turks thrown in to stiffen the upper lip, would be used 
 up in making the priming to Ethan Allen! But hoo! what 
 in the deviFs name has come among us now?" continued the 
 speaker, pointing to a new figure that had arrived unper- 
 ceived, and noiselessly taken a station within a few yards of 
 the company. 
 
 All eyes were now turned to the spot indicated by the words 
 and odd gesticulations of their companion. There stood a 
 young Indian, quietly looking at the company, or rather, after 
 the peculiarity of his race, looking at eYer3rthing else but the 
 company, the moment they turned and confronted him. He 
 held a rifle in his hand, while his dress differed but little 
 from the ordinary garb of the settlers. 
 
 "Umph!" he at length exclaimed in the pecuhar. Jerking 
 guttural of the native Indian; "Massa Cappen — him no 
 here!" 
 
 "Guessed exactly right, Tawney!" cried Jones, awakening 
 from the momentary surprise into which he, as well as his 
 companions, had been thrown by the unexpected appearance 
 of such a visitor; "but what do you want with the Captain, 
 my beauty?" 
 
 "Umph! you ask, when me tell, then you know," quickly 
 replied the Indian, with the apparent object both to evade 
 the question and retort on the interrogator for the manner 
 in which it was put. 
 
 "Eight again!" exclaimed Smith, pleased at the rebuff 
 thus received by the professed joker of the party; "here, 
 Jones, let nie manage him. Where did you leave your com- 
 pany, friend?" he continued, addressing the native coaxingly 
 — "I conclu.de there are more of your people somewhere here- 
 abouts?" 
 
 Umph!" answered the native with a sarcastic smile; 
 ISTow you fraid — scare — why you no run?" 
 
 "Eighter than ever!" shouted Jones, laughing heartily in 
 turn at his baffled comrade, who had fared even worse than 
 himself in the re-encounter. 
 
 Other methods were then taken to draw from the Indian 
 his name and business, but without the least success. He 
 either stood mute, or answered with such odd evasions, that 
 they soon gave over the attempt, and called to Selden on the 
 hill, intimating that his presence was needed below. That 
 
 ^"XT 
 
12 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 nerson who proved to be second in command in the espedi- 
 ?'on as Tf partly apprized of what was gomg on, immediately 
 
 -'^l^Z:^l:^<1^T^^oLf:'^ey say yon can ma.e 
 poeS out of rocks and trees if you are a mind to-now we 
 want to see what vou can make out of this fellow. _ 
 
 "He is very evidently a domesticated Indian/ seriously re- 
 nhef tie persol addressed, who appeared just then m no 
 h mor to reiki the jokes of the other. "He probably resides 
 humor TO rui.ii L j . ^ j, j ^hink I have heard War- 
 
 Srs^ero^meetVone o'f his description in a hunting 
 
 ''"Wen ^^iSSr^for'the Captain," observed Smith. ^^ 
 
 "Then he ?as some business with him, I presume," re- 
 ioined Selden; "some friendly message, perhaps. _ 
 
 ' "UmDh' that man say it," said the subject of their dis- 
 courlpointfng to the former with an expressive and respect- 
 
 ^""wf will try then to hasten the Captain's fturn," ob- 
 
 rid»eleStn!^n ^^"^t^"^ 
 
 SImU note was capable of being heard at a great dis- 
 
 *' A^strict silence of several moments was now observed by 
 thfwhoe party in listening for a reply from their leader, who, 
 f'wls undSod, carried^about ^m a corresponding ins^^ru- 
 I A f 1 .-no-fh instead of a reply from a whistle, tiie siiaip 
 "St oi aril burst torn a ne\glboring glen, and echoing 
 IK from clifl to clifl in the surrounding stillness, died 
 slowlv away on the distant mountains. 
 
 'T'here he is!" "There goes the Captain's rifle— I should 
 know l^r voL among a^thousand," simultaneously burst 
 •fi-rnn tbp liBS of several of the company. 
 
 '?u< a I told you," said Smith; "I knew he would nev« 
 return empty. That shot, mark me, brought down a deer 
 M h7u& in his eve when the Leftenant whistled, an( 
 prevented ht answering th* call, which no small gam 
 
 """The'lvent soon proved the truth of the last speaker's cor 
 ier-ture The heavy, slow tread, as of one carrying soin 
 letw; load! now became distinguishable at a distarice m 
 woods the sounds falling more ^xA more distinctly on tl 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 13 
 
 ear every moment as they approached the spot where the 
 expectant and excited party stood, eagerly straining their 
 eyes to catch tlie first glimpse of their huntsman leader. At 
 length he emerged from the bushes, bearing a noble buck 
 upon his shoulders. Advancing amidst the congratulations 
 of his fellows, he came up to the spot, and, with the air of one 
 relieved from a heavy burden, threw down his prize to the 
 ground before them. Of the probable age of twenty-six or 
 eight, he was a man of a very fine and even majestic appear- 
 ance. Though tall and muscular, so compactly and finely 
 set were his limbs, that his contour presented nothing to the 
 eye in the least disproportioned or ungainly. His features 
 seemed to correspond in regularity of formation to the rest 
 of his person, while his countenance was rather of the cool 
 and deliberate cast, indicative, however, of a mild, benevo- 
 lent disposition, as well as a sound, reflecting intellect. Every 
 development, indeed, whether of his shapely head or manly 
 countenance, went to show a strong, well-balanced charac- 
 ter, and one capable of action beyond the scope of ordinary 
 men. His dress, which was that of a huntsman, was neat — 
 not rich — but tastefully arranged and well fitted. A ma- 
 hogany-stocked rifle, richly chased with silver, with small 
 arms partially concealed in his dress, completed his equip- 
 ments. 
 
 "Heaven save me from another such jaunt," were his first 
 words after he had thrown down his load and recovered him- 
 self a little; "a noble buck, indeed, but the chase has been 
 rather a dear one." 
 
 "I don^t see how it could well have been otherwise, Cap- 
 tain," observed Selden, now evidently in high spirits and dis- 
 posed for a little merriment — 
 
 "Your huntsmen, whenever a deer's in the race, 
 Liko your lovers, of course, must expect a dear chase." 
 
 "Mine has been somewhat dearer, however, I thin^," re- 
 pKed the former with an appreciating smile, "than was neces- 
 sary to give zest to those savory trout, which, by the way, I 
 am right glad to see so nearly ready for the partaking." 
 
 "Yes," rejoined the other, glancing around at the Indian, 
 who stood demure and silent in the back-ground, with his face 
 partly averted from the company, "and yet I know not, really, 
 Captain Warrington, but you may have other fish to fry first." 
 
14 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 '^'And just about the oddest fish too that we have caught 
 to-day. Captain/' said Jones, instantly understanding the al- 
 lusion of the last speaker; ^'I rather think he must be a sort 
 of shellfish, from the difficulty we found in getting his mouth 
 open." 
 
 "0 ho!" exclaimed Warrington, his eye now for the first 
 time resting on the form of the Indian, and his counte- 
 nance clearing up from the puzzled expression that had come 
 over it for the instant at the enigmatical words of his friends; 
 "a new recruit! that explains your call, the wherefore I was 
 about to ask — a new recruit of doubtful credentials, eh?" 
 
 So saying, he advanced to the side of the Indian youth and 
 attentively examined his features; while the object of scrutiny 
 stood perfectl}^ immovable, and apparently unconscious of 
 the examination he was undergoing, till perceiving by the 
 hesitation of the other that he was not likely to be recognized, 
 he, without looking up, or var^dng the expression of a single 
 muscle of his face, quietly observed: 
 
 "Massa Cappen no remember N'eshobee — no remember 
 shoot three wolf?" 
 
 *^Aha?" said the other, recalled by the last allusion; the 
 same poor fellow that I so providentially came across, and re- 
 lieved from that savage pack of wolves last year, on these 
 very mountains? You may well remember that escape, my 
 friend. But it is strange I did not know you." 
 
 "N'eshobee hunt all day," resumed the Indian, intent on 
 rehearsing the event, the remembrance of which seemed to 
 light up his countenance to something like the indications 
 of feeling, and incline him to unusual loquacity; "hunt, hunt 
 — kill no deer — dark come fast. ISTow here wolf Vay out 
 there, howl! howl! I^ow Vay out here, howl! howl! Now 
 um come together, howl! howl! Now near off, howl! howl! 
 ISTow me know what um want, and climb small tree quick. 
 Wolf come, five, six, hungry, and lap um mouth. Me shoot; 
 kill one, and go to load um up again — so no think nothing, 
 and drop um rifle low down — wolf jump high, catch um aw^ay 
 — now rifle all gone — no get um — wolf get mad fast — bite 
 um tree, gnaw, gnaw, wolf no do so 'fore. Now tree begin 
 shake, shake to fall soon. Now bend, bend, slow 'long down 
 — wolf jump, jump, snap um white teeth, and 'most jest catch 
 nm Neshobee. Now hoo! bang! one wolf kick over dead — 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 15 
 
 Cappen out there in the bush. Shoot again, two dead! Shoot 
 again, three dead! Now the rest two wolf begin to mistrust 
 to run away afore they dead too. Now Xeshobee come down 
 — stay all night in cave with um Cappen — him very good, 
 no forget um.^^ 
 
 *^Yery nearly correct, I believe, Neshobee," observed War- 
 rington, as the Indian closed his recital, the longest, perhaps 
 he ever made in his life, for unluckily, it may be, for the 
 romance of our tale, Neshobee was no Logan or Eed Jacket, 
 either in length of speech, or that peculiar eloquence, which 
 most of our writers seem to delight in attributing to the sons 
 of the forest; "very nearly correct, but are you out on an- 
 other hunt in this quarter, or does other business bring you 
 here at this time?'' 
 
 "No much hunt, me come f or.'^ 
 
 "What then?" 
 
 "Missus Story talk um on paper for Cappen better nor 
 Neshobee sa}'," replied the Indian, handing Warrington a 
 small ding}^ scrap of paper. 
 
 The latter after running hastily over the contents of the 
 billet, which caused his eye to kindle \^ith enthusiasm as he 
 read, immediately turned to the company, and, with a cheer- 
 ful, animated air observed, "it is from our friend. Widow 
 Story, of the CVeek down here, and contains news of interest, 
 my boys — shall I read it to you?" 
 
 "Aye, aye, Captain," was the eager response. 
 
 "Listen then." 
 
 "Capt. W. — I teal out the blank leaf of my bible to say, 
 'the Philistines be upon thee, Sampson.' They came over 
 the Creek somewhere north of here, and, after a short con- 
 sultation near the edge of my clearing, from vvhich I luckily 
 espied them, struck off towards the lake. Munroe, as usual, 
 heads the part}', ten in number, as I counted. There are five 
 of you, at least; and that is enough, if you are of the stuff I 
 think 3-0U, to attend to confirming our titles in this neigh- 
 borhood. My messenger is a chance one, but true and friend- 
 ly, and may be enlisted, I think, for the night's work, if 
 needed. 
 
 God speed you all, 
 
 Ann Storv." 
 
16 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 The spirited epistle was received b}^ tlie company with a 
 loud ''hurra for the widow!'' and notwithstanding it brought 
 them the startling intelligence that the sherific of Albany 
 county^ with an armed force of twice their own number, was 
 on the march to seize them, two of whom, at least, were known 
 to be under sentence of outlawr}^ for former resistance to the 
 i^ew York authorities, while attempting to execute their cruel 
 mandates on the persons or pro2:)erty of the settlers — ^not- 
 withstanding this, the news was received with the liveliest 
 expressions of joy and enthusiasm. An escape from their pur- 
 suers into the forest, or on to the water in their canoe, which 
 was the only one in the lake, they well knew might easily be 
 effected. But this was no part of the plan of this resolute 
 little band of Green Mountain Boys; nor was the possibility 
 of their being overpowered and taken deemed bj^ them scarce 
 more vrorthy of their consideration. 1'heir object was the 
 punishment of their foes, for the accomplishment of v/hich 
 this was hailed by them all as a golden o^oportunity. From 
 the unwonted boldness with which this noted troubler of the 
 Grants was attempting to push so far into the interior vrith 
 so small a number of men, all of whom were supposed to be 
 unacquainted with the forest in this part of the country, it 
 was rightly conjectured that he must have been apprized by 
 some traitorous settler; not only of the exact situation of the 
 present rendezvous, but also of the number of those occupy- 
 ing it; and for similar reasons it was concluded that this per- 
 son must now be with the approaching enemy, acting as 
 guide in conducting them to the spot, where they doubtless 
 anticipated taking their intended victims by complete sur- 
 prise, and then hurrying them by night over the country to 
 the British fort at Ticonderoga, before the settlers could be 
 rallied for a rescue. In this opinion our band were confirmed 
 by the suspicious appearance of a man, who, as we intimated, 
 had been seen the evening before lurking round the shores 
 of the lake, and w^ho, it was now scarcely longer to be doubt- 
 ed, was a spy, dogging them to such place as they might select 
 for their encampment. Next to the sheriff, therefore, and 
 even before him, was this person, whose offense was consid- 
 ered the most heinous of the two, particularly marked for 
 punishment, and it was determined to identify and seize him, 
 if possible, and, whoever he might prove, make him an ex- 
 ample to all future traitors. To retain their stronghold, the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 17 
 
 cavern, however defensible it might be, was no object with 
 oiir party, as their leader had already determined to leave it 
 the following morning to proceed on the main purpose of 
 their excursion, which was to break up an establishment of 
 their opponents, who had obtained a strong foothold at the 
 lower falls of Otter Creek, and to seize a York surveyor, lo- 
 cating lands in that vicinity — from which purpose they had 
 only turned aside for a day or two to give others an oppor- 
 tunity to join them on the lake, the appointed rendezvous, 
 and a pleasant spot for emjDloying the interim in fishing and 
 hunting. Accordingly it was soon concluded to make no 
 regular defense of the cave, but, using it only so far as might 
 best favor them in their object of discomfiting the enemy, 
 the modes of doing which were yet to be devised, leave it to 
 their possession, and quit the place that night. Their game and 
 such movables as were not immediately wanted, were there- 
 fore now transferred to the boat, which was removed to a 
 secret landing, w^here the party were ordered to repair at the 
 signal-call of the whistle. These brief arrangements having 
 been completed, and the young Indian, who seemed to enter 
 with great spirit into the enterprise, being employed to stand 
 on the look-out, the company, with their loaded rifles by their 
 side, sat down to their sylvan meal, over which they discussed 
 in gleeful mood, the various and ingenious methods w^hieh 
 were successively proposed for the reception and chastisement 
 of their assailants, who were expected to make their appear- 
 ance as soon as it was fairly dark. 
 
18 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 "Thus, spite of prayers, her schemes pursuing, 
 She went on still to work our ruin; 
 Annul'd our charters of releases. 
 And tore our title-deeds to pieces; 
 Then signed her warrants of ejection, 
 And gallows raised to stretch our necks on; 
 And straightway sent, like dogs to bait us, 
 Munroe, with posse comitatus." 
 
 Leaving our little band of Green Mountain Boys to dis- 
 cuss and settle the manner of receiving their expected visitors, 
 and to make their dispositions for carrying sneh plan, as 
 should be finally adopted, into effect, we will now change the 
 scene a little, and" introducing the reader to those visitors 
 themselves, accompany him and them to the scene of action. 
 
 In a thickly wooded swamp, near the northern extremity 
 of the lake before described, were assembled a group of ten 
 men, awaiting the approach of darkness, which was already 
 beginning to settle in successive and fast increasing shades 
 upon the low lands and glens along the foot of the mountain. 
 They were all armed, though variously — some having mus- 
 kets, some large pistols, and some only oaken cudgels. Apart 
 from the rest stood their leader, a stern, rough looking per- 
 sonage, engaged in a low, earnest conversation with another 
 individual, of the apparent age of twenty-five, whose dress 
 and general demeanor seemed to forbid, the conclusion that 
 he was either a common follower, or one in any command; 
 and yet, from the interest he manifested in the business in 
 hand, it was evident he was in some way connected with the 
 expedition. As the last named person may occupy consid- 
 erable space in our tale, we will iDause to note his personal 
 appearance more particularly: he was of about the middle 
 height, well made, though of rather slight proportions. His 
 features, though regular, were common-place and inexpres- 
 sive, with the exception of a pair of small, twinkling, black 
 eyes, in which an observant spectator might often read mean^ 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 19 
 
 ing considerably at variance with, the import of his language, 
 his plausible manners, and the obsequious, smirking smile, 
 which he usually assumed vviiile addressing those with whom 
 he had a point to carry. The construction of his head seemed 
 to be somewhat peculiar — his forehead, which was very tall, 
 being nearly in the shape of a triangle, with the base resting 
 on the eyebrows, and the sides narrowing to an apex at the 
 hair above; while his head, as far back as the ears, swelling 
 upwards into large protuberances, might be better represented 
 by a triangle reversed. His dress was a finer texture than 
 that of any of his present associates, or that ordinarily worn 
 by the settlers, and his whole appearance, indeed, denoted 
 some connection with the more wealthy and fashionable 
 classes of society. 
 
 "You say, Sherwood," observed the former of the two last 
 mentioned persons, at that part of their dialogue which it 
 concerns us to repeat: "you say that, from having been your- 
 self at this cave, you know all the surrounding localities?'^ 
 
 "Exactly — just as I described to you when I reached you 
 last night. There can be no mistaking the place. They are 
 still there, as is evident from the smoke which we saw rising 
 over the spot Just now, while passing the head of the lake. 
 The path is now plain, and the game sure, without further 
 guidance; so I think, as I began to suggest to your honor a 
 few minutes ago, that you may now dispense with my fur- 
 ther attendance. If I should be seen by any of their part]^, I 
 should be delicately situated here in the settlement." 
 
 "To the devil with your delicacy! Why, man, do you think 
 I am going on in the dark, stumbling over logs and through 
 bogs, without a guide? Even you are none too good a one for 
 this cursed hole; but such as you are, in the king's name I 
 retain you; so not another word about quitting us till the 
 scoundrels are secured." 
 
 "I am certainly aware, Mr. Munroe, of the importance of 
 securing this 'Warrington, so great a disturber of the public 
 peace, but — " 
 
 "Disturber! doubly damned rebel! Why, no man in the 
 settlement has caused me so much trouble, considering his 
 audacious assault on me, and all. It will do me more good 
 to see him hung than to sit at the king's banquet." 
 
 "0, certainly — it would me; and I would by all means aid 
 you even to the caioture, if your honor's well known sagacity 
 
20 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 and braver}^ on such occasions did not render my assistance 
 wholly unnecessary." 
 
 "Well, well, Jake," replied the sheriff, relaxing a little 
 from his wonted ronghness at the flattering expressions of the 
 other, "suppose I am all that yon say, it won't serve me in 
 finding a fox's hole in these woods any better than the in- 
 stinct of any country booby, nor half so Avell. I tell you, 
 Sherwood, you must conduct us to the place, at least; for we 
 shall then have enough to do to take the fellow, and, what is 
 worse, to get him through the settlement to Ticonderoga. 
 AVhy, there is not an old woman in all the Grants but will 
 fight for the scoundrel as if he was one of her own brats." 
 
 "0, there can be no great trouble, the surprise will be so 
 great; but as your honor desires it, I Vtdll go so far as to point 
 out the place, on condition that I then be allowed to keep 
 out of sight." 
 
 "Yes, but your half of the reward for taking the fellows, 
 for you say that there is at least one outlaw besides Warring- 
 ton; you won't claim all that, unless you help us through the 
 whole affair, will you?" 
 
 "Your honor forgets that I was only to conduct you so far 
 as to point out their retreat." 
 
 "Have it your own way, then — but I hate to see a fellow so 
 keen on the chase, and then become so devilish prudent the 
 moment he approaches the game," grumbled Munroe, turn- 
 ing away to give some orders to his men, preparatory to re- 
 suming their march. 
 
 It having now become sufficiently dark for their purpose, 
 the party were put in motion for the prosecution of their en- 
 terprise. And after striking a light, and procuring some ma- 
 terials for torches from the pine knots gathered in the sur- 
 rounding windfalls, they set forward towards the place of 
 their destination, then about a mile distant. Keeping as far 
 from the shore of the lake as the nature of the ground would 
 permit, lest the gleams of their light, striking across the water 
 to the vicinity of the cave, should betray their approach, they 
 pursued their way along the foot of the mountain with all 
 possible silence and caution; while the glare of their torches, 
 glittering on the points of the crags, and thrown back on to 
 the dark forms, and eager and flushed visages of the part}^ 
 gliding stealthily along in Indian file beneath the overhang- 
 ing cliffs, like tigers for their pre]^ gave them a singularly 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 21 
 
 wild and most unearthly appearance. At length they arrived 
 at the sharp knoll, which, running down from the main ridge 
 above to the water, had so far screened their approach, and 
 enabled them to advance with their lights unseen within a 
 few hundred yards of the cavern. Here they m.ade a brief 
 halt to arrange their forces for the onset. As soon as this was 
 effected, Munroe and Sherwood crept noiselessly over the 
 intervening rise, followed at short intervals by the rest of the 
 party, with the exception of one man left behind in charge 
 of the torches. Having descended to the level beyond, they 
 again paused to listen and reconnoiter before venturing any 
 farther. All was dark and silent before them. And conclud- 
 ing that their intended victims had retired within the cave 
 and v/ere, probably, by this time, reposing in unsuspecting 
 slumbers, the}^ now congratulated themselves on a certain and 
 easy conquest, and, with freshened impulse, once more began 
 to move briskly forward; when the loud whoo! whoo! — 
 whoo! whoo! of the "dismal bird of night," or of something 
 strikingly resembling it in note, proceeding from some point 
 above, came pealing through the darkness, with fearful dis- 
 tinctness, to the ears of the company. All gave an involun- 
 tary start. Even the stout-hearted Munroe, for the instant, 
 could scarcely avoid quaking at the strangely dismal notes that 
 thus broke from utter stillness so unexpectedly upon them. 
 The next moment, however, as the consciousness of the insig- 
 nificant cause of their affright came over them, a half-stifled 
 giggling ran through the company; while their leader utter- 
 ing a dry "umph! scared at a damned owl!" motioned Sher- 
 wood to proceed. ' But the latter, more accustomed to the 
 notes of the supposed animal, and thinking he detected some- 
 thing not quite natural in the sounds they had just heard, 
 became secretly impressed with the fears of an ambush, and, 
 without imj^arting his suspicions, he hastily pointed out to 
 the sheriff the mouth of the cave, whose dim outlines had 
 now become discernible, and instantly returning to the rear, 
 quickly retreated over the hill. AVith a few muttered expres- 
 sions of contempt at the flight of the wary and timid guide, 
 Munroe once more set forward with the determined motions 
 of one who is resolved not again to be interrupted by any 
 slight causes. And being now promptly followed by his men, 
 he soon, and without further obstacle, arrived at the mouth of 
 the cave, and, bringing up his forces, immediately surround- 
 
22 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ed it. Here they all paused, standing motionless and silent, 
 listening long and intensely. Everything within and around 
 wasas still as if no living being v/as within a mile of the place. 
 
 ''Hallo!" at length sharply uttered the sheriff, after wait- 
 ing till he began to doubt whether his anticipated captives 
 had escaped, or were all snugly asleep in the cave, '4iallo! 
 within there!" 
 
 ^'Hallo, without there!" was the ready reply from the cav- 
 ern. 
 
 ^'Ha! ye rebel dogs!" exultingly exclaimed Munroe; '^you 
 are there, are ye? We have kenneled ye at last, then, j^ow 
 hear me — I command ye to surrender yourselves to the king's 
 warrant, every scoundrel of ye — but first of all, Charles War- 
 rington — do you hear the summons?" 
 
 "We hear the summons, and well comj^rehend its import," 
 coolly replied the voice from the cave, which was' evidently 
 that of the person especiall}^ named by the sheriff; "but touch- 
 ing your last demand, mine ancient friend — for in joiix voice 
 I think I recognize the person with whom I once exchanged 
 civilities in the southern part of our favored settlement — 
 touching your last demand, I beg leave to observe, that being 
 somewhat personally interested myself in the decision to be 
 made in regard to the requirement, I would respectfully refer 
 you to my friends here, who will doubtless give you such an- 
 swer as their unbiased judgments shall dictate." 
 
 "'Do you think to dally with me, scoundrel ?" stormed Mun- 
 roe, nettled at the provoking coolness of his antagonist, and 
 especially, at his ironical allusion to a personal chastisement 
 received from his hands the year before; "such attempts will 
 but little avail you'll find. JSTor will it be of the least use, 
 let me tell you all, to think of contending against our num- 
 bers: and the longer joii hold out the worse it shall be for 
 ye. So yield yourselves instantly, or, so help me Beelzebub, 
 every dog of you shall swing for it." 
 
 "Assertions," observed Selden, who being Warrington's 
 only companion in the cave, now took up the discourse on the 
 hint of his superior; "assertions, sir sheriff, sometimes, un- 
 fortunately, are more easily made than proved. You may not 
 find us, perhaps, so entirely unprepared for your visit as you 
 have expected, notwithstanding our warder thought fit, in 
 his owl-like wisdom, to be somewhat tardy in announcing 
 your approach. It may not be prudent in us, however, to 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 23 
 
 speak wholly without reserve in this matter, as we know not 
 how much aid your honor may expect from the friend you 
 last invoked." 
 
 The intimations which they gathered from these replies, to- 
 gether vvdth the jeering calmness attending them, which 
 seemed to imply a sense of security in the assailed from re- 
 sources unknown to the assailants, considerably dampened 
 the ardor of the sheriff and his hand; and they began to sus- 
 pect that their triumphs might not prove so cheaply won as 
 they had anticipated. The men, indeed, now began to show 
 symptoms of fear and uneasiness at standing longer before 
 the mouth of the cave, from which, for aught they could see 
 or know, a dozen loaded rifles might be pointed against them; 
 and their leader shouted loudly to the man left in the rear, 
 directing him to come on with lights, and declaring at the 
 same time with a tremendous oath, that if the stubborn ras- 
 cals didn't instantly yield, he would send a volley of balls 
 in among them, and if that failed, he would smoke them out 
 like so many burroughed foxes. He was not allowed, how- 
 ever, much time to attempt the fulfillment of his menaces; 
 for the Green Mountain Boys, two of whom onlj^, as before 
 mentioned, were in the cave, the rest being stationed in the 
 nearest surrounding coverts, now deemed it time to begin 
 their plan of operations. Suddenly a fearful screech, some- 
 thing between that of a man and a wild brute, issuing from 
 the thicket above the cave, resounded through the forest, 
 sending its startling thrill to the very hearts of the appalled 
 and astonished assailants. All eyes were involuntarily turned 
 upwards to the spot from which these terrific sounds seemed 
 to proceed. 
 
 ''A catamount! a catamount !'' wildly shouted several of] 
 the party. 
 
 "Where? where?" eagerly exclaimed others. 
 
 "There! up there in the fork of that tree!" hurriedly re- 
 plied the former, pointing to the top of a leaning tree that 
 projected nearly over the mouth of the cave, in a broad fork 
 of which the outlines of a dark body, as of some large ani- 
 mal crouching for a leap upon his pre}', with great fiery 
 eye-balls glaring down upon them, v/as sufficiently discerni- 
 ble to justify their alarm. 
 
 "He moves!" cried one, "hark! hear him fixing his claws 
 
24 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 in the bark!' There^ he stirs again! look out! he's going to 
 leap down upon us — fire! quick^ all hands, fire!" 
 
 '"Hold! hold!" shouted Munroe, the suspicion of a trick 
 now for the first time flashing across his mind. But the com- 
 mand came too late; for while the words were in his mouth, 
 every gun and pistol in the party except his own, were dis- 
 charged at the object of their terror, which was seen, in the 
 expiring flash, to bound out from the tree directly over the 
 place where they stood; and all, in their eagerness to avoid I 
 the clutches of the leaping animal, well known to be terrible 
 when wounded, even if in the last agonies of death, broke 
 away, and fled in confusion from the spot, wholly unmindful 
 of their duty in guarding the mouth of the cave, and every- 
 thing else, but their own saf et}^, in the general panic that had 
 seized them. A momentary pause followed the explosion of 
 the fire-arms, in which nothing was heard save the hasty 
 scrambling of the terrified Yorkers in their eager efforts to 
 escape. In an instant, however, a rushing from other quar- 
 ters v/as heard — dark forms were seen sw^iftly gliding from 
 the cave and the thickets above, in the direction of the re- 
 treating party, among whom, in a moment more, a cry of dis- 
 may rose wildly on the air. Munroe and three of his men were 
 suddenly seized round their waists or legs, from behind, by 
 the iron grasp of grappling arms, and, being lifted from the 
 ground, were upborne with resistless force and rapidity toward 
 the shore of the lake; all of them but their leader verily be- 
 lieving, in the fright and confusion of the moment, that it 
 was the catamount, whose fearful image was still uppermost 
 in their minds, that had seized them and was bearing them 
 ofi in his grasp. 
 
 "Help! help here! He has got me! for God's sake help 
 me!" screamed one in an agony of terror. 
 
 "Murder!" exclaimed another; Oh! get him off — ^get him J 
 off! murder! murder!" " 
 
 "Oh! aw!" cried the third in a yell of despair; "he has got 
 his claws in my throat — he'll kill me — he will! he will! j^ah! 
 yah!" 
 
 ^funroe alone, of all the thus oddly captured party was 
 mute. Rightly judging the character of the foe into whose 
 lianrls he had fallen, and boiliiig with silent rage he made the 
 most desperate struggles to free himself from the vise-like 
 grasp of his captor, who, he at once concluded from his great 
 
I'HE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 25 
 
 strength, the eft'ects of which he had before experienced, 
 could be no other than Yv'arrington. But wholly failing in 
 this attempt, and finding himself still carried rapidly on- 
 ward, he knew not to what destination, he next tried to dis- 
 engage his dirk from its sheath, in which it was confined be- 
 neath the grappling arm of his opponent. Before succeed- 
 ing in this, ho^vever, and while intent only on his murderous 
 design, he was borne by his intended victim to the margin 
 of the water, and, with a giant effort, hurled headlong over 
 the bank. The loud splashing that succeeded, told that he 
 was now struggling in the embrace of a different, though not 
 a much more comfortable antagonist; while three more heavy 
 plunges, following in irregular succession along the bank, 
 still further announced that the vanquished sherifi' was not 
 without the company of a good share of his friends to con- 
 sole him in the discomforts of the new element, into which 
 they all had been so suddenly and unexpectedly translated. 
 The shrill notes of Warrington's signal whistle nov/ sounded 
 the preconcerted retreat. In a moment more the victorious 
 party w^ere assembled at the appointed landing — in another, 
 they were embarked; while their boat, by the strong push of 
 the last man springing in, was sent, by the single impulse, so 
 far into the lake as to put a safe distance between them and 
 their foes, now beginning to rally, with cries of rage, on the 
 shore. An uncontrollable peal of laughter, ending in three 
 loud and lively cheers, now burst from the Green Mountain 
 Boys, rending the welkin above, and startling the deep re- 
 cesses of the surrounding forests with the triumphant shout. 
 
 '^The battle being over," observed Warrington, after the 
 noise of their merriment and exultation had measurably sub- 
 sided; "let us now turn our attention to the wounded and 
 missing." 
 
 "All whole of skin, I imagine," said Selden, "though here 
 is one. Smith, I believe it is, who comes from the fight, as near 
 as I can discover, like the Benjaminite of the Scripture, just 
 escaped from the Philistines, with head bare and garments 
 rent.'' 
 
 "I must leave my old otter-skin cap in their hands, I 
 s'pose," coolly replied Smith; "I had to take it to finish off 
 the catamount's head with; for I couldn't fix the fox-fire 
 for the eyes into the end of that bundle of dr}^ grass, that I 
 made the body of, so as to look anyhow natural without it, 
 
26 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 and ^vlien I pushed the thing out of the crotch, as I stood 
 behind the tree with my pole, I gave it such a hoist over into 
 the bushes among the scared devils, that ^twas out of the 
 question to think of looking for the cap, and grabbing one 
 of the scamps, too. But as to my coat being tore here a little, 
 I don't valley it a fraction, seeing as how the ragamufhn I 
 hove into the lake got pretty well choked to pay for it." 
 
 "Ah, you have done well. Smith," said the leader; "all of 
 you, indeed, have done nobly; but of that hereafter — one of 
 our number I believe is missing — which is it?" 
 
 "It is Pete Jones," replied Brown. 
 
 "And the Indian chap," added Smith. 
 
 "The Indian," resumed AYarrington, "after announcing 
 the enemy for us b}^ his admirable imitation of the owl, de- 
 parted by himself, I presume. As near as I could gather from 
 him, he did not wish to be known as acting against the York- 
 ers. He probably lives with some family in the vicinity, who 
 are trying to stand neutral in this warfare, and who have cau- 
 tioned him to govern himself accordingly. His absence, 
 therefore, does not surprise me. But what can have become 
 of Jones. He surely, is not a fellow to be easily ensnared, or 
 overpow^ered." 
 
 "I rather suspect," replied Brown, he is after that traitor. 
 As, when the Yorkers were creeping on toward the cave, he 
 whispered to me he thought he saw a fellow pointing out the 
 place, and slipping back over the hill, who, he guessed, was 
 the one — and the last I saw of Pete he was working off that 
 way. Suppose, Captain, that we row along, so as to stand 
 olf the shore, in that direction, to be ready to take him in, 
 should he give the word?" 
 
 In pursuance of this prudent suggestion, the boat was im- 
 mediately headed round to the north, and rowed noiselessly 
 along the shore in the direction supposed to be taken by their 
 ]inssing companion. They had made but little progress, how- 
 ever, before they were startled by the sudden flash and sharp 
 report of a pistol, in a thicket near the shore, about a furlong 
 ahead. 
 
 "There goes trouble for poor Jones, I fear — the dastard 
 has attempted his life!" cried Warrington, in the varying 
 tones of fear for the result, and indignation for the attempt; 
 "but if help be of any further use to him, he shall have it. So, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 27 
 
 men^ pull for it! pull for the spot with every nerve you have 
 got, or the Yorkers will be there before us." 
 
 In an instant the canoe, almost leaping from its element at 
 every stroke of the excited and strong-armed oarsmen, was 
 surging through the waters, with bird-like velocity, towards 
 the place. As Warrington had predicted, the enemy on 
 shore, on hearing the report of the pistol, immediately started 
 for this new scene of action. And, quickly perceiving their 
 opponents on the lake making rapidly for the spot, they re- 
 doubled their speed, and rushed on as fast as the obstacles 
 of the woods, and the wet clothes and benumbed limbs of 
 those who had been ducked, would permit, to arrive in time 
 to assist, or rescue, as the case might require, their absent 
 guide, whom they readily concluded to be an actor in the 
 fracas, and revenge themselves, if possible, on the whole band 
 of their foes, for the sad discomfiture Just experienced. The 
 race between the two contending parties was a close one. The 
 Green Mountain Boys, however, were again in fortune. Their 
 boat came whirling up to the shore, adjoining the scene of 
 action, while the foremost of the enemy was yet fifty yards 
 distant. 
 
 ''You may kick till all is blue,'^ muttered Jones, whose tall 
 form came at that instant peering from the thicket, while 
 with irregular motions he made toward the boat, bearing 
 bolt upright in his arms before him his grappled foe, who was 
 struggling with terrible violence, and kicking desperately 
 against every tree within reach of his feet, with the hope of 
 retarding the progress'of his captor till succor arrived; "you 
 may kick, and be hanged! but you have jest got to go, my 
 sweet lad, and into a little better company, too, than you 
 hoped for, I guess. N'o help for it — so in with you — there! — 
 now make yourself comfortable, friend," concluded the woods- 
 man, ]3itching his captive headlong into the boat, and leaping 
 in himself, just in time to escape the pursuers, now close at 
 his heels. 
 
 "Escaped again, by .the pains of tophet!" exclaimed the 
 enraged Munroe from the bank, as the boat, previously headed 
 round, shot out into the lake beyond the reach of the twice 
 baffled Yorkers; "fire! fire! upon the damned rascals!" 
 
 The command was scarcely uttered, before Jones, having 
 as quick as thought again grappled his captive, and faced 
 roun4 toward the shore, was holding the deprecating victim 
 
28 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 before liim in the stern^ so as to cover the range of the ex- 
 pected volley. 
 
 "Let drive there!'' exclaimed Pete, with the utmost non- 
 chalance, "yon needn't feel any delicacy, gentlemen, for I'll 
 agree to take all the bnllets you'll send through this beauti- 
 ful target I'm holding for you." 
 
 "Don't fire! for God's sake don't let 'em fire, Munroe!" 
 screamed the struggling and terrified prisoner. 
 
 "You need not be much alarmed, I think, fellow," said 
 Warrington; "the sheriff's pistols must be rather too wet to 
 be very dangerous, and as to the arms of the rest, which were 
 all discharged at the catamount, we shall have but little to fear 
 from them by the time they can be loaded." 
 
 "I mistrusted as much, myself," observed Jones, releasing 
 the prisoner; "but I thought I would scare the fellow a lit- 
 tle, for his scurvy treatment to me." 
 
 "The pistol we heard, then, was meant, as v\' e suspected, for 
 you?" asked the leader. 
 
 "0, yes," replied the other, carelessly; "to be sure he 
 showed the best good will in the world to make a hole in me; 
 but I shouldn't have laid that up much, seeing he missed his 
 aim, which is a sort of punishment in itself, you know, if he 
 hadn't afterward offered me money to let him go, and keep 
 his name and all close — why, I never was so insulted in mv 
 life!" 
 
 "Plis name? who is it? what is his name?" eagerly asked 
 several of the company. 
 
 "Mayhap you from dov/n south never heard of him, and 
 don't know him, but I did, the moment I saw his face as he 
 passed the fellow bringing the torch-light. His name is Sher- 
 wood, living down in New Haven, and he is jest one of the 
 smoothest fellows that ever wore two faces in a da}^ asking 
 his pardon." 
 
 "Sherwood — Sherwood," said Warrington, musingly; "aha! 
 I now remember to have heard of his having been at Benning- 
 ton, and also of his having made some suspicious visits to 
 Albany. But we will examine his merits more particularly, 
 when we reach the opposite shore." 
 
 "See how wistful those fellows are looking after us!" ob- 
 served Jones, pointing back to the shore, now about fifty rods 
 distant, where the Yorkers, having procured a light, were 
 still standing in a dark grouj)^ evidently trying to trace the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 29 
 
 course of the receding boat; ''I swan! if I Avas only bloody 
 minded enough^ how I would like to take a shot into that 
 flock of York buzzards!" 
 
 ^'Hold up a little, oarsmen,'' said the leader; "and w^e will 
 give them a kinder compliment than that, before entirely 
 parting. So good-night, Mr. Munroe/^ he continued, rising 
 in the boat, and raising his loud clear voice to a pitch, which 
 in the dead stillness of night, might have been distinctly au- 
 dible to a far greater distance; "good-night! my old friend — 
 I hope for the pleasure of many such meetings and partings 
 before we die — pleasant dreams and a good-night to you!" 
 
 "Good-night, sir sheriff,'^ added Selden, in the same strain 
 of mock courtes}^; "we humbly trust you will duly appreci- 
 ate our late reception of yourself and fellows in imitation 
 of the much lauded oriental custom of regaling friends v.dth 
 the luxury of the cool bath, which, together with the honor 
 done you of being carried, like other immortal heroes, on the 
 shoulders of men, will make out an entertainment, we flatter 
 ourselves, not v/holly unworthy of our guests — good-night!'^ 
 
 "Hallo there, sheriff!" cried Jones, determined to have a 
 parting shot as well as the rest; "hallo, sheriff, won't you jest 
 be kind enough to tell us by way of information, before we 
 go, what kind of a return you calculate to make on that war- 
 rant you told us about. We should like grandly to see it 
 when you have got it fixed. That ^tother poor bothered sher- 
 iff's non comeatibusin siuampo, I guess, would be a fool to it." 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 "Ah, me! what perils do environ 
 The roran that meddles v/ith cold iron — 
 What plagii3^ mischiefs and mishaps 
 Do dog him still with afterclaps." 
 
 Sherwood, the person we introduced in the last chapter, 
 and left a prisoner in the hands of the Green Mountain Boys, 
 a fair candidate for the honor of the Beech-seal, or some other 
 of the novel and ingenious modes of punishment, which the 
 settlers were accustomed to inflict on their foes with equal 
 
30 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 promptitude, whether they were foreign or domestic, was a 
 resident of New Haven, in the vicinity of the lower falls of 
 Otter Creek, then embraced within the limits of that town, 
 but now forming the site of Yergennes, the only incorporated 
 city of Vermont. He had here located himself, ostensibly 
 to become a permanent settler — to vshare the fortunes and 
 identify himself with the interests of the IsTew Hampshire 
 grantees; while in fact, he was a secret agent of a company 
 of New York land-jobbers, in their pay, and himself engaged, 
 at the same time, in speculating in the patents issued by the 
 governor of the last named province. Through the influence 
 of his father, a man of reputed wealth, living near Albany, 
 he had been taken into the employment of this company. 
 
 And they, soon finding him a person well fitted for their 
 purposes, induced him, by opening to his avaricious mind the 
 prospect of making a fortune out of the New Hampshire 
 Grants, in addition to the stated salary to be allowed him, to 
 take a secret agency, and locate himself in some part of the 
 settlement where- he would most eff ectualty subserve their in- 
 terests. In pursuance of this object it had been agreed that 
 he should first proceed to New Hampshire, and, taking out a 
 patent from that source, should enter Vermont known only 
 as a grantee of that province, in order that he might thus be 
 effectually secured from the hostility of the settlers, and en- 
 abled to maintain with them a free and unsuspected inter- 
 course, which, at the present juncture, could alone insure 
 him any success or safety. This had been accordingly done 
 something more than a year previous to the events of our 
 tale. A single lot of land had been purchased and located 
 by him near the Otter, in the manner agreed on by the com- 
 pany. And so speciously had this wily agent conducted, be- 
 ginning and carrying on improvements just sufficient to save 
 appearances, while mainly pursuing the objects of his resi- 
 dence in the settlement, that till now he had passed wholly 
 unsuspected of being in the York interest, except in the slight 
 question that had been raised concerning his true character, 
 on account of his having been recognized by some settlers 
 from the south part of the Grants, as before intimated, while 
 on one of his secret journeys to Albany. With these remarks, 
 which will apprize the reader with all that may at present be 
 necessary to be laiown respecting the previous character and 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 31 
 
 employment of this personage^ we will return to the thread of 
 onr narrative. 
 
 Brightly rose the waning moon over the eastern mountains, 
 which cast their broad, wood-fringed shadows far into the 
 lake, while a flood of silvery light, falling on the sleeping 
 waters and towering forest beyond, was gradually unfolding 
 the bold and magnificent outlines of this wilderness land- 
 scape, as our victorious band of Grreen Mountain Boys merrily 
 sped their way to the western shore. 
 
 "What a glorious spectacle!" exclaimed Selden, looking 
 abroad, over the scene, as the boat emerged from the dark 
 gloomy line of the mountain shadows into the bright and 
 cheerful tract of illumined waters, that now met them on 
 their course. 
 
 "Splendid? splendid, indeed!" responded Warrington, 
 with equal enthusiasmi; "such scenes, one would think, were 
 enough to enamor the whole world of a sylvan life." 
 
 "And yet," observed Selden, "those city smoked exquisites, 
 who claim all the taste and refinement of the country, are 
 horrified at the thought of the life we here lead in the Green 
 Mountains." 
 
 "I don't think the creturs are so much to be blamed for 
 that," said Pete Jones; "for bringing them here I calculate 
 would be putting them pretty nearly in the plight of frogs 
 that are dug from the bottom of a well — always sure to shiyer 
 and die the minute they are brought to the pure air." 
 
 "If all this be so," rejoined Warrington, significantly glanc- 
 ing at the dress and comparatively delicate appearance of 
 the prisoner; "I hope that such of this class, as are connect- 
 ed with a certain city to the west of us, will be less inclined, 
 to favor our settlement with their presence hereafter. Let 
 them stick to their modie of life and its luxuries, and we will 
 to our mountains. But I am reminded. Lieutenant," he con- 
 tinued, turning gayiy to Selden, "of the possibility of our 
 being favored with something on this subject in a more agree- 
 able form, if I rightly divined the nature of your employ- 
 ment, and the theme that occupied j^our mind there at the 
 fire before the cave last evening;, after the rest of us had re- 
 tired to our stone couches for the night. Can you oblige us 
 with the fruits of your vigil, in the shape of a song?" 
 
 "O, yes, such as it is — that is, if my music will not jar 
 upon the feelings of our friend in durance here, and you are 
 
S2 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 all willing to risk the same effect on yourselves/' jocosely re- 
 l^lied the other, as he pulled from his pocket a small roll of 
 white birch bark (the soft, smooth inner surface of which he 
 had made, as was in those times not unfrequently the case, 
 his papyrus in noting down his hasty effusion), and turning 
 to the moonlight, commenced: 
 
 In the courts of high life, and in Fashion's domain. 
 Where Folly is licensed by birth-right to reign, 
 Let the gay idle throng, in their old reckless measure, 
 Their phantoms still follow, and christen them Pleasure. 
 
 But we, who disdain not to follow the plough. 
 And our livelihood gain by the sweat of the brow — 
 What have we here to do Y\^ith the fashions of cities? 
 Their levees, theatrics, and opera ditties? 
 
 What to do with the trappings around them display'd? 
 Their half dress, their full dress, their dress promenade — 
 Their turtie-scup dinners, their port and champagne. 
 And knick-knacks unnumbered that foUov/ in train? 
 
 All these we will leave, and without one regret, 
 To the poor pamper'd wights of that butterfly set, 
 And turn to our dainties, the fruits of our mountains. 
 Our wines sparkling up in their health-giving fountains. 
 
 And wear with just pride, as forever we ought. 
 Our woolens and checks by our fire-sides wrought. 
 While we scout from our country those exquisite goats 
 Who measure their worth by the cloth of their coats. 
 
 As the clear, melodious voice of the singer, floating free 
 and wide over the hushed waters of the lake, died away in the 
 distance, and, while the shouts of applause, which greeted 
 him at the close of his performance (intended, as was sup- 
 posed, to hit off the York gentr}^, and the last couplet to apply 
 to the prisoner in particular) were yet echoing around, the 
 boat of the elated (ireen Mountain Bo3's reached its destined 
 landing. And immediately disembarking with their prisoner, 
 they proceeded to a rude, bark-covered shantee, built by for- 
 mer visitors to the lake, and standing amidst a group of large 
 evergreens a few rods from the vv^ater. There, after striking 
 a light and kindling up a cheerful fire, th'ey promptly set 
 about the business of deciding upon the case of the supposed 
 traitor. For this purpose they formally resolved themselves, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 33 
 
 as was usual in such cases where a resort could not readily 
 be had to a committee of safety, into a sort of tribunal, very 
 nearly resembling, we suppose, a modern Lynch court, a 
 form of dispensing justice which, if ever justifiable, v/as un- 
 doubtedly so in the acts of our early settlers in resisting that 
 system of legalized plunder attempted to be enforced on 
 them by their oppressors. And if the right of defending their 
 homes and possessions from unwarrantable seizures be con- 
 ceded them, it was certainly not only justifiable but honor- 
 able in them to resort, as they did, to such measures as they 
 judged most effectual in shielding from arrest and threat- 
 ened punishment those of their fellow settlers, who, by their 
 l^atriotism in the common cause, had rendered themselves 
 obnoxious to the arbitrary enactments of the usurping gov- 
 ernment. For soon after the settlers had begun openly to 
 resist the authorities of New York in attempting to dispos- 
 sess them, a law, more despotic perhaps than any to be found 
 in the annals of legislation, had been enacted by the Assem- 
 bly of that province requiring some six or eight of the settlers, 
 who had been most conspicuous in the controversy, to sur- 
 render themselves, on the order of the executive, within sev- 
 enty days, to a magistrate for imprisonment, and, in case of 
 neglect, to be adjudged convicted, and, without hearing or 
 trial, condemned to suffer death. And not delivering them- 
 selves up, as might well be expected, the governor issued his 
 proclamation proscribing them as felons, and offering large 
 rewards for their apprehension, which, while it led to many 
 secretly laid plots,, and several open though fruitless attempts 
 to seize them by the Yorkers, in concert with a few traitorous 
 settlers, served onl}^ to endear them to an indignant and 
 aroused people, who publicly resolved to protect at every 
 hazard their proscribed leaders, and at the same time prepare 
 to defend the general interest of the settlement even at the 
 price of their lives. Of this goodly company of outlaws, em- 
 bracing some of the first and most talented men of the Grants, 
 two, as before intimated, were among the band whom we have 
 introduced to the reader, and to v,^hom we will nov/ return. 
 
 Pete Jones, the principal witness in the case now to be de- 
 cided, being called on for his testimony, related at large and 
 in his own vein of peculiar drollery, what he knew of the 
 previous life and character of the prisoner, who, it appeared, 
 had been frequently absent from home^, though his excur- 
 I 
 
34 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 sions were generally undertaken under the professed charac- 
 ter of a sportsman, for the emplo3'ments of which he pre- 
 tended a great liking, but for what reason nobod}^ conld 
 imagine, as it never could be ascertained that he was ever 
 successful. It also appeared that he had been loud in his de- 
 nunciations against the Yorkers, and, as far as words could 
 go, a great stickler for the rights of the settlers. The witness 
 then related all the particulars of his detecting and cap- 
 turing the prisoner. After this the accused was requested to 
 make his defense, when, to the surprise of all, he wholly de- 
 nied any hostile intention, or any willing participation in 
 the recent attempt of Munroe to surprise and seize the present 
 party at the cave, deliberately stating that while hunting in 
 the woods near the Greek that afternoon, he was met, made 
 prisoner by the Yorkers, and compelled to accompany them 
 on their expedition, the object of which they did not reveal 
 to him. And in confirmation of the truth of his statements, 
 and of his asserted innocence, he cited the general character 
 he had always sustained as a friend of the settlers. 
 
 "Do you generally manifest your friendship for the settlers 
 by firing pistols at their heads, sir?'^ asked Warrington, cast- 
 ing a look of withering contempt on the prisoner. 
 
 "0, I was trying to escape," replied Sherwood, who had his 
 ready answer to a question he had anticipated; "I was on the 
 point of escaping, and discharged my pistol at this man, who 
 beset me, to prevent being retaken, supposing him all the 
 while to be one of the Yorkers." 
 
 '^'Whew" uttered Jones, with a whistle, prolonged into an 
 exclamation; "'now, honestly, friend, I must crave leave to 
 tell you — but that wouldn't be manners, and so I won't — 
 though I should really like to ask you if there was any one 
 Yorker there to-night that a fellow of my short stature — 
 only six foot eleven, in shirt flaps — could be taken for with 
 any sort of conscience?" 
 
 "Yes, in the dark." 
 
 "But you may remember, possibly friend, that you had to 
 raise your pistol considerably higher than your head to ge1> 
 aim at mine, which you seemed to fancy shooting at in pref- 
 erence. Besides that, we took v/hat I call a fair measure of 
 lengths on the ground in the bit of grapple we had afterwards 
 — now most folks that I am acquainted with can feel in the 
 tlark, if they can't see/^ 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 35 
 
 "0, I was so confuised and frightened, that I noticed none 
 of these circumstances, but really supposed it was one of the 
 Yorkers till you iiad got with me nearly to the boat.*^ 
 
 •'•'Well, now/' exclaimed Pete, dropping his head in an af- 
 fected chagrin; ''I vow to Jeremiah, I never felt so mortified 
 in my life! To be taken for a Yorker I only think of that!" 
 
 "A sad mistake, truly," observed Selden, addressing ii'- 
 companions while in a side glance he kept an eye keenly 
 fixed on the prisoner; "but still it vras scarcely a more singu- 
 lar one than I made as we struck a light Just now, when, turn- 
 ing to look at this man, I could have sworn he was the identi- 
 cal fellow we detected skulking about the shore yesterday — 
 the make, motion, and dress of the two being so very simi- 
 lar." 
 
 "That's false !'^ hastily exclaimed Sherwood, completely 
 thrown off his guard by the round about vv^ay, and designedly 
 incorrect statement of the other, made for the purpose of 
 seeing its effect on the prisoner; "that^s false for this was 
 not the dress I wore yest — " and he stopped short in ^dsible 
 confusion at the thought of the admission he was inadvertent- 
 ly making; while meaning and triumphant glances were ex- 
 changed among the company. Soon recovering in some de- 
 gree his self-possession, however, and seeing how he had been 
 entrapped, he attempted to mend the matter by explaining 
 that he was about to say that this was not the dress he wore 
 yesterday, even had he been here, instead of a dozen miles off, 
 as he was, and could prove, as well as his innocence of all the 
 charges brought against him, if time were but allowed him 
 for the purpose. And this, or his acquittal, he continued 
 for some time to demand, becoming, however, every moment 
 less assured in his tone, and more abject in his manner, as he 
 stealthily glanced round, and read his doom in the counte- 
 nances of his judges. 
 
 "Well, gentlemen," said the leader, breaking the brief in- 
 terval of silence, which followed the last somewhat broken 
 and confused remarks of the accused; "you have heard the 
 evidence against the prisoner, as well as his defense and avow- 
 als of innocence. Will you offer your individual opinions 
 on the question of his guilt? And we will first hear what 
 you may have to offer on the subject, Mr. Jones?" 
 
 "Why, I don't knov/ exactly about the chap, Captain," said 
 the latter, with a mischievous cocking of one eye, while 
 
36 TME3 GRBBN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 gcrewing up liis mouth nearly to his ear on the opposite side 
 of his face; "he says he is innocent of the traitor, and it is a 
 poor story if he don't know. But I have two other charges 
 against him, which I consider rather gravus. Firstly, accord- 
 ing to his own stor}^, he suffered himself, with that clean pair 
 of legs of his, and the woods open for a run, if he chose that, 
 or with guns and pistols if he chose to stand and tight — (row 
 vrhile I think onH", I wonder what become of his gun) — he suf- 
 fered himself, I say, to be taken hy the Yorkers in a waj,^ and 
 manner which is a burning shame to a Green Mountain Boy, 
 if so be he is one, as he pretends. And secondly he missed his 
 aim when he leveled at my head, for which a professed hun- 
 ter like himself ought to be ridiculous. So I think, consider- 
 ing, I shall vote to have him vievv^cd."* 
 
 "And you. Smith, what is your verdict?" 
 
 "My opinion is," answered the man now addressed, ''that 
 the fellow's plausible palaver is all nothing but a made up 
 mess to bamboozle us with — I should like to knov/ how the 
 Yorkers knew that we were here on the lake, or how they 
 happened to find the cave without his help. The fact is, he 
 brought them here to seize us, and was probably calculating 
 to see some of us swinging on a York gallows v/ithin a week. 
 My verdict, therefore, will be pretty much such a one as the 
 king gave Haman." 
 
 '^And what say you. Brown?" 
 
 "Guilty! guilty as a dog, and the liar knoAvs it." 
 
 "And, lastly, your opinion, Mr. Selden?" 
 
 "Briefly told — that the fellow's guilt is equaled only by 
 his effrontery, and yet, as this is his first known offense, I 
 would recommend a milder punishment than the one which 
 has been hinted at." 
 
 "We are unanimous, then, in a verdict, gentlemen," ob- 
 served the chief, "if I understand vour various modes of ex- 
 pressing your opinions. And it remains only to determine in 
 what m.anner the prisoner shall be punished for his offense. 
 You are all, including the prisoner himself, I presume, well 
 aware that, by a decree of our Convention, the only source of 
 law we feel ourselves bound to regard in cases of this kind, 
 the crime of aiding the enemy to arrest one of our citizens, 
 
 *A cant phrase among the settlers, signifying the punishment ol 
 offenders. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 37 
 
 who may have happened to fall under the ban of that despotic 
 edict by which they would terrify us into submission, is made 
 punishable with death. If this were to be inflicted, however, 
 on the prisoner, I should be inclined to grant him a more for- 
 mal trial, before a regularly appointed committee of safety, 
 and allow him time for his defense, as he requests — not that 
 I have the least doubt of his guilt, for I believe him to be 
 the most precious compound of duplicity and villainy that I 
 have seen in the settlement, but I would grant it on the prin- 
 ciple of allowing every man the best means to establish his in- 
 nocence when his life is at stake. Yet, concurring with Mr. 
 Selden, I think we had better adopt one of the ordinary 
 modes of punishment, for which the evidence is abundantly 
 sufficient, administer it on the spot, and dismiss him with the 
 admonition it will give. Yfhat this punishment shall be, I 
 will leave to you to designate.^' 
 
 "I should like to have the title of my farm confirmed,'' said 
 Smith, "seeing the Yorkers still continue to dispute it, and 
 as the Beech-seal is a sort of legal instrument to do it with, 
 they sa}^, I vote that we apply it." 
 
 "Just the thing for the double-faced scoundrel, if we have 
 got to let him ofi so cheap," bluntly remarked Brown. 
 
 "My title to my head," said Pete Jones, "seems to be rather 
 questioned, and as it is an article that would be dreadful in- 
 convenient for me to do without, I motion that it be con- 
 firmed too." 
 
 "So be it, then," observed Selden; "I had, it is true, thought 
 of a ducking, that lie might be enabled to sympathize with his 
 friends over the lake — I also had thought of taking him up 
 into the top of one of those trees, and leaving him bound there 
 for the night; but neither of these punishments, probably, 
 would so nearly come up to the fellow's merits as the beechen 
 remedy. I will therefore agree to its application." 
 
 The prisoner's doom being thus unanimously settled, prep- 
 arations were immediately commenced for carrying the sen- 
 tence into effect. This was understood to be, in the quaint 
 phrase of the times, "a chastisement with the twigs of the 
 wilderness," or the usual number of stripes, forty, save one, 
 faithfully applied to the back of the offender v/ith a green 
 beech rod, termed, as before mentioned, the Beech-seal. Sev- 
 eral rods, or shoots of that thus oddly consecrated tree, were ac- 
 cordingly selected, ciit, and carefully trimmed for the purpose. 
 
38 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 The prisoner was tlieiij in despite of Ms alternate threats, and 
 promises of good behavior in future, stripped of his coat, and 
 firmly bound to the body of a large hemlock, with his face 
 turned to the tree. Everything being now in readiness for 
 the execution of the sentence, the question arose who should 
 be the executioner. For this honor two rival candidates now 
 presented themselves — Brown and Pete Jones — the former 
 claiming it on the ground that no one of the present company 
 had received injuries that so loudly demanded a personal 
 reciprocation as his own, and the latter, with the greatest ap- 
 parent gravity, contending that it was his peculiar right to do 
 the duty of punishing the fellow for the unpardonable crime of 
 missing his aim, since the shot was intended for his own 
 benefit. 
 
 The altercation, however, was settled by the interposition 
 of their leader, who good naturedly awarded a division of the 
 honors between them, directing that the first tvv^enty stripes 
 should be given by J-ones, while Brown should be allowed the 
 privilege of completing the task. 
 
 In accordance with this arrangement, the tall woodsman 
 now seized a rod of his own preparing, of dimensions fearfully 
 portentious to the back of the trembling culprit, and giving 
 it a furious flourish in the air, he commenced, with a look of 
 terrible fierceness, the performance of his allotted task. But 
 malice and revenge formed no part of the character of this 
 jolly and good natured borderer. The manner in which the 
 blows were given, and the comparatively slight effect they 
 produced on their victim, made it very evident, that, not- 
 withstanding all his assumed wrath and fury of countenance 
 and manner, his humanity, combined with a natural love of 
 sport, which had doubtless led him to solicit the office, was 
 about to govern him in its execution. 
 
 "Well, here is my respects to you, friend," he said, com- 
 mencing, and keeping up a sort of loose, irregular discourse, 
 and counting the blows in a parenthetical tone, as with mighty 
 grins and flourishes, he proceeded to apply the typical beech; 
 "there is my respects to you (one), miss your aim again, you 
 lubber, eh? (two) I told you that you shouldn't disgrace the 
 cloth for nothing (three), and then (four) those kicks (five), 
 I thought at the time (six) that you was lacking against the 
 pricks (seven, eight), so here is two pricks to every kick (eight, 
 nine), scurvy business that of you, friend (nine, ten), that 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 39 
 
 kicking against the trees (eleven, twelve), you didn't consider 
 (seven — no eleven) what a hurry I was in (twelve, thirteen), 
 and then again that offering me money, zounds, sir! (thir- 
 teen, fourteen) I should like (fourteen) to know, sir^ — ^' 
 
 ''There! there!'' hastily exclaimed the prisoner, who had not 
 been so much hurt amidst all this parade of cuts and flourishes 
 as to prevent his taking note of the true number of the 
 stripes which had been administered, and which the mischief - 
 loving woodsman had willfully miscounted; ^'hold — you have 
 already struck twenty — hold! I say." 
 
 "You don't say so ?" replied Jones with affected surprise, as 
 he slowly lowered his uplifted arm; "why I thought I said 
 fourteen — only fourteen last!" 
 
 "I care not if you did, sir," expostulated the prisoner, now 
 bold from the consciousness of having at last a little truth on 
 his side; "you miscounted on purpose to prolong my torture — 
 I appeal to the company — you have gone your twent}^, I tell 
 you, ruffian!" 
 
 "Have! well, friend, just as you say, not as I care." 
 
 So saying, the eccentric, but kind-hearted woodsman hurled 
 his rod into the lake, and bounding oif into the woods, with 
 the pretended object of procuring some better rods for the 
 use of his successor, but, in realit}^, only to avoid the sight and 
 sounds which, from the determined character and exasperated 
 feelings of the man, he rightly anticipated would now follow, 
 disappeared, with a finger thrust into each ear, in a neighbor- 
 ing thicket. 
 
 The flagellation was now resumed. And never was rod 
 more effectually applied to the deserving back of miscreant 
 S^3y or traitor than now by the sinewy arm of Brown, doubly 
 nerved as it was by the keen sense he harbored of the injuries 
 he had already received from the hands of those with whom 
 the present victim of his pent vengeance had been found 
 leagued, to assist in dragging him to a gallows, and thus com- 
 pleting, on his person, the work of destruction which the}^ had 
 before commenced on his property. With a pause at every 
 application of the rod, that no energy should be lost or weak- 
 ened by the exertion, slow and measured fell the tremendous 
 blows from his relentless arm, till he had told out the full num- 
 ber assigned him; while at every lash of the pliant and close 
 hugging instrument of torture, the writhing victim sent forth 
 
40 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS., 
 
 a screech of agony that thrilled through the forest for miles 
 around him. 
 
 This painful task being performed — for painful it was to 
 most of the hand ,while the stern necessity that required it was 
 sincerely regretted hy them all — the prisoner was unbound, 
 and with an earnest but kind admonition from Warrington 
 to profit by the lesson he had received, set at liberty; when, 
 muttering many a bitter execration, and breathing vows of 
 deadliest revenge on his captors, he sullenly departed from the 
 camp, and soon disappeared along the border of the lake in 
 a northern direction. 
 
 CHAPTER lY. 
 
 'That strain again! it liad a dying fall! 
 Oh, it came o'er my ear like the sv/eet south 
 That breathes upon a bank cf violets. 
 Stealing and giving odor." 
 
 After the departure of Sherwood, our band, not deeming 
 it prudent, without precautions which must necessarily de- 
 prive most of them of their rest for the night, to encamp so 
 near an exasperated enemy of double their own numbers, de- 
 termined on an immediate removal from the scene of then* 
 recent exploits. Accordingly they packed up, and without 
 further delay, commenced their march by the beautiful moon- 
 light, v/hich, streaming brightly through the leafless forest, 
 enabled them to pursue their way with as much ease and cer- 
 tainty as by the broadest daylight. Striking off westerly 
 from the lake they directed their course to the nearest part of 
 Otter Creek, where they proposed procuring quarters for the 
 remainder of the night in the log houses of the only two fam- 
 ilies who resided on the Creek in that vicinity. These two 
 houses were situated nearly a mile apart, while the respective 
 openings around tbom were separated by a dense wood of 
 evergreens of about lialf that distance in extent. After pro- 
 ceeding on together awhile, the company separated into two 
 parties, three of them bending their course towards the lo\y- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 41 
 
 est;, or more northerly opening, where they were to remain 
 till joined in the morning by their leader, to conduet them 
 on their enterprise down the Creek; while the latter, with 
 Selden, taking their venison and a goodly portion ot their 
 tront, continned forward directly to the upper clearing. This 
 last was no other than the residence of the fair and spirited 
 friend, whose timely notice had not only ensured their late 
 escape, but enabled them to gain such triumphant advantage 
 over their foes. And it was this friendly and patriotic act 
 vrhicli they were nov/ proceeding to award, not only with 
 suitable acknowledgment, but with the most valuable por- 
 tion of their game — an offering that they supposed would be 
 highly acceptable to one in her situation; for this extraordin- 
 ary woman,* with no other dependence than on her own 
 hands, with the slight assistance rendered her by her boys, 
 the eldest of whom was not a dozen years old, was managing 
 to support herself and her large family of children from the 
 products of a new lot of land which her husband had com- 
 menced clearing when he lost his life by the fall of a tree, 
 and v/hich she now with unexampled fortitude persisted in im- 
 proving, though in the heart of a wilderness infested with wild 
 beasts, and not wholly exempt from the hostile, or at least 
 predatory incursions of the Indians. It was nearly midnight 
 when Warrington and his companion reached the log tene- 
 ment of this fearless daughter of the wilds. Much to their 
 surprise they found the house entirely deserted. Finding the 
 door unfastened, however, they determined on entering to 
 note appearances wd£hin; when it became evident that the 
 desertion had taken place but a few hours before; but wheth- 
 er it was intended for a temporary or final removal they were 
 unable to determine. A bed of coals, yet alive, was raked up 
 on the hearth; while the beds had been taken from the 
 steads, and, with all the most necessary utensils of family 
 use, removed from the house. 
 
 "What means this sudden desertion of the family?" ob- 
 served Warrington, musingly; "and whither can they have 
 fled?" 
 
 *Aii old settler, to whom Mrs. Story and her cave were person- 
 ally known, described her to the author as "a busting great wom- 
 an, who would cut off a two foot log as quick as any man in the 
 settlement." 
 
4^ THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "To their neighbor's, down the Creek, probabh^," repliecl 
 Selden; "the movement has been made, I should conjecture, 
 in anticipation of the return of Munroe and his party, from 
 whose visit to-night a lone woman, like this widow, would 
 doubtless wish to be excused." 
 
 "It may be so," replied the other^ "but to quit her home 
 from any of the motives which you suggest would be very 
 little like widov/ Story: there are few men in this settlement 
 who can handle not only axe, but rifle, with more effect, 
 though woman she be. And as for fear, it is a sensation with 
 which, I verily believe, she is utterly unacquainted. But 
 whatever may have become of the occupants of the house, 
 we may as well, now we are here, make free and remain for 
 the night." 
 
 '"It will be considered no intrusion, I suppose?" inquiring- 
 ly said Selden; "I have not the honor of an acquaintance with 
 your heroine, you will bear in mind." 
 
 "Intrusion? not in the least; for you must know that we 
 are patriots here, — rebels or whatever we were on the lake 
 to-night," jocosely replied Warrington. . 
 
 "Patriotism," said Selden, follovring up the, train of thought 
 which the last remark suggested, "Voulcl seem entirely a rela- 
 tive term, and like beauty, v/hich consists of black teeth, 
 thick lips and large eyes v/ith one nation, and exactly the 
 reverse with another, wholly dependent on the pre-existing 
 opinions of those who claim it for this action and den}^ it 
 in that.- Besides this, as the world estimates actions, success 
 would seem to be quite as essential to constitute the patriot 
 as the merits of his cause or the glory of his deeds. Here, with 
 the settlers, you are indeed called a patriot, and surely there 
 is no one who better deserves from them the appellation; 
 w^hile with the people of N"ew York you are a rebel, outlaw, 
 and hunted like a wild beast. And yet, if our cause prove 
 successful, as Heaven grant it may, the world at large, coming 
 in as umpire, will side with the settlers in establishing your 
 name as a patriot; but if we fail it will join with your foes in 
 declaring you a rebel and reckless factionist." 
 
 ''Xames and definitions, Selden, may be sometimes vague 
 and varying, but principles are immutable. The principles 
 which actuate us in resisting these encroachments on our 
 rights, are tbe same that have actuated the bosoms of all 
 those whom the world agree in calling patriots, from the be- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 43 
 
 ginning of oppression to the present time. Tlie disposition 
 to defend our homes and property^ besides being implanted in 
 our bosoms as a law of nature^ indispensable to our self- 
 protection, and even existence in the world, seems to have 
 been ordained by Providence also as the natural means by 
 which the rapacity of tyrants should be punished. This, in- 
 deed, is the only protection insured to industry and virtue — 
 it constitutes the grand cement of society, and the main pil- 
 lars of all government. This is the foundation of patriotism, 
 which . consists only in the defense of justly acquired rights 
 against wrongful aggressions. In our case, the opinions of the 
 world may indeed be various and fluctuating till our rights be- 
 come fairl}^ understood, and the wrongs we have received as 
 fairly developed. But should men of the intelligence to 
 know, and the spirit to defend their rights, stand tamely still, 
 and see those rights wrested from them, to be placed forever 
 beyond their recovery, while hesitating to know v/hether the 
 world will call their resistance patriotism or rebellion? It 
 is not the name of patriot that I seek, or that of rebel or 
 outlaw that I fear. It is results I am aiming to accomplish, 
 and I will never rest, nor cease my exertions till our heaven- 
 favored cause shall triumph, and these rapacious intruders 
 shall be driven from our soil. Could you have witnessed, as 
 I have, the dismay, want and suffering, which these grasping 
 and shameless tyrants have occasioned in this settlement — 
 here, whole families turned from their houses in the midst 
 of winter, with no human habitation within miles of them 
 to flee to for refuge" and shelter — there, property, acquired 
 through the severest of toil, hardship, and privation, v/an- 
 tonly destroyed, houses set on fire and consumed to prevent 
 the return of the owners — and then again, females abused, 
 and even the sick roughly ejected, and left to perish miserably 
 in the night air, or storm, for all these ruthless aggressors 
 could know — could you have witnessed all this, you would not 
 be surprised at the exasperated feelings of our people, or the 
 indomitable spirit with which they have persevered in that 
 cause, which brought you, till lately a stranger to our wrongs, 
 among us to aid in sustaining. Mj^ personal interest, I know, 
 suffers in consequence of devoting so much of my time to the 
 service of the public. Indeed, I have, in common with my 
 chivalrous superior, Colonel Ethan Allen, almost wholly neg- 
 lected my own concerns;, while guarding the interests of ott 
 
44 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ers. Even now I am the owner of a large tract of. land on the 
 borders of Champlain^ a part of which, as I have lately been 
 apprised, has been for several years in possession of one of 
 the York patentees, while my duties nearer home have pre- 
 vented me from ever looking after it, or taking, since making 
 this discovery, any steps towards dispossessing the intruder." 
 
 "But you surely will neglect it no longer," observed the oth- 
 er; "since we are going into the vicinity, and on similar busi- 
 ness?" 
 
 "We will consider the case after we have righted the wrongs 
 of the houseless settlers at the Lower Falls, and fulfilled the 
 other objects of our mission into this region. But let us drop 
 this exciting subject for to-night, that we may obtain a little 
 rest to prepare us for the duties of to-morrov\%". replied Wsr- 
 rington, now rising to make such scanty preparations as might 
 be required for their repose. 
 
 The two friends, after barricading the door, and spreading 
 their blankets before the small fire they had kindled on en- 
 tering the house, now laid down to repose on the floor, which 
 to the hardy and tired woodsman is generally more grateful 
 than beds of the softest down to the pampered sons of luxury 
 and ease. Seiden was soon lost in slumber. But his com- 
 panion, whose mind was oppressed with more weighty cares, 
 and whose feelings had become somewhat excited in recount- 
 ing the wrongs of his countrymen, courted the drowsy god in 
 vain. And these causes, together with his attempts to ac- 
 count for the absence of the family, for whose safety he was 
 not wholly without apprehensions, continuing for some time to 
 render all his endeavors to sleep useless, he arose, unbarred 
 the door, and, without waking his more fortunate companion, 
 went out into the open air to try the effect of the cool breath 
 of heaven in allaying the excitement of his feelings, and dis- 
 posing him to slumber. The night still continued bright and 
 lovely. Abroad, nature seemed sunk in death-like repose; 
 while the deep and solemn silence that pervaded the wilder- 
 ness was broken only by the low, but far sounding hoot of 
 the sylvan watchman of the night, or the voices of the inhab- 
 itants of the neighboring pools, who were straining their tiny 
 throats, in notes of seeming joy and jubilee at their recent 
 release from a wintry thraldom. While contemplating the 
 scene around him, and indulging in the moody reverie which 
 the circumstances were calculated to create in the mind^ the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 45 
 
 young outlaw iinconsciousl}^ wandered nearly to the bank 
 of the river, which was still bordered by a strip of forest, 
 extending from the water back almost to the house. Here, 
 leaning against the trnnk of a large tree, which some heavy 
 wind had broken oft* about twenty feet from the ground, he 
 stood some minutes looking listlessly down upon the placid 
 waters, as, sparkling' in the moonlight that struggled through 
 the trees above, they moved ceaselessly along on their journey 
 to the deep. JSTow his attention would become riveted for a 
 moment on some light float of wood sweeping by in the noise- 
 less current. And now he would turn a half listening ear 
 to the sportive plunges of the otter, here once found in such 
 numbers as to have naturally suggested to the hunters who 
 first visited this stream the name which it bears. His medi- 
 tations, however, were at length interrupted by some indis- 
 tinct, and at first scarcely audible sounds, the nature of which 
 he was for some time wholly unable to determine. At last, 
 however, he became satisfied it could be no other than the 
 distinct murmur of human voices; but from what quarter 
 it came he was still unable to decide. He listened intently; 
 and now the sounds became more distinct. Presently they 
 began to swell on the air in the low, melodious voice of a 
 female chanting a tune, which, though not recently heard by 
 him, struck nevertheless familiarly on his ear, awakening in 
 his mind reminiscences of persons, time, and place, which 
 formerly occupied a prominent space among the objects of 
 his peculiar interest, ,but which in the cares and turmoils of 
 the last tevi years, had been almost forgotten. Starting as 
 from a trance, he rallied his doubting senses, and made another 
 effort to ascertain whence this mysterious music could pro- 
 ceed, but with no better success than before. Sometimes the 
 sounds seemed to come from the earth, or some subterraneous 
 cavern far benefith his feet. At other times the liquid notes 
 appeared floating high in the heavens above. He now took 
 another position, several paces distant from the one first oc- 
 cupied, to see whether any variation would thus be produced 
 in the sounds. Here, however, they were scarcely audible. 
 Several other new positions were then tried, but all with the 
 same success; and he returned to the tree where he w^as stand- 
 ing when his attention was first arrested by these unaccount- 
 able sounds. Here he again taxed his powers of hearing to 
 their utmost, when, to his increasing wonder, the same me- 
 
46 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 loclious notes fell upon liis ear even more distinctly than be- 
 fore. Now, not only the tune seemed familiar to him, but 
 there was something in the voice likewise which his bewil- 
 dered senses seemed to recognize — something that seemed to 
 touch a chord in his bosom that had never vibrated save under 
 the sweet intonations of one whose words were even once 
 music to his ears — but still one, to heighten his perplexity, 
 who, though her residence had long been unknown to him, 
 could not yet be, he felt assured, v/ithin a hundred miles of 
 this spot. Curiosit}^, surprise, and wonder had now raised his 
 feelings to a pitch of almost frantic excitement; and, without 
 scarcely knowing why, he struck his clenched fist two or three 
 times heavily against the tree, which seemed so strangely the 
 conductor of the sounds in question. A deep, hollow rever- 
 beration, indicating a large and extended cavity within, was 
 apparently the only effect produced by the blows. On apply- 
 ing his ear once more, however, he found that the singing 
 had ceased; and -every sound was now hushed in silence. He 
 listened awhile with suspended breath, in expectation of hear- 
 ing the music resumed. But he listen-ed in vain. He then 
 renewed the experiment of listening from other positions; 
 but being again unsuccessful, he returned to the tree, and 
 fell to beating it again, in the absurd fancy that, if there had 
 been any connection between his blows and the ceasmg of 
 the sounds, the same operation which had caused them to cease 
 might revive them, though deeming it, at the same time, 
 an utter impossibility that the cavity within the trunk could 
 contain the invisible songstress. All his efforts, however, 
 to gain a clue to the mystery proved wholly fruitless, and, 
 after lingering some time near the spot of seeming enchant- 
 ment, he slowly wandered back to the house, deeply pon- 
 dering over the singular and incomprehensible incident which 
 had attended his nocturnal ramble. Was it within the bounds 
 of possibility, be asked himself, that the person, the once 
 loved and lost one, whose voice these mysterious notes so much 
 resembled, could now be in this almost uninhabited wilder- 
 ness? iSTo, no! What other female, then, capable of such 
 execution, could be near at such an hour of the night? Sure- 
 ly none! Was it not, then, a human voice that he had heard? — 
 Was it the voice of an angel, of "visits few and far between," 
 floating high in the heavens, and hymning the stars? What 
 had he done to deserve sucli special revealmcnt? Or was it, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 47 
 
 as the traditions of the superstitious would inculcate, the voice 
 of a departing spirit, permitted to break on the ear of a dis- 
 tant friend at the instant of departure, for the purpose of 
 apprising him of his exit from the earth, or warning liim of his 
 own dissolution? Or was it not more probable, he said, with 
 an effort to shake oil these intruding fancies, that his senses 
 had deceived him; and that, after all, the whole was but the 
 work of an over-excited imagination? It must have been so. 
 xVnd, as if determined to satisfy himself with this last solu- 
 tion of the subject, since he could hit upon no other which 
 reason would not sooner reject, he quickened his pace, and 
 like one resolved to end a perplexing inquiry by the best 
 argument be can give, and call it conclusive, bustled forward, 
 now v.histhng a tune, or now atiecting to run over to him- 
 self the intended business of to-morrow, till he had reached 
 the house, secured the door, and thrown himself down beside 
 his still insensible companion, *!• when exhausted nature soon 
 closed the scene in a profound slumber. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 "If you had been the wife of Hercules, 
 Six of his labors you'd have done, and sav'd 
 Your husband so much sweat," 
 
 — Coriolanus. 
 
 Real causes of excitement have frequently, and perhaps 
 generdll}^ been found to produce the soundest slumber; while 
 those that are artificial, or imaginary, have an equal tendency 
 to prevent it. Doctor Young's poetic ]jhilosophy to the con- 
 trary^ notwithstanding. It was thus with Warrington. "While 
 the images of the past and the future, Avhich fancy had called 
 up, were operating in his bosom, he vainly sought the arms of 
 *^tired nature's sweet restorer.^' But after he had found a just 
 cause for excitement, and experienced the utmost of its legiti- 
 mate efforts, that restorer came unbidden and instantly. And 
 the next morning was considerably advanced before he and 
 his companion awoke from the deep and sense-absorbing slum- 
 bers which, for many hours, had sealed their every faculty in 
 
 4 
 
48 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 blank ubiiviuii. Tlie}^ simultajieously arose^ and went to the 
 >Yindow to ascertain from whom proceeded the noise of the 
 axe, whose heavy, resounding blows, in the adjoining forest, 
 had first awakened them from their qniet repose. At the bor- 
 der of the woods, a short distance to the south of the house, 
 and in plain sight of their loop-hole, for the window v»t.s noth- 
 ing more, stood the amazon owner, and almost sole creator of 
 this little opening in the dark wilderness, plying her axe, 
 with masculine dexterity and effect, into the huge trunk of a 
 standing liemlock. In a short time this princely tenant of 
 the Green Mountain forest began to tremble, totter, and bow 
 beneath the supple arm of its life-sapping foe, and at length 
 came down with a thundering crash upon the ground, filling 
 the air around with a cloud of dust, splinters, broken and pow- 
 dered limbs, and causing the earth and surrounding woods to 
 rebound at the shock. When the obstructing cloud had cleared 
 away from the spot, our observant friends beheld the object 
 of their attention nmunted on the trunk of the prostrate tree, 
 and proceeding to mark it off into such lengths for chopping, 
 as suited her purpose. While thus engaged, her attention 
 seemed to be suddenly arrested by something she observed 
 about the house, or in a line with it beyond. Hastily de- 
 scending from her stand on the trunk, and seizing her rifle, 
 which stood at the foot of a tree, near the stump of the 
 one just felled, she approached with a rapid step, and with 
 some appearance of concern, till within a few rods of the 
 house, when she slackened her pace and soon halted. 
 
 ^"^Tall, stout and stately," said Selden, still standing with 
 his friend so near the window as to have a fair view of the 
 person of their hostess; "tall, stout and stately," he repeated, 
 running his admiring eye over her erect and imposing figure; 
 "face and features even yet handsome, despite the ravages 
 and cares of forty! And then that queenly port! Heavens! 
 what a specimen of Eve's daughters! Surely, Warrington, 
 she must be the very Juno of your Green Mountains! But 
 why not unbar the door, and go out to meet her? We shall 
 appear a pretty brace of heroes, if she come here and find 
 us hid uy) like a couple of runaways! She has perceived us 
 I presume, but is doubtful whotber we are friends or foes." 
 
 "Stay a moment," said the other, who had been regarding 
 the movements of the womaii quite as intently as his friend, 
 though for different purposes; "I suspect you will soon 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 49 
 
 see that other objects than ourselves are engrossing her atten- 
 tion.'^ 
 
 Scarcely had the last speaker ceased, when they caught an 
 oblique view of the approaching forms of a number of men, 
 whom they instantly recognized to be Munroe and his party. 
 Hastily retreating from the window, and preparing their arms 
 for action, should their use become necessary either for de- 
 fending themselves within the house, or protecting their host- 
 ess without, our two friends took positions at small apertures 
 between the logs of the wall, where, without revealing them- 
 selves, they could easily observe their foes, and stood silently 
 watching the progress of events in the yard. Meanwhile the 
 hardy widow had planted herself directly in the path in which 
 the Yorkers were approaching from the main road to her door. 
 And now boldly advancing and confronting them, she de- 
 manded what might be their object in turning into a lone 
 woman's dwelling. 
 
 "Why, my good woman,'' said the sheriff, pausing and hes- 
 itating in evident surprise at the commanding appearance 
 and determined tone of the person he was addressing; "we 
 are all as hungry as so many kites, after the long morning's 
 march we have had; and now can't you contrive to work up 
 something in the shape of breakfast for us?" 
 
 "I know of but two reasons, sir, why I may not comply with 
 your request," replied the woman, with an air of quiet scorn. 
 
 "iVnd what may that be, woman?" asked Munroe, in doubt 
 as to the drift of her discourse. 
 
 "The lack of means, and the lack of inclination, sir," re- 
 joined the other in the same calm and scornful manner. 
 
 "Short and svveet," said Munroe; "but I think we can re- 
 move your objections easily enough, mistress; my men here 
 have a plenty of salt junk, and some bread, which will make 
 out the main materials for a meal; so you will have nothing 
 to do but cook and serve up for us, and if we pay you well 
 for your trouble this will cure both your objections at once I 
 suppose." 
 
 "Think you, sir, I would be hired to serve a Yorker of 3'our 
 stamp?" replied the woman with increasing disdain; "why 
 the money got in that manner would burn through my pock- 
 ets as quick as if it came to the call of one in league with the 
 arch fiend, and all hissing hot from the burning mfet in 
 the regions below! Even the very food bought with it would 
 4 
 
50 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 stick my throat, and poison my children to death in ihe eat- 
 ing/' 
 
 "Tut, tut! madam madcaj^!" exclaimed the sheriff, resum- 
 ing his wonted roughness, and now beginning to chafe under 
 the biting sarcasm of the other; "you show about as much 
 of the tartar as anything I have met with in my travels for 
 a long while. I wish the rebels much joy in their petticoat 
 champion! But it is time to look a little to such as you. 
 The authorities of the king are neither to be resisted nor 
 insulted with impunity you will do well to bear in mind, j)er- 
 haps." 
 
 "Cowards are always allowed the privilege of blustering 
 before women,'' tartly rejoined the other; "your threats, val- 
 iant sheriff, vvdil hurt me about as much, probably, as they 
 frighten me, and if anything further is attempted, you will 
 find I can defend myself." 
 
 "We will see, my trooper!" muttered Munroe, making a 
 sudden movement towards the other, apparently to disarm 
 or seize her. 
 
 Eluding his grasp, and hastily retreating a few steps, the 
 fearless woman cocked her rifle and brought it to her shoul- 
 der. "Another step towards me, sir, and your blood be on 
 your own head," she cried, in a cool, determined tone. 
 
 "Hang me !" exclaimed Munroe, after standing a moment in 
 mute surprise at this bold and unexpected movement of the 
 woman, who, he began to suspect, could scarcely have been 
 brought to show such singular fearlessness, but from a knowl- 
 edge that help was near; "hang me if I don't believe the ter- 
 magant is standing guard to some of those skuUdng outlaws, 
 whom she has concealed in the house! We must see to this 
 immediately," he continued, moving round his opponent 
 toward the house, and beckoning his men to follow. 
 
 "0, is that all you want," said the widow, taking her piece 
 in her hand, and moving aside with the air of one relieved 
 from a personal fear; you are welcome to all the outlaws you 
 will find here, but you must beware how you attempt to touch 
 me. However, you had better look out for yourself, brave 
 sheriff," she added in a sneering laugh; "take care, sir, that 
 pome of those terrible Green j\fountain Boys concealed within 
 there, don't blow you through the head with their rifles!" 
 
 ^^The door is fastened, viornm" said Muwroe, fts stepping ijp, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 51 
 
 he tried in vain to open it; "the door is fastened on the in- 
 side; see that it is opened, or I will force it!'^ 
 
 "0, no, no! why, you would spoil my door, man!" cried 
 the widow, with the utmost apparent concern for the safety 
 of her door; ^'yes, ruin it entirely, ^t would cost me a hard dol- 
 lar to get it mended. I forgot to tell you it was harred up 
 inside. We do not stay here nights for fear of the visits of 
 such strolling gentry as yourselves. But if you really wish to 
 handle over my greasy pots and kettles, or crawl under my 
 beds, you can go in as I came out, by going up on the ends 
 of the logs at the corner yonder, and removing a piece of that 
 bark roof." 
 
 "But honestW, woman, have you seen nothing of Warring- 
 ton and his band this way last night, or this morning?" asked 
 the sheriff, his suspicions seeming to be pretty much allayed 
 by the well managed demeanor and conduct of the other. 
 
 "Warrington — Warrington," said she, musingly, as if at- 
 tempting to recall the name of one whom she might have 
 perhaps heard; "not Captain Warrington? Yes, I have heard 
 of him I am sure. Is he in this section? Where is he? I 
 should like to see that brave fellow. Why, he was the one 
 that so handsomely beech-sealed one of the York authorities 
 doAvn Bennington way, last year — now what was his name — I 
 will think in a minute — ^" 
 
 "0, no matter, no matter,^' hastily interrupted the sheriff, 
 unwilling that the story of his own former discomfiture 
 should be made known to his present followers; "come boys," 
 he continued, moving away from the house and calling to his 
 men; "we shan^t be able to make anything out of this crab- 
 stick of a woman, so we may as well be on the move again, 
 and as Ave have lost our guide, instead of going back through 
 the woods, we will go up the Creek to the ford, and then down 
 the military road to Ticonderoga." 
 
 "Adroitl]^ done, by heavens!" exclaimed Selden to his com- 
 panion, as the sounds of the retreating footsteps of their 
 foes died away on their ears; "the woman^s tact has saved us, 
 to say the least. Captain, from a troublesome contest. But 
 shall I now unbar the door?" 
 
 "jSTo — let her continue to manage in her own way," re- 
 plied the other; "the Yorkers may take it into their heads to 
 stop and reconii alter the house awhile from the woods. And 
 she may deem it prudent to guard against their making any 
 
52 THE GRBEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 discoveries in that way b}^ remaining a while without, or by 
 entering the house in the manner she pointed out to Munroe." 
 
 Tlie woodsvroman, if the term be admissible, wary as she 
 was fearless, immediately adopted one of the precautions an- 
 ticipated by Warrington. And the sheriff and his posse 
 had no sooner fairly disappeared in the forest than our friends 
 heard her mounting the house, removing one of the broad 
 pieces of spruce bark v/hich constituted the rude covering of 
 the roof, and descending into the chamber or garret above 
 them. In another moment she stood before them with a coun- 
 tenance animated with a look of triumph and a smile of con- 
 gratulation. 
 
 "^ow a thousand thanks to Mistress Story," warmly ex- 
 claimed Warrington, after presenting his friend and exchang- 
 ing the ordinary salutations; "a thousand thanks, not only for 
 3^esterday^s timely notice, but for the shield which a woman's 
 tact only could have so successfull}^ thrown over us this morn- 
 ing! But how came, you apprised that we were in possession 
 of your castle, as we vrere without the shadov/ of a license 
 from its owner?" 
 
 'Tartly anticipating a visit from some of you^" replied the 
 widow, "I purposely left the door unfastened when we left 
 last night. And a peep through the cracks w^hen I returned 
 this morning, and found it barred, told me very nearly the 
 character of the occupants. But you don^t know," she added, 
 jocosely, '%ow sorely I was tempted, as I saw 3''ou lying there 
 on the floor asleep, as helpless as children, to creep in, bind 
 you, deliver you over to Munroe, and claim the reward!" 
 
 "When you v»'as praying, 'lead us not into temptation,' at 
 this moment of your trial," said Warrington, laughingl}^ 
 "and thought of the next sentence, ^deliver us from evil,' you 
 concluded it best to take sides with the Green Mountain 
 Boys, — did you?" 
 
 "Why," replied she, "it might certainly be a matter of some 
 consideration, who it were v/isest to make friends and who 
 foes, in such a case; and especially so since it now seems that 
 ten Yorkers can be put to flight hy one old woman." 
 
 "Ay, ay!" gayly responded the Captain; "and that fact, 
 sir," he added, turnin.ff with an arch look to Selden, "shows 
 the wisdom of the doubts and appreliensions you seemed to 
 entertain last night in approaching, Avithout leave, the house 
 of one who might become so formidable a foe." 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 53 
 
 "I should be sorry to spoil the Captain's joke/' replied Sel- 
 den, in the same spirit; "'but in taking possession thus un- 
 ceremoniously, I think we both depended somewhat on the 
 effect of the peace ottering we brouglit," he continued, point- 
 ing to the game suspended on the wall, "in appeasing the 
 household gods for the outrage." 
 
 "An ample atonement!" said the dame, "so much so, indeed, 
 that I suspect my nine little hungry household gods will 
 think the obligation wholly on their side. Yes, yes, that 
 mark of your kindness, gentlemen, I noticed when I took my 
 stolen peep in here, and my heart has been thanking you ever 
 since; for my larder, as you may v/ell imagine, is none of the 
 fullest, considering the number depending upon it. It makes 
 my heart ache to put the little kites on so short an allowance, 
 as I am often compelled to do here, in a place so difficult to 
 obtain provisions." 
 
 "But where are your children?" asked Warrington. 
 
 "My children? all in T'other World, sir!" replied the 
 woman, with a sort of mock gravity. 
 
 "In the other world! vrhat can the woman mean?" asked 
 Warrington, turning a puzzled look upon his hostess. *'But 
 for the mention you have just made of your children, and your 
 roguish looks, vrhich belie your assertions, one might be star- 
 tled at the import of your vrords!" 
 
 "i^ot so much of a belieing, neither," said the woman, "but 
 come, we will open Sesame now," she continued, proceeding 
 to unbar the door, "and after seeing if my brood cannot be^ 
 conjured back into'the world again, for the purpose of assist- 
 ing me, and quieting your apprehensions for their safety. 
 Captain, we will see what can be done in the way of break- 
 fast." 
 
 "Let me attend you to witness the process of conjuration," 
 said Warrington, who had more reasons for making the re- 
 quest than were known to either of his companions. 
 
 "jSTo, sir, no! keep house till I return, or, my word for it, 
 you get no breakfast this time," replied the other in a sport- 
 ive, yet determined manner, as she quitted the house on her 
 proposed errand, leaving her guests to indulge in such con- 
 jectures as they chose respecting the place to which she had 
 gone to summon her concealed family. They were not al- 
 lowed much time, however, for discussing this curious ques- 
 tion; for in a short time their ears were saluted bv the min- 
 
54 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 glecl sounds of jabbering voices approaching from the woods 
 in the rear of the house^ and in a moment more the dame came 
 np to the door, with her nearly half-score of hardy little 
 urchins trooping along in noisy glee at her side. 
 
 ^'I will shake hands with the young captain first!" exclaimed 
 one of the boys, endeavoring to outstrip the rest, as they all 
 made a rush at the door. 
 
 "You shan't!'' vociferated another, springing forward, and 
 eagerly elbowing his way through the throng that was now 
 choking up the entrance. "I say you shan't now, Dick! He 
 likes me best; Ned, 3'ou hold him back!" 
 
 "I don't care, I will have the first kith!" cried a lisping little 
 image of her mother; "I will, mayn't 1, ma?" she added, 
 throwing back her long unfettered hair from before her laugh- 
 ing black eyes with a pretty toss of the head, and entering 
 with high glee into the keen strife going forward for obtain- 
 ing the first notice of one, who,, in former calls at the house, 
 seemed to have mad-e warm friends of the whole band of these 
 tiny rivals for his favors. 
 
 The next moment the person of Warrington, like that of 
 Gulliver among the Lilliputians, v/as almost literally covered 
 by the little beings, two sitting on each knee, shaking his 
 imprisoned hands with all their might; the little Julia stand- 
 ing between, turning up her pretty cheek invitingly for the 
 expected kiss, which, for all her declaration, instinctive mod- 
 esty forbade her to ask for; one or two hold of each arm, and 
 one more daring and active than the rest, having clambered 
 aloft, was sitting astride the neck, and crowing aloud over the 
 rest from his elevated situation; while all were clinging, 
 laughing and chattering like a bevy of monkeys exhibiting 
 on an elephant, at the show of some traveling menagerie. 
 
 Those fashionable misanthropes of the Rochefacauldt or 
 Lacon school, who are forever moralizing and mourning over 
 t]ie selfishness of man; who can see no unadulterated benevo- 
 lence, no disinterested friendship in the moral deserts of the 
 human heart, might find one oasis, at least, to relieve their 
 jaundiced vision, and go to refute the sweeping dictums of 
 their cold and cheerless philosophy, would they but turn 
 their eyes to the artless actions, and examine the untutored 
 and guileless hearts of children. How spontaneous their af- 
 fections! With what intuitive and unerring certainty and 
 quickness they single out those who love them, whether kin- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 55 
 
 dred or stranger; and with what confiding readiness and gen- 
 erous ardor is the friendship tliiis bestowed upon tliem for- 
 ever reciprocated; and that, too, witli no detracting alloy 
 of selfish feeling, no worldl}' calculating of results, and no 
 influencing consideration of interest! Verily! while they go 
 to school to us for the improvement of the head, methinks it 
 would be well for us if the tables were so far turned, that they 
 could become our only instructors in the lessons of the heart. 
 
 The dame now calling oil such of her children as she needed 
 to assist her, and dispatching one for water, another'for wood, 
 and a third to go on some whispered destination, proceeded 
 rapidly in her preparations for the promised repast. And in 
 a short space of time, a tempting meal from the offering of 
 her guests was smoking on the table. The meal, which was 
 enlivened by a recital of the adventures of the band the pre- 
 ceding evening, was no sooner ended, than Selden, rising first 
 from the table, departed, at the suggestion of his superior, 
 to see that the party at the other house were ready to com- 
 mence their march. 
 
 '"N'ow, Captain, where are you going with your men?" ear- 
 nestly asked the widow% as soon as Selden was fairly gone; 
 ^'I have reasons for wishing to know.^' 
 
 Warrington, after a slight hesitation, imparted the desired 
 information. 
 
 **Will 3"ou make me one promise?" resumed the woman, 
 "and at the same time receive from me in kindness one cau- 
 tion?" 
 
 ^'On conditions, I will venture to say yes." 
 
 ^'What may they be ? If anything that I can properly com- 
 ply v^'ith — " 
 
 "I would impose no other terms, certainly — so now for the 
 promise you would exact?'' 
 
 "Simply this. — that the family, with whom the young In- 
 dian I sent you last evening resides — no question now about 
 their names or residence! — that this family, I say, shall 
 not be molested, should you or your men ever come across 
 them. They hold under a York title, to be sure, but turned 
 no one off to get possession. Will you promise?" 
 
 "For your sake, and the Indian^s sake, if the facts are as 
 you state, I will promise my influence in their behalf." 
 
 "ISTow hear my caution — beware of that fellow you chas- 
 
56 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 tised last night — beware of that Sherwood — he will be a ser- 
 pent in your path." 
 
 "Do yon know him?" 
 
 "I think I do, but must say no more. And now, let's hear 
 your conditions." 
 
 "Only that you shall expound my dream^ or vision, of last 
 night." 
 
 "A dream! vision!" 
 
 "Yes! a something, at all events, which conveyed to my ear, 
 as I thought, the sounds of a voice discoursing most heavenly 
 music." 
 
 "A sleeping or a waking dream?" 
 
 "The latter, I afterwards made up my mind to believe, as 
 the readiest way of solving the mystery; but this morning I 
 have begun to suspect — ^" 
 
 "At what time last night, and on what particular spot, did 
 this strange trance fall on you, sir?" interrupted the widow 
 in a bantering tone, which was accompanied, however, with a 
 look betraying considerable curiosity and uneasiness. 
 
 "0, about the usual time of such visitations — the witching 
 hour of midnight. And the scene should be laid, I think, 
 more particularly than at any other spot, near the foot of a 
 certain charmed tree, or rather the hollow trunk of one, 
 standing not far from the bank of the Creek down here, to 
 which, leaving my companion asleep, I had wandered alone 
 to shake off a fit of watchfulness that the spirits of the air, or 
 something else, had unaccountably sent me." 
 
 "And did you relate your adventures to your companion, 
 on your return or since?" 
 
 "No!" 
 
 "That settles the question with me, then, as to what I should 
 now do," seriously observed the woman; "Captain Warring- 
 ton, I clearly see that you have accidentally, and very sin- 
 gularly, hit upon a clue to matters which I thought most 
 prudent to conceal, even from you, friend to the settlers and 
 my family as you are. Follow me, and you shall know more." 
 
 So saying, with rapid step she led the way in silence toward 
 the Creek, closely followed by her guest, eager to witness the 
 promised development. Passing directly by the hollow tree, 
 to which she pointed with a significant smile as they went 
 along, she conducted him to the brink of the high, steep 
 bank, which was here covered with a thick growth of young 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 57 
 
 evergreen, whose tangled boughs overhung the waters below. 
 Now grasping firmly ho],d of a projecting root, she swung her- 
 self down on to a narrow^ shelf or offset in the bank, a few 
 feet above the surface of the water. As soon as this posi- 
 tion was gained by them both, she proceeded along the shelf 
 a few yards, and, removing a small fir-tree top, which had 
 been, to all appearances, blown down the bank, disclosed the 
 mouth of a narrow passage running back horizontally into the 
 earth. Into this she immediately entered, still followed by 
 her companion. After groping their way about a rod through 
 the dark zigzag windings of this passage, they emerged into 
 a spacious room, formed entirely by an artificial excavation 
 of the earth, which, from a beginning at the outside, had been 
 removed in small parcels and thrown into the stream, till the, 
 Tvhole was completed. The walls or s^".des, which had been cut 
 down perpendicularly from the solid mould and plastered over 
 with thin mud, now presented a hard compact surface. The 
 ceiling, which was in the form of an arch, coming, probably, 
 at the top or center, within a foot ot the surface above, was 
 supported by the thickly spreading roots of the trees, stand- 
 ing, many of them, directly over the excavation, and form- 
 ing a kind of net-work, curiousl}', and so strongl}^ interwoven 
 as effectually to prevent the earth from caving in from above. 
 The whole interior w^as divided into two parts of unequal 
 dimensions by a slight willow-work partition, the lesser of 
 which, being designed for the sleeping apartment, was neatly 
 car]3eted with a thick dry moss, collected from the spruce 
 knolls in the vicinity; while on one side was extended, at suit- 
 able intervals, a row of little oblong platforms, raised about a 
 foot above the general level by repeated doublings of the same 
 light, springy substance. These, on which were laid such 
 beds as the occupant could furnish, afforded, with or without 
 any further additions, soft and pleasant couches, safely pro- 
 tected against the damps of a ground floor. Beside one of the 
 walls of the larger room was a rude fire-place, constructed of 
 fiat stones, and built up several feet high to receive fuel and 
 give direction to the smoke, which, ascending through a sort 
 of retreating flue cut into the bank, escaped through the cavity 
 of the identical hollow stub that Warrington had discovered 
 to be in some way connected with the m3^sterious melody heard 
 by him the evening before. 
 
 "This, Captain Warrington/^ said the dame, after showing 
 
58 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 her admiring guest every part of her subterraneous establish- 
 ment, which she had Ht up on entering by throwing a few 
 light combustibles on the fire still remaining on the hearth; 
 "this is my city of refuge — my strong-hold, or my '^T'other 
 World/ as I have accustomed myself and children to call it, 
 fancying, in my wish to keep the secret of its existence to our- 
 selves, that some such name would lessen the chances of a 
 discovery which might accidentally be made, perhaps, by re- 
 ferring to it before others by a proper designation. It was 
 dug out by myself and my little bo3's, who took to digging as 
 naturally as young foxes, and greatly assisted me. My neigh- 
 bor below, however, aided me in the most difficult parts of 
 the work; and in case of danger he is to occupy it with me." 
 
 "But what were the immediate dangers you apprehended, 
 that led you to so uncommon an undertaking?'^ asked the 
 other. 
 
 "For myself I might feel, perhaps, no apprehensions,'' re- 
 plied the provident mother. "For my children I feel differ- 
 ently. All parents. Captain, however brave they may be for 
 themselves, are ahvays cowards for their children. No real 
 dangers, it is true, might beset us here for years; and then 
 again, they might come like a thief in the night. To say 
 nothing of the heartless Yorkers, who might burn my house, 
 or turn us out shelterless into the snow — to say nothing of 
 the wolves that have been known, in the desperation of hunger, 
 to attack folks in their houses — to say nothing of these, which 
 are sufficiently fearful for most people, what security have we, 
 in these outposts of the settlement, even in times of peace, 
 against a hostile visit from the Indians? But when, as now, 
 the rumors of war come floating on every breeze, that danger is 
 daily increasing. The sad experience of my father's family, 
 wdio vv'ere half slain by these hell-hounds of the wilderness at 
 the outbreak of the last war, has taught me the wisdom of 
 precaution. In peace they are even to be distrusted; and 
 the first rimior of war that strikes their ears will put them to 
 v/hetting their knives for slaughter; while they are sure to 
 anticipate the coming contest by striking the first blow on the 
 dcfenselcpp families of the frontiers. I^ow with these views, 
 is it strange," she added with a smile, "that the mother of 
 nine children, with but one neighbor within miles of her, 
 should foresee the evil and hide herself?" 
 
 "Surely not," replied Warrington, struck not less by the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 59 
 
 forcible language of the woman, than by her prudent fore- 
 cast; "you are right in believing that the storm of a new war 
 is gathering over us; and if you think of remaining here, 
 these precautions are but the part of wisdom, as we know 
 not when or where the storm may burst. But do you occupy 
 this retreat every night, now?'' 
 
 "We do.'' 
 
 "You enter as we did, taking your children down the bank, 
 I suppose?" 
 
 "Sometimes, but more generally by approaching from the 
 Creek in my canoe (which is kept hid in the bushes a few 
 rods below), lest by coming down the bank constantly, we 
 wear a path which might lead to a discovery of our retreat." 
 
 "And you all lodged here last night, of course?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Part of the mystery, then, stands explained — why should 
 the rest be kept back?" 
 
 "What is there more that you do not comprehend?" 
 
 "The singing — " 
 
 "Mght have been my own, if you heard any. You never 
 heard any of my lullaby performances before, I suj^pose?" 
 said the woman, with an evasive smile. 
 
 "No, but I have once heard the performances of another, 
 whose voice is not easily to be forgotten," replied Warrington, 
 turning a keen, searching gaze on the slightly confused face 
 of the widow. 
 
 "Warrington, Warrington!" said the woman, resuming a 
 tone of seriousness, 'and intently reading the looks of the 
 other; "as much as I hate deception, I wish I could have mis- 
 led you. But I saw by your disappointed looks, when you en- 
 tered, and glanced around these empty apartments, that you 
 expected to find here what you have not. And I now see, 
 that you still have certain impressions, which I wish could 
 have been done awav. But as vou seem bent on following 
 up your clue, I will not attempt to mislead you. From what 
 I have gathered from you and others, I have for some time 
 secretly suspected the identity of persons yet supposed to be 
 different, and that I have long known those whose present resi- 
 dence you have little dreamed of: Captain Warrington, there 
 is indeed a rose-bud in this wilderness, which I should not 
 }i^ye beeij displeetsed to see placeii in jqut jbosoni. Biit seek 
 
60 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 it not now — tliere is a liedge about it too high for your leap- 
 ing." 
 
 ^^Where is she? I ask but to know wliere/^ inquired the 
 other with impatient eagerness. 
 
 "Not here, nor near here, now," replied the woman; "the 
 secret is not mine to reveal: I have said too miTch already; 
 so question me no farther. But come, let us leave for the 
 upper world," she added, rapidly leading the way out, and 
 allowing the other no further chance to resume his importu- 
 nities till they had gained the top of the bank. 
 
 "'But surely you will not leave the matter here, after inform- 
 ing me so far?" said Warrington, in an expostulating tone, 
 as he perceived that the other seemed to expect that he would 
 now depart. 
 
 '•For the present, I surely shall," replied the woman, decid- 
 edly; "you will urge in vain one who understands her duties 
 to all! Go! your mien await you — good morning, and God 
 speed you in the cause of the settlers," and im.periously wav- 
 ing her hand for the departure of her reluctant and tantal- 
 ized guest, she suddenly turned away and disappeared in the 
 forest. 
 
 CHAPTEE YI. 
 
 "The sons of our mountains will slieath not the brand 
 Till the last base intruder is forced from the land." 
 
 One of the most considerable openings in the wildern&ss 
 in the northwestern part of the New Hampshire Grants, at 
 the period of our story, was at the Lower Falls of Otter Creek, 
 at the head of the lake navigation of that stream, and on and 
 around that fine and fertile swell of land, now occupied as 
 the site of a pleasant and flourishing village, to which, as 
 before mentioned, the more dignified name of city has long 
 since been legally applied; though not without sometimes 
 eliciting, probably from the traveler approaching the place 
 with the expectations which the appellation would naturally 
 raise, a feeling, somewhat akin, perhaps, to that which misht 
 be experienced on hearing the address of My Lord aiDplied 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 61 
 
 to some urcliiii scion of nobility, at marbles, in his first jacket 
 and trousers. A pitcli had been made on this spot, some years 
 before, by one or more of the New Hampshire patentees, a 
 saw and grist mill erected, and a large piece of forest felled and 
 partially cleared; when the whole tract, embracing the Falls 
 and all the improvements, was purchased of some of the York 
 land jobbers by one Colonel Eeed. Eeed had been the com- 
 mander of a regiment of Scotch Highlanders, that came over 
 with General Wolfe, and was engaged with his army in that 
 memorable battle which gave Quebec and the Canadas to the 
 British crown. This regiment having been subsequently dis- 
 banded, the Colonel, still continuing in the new vv'orld, and, 
 in his intercourse between Canada and ISTew York, becoming 
 acquainted with the Averment lands, entered into the specula- 
 tions then going forward, and made the purchase as above 
 stated. Finding his new purchase already in the occupancy 
 of the New Hampshire grantees, and not inclined to be both- 
 ered with the delays of a civil process by the York authorities 
 to put him in possession, what should this military land spec- 
 ulator do but repair immediately to Montreal, and, collecting 
 a file of his old disbanded soldiers, go on, armed and provis- 
 ioned, to conquer and keep, and forcibly drive the occupants 
 from the ground, taking possession of the mills, lumber, and 
 all other improvements? After making ample provisions for 
 continuing the improvement of his purchase, he left it to be 
 managed and defended by the men who came on with him, 
 placed under the command of one of his old fear-naught 
 Highlanders, hy the "name of Donald Mcintosh, formerly a 
 bT:aA^e and trusty sergeant in his regiment, to whom he now de- 
 livered vrritten military instructions, setting forth the manner 
 in which the improvements were to be conducted, and the 
 post defended against any, or all, who should offer to intrude 
 on the premises. The Colonel, being a shrewd man, and a 
 close observer o"f character, national as well as individual, and 
 well knowing the inherent respect of Scotchmen for discipline, 
 and the orders of a superior, would insure him more deter- 
 mined defenders of his possessions, as well as more faithful 
 laborers in their im.provement, than all the rewards, bribes, 
 or other inducements he could offer, had thrown over the 
 whole transaction the appearance of a military service. And, 
 hiring his men at the monthly compensation they had for- 
 merl}^ received as soldiers, and terming it an enlistment during 
 
62 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 tlie war, and conducting them to their post nnder the disci- 
 pline to which they had been accustomed in the army, he 
 had the address to make these men, not the most intelHgent, 
 certainly, honestly believe that they were acting under their 
 old commander, in a military capacity only, and were really 
 in the service of the king, to whom this settlement, they were 
 told, was in a state of rebellion. And right faithfully and rig- 
 idly did the straight-going Donald, ever continuing to act 
 under these impressions, execute the trust committed to his 
 charge. Immediatel}^ proceeding to throw up a large log- 
 house, and inclose a yard around it with a heav}^, compact 
 fence of hewn timber, he soon gave the post such an impreg- 
 nable and threatening aspect as effectually deterred the former 
 occupants from attempting, vv^ith any force they could rally 
 in the neighborhood, to dislodge the intruders. And, after 
 watching awhile and seeing no diminution of the strength of 
 their antagonists, or relaxation of their caution, these ejected 
 and plundered settlers, who happened to be among the less 
 spirited of their countrymen, at length pretty much relin- 
 quished the hope of regaining their possessions, except in a 
 favorable termination of the negotiation still going forward 
 at intervals between the settlers and the government of New 
 York. 
 
 In this manner, f3r nearly two years, did the minions of 
 Eeed hold and manage these valuable possessions, clearing 
 land, raising crops, and exporting lumber and other products, 
 without being at all molested by the settlers, or the attending 
 circumstances being known, indeed, to those who had exer- 
 cised any general agency in resisting the ag^Tession of the 
 Yorkers. At length, however, the tranquillity of the intruders 
 became accidentally endangered. Ira Allen, the Green Moun- 
 tain Metternich of after times, and one of the cabinet coun- 
 cil of those we are describing, coming through this section, 
 on his return to his residence in Bennington from an excur- 
 sion to the Winooski river, sought lodgings on a stormy De- 
 cember night at the quarters of Mcintosh and his men — a 
 call which came near costing the former his life at the outset: 
 for, while he was unsuspectingly knocking for admission, 
 the wary Scotchman, who had been accustomed to consider all 
 his foes, who rb'd not give the watchword, noiselessly opened 
 the door wide enough to protrude one arm, and made several 
 desperate lunges at his body, liit or miss, with a naked sabre. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 63 
 
 Providentially, however, the weapon, missing the body, only 
 wounded the great coat of the traveler, who, at last succeed- 
 ing in making the other believe that he wanted nothing more 
 than a shelter for the night, was now admitted, and enter- 
 tained till next morning. This singular reception, as well as 
 the odd and warlike appearance of everything connected with 
 the establishment, awakened the curiosity and excited the sus- 
 jncions of Allen, who, from the information he obtained by 
 pumping the incautious Donald, and making inquiries of the 
 settlers before leaving the vicinity, returned home in posses- 
 sion of the full history of the case. And the consequence was, 
 that before many months, a small band of Green Mountain 
 Boys came on from the south, and finding no one about the 
 premises, were proceeding to clear the house and yard of all 
 the}^ contained; when the occupants, who had been at work in 
 the woods, returned, and after holding a council of v/ar a 
 short distance from the house, made such a furious charge 
 with fixed bayonets on the new comers, that they, little dream- 
 ing of so warlike an onset, were fairly routed from the works, 
 and w^ere compelled to decamp amidst the victorious shouts 
 of the elated Highlanders. Chagrined and vexed on the result 
 of this attempt, the Green Mountain Boys, early the next 
 spring, set on foot another expedition for dispersing these mil- 
 itary tenants of the usurping Colonel. And for this, among 
 other objects, Y/arrington and his companions were now on 
 their v/ay to the spot. 
 
 It was not until an advanced hour in the afternoon of the 
 day, which commen<3ed by the adventures related in the last 
 chapter, that our band arrived at the outskirts of the sin- 
 gularly guarded possession just described. Their force, 
 swelled by the numbers who had joined them on the last part 
 of their route, now amounted to about a dozen men. They 
 halted in the woods, adjoining the clearing, for the purpose of 
 consultation, with a view to fix on the best mode of attacking 
 the place, which they were not without hope of carrying by 
 surprise. They had scarcely commenced discussing these 
 points, however, before their attention was arrested by two 
 quickly successive reports of fire-arms, proceeding from a 
 thicket, on the opposite side of the Creek. 
 
 "What will you bate I don't know the bark of that dog, 
 Captain?" exelaim.ed Jones, tipping one of his comical winks 
 to his superior. 
 6 
 
64 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "Aha! who do you suspect^ Jones?" asked Warrington with 
 a look of iMerest. 
 
 ''^Why, I shouldn't like to make hodily oath of it, besure/' 
 replied the other, "but unless my ear lies like the mischief, 
 one of those popping noises over there was the voice of an 
 old acquaintance." 
 
 "To the point, man, if you possibly can!" rather impatient- 
 ly spoke the leader; "what acquaintance do you mean?" 
 
 "The one that I was introduced to, up on the lake there, 
 last night, asking your pardon. Captain," replied Pete, low- 
 ering his tone a little under the slightly rebuking manner of 
 his commander. 
 
 "You are in the right, Mr. Jones," said the other, kindly, 
 though a flash of anger passed over his face at the discovery 
 that now burst on his mind; "I see it all, at last. Those were 
 the reports of a pair of pistols, and in the hands, too, of 
 that traitorous Sherwood, v/lio has been hovering round us 
 on our march, and now fires his pistols as a preconcerted sig- 
 nal, to give notice of our approach. It is well for the fellow 
 that he was wise enough to put the Creek between us and him- 
 self, before taking this last step." 
 
 "That comes of suffering the scoundrel to go unhanged last 
 night," grumbled Brov/n. "If I had been the Captain, I 
 would have strung him up to the limb of a tree like a sheep- 
 killing dog, and left him kicking in the air." 
 
 "It is not always," said Warrington, "nor often, I think, 
 that we find cause to repent of the mercies we have shown; 
 but this fellow — let him beware!" he added, knitting his brow, 
 "let him beware how he is taken again!" 
 
 All hope of taking the place by surprise being now relin- 
 quished by our band, it was soon settled, as the most probable 
 way of accomplishing their object without bloodshed, which 
 they would gladly avoid, that a feint should be made in the 
 open field, with a view of drawing out the enemy from their 
 works, while the part of their force, not thus to be engaged, 
 should go round in the woods, and, approaching in the rear, 
 endeavor to get possession of the house and enclosure. In 
 pursuance of this plan, Warrington, taking Selden and two of 
 the men with him, started off for the purpose of carrying the 
 last part of the arrangement into execution, leaving the rest 
 of the force under the command of Jones, whose genius, it was 
 thought, was calculated to conduct the other part of the en- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 65 
 
 terprise now entrusted to liis cliarge, with orders to advance 
 through the open grounds towards the house, and adopt such 
 measures on the way as circumstances might suggest for bring- 
 ing about the desired result. 
 
 After waiting a sufficient time to allow the other party to 
 gain a post in the woods in the rear of the works, Pete, the 
 new commandant, put his men in motion, and emerging from 
 the bushes, they commenced, in a wide-spread platoon, their 
 ostentatious march through the field, in order to attract the 
 attention of the enemy, supposed to be concealed in their 
 enclosures at the house. It so happened that, directly in the 
 course of the advancing party, there lay a series of large log- 
 heaps, which, either by accident or design, had been placed, 
 in clearing the land, very nearly in a straight line, at inter- 
 vals of about a dozen rods, beginning near the house and ex- 
 tending almost to the woods. AYhen the party had arrived 
 within a few rods of the first log-heap their attention was ar- 
 rested by the sound of a human voice, issuing from behind it, 
 and in an eager, suppressed tone, giving off some brief orders, 
 resembling those of militar}^ command. 
 
 "Already? wp then, an' gie til the louns!" exclaimed the 
 voice of the unseen leader, in broad Scotch, as a platoon of 
 armed men suddenly'' rose from behind the logs, and, raising 
 their guns breast high, discharged them full in the faces of 
 the Green Mountain Eo^^s. 
 
 "Noo, right aboot face! and rin as if the deevil Vv^as after 
 ye, as he is, and mair too," resumed the military Donald, for 
 it was no other than he and his men, who had been thus lying, 
 in concealment behind the log-heap, patiently awaiting the 
 approach of their unsuspecting assailants. 
 
 The balls, just clearing the heads of our band, whistled 
 through the air, and struck with a crash among the dry limbs 
 of the forest behind them. As soon as they had recovered 
 from the surprise into which they had been thrown by the 
 suddenness of this unexpected attack, they all sprang forward 
 in the screening smoke of the enemy's fire, and gained the 
 cover of the log-heap, just relinquished by the latter for the 
 next one in the line of their defenses. 
 
 "Well, this is what I should call rather a curious how-d'3'e- 
 do, boys," coolly said Jones, when they had gained their shel- 
 ter; "who would have guessed the scamps were packed away 
 behind this old log-heap? But one thing beats my philoso- 
 
 5 
 
66 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 pliy — if the bloody dogs really wanted to give us the lead 
 (and they shot dreadful careless if they didn't), why in natur 
 didn't they take aim?" 
 
 "They are all regular sarvice men/'' replied a settler from 
 the vicinity, "and breast-high is the rule of firing in the army/' 
 
 "Then we may thank the rule for our lives, and not the 
 pesky fools who used it," replied the former. 'Tt would not 
 be a great deal more than right to send our rifle bullets 
 through the whole tote of 'em. But I should some rather 
 not kill the sarpents, if we can get along without; and I guess 
 as how we can, seeing they were kind enough to sound their 
 rattles before trying to bite, as that queer old codger did, in 
 giving off word before they let drive at us. And if they will 
 go on as they have begun, we'll just be making our manners 
 vrhen they fire, so that the balls may pass over us, and then fol- 
 low 'em up as before — ^but hark! the old chap is at it again! 
 o'oinii the motions as re^'ular as the ni2:ht-mare: there! he 
 has got to 'cock fire-lockl' jSTow, dovrn with you, boys!" 
 
 Jones and his men had scarcely thrown themselves on to 
 their knees behind their log-heap breast-work, before another 
 volley of balls, discharged with the same military precision, 
 whistled over them; and again the old dry hemlocks that 
 skirted the woods appeared to be the only sufferers. Again 
 retreating to their next post, these kilted defenders of the place 
 were followed up as at first by their crafty asstiilants, who were 
 now becoming highly delighted with the fun of so unique a 
 warfare. And in this manner the fight, if fight it be called, 
 continued through the whole field — one party blazing away at 
 random from ever}^ log-heap they reached, and then scudding 
 on for the next, quite satisfied with this vray of doing their 
 duty of defending these supposed possessions of the king, 
 since they were conducting their defense, as they believed, 
 according to military rule: while the other party, occasionally 
 discharging their pieces into the air, to keep up the appearance 
 of a hostile pursuit, and sometimes raising their hats on their 
 ramrods, just high enough above the logs, behind which thev 
 were ensconced, to become visible to their foes when they fired, 
 that they might be thus encouraged to continue the sport, were 
 no less content with this fashion of fighting, as it answered all 
 the objects in view, without putting them to the necessity 
 of killing others, and, what was quite as agreeable, without 
 jTinTiing mj risk of being killed themselyee, 
 
T-HE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 67 
 
 But leaving these belligerents for the present, we will now 
 follow those who departed to execute the other part of this 
 novel enterprise. 
 
 Keeping within the border of the woods, Warrington and 
 his attendants soon made the circuit round the clearing, and 
 arrived at the bank of the Creek, in the rear of the buildings, 
 before the- attack was made on the other detachment. They 
 had scarcely gained this position, however, before they were 
 aroused br the rattling of McIntosh^s salutatory volley on 
 their companions, at the other extremity of the opening. 
 And, though the rise of land which intervened between them 
 and the scene of action prevented them from ascertaining by 
 sight the exact situation of affairs, yet readily concluding 
 that the eneni}', in full force, had taken the open field, as 
 had been anticipated, they made for the house with all possi- 
 ble speed, to get possession of the works before the occupants 
 could find time to return. On reaching the enclosure round 
 the house, Warrington, leaving his men in the rear, went 
 round to the front side, and after a moment spent in recon- 
 noitering, from behind a wood-pile, the parties in the field, 
 crept up and made an attempt to open the gate. But to his 
 disappointment, he soon discovered that it was securely 
 barred on the inside; while the noise of some slight move- 
 ment "ftithin apprised him that the place had not been left 
 wholly unguarded. On making these discoveries, he immedi- 
 ately retreated to the rear, v/ithout being seen by the enemy. 
 There, standing beside the wall of the enclosure and eagerly 
 gazing through a small crevice between the timbers, he found 
 Selclen, who, now turning with an expressive look, silently 
 beckoned him to approach. Obeying the sign, Warrington 
 carefully stepped up to the spot and put his eye to the aper- 
 ture which the other, now yielding the place, pointed out with 
 his finger; when all that part of the arena within, which was 
 in front of the house, was opened to his view. And the ob- 
 ject that there met his eye struck him with scarce less sur- 
 prise than what had just been manifested b}^ his more ro- 
 mantic companion, j^ear the barricaded entrance into the 
 yard, instead of a bearded warrior, stood a young and neatly 
 dressed female, of striking beauty, holding a musket, and ap- 
 parently enacting the part of a sentry to fire an alarm gun, 
 or open the gate on the signal of her friends. She had evi- 
 dently heard the movements of those vrithout, and was now 
 
68 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 standing, like a startled fawn, her bosom heaving with sup- 
 l^ressed alarm, her lips slightly drawn apart, and her head 
 turned in the attitude of intense listening — all combining 
 to give an air of charming and picturesque v/ildness to her 
 whole appearance. A svrarthy-faced girl was timidly peep- 
 ing from the nearly shut door of the house, to which, on 
 hearing the noise, she had apparently retreated. From the 
 dress and appearance of the latter, Warrington w^as but at 
 little loss in tracing between these two females the relation 
 of mistress and maid. And now, wdth a rapid survey of the 
 situation of the whole interior, as far as could be seen, he 
 hastily quitted his stand at the crevice and turned to Selden. 
 
 "Isn't she a vision of a creature ?'' eagerly whispered the 
 latter, his fine dark eyes sparkling with animation; "what, 
 in the name of feminine wonders, will you show us next, War- 
 rington? But who and v/hat can she be?" 
 
 "I am scarcely wiser that yourself, in that respect." 
 
 "If the other was a Juno, this, I suppose, must be some 
 warrior sylph of the Green Mountains." 
 
 "iSTot of the Green Mountains, I suspect," rejoined War- 
 rington, "but be she sylph or satan in heavenly guise, we 
 must pay her a visit, and have possession of the works vrithin 
 ten minutes — the enemy are on the retreat for the gate, and 
 there is no time to lose — advance, boys, and lend me your 
 shoulders for a stepping stone to scale this wall." 
 
 The walls of the enclosure were about ten feet high, ex- 
 elusive of the pickets which surmounted them, and which 
 were formed of stakes three or four feet long, sharply point- 
 ed at the top, and set into large augur holes bored in the upper 
 layer of timber. 
 
 Taking his men to a part of the vrall in the rear of the 
 house, which would screen them, in their attempt, from the 
 view of the inmates in front, and thus afford them a better 
 chance to get over unmolested, and without causing an alarm 
 to be given too soon, the leader mounted the shoulders of one 
 of his men, leaped on to the top of the timbers, and soon luck- 
 ily, and without noise, succeeded in wrenching out pickets 
 enough to aive him a ready ingress. And taking up his rifle 
 from the hands of those below, and ordering two of them to 
 follow, and the other, who v/ould have no mean- of getting 
 up, to act in concert with Jones, he now swung himself down 
 upon the ground. In another moment, Selden and the man 
 
 ■•% 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 69 
 
 he had selected having been equally successful, they all three 
 stood undiscovered on the ground, in the narrow space be- 
 tween the wall and the back side of the house. 
 
 "Well, Selden," said Warrington, with a humorous look; 
 "in what manner shall we proceed witli this formidable garri- 
 son — by storm or parley ?^^ 
 
 "The latter, certainl}', unless the storm is to be a storm of 
 kisses," replied the other, in the sam.e spirit; "but seriously, 
 lest the appearance of all of us at once occasion unnecessary 
 alarm, I j^ropose that one of us go forward alone, for this 
 purpose." 
 
 "Tours shall be the chance, then, of displaying your brav- 
 ery, gallantry, or diplomacy, as the case may require, in treat- 
 ing with the fair commander." 
 
 "Thank'ee, Captain." 
 
 "But have a caution, sir — remember that other things some- 
 times inflict wounds besides leaden bullets!" 
 
 "0, borrow no trouble on my account, on either score," gay- 
 ly responded Selden, as he disappeared round the corner of 
 the house, on his delicate mission. 
 
 The merry boast of the last speaker, however, had, but for 
 his good fortune, been a vain one: For the next moment after 
 he passed out of the sight of his friends, the stunning report 
 of a musket saluted their ears, while a bullet whistled by them 
 and buried itself in the wall of the enclosure, a few feet from 
 where the}^ stood. Instantly springing forward toward the 
 scene of action, they found Selden standing in mute surprise, 
 but unhurt, a few yards in front of the house, and as many 
 rods from the mad girl, who, in the suddenness of the alarm 
 and trepidation that seized her, as she accidentally turned 
 round and unexpectedly beheld an enemy within the enclosure 
 and approaching her, had just committed the half-involun- 
 tary, half-frenzied act of discharging at him a well-loaded 
 musket, v\diose fatal contents he had but narrowly escaped. 
 For a moment there was a dead pause, during which neither of 
 the parties stirred from their respective positions, being near- 
 ly invisible to each other in the smoke which was rising in 
 eddying whirls between them.. Soon, however, the light and 
 airy form of the warrior damsel became visible to her aston- 
 ished besiegers. There, pale, agitated and almost frantic with 
 conflicting emotions, she still stood, as if chained to the spot, 
 holding with convulsive grasp the yet smoking musket, and 
 
70 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 appare-ntly scarcely less frightened at what she had done than 
 for her own personal safet}^ 
 
 After gazing an instant with increasing consternation and 
 alarm, as she beheld the now treble number of the enemy, she 
 suddenly threw down her gun, and made a desperate push to 
 unbar the gate. 
 
 '^Nay, nay! lady," exclaimed Warrington, leaping forward 
 to her side, and placing his hands firmly upon the bars; *^'this 
 we cannot suffer now, though we intend you no harm,'^ he 
 continued in a gentler tone: "but you had better retire — 
 this is no place for one of your sex. Mr. Selden, will you con- 
 duct her into the house P'^ 
 
 "Touch me not!" half shrieked the baffled and maddened 
 girl, shrinking from tlie touch of Selden, who now approached, 
 and offered to lead her to the house; "'touch me not, villain 
 — monster!" 
 
 "Be calm — calm your fears, dear lady!" said Selden, in a 
 soothing and res]^)eetful tone, "will 3^ou hear me? Will you 
 look me in the face? There! do I appear like a villain? Novv' 
 hear me: although we may try to restore these possessions 
 to their former, and, as v\'e believe, rightful owners, 3"et, in 
 doing this, v»^e v/ould not willingly injure a single man of the 
 defenders — much less a female. Be prevailed on, then, to 
 retire, and I pledge myself, on the honor of a gentleman, that 
 no hair of your head shall be injured." 
 
 During this address, the kind and tender manner of which 
 seemed to strike unexpectedly on her ears, she turned, and 
 looking full upon the manly and handsome face of Selclen, a 
 change passed over her agitated countenance. Her over- 
 tasked nerves gave way, and her assumed nature melting awa}^ 
 into its original softness, like a storm of March dissolving 
 into the tears of April, she burst into a fit of hysteric weep- 
 ing, and now suffered herself to be conducted unresistingly 
 into the house. 
 
 By this time Donald and his men, who, on hearing the re- 
 port of the musket just fired, as they were making a stand be- 
 hind the last log-heap of their line of defense, hastily dis- 
 charged a parting round at the enemy, and fled for the works, 
 had reached the enclosure; and the former was now vocif- 
 erating the watchword, and rattling away at the gate for ad- 
 m.ittanee. Meanwhile, Jones, with his detachment, being ap- 
 prised that his friends were in possession of the works by a 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 71 
 
 handkerchief which the latter had, as a preconcerted signal, 
 hung on a corner picket, rushed on after tlie retreating 
 Scotchmen on their way to the gate, intending to follow them 
 so closely that they could have no time to reload their guns 
 before they should be compelled to surrender. 
 
 Looking around and seeing his foes close upon him, Mc- 
 intosh redoubled his clam.or to get in. 
 
 "0, why dinna ye open the gaet?^^ exclaimed the impatient 
 and distressed Highlander, still ignorant that any others were 
 wdthin than those he left there; '^'thae feckfuF deevils are 
 hard at our heels. Och! oigh! Jess}^ Jessy Reed! is it my 
 ain Colonel's dochter that wad be doylt at sic a time? An^ 
 Zilpah, is your mistress dead, or ye a' fear't an' fasht the- 
 githar, that ye nae ken the coming o' us?" 
 
 "Your ladies are all safe in the house, my honest friend," 
 cried out Warrington in reply, ''but your quarters are now 
 in possession of other hands. You had better surrender, sir, 
 as it will be of little use to contend against those who are 
 now too strong for yon, both v/ithin and without." 
 
 The astonishment and dismay of the simple-minded Scotch- 
 man at the discover}^ that liis foes had obtained a lodgment 
 within his stronghold, was unbounded; for, having perceived 
 nothing wrong about his works at the time his attention was 
 arrested by the report of the musket within them, and soon 
 after seeing" the man left outside by Warrington running out 
 into the field, he supposed the gun was fired by the bold and 
 wayward girl who had volunteered for the service, only to 
 apprise him that some one was round the outside of the works. 
 And he and his men, having given a merry hurra! for the 
 braw lassie who frightened away the skulking tramper, had 
 come on and reached the gate in the confident expectation that 
 in another moment they should, be safely ensconced within 
 their works, and beyond the reach of all pursuers. 
 
 "Gude guide us!" he ejaculated, looking hurriedly around 
 him, while his countenance exhibited the very picture of per- 
 plexity and distress; "Gude guide us! gor't by the rake-hells 
 wi'in and wi'out! what wad I do! what wad I do!" 
 
 "1^11 jest tell 5'^ou what to do, you queer old divil!" sung 
 out Jones, catching the last part of these exclamations, a- 
 he brought his men to a halt vvdthin two rods of the Scotch- 
 men, who now, mechanically facing about, and presenting 
 their fixed bayonets to their opponents, stood glumly await- 
 
72 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ing the commands of their leader. "1 will tell you what to 
 do/' he repeated^ "you must knuckle to, old fellow. What's 
 the particular use in your standing out against these six load- 
 ed rifles, to say nothing of the Captain and his folks inside, 
 if they should take a notion to wake you up a little? so I 
 take it the cunningest thing you can do jest now is, for you 
 all to throw down your guns and surrender." 
 
 "Hoot awa' mon!" exclaimed Mcintosh, aroused by this 
 fresh summons to surrender; "an' I rede ye'll find wese fight 
 and defend til the last drap o' our hluide! Attention there!" 
 he continued, hastily turning to his men, "prime an' load!" 
 
 A¥arrington now sternly repeated his demand for an im- 
 mediate surrender; but the obstinate Hic^hlander, knowins: 
 no way of obeying the military instruction of his Colonel, "to 
 fight and defend," but to fight on at whatever odds, or what- 
 ever the consequences to him and his men, deigned no answer 
 to this repetition of the summons than by urging his men to 
 despatch in loading their |)ieces. 
 
 "What is to be done. Captain?" coolly said Jones, calling 
 to his superior, and at the same time giving a nod to his men, 
 at which they all promptly cocked their rifles and brought 
 them to their shoulders; "speak tolerable quick, if you've any 
 orders, for they are about loaded, and we some rather give 
 than take under all the circumstances." 
 
 "Neither!" shouted Warrington, "do neither — ^knock up 
 their guns! disarm them! grapple with them, and if too 
 many for you, v/e'll soon be among you." 
 
 A sudden furious rush was now made by the Green Moun- 
 tain Boys on their astonished antagonists, who, not dreaming 
 of this mode of attack, and being busily intent on loading 
 their guns, were taken by complete surprise, and to a great 
 disadvantage to themselves. And before they had recovered 
 from their astonishment sufficiently to put themselves in a 
 posture of defense, most of their guns were wrenched from 
 their hands, their bodies seized round the waist, and some of 
 them thrown to the ground; while grappling man with man, 
 all Avere instantly involved belter skelter, in the tremendous 
 scuffle that now ensued. And although the Green Mountain 
 Boys were now in the exercise of their favorite athletics, and 
 notwithstanding their great strength and suppleness of limb, 
 they soon found that the entire subjection of these brawny 
 and resolute Highlanders was no very easy task. Though 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 73 
 
 thrown to the ground, the}^ had to be held there; though 
 knocked down, they again rose to the fight, and though beat- 
 en, they yielded not. And the victory had, perhaps, been 
 even doubtful, had not Warrington now thrown open the 
 gate, and come, with a fresh force to the rescue. Then, in- 
 deed it was not till they saw their leader l3''ing bound and 
 helpless on the ground that the pugnacious Scotchmen 
 could be brought to say that they yielded themselves pris- 
 oners. 
 
 "I have na 3delded yet, ye hogshoutherin rap scallions!" 
 roared Donald, scornfully, as he lay on the ground with 
 scarcely a member of his bod}^ except his tongue, at liberty; 
 "I hae na yielded, an' as muckle victory as ye think to mak 
 it, ye sal never say that Donald Mcintosh ca'd himself pris- 
 oner wi'out first settling the conditions o' the surrender." 
 
 "What conditions would you have, brave Scot?" asked War- 
 rington, with great show^ of respect, as soon as he could be 
 heard amidst the shouts of laughter that followed this ludi- 
 crous declaration of the vanquished leader. 
 
 "What conditions? Why to be allowed to march out wi a' 
 the honors o' war, an' a safe passport for thae women an' a' 
 the gear, an' propert}^," replied Mcintosh, somewhat soothed 
 b}'' the respectful manner of the other. 
 
 "And will you quietly yield up the place and depart, if we 
 will allow you these conditions?" rejoined Warrington, evi- 
 dently disi)osed to humor the fallen warrior in his laughable 
 demand. 
 
 "We wael bide thae terms of surrender," replied the other, 
 "an' ye hae the word o' Donald Mcintosh till the bargain." 
 
 "We will let the man have his way for the bravery he has 
 shown," said Warrington, turning to his men. "Take away 
 their ammunition, but restore them their guns, and unbind 
 their leader. . ISTow Captain Mcintosh, arise — parade your 
 men, and conduct the surrender in such manner as suits your 
 pleasure." 
 
 Deeply impressed with a sense of what he deemed the honor 
 of his profession required in surrendering so important a 
 military post of the king, as he considered this, Mcintosh 
 arose, formed his men, marched into the enclosure, halted, 
 faced about, sent a corporal to bring out the ladies and place 
 them in the rear, marched out again, grounded arms, and, 
 with an air of great formality and consequence, pronounced 
 
74 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 liimself and followers prisoners of war, to depart on parole, 
 to serve no more on this coast during the war. 
 
 Warrington, from his knowledge of the national character 
 of his prisoners, entertaining no doubts of their fidelity in 
 strictly observing all the stipulations of their leader, now 
 cordially invited them to remain at the post through tho 
 night. And the invitation being as cordially accepted, both 
 parties, within an hour, were commingling in the greate^^t 
 amity and good feeling, the Green Mountain Boys secretly 
 elated with their success in reducing this stronghold of the 
 Yorkers, and their late opponents resting satisfied with the 
 gallant efforts they had made in its defense. 
 
 The next day the vanquished, availing themselves of the 
 permission granted them by the victors, conveyed all the mov- 
 able property of their master on board several large batteaux, 
 v.diich had been kept there for the purpose of exporting lum- 
 ber or other products of the farm, and set sail dov/n the Creek 
 for St. Johns, or some one of Colonel Eeed^s possessions on 
 the York side of the lake, near its northern extremity. 
 
 Thus terminated this unique and curious contest, which 
 proved to be the last one of any magnitude that occurred be- 
 tween the N'ew Hamj)shire grantees and the Yorkers, for the 
 possession of the soil within the disputed territory. The 
 place being thus left in the hands of the Green Mountain 
 Boys, they immediately reinstated the owners and former oc- 
 cupants, and soon after, strengthening and enlarging the 
 defenses into a more regular fortress, they posted a small, 
 permanent force there to prevent so important a position 
 from falling again into the hands of the Yorkers, or any new 
 set of minions which the late military aggressor might see 
 fit to send on for a second forcible seizure, ^o further at- 
 temrpt, however, was made to wrest the place from their 
 liands; nor did any of the late offenders ever make their 
 appearance in the place, except the brave and honest, though 
 strangely mistaken Mcintosh, who, indeed, after a while re- 
 turned, but with views not a little altered. For becoming by 
 some means undeceived as to the nature of his late trust, and 
 being excessively mortified at the development, which robbed 
 him, in his own estimation, of nearly all the glory he had 
 gained in defending it, he seemed to have foresworn the mili- 
 tary, for a more quiet profession. And purchasing a farm 
 in the neighborhood, he settled down upon it, and, in the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 75 
 
 peaceable pursuits of agriculture^ spent the remainder of an 
 unusually long life^ no less respected for scrupulous honesty, 
 than distinguished for the whimsical absurdities that occasion- 
 ally marked his conduct."' 
 
 But there is one of the conquered band whom we have no 
 notion of disposing of in so summary a manner — we mean 
 the heroine of the party — the spirited, wild, wayward, and 
 beautiful Jessy Eeed, who was, indeed, no other than the 
 daughter of the usurping Colonel. The singularity of the 
 position which our band found her occupying at this place, 
 and the attending circumstances, we will give her an oppor- 
 tunity of hereafter explaining, and content ourselves for the 
 present with a few v^^ords respecting her destination, and the 
 manner of her departure from the scene where she was intro- 
 duced to the reader. Instead of going v/ith Mcintosh and 
 his men to the north, she had expressed a wish to proceed to 
 the residence of a family with whom her father was intimate, 
 living near the south end of the lake. But the large boats 
 being all required to transport the effects, and the hands 
 needed to man them, an open skiff, and one man to row it, 
 vv^ere the only accommodations that could well be afforded 
 her. Still she persisted in her determination. But should 
 she be permitted to embark with no more attendants? The 
 air of extreme novelty attending this singular girl, together 
 with her i)ersonal attractions, had from the first made a 
 strong impression on the mind of Selden. He began with 
 pla3dng the soother — succeeded, and became her attendant, 
 the evening after the affray, in a twilight walk along the 
 banks of the Otter, during which he was as much surprised 
 at the exhibition of intelligence and wit, into which he had 
 artfully drawn her, as charmed and interested with her beauty, 
 and a certain piquancy and dash of romance which nature 
 and a semi-military education had thrown into her charac- 
 ter. But how far this interest was reciprocated, he had no 
 means of judging. And should he now offer to become her 
 attendant on her proposed voyage through the lake, would 
 the offer be received? Would she suffer to attend her one of 
 those who had wrested away her father's possessions; one 
 from whom she yesterday recoiled as from the touch of a 
 
 ♦ Mcintosh died in the town of Panton, Vt., near the place gt 
 jijie exploits Jiere 4escribed, |n tjae year 1813, I thi^Jj. 
 
76 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 viper, branding liim with the epithets of villain and mon- 
 ster? Sudden metamorphoses are no miracles in this changing 
 world, thought Selden, and a failure in this case shall not 
 happen from the want of any attempt. He delicately made 
 the proposal. She hesitated, blushed a little, and accepted. 
 
 "Was ever woman in such humor woo'd?" 
 
 CHAPTER Vn. 
 
 'And I methinks, till I am old, 
 A fairer maid shall ne'er behold — 
 The sloping lawn, the cottage small. 
 The outspread lake, the waterfall, 
 And thou the spirit of them all!" 
 
 A few miles from the eastern side of Lake Champlain, and 
 nearly opposite to Crown Point, where now molder the ruins 
 of one of Tthe oldest fortresses in ]N"orth America, a bald, jag- 
 ged, and desolate looking peak, known by the ungracious ap- 
 pellation of Snake Mountain, stands frowning over the sur- 
 rounding levels in solitary and repulsive grandeur. This de- 
 tached and loft}^ mountain, being the highest and indeed the 
 only eminence of any magnitude, in all that extensive and 
 beautiful tract of country, lying between the lake and Otter 
 Creek for the last thirty miles of its course, served among 
 the settlers, before roads were much opened in this part of 
 fhe wilderness, as a guide, or land-mark for all those who 
 had occasion to travel the woodlands in this vicinity. And 
 Warrington, after safely establishing his friends in their 
 possessions at the Lower Falls, and despatching a small band 
 of his forces in pursuit of the York Surveyor, repaired, with 
 the remainder of his men, to the western brow of this moun- 
 tain, as a rendezvous to which his whole party were to assem- 
 ble when the surveyor was secured, proposing to employ the 
 interim in making observations preparatory to some con- 
 templated operations in the neighborhood of the place. He 
 was, as the reader has already been apprised, the owner, under 
 a New Hampshire Grant, of a considerable body of wild land, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 77 
 
 lying along the shore of the lake, upon a part of which, he 
 had been informed, some one had entered under color of a 
 York title. And as the tract of land in question was situated 
 between this mountain and the lake, it was now his intention 
 to ascertain whether the information he had received was 
 correct, and, if found to be so, to take measures for ejecting 
 the intruder, whose name even was unknown to him. With 
 this object in view, our leader, leaving his men to prepare a 
 shelter for their temporary quarters, took his rifle, and set off 
 alone through the woods in the direction in which the im- 
 provements of the supposed intruder were said to be located. 
 After traveling some miles in this direction, he arrived at 
 the top of the last offset, in the lakeward slope of the coun- 
 try, before reaching the shore, which now appeared a short 
 distance in front, while an opening of considerable extent 
 became visible on the left. Approaching the skirt of this 
 opening, and carefully noticing the natural land marks around 
 it, he soon became convinced that the whole clearing, with all 
 the improvements, was embraced v/ithin the boundaries de- 
 scribed in his own patent. Having satisfied himself in this 
 respect, he now turned his attention more particularly to the 
 improvements themselves, and felt a degree of surprise on 
 witnessing their comparative extent and superiority over the 
 rest of those of this recently settled country. The house was 
 uncommonly neat and comfortable in its appearance, and 
 very pleasantly situated on the green and graduated margin 
 of a beautiful little brook, that meandered, with many a glit- 
 tering cascade, throligh a smooth meadow, and entered the 
 woods a few rods below the spot v/here he stood. The out- 
 house, barn, garden, and every thing around, were in good 
 keeping — all going to furnish unequivocal indication, that 
 enterprise, taste, and some degree of wealth, had here been 
 employed. Much did Warrington wonder who could be the 
 enterprising occupant, who had accomplished all this in so 
 short a time, and still more, that it could have been done 
 without more particular intelligence reaching him respecting 
 it. But whoever he might be, it was not probable that he 
 would part with such fair possessions without a struggle; and 
 as a garrison was near, the troops of which were understood 
 to be in the York interest, and stood ready, doubtless, to pro- 
 tect the intruder, Warrington at once saw that a considerable 
 force might be necessary to dispossess him, and even should 
 
■'■ff 
 
 78 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 the attempt be successfully made, the same force might be 
 required to be permanently stationed there to defend it. After 
 revolving this subject in his mind awhile, he concluded to 
 defer it for farther consideration, and perhaps for a consulta- 
 tion with his companions; and now dismissing the matter 
 from his mind, he again gave his attention to the inviting 
 prospect around him. The day was bright and tranquil; the 
 balmy breath of spring, wafted over flov^ering field and bud- 
 ding forest, was dallying with the whispering pines above, 
 thus gratifying one sense with delicious odors, and soothing 
 another with the soft and dying murmurs of Eolian melody. 
 The long tract of the far stretching waters of the lake, sleep- 
 ing in the ra^^s of the descending sun, shone Vvdth dazzling 
 brightness, which, at intervals, v\'as beautifully relieved by 
 the dark green islands which studded the glittering expanse. 
 The sloping uplands beyond, which reanimating nature was 
 just beginning to clothe in the green vesture of summer, rose 
 up from the long, line of nodding pines that lined the west- 
 ern margin of the lake, in beautiful perspective, each indi- 
 vidual feature of the landscape becoming more and more in- 
 distinct in the mellowing distance, till the view was termi- 
 nated by the last long ridge of climacteric mountains, whose 
 tall ice-clad peaks, fiercely flashing in the sun, were marked 
 in bold outlines against the cloudless blue of the heavens. A 
 solitary flag was waving over the massy and frowning walls 
 of the opposite fortress, on which the Mene Tekel had already 
 been traced by the unseen hand that writes the destinies of 
 nations: for the emblem lion, that there now proudly floated 
 on the breeze, and giorpng in his strength and prowess, 
 seemed bidding defiance to the world, was doomed, before 
 many revolving suns had finished their daily course, to be 
 plucked down by those, who were alike fearless in their re- 
 sistance of oppression, whether coming from a sister colony 
 or a parent country. 
 
 While Warrington, who was an enthusiastic admirer of na- 
 ture, with whom he particularly loved to commune in the 
 solitudes of the forest, where her empire was undisturbed by 
 the works of art, was giving his soul to the magnificent pros- 
 pect before him, he was recalled from his reverie by the light 
 plashing of oars in the waters below. And turning his eyes 
 in the direction of the sound, he indistinctly discerned through 
 the trees a small skiff approaching the shore of the lake. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS, 79 
 
 rowed by a single person, who, on reaching his landing, drew 
 np his boat, and, after taking out of it a gun, ascended the 
 bank. As he emerged from the thick underwood that skirted 
 the shore into the more open forest, and advanced into the 
 higher grounds, Warrington soon discovered, from his uni- 
 form, that lie was a soldier, or some subaltern, from the fort, 
 who had come over, he concluded, in search of the partridge, 
 or other light game, with vdiich the woods here very plenti- 
 fully abounded. The man still continued leisurely to ad- 
 vance into the forest till he had reached the runlet before 
 mentioned; when something on his right, in the direction of 
 the clearing, seemed suddenly to attract his notice. And, 
 after pausing awhile in apparent doubt and indecision, he 
 began somewhat cautiously, and with an air of hesitation, to 
 move forward towards the object which had arrested his at- 
 tention, and which he still appeared to keep anxiously in 
 view. Our leader, who in the meanwhile kept his stand un- 
 observed, supposing the other had sprung some game at 
 Avhich he was endeavoring to obtain a favorable shot, con- 
 tinued, with a sort of listless curiosity, to watch his motions, 
 till he had passed out of sight behind an intervening cops- 
 wood of low firs, that thickly extended along the slope, some 
 half dozen rods from the clearing. In a few moments, and as 
 the former yet stood patiently listening for the report of the 
 expected shot, the voice of a female, coming from the quar- 
 ter to which his attention was directed, and uttering a slight 
 cry, as of mingled sj-irprise and alarm, reached his ear. The 
 voice of the man was next heard in the earnest, though flur- 
 ried tones of seeming entreaty, which appeared to be followed 
 by a hasty movement towards the object addressed, — and in 
 a moment more, a piercing shriek rose wildly from the spot. 
 Grasping his rifle, and plunging into the thicket, Warring- 
 ton bounded down the hill with the speed of a wild deer to- 
 wards the scene; and in another instant the parties were re- 
 vealed to his sight — a young lady of the most interesting ex- 
 terior, with her hair loosened and falling in disorder over her 
 neck and shoulders, and her flushed countenance eloquent 
 with indignation and alarm, as with half-averted face she 
 struggled to free herself from the fellow, who, by a grasp of 
 one hand on her garment, was endeavoring to detain her in 
 her attempted flight. One glance at the victim of this rude 
 assault sufficed to tell the unexpecting and astonished War- 
 
 6 
 
80 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 rington that the fair original of that picture^ which had been 
 so long engraven on his heart, was before him, requiring his 
 instant aid and protection. 
 
 ^'^Back rnfEan, back!" exclaimed he, as with leveled piece 
 he rushed upon the soldier, who stood mute and confounded 
 before so unlooked-for an apparition; "back! I say — unhand 
 the lady, or you die on the spot!" 
 
 Quailing beneath the stern and withering glances of the 
 other, the abashed aggressor immediately relinquished his 
 hold on the girl, and muttering a denial of any intentional 
 wrong and a few curses at the interference of Warrington, 
 shrunk away and disappeared in the woods. 
 
 "I am much indebted to you, sir," said the still agitated 
 maiden, scarce audibly, her eyes timidly bent on the ground, 
 as her protector now gently advanced to her side. 
 
 "Miss Hendee" — said Warrington, hesitatingly, after an 
 awkward silence of a moment; "do I not behold my former 
 acquaintance. Miss Alma Hendee?" 
 
 "Mr. Howard?" exclaimed the girl, as with deep surprise 
 she now for the first time lifted her eyes to scan the features 
 of her before unrecognized deliverer. 
 
 A slight flush passed over the face of the other, on hearing 
 himself addressed by that name, and he opened his lips as 
 if to correct his fair friend, but a second thought seemed to 
 repress the expression of the first, and, quickly recovering 
 from his hesitation, he observed, ''1 little thought to have 
 met you here. Miss Hendee. I could almost forgive the 
 wretch who caused you this fright, since he has been the 
 means of my meeting again with one whom I have never ceased 
 to remember mth pleasure. But you have companions near, 
 surely?" 
 
 "]^o nearer than the house, from which I wandered down 
 the run just now, and, tempted by these flowrets peeping up 
 along the banks, extended my ramble, perhaps imprudently, 
 thus far into the woods." 
 
 "And is this fair situation, then, your home — ^the resi- 
 dence of your father?" 
 
 "Certainly it is," replied Miss Hendee, resuming her nat- 
 ural cheerfulness; "why, surely, Mr. Howard, you did not 
 suppose I had turned wood-nymph to wander in the forests, 
 and house in the caves — did you?" 
 
 "I hardly knew what to think, for it never occurred to me 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 81 
 
 that the father of Alma Hendee could be in ^^ossession of 
 this beautiful opening." 
 
 ^^And why not, my dear sir? Why, we have been here 
 these three years. And if we have not made the wilderness 
 blossom like the rose, we have at least got so far as to make 
 the rose blossom in the wilderness — come, you shall attend 
 me home, and see what a pretty flower-garden I have in prog- 
 ress." 
 
 ^To the opening, at least," responded Warrington, obeying 
 the motions of his fair companion. 
 
 ^^And now, sir," resumed the latter gayly, as they proceeded 
 on their way, "having answered your questions, let me be the 
 catechist awhile, will you? And in the first place, from what 
 cloud so opportunely dropped my gallant deliverer, just at the 
 particular moment he was wanted?" 
 
 ^'I, too, am an inhabitant of the Green Mountain settle- 
 ment, though not of this vicinity," answered the other; "and 
 you see," he continued, smilingly pointing to his rifle, "that 
 m}^ old propensities still hang about me; and for the pres- 
 ent you must take this as an explanation of my wandering 
 into this section of the country. I had just arrived at the 
 border of the woods up yonder, and was viewing your delight- 
 ful situation, when your cries brought me to your side." 
 
 "I am half ashamed of the noise I made," rejoined the 
 lady, "and I presume it was unnecessary. He has occasion- 
 ally been at our house; and how far he considered himself 
 warranted on such an acquaintance to obtrude himself as he 
 did, I know not. But being startled by the fellow^s unex- 
 pected appearance, and uncertain, from his hesitating and 
 equivocal manner, what might be the nature of the proposals, 
 which he said he wished to make, and which at last he seemed 
 determined I should stop to hear, I became much alarmed, 
 I will confess; though I should feel excessively mortified to 
 have any stir made about it. I hope you will not mention the 
 affair to my father when we get home?" 
 
 "Certainly not, if it is your wish — that is, I would not, if I 
 were to see him," replied Warrington, pausing, as they now 
 came into the open field. 
 
 "But surely, sir, you will go to the house? My father will 
 be very much pleased to renew his acquaintance with his Doc- 
 tor Hunter, as he would always persist in calling you." 
 
 "Your kind invitation^ believe me^ Miss Hendee, is most 
 
 6 
 
82 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 gratefully received; but I think it would hardly be advisable 
 for me at this time to accept it." 
 
 "And why not? — so near, and not visit us? I know my 
 father will be delighted to see you, and have you spend sev- 
 eral days with us — particularly so, I imagine, at the present 
 time, when he is not without apprehensions of an attack from 
 the Green Mountain Boys, as they call them. Wh}^ did you 
 know that a band of these men have, for several days past, 
 been ravaging the settlement along Otter Creek, headed by 
 that terrible fellow, Captain Warrington?" 
 
 "I heard," replied the other, confused and stammering at 
 this unexpected question, and the commentary on his own 
 character which he perceived it involved in the mind of his 
 fair companion, "I heard — ^that is, I was aware that the per- 
 son you mention had come into this part of the country. But 
 your father need be under no apprehension on that account;" 
 he continued, regaining his composure, "for I think I can 
 very safely answer for Warrington, that neither he, nor any 
 of his followers shall ever disturb the father of Alma Hendee." 
 
 "You can! you can? But why couple my name so very 
 oddly with that of this fearful man? — I do not fully compre- 
 hend — I know there are two parties in this settlement, and I 
 suppose he and his company pretend to be acting for the New 
 Hampshire party. Perhaps you belong to this party, and 
 know him, and can influence him in our behalf? Oh! if you 
 would! — But come, do go to the house with me, and assure 
 my father of this." 
 
 "Wot now — another time — perhaps to-morrow, I may visit, 
 you — that is if — " and Warrington paused and hesitated, as 
 if doubtful whether to proceed, while, with a waiting and 
 wondering expression, the girl stood earnestly looking him 
 in the face. "Miss Hendee," he at length resumed, somewhat 
 pensively, "you left the place, which afforded me the pleas- 
 ure of your acquaintance, unexpectedly, — quite so to me. 
 On my return a day or two after our last interview, to my 
 great disappointment, I found you were gone — ^whither, I 
 was never able to discover." 
 
 "We intended you no disrespect, however, Mr. Howard, in 
 leaving thus unceremonious^," replied the girl, exchanging 
 the free and cordial, for a more guarded and distant manner, 
 as if she instinctively anticipated what was to follow. "My 
 lather, who, as you are aware, bad then heoome able to resume 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 83 
 
 his journey, gained some information from a traveler, who 
 called in your absence, which led him to determine on leav- 
 ing the place the next morning. I should certainly have been 
 happy at that time to see you again and apprise you of our 
 departure.^^ 
 
 '^At that time,^' rejoined the other, catching the emphasis, 
 and slowly, and with a tone of disappointment, repeating the 
 expression, "at that time," — and have Miss Hendee's feel- 
 ings, then, changed since I last saw her?'' 
 
 "I then esteemed you, Mr. Howard, much — very much, 
 indeed," she evasively replied, looking down, while her fin- 
 gers were busy in tearing a flower that she had plucked by 
 the way: "I thought highly of you — very; and I still know 
 not why I should not regard you with the same respect." 
 
 "Respect, my dear Miss Hendee, is a term that falls coldly 
 on the ears of those who are looking, or at least hoping, for 
 a warmer expression. You were sensible, were you not, that, 
 at the time to which w^e have been alluding, I was cherishing 
 for you a tenderer sentiment?" 
 
 "I had no right to understand so," tremulously replied the 
 lovely listener, the quick heavings of whose bosom plainly 
 told the tumult that had been awakened within; "you cer- 
 tainlv made no professions that would warrant me in such 
 belief." 
 
 "Miss Hendee," resumed the other, after a pause, "you 
 were, if I rightly understood your character, as I presume 
 you are now, a frank and ingenuous girl. May I then not 
 hope, that, in kindness to me, you will give a frank an- 
 swer to a question which I would ask you?" 
 
 "H a proper one." 
 
 "If then a profession, which I intended to have made you, 
 had opportunity been allowed, were to be made now, are 
 there more obstacles now, than then, to prevent it being favor- 
 ably received?" 
 
 She made, no rej^ly, and Warrington, stealing a glance at 
 her averted face, perceived that her eyes were suffused with 
 tears. 
 
 "There is, indeed, then, one between us," at length said 
 the other sadl}?". 
 
 "There is," was the reply in a tone of regret, which should 
 have satisfied even the monopolizing heart of a lover. But 
 love with men, oftener than otherwise wholly blind to pol- 
 
84 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 icy, is rarely content to rest satisfied with those indire-ct ex- 
 pressions and delicate intimations, which are a surer proof 
 of its existence in the female heart than the most open decla- 
 rations, and, absurdly craving more, is not unfrequently com- 
 pelled to put up with less. It was thus with our lover as he 
 rejoined — 
 
 ^^May I not have the happiness to hear those lips declare 
 that my affection has been in some measure reciprocated?" 
 
 Still there was no reply. 
 
 ^^Am I to understand," resumed Warrington, "that Miss 
 Hendee has pledged her hand irrevocably? And can it be 
 that she has pledged herself too for a union into which her 
 heart can never enter?" 
 
 "What have I said, Mr. Howard," replied the girl, looking 
 up with the air of offended pride, "to warrant such questions? 
 With some, perhaps, I might not be slow to resent your in- 
 timation. And as it is," she continued with great dignity, 
 "you will hold me- excused, I trust, for declining to commune 
 further on a subject which should now be as uninteresting to 
 you, as it is embarrassing, and even painful to me." 
 
 "Sureh^, surely! dearest lady, you cannot believe that I 
 would intentionally offend?" said the disconcerted lover. "We 
 will, however, dismiss this subject for the present, if so un- 
 pleasant." 
 
 "For the present, and forever!" 
 
 "If it must be so — and yet — " 
 
 "N"o more, no more — I know not even that I have done 
 right in listening to what you have already said, or remain- 
 ing here so long. You will now receive my adieu, and excuse 
 my immediate return." 
 
 "One moment yet — ^you will not deny me another inter- 
 view?" 
 
 "At my father's house, and in my father's presence, most 
 certainly not." 
 
 "Even on these hard conditions, I will, then, soon seek it — 
 cruel one, adieu." 
 
 "Adieu!" responded the beauteous girl, as, tripping light- 
 ly away, she looked back with a smile so eloquently sweet, that 
 it erased in an instant the effect of every frown she had given, 
 and every negative she had uttered, from the mind of her re- 
 pulsed, but not despairing lover. 
 
 The progress we have now made in our story makes it neces- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 85 
 
 sary to recur to some incidents of an earlier clate^ connected 
 with several of onr leading personages^ and having a bearing 
 on the events yet to follow: — 
 
 Some three or four years previous to the events just re- 
 lated, and when the settlers were first meditating an open re- 
 sistance to the authorities of New York, it became an object 
 with the former to ascertain how far the government of that 
 23rovince was there sustained in its attempted aggression on 
 the Grants, by the feelings and opinions of the people at 
 large— whether, indeed, there did not exist among that peo- 
 ple, especially those living near the disputed territory, a con- 
 siderable degree of sympathy for the settlers in their unright- 
 eous persecutions. For in the event of such a sympathy, the 
 latter believed that the meditated resistance might be ven- 
 tured upon with safety, or with safety, at least, when com- 
 pared with a case where the feelings of the people were en- 
 listed on the side of the government. It was therefore de- 
 termined that an emissary should be sent into the part of IsTew 
 York lying contiguous to the Grants, who, traveling in dis- 
 guise, or with disguised objects, should endeavor to ascertain 
 the true sentiments and feelings of the people on this sub- 
 ject: and Warrington Avas the person selected for this deli- 
 cate, though important enterprise. Accordingly setting out 
 alone with his riile, and traveling on foot under the assumed 
 name of Howard, and in the character of a hunter and herbal- 
 ist, he traveled all that section of the country into which he 
 had been 23articulai;iy sent, calling at almost every house in 
 his course and mingling with all companies and classes in 
 ]3ursuing the objects of his secret mission. And it was while 
 on this excursion, that he accidentally formed the interest- 
 ing acquaintance, of which the reader has already been ap- 
 prised. Haj^pening on one of the main roads leading from 
 the east to Alban}^, he was overtaken by a gentleman and 
 lady in a carriage, traveling towards the last mentioned j)lace. 
 They had passed by him but a few rods, however, before the 
 horse suddenly took fright and overturned the carriage, by 
 which the man was seriousl}^ hurt, though the lady fortunate- 
 ly escaped with little injury. Springing forward to their aid, 
 Warrington, after securing the horse with no little difficulty 
 and danger, turned his attention to the travelers, who proved 
 to be a father and daughter of the name of Hendee. Assist- 
 ing the wounded man into his vehicle, and placing his daugh- 
 
86 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ter "by Ms side to support liim^ lie attended tliem, leading the 
 liorse to the nearest habitation^ which was a poor inn not far 
 from the place of the accident. And having formerly been 
 placed in circnmstanees in which he had gained considerable 
 practical knowledge of medicine^, he, in the absence of a reg- 
 ular physician in that thinly settled countr}^, undertook the 
 cure of the invalid himself, closely attending him till he be- 
 came convalescent, and repeating his visits, at short intervals, 
 during the two or three weeks that elapsed before the patient 
 was able to resume his journey. And it was during these 
 visits, in which he had evidently found great favor in the 
 eyes of both father and daughter, by the kindness and deli- 
 cacy of his attentions, that he had contracted an intimacy 
 with the latter, which soon passed the ordinary boundaries 
 of friendship, and ripened into that blissful state of the affec- 
 tions, which constitutes, perhaps, the most purely happy 
 period in the course of love — when the feelings of parties are 
 tacitly understood and appreciated by each other, before an 
 open avowal occurs to throw with its business like aspect, the 
 first shade of earth over this paradise of the heart. It was 
 at this interesting stage of the intimacy that Warrington re- 
 turned one day, after a longer absence than usual, and found, 
 to his great disappointment and regret, that Hendee and his 
 daughter had departed the day before, without leaving any 
 note or message, as he then could learn, explanatar}'- of their 
 unannounced, and, to him unexpected departure. Believ- 
 ing from this, that he might have been perhaps, deceived in 
 regard to the nature and extent of the interest, which he had 
 flattered himself he had created in the bosom of Miss Hendee, 
 and feeling a little piqued at this appearance of neglect on 
 the part of both father and daughter, he soon ceased his un- 
 availing enquiries concerning the family. And he had never 
 heard anything further respecting them, or received the 
 slightest information of the place of their subsequent resi- 
 dence, except the vague and uncertain information which he 
 gatliered in his adventure at the subterraneous abode before 
 described, from that time to the present hour, when to his 
 utter surprise, he found them located on his own land. And 
 now having no suspicion that they were conscious of intruding 
 on the rights of another, and last of all, his own, in taking 
 up this place under a York patent, and still cherishing all his 
 former sentiments for the daughter, whose heart he believed 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 87 
 
 he still retained notwithstanding the claims of another to 
 her hand, he resolved to relinquish his right to the land, and 
 even keep his ownership-, if possihle, a secret from the family, 
 while he should prosecute his suit with the girl, at least till 
 he had unraveled the mystery that still seemed to hang over 
 her, and become better satisfied of the hopelessness of his case, 
 devolving tliis subject in his mind, he returned to his en- 
 campment, and announced to his wondering companions, that 
 he should have no occasion to employ them in the affair which, 
 as they were apprised, he had been to investigate. 
 
 CHAPTEE VIII. 
 
 "Let us be conjunctive in our revenge." 
 " 'Tis lucky! I can work my purposes. 
 While seeming but to do the state a service." 
 
 Perhaps there is no kind of hatred, that finds harbor in the 
 human breast, more deadly and inveterate than that which 
 is entertained by the perpetrators of base actions against those 
 who have detected them in guilt. Nor does the degree of 
 inveteracy with which this fiendish feeling is secretly cher- 
 ished by the former, appear to be very often lessened by 
 any forbearance which may be exercised by the latter in not 
 exposing their baseness, or bringing them to punishment. 
 We will not detain the reader, however, with any speculations 
 of our own on this dark and somewhat singular leaf in the 
 history of the human j)assions, but leave the subject to be il- 
 lustrated by those incidents of our story, by which these re- 
 marks were here suggested. 
 
 When the discomfited soldier retreated from the presence 
 of Warrington and the rescued maiden, he concealed himself 
 in a thicket, from which he could esjDy the movements of the 
 couple till they separated. And when this had taken place, 
 he proceeded directly to his boat, and entering it, pushed for 
 the opposite shore, plying his oars with a sort of nervous and 
 spiteful energy, as if impelled by the commingling feelings 
 of chagrin and revenge, that v,^ere working within him at the 
 
88 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 thoughts of his defeat, and the consciousness that he had dis- 
 graced himself forever in the eyes of the girl, as well as ex- 
 posed himself to the contempt and abhorrence of her deliv- 
 erer. 
 
 "Fool! fool!" he angrily muttered to himself, as he urged 
 his skiff through the waters, which, as if in mockery at the 
 dark turmoil of his breast, were now sparkling in cheerful 
 brightness in the rays of the setting sun; "'stupid fool, to 
 think a timid girl would listen to me in such a place! and 
 more fool still to manage so blunderingly as to alarm her, 
 when, if I had begun right, I might have told her all, or at 
 least found out whether she would have made it to mxy advan- 
 tage to do it. And then to mend the matter, I must try, in 
 my eagerness, to stop her! which brought down that cursed 
 interloper upon me, as if the old boy sent him just at that 
 moment to make an affair out of the trifle! I wonder what 
 they supposed I wanted to do? — that is plain, however, what 
 they thought; but they are mistaken: Bill Darrow for once 
 is accused of what he is not guilty! ha! ha! ain't that a 
 curiosity! AVell, the plan, like every woman plan I ever laid, 
 is all blown to the devil now, I suppose; though I can yet 
 bring it about with the old man, if I choose. But that scoun- 
 drel, d — n him! whoever he may be, Fll dog him to the death, 
 but Fll pay him for his rascally interference!" 
 
 While thus reasoning and raving by turns, in the way of 
 soothing his smarting feelings, he had nearly reached his 
 destined landing, a small cove about a furlong north of the 
 fort, when he caught a glimpse of a man standing among the 
 bushes on the shore, apparently awaiting the approach of the 
 boat. 
 
 "Ah! who have we here?" resumed the desperado, as, 
 shading his eyes with his hand from the blinding rays of re- 
 flected light that fell in his face, he threw a scrutinizing 
 glance at the person of the other; "why! can it be? — it is — 
 Jake Sherwood himself! What in the devil's name brought 
 him here just at this time? Ah! my dear fellow, you may thank 
 your good stars, and evil ones, that you are not by this time 
 pretty devilishly well dished! But can he have mistrusted my 
 good will? No, no! — the secret is still my own, and for the 
 present shall remain so, as my best stock in trade. Yet what 
 ran he want with me? Some Beelzebub errand to be done, 
 I'll warrant mel Well, he shall pay roundly for doing it, be- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 8^ 
 
 sides shelling out something more than promises on the old 
 score, or I'll yet put him in a spot he will little relish, I am 
 thinking/' 
 
 ^'Well, Darrow/' said Sherwood, as the former now reached 
 the shore, and, pulling up his boat, mounted the hank; "sport- 
 ing a little over yonder this afternoon, eh? What luck? 
 Kone! Well, that is the way sometimes. But come, take a 
 seat on this old log here, in the bushes. I should like a little 
 talk with you; so lay aside that grim scowl of yours, and be 
 sociable once, if you can." 
 
 "Sociable! hum! I should like to know who in hell could 
 feel sociable, or wear a decent face, while his conscience is 
 loaded down with such soul-damning secrets as these of 
 YOurs." 
 
 "My secrets! ha! ha! — as if they were not yours, too!'' 
 
 "And they may be somebody's else, too, unless you mend 
 your manners, and show yourself a little more liberal than 
 you have been lately, Jake Sherwood. But what brings you 
 here now, and what would you have with me ?" 
 
 "Oh, nothing very special — nothing of any great conse- 
 quence" — 
 
 "N'othing very special, hey? When did Jake Sherwood, 
 or his father before him, ever call on Bill Darrow without a 
 special object, I should like to know?" 
 
 "Well, well, supposing I have an errand, what then? — what 
 is there so out of the way in that, you surly one?" 
 
 "Why, nothing out of the waj^ but exactly in the way, as 
 I said. But what is the use of puttering with your round 
 about moonshine? — out with it!" 
 
 "Darrow," said the other, after glancing about him as if 
 to make sure that there was no one within hearing; "there 
 are several of the York outlaws prowling about Otter Creek. 
 AVe came near seizing them a few days ago at Lake Dun- 
 more, though" they escaped us, and that was not all — but no 
 matter — they, day before yesterday, Avent down the Creek to 
 the Lower Falls, and took, and laid waste Colonel Eeed's 
 plantation there. And their leader, one Warrington, with 
 part of his gang, has since moved off somewhere in this direc- 
 tion. ISTow there is a reward of about two hundred crowns to 
 be had for taking this fellow. I have had my eye on him 
 some time, and now I have some particular. reasons for wish- 
 ing him secured." 
 
90 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 '^'Wliat a kind of a looking fellow is he?" asked Darrow, 
 with considerable interest. ^'Do yon know Mm by sight?" 
 
 "Yes — a tall, square built, and rather good looking fellow — 
 that is, he might appear so to one who did not know him for 
 a scoundrel." 
 
 "The same, by heavens!" exclaimed Darrow, after musing 
 a moment. Yes, he must be the very fellow I saw not two 
 hours ago, as I was skirting along Captain Hendee's clear- 
 ing over yonder. He was walking with a woman near the 
 woods." 
 
 "How! what woman? — not Alma Hendee?" 
 
 "Can't say." 
 
 "^0, no, it must have been the maid — and yet — ^but con- 
 found the audacious scoundrel, how came he there, and so 
 soon acquainted with either maid or mistress, unless my sus- 
 picions are right?" 
 
 "All that you can answer as well as I — though come to 
 think more about -the woman's make and gear, I'll be hanged 
 if I don't believe that it was the old man's daughter." 
 
 "Fire and furies! it must be so." 
 
 "Wh3^, what are you so wrathy about?" said Darrow, with 
 a malicious smile. "You are not afraid the fellow will run 
 away with your girl, are you, Jake?" 
 
 "My girl! who told you so? ISTot mine, unless I please, I 
 woidd have you to know! ISTo, no, sir, no fear of this pol- 
 troon in that. But still I can't exactly comprehend the move- 
 ment. If he was reconnoitering with a view to ousting the 
 old man, would he be v^alking out so familiarly with his 
 daughter ? It don't look like it — no, it means something else, 
 which must the sooner be seen to. And thanks to the rascal's 
 boldness, he has put his fate in my power quicker than I ex- 
 pected." 
 
 "How — in what way?" 
 
 "Why, don't you see. Bill?" said Sherwood, turning with 
 a familiar and coaxing air to the minion, "don't you see how 
 easily he can be entrapped, if he remains at Hendee's to-night, 
 or repeats his visit?" 
 
 "Ay, but how would you manage the business?" 
 
 "You are a sergeant — take a file of men, go over, surround 
 the hou=e and take him. Your superior won't object." 
 
 "But how am I to know^ when he is to be found there?" 
 
 ^T[ will go over myself, reconnoiter as soon as dark, with- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 91 
 
 out showing myself to alarm him, and if I find the game be 
 there, I will make a torch signal at the landing. You must 
 keep watch, and as soon as you see the light, come over with 
 your men. If he is not there to-night, he will be soon; Alma 
 Hendee is not a girl to be once seen and draw no second visit. 
 Yes, by the powers of darkness, I have him at last! But sup- 
 posing he does not come into this trap, he certainly is prowl- 
 ing somewhere near; and you can prowl, too. Bill. And — 
 at the last pinch — you are a good rifle shot, I think, Darrow ?" 
 
 "Ha! ha! out at last, then! I thought it would finally 
 come to that. Jake Sherwood, you are a book that I can read 
 by looking on the cover." 
 
 "Then you know what I would have you do?" 
 
 "Yes, but vv^here would be the reward in that case? The 
 Yorkers don't pay for heads that have been bored, do they?" 
 
 "The governor's proclamation don't say delivered alive, 
 but only delivered. But whatever question there might be 
 about that in some cases, there shall be no failure in this. I 
 have influence enough at headquarters to see that your bill 
 is footed if you bring this about, in any shape." 
 
 "And you will do it?" 
 
 "Upon honor." 
 
 "Upon interest, you mean." 
 
 "Upon both, if you please." 
 
 "That will do, and for this d n'd good reason — if the 
 
 security is weak, I know of that which can easily be made to 
 enforce the bargain, Jake Sherwood, I am your man." 
 
 "JSTow that looks like a cheerful good will, without your 
 usual drawback of grumbling. Well, we understand each 
 other, do we?" 
 
 "Hum! a d n'd sight too well, Jake!" 
 
 "Why, w^e part friends, don't we?" 
 
 "Yes, and It rests with you whether we remain so. But I 
 must be back to the fort. And as it is getting dusk, you go 
 directly over, I suppose?" 
 
 "Soon — but you understand that we are to try to cage him 
 at Hendee's first. Eemember to look out for the signal!" 
 
 "Ay, ay." 
 
 "Yes, my suspicions were right about him and the girl," 
 soliloquized the plotting agent, after the departure of his 
 reckless minion, "But never mind, I have put the blood- 
 hound on the scent; and if the siniinal don't forget his own 
 
92 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 nature, in addition to putting a stop to this business, I shall 
 soon have the pleasure of seeing that haughty leader of these 
 savage rebels atone for every blov/ which he caused to be in- 
 flicted on me at that accursed lake! And that jeering lieu- 
 tenant and all the rest, reward or no reward, shall have their 
 turn next. And then their executioner, if I can contrive to 
 make the hated scoundrel such, must be m^ade in some shape 
 to follow them. Perhaps, however, he may be disposed of in 
 the war said to be brewing. At all events, he is too danger- 
 ous a fellow to my interests to be suffered to remain here long, 
 to say nothing of the insults which I am compelled to bear, 
 and seem to take in good part, from his devil's tongue. I 
 wonder, though, what made him undertake this dangerous 
 business so readily? — the reward, I suppose; — well, let him 
 have it, revenge is dearer to me than money. But perhaps I 
 can contrive to get both — if I could but manage, after se- 
 curing this renegade Captain to make Darrow and some of 
 the rest mutual executioners — ha! that would be glorious! 
 But of that hereafter, now for the first object.'' 
 
 So saying, and partially arousing himself from his reverie, 
 he proceeded along the shore a few rods to a point where he 
 had left his skiff, and, entering it, began to pull slowly for the 
 residence, on the opposite shore, already described, to which 
 we will next take the reader, for the purpose of introducing 
 some new characters, and making the place the future scene 
 of a large 23ortion of the incidents to follow. 
 
 CHAPTEE IX, 
 
 "I prythee, daughter, do not make me mad." 
 
 It was on the second evening after the incidents related in 
 the two preceding chapters occurred, that an elderly gentle- 
 man sat at the door of the pleasantly situated cottage before 
 described, quietly indulging in the habit-made luxury of 
 puffing the Indian v/eed, as, enjoying the bland breezes of 
 tho evening, ho cab-nly looked out upon the broad expanse of 
 the lake, and the diversified objects of the landscape around. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 93 
 
 over which the shades of night were now rapidly gathering. 
 Now his eyelids would droop and his head sink, slightly, to- 
 wards his breast, under the sedative influence of the nar- 
 cotic fumes he was imbibing, aided by the ceaseless croak- 
 ings of the frogs, whose evening choruses rose from the 
 marshy shores of the lake in drowsy monotony on the ear. 
 And now he would partially arouse, and his eye would light 
 up, for an instant, with returning consciousness, as his ear 
 caught the new note of some bird of passage just returned 
 from his hibernal flight to the w^arm south, and now for the 
 first time heard, marking the progress of the season. The 
 man might have been sixty, though his appearance indicated 
 a greater number of years; for his head w^as nearly white 
 with the frosts that the fatigues and privations of the camp, 
 in which the vigor of his manhood had been spent, had prema- 
 turely sprinkled on his head. And yet, his erect figure, and 
 keenly flashing eye, as his attention became aroused to ob- 
 jects around him, betokened a spirit still unbroken, and in- 
 tellects still unimpaired, in despite of a shattered constitu- 
 tion, and the ravages which hardships and time had depicted 
 on his thin and w^ar-worn visage. Though at the same time, 
 the rapid play of the muscles of his face, and the combined 
 ezpression of every feature of his countenance, evidently de- 
 noted that, with fine sensibilities, and much that was generous 
 and noble, he naturally possessed a sanguine temperament and 
 a fiery disposition, which his growing infirmities had ren- 
 dered still more irascible. And such indeed was the case with 
 Captain Hendee, thS person w^hose appearance we have been 
 endeavoring to describe. His life had been one which had 
 been checkered with no ordinary vicissitudes. He had been 
 an officer in the colonial army, and out in most of that fearful 
 struggle with the French and Indians, that, with little inter- 
 mission, spread death and desolation through all the borders 
 of the English" colonies in America from 1744 to 1760; and 
 he had sufiered imprisonment, sickness, and all but death, in 
 that terrible warfare. He had also known the extremes of 
 affluence and poverty in his pecuniary affairs, while great 
 felicity, and uncommon bereavements, had marked his do- 
 mestic relations. He had buried two wives, each, while she 
 was spared him, the charm of his existence. And, to add still 
 more to his cup of sorrows, a darling son, who had been en- 
 trusted to the care of an uncle in his father's absence, soon 
 
94 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 unaccountably disappeared, having "been abducted and mur- 
 dered, it was supposed, by some lurking band of Indians. One 
 daughter, the child of his last wife, was now all that re- 
 mained to him to smooth the pillow of age, and prop his de- 
 clining years. And well did that beloved and truly loved 
 daughter fulfill the filial trust thus imposed. Aware of her 
 j)arent^s infirmities, as well of temper as of body, she became 
 the gentle soother of the one, and the watchful nurse of the 
 other. And ever manifesting the most affectionate solicitude 
 for his welfare and always, assiduously attentive to his slight- 
 est wants and wishes, while readily overlooking the harshness, 
 which in his fits of petulance, he occasionally showed her, 
 and which she generally answered only with a tear, she 
 gained over him, by this, and, the super-added influence of 
 his afiiection for her, and his sense of dependence on her for 
 happiness, a control for his good, that the whole world 
 united would have failed in attempting to obtain. 
 
 A discreet and demure maiden of about thirty, an old serv- 
 ant, who lived with them in more prosperous days, still re- 
 mained with them, and with one more person, scarcely less 
 regarded, completed all the permanent members of the fam- 
 ily. That other person was no other than Neshobee, the 
 3^oung Indian, with whom the reader has already had a partial 
 acquaintance, without having been before apprised, however, 
 we believe, of his residence. He was one of Captain Hen- 
 dee's trophies of war, having been captured in an onset on an 
 Indian lodge, to which a band of murderers had been traced, 
 after one of their massacres on the frontier settlement. The 
 Indians being taken wholly by surprise, and nearly all slain by 
 the first fire, this lad was found burrowed unhurt in a pile of 
 dry leaves in one of their haunts, and secured by the victors; 
 when the Captain declared, with a sort of melancholy jest, 
 that as the hell-hounds, a year or two before, had deprived 
 him of a son of about the same age, he would for once follow 
 their custom of suppl}dng the place of the slain by adopting 
 one captured from the enemy. And accordingly he took the 
 boy, then six or eight years old, back with him to his post, 
 and finally to his family, with whom the captive had ever 
 since resided. 
 
 The domicile of this strikingly contrasted family was a 
 common cottage, constructed after the fashion of the better 
 sort of houses in the settlement, of hewn timber, so exactly 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 95 
 
 squared and laid together^ in the present instance, as to make 
 smooth, compact walls, neatly whitewashed without, and 
 tightly ceiled with boards within. The interior, which was 
 divided into two principal rooms, parlor and kitchen, with a 
 range of bedrooms and other small apartments abreast, ex- 
 hibited an odd mingling of the relics of refined life, with the 
 crude substitutes for furniture, and the various articles usual- 
 ly found in the houses of a border settlement. On the high 
 mantel-piece of the best room stood the wide spreading ant- 
 lers of some noble buck, the tips of the various branches be- 
 ing ornamented with curious sea-shells, the egg-shells of rare 
 birds, and other devices of the tasteful young mistress of the 
 establishment. Eich mahogany chairs w^ere cushioned with 
 the feathered skins of the loon, a large water-fowl abound- 
 ing in our northern lakes, and remarkable for the thickness 
 and tenacity of its skin, as well as for the downy softness of 
 its feathers. A light stand, of exquisite workmanship, was 
 supplied with a curiously beaded miniature Indian canoe 
 for a tray, containing a pair of small clam-shells for snuffers. 
 On wooded pegs in the wall were suspended the remains of a 
 once superb mirror, the broken parts of which were artfully 
 concealed by festoons of the creeping evergreen; while on 
 one side a small, but well selected assortment of books, ar- 
 ranged on broad shelves, completed the list of all the promi- 
 nent articles by which the room was furnished. The furniture 
 of the kitchen was mostly of the roughest kind and the whole 
 room abounded with evidences of the woodman's life, the 
 walls and ceiling above being hung with implements of hunt- 
 ing, furs, pieces of drying venison, and other trophies of the 
 chase, taken by Neshobee, the young Esau, or red Mmrod, 
 if the reader please, of the family. 
 
 "Come, father,'^ said Miss Hendee, with a look of affection- 
 ate solicitude, as, rolling up her needle-work, she rose from 
 her seat by his side: "had you not better take a seat within; 
 I fear you are exposing yourself too much to the night air 
 to expect quiet from your rheumatic shoulders to-morrow." 
 
 "Ko, Alma,'' replied the old gentleman, knocking the ashes 
 from his pipe, "I know just what I can bear; old Fahrenheit 
 himself could not make an instrument that would indicate the 
 state of the air, whether ho*: or cold, dry or humid, more ex- 
 actly than these sensitive fluids in my old shattered frame. 
 'No, the atmosphere is peculiarly soft and warm this evening. 
 
96 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 I think old Boreas has nearl}' lost his claws for this season. I 
 just heard a whippoorwill^ or muckawis, as the Indians call it, 
 which they say never appears here in the spring till winter 
 has got so far towards the big ice-pond on his retnrn to the 
 north, that he wdll no more come hack/' 
 
 "'I knew it was very mild to-night, father, but I thought, 
 perhaps^ you were not aware how late you were remaining 
 in the open air, since you appeared so deeply engaged in cogi- 
 tation.'' 
 
 "True, girl, I have been thinking over matters a little." 
 
 "What matters, father, may I know?" 
 
 "Yes," replied the other, now rising and following his 
 daughter into the room we first described, "yes. Alma, you 
 shall know, for you are, yourself, one of the parties con- 
 cerned." 
 
 "I, father?" 
 
 "Yes, you are, girl; but in the first place let me ask you, if 
 you did not think your cousin Sherwood's manner, in his 
 visit last night, rather singular?" 
 
 "I might have thought so, perhaps — in what res]3ect did 
 you imagine his manner was singular, however?" 
 
 "In several — what was it that he seemed to be hiiiting 
 about so mysteriously? And did he not have the air of one 
 who is secretly suspicious of something!" 
 
 "Does my father," replied the other, evading a direct an- 
 swer, "does my father think that anything very singular in 
 Mr. Sherwood?" 
 
 "Why — why" — said the Captain, surprised and staggered 
 at the question: "Why, yes, I had hoped so; for these se- 
 cretly suspecting characters I dislike. Alma, you know. Con- 
 found them, 3^es I detest them!" 
 
 "And I," rejoined the girl, with a smile, in which the jocose 
 and serious were significantly blended, "I am too much my 
 father's daughter, I confess, to think otherwise, myself." 
 
 "Why! what? how?" hastily exclaimed the Captain, puz- 
 zled and uneasy at the remark of the other. "Why, what on 
 earth can this all mean. No rupture brewing between you 
 and Jake, is there?" 
 
 "Xot that I am aware of, as far as there are any ties to 
 sever — or, at least, none that I, as yet, have been the just 
 cause of, though" — 
 
 "Though what?" sharply demanded the father, with in- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. S7 
 
 creasing irritation: "Zounds! ^-ou don't tliink tlie fellow is 
 Iryiug to claw ofl, do you? Curse the hollo vr-hearted — humph, 
 what was I going to say?" 
 
 "iSTothing but the truth, father, I presume," answered Al- 
 ma, looking up with a faint smile, and a sort of cool despera- 
 tion in her manner. 
 
 "Yes, I was," quickly rejoined the other, hitching about 
 in his chair. "Blast it! girl, why didn^t you tell me I lied?" 
 
 "What, tell my father he lied!" said the girl, roguishly; 
 "no, no! that would have been the worst of manners." 
 
 "Yes, yes," pettishly returned the Captain, "but why don't 
 you stand up for him. I don't like this don't care a fig sort 
 of way you have about the business. Hang me if I don't be- 
 lieve you are the one, after all, who wishes to be off ?" 
 
 "And would you object to my trying to get the start of 
 him!" again evasively replied the girl, "if I believed he was 
 intending to desert me ?" 
 
 "Why, no," — answered the other, "not that I know of; no, 
 that would be, perhaps, a decent finesse, if that was the case, 
 but it is not. Then what is all this bothering and teasing me 
 for?" — he continued, in a vexed and expostulating tone; this 
 supposing things that are not so? You will work me up to a 
 fever; make me mad, march mad, without letting me know 
 which of you to be mad at. 'Tis provoking, insufferable, girl! 
 Why not tell me in your usual direct, off-hand way, at once, 
 how the matter stands between you and Jake?" 
 
 "Father," said xilma, seriously, "I most certainly would tell 
 you, if I knew myself." 
 
 "Well, if that don't cap the whole, now!" said the Captain, 
 eyeing his daughter with an incredulous and somewhat con- 
 temptuous expression, "a courted girl know nothing of her 
 own courtship! your caged squirrel, that hangs in the kitchen, 
 yonder, knows nothing of nuts, does he?" 
 
 "Now, father, you wrong me," said the other, a little 
 piqued at the taunt, and now perceiving the necessity of being 
 more explicit on a subject which she felt reluctant to discuss, 
 lest she should, by such frankness as she could wish to use, 
 displease her sensitive parent. "Mr. Sherwood once certainly 
 made me proposals; and I, knowing how much you had the 
 project at heart, acquiesced, or rather, I did not reject him; 
 since that time, he has not often reminded me of the subject. 
 His own affairs he keeps to himself; and a few silly eompli- 
 
98 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ments on his part, completes the whole story of what you call 
 our courtship/' 
 
 "Beggarly account!" muttered the Captain, with an air 
 of disappointment; "beggarly account as the fellow says in 
 the play; cold business this, for a love affair, or I am no judge, 
 ril be shot if I am! But, zounds!'' he continued, again 
 kindling up, "Why, I thought it was all a settled business! 
 And it was settled — and would be now^ if your powers of 
 winning were exerted to have it so! What will become of us 
 the Lord only knows, if this falls through." 
 
 "Oh, I would borrow no trouble on that score, sir," ob- 
 served Alma. 
 
 "But I shall though" — rejoined the other. "The truth is. 
 Alma, we are poor — poor as Job, when the devil had done his 
 damnedest! We owe Jake's father — which, as he is sole heir, 
 is the same as Jake himself, — for nearly all we have. If my 
 little Edward could have been spared me — ^but the noble boy 
 is gone; and that "family have been the vortex in which all 
 my jjroperty and expectations have been swallowed up; I do 
 not say that the property went wrongfully; but it went. 
 Even before Jake came here, I had thought of the possibility, 
 that you might become the channel by which this property 
 would be diverted back again into my family. And when he 
 made proposals to you, and I understood you accepted them, 
 I confess I was gratified. It gladdened my old desolate and 
 despairing heart with the thought that it would ensure my 
 comfort in my decrepit and helpless old age, while it would 
 give you the home and wealth which I never could furnish 
 you; and now to have the only bright streak I have seen for 
 years in my dark future, suddenly blotted out — to have the 
 only pleasant cup that has been presented to me for so long, 
 thus dashed from my very lips! — And by whose hand?" he 
 added with startling fierceness, as, trembling with rising pas- 
 sion, he shook his clenched fist before the face of his unoffend- 
 ing daughter. "By whose hand, I say? Girl, girl, if I really 
 thought" — 
 
 "I will marry him, father," replied the girl, bursting into 
 tears, which were drawn forth more, however, by the picture 
 he had drawn of his hopes and sorrows, than by his menaces; 
 "Oh, I will — I will marry him, for your sake, dear father, 
 }f it breaks my heart!" 
 
 ^^Hang it! no, you shan't!'^ exclaimed the excitable old 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 9d 
 
 man, touched to the quick at the sight of his daughter's tears, 
 and his whole feelings undergoing a revulsion as sudden as 
 rose the tempest of his passion; "no, you shan^t! Brand me 
 for a brute, if you shall! No — no — no," he repeated, till his 
 increasing emotion fairly choked his utterance, and he could 
 articulate no more. 
 
 The tide of passion having risen to its height, was now left 
 to subside in the pause that followed. 
 
 "Let us now dismiss this painful subject from our 
 thoughts," at length said the daughter, the first to recover 
 her composure, "and do not let the matter further disturb 
 your feelings, my dear and generous-hearted father: For 
 whatever be the final result; rest assured, that I will never 
 marry without your full consent." 
 
 "Dutiful — noble girl!" sobbed the old man, dashing away 
 a tear; "God has left me a consolation in you^ my dear daugh- 
 ter, which I ought to be thankful for, and which, but for my 
 accursed temper, I should repay with better treatment." 
 
 "Oh, do not name it, father, do not name it," replied the 
 daughter with a sweet and cheering smile; "if we should go 
 upon faults, I may have scores of them, any of which, perhaps, 
 would outweigh the solitary one you tax yourself with." 
 
 Miss Hendee had never before ventured so far in manifest- 
 ing a disposition to thwart the known feelings and wishes of 
 her irritable father. But her late accidental interview with 
 Warrington, whom she had never expected again to see, had 
 forced upon her'mjnd a comparison between her two lovers, 
 which made her more painfully sensible than ever how much 
 she must sacrifice in becoming the wife of Sherwood, whose 
 true character, as deeply veiled as he had endeavored to keep 
 it with this family, she had in some measure penetrated, and 
 she could not forego this opportunity of letting her father see 
 how heavy upon her heart hung the chain that she was wear- 
 ing only out of regard to his happiness; and yet scarcely 
 more now than before, did she meditate on throwing off this 
 chain, by which she had passively suffered herself to be bound. 
 But determining to defer any consummation, which might, 
 for the present, be urged upon her, she suffered herself only 
 to hope the event of circumstances more auspicious for recon- 
 ciling the now conflicting duties, which she owed herself, and, 
 with all his faults, her still loved parent. 
 
 After the conversation just detailed, the parties soon re- 
 
100 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 paired to the kitchen^ wliere^ in his great arm-chair before the 
 cheerful fire, the Captain was accustomed to spend his even- 
 ings, sometimes listening to the silver-toned voice of his 
 daughter, as she sung some favorite song, or read some favor- 
 ite author, and sometimes accounted the thrilling incidents 
 that had marked his adventures while battling the subtle foe 
 of the wilderness. One of his most attentive auditors, when 
 engaged in the latter employment, v/as Neshobee, with whom 
 the veteran also often amused himself in conversation, either 
 imparting information to the native, or listening to the shrewd 
 and original remarks made by the latter in answer to the vari- 
 ous questions by which he was purposely interrogated. Per- 
 ceiving now, however, that the place of this almost necessary 
 adjunct to his happiness was vacant, the Captain immedi- 
 ately inquired of Euth, the servant-maid before mentioned, 
 if she knew whither the Indian had gone. 
 
 "He is out in the field, Captain,'^ rephed the person ad- 
 dressed, with some" signs of uneasiness in her looks, "and I 
 wonder what strange thing he sees or hears to-night, that 
 makes him act so oddly? I have been out and called to him, 
 but he paid no attention to me, and kept on his pranks, some- 
 times listening with his ear to the ground, and then dodging 
 or crawling from one stump to another." 
 
 "Aha?" said the Captain, with a look of interest; "those 
 are generally pranks that mean something with an Indian. I 
 wonder who can be prowling about us now?" 
 
 "Mercy!" exclaimed Euth in alarm; "if it should be the 
 Green Mountain Boys!" — 
 
 "The worst would be their own, I think," coolly observed 
 the Captain; "that is if they come to show us such play as 
 it is said they have shown some on Otter Creek." 
 
 "What would you do, father, in case they should come on 
 such an errand?" asked Alma, with an air of mingled curiosi- 
 ty and concern. 
 
 "What would I do, child? Wh}^, I would put a rifle bul- 
 let through the first one who should attempt to enter, even 
 if it should be Warrington himself. Be sure, I know but lit- 
 tle of this cursed dispute about titles. They may have as 
 much right to lands that they have bought, and first im- 
 proved, as the Yorkers, for aught that I know; and I was never 
 for hanging them for fighting in such a case. But here — 
 why zounds! do you think when I have got the first posses- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 101 
 
 sion, and done so much upon the place^ that I am going to 
 give it up to the greedy dogs? No! not if their great devil 
 and all generalissimo^ Ethan Allen, should come on with all 
 his forces, would I give it up without a fight! Hoo! they 
 shall have my heart's blood first!'' 
 
 "I trust there will be no necessity for bloodshed anywhere, 
 father/' rejoined the daughter, quite composedly; "I have rea- 
 son to — that is, I do not believe the Green Mountain Boys 
 will make the least attempt to molest us." 
 
 "Well — well, girl," said the Captain, scanning the other 
 closely, and at first with rather a puzzled air, which soon, how- 
 ever, gave way to a look of approbation; '^I must say that 
 does not seem much like borrowing trouble, as most of you 
 women do in such cases. However, I have been taught by 
 the Indians, and sometimes have paid dear for my schooling 
 too, that this borrowing trouble is not always so bad a thing 
 after all; as it generally keeps us well guarded against a sur- 
 prise. But here comes our scout; so let us hear his report. 
 Well, ISTeshobee, they say you are scouting to-night — what 
 is in the wind?" 
 
 '^'Me hark um, but no tell um," replied the Indian, quietly 
 taking his place by the fire. 
 
 The dog in the yard now gave one of those faint, indecisive 
 sort of yelps usual with the animal when doubtful whether 
 he has heard something which should require his notice. 
 
 "Beagle thinks pretty much as you do, Neshobee," said the 
 Captain, comprehending the tone of the dog; "but hark!" 
 he added, as the animal barked again, and in a more decided 
 manner; "I can't read that so easily. What do you make of 
 it, boy?" 
 
 "Beag say that no four-foot coming, Cappen," said the na- 
 tive, unconcernedly. 
 
 "Is the rifle well loaded, Neshobee?" asked the Captain, 
 glancing at the fire-arms suspended by hooks on the wall. 
 
 "Yas!" 
 
 "And the fowling-piece?'^ 
 
 "Me spose um." 
 
 "Very well, down with them, then! Alma, step and bring 
 me my pistols! and in the mean time we will bar the door — 
 Euth, lend a hand! If these fellows," continued the Captain, 
 coolly assisting to execute the several commands he had so 
 rapidly given to his household — "if these fellows had any hon- 
 
102 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 est errand^ they would come up to the house at once like 
 men, instead of skulking around at a distance, as they evi- 
 dently are. We may as well be prepared for them/^ 
 
 "Father/' said Alma, returning with the required pistols, 
 and now manifesting the most lively concern. "Father, I do 
 beg of you not to think of firing on any one rashly — ascertain 
 what they want, at all events. Your apprehensions, I think, 
 are wholly groundless — I cannot think — indeed I am very 
 sure" — 
 
 A gentle rap, rap, rap! on the outside of the door caused 
 the speaker suddenly to suspend. All now stood hushed in 
 silence, till the rapping was repeated, in several louder and- 
 more distinct knocks. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 "But who was he, that on his hunting spear 
 Lean'd with a prouder and more fiery bearing? 
 His was a brow for tyrant hearts to fear, 
 Within the shadow of its dark locks wearing 
 That which they may not tame — a soul declaring 
 War against earth's oppressors." 
 
 "Hallo, there!'' called out Captain Hendee, in no very gen- 
 tle tones, as he cocked his pistols, and threw himself into an 
 attitude of defense. "Hallo! who comes?" 
 
 "InTo enemy, to say the least," answered the voice without. 
 
 "Let him in, father, do let him in!" said Miss Hendee in a 
 low beseeching tone. 
 
 "What, without giving his name !" said the Captain. "Why 
 child, I don't know that voice from Adam's! No, no, friend 
 or foe, he shall undergo that ceremony." 
 
 "Well, father, you can just ask him, without being so rough, 
 can't you?" interposed the daughter, in an earnest half whis- 
 per, quietly placing her hand on the arm of the other. 
 
 "Friend," said Captain Hendee, softening down at the en- 
 treaties of his daughter, and as it occurred to him that the 
 tones of the voice he had just heard were entirely of a pacific 
 character: "friend, will you favor us with your name?" 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 103 
 
 "Captain Hendee," said the man, seeming to hesitate about 
 complying. "I am wholly unattended^, your dog here seems 
 to acknowledge my acquaintance, and if you will not do the 
 same, when I am admitted/' he added in rather a jocose tone, 
 "I will agree to depart as peaceably as I came.'' 
 
 "Humph! me know that man talk! Him no bad!" said the 
 Indian, with a low chuckle. 
 
 The Captain, now, evidently a little chagrined at the sus- 
 picions he had entertained, and the parade he had made, im- 
 mediately drew out the bar, and opened the door; when the 
 visitor entered, but quickly paused, after entering the thresh- 
 old, to receive the scrutinizing look of the other. 
 
 "What! no — yes, 'tis!" exclaimed Hendee, between per- 
 plexity and surprise, after looking a few seconds into the face 
 of the new-comer. "Well, now, by the great Jupiter! if I 
 am not absolutely ashamed of myself! Mr. Howard!" he 
 continued, advancing, and cordially shaking the other by the 
 hand, "Mr. Howard, God bless you, sir, how do you do? 
 Apologies by the dozen are yours! — or should be, if such 
 moon-shine concerns were ever worth offering. But walk 
 in, walk in, sir. Here are my family — all together now — they 
 were not when you saw us, I think. Alma you are acquainted 
 with — Miss Euth, this is Mr. Howard. And here is another, 
 ISTeshobee, we call him, a native, as you perceive, but for all 
 that an adopted member of our family." 
 
 Miss Hendee, though much embarrassed at this meeting, in 
 spite of all her atteijipts to appear composed, managed nev- 
 ertheless, to exchange the customary salutations in such a 
 manner as to conceal her embarrassment from all except her 
 lover; between whom and herself it seemed to be tacitly un- 
 derstood that they should meet each other as for the first time, 
 without making the slightest allusion to their late interview. 
 There was another of the family group, also, that came in 
 for his share of surprise, at least, in some of the circumstances 
 attending this meeting. And that was the Indian. Not ex- 
 pecting to see A^arrington here till he heard his voice at the 
 door, and never dreaming till this moment but that the latter 
 and his master's family were entire strangers, the poor fel- 
 low, when he saw them meet as old acquaintances, and, above 
 all, when he heard Captain Hendee address the other by the 
 name of Howard, looked perfectly confounded, and expressed 
 as much unfeigned astonishment as an Indian countenance, 
 
104 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 perhaps, ever exhibited. The instinctive prudence of his race, 
 however, prevented him from betraying, by words, his surprise 
 and perplexity, or exposing Warrington in the disguise which 
 he supposed was for some good reasons assumed. 
 
 "AVell, Mr. Howard,^' resumed the Captain, after the usual 
 salutations were over, "I am right happy to renew my acquain- 
 tance with you, and have the opportunity to express personal- 
 ly, my obligations to you for your many kindnesses to us at 
 the time of my accident on the road. You probably thought 
 our departure rather abrupt on your return. But you re- 
 ceived my note, did you not?" 
 
 ^'jSTo, sir, neither note nor message." 
 
 ^'What! then that old heedless poodle of a landlady forgot 
 it, or more probably lost it, and to mend the matter, thought 
 she would conceal from you that I gave her ' one. Well, 
 well, you must have thought us rather singular beings, as well 
 for that as for some other things you perhaps noticed in us. 
 For I remember we kept you pretty much in the dark about 
 our affairs. The fact was, Mr. Hovrard, and I care not now 
 who knows it, that I was then under the apprehension of 
 being pursued and taken back by creditors, before I could 
 reach my connections in x\lbany, where I expected to obtain 
 the means of satisf^dng them, as I did before making this 
 j)ur chase." 
 
 "You did not return then ?" 
 
 "No! When I arrived there, finding that sales were mak- 
 ing in -these lands, I concluded on a life in the woods — made 
 a purchase — came on here the first season with hired men, 
 and then sent for Alma from Albany, and the rest of the fam- 
 ily and goods from Connecticut." 
 
 "And what directed you particularly to this location?" 
 
 "My own knowledge of the country, obtained in the wars 
 when I was campaigning with Put and Eogers along the bor- 
 ders of this then bloody lake. I remember this spot well. A 
 pitch had been made here by some Frenchmen, who cleared 
 up several acres, lived here a few years, and then deserted the 
 place. This was the first opening made this side of the Con- 
 necticut river, all the rest of the country being, at the time 
 I first saw the spot, one broad, unbroken wilderness. Many a 
 weary march, and many a cold, wet bed have I had on these 
 dark and tangled shores. I have often wondered how we 
 could have out-lived such hardships, With the constitution 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 105 
 
 and spirits I then possessed, liowever, I had hut Httle dread 
 of the woods, or the red imps that infested them. But my 
 days of hghting are now over, Mr. Howard.'^ 
 
 "Some, in my situation, with these evidences around, might 
 feel disposed to douht that, Captain,^^ smilingly observed 
 AVarrington, motioning to the fire-arms, which had not been 
 yet replaced. 
 
 "Ah, you have me there," gayly responded the other; "but 
 honestly, we were expecting visits of a different character. 
 If those rough dealing devils, the Green Mountain Boys, had 
 beset us, instead of our peaceable old friend, Dr. Hunter, 
 there is no telling but even so broken down an old Trojan, 
 as I am, might have shown some fight on the occasion." 
 
 "Perhaps, sir," replied the guest in the same spirit; "I 
 should tender my condolence at your disappointment in not 
 being allowed the chance to exercise your old vocation." 
 
 "Not a whit, not a whit, sir. For I should extremely regret 
 to be forced into a quarrel with my countr3^men in defense of 
 what I consider my rightful possessions. And I hope it may 
 never be the case. But we have had some reason to believe 
 otherwise within a day or two past. A friend apprised me, 
 that a band of these fellows was abroad, and probably on their 
 way to this part of the lake shore; and our two scouts here, 
 x^eshobee and Beagle, having successively made their reports 
 in their respective fashions, to-night, that there were skulk- 
 ers in the bush I, for one, began really to expect that we had 
 got to do battle for our home. Alma here, however, I am half 
 ashamed to own, Was'less apprehensive, and bore herself more 
 coolly than any of the garrison, not excepting the old soldier 
 of forty battles at their head! Hang me! if I don't believe, 
 the girl, like old Falstaff, knew by instinct who was coming! 
 Come, child, now be honest, was it not so?" 
 
 But Alma, whose head suddenly dropped at the remark, and 
 whose fair cheek glowed like the fire before which she was 
 sitting, was quite too busy with her pretty fingers in tumb- 
 ling over the contents of her v^ork-basket for a thimble, or 
 some other article, that became just at that moment unac- 
 countably missing, to heed the question, or think of answering 
 it. Even Warrington appeared to be a little discomposed 
 at this close, though random shot of the old Captain; but he 
 did not forget to throw a glance of gratitude towards his fair 
 friend for the confidence, which the Captain's statement 
 
106 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 seemed to imply that she had placed in his assurances at 
 their late interview. 
 
 Captain Hendee, without seeming to notice the sensation 
 which his last remarks, intended only for a passing joke, pro- 
 duced on some of his auditors, at length resumed: 
 
 "You wandered round the horders of the wood some time 
 before you found us, I conclude, sir, from the noises that 
 E'eshobee heard ]3revious to your arrival?" 
 
 "Oh, no, sir, I came direct, and without stopping." 
 
 "I don^t see, then, hut we have as much reason now, as 
 before, to expect a visit from the enemy to-night," musingly 
 observed the Captain. 
 
 "Me guess um what I hear no Mountain Boys," said ISTe- 
 shobee, looking significantly at Warrington, as if he considered 
 the latter to have the most interest in the information thus 
 imparted. 
 
 STeither the remark of the Indian, nor the meaning look 
 that accompanied it, was lost on Warrington, as was evident 
 from the expression of uneasiness that, for an instant, be- 
 came visible on his countenance; but he remained silent. 
 
 "Which way did you come, Mr. Howard?" resumed the 
 Captain; "I believe you have not told us, nor, indeed, how 
 you became apprised of our j^resent residence?" 
 
 Warrington, catching a forbidding glance from Miss Hen- 
 dee, was hesitating, on her account as well as his own, what 
 answer he should frame to the embarrassing question, when 
 he was suddenly relieved from his dilemma by a bold, heavy 
 rap at the door. 
 
 Captain Hendee, feeling more assured this time from the 
 reinforcement received in his friend Howard, who, as usual, 
 had his rifle with him, immediately -rose, and, with but a 
 slight hesitation, opened the door; when he suddenly paused, 
 and stood a moment gazing in mute surprise at the figure be- 
 fore him. Soon recovering, however, he, in a sort of hesitat- 
 ing and doubtful tone, invited the man to enter. 
 
 Acknowledging the proffered courtesy with a stately bow, 
 the stranger advanced, with a bold, free step and a fearless 
 air, into the middle of the room, where he paused, and bowed 
 slightly to each of the assembled group, most of whom, how- 
 ever, were too much surprised and over-awed at the singular 
 and formidable appearance of the man to return his saluta- 
 tions. And, indeed, his appearance was of so unique and 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 107 
 
 striking a character as well to warrant the sensation which 
 his presence seemed to produce. Of an uncommon height^ 
 and with an extraordinary breadth of chest, supplied with 
 large brawny limbs, his whole frame constituted a figure of 
 the most Herculean cast; while his large, darkly bright eyes, 
 and the air of intelligence that marked the general expression 
 of his coarse, lion-like features, gave evidence that his intel- 
 lectual powers were not, as frequently occurs in such in- 
 stances, Vv'holly incommensurate with his physical proportions. 
 A modern phrenologist, indeed, while comparing his high and 
 remarkably expansive forehead, with the vast volume which 
 composed the back part of his head, might be much puzzled 
 to decide whether his intellectual or animal nature would most 
 predominate in his character. His dress, which was likewise 
 somewhat singular for the times, consisted of high, heavy 
 boots, buff breeches and doublet, with a high collared, white 
 shag coat of the frock kind, all of which was surmounted by 
 a fine, though much worn beaver, slouched, except the front 
 part, which was turned up so as to give an additional bold- 
 ness to his large features, and to impart somewhat of a bandit 
 aspect to his appearance. This, to ordinary observation, com- 
 pleted his outward equipment; though a closer inspection 
 might have revealed the shape of a stout pistol swelling the 
 smooth and snugly setting leather over each of his breeches 
 pockets, while the buck-horn handle of a large war-knife 
 might occasionally be seen protruding from its sheath at- 
 tached to the side lining of his coat. 
 
 Placing the heavy rifle which he bore in his hand in a 
 corner, the stranger now advanced, and, with an air of easy 
 unconcern, seated himself by the side of his host, in the 
 family circle round the fire. 
 
 "My name is Hendee," at length said the Captain, evi- 
 dently not wholly at ease in the presence of his bold and fear- 
 ful looking visitor, "my name is Hendee, and being no great 
 stickler for ceremony, I hope I shall be excused, sir, in say- 
 ing that it always affords me pleasure to know by what name 
 I may address my guests.'' 
 
 "That's right!" bluntly commenced the stranger in reply, 
 "and you got at it ingeniously too, by George!" 
 
 "I meant no offense, sir." 
 
 "O, no, but let me see — ^it is now May, is it not?'' 
 
 ^Tes, sir," 
 
108 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "Well, then, for the month of May, my name is Smith.'* 
 
 ^'Sir? — did I rightly understand you, sir?'' 
 
 "I presume so — ^I said Smith, because tliere are more of that 
 name than any other/' 
 
 "Yes, sir, but what follows from that?" 
 
 "Why, of course, sir, that you stand a better chance to get 
 my right name; men will lie like the devil, sometimes, you 
 know!" 
 
 "Eeally, sir!" said the Captain, his eyes beginning to shoot 
 fire at this apparently intended insult, "really, sir, I cannot 
 understand your drift, if you do not mean to offer us an 
 affront." 
 
 "Ha! ha! ha!" roared the stranger in a voice that shook 
 the house, "well, now, if that ain't a good one! ha! ha! ha! 
 Wh}^, no, friend," he continued, familiarly turning towards 
 the other, and giving him a rough slap on the shoulder, "no, 
 no, friend; but you just said you was no great stickler for cere- 
 mony — no ain't I, as you see. So let us be honest, and live up 
 to our professions." 
 
 "Agreed to that. And yet — " rejoined the Captain, per- 
 fectly at a loss what to make of his strange guest, and though 
 still vexed, yet now half ashamed of the feeling he had shown 
 — "'and yet, sir, I have met, in the course of my life, but with 
 few honest men who were afraid to tell their names." 
 
 "Why, the truth is," replied the other, with an air of much 
 seriousness, "that you are* all such quarrelsome curses, down 
 here in the Grants, that a stranger, like myself, can't safely 
 travel among you by anj^ other name than Smith, if he had 
 one. As to myself, I don't exactly know, in the strictly legal 
 sense of the thing, that I have any name — ^to speak of, except 
 Smith; for I still stick to Smith, mind ye — that is, for the 
 month of May." 
 
 "Well, well, have it as you will, man," observed Sendee, 
 now softening down, and beginning to be amused in spite of 
 himself at the blunt drollery of the other. "But I must say 
 you are the greatest oddity J have met with for many a day." 
 
 "That may be, friend," said the stranger, his countenance 
 assuming the cast of sincerity; "but as you, like a wise man, 
 have concluded not to be offended at nonsense, let us talk 
 sense a little: Captain Tlenclee, a man of your intelligence and 
 observation cannot but have long since noticed the quarrel 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 109 
 
 that has been brewing between us colonists, and the mother 
 counti\y ?'' 
 
 ^'I have^ sir; and with the most j^ainful regret/' was the 
 guarded reply. 
 
 "And those Bostonians and Virginians, who have taken the 
 lead in the resistance to the Kings's authorit}^/^ resumed the 
 stranger, again assuming an equivocal look, and fixing his 
 eyes keenly on the countenance of the other, "those fellows 
 are a set of Christless knaves, for their rebellion, you agree?" 
 
 "Knaves! How so, sir?" replied the Captain, hastily, and 
 Avith a look that betrayed more of his feelings than he in- 
 tended should have been revealed to a stranger, and especially 
 to one who apparently entertained sentiments on this sub- 
 ject so different from those which he had long privately cher- 
 ished. 
 
 "Aha!" eagerly exclaimed the stranger, with evident de- 
 light, "sits the v\dnd in that quarter^ really and truly? Well, 
 I am not disappointed in you, after all, thank God!" 
 
 "Yes, but you, sir?"*— said the Captain, again confounded 
 at the seemingly contradictory language and manner of the 
 other, "what did you say but a moment since?" 
 
 "What did I say? 0, pooh! that is nothing!" replied the 
 stranger. "But again and seriously, Captain Hendee (for 
 I am now satisfied that it wdll do to ask you the question), 
 should matters proceed to open hostilities in an attempt to 
 burst these accursed fetters, how far could your countenance 
 and support be depended on?" 
 
 "Stranger," said Captain Hendee, looking the other full in 
 the face, "as singular a man as you appear, you nevertheless 
 have an honest countenance, and would not, I think, try, 
 in my owm house, to lead me into a snare. But granting that 
 your sentiments and mine coincide on this subject, what 
 could you ask, or expect, from an infirm old man, whose only 
 home and property lie under the very mouths of the guns of 
 Fort Frederick?"* 
 
 "I see, I see!" answered the stranger. "But it may be 
 worth much to us to know that your heart is in the right 
 spot. For the times are coming when even what such as you 
 can do, may be of incalculable importance to the cause. In- 
 
 * The fort at Crown Point, was in the old French wars, de- 
 nominated Fort Frederick. 
 
no THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 deed, sir/*' he continued with increasing earnestness, and with 
 deep and startling emphasis, "indeed, sir, those times are al- 
 ready at the door. Blood — American blood has been shed!" 
 
 "Where? where?'' simultaneously burst from the lips of 
 Hendee and Warrington. 
 
 "At Lexington," resumed the stranger, with clenched fist 
 and eye of fire. "Fifty ximerican citizens have been shot 
 down like wild cattle by a foreign soldiery! and their blood 
 has gone up to the great God in cries of vengeance! All Mas- 
 sachusetts are in arms! And are we here of the Green Moun- 
 tains to remain idle?" he added, with a look and a tone of al- 
 most frightful energy; "by all the thrones of heaven and hell, 
 no, no!" 
 
 "Oh, for the renovation of one year of my manhood's vig- 
 or!" exclaimed the Captain, springing from his chair, and 
 hastily striding round the room. 
 
 "Ail that is well enough, but useless, my friend," observed 
 the stranger, after a silence among the company of a tew mo- 
 ments, in which he seemed to have brought his feelings back to 
 their usual current; "so instead of calling on Hercules, like 
 the man of the fable, in prayers that never can be answered, 
 be thinking what you can do. This Indian," — he continued, 
 in an under tone, approaching close to the Captain — ^lie is 
 domesticated in your family ?" 
 
 "Yes, brought up by us, mostly; a cunning, prudent and 
 faithful fellow," replied the Captain, in a voice too low to 
 be heard, as he supposed, by the rest of the company. 
 
 "And may be made a useful friend for some emergencies, 
 with your permission, Captain?" 
 
 "You have it, that is for an occasional runner, scout, or 
 the like — I should not like to part with him for any great 
 length of time, however." 
 
 "Here, my friend," said the stranger, approaching the na- 
 tive, and presenting him with a valuable pocket-knife, "will 
 you take this as a gift to remember me by? Now look me in 
 the face." 
 
 "Yas — umph! Ah, him good — one very good!" said the 
 Indian, quickly pocketing the knife. 
 
 "J^ow, Captain," said the stranger, putting on his hat, and 
 giving other indications of his intention to depart, "I have 
 only to say, that I am sorry I could not have been more frank 
 with you in some particulars; but circumstances forbade it. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. Ill 
 
 Now I must be off; and I have some notion," he continued, 
 looking at Warrington, ^'of inviting your guest here to accom- 
 pany me as a guide /^ 
 
 "Mr. Howard is an old acquaintance, sir, just called after a 
 long separation,'^ said the Captain. "We should he sorry to 
 part with him so soon." 
 
 "Mr. Howard will remain through the night with us, sure- 
 ly?" interposed the musical voice of Miss Hendee. 
 
 The stranger gave a scrutinizing look at the father and 
 daughter, and ended by exchanging with Warrington looks 
 of intelligence, which very clearly showed that the two were 
 by no means strangers to each other. Seeming to satisfy 
 himself, he was about to remark further, when the tramp of 
 men, now heard approaching the door, arrested the attention 
 of the company. The rattling of guns announced them to be 
 armed men, among w^hose voices the quick ears of Miss Hen- 
 dee recognized that of Harrow. Instantly rising, she hastily 
 invited Warrington to take a seat in the other room; and the 
 latter complying, the lovers disappeared through one door, 
 just as the new comers entered another. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 "Ha! here comes those we counted not on meeting.' 
 
 The company whose arrival was announced at the close 
 of the last chapter, proved to be a small detachment of sol- 
 diers from the opposite Fort. They were seven or eight in 
 number, under the command of their sergeant, Harrow, who, 
 with three others, after knocking, though scarcely waiting 
 for a bidding, unceremoniously entered the kitchen, the re- 
 mainder of the force having been posted at the doors and 
 windows without, to prevent all escape from the house. As 
 an ostensible reason for calling at this time, Harrow carelessly 
 observed, that being out in pursuit of a deserter, a part of 
 their company had gone up the lake with their boat, thus 
 depriving them of the means of recrossing, and leaving them 
 no other resort but to crave a shelter of Captain Hendee for 
 
 8 
 
112 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 the nigiit, or^, at least, till their boat returned. Calls of this 
 kind by the officers and soldiers of the garrison being of no 
 very nnfrequent occurrence at the house, the present visit, 
 therefore, occasioned the Cai^tain little or no surprise, and 
 being of a hospitable turn, and fond, as might be supposed, of 
 having those for company, who belonged to a profession in 
 which a great portion of his own life had been spent, he ap- 
 peared to feel quite at ease with his new guests. Not so, 
 however, with all the company assembled. The meeting be- 
 tween the soldiers, and the stout stranger before described, 
 seemed to be mutually unexpected, and evidently but little 
 relished by the latter. For, though they were all personally 
 unknown to him, yet he was av^are that he might not be so 
 to them; and should the last supposition be true, as, from 
 certain sly looks which he saw exchanged between the soldiers, 
 he thought highly probable, he was sensible that he had a 
 part to play for himself and Warrington, of whose co-oper- 
 ation he felt assured, that would require all his tact, and per- 
 haps put to the severest test the powers of both to extricate 
 them from the threatened difficult}^ 
 
 !N"or were the stranger^s suspicions by any means ground- 
 less. Darrow had before seen the man, and at once recog- 
 nized him as one, who, if taken, w^ould prove a far greater prize 
 than the jDcrson vdiose seizure constituted the particular ob- 
 ject of the present visit: but one, at the same time, well known 
 to be the most formidable, and difficult of capture, of all 
 the Green Mountain outlaws. 
 
 "That ain^t the fellow v\'e came for,'^ whispered Darrow 
 to the soldier nearest him, the first opportunity that occurred 
 for so doing, unobserved. "He must be with the girl in the 
 other room, I think. But this big chap is one of the same 
 kidney, only worth two of him, if taken; secure him, as 
 well as the other, and your pay shall be doubled. So keep 
 your eyes on him for the present, and we will wait till they 
 go to bed, and get to sleep: for the other is no baby for a tus- 
 sle; and this one," he continued, with a significant look, as 
 he cast a fearful glance at the giant-like person of the 
 stranger; "and this one, to say nothing of the ugly instru- 
 ments they say he carries under his clothes, he is — he's the 
 devil and all — he's thunder!" 
 
 This information, with the orders accompanying it, being 
 soon passed around to all the band, every movement of the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 113 
 
 stranger was regarded with the most suspicious vigilance. 
 But he, contrary to their expectation, made not the slightest 
 movement which indicated that he was meditating any at- 
 tempt to escape. On the contrary, tlie more he was watclied, 
 the more unconscious did he seem, that he was an object of 
 suspicion or vigilance with any of the company; and with 
 the utmost unconcern he soon began to mingle in the conver- 
 sation, commencing with those blunt cordial kind of advances 
 to Darrow and as many of his men as he could find excuse 
 for addressing individually, which are generally the surest, 
 if not the only road to the soldier's heart. Nor was it long 
 before he had succeeded in putting himself on a familiar foot- 
 ing with the whole band, whose feelings and senses, in spite 
 of the distant restraint, and guarded watchfulness, they had 
 imposed on themselves, were fairly captivated by his bold sal- 
 lies of wit, and the irresistible drollery of his manner. Cap- 
 tain Hendee, with his war stories, was completely thrown into 
 the shade by the extraordinary convivial powers of the stran- 
 ger who, having now fairly become the hero of the company, 
 continued to pour forth, from his seemingly inexhaustible 
 resources, sally upon sally, with increasing brilliancy, and 
 anecdote upon anecdote, each of which was more ludicrous 
 or striking than the preceding one, till the whole party became 
 convulsed with merriment, and the house shook v/ith the din 
 of laughter. And now satisfied with the success that had so 
 well crowned his efforts in this respect, he called on Captain 
 Hendee to bring on glasses, and a gallon of spirits at his 
 expense, declaring that, "of all God's cattle, he preferred 
 soldiers for companions. It was not every day that a hunter, 
 whose next door neighbors and common acquaintances were 
 bears and wolves, and whose sweethearts and select friends 
 were wolverines and catamounts, had the rare luck to fall into 
 such glorious company. He could well afford to treat and 
 he should hold it a privilege to have a bout with his mihtary 
 friends, helping them, while he could drink health to the 
 King, confusion to all enemies, and shame to the devil.'' 
 
 Leaving this bold, sagacious, and singularly gifted outlaw 
 and his companions to the merriment he had infused into 
 them, and the boisterous and drunken revelry that followed, 
 we will now repair to the other room, where a far different, 
 though no less interesting scene was in progress. 
 
 "When Miss Hendee, on recognizing the voice of Darrow, 
 
114 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 among those of others about to enter the house, so abruptly 
 invited Warrington to take a seat with her in the other room, 
 she did so from a sudden impulse, arising out of her secret 
 dread of encountering one, whose recent conduct had filled 
 her with the deepest dislike, coupled with a sort of vague ap- 
 prehension that the visits of these soldiers, with Darrow at 
 their head, at this particular time, was in some way to affect 
 the safety of her friend, whom she thought thus to shield 
 from the impending danger. And it was not till they be- 
 came seated in the room by themselves, that it occurred to 
 her, that she had voluntarily afforded her lover the very op- 
 portunity, which, at their recent interview, he had earnestly 
 requested, but which she had so promptly and pointedly re- 
 fused him. Blushing deeply at the thought of her apparent 
 inconsistency, and fearful that this act would be misconstrued 
 by the other, she suddenly commenced uttering an apology 
 or explanation, but perceiving some worse dilemma from so 
 doing, she stopped short in the midst of a sentence, blushing 
 more deeply than at first, while an embarrassing silence en- 
 sued, which neither party for some moments, was able to 
 break. Warrington, however, comprehending the cause of 
 her embarrassment at a glance, and anxious to relieve it, soon 
 rallied, and observed: 
 
 "Fear not. Miss Hendee, that I shall misinterpret this act 
 of yours, in inviting me to a seat with you, here: I believe 
 I can appreciate the motives that led to it, and I certainly feel 
 very grateful for the deed." 
 
 "You were ever generous, Mr. Howard," replied Alma, with 
 a grateful smile, ^^Dut do you comprehend all the motives 
 that might have influenced me in this?" 
 
 "I may not all, but will Miss Hendee "state wherein she sup- 
 poses I may not understand them?" 
 
 "Did you recognize any of the voices of these last visitors, 
 while they were at the door, or have you since?" 
 
 "I can scarcely say I have, though I conclude them to be 
 soldiers from yonder garrison." 
 
 "They are — all that will appear, at least, I presume, and 
 among them is that suspicious fellow from whose intrusion 
 you so kindly relieved me the other day. He went away at 
 that time, I think, harboring revengeful feelings towards you, 
 and does not this visit involve some design against jouv safe- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 115 
 
 ty? — Though I confess I can hardly see how 3^011 should be 
 sought here with any purpose of revenge.'' 
 
 " You may be rights Sliss Hendee/' said the other, thought- 
 fully, after a silence of a moment; '^you may be right in 
 supposing me the object of this visit. I have had some sus- 
 picions from the first that it was so; and I have noticed some 
 indications, indeed, since we have been in this room, which 
 go to confirm me. Yes, you may be right in this, but wrong, 
 I think, in judging of the motives that have led to the visit.'' 
 
 "What other motive can there be but the one I assigned?" 
 at length asked Alma, with an air of perplexity mingled with 
 some uneasiness. 
 
 '^Miss Ilendee," resumed Warrington, with considerable em- 
 barrassment at the effort, "your question leads me to a declar- 
 ation, which my painfully conflicting obligations as a citi- 
 zen, and as a gentleman who has received much kindness from 
 your family, will be some excuse, I hope, for withholding 
 till now; but which my feelings will allow me to vvdthhold 
 no longer. Miss Hendee, my name is not Howard." 
 
 "Not Howard!" exclaimed Miss Hendee, with a look of un- 
 feigned surprise, '"l^oi Howard!" she repeated, the tall arches 
 of her beautiful brows slightly contracting with an incipient 
 frown. "Surely, surely, sir!" 
 
 "ISTor, is that, I fear you will think," resumed the other seri- 
 ously, and now with perfect composure, "the Avorst of the 
 avowal: I am aware what I risk — Avhat, indeed, I shall prob- 
 ably forever lose in your esteem, fair lady. But duty to you, 
 and respect to my 'own character, compels me to disclose. — ^I 
 am Charles Warrington!" 
 
 A sharp, inarticulate exclamation burst from the lips of 
 the astonished and recoiling girl, at the announcement of 
 the name. 
 
 "What is the matter there. Alma?" asked Captain Hendee, 
 in a tone moclulated somewhere between the jocose and anx- 
 ious, as he thrust his head partly through the door, beside 
 which he was sitting, on the opposite side of the partition, in 
 the other room, "what is the case there, girl? — Doctor Hunt- 
 er is not pulling a tooth for you, is he ?" 
 
 Perceiving, however, nothing but dumb show going on be- 
 tween the parties, and satisfied with the shot he had given 
 them, he left them to another embarrassing silence, which, 
 for many minutes, was broken by neither. 
 
116 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "I am so surprised at this strange and unexpected develop- 
 ment/^ at lengtli observed Miss Hendee, though with mind 
 and leehngs still unsettled and balancing between the former 
 high opinion she had entertained of her companion as How- 
 ard, and the preconceived picture of the ruffian-like char- 
 acter with which she had been accustomed to associate War- 
 rington: "so surprised that I hardly know what I should say, 
 or how I should act towards you, sir, in the new character in 
 which you now stand before me. Am I to understand that 
 our quiet home here is now to be made the theater of con- 
 tention in a dispute for a possession?" 
 
 "Heaven forbid!'^ replied Warrington^ eagerl}^, "you have. 
 Miss Hendee, my pledge already in this respect, given to you 
 at our last interview — can you doubt my will to redeem it? 
 And you now perceive with what authority I could make the 
 assurance. But though you can have no apprehensions of 
 this kind of me, or my people, for whom I can safely answer, 
 yet what will be your opinion of one who made, and has since 
 sought your acquaintance under a disguised name? It is 
 that which troubles me, dear lady. And in that you have an 
 apparent right, at least, to condemn me, though not acting for 
 myself, but for those who assigned me the part in which dis- 
 guise was deemed necessary." 
 
 "You need not forestall your sentence, sir," said the other, 
 something very like a smile again lighting up her sweetly 
 expressive countenance, "I know too little of the merits of 
 this unhappy controversy, I freely confess, to feel sure of doing 
 justice to either party in any opinion I might now express. I 
 believe I can still put trust in you — at least, I will for the pres- 
 ent believe so. For it would, indeed, be humiliating to us all, 
 to find ourselves so much mistaken in one whose character we 
 had so highly estimated. Yes, in you," she repeated with em- 
 phasis, "but in your party" — and she paused, but soon, and 
 without finishing the sentence, resumed, "can you inform me 
 who is that fearful looking, and singular stranger in the other 
 room? — or was I mistaken in Judging from some appear- 
 ances I noticed, that you and he were acquainted?" 
 
 "Your conjectures were true. His name, however, I cannot 
 disclose. But this I may say, that he is not all that he may 
 have appeared here to-night; and yet he is far more — a man 
 of many high and noble qualities, combined with extraor- 
 dinary powers of body and mind, though now placed here in 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 117 
 
 circumstances as inauspicious as my own. These circum- 
 stances, as they will make up an answer to the question you 
 asked before I announced my true name^ I will now, with 
 your permission, briefly explain." 
 
 His fair auditor signifying a willingness, at least, to listen 
 to the explanation, Warrington, taking a comprehensiTe 
 glance at the true grounds of the controversy between the set- 
 tlers and their opponents, drew a vivid picture of the wrongs 
 and consequent sufferings which the former had endured, 
 and which led to the part he had taken in their behalf — ex- 
 plained the necessity of the disguise he had assumed, related 
 his subsequent career, and the consequences to himself and 
 all those v/ho had taken a conspicuous ]3art in attempting 
 to defend the poor settlers against the rapacity of their op- 
 l^ressors. 
 
 "Is this, Mr. Howard — excuse me, Mr. Warrington, I should 
 say," observed the other, evidently interested, and even 
 touched by the recital she had just heard.; "is this, indeed, an 
 impartial account of this hapless contest? And are these 
 armed men here to drag you to prison, and an ignominious 
 death, for acting a part like this? Why, why, did you 
 venture here into the ver}^ jaw^s of the lion? and now, why 
 do you a moment linger? why not escape while they are at 
 their noisy carousals in the other room? — that door — these 
 windows'" — 
 
 "Have all been guarded; each by a soldier with a loaded 
 musket, from the moment we entered this room. An ear, 
 practiced in the forest, has not failed to catch the sound of 
 their cautious and stealth}^ tread, the occasional rubbing of 
 their muskets against their buttons, and indications of their 
 presence and object not to be mistaken." 
 
 "Oh! I do wonder how 3^ou can be so calm. What hope — 
 what resource is there left you^ in v/hich you can now trust 
 for escape?" - • 
 
 "Many! be not concerned. They probably think we shall 
 remain through the night, and will deem it safest to defer any 
 attempt to seize us till they suppose us asleep. I trust much 
 in my friend, ever fruitful in expedients, and noAV acting a 
 jDart in the other room, as nigh as I can judge from what oc- 
 casionally reaches my ear, with reference to effecting this 
 object. J^eshobee is a friend; and may I not hope an acqui- 
 escence, at least, from you?" 
 
118 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "Most certainly the latter, and if I could — but what could 
 I do?" 
 
 'Terhaps nothing — perhaps much. We must act on cir- 
 cumstances. But had we now not better part? I feel anx- 
 ious to be co-operating with my friend/' said Warrington, 
 rising and moving towards the door. 
 
 "One moment longer — that is, if you are not too anxious 
 to go/' observed Alma, motioning him to remain. 
 
 "What w^ould my fair friend say?'' asked the other, per- 
 ceiving her to hesitate. 
 
 "Should you escape this danger, as I hope you may," at 
 length replied Alma, "I trust — I pray, that you will not be 
 so thoughtless as to venture here again? There may be other 
 hazards in repeating your visits here, besides the fearful one 
 you have already incurred of being seized in behalf of the 
 public authorities." 
 
 "Indeed! but in vv^hat way, lady?" 
 
 "There may be those/' she answered with evident reluc- 
 tance, and with severely conliicting feelings, "who would look 
 on 3^our visits here Avith — with suspicion; and who, I fear — 
 who, perhaps, I would say, might have a disposition — that is, 
 he may" — 
 
 "I did not understand the name," said Warrington, with 
 the aj)pearance of wishing to relieve the embarrassment of the 
 other, and assist her to proceed, 
 
 "I did not name him, and I would glady avoid doing so," 
 replied she, still hesitating. 
 
 "But of what avail will be your caution, unless I know 
 against whom to be on my guard?" asked he, with a little 
 spice of the lawyer in the question, he being more anxious to 
 learn the name of his unknown rival, to. whom he rightl}^ con- 
 jectured she alluded, than concerned on account of any dan- 
 ger he apprehended from his jealousy or malice. 
 
 "But if you kept entirely away? — unless, perhaps, you 
 should be sought out for the crimes you have already com- 
 mitted/' said the girl, half-pla3^fully. "T much wish you could 
 have received this intimation from others/' she continued, 
 after a pause; "but as you might not, and as I have ventured, 
 perhaps, unadvisedly, to give it, I know not but you have a 
 just right to require the name. It is Sherwood — one Jacob 
 Sherwood." 
 
 "Sherwood!" said Warrington in utter surprise, "Sher- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 119 
 
 wood, that then explains several things that to me were mys- 
 teries. Sherwood !'' he repeated, musing, and speaking as if 
 to himself, ^'yes, I know the man, and the heart of the man. 
 But is it possible, with Sherwood for a rival, and Alma Hen- 
 dee the object, that she for him would" — 
 
 "Trespasser!" exclaimed the other, shaking her head with a 
 look in which menace and roguishness were quietly blended, 
 "trespasser beware!" 
 
 "Cruel! cruel! I must not then even ask if there is hope, 
 even one ray of hope, in the future!" rejoined Warrington, 
 with the air of tender reproach. 
 
 "Oh, how can you ask" — replied Alma, her countenance 
 now changing to a serious, even a sad expression, "how can 
 you ask, or expect this, when I see no hope for myself? And 
 how can you think of entering into a discussion so useless, 
 at such a moment as this? Go, go!" 
 
 When Warrington, at the close of the interview above de- 
 scribed, entered the room of the revelers, he found them at 
 the height of their boisterous carousals. The health of every 
 known potentate on the earth, and some under it, was j^ro- 
 posed and drank, by the huge stranger, now the undisputed 
 master of the ceremonies, who at each rapidly succeeding toast, 
 tossed off his glass with as little apparent regard to its effect 
 on himself, as if the beverage had been water — such, at least, 
 was there every appearance of his doing: For he always 
 lifted a full glass to his lips, and returned it empty to the 
 table, while he made this his boast on urging the same on' 
 his companions of the revel, all of whom, with the excep- 
 tion of Darrow, seemed little disposed to refuse a compliance. 
 The latter, however^ after drinking a few stinted glasses, con- 
 trived constantly to evade a repetition which would unfit him 
 for the enterprise, that he, at least, had by no means lost 
 sight of; while it was with increasing uneasiness that he per- 
 ceived the fearful inroads which the liquor was making on 
 the faculties of his men. This, however, might not have 
 alarmed the wary sergeant, had both of his intended victims 
 been in the same condition; since so long as they drank as 
 freely as the rest, the difficulty of their seizure, he knew, would 
 be diminished in the same proportion with the powers of 
 the men, upon whom he depended for its accomplishment. 
 But Warrington, he soon noticed, though mingling ga3dy with 
 the rest at the board, seemed inclined, like himself, to drink 
 
120 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 but lightly, making the excuse when urged to take more, that 
 he wished to keep sober, in order to take care of his brother 
 hunter, who seemed in a fair way to require his assistance. 
 And the appearance of the stranger, indeed, soon well con- 
 firmed the truth of the observation. His wit fast grew vapid; 
 and some of his remarks were so silly, that none but the very 
 drunkest of the soldiers would join him in the maudlin roar 
 of laughter which he raised at each of his efforts to be witty. 
 He began to sway to and fro, and his huge frame to totter at 
 every step, like a sapped tov^er about to fall to the earth — all 
 of which was observed by Darrow with a look of malicious 
 satisfaction. 
 
 Warrington now proposed that the company should break 
 up, and all retire for the night. This proposal was seconded, 
 though from far different motives, by both the. Captain and 
 Darrow. A question, however, now arose in regard to the 
 accommodations which could be furnished for sleeping; the 
 Captain stated that he had but two spare beds, which might 
 be made to answer for four of the company. He should have ^ 
 been extremely happy to be able to accommodate all his guests | 
 with beds; but as it was, they must agree among themselves 
 who should occupy those he could furnish. The sergeant im- 
 mediately proposed, that Warrington, and his drunken friend 
 should take one of the beds, and himself and one of his men 
 would occupy the other, while the rest should seek lodgings 
 in the barn. At this moment, the drunken outlaw, roused 
 from the stupor into which he seemed to have fallen during 
 the discussion, so far as to appear conscious of the point of 
 debate, and hiccuping at every word, swore with a big oath, 
 "that his military friends should have the best — they should 
 have both the beds, or he would fight them like h — 1. And 
 that other scurvy hunter, who was not man enough to drink 
 like a gentleman, should go to the barn with him, and sleep 
 on the hay, or he would fight him too, and be d — d to him." 
 
 To this Darrow, for some reasons of his own, strenuously 
 objected, and the debate was growing warm, when Miss Hen- 
 dee entered the room, and after asking the cause of their dis- 
 pute and looking a moment with an air of disgust at the now 
 helpless stranger, earnestly begged of her father to let the 
 creature have his way, and by no means suffer him to occupy 
 a bed in the house. 
 
 "I think, Captain Hen doe," remarked Wa^'ington, now 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 121 
 
 for the first time ofliering an opinion, ^Hhat the man's notions, 
 as bad off as he appears to be, are correct. He will prob- 
 ably keep the honse in an uproar half the night, if he remains. 
 It is more suitable, I think, that he should be taken to the 
 barn. And it is my duty, I suppose, to attend him." 
 
 "I by no means intended to exclude you in my prohibition, 
 sir," said Alma, addressing Warrington. 
 
 '^Oh, no, certainly not, I presume. But I think I ought 
 to go with him," rejoined Warrington. "And a bed of hay," 
 he added gayly, "is far better than has sometimes fallen to 
 my lot." 
 
 "'IIo.y! there. Cap — Cap — Cap ting!" stammered out the 
 stranger, lifting his head, though nearly falling out of his 
 chair at the effort; "say, you Cap — Capting Handy, Hindy — 
 dev — divil knows what, take good care — care my rifle — cost 
 ten pounds — king^s lawful cur — cur — curren — cyation, — God 
 d n — bless him!" 
 
 "And of mine too, captain, if you will. A¥e will leave 
 them in the house till morning, with your permission," ob- 
 served Warrington, exchanging a significant glance with Miss 
 Hendee. 
 
 Darrow, who till now had manifested a determination that 
 our two outlaws should remain in the house with him, on 
 hearing that the valuable rifles were to be left behind, seemed 
 no longer to entertain any suspicion of the arrangement last 
 proposed, and conceded the point without further objection. 
 
 Captain Hendee then ordered Neshobee to take the rifles 
 into the next room, alid pointing out the beds to be occupied 
 by Darrow and his men, took leave of his guests for the night, 
 and with his daughter retired to the other part of the house. 
 Everything being now settled to the apparent satisfaction of 
 all parties, it only remained to get the helpless and unwieldy 
 outlaw to his lodging in the barn. And Darrow and his men 
 all declaring that they would by no means consent to quit 
 their generous entertainer till they had seen him safely dis- 
 posed of for the night, Warrington and the soberest soldiers 
 to be found in the company, now assisted him in getting 
 on his feet, and bracing out his legs so that he could be kept 
 from dropping on the floor. When this, with considerable 
 difficulty and no little noise and merriment, had been effected, 
 they planted themselves firmly under each arm, and at the 
 word of command, sportively given by one of the company, 
 
122 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 trundled, or rather pu-shed his huge and staggering carcass 
 forward toward the barn, attended by the whole company, 
 reeling, jostling and shouting along by his side. After they 
 had arrived there, and succeeded in getting their charge over 
 the threshold, they unceremoniously tumbled him on a pile 
 of hay on the barn floor; when, after exchanging mock cere- 
 monies of parting politeness, Darrow and all his men, now 
 feeling sure of an easy and safe capture as soon as their in- 
 tended victims were asleep, departed for the house. 
 
 "Charles!" said the big outlaw, raising himself on his el- 
 bow, as soon as the sounds of the receding footsteps of the 
 soldiers had died away, "Charles!'' he repeated, in a low, 
 though perfectly sober tone, "you creep carefully round to 
 those side windows, and see if some of these curses ain't still 
 lurldng round the barn to watch us." 
 
 The other silently complying, soon returned, and reported 
 that no one was visible. 
 
 "Well now, Charles," resumed the first speaker, "you get 
 dov/n there at my feet, and see if you can pull off my plaguy 
 old boots. There is more than a quart of rum in them. I 
 can neither run nor fight worth a copper with my feet in such 
 a devil's pickle." 
 
 "Upon my word. Colonel!" said Warrington, while com- 
 phdng with the request just made, "you would make no slouch 
 of a juggler. I saw no chance of succeeding in any way short 
 of drinking or openly refusing. And I was not a little puz- 
 zled to decide whether you w^ere stark mad in taking such 
 quantities of liquor, or whether you had some way of other- 
 wise disposing of it, which I could not detect. Indeed, for the 
 last half hour I have been perfectly at a loss to know whether 
 you were drunk or sober. How did- you contrive to cheat 
 them so cleverly?" 
 
 "Buttoned up m}^ high collared coat, so as to come up over 
 my chin, at the outset. Then minding to stand so as to admit 
 no side views to that hawk-eyed sergeant, or the others, till 
 they were too far gone to see straight, I dashed every glass 
 down my bosom. 'Not a spoonful has gone down my throat 
 to-night! so help me Peter! who never lied but three times, 
 as I recollect. But come, we m.ust be thinking of something 
 else now. And the first question to be settled is, whether we 
 shall go oft' without our rifles, and perhajDS lose them entirely, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 123 
 
 or whether we shall hatch up some scheme to get them out 
 of the house ?^^ 
 
 "I have strong hope, though I may he disappointed/' said 
 the other in reply, '^that we shall soon get hold of them 
 through other agency than our own. I think we had better 
 venture on remaining here a few minutes longer to wait the 
 result of an effort which, I feel quite confident, will he made 
 for this purpose." 
 
 "Aha, Charley? — been ploughing with the Captain's heifer, 
 hey! Well, we will wait a little. Yes, yes, I see now what the 
 sly jade was at, when she set in so plausibly to have "the 
 loathsome creature" carried off to the barn. And, indeed, 
 Charles, I suspected, soon after I arrived, that you were in 
 for it there. But how in the name of Cupid, and Hymen, 
 and Venus, and all that sort of heathen cattle, did you hap- 
 pen to pounce upon such a superb piece of housel stuff? I 
 thougjht you never strayed so far down here to the land's 
 end?" 
 
 Warrington then related to his companion all the cir- 
 cumstances connected with his acquaintance with the differ- 
 ent members of the Hendee family, his late discovery relative 
 to his ownership of the land, and the course which he had, 
 and still intended to pursue in that respect, without revealing, 
 however, the uncertain and somewhat peculiar attitude in 
 which he stood with the daughter. 
 
 "Right nobly sai<i and done!" exclaimed the other, who 
 had listened with the appearance of much interest to the re- 
 cital, and who seemed highly to appreciate the delicate gen- 
 erosity of Warrington, "nobW, indeed, though with a higher 
 touch of the chivalrous, I fear, my dear fellow, than you would 
 often find reciprocated in this wooden age and country. How- 
 ever, you will one of these days be rewarded, I suppose, by 
 receiving the same lands, and an article with them that will 
 richly pay you for your forbearance: for by all the saints, 
 from Saint Paul down to ragged Saint Patrick, I swear that 
 if there be any angels of clay — that, though, is nonsense for a 
 married man. But seriously, Charles, I don't know when I 
 have seen the like of that girl! A form and face, the mould 
 of which, I think, must have been broken with but one cast 
 — eyes with the rich and lustrous hue of good old indigo, 
 though pnre ^i>d clear ^s the luudless crystal to fte yerj 
 
124 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 deiDths of the soul be^^ond them. And then her smile, Charles 
 — enough to craze an anchorite, by heavens !^^ 
 
 "Eeally, Colonel," rejoined Warrington, jocosely, ^^yon 
 vv'onld make me jealous if I had but a tithe of the title to the 
 girl that yon seem to suppose. She is engaged, man, to one 
 Sherwood, the very fellow, as I this night ascertained from 
 her own lips, whom we caught and beech-sealed for a spy 
 and traitor^ on our way down the Creek, and to whom, doubt- 
 less, we are indebted for this concerted plan for our seizure.'^ 
 
 "I heard of your doings with that scoundrel, as I came 
 along a day or two after. And the only fault I find about it 
 is, that you did not string him up, according to the decree of 
 convention, in such case made and provided. But can it be 
 possible, Charles, that God ever made this girl for such a fel- 
 low? I swear, I don^t believe it! And if there is not enough 
 of vou to set him aside" — 
 
 ''''^Well, what thenP^ 
 
 "Why, you don^t deserve her, that's all — but whist! I 
 thought I heard a footstep. See to your pistols, Charles !'' 
 
 "All handy, Colonel. But what is your plan if they beset 
 us here T^ 
 
 "Why, fight 'em, most likely, I think, — a d — n poor story if 
 we two ain't a match for those four half fuddled devils!" 
 
 "Certainly, but there were nearl}^, or quite as many more, 
 posted round the house in ambush, or my ears deceived me 
 sadly.", 
 
 "No, were there?" 
 
 "Yes, I am positive. Colonel." 
 
 "Well, well, Charles, the trifling addition of three or four 
 more of them ain't worth standing about. But hush again!" 
 continued the speaker, his voice sinking to a whisper, "I was 
 right: I just caught the glimpse of a head peering in at that 
 side door." 
 
 The senses of the big outlaw had not deceived him. And 
 the object of his suspicion now appeared several times before 
 the partly opened door; though at each time suddenly, and 
 for a moment withdrawn. At length the door was cautiously 
 opened considerably wider, and the questionable head thrust 
 fairly in, where it remained stationary as a block for a full 
 minute. 
 
 "Umph!'^ at length uttered the object, in a low, but distinct 
 tone. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 125 
 
 ^^All right," said Warrington, "it is Neshobee, as I ex- 
 pected. 
 
 "Umph! me come — got um your rifles/' said the latter, 
 noiselessly advancing, and handing the guns to each of their 
 respective owners. 
 
 ''You have done us no fool of a favor, my fine fellow,'' said 
 the elder Green Mountain Boy. ''"How did you get the guns 
 out of the house?" 
 
 "Missus Alma contrive um all," replied the Indian. "She 
 put um out her sleep-room window" — then say it — so me go 
 bring um." 
 
 "A glorious girl, that, by Juj)iter!" resumed the former. 
 "You and she both, my red friend, deserve a pension at our 
 hands. Here, take hold of this crown 23iece, to begin upon." 
 
 "Him good! Cappen, him good afore," said the native, 
 taking the proffered coin. 
 
 "And I will try to continue so," said Warrington, thrust- 
 ing another crov/n into the Indian's ready hand. "But any- 
 thing more, Neshobee?" he continued, judging from the oth- 
 er's manner, that he had something further to impart. 
 
 "Missus Alma say me tell um go — say the rest sogers come 
 in house now, drink more rum again — say, go straight, quick, 
 better — no stay minute." 
 
 "Good advice, too," said the big outlaw, "and let us lose 
 no time in following it. Charles, lead the way!" 
 
 Cautiously emerging from the barn, and clearing the yard 
 fence, our two friends now proceeded, with silent but rapid 
 steps, through the open field, till they gained a knoll about 
 sixty rods from the house, when the nameless outlaw paused 
 and looked back. 
 
 "Clear of the rascals at last, I believe," observed Warring- 
 ton. 
 
 The other made no reply, but stood as if debating some 
 point in his mind, which he was unable to decide. 
 
 "Well, which way now, Colonel?" resumed the former, 
 thinking his companion might be hesitating about the route 
 they should take. 
 
 "Get thee behind me, Satan!" at length exclaimed the oth- 
 er, violently dashing back both his hands. "Give me joy, 
 Charles," he added, without paying the least attention to the 
 question that had just been asked him, "give me joy, for I 
 have conquered." 
 
126 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ^^Indeedj sir, it is quite impossible for me to eompreliend 
 
 "''Not comiDrehend me! Oh, true, how should you? It only 
 passed through my mind. Well, Charles, I have been sorely 
 tempted — ^never so tempted in my life/' 
 
 ''About what, pray?"' 
 
 ''Why, about going over and taking yonder fort to-night. 
 According to your account of the numbers now on this side, 
 there cannot be over ten or a dozen left in the garrison. You 
 and I could have taken their boat here, while they were wait- 
 ing for us to get to sleep, slipped over, and made the at- 
 tempt. I think we could carry it. i^nd, ah!'' continued the 
 speaker, rubbing his hands in ecstasy, "there would have been 
 glory, glory in itt, Charles! But duty forbade; for a failure 
 certainly, and success, probably, would have defeated an ob- 
 ject of two-fold importance to the country. And conscience 
 told me I should forego my private wishes for public good. 
 That object, as stone walls have ears, they say, I will not 
 name here. But it was that which brought me into this 
 section. Plendee's situation here, so near one of the enemy's 
 strongholds, made it important that his feelings should be 
 known. And it was for that purpose I called to-night, when 
 I unexpectedly found you. I intended to have been at half 
 a dozen other places before this, and I should, but for this 
 cursed bother with these minions of hell and I^ew York. We 
 will now on to your encampment. I called there at sunset. 
 Your lieutenant had returned. The party sent to seize the 
 surveyor had just been heard from, and were expected to ar- 
 rive with their prisoner to-night. He must be tried and dis- 
 23osed of in a hurry. But have you made any further dis- 
 coveries about the York justice in this section?" 
 
 "I have ascertained his residence, and discovered the bear- 
 ing of his feeling towards the enemy — nothing further." 
 
 "Enough! I have received, since we parted, papers which 
 settle the case. We must have him up, and do off all this 
 York business in a batch in the morning; for there is much 
 to be done to-morrow, in preparation of a general meeting of 
 the trusty to-morrow night, in the vicinity of the Middle Falls. 
 Ah! Charles, there is something afoot, to which this petty 
 vrarfare we have been engaged in with New York, is as a 
 rush-]ight to the meridian sun! I burn to be in it; for it will 
 be great, daring, and glorious!" 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 127 
 
 Leaving our two Green Mountain Boys to proceed to their 
 present destination^ with hearts swelling at the thought of the 
 future, and somewhat elated withal at their fortunate escape 
 from a danger of certainly no small magnitude, when the 
 vicinage of the fort, and the small chance of a rescue are 
 considered, we will return for a moment to the company we 
 left at the house. It would be difficult to describe the rage 
 and chagrin of Darrow, and his men, when, after waiting till 
 they supposed their two intended victims were helpless in 
 sleep,, they proceeded stealthily, and with undoubting assur- 
 ance of an easy victory, to the barn, and discovered that their 
 birds were both flown. They saw at once that they had been 
 fairly outwitted by the wily outlaws. Solacing themselves, 
 however, with a promise of seizing the fugitives another day, 
 they gave up the project for the present, well knowing that 
 any attempt at pursuit w^ould now be utterly useless. And at 
 the command of Darrow, who kept his future purposes, what- 
 ever they might be, to himself, they all silently w^ithdrew from 
 the house, and immediately crossed over to the fort. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 'They came not from the head, it was the heart that wrote them." 
 
 The next morning, after the affair at the Lower Falls, be- 
 tween our Clreen Mountain Boys and the hired minions of 
 Colonel Reed, a separation, as the reader will readily remem- 
 ber, took place among the former, the several individuals who 
 had occupied a" conspicuous place in our story, departing in 
 different directions, and with objects as diverse as their various 
 destinations. Some of these individuals, still designed to sus- 
 tain a close connection with the events we have undertaken to 
 delineate, have been neglected through several of our last 
 chapters, in order to preserve, as unbroken as possible, the 
 chain of the leading part of the narrative, in several scenes 
 we had commenced, so nearl}^ connected as to render a break 
 alike disagreeable to both reader and writer. But being al- 
 
 9 
 
128 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 lowed a short respite before following those with whom we 
 have just parted^ w^e now hasten to bestow, in the first place, 
 some attention on our friend Selden, and his new charge, the 
 volatile, but not ungifted Jessy Eeed, by following them to 
 the destination, for which they were on the point of em- 
 barking when we left them. This was at Skenesboro', near 
 the south end of the lake, so called from the name of the pro- 
 prietor of a large body of land at this place, — Colonel Skene, 
 who, being not only a wealthy landholder, but the comman- 
 der of one of the king's regiments, had here constructed a 
 large, strong, stone house, and made it a sort of military post, 
 as well as the residence of his family and various dependents. 
 The whole of this curious establishment^ not a little re- 
 sembling that of one of the ancient feudal lords, was, at 
 this time, under the command of Major Skene, a' son of the 
 proprietor, the father having been some months absent, en- 
 gaged in negotiating for his own aggrandizement at the Brit- 
 ish court. It was -to this place that Miss Eeed had so fear- 
 lessly undertaken a voyage in an open skiff, with one oarsman, 
 and Selden, her volunteer knight attendant. But a descrip- 
 tion of this voyage, together with many circumstances which 
 preceded it, we will now, agreeably to a previous intimation, 
 allow the fair voyager to give in her own language. And for 
 this purpose we present the following letter, sent by her 
 a few days after her arrival at Skenesboro', and received on 
 the morning following the events recorded in the last chap- 
 ter: — 
 
 "To Miss Alma Hendee — 
 
 "I have most serious doubts, my dear Alma, whether I am 
 exactly myself. And should you be equally dubious, as I 
 expect you will, when you have perused all that I shall now, 
 under the rose, impart, you may set it down, if you please, 
 as the relation of a pretty dream which has passed through 
 the brain of Philip Skene's half-courted high-flyer, while doz- 
 ing under the soporific thoughts of a matter of course, all 
 very suitable sort of a match, with his grave and calculating 
 majorship. One thing, however, I imagine, is certain; and 
 that is. that I am here at Skenesboro', snugly immured in the 
 ^lajor's stone castle. And why I am so positive of this is, 
 that I feel so sleepy, and have felt so ever since he left us. 
 He! who? iVh! that sets me afloat again! But I will begin 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 129 
 
 at the beginning; and dream, or no dream, you shall have 
 the whole of my adventures with (now be making up your 
 mind for interjections!) those horrid, brave, dear, ugly Green 
 Mountain Boys. 
 
 "Accompanying my father from Montreal, with my half In- 
 dian girl, Zilpah Wampum, under the arrangement that we 
 should be left, and stationed at Skenesboro^ during his con- 
 templated sojourn of some time in the city of New York, I 
 besought him right earnestly on the way to let me go with 
 him to visit his possessions up Otter Creek, to which he in- 
 tended to return for a day after landing us at the Major^s. 
 After a few of those not very alarming affairs, pshaws! pishes! 
 etc., I carried my point, as I generally do, with my, I fear, 
 too indulgent parent. And what was still a greater victory, 
 and certainly much harder to be won, I prevailed upon him 
 at last to let us remain there for a few days after he had pro- 
 ceeded on his journey, under the condition that I should take 
 a very fair, warm, and very calm day within a week at far- 
 thest, and with our best boat, and two of our most careful men 
 there, proceed to our original destination. 
 
 "Well, there we remained at that wild, romantic place, 
 happy as larks, by day rambling round the fields for flowers, 
 skirting the woods for spruce gum, boxberries, and birds' 
 nests, and at night, listening to the adventures of the men, 
 or quizzing the honest old Mcintosh, the commander of the 
 post, as he calls himself — there we remained, I saj, till the 
 fourth day after father had left us, when, who should make his 
 appearance, but that "plausible and oily-tongued beau of yours, 
 Jacob Sherwood, announcing that a band of Green Mountain 
 Boys, headed by Warrington, the outlaw, was in full march 
 to lay waste, burn, and destroy our possessions, and murder 
 every soul to be found on the premises, or at least to carry us 
 oft' as captives to their dens in the mountains! My heart beat 
 like a young drummer! And as for Zilpah, though mute as 
 a fish, her complexion wonderfully improved about that time, 
 I assure you. However, being a soldier's daughter, as well 
 as yourself, I soon made up my mind not to die of fright, at 
 least; so I flew round, helped the men to make cartridges, 
 and whatever else I could do, in preparation for the expected 
 visit. Sherwood was invited to aid in putting the garrison 
 in a state of defense, and remain with us through the coming 
 siege. But oh, no! he couldn't possibly! He must be off to 
 
130 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 tlie woods to watch the enemy's approach, and give ns signal 
 guns when they arrived at the clearing. Well, after the whole 
 establishment had resounded with the din of preparation 
 about an hour, and everything was prepared for their recep- 
 tion, Mcintosh called us together, women and all, for a coun- 
 cil of war, to hear the different plans that might be offered 
 as to the best mode of conducting the defense, though dog- 
 gedly determined all the while, that none but his own should 
 be adopted. And what think you that was? Wh}^, that all 
 the men should take the field against the enemy, and fight 
 their way back, under cover of log-heaps, to the works, leaving 
 us, poor women, entirely alone, to unbar the gate to receive 
 them, when they should reach it and give the watch-word. 
 This sage plan of operations, as you may well suppose, did 
 not at all strike my fancy. But finding opposition useless, 
 I submitted with the best grace I could, demanding, however, 
 as the terms of my compliance, that they should leave me a 
 good musket (a Major's wife at one of our stations, some years 
 ago, having taught me how to load and fire one), for our de- 
 fense, in case I should have occasion to use it. This settled, 
 Mcintosh marshaled his men, sallied out, and lay in ambush 
 till the enemy appeared, M^hen a battle commenced in which 
 powder enough was burnt to have slain a regiment, though, 
 strange to tell, not one drop of blood was spilled on either 
 side. 
 
 ^^JN'ow comes my part of this queer drama. While I stood 
 at the gate listening, with palpitating heart, to the thunders 
 of the musketry in the field, and anxiousl}^ awaiting the signal 
 to open to our men, I heard steps outside the enclosure, which 
 I knew could not proceed from any of our party. Almost 
 desperate with fear, I seized the loaded gun which had been 
 left for me, and stood on the defensive, while poor Zilpah. 
 still worse frightened, fled into the house. All for a few 
 moments was quiet, when happening to look round, I beheld, 
 to my utter surprise and consternation, one of the enemy ap- 
 proaching me, three of them, it seems, having already scaled 
 the walls behind the house. Heaven forgive me! in the des- 
 peration of the moment I fired my gun at him, though, thanks 
 to the same heaven, without hitting him. He proved to be 
 the lieutenant of Warrington, who now, with the other man, 
 rushed forward from behind the house, when all stood con- 
 fronting me, But what do you think they did? Seize nae 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. l3l 
 
 like ruffians^ as from Sherwood's tale of tlie horribles, I ex- 
 pected? ISTo, they came for\Yard, and in the most mild and 
 gentlemanl}^ manner, advised, nay entreated me to retire into 
 the house, to which I noAv suffered myself to be conducted by 
 Lieutenant Selden, who had just providentially escaped death 
 by my hand! I think I must have appeared like a fool. I 
 certainly felt like one. 
 
 ^'1 need not inform you that our men now soon surren- 
 dered to the Green Mountain Boys, who took possession, 
 claiming, however, none of the movables, and asking only 
 that the men should leave the place the next day. The treat- 
 ment I received, and the explanations given me by Vfarring- 
 ton (who, by the way, is a noble looking fellow; Alma, I wish 
 you could see him), in regard to this war about titles, soon 
 overset all my preconceived opinions of the Green Mountain 
 Boys. Indeed, if we can rely on their statements, I hardh/ 
 know how our people can be justified in driving these poor 
 settlers from their farms. 
 
 "But what shall I sav of him — Mr. Selden, I mean? Who 
 would credit — I would not a week ago, I am sure — that, after 
 having first called him a ruffian and monster to his face, as I 
 did when he first approached me, I was found in the twilight 
 of the same evening, rambling, arm in arm, with the hand- 
 some, quizzical, audacious rogue, along the freshly flowered 
 banks of the Otter, quoting poetry with him, or listening to 
 the better poetry of his own brilliant conceptions, which some- 
 times flowed from 4iis lips in bursts of surpassing eloquence, 
 and sometimes in sallies of wit, so original and irresistibly 
 humorous, that I would defy the gravest puritan in the land 
 to keep his risibles from breaking loose on the occasion. He 
 volunteered to attend me to Skenesboro', the next day, and 
 I — -now don't susj^ect me of being captivated with the fellow. 
 Alma — I accepted the offer — how could I do less. Well, 
 the next morning, with Zilpah, bag and baggage — the bag, you 
 will say, perhaps, should have been given to him — and with 
 one of his father's trusty and strong-armed Highlanders for an 
 oarsman, we shipped aboard boat, and proceeded down the 
 Creek. The day was most serenely fair. And our voyage 
 to the mouth of the stream, as we glided along the gently flow- 
 ing current in its mxcandering course, was indeed delightful. 
 The forest-lined banks were beautifully frosted with the white 
 wood violet, or blushing with beds of wild tulips; while the 
 
132 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 budding brandies of the overhanging trees above, seemed 
 fairly vivified by the thousand melodious duets that were 
 joyously bursting from the happy little hearts of these min- 
 strel lovers of the grove. 
 
 "After we had reached the open lake, we found a pretty 
 breeze blowing freshly from the westward. And the gentle- 
 man, fixing up a blanket for a sail, our little craft swept 
 through the lake right merrily, I assure you. We were soon 
 abreast of your charming situation. And I could hardly con- 
 sent to pass you without hauling up for a short morning 
 call; but the men urging that by improving the breeze we 
 could easily reach our destination by night, when otherwise 
 we might fail of so doing, I reluctantly agreed to forego the 
 pleasure of seeing you, and introducing my Green Mountain 
 Phoenix — not that I am particularly charmed with him my- 
 self, but I think you would have been gratified in beholding 
 so rare an avis, as a gentleman, as he really is, from so wild 
 and savage a region as this Green Mountain country. 
 
 "xit noon we dined quite romantically from off the middle 
 seat of our boat, on edibles furnished from our store bas- 
 ket, and neatly arranged by Zilpah. I never partook with 
 greater zest; and what with the keenness of our appetites, 
 the novelty of the afi^air, and the thousand spicy things said 
 on the occasion, I don't believe I should have enjoyed the 
 banquet of a princess with half the pleasure that I did this 
 meal. 
 
 '^After we had taken our refreshment and again got under 
 way, for we had run into a little cove, beautifully over-arched 
 by a cluster of whispering pines, the saucy rogue so managed 
 as to get Zilpah and the oarsman into one part of the boat, 
 and himself and your humble servant "into the other, with 
 our blanket sail forming an impenetrable screen between. 
 Here, after sentimentalizing and poetizing awhile over the 
 ever changing views of scenery, alternating with the majestic 
 and beautiful, as we rapidly glided by them, he began a set 
 of compliments so very pointed, and squinting loveward, but 
 at the same time so oddly framed, that I knew not whether 
 to laugh cr be angry. I should have severely chided so much 
 boldness in a stranger, however, on one or two occasions, had 
 not the provoking creature, carefully watching my counte- 
 nance, thrown in some remark that gave an entirely different 
 turn to the whole meaning of what he had begun to say. So 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 133 
 
 you see. Alma, how far I am from anything Kke the tender 
 passion in this strangely begun, and no less strangely main- 
 tained acquaintance. 
 
 "The remainder of our voyage was now mostly occupied 
 by him in giving me a history of his life as far as he knew it 
 himself, relating the singular, and certainly very romantic 
 adventures through which he passed, from his childhood to 
 the present hour. Having neither time nor space to detail 
 them now, I will only say briefly, that he was born somewhere 
 in New England, as he supposes, for he neither knows his 
 birthplace, nor the name of his parents. But by some means 
 or other falling into mercenary hands, when a mere child, 
 he was sold as a slave, — passed through several hands, and at 
 length carried over the waters, — taken into the protection of 
 a philanthropic nobleman in England, by whom he was lib- 
 erally educated, and furnished with a handsome outfit to 
 purchase a commission in the army, or seek his fortune wher- 
 ever he could find it. He then, after wandering awhile in 
 Europe, obeyed the impulses of his own heart, and came to 
 visit his own country; when, being enamored of a sylvan life, 
 and thinking he should enjoy the excitements usually to be 
 found in a border settlement, he soon found his way to the 
 ISTew Hampshire Grants, and enlisted in the controversy, 
 which he here found going on between the settlers and the 
 New Yorkers. 
 
 "By the time he had closed this very interesting and de- 
 lightfully told autobiography, we hove in sight of the castel- 
 lated establishment of the Skenes. It was then, almost for 
 the first time, that it occurred to me, that, attended as I was, 
 my meeting with the family must be an extremely awkward 
 one, since the feelings of the Major, as well as those of his 
 father, the Colonel, are known to be hostile to the Green 
 Mountain Boys, and I could not forbear hinting this to Sel- 
 den, and suggesting at the same time, the expediency of with- 
 holding from the family, till he had gone, all knowledge of 
 the late affair at the Falls, or his passing incog, among them. 
 
 " "^Oh, no!' w^as the prompt reply, ^mince no matters on my 
 account, fair lady. Having made my peace with her who is 
 most interested, and obtained an absolution for my ofi^enses — 
 have I not? at least,' he continued, with a tone and smile so 
 sweet, so tender, and yet so imploring, that I found my head 
 nodding an assent before I knew it, ^at least, may I not be 
 
134 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 permitted to hope I shall, my dear IMiss Eeed? — having done 
 this they must be singularly disposed indeed, to espouse the 
 quarrels of others if they offer me any personal disrespect. 
 'No, no, fear it not, and should you feel disposed to counte- 
 nance my remaining at this place through the night, I shall 
 gladly risk all consequences to myself from so doing.^ 
 
 ^^We had now reached the landing, and in a moment the 
 inmates of the house, who were expecting me about these 
 days, and had conjectured who we were, all rushed out, and 
 Marge and Mary Skene, with their brother, came flying like 
 two paper kites with a lubberly boy at their tails, down to 
 the boat to receive us. I don't know how I m.ade my tongue 
 do its office in returning their salutations, for my heart cer- 
 tainly leaped right up plump into my mouth, and I cannot 
 conceive how that poor little member, so shamefully belied 
 in our sex, could have possibly found room to wag! It did, 
 however, and I introduced Mr. Selden, by name, to them all. 
 The girls, I thought, seemed rather pleased that I had brought 
 them a new candidate for their toils, and so fine a looking 
 fellow into the bargain. But the Major, reckoning on the 
 possibility, I suppose, that the other might become a candi- 
 date for the toils of somebody besides sisters, looked rather 
 askew at my gentleman, nevertheless, not knovring exactly 
 vrhat might be a safe conclusion on such uncertain premises, 
 he soon brought himself to behave quite decently, and escort- 
 ed us all to the house without further ado. But further trials 
 were in store for me; for Mr. Selden, as soon as we had all 
 got comfortably seated, to my surprise, broke the ice at once 
 — and, after craving their attention a moment, while he re- 
 lieved Miss Eeed, as he said, of a task which he could readily 
 conceive would be an unpleasant one for her to perform, very 
 cooty related the whole transaction which led to his acquaint- 
 ance with me, and the consequent responsibility that devolved 
 on him of seeing me safe to my friends. 
 
 "1 felt, though I can scarcely tell why I should, like a crim- 
 inal, while Mr. Selden was making this development, which, 
 I had many fears, would involve his personal safety; not- 
 withstanding he has done nothing, as yet, he tells me, that 
 the York government consider worthy of death or bonds. 
 All seemed much surprised at what they heard, and in the 
 Major's face — that is, as soon as he could comprehend the 
 matter, for it takes an idea some time, you know, to get' 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 135 
 
 throiTgli his cranhim, and no great wonder, neither, consider- 
 ing how far it has to go — ^in the Major's face I saw evident 
 signs of a gathering storm. Bnt knowing, that on a reason- 
 able calculation, Mr. S. might count on two days at least be- 
 fore a cloud engendering in so cold a climate would become 
 sufhciently charged to be dangerous, I did not feel greatly 
 alarmed, and especialh^ so as the girls seemed disposed to laugh 
 at the affair. And Marge, on Mr. Selden's playfully pro- 
 posing to submit himself to us ladies to pass sentence for his 
 crimes, quite smartly observed, that we would sentence him 
 to an imprisonment of a week in their stone jug, as she termed 
 their house, and be let out to attend us on horseback or in a 
 boat ride each day. 
 
 ''We now passed the remainder of the evening very pleas- 
 antly. And for the next two days we almost literally inflicted 
 on Mr. Selden the sentence Vv^hich had been so queerly im- 
 posed. We read, walked, sailed, and rode alternately; and 
 a right merry time we had of it, I assure you — Mr. Selden in 
 the mean time becoming a great favorite with the girls, espe- 
 cially with Marge, to whom I thought he was rather more 
 particular than he should have been in strict politeness to 
 the rest of us. He had an object, however, I presume, in 
 conciliating the girls by his attentions. Do you think. Alma, 
 that Marge Skene is so very handsome as some pretend to 
 think her? 
 
 '• '^But where was my doughty Major in the meanw^hile?' 
 you will ask. Why he was so unaccountably busy with the 
 workmen in the field just about those days, that he could 
 not, on any account, attend us on any of our delightful excur- 
 sions. xVnd when he joined us at our meals, he was as grave 
 as a Turk. Mr. S., however, I thought, was less alarmed than 
 amused at his awfulness of countenance. 
 
 ''After two days thus spent, and on the morning of the 
 third after our arrival, Mr. S. suddenly announced to us his 
 intention of an immediate departure. The girls were evi- 
 dently touched with regret and disappointment at this unex- 
 pected announcement, thinking, perhaps, that their work was 
 but half complete. But if ever Margery, or Mary Skene, is 
 selected by him for a cynosure, I have mistaken his taste; 
 and yet, I confess, his conduct has sometimes not a little puz- 
 zled me. He thanked me for the consideration I had shown 
 him under unpleasant circumstances of our first acquaintance 
 
136 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 in a manner so handsome and feeling, that it made me feel 
 like a condemned and guilty one, when I thought of that mad 
 act of mine, which marked the introduction to which he al- 
 luded. He then very politely thanked the girls for their 
 kindness and hospitalit}^, and was about to depart, when 
 Marge found tongue to invite him to renew his visit. 
 
 " 'I know not/ he answered, somewhat pensively, ^that cir- 
 cumstances will ever permit me that pleasure in person, but 
 if you know of any wa)^, fair ladies,' — he continued, glancing 
 quite meaningly at somebody, as the girls in their jokes would 
 afterwards have it — ^any way of receiving the visits I may 
 pay you in dreams, I doubt not that you will often be favored 
 with the repetition you have so kindly invited. Adieu, ladies, 
 adieu.' 
 
 "I do not certainly know the reason of Mr. Selden's abrupt 
 departure, but from what I can gather, I suspect the Major 
 had that morning despatched an express to the authorities at 
 Albany, with a view to get the former arrested. This I pre- 
 sume, he, by some means or other, got wind of, and I am 
 glad of it, if for no other reason than that it defeated Philip's 
 jealous meanness. He gave us all quite a lecture that night 
 for being so familiar with one who was so much a stranger, 
 and threw out many ill-natured remarks about Mr. S. that 
 helped his own cause, perhaps, less than he imagined. I wish 
 heaven had made him such a man. 
 
 "I must now close this long, and, I fear, very foolish letter. 
 I dare not read it over for fear I should burn it. I shall re- 
 main here for the present — I must, I suppose, till father re- 
 turns. 0, what will he say when he hears what they have 
 done with his possessions! For myself, I care little or noth- 
 ing about it. He loses only what he paid for the land — a mere 
 trifle. As for the labor and improvements bestowed there, he 
 has been more than twice paid by the profits received. Be- 
 sides, he is wealthy enough without this property, which, I 
 really suspect, he cruelly took from the poor settlers, who 
 had as good a right to it as himself — perhaps better. 
 
 "P. S. I said I must stay here till father's return, but 
 should he tarry some months, I might contrive, perhaps, to 
 come and spend a few weeks with you. If I should, as Mr. 
 S. will be somewhere in your vicinit}^, probably, and may 
 claim me as an acquaintance, you might possibly have an 
 opportunity of being introduced to him — that is, if he knew 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 137 
 
 that I was tliere. IN'ow, my dear girl, I must bid you good-bye, 
 with the charge — now lift up your hand and swear — that you 
 will neither show this, nor breathe aught of its contents to 
 mortal ear! Eemember!! Write soon — adieu. Jessy .^^ 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 "You shall be viceroys here, 'tis true. 
 But we'll be viceroys over you." 
 
 "Wait not till things grow desperater, 
 For hanging is no laughing matter." 
 
 A few miles to the southward of the encampment of the 
 Green Mountain Boys, before described, stood the tenement 
 of a settler whose imi^rovements were somewhat in advance 
 of the rough beginnings of those who resided in the imme- 
 diate vicinity. And the owner and occupant, having gained 
 that point of comparative thrift from which he could look 
 down upon his less fortunate neighbors, had lately begun to 
 manifest an ambition to outshine them also in the civil dis- 
 tinctions to which he believed himself now entitled. But his 
 solicitude for preferment not allowing him to await the tardy 
 honors which his feilow settlers of the 'New Hampshire party 
 might be inclined to bestow, he had lately turned his longing 
 eye to other dispensers of these coveted favors. And the pray- 
 er of his heart, being secretly raade known in the right quar- 
 ter, was soon answered in the shape of an offer of the office of 
 justice of the peace from the government of New York. 
 Though aware of the dangerous nature of such an honor to 
 an inhabitant of the Grants, yet the temptation, which was 
 now set before him, and which, indeed, he had indirectly 
 sought, was altogether too great to be resisted; and, in an 
 evil hour, he privately accepted the office, in defiance of a 
 decree of the Convention of his countrymen, which had 
 placed the acceptance of such an office, from such a source, 
 by a settler, high in the calendar of punishable offenses. 
 
 To the tenement of this aspiring dignitary we will now take 
 the reader, in anticipation of other visitors. It was the next 
 
138 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 morning after the adyentiire of Warrington and his friend, 
 the stont stranger, at Captain Hendee's; and the dawning 
 light was jnst beginning to appear in the dappled east. The 
 freshly made sqnire was already awake, reflecting with pecu- 
 liar inward satisfaction on the honors of his new station, as 
 he lay beside his loving rib in a small bed-room adjoining 
 the kitchen. He had onlv the nio-ht before received his com- 
 mission, and his heart was full of the pleasing subject. He 
 not only dwelt on the present consequence which the offlce 
 would confer, but his expanding thoughts began to stretch 
 forward to the future; and he counted over the probabili- 
 ties of his advancing, on a stepping stone like this, to much 
 higher distinctions under a government, which, he was now 
 ready to believe — nay, secretly to wish — would soon exercise 
 tlie entire control in the settlement. 
 
 "They will call me squire, now,^' he soliloquized, half 
 aloud, ^'and once squire, always squire; so I shall get the 
 title, let wliat will come of it.^^ 
 
 "Come of Avhat, Mr. Prouty?^^ asked his helpmeet with a 
 3^awn, awakening just in time to catch the last part of the 
 sentence. 
 
 "Why! w^hy I thought you was asleep, Polly. Come of 
 what, did you say? ~ Oh, nothing in particular; only I have 
 been thinking over things a little. And 1^11 tell you what it 
 is — there will shortly be a great overturn in this settlement. 
 There wiH^ joii may depend on't." 
 
 "What, the Yorkers get the upper hand?^' 
 
 "Sartain as you live, Polly!" 
 
 "Then where will go the title to our farm? That was what 
 yon was talking to 3^ourself about, wan't it now?" 
 
 "]!^o, it wan't. And that ain't a thing, neither, that 
 troubles me a mite." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "Because the office I have just got under the York govern- 
 ment I consider amounts to a security against that. And if 
 the Green Mountain Boys will let me alone — but I don't in- 
 tend they shall know about my office 3'et awhile." 
 
 "Yes, but what good will it do you to be a justice, if you 
 can't be squire?" 
 
 "AYliy, what does the woman mean?" 
 
 "I mean if you darsent let folks know^, so as to call you 
 squire.'^ 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 139 
 
 ^^Ohj I can do some business, even now, among the York 
 party, without much danger. And it won4 be long before all 
 that trouble will be over: For, as I told you, there is about 
 to be a complete overturn here. The Yorkers are preparing 
 to come on with a strong armed force. N'ow don't say any- 
 thing to the neighbors about this, Polly, as I had it in confi- 
 dence from Mr. Sherwood.'^ 
 
 ^'Oh, did you? Well, that Mr. Sherwood is a complete 
 gentleman — how perlite he is! Don't you think so, Mr. 
 Prouty?'' 
 
 ^"Yes, j)erlite enough, forzino. Well, as I was going to say, 
 if they come on, Ethan Allen, Warrington, and Member 
 Baker, with all they can raise, will stand no fag at all with a 
 regular York army. And all who stand out then will be in- 
 dicted and informationed against. There will be plenty of 
 warrants called for about those days, you may depend on't. 
 And I, being the only government justice in this part of the 
 Grants, shall have the making of them. It will be money in 
 my pocket, I tell you, Polly. And then, when^' — 
 
 "Well, i hope you will then feel like getting me a new 
 silk gownd. You know, Mr. Prouty, that my white dimoty 
 is now the onlv dress that I have fit to see company in." 
 
 "Oh, fudge!'' 
 
 "I say there is no fudge about it, now ! The neighbors call 
 us rich, and still it is a solemn fact, Mr. Prouty, and I don't 
 care who knows it, that you dress your wife a great deal 
 worse than" — 
 
 "'Well, well, don^t bother me now; but hear what I was 
 coming at: When the York government gets well established 
 here, as it will be, they will want two or three Judges in this 
 quarter, I guess, and I being the only one in all this section, 
 that had courage to accept the office of justice of peace, 
 shouldn't you think, Polly, they would kind o' naturally hit 
 on me for one of them?" 
 
 "Why, bless me! will they? So they will, won't they? 
 And then, certainly, Mr. Prouty" — 
 
 "Hush! hush! I hear somebody coming up to the door. 
 Who on earth can they be, I wonder, that's started out so 
 early?" 
 
 A smart rapping now being heard at the door. Justice 
 Prouty leaped from his bed, seized his — ^inexpressibles, mod- 
 fim dandyism would term them, we suppose, but finding no 
 
140 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 authority for believing our fathers made use of any garment 
 the appropriate appellation of which they considered it in- 
 decent to express, we will venture to call things by their right 
 names — seized his breeches, hurried them on, together with 
 the other parts of his outward equipment, and emerged into 
 the kitchen, after having twice gone back, at his wife^s hasty 
 and imperious call, to close, and more tightly close, the door 
 behind him. After the customary '"'walk in,^' distinctly pro- 
 nounced by the Squire, the door was opened, and two men 
 entered, both unknown to the former, though not so to those 
 who have followed us through all the different scenes of the 
 preceding pages: For, in the striking altitude of one of the 
 visitants, which compelled the civility of bowing, nolens, 
 volens, as he entered the door, like a boy coming, into a coun- 
 try school, and in the comical leer of his countenance, as v^^ith 
 one eye he seemed to be measuring the afi'ectedly dignified 
 person of his host, while the other was busily employed in 
 taldng an inventory of the various articles about the room, 
 the reader will find no difficulty in recognizing our jovial 
 friend, Pete Jones. The other, whose dress and gentlemanly 
 bearing formed a striking contrast with that of his rustic 
 companion, was no other than Selden, v^^ho, as before inti- 
 mated, having arrived the previous evening, had volunteered 
 with the former to make this early call on the justice, to pro- 
 cure his immediate attendance at their encampment in the 
 woods. 
 
 "Be seated, gentlemen, pray be seated/' said the Squire, 
 bustling about, and setting chairs for his guests with one 
 hand, and finishing the buttoning up of his vest with the 
 other, "make yourselves comfortable — no ceremony here — 
 just turned out, you see. Called on business, I take it, gen- 
 tlemen?" he added, meaning official business, on which his 
 mind was still running, and the wish, in this case, as often 
 happens, proving father to the thought. 
 
 "We have, sir,'' answered Selden, bowing with well as- 
 sumed respect. "You are a justice of the peace we are told?" 
 
 "Why, as to that, sir," replied Prout}^, hesitating, and 
 glancing with a doubtful air, alternately at Selden and his 
 companion, "perhaps I may have heard — that is, I can't sart- 
 ainly say, but I have heard that I was appointed to the office; 
 though as to accepting — You are of the right party, I trust, 
 gentlemen?" 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 141 
 
 "We certain!}' tliink we are, at least, sir/' rejoined the for- 
 mer gravely. 
 
 "That's as true as preaching, Squire," said Pete; "for if 
 we ain't on the right side, I would give my old jack-knife to 
 know who are." 
 
 "All right, I presume, gentlemen; but rather ticklish times, 
 you know — ^thought it no hurt to be a little particular. But 
 what business did you want done? x^o harm in asking that, 
 I s'pose, gentlemen?" said the Squire, adding the last ques- 
 tion by way of opening a door for a retreat, should one be 
 necessary. 
 
 "Oh, no," replied Selden, "but I know not that I can state 
 precisely the nature of the business v/hich those, who sent us 
 for you, wish done, but it is something, I believe, that they 
 think requires your presence." 
 
 "0, ho, not to be done here, then, gentlemen?" observed 
 the Squire, a little doubtingiy, again. 
 
 "I^To, sir, the place is several miles from here, I should 
 think," responded Selden with an air of indifference. 
 
 "Is Mr. Sherwood there?" asked the Squire, rather 
 anxiously. 
 
 "I believe not. Squire," answered Selden, wdth the same in- 
 difference, "but they are anxious he should be, and hope he 
 will come before closing the business." 
 
 "I'll swear to that. Squire," said Jones, with a ludicrous 
 effort to keep mischief from showing itself in his countenance. 
 
 "Aye, all right th^n, gentlemen," rejoined the Squire, still 
 stupidly determined to understand the indefinite and evasive 
 language of his visitors, in the way that his wishes pointed. 
 "But I thought I would make sure. You, sir," he continued, 
 addressing Selden, "I thought from the first glance must be- 
 long to the right party. This other gentleman, here, I don't 
 know so well about, but it makes no difference what I thought, 
 as I see you agree. I will attend you, gentlemen. But hadn't 
 we better stop and get some breakfast first?" 
 
 "Oh, no," replied Selden, "they expressly told us to come on 
 immediately, and the folks would have a good breakfast pre- 
 pared for us all, by the time we could arrive there." 
 
 Esquire Prouty, after notifying his wife of his intended 
 absence, now signified his readiness to depart; when all three 
 set forward towards the encampment of the Green Mountain 
 Boys, the former without further question, or any apparent 
 
142 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 distrust^ putting himself under the guidance of liis attendants. 
 And wrapped up in self consequence, and dreaming only of 
 the important figure he was shortly to make in the first ex- 
 ercise of his new vocation, he unhesitatingly followed his 
 guides, as with rapid stej^s they silently led the way, some- 
 times proceeding in the road, sometimes through a piece of 
 woods, and sometimes through open fields. At length they 
 reached the border of the dark, continuous forest, within 
 which, at the distance of about a half mile, was the encamp- 
 ment to wliich they were destined; when the Squire, now 
 for the first time hesitating, or seeming to entertain any sus- 
 picion that they were taking him to a less agreeable destina- 
 tion than he had anticipated, paused in his steps, and threw 
 a doubtful and apprehensive glance around him. 
 
 '^Never mind, Squire,^' cried Jones, who, having with diffi- 
 culty restrained himself from giving vent, in some shape or 
 other, to the secret merriment he had been indulging on the 
 way, at the Squire's credulity in suffering himself to be so fool- 
 ishly lured from home, thought it would now do to begin to 
 banter the obtuse justice a little, "never mind. Squire, you 
 needn't look so streaked — we belong to the right party, you 
 know." 
 
 "Yes, but if you would but Jest inform me, gentlemen" — 
 said the other imploringly and with visible perturbation — 
 "only jest inform me" 
 
 "Oh, push ahead, man!" interrupted Jones, who purposely 
 dropping in the rear, now urged on the reluctant Squire with 
 a show of pettish impatience, as if detained by excuses too 
 frivolous to merit a reply, "push ahead, my stomach is getting 
 fairly wolfish for that breakfast. I'll be blessed if I don't 
 almost think I begin to smell it at this' distance!" 
 
 Somewhat assured by the other's manner of treating his 
 scruples, and, though not quite satisfied, yet feeling a little 
 ashamed of his fears, the Squire now passively sufrered him- 
 self to be conducted forward, till, reaching the foot of the 
 mountain, and turning closely round a projecting ledge of 
 rocks, he suddenly, and to his utter disma}^ found himself in 
 the midst of a group of sturdy men, whom, from their appear- 
 ance, he at once knew to be a band of Green Mountain Boys. 
 Instantly comprehending the nature of their business with 
 him, he stopped short, and stood confused, and trembling in 
 mute alarm before them. Nor were his fears at all dimin- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. U'6 
 
 islied by the array of well known names, wliicli his conductor 
 the next moment announced by way of introduction, the 
 ceremonies of which the latter now commenced performing 
 very formally with these nearest at hand. 
 
 ^'Esquire Prouty, allow me to present you to Captain Ke- 
 member Baker/' began Selden, pompously weaving his hand 
 towards a keen-eyed, determined looking man, who stood in 
 front of the others. 
 
 The confused Squire nodded his head mechanically, but 
 his tongue refused to do its office, except by a half articulated 
 '^^How'd do, sir,'' as he heard the name of one of that famous 
 trio, who had so long been the terror of the E'ew York au- 
 thorities. 
 
 "Again, Esquire Prouty, will you permit me the pleasure 
 of presenting you to Captain Charles Warrington?" pro- 
 ceeded Selden, as the latter advanced to favor the introduc- 
 tion. 
 
 "Warrington!" gasped the Squire, with increased trepida- 
 tion, "Warrington too!" 
 
 "And yet once more," continued the imperturbable Lieu- 
 tenant, beckoning to our Herculean hero of the shag coat, who 
 figured so conspicuously at Captain Hendee's, in his adven- 
 ture with the soldiers the night previous, and who was now 
 here and came forward at the intimation, "once more, Es- 
 cjuire Prouty, shall I have the very great honor of introduc- 
 ing you to Colonel Ethan Allen?" 
 
 "God have mercy on me!" involuntarily burst from the 
 lips of the affrighted justice, as the announcement of the 
 last name capped the climax of his terror and despair, "Oh, 
 God have mercy! I am a lost man!" 
 
 "Pooh! you cowardly fool!" exclaimed Allen, with a look 
 of mingled pity and contempt, "rouse up, and bear it like a 
 man, and if you promise no more to betray your injured and 
 bleeding country by becoming the tool of tyrants, it shall 
 go the lighter with you. At all events, you need not fear that 
 you will be punished to the extent of half your deserts. 
 But come, boys, set on the breakfast. It might be hazardous 
 to our prisoners, the Squire and surveyor here, to proceed 
 with them, with the inward man in so ravenous a plight; for 
 Hunger and Mercy never got near enough to each other 
 to shake hands since the fall of Adam. And even the awards 
 
 lO 
 
144 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 of Justice lierself^ niiglit "be questionable rectitiide^ if made 
 under the irritations of an empty stomach." 
 
 The breakfast^ which consisted of a plentiful supply of 
 roasted venison, partridges, and other small game, with such 
 trimmings as the settlers living near, and in the secret of the 
 encampment, had sent in, was served up on a rude kind of 
 platform, composed of smooth white pieces cleft from the 
 freely rifting bass wood, and supported on cross pieces laid 
 upon forked stakes, or crotches, as they are usually denomi- 
 nated in the woodman's phrase. Around this temporary table, 
 benches of an equally rude construction were placed suffi- 
 cient for the accommodation of all the company, including 
 the prisoners, now consisting of the Squire, the surveyor, and 
 his assistant, all of whom v»^ere respectfully shown places at 
 the table. The meal was generally partaken in silence, the 
 officers seeming to fear that too much sociability might have 
 a tendenc}^ to unnerve them for the task on hand, and the 
 men respectfully "followed the example of their superiors, 
 with the exception of Pete Jones, who could not forbear oc- 
 casionally throwing a sly joke at the chop-fallen Squire. 
 
 •'ISrow gentlemen, for business,'' said Allen, rising from 
 the table the moment their meal was finished, as ominously 
 knitting his dark, heavy brows, he pulled from his pocket, 
 and in a loud commanding voice, commenced reading a decree 
 of the Convention, forbidding ^^Each and all of the inhabi- 
 tants of the New Hampshire Grants, to hold, take, or accept, 
 any office of honor or profit imder the colony of N'ew York" 
 — and requiring ^^All officers and others, acting under the 
 Governor or Legislature of that province, to suspend their 
 functions, on pain of being viewed." . Pie then produced a 
 letter from a secret agent of the settlers at Albany, giving 
 the date of Prouty's commission, and enclosing a letter from 
 the Squire himself, accepting the office in question. He 
 also sent a copy of a notice some weeks previous to the sur- 
 veyor, warning him to quit the Grants without delay. 
 
 "And now what have ye to say?" sternly demanded Allen, 
 turning to the prisoners as soon as he had finished reading 
 the documents. "What have ye to say, ye minions of York, 
 why ye should not be viewed, to the full extent and meaning 
 of the decree, made and provided for the like of ye?" 
 
 Quailing under the withering gaze of Allen, the justice 
 could not muster courage to lift his head, or utter a single 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 145 
 
 word in reply. But the surveyor^ who was a man of more 
 firmness, and bore liimself quite collectedly on the occasion, 
 attempted an argument with the leader of the Green Moun- 
 tain Boys, denying all right of the settlers to arrest him, pro- 
 testing against being tried by any but a court acting under 
 the authority of New York, and appealing to that authority 
 for his justification. 
 
 "The authority of New York!'' scornfully exclaimed the 
 other, "appeal to the authority of New York! Why not ap- 
 peal, at once, to the chancery of hell, the fountain head of 
 that stream of corruption which comes to us under the name 
 of New York law and justice? We, sir, we, the poor and 
 insufferably abused settlers of these Grants, have often aj)- 
 pealed to that source of justice — appealed for protection 
 against the lawless aggressions of your cormorant speculators, 
 who have attempted to wrest from us our rightful posses- 
 sions, to seize, with the grasp of plunderers, our hard earned 
 pittances, and turn us out, houseless and destitute, into the 
 wilderness. But we have appealed in vain, and only to learn 
 our own folly in expecting that sin would ever be rebuked by 
 Satan. No, sir, we will suffer no such appeal, but will our- 
 selves give you a conclusive judgment in the premises; and 
 such an one, too, as shall give you the wages of your iniquities. 
 What say you, my merry mountaineers?'' 
 
 As soon as the hearty, but variously expressed responses, 
 by which the men testified their approbation of the remarks 
 of their leader, we3?e over. Baker, Warrington, and Selden, 
 who during the discussion, had been engaged in a low con- 
 versation apart from the rest, beckoned Allen to approach 
 them. The latter, obeying the intimation, advanced, and, 
 after listening attentively awhile to some proposal or plan, 
 which the others appeared to be imparting to him, snapped 
 his fingers wit-h delight, and exclaimed: 
 
 "Capital! capital, by Jupiter!" he repeated, bringing down 
 his huge palm upon the snugly fitting buckskin, covering 
 his broad thigh, with a slap that echoed through the woods 
 like the report of a pistol. " 'Member, you shall announce 
 it to them, and I will see that it is carried into execution." 
 
 Baker accordingly stepped forward and addressing the 
 surveyor, gravely informed him, that it had been determined 
 to accede to the wish he had expressed, of being tried, if he 
 was to be tried at all, by a court of his own colony. And 
 
 10 
 
146 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 that Justice Proiity, who had lately been commissioned by 
 the government of New York_, would therefore now immedi- 
 ately proceed with the trial. 
 
 ^^Oh, gentleman^ oh^ sir!" began Pronty, beseechingly^ as 
 Allen now came forward to attend to the part he had pro- 
 posed to assume in the business. 
 
 "JSTow don't. Justice Prouty/' interrupted Selden, with pro- 
 voking irony, "don't, I beg of you, suffer your diffidence to 
 deprive us of the aid of your acknowledged abilities in this 
 important case. Having had the honor of introducing you to 
 this company, I am very anxious that you should acquit 
 yourself creditably on the occasion." 
 
 "Yes, sir, but then my situation" — again began to expostu- 
 late the troubled justice. 
 
 "Come, your worship," interrupted Allen, with a spice of 
 the comic mingled with the determined expression of his 
 countenance, "you are to tr}^, and to sentence this York inter- 
 loper, and no two ways about it, neither, I will swear to you. 
 There!" he continued, seizing the reluctant and trembling 
 Squire, with one hand grasping the seat of his breeches, and 
 the other his collar, and lifting and placing him on the side 
 of the platform, with the apparent ease of one handling an 
 infant: "There! sit on the edge of this table, for a King's 
 Bench. You did not think to arrive to that honor so soon, 
 did you. Squire?" 
 
 "ISTow,. Squire," said Peter Jones, with one of his mis- 
 chievous looks, "may I be eternally happy, if I don't think you 
 a considerable dabster of a prophet! Don't you see how 
 cute it is all coming to pass what you told your old woman 
 this morning about your getting to be a judge soon? Though 
 I must axe your pardon, Squire, for listening under your bed- 
 room window a little, before we rapped to come in." 
 
 "Well, is the court ready to proceed?" said Allen. "Now 
 for my opening, as the lawyers say — I am for the prosecu- 
 tion, recollect." 
 
 "Now I do protest — I beseech you, sir" — once more began 
 to stammer the confused and dreadfully perplexed justice. 
 
 "Shut up, sir!" fiercely exclaimed Allen. "Hell and Furies! 
 who ever heard of a court before so despotic as to refuse to 
 hear the statements of counsel? No, no, Mr. Court, that 
 will never do, so now hear me." 
 
 The Squire, thus awed into silence, hung his head, and sat 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 147 
 
 as still as his agitation would permit^ while the other pro- 
 duced, and again read the documents by which he had first 
 introduced the subject; and, after briefly summing up the 
 evidence, demanded that a sentence be imposed upon the 
 surveyor of forty lashes of the beech rod. 
 
 "I dispute the authority of your pretended Convention, 
 and I protest against the whole of these proceedings as illegal 
 and riotous," exclaimed the surveyor, with considerable spirit. 
 
 ^^Well, very well, sir," said Allen, with the utmost com- 
 posure; "you have had your say, and made your defense, as 
 you had an undoubted right to do. I am always for liberty 
 of speech when a man has really anything to say, and also for 
 allowing a fair hearing in all cases, though that is more than 
 your infernal York tribunals will permit, in nine cases out 
 of ten. But let us now attend to the decision of the court. 
 Boys, you may as well be getting a brace of genteel beech- 
 sealers; for I feel very confident of a decision in my favor. 
 'Now, Mr. Justice, proceed with your sentence. Forty stripes, 
 with a green beech rod is all I claim, recollect — quite mod- 
 erate, certainly; but it is always best to lean towards the side 
 of mercy. Proceed, sir!" 
 
 "Anything else, gentlemen," groaned the distressed Squire, 
 "I will do anything else you say. But this, now, I cannot, 
 and dare not do." 
 
 "Hark^ee, Mr. Court," rejoined the other, placing his arms 
 akimbo, and looking at the justice with the air of one re- 
 solved to have no nrore words on the subject, "a sentence out 
 of you I will have, as sure as the devil delays his coming 
 for your soul long enough for you to pronounce it. Will 
 you proceed, sir? I^To answer, eh? Well, we will soon see 
 whether Ethan Allen has got to eat his own words, or not. 
 Jones, bring me that surveyor's chain in the camp, there." 
 
 Allen, taking out his pocket handkerchief, very deliberately 
 made a slip noose, and adjusted it round the neck of the trem- 
 bling Squire. He next carefully tied the tail of this noose 
 to one end of the chain, throwing the other end, at the same 
 time, over the large limb of a tree, which projected directly 
 over their heads, at the height of twelve or fifteen feet from 
 the ground. 
 
 "There, Jones, catch that end, and just straighten her out a 
 little," he observed, with a cool, business-like air. "I have 
 heard say that hanging was intended to bring about justice. 
 
i48 THE GilBEN MOUNTAIN BOYg. 
 
 Let us see if a little of it won^t have that effect in the present 
 instance/' 
 
 Obeying with mischievons alacrity, Pete, now running the 
 chain rapidly over the limb, brought it np jnst ^^tant enough/^ 
 to use a sea phrase, to make the noose sensibly felt by the 
 Squire; upon which the latter, staring and glaring wildly 
 around, as a slight sense of suffocation came over him, leaped 
 upon his feet, and stood upright. This shift, however, af- 
 forded him but a momentary relief: for Jones quickly fol- 
 lowed up the movement, straightening the chain with a jerk 
 that brought the victim on to his toes; in which ]oosition, 
 grappling the chain above his head with both hands, and 
 begging, like a half whipped school boy, for mercy, he was 
 suffered to remain a moment, to give him one more opportuni- 
 ty of complying with the requisition which had been made 
 upon him. 
 
 "Your last chance of salvation!" exclaimed the leader, in 
 a tone that testified his growing impatience at the man's ob- 
 stinacy. "You will comply in one moment more, or, by the 
 horned Lucifer, the next shall find you dangling v/ithin a 
 yard of yonder limb!" 
 
 "j^ow I would, gentlemen, sartainly would if" — again be- 
 gan to splutter the struggling, though yet unconquered 
 Squire. 
 
 "String him up, Jones!" cried Allen, with startling energy. 
 
 The next instant the body of the poor justice was spinning 
 round on one toe, with the tip of which he was barely able 
 to touch the platform. 
 
 "Oh! I'm choking!" screeched the now really suffering 
 wretch. "Oh! ugh! ugh! ugh! I will: — mil — I'll do it!" 
 
 "Ease away there, Jones!" said Allen, "he has come to his 
 senses at last, and I think there will be no further trouble; so 
 you may give him full play now." 
 
 After being again questioned as to the reality of his inten- 
 tions to proceed with the required task, the subdued Squire 
 was let fully down, and permitted to stand at ease on the 
 platform; when, as soon as he had recovered his breath and 
 composure sufficiently to allow him to speak, he mumbled 
 off the sentence, which he had run such a risk to avoid pro- 
 nouncing. 
 
 "Now, Mr. Court," said Allen, with a slightly roguish curl 
 of the lip, "as you have been brought to a sense of your duty, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 149 
 
 and given the sentence wMch Justice required of you, it is no 
 doubt incumbent on you, sir, to see it executed. And, as all 
 my men here stand sworn never to execute any sentence of a 
 York magistrate, it follows, of course, that you must be the 
 executioner yourself, in the present case; so now dismount, 
 sir, if you please, take this rod, and, after I have unnoosed you 
 of this marvelous j)rompter of justice," he continued, tak- 
 ing off the noose, and placing a beechen rod in the hands of 
 the other, you will proceed to apply it in a way that shall show 
 the sincerity of what you have just said and done. Boys, 
 you may take off the surveyor's coat, and then form a ring, 
 with a few switches in your hands, if you will, to see that 
 justice is duly administered on the occasion. There, that will 
 do. Well, Squire, we are now ready to proceed — what! hes- 
 itating again! Jones, seize the end of that chain, there, and 
 be ready, while I replace the noose." 
 
 But Prouty, having had quite as many of such promptings 
 as he felt willing to receive, did not wait to be noosed again, 
 but lifting the rod, moved forward, as if ready to perform the 
 required task, without further resistance. Allen then ad- 
 vanced and threw another rod down at the feet of the sur- 
 veyor, gravely observing — 
 
 "There, Mr. Surveyor, supposing from what you have 
 thrown out here, that you think the court have sentenced 
 you unjustly, we have concluded that, while he is executing 
 the sentence on you, we will give you a chance to avenge the 
 injury. You have tlierefore our free and full permission to 
 return blow for blow through the whole of it. Indeed, sir, I 
 should rather advise you to do it; for our boys here, who are 
 great sticklers for fair play, may take it into their heads, per- 
 haps, to say that it would be unjust for one Yorker to re- 
 ceive all the honors of the day, without imparting an equitable 
 share to his fellow. And in case you should neglect to do 
 what they think is about right, I know not what may happen 
 to you. And now, Mr. Justice," he continued, turning sternly 
 to Prouty, "now, Mr. Justice, be lively, and with the fear of 
 God and Ethan i^Uen before your eyes, lay on, sir!" 
 
 It would be difficult to conceive anything more strangely 
 ludicrous than the scene that followed. The reluctant Squire, 
 daring no longer to delay, novv^ gave tv/o or three faint and 
 harmless blows across the legs of the surveyor; when he was 
 admonished by Allen, in a tone which experience had taught 
 
150 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 him pretty well liow to interpret, to lay on more seriously. 
 Spurred up by his fears, the justice then began to administer 
 the applications of his rod with about that medium degree of 
 violence, which, producing all the smart of heavier blows 
 without the benumbing antidote of bruising, is always far 
 more irritating, and is generally, perhaps, even more intensely 
 painful to the victim than blows of double the severity. At 
 all events, the Squire's applications soon produced a very 
 visible effect on the surveyor, who, till this stage of the busi- 
 ness, had stood eyeing the proceedings in dogged silence. 
 But now leaping about, and being no longer able to stand 
 the pain which the Squire's applications began to impart, he 
 hastity caught up the rod at his feet, and, swearing with spite- 
 ful bitterness, that he would put it on, to punish the other 
 for suffering himself to become the tool of a m.ob, gave back 
 the blows with so much interest that it soon roused in turn the 
 ire of the justice, who, now beginning to dance to the same 
 tune, and from the same cause which had put his opponent 
 in motion, fell to, and laid on in good earnest. Becoming 
 thus mutually incensed, and the anger of each rapidly 
 kindling at the increased pain of his adversary's applications, 
 every blow from the one was followed by a heavier blow 
 from the other. And, the blows falling heavier 
 and thicker every instant, it soon grew into one of the most 
 severe and furious flagellations ever witnessed in the settle- 
 ment, and one that was amply satisfactory to our band of 
 Green Mountain Boys, who stood by, sending forth shout 
 after shout, and peal after peal of laughter, that fairly shook 
 the slumbering wilderness with the deafening reverberations. 
 And so deeply engaged had become these accustomed digni- 
 taries in administering to each other this whimsically con- 
 ceived, and queerly conducted punishment, that it was not 
 till they had exceeded the prescribed number of stripes by 
 nearly a dozen, that either of them thought of ^delding. 
 Prouty, however, being of a less obstinate disposition, and 
 possessing less nerve than the other, at length gave over, and 
 cried lustily for quarter, which, even then, so implacable had 
 the surveyor become, was only granted him on the interposi- 
 tion of the Green Mountain Boys. 
 
 "Well, Squire," said Jones, the only man who seemed dis- 
 posed to make any comments at the close of this curious 
 scene, ^^don't you think these Yorkers most cruel bloody fel- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 151 
 
 lows? Ah! jest as I told you, Squire, we belong to the right 
 party." 
 
 The business of the morning having been thus brought to 
 a close. Justice Prouty, with an admonition to go and learn 
 wisdom from folly, was released and sent home. The sur- 
 veyor's instruments were next broken to pieces by Allen, and 
 the fragments hurled into the bushes. The surveyor himself, 
 with his assistant, who had not been considered of public con- 
 sequence enough to be punished, was then put in charge of 
 Jones and Brown, who were ordered to escort them to the 
 New York line, and there leave them. 
 
 Within half an hour from the departure of the prisoners, the 
 encampment of the Green Mountain Boys under Snake Moun- 
 tain was broken up, and the place deserted, the different in- 
 dividuals composing the band, after a brief consultation, hav- 
 ing been dispatched by their enterprising and impetuous 
 leader, in various directions, on secret business connected 
 with the important events which were in train, and the new 
 and untried scenes which were now soon to follow. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 "Strong hands in harvest, daring feet in chase, 
 True hearts in tight, were gathered in that place 
 Of secret council." 
 
 If there is a town in Vermont whose first set of inhabitants 
 deserved the- appellation of high-minded and worthy, it was 
 the early settlers of Middlebury. Distinguished, from their 
 first pitch on the fertile banks of the Otter, for enterprise, 
 firmness and intelligence, they were among the foremost to 
 resist the aggressions of a government, which, unwittingl)^, 
 perhaps, had lent itself to aid the unprincipled schemes of a 
 few rapacious land speculators; while the opening scenes of 
 our revolution founcl them ready to engage, with the same 
 alacrity, and with the best of their means in the greater work 
 of achieving the independence of their whole country. And 
 
152 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 scarcely had the storm of war passed over^ and the snnhght 
 of peace began to break in on their infant settlement^ before 
 they united^ with a zeal as extraordinary, considering their 
 circumstances and means, as it was commendable, in rearing, 
 by private miinmcence alone, a collegiate institution which 
 for many succeeding years did more, probably, towards elevat- 
 ing the moral and literary character of Vermont, than any one 
 cause operating within her borders. And her alumni, now 
 many of them in eminence at the bar, and in the pulpit, and 
 found gracing not only every station in their own favored 
 country, from the humble school room, to the senate cham- 
 ber of the nation, but nobly dispensing her light among the 
 people of every clime upon the face of the broad earth, 
 whither, in the fearless and enterprising spirit of their fath- 
 ers, they have scattered themselves, — now to teach the arts 
 to the boorish Euss, or besotted Turk, now to assist the en- 
 slaved Greek, or South American, in his struggles for free- 
 dom, and now to rear the standard of the Cross among the de- 
 graded pagans of the East — her grateful alupani, often, often 
 turn back, in fancy, to their beloved Alma Mater, 
 
 "To linger delighted o'er scenes recall'd there," 
 
 and admire, and bless the noble and self-sacrificing spirit of 
 Painter, Chipman, Storrs, and others of her munificent found- 
 ers, who made themselves poor in pecuniary estate, that 
 the children of their country might become rich in knowledge. 
 
 With these remarks, suggested by the location of the scene 
 about to be described, and their expression here prompted by 
 the personal interest which the writer- of these unworthy 
 pages must ever feel in that institution, in which he was 
 taught at once his weakness and his strength, and to which 
 he is mainly indebted for the schooling and chastening of a 
 wild and untutored imagination, and for the formation of 
 whatever mental character he may possess; with these re- 
 marks, we say, let us now proceed in the narration of our 
 story. 
 
 Could one of the fabled scenes drawn by the immortal 
 Homer have been so far realized, on the 4th of May, 1775, 
 that ^lars, the supposed supervisor of every military enter- 
 prise, had sat in his cloud begirt chariot over that tract of 
 country lying between Lake Champlain and the Grcon Moun- 
 
l^HE GfiEBN Mountain boys. 153 
 
 tains, to take note of whatever in liis line of business might 
 be on foot below, he might have perceived, on looking down 
 from his lofty car, near the close of that day, movements 
 among the inhabitants of the particular section just named, 
 so simultaneous, and yet so apparently unconcerted, that even 
 his godship, himself, unless previously in the secret, would 
 have been sadly puzzled to decide in what manner to account 
 for them. Nearly every man could have been seen leaving 
 his home for some point not far to the south of those falls 
 on Otter Creek, around which the flourishing village of Mid- 
 dlebury now stands. Though all would have seemed gradual- 
 ly centering to this spot, yet this would have been the only 
 point of agreement discoverable in their movements, or ap- 
 parent objects. — Some carried axes on their shoulders, some 
 hoes, or other implements of husbandr}^, and some had guns, 
 with which they appeared to be amusing themselves, as they 
 passed along, by shooting squirrels, or whatever small game 
 might fall in their way. And, in no instance, were two men 
 seen traveling together; and, if by chance any two happened 
 to come across each other, they immediately separated, one 
 stopping till the other had passed out of sight, or both diverg- 
 ing into different, though parallel routes. The exact point 
 of their concentration was at length seen to be an opening in 
 the wilderness, on a gentle swell of land, commanding a view 
 of the devious Otter from its western side, l^ear the cen- 
 ter of this opening stood a log house tenanted by a hardy 
 and enterprising settler, a confidential friend of the master 
 spirit of this clandestine gathering. A barn also of the same 
 construction, and of dimensions ample enough to hold half 
 a regiment within its walls, was standing some rods in the 
 rear of the house. This huge fabric, as it finally appeared, 
 had been selected, both on account of its size, and the central 
 position which it occupied in the northern part of the Grants, 
 for the approaching meeting of the Green Mountain Boys. 
 And as the shades of evening began to gather over the wil- 
 derness, and individual objects grew indistinct to the view, 
 many a dark form might be discovered emerging, one by one, 
 from every point of the surrounding woods and stealthily tak- 
 ing their way in silence towards the building appointed for 
 their rendezvous. 
 
 But leaving this company to finish their noiseless gather- 
 ing, we will now recur to note the adventures of one of our 
 
154 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 heroes on his way to the scene of action. We speak in the 
 plural here, as we do not pretend to fix on an}^ one of the sev- 
 eral leading personages of our story as the particular hero of 
 the work. — But should the reader deem such an one to he 
 essential in the performance, we leave him to make his own 
 selection from all the characters we have introduced — a privi- 
 lege to the reader, which, we trust, will prevent any question 
 in his mind whether the author himself has selected the one 
 for this honor who is the most worthy of the appellation: 
 and a privilege too, that we the more freely accord, since we 
 have often wished for the same favor ourselves, while reading 
 works of this kind, and bored with the everlasting recurrence 
 of "our hero," applied, not unfrequently, to the worst drawn, 
 and b}^ far the most spiritless character in the book. 
 
 After the separation of our band in the morning, the lead- 
 ers, as before intimated, were actively engaged through a good 
 part of the day in -calling upon the settlers to sound their 
 views and feelings in regard to the approaching struggle be- 
 tween the colonies and mother country, and to apprise them, 
 if found right in sentiments, and ripe for action, as was gen- 
 erally the case, of the contemplated meeting, and the precau- 
 tions deemed important to be observed in conducting it. 
 
 Warrington, having performed the task allotted to him as 
 his share of the delicate, and sometimes difficult duty, set 
 out, late in the afternoon, for the appointed rendezvous of 
 the evening. After leaving the vicinity of the lake, to the 
 borders of which his duties had been principally confined, he 
 soon entered the woods, and having decided on the course 
 to be taken, proceeded onward with a rapid step several miles 
 towards his destination without pausing." But at length feel- 
 ing somewhat wearied with the exertions of the day, he sat 
 down to rest him, for a few moments, on the trunk of a fallen 
 tree, and was dreamily running over in his mind the singular 
 events of the past few days, when his attention was arrested 
 by a clicking sound, resembling that which attends the cock- 
 ing of a musket. While looking around him in doubt whether 
 his senses had not deceived him, in respect to the impression 
 they conveyed of the sound, he distinctly heard the snapping 
 of a fire-lock in a thicket at no great distance from the spot 
 he occupied. Springing upon his feet, he brought his own 
 rifle to his shoulder, and, stepping behind a tree, awaited in 
 silence the result,, which, he supposed, whatever the cause 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 155 
 
 of the movement, would soon be disclosed. But hearing noth- 
 ing further, and concluding that the sound came from some 
 hunter, who, having gained sight of game, and snapping his 
 piece at it, had noiselessly crept off after it in another direc- 
 tion, he thought hut little more on the subject at this time, 
 and soon leisurely proceeded on his way. The walk of half 
 a mile now brought him to that dead and desolate stream, 
 whose name, at the present day, "Lemon Fair," has so often 
 proved a puzzler to the stranger traversing this section of 
 the country, and led him to ask the cause of so singular an ap- 
 pellation. The explanation that follows, however, reconciles 
 the apparent incongruity in a way as simple and curious as it 
 is generally unexpected. And the inquirer is soon enabled to 
 trace this before unaccountable name, from "Lemon Fair,^' 
 through "Lamen Fair,^' to the lamentable affair! which is 
 said to have burst from the agonized bosom of a traveler, who 
 once, in attempting to ford the stream, was doomed to the 
 pain of witnessing his noble steed become inextricably mired, 
 and, sinking deeper and deeper at every effort to clear him- 
 self, finally disappear with fearful death-struggles, in the bot- 
 tomless quags of this Styx of Vermontane rivers. Warrington 
 here paused to note the air of peculiar dreariness and gloom, 
 which, even at this day, seems to brood over this paradise of 
 eels and owls — ^the former finding their Elysium in the stag- 
 nant, muddy and root-tangled pools of the stream, and the lat- 
 ter on the decayed iimbs of the long colonnade of dead and 
 . leafless trees lining the banks, where they sit moping and 
 gloating over their inexhaustible storehouse of countless rep- 
 tiles swarming in the dark and turbid waters beneath. And 
 while standing upon the banks of this stream, with his mind 
 thus engrossed, he was startled by +Le sharp report of a rifle, 
 bursting from- a fallen tree-top on a knoll at the distance of 
 some eight or ten rods behind him; v/hile at the same instant, 
 a bullet, passing through his coat between his arm and body, 
 struck and buried itself on the dry and barkless surface of a 
 tree, standing a few yards before him. Whirling suddenly 
 round towards the covert from which the shot issued, as now 
 plainly indicated by a light cloud of diffusing smoke, he again 
 quickly brought his rifle to his shoulder, and stood for a few 
 seconds straining his vision for a sight of the invisible foe. 
 But being unable to discover any object with such certainty 
 m would justify his returning the fire^ he suddenly changed 
 
156 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 3iis purpose, and leaped forward with all possible speed to- 
 ^va^ds^ the place. In one moment he stood on the spot just 
 occupied by his dastard assailant, when he succeeded in catch- 
 ing a glimpse of a dark form rapidly retreating over another 
 iBwell into a thick and tangled swamp. His first impulse was 
 •to recommence the pursuit; but a second thought told him 
 that it would probably be in vain, while it uselessly exposed 
 ijiim to the hazard of another shot of his enemy from some 
 concealment, which he would have time to gain unperceived. 
 Jle therefore reluctantly turned and retraced his steps to the 
 stream he had just left. 
 
 ^ From the form and motions of the assassin, although in a 
 disguised dress, Warrington was but little at loss in identify- 
 ing him with Darrow, whom he had twice met and as often 
 frustrated in his base, or, to say the least, very questionable 
 designs. And coupling the improbability that the fellow was 
 ■acting from his own promptings in his murderous attempt, 
 "with the friendly hints of Miss Hendee, he no longer doubted 
 ihat Sherwood was indeed bent on his destruction, and find- 
 ing a willing instrument in Darrow, had instigated this 
 method of accomplishing it. But abandoning all thoughts of 
 any measures to punish, or circumvent, either the base tool, 
 or his still more dastard employer, till his public duties should 
 allow him more leisure, he now hastily crossed the stream, 
 and proceeded with rapid steps towards the rendezvous of 
 his assembling companions, which he only reached just as 
 the last glimmerings of departing daylight were fading in the 
 western horizon. 
 
 "Charles, how is this!" exclaimed Colonel Allen, breaking 
 away, as soon as he noticed Warrington's arrival, from a group 
 of several of the most influential settlers in the vicinity, with 
 "whom he appeared to have been engaged in a Ioav confidential 
 conversation, "how is this, that you are the last mian to come 
 on the ground? Why, I thought the devil had got you, or, 
 ■what is the same thing in Dutch, that you had gone over to 
 the British, to apprise them of our project. But, come, sir, 
 as I suppose we must allow you the credit of having done 
 rather better than that, I have concluded to make you my 
 right hand man for the evening. So now for business." 
 
 "In that ease. Colonel." replied the other, "let me suggest 
 to you the precaution of placing a few sentinels around us, 
 while in convention. There may be those abroad to-night. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 157 
 
 who, if permitted to look in upon us liere, would render 
 our enterprise as vain as the crusades. Were it not too dark, 
 I would show you a hole in my coat, through which one of 
 these prowlers a few miles back, by a small mistake, put a 
 bullet, instead of through my heart, as evidently intended." 
 
 "God bless you, Charles, what do you mean?" asked Allen, 
 with surprise and emotion. 
 
 "I mean as I say." 
 
 "But who could it be?" 
 
 "That despicable sergeant, instigated by Sherwood, I sus- 
 pect." 
 
 "And what was you about not to return the compliment on 
 the spot?" 
 
 "He escaped me in a thicket, and I had not time to spend 
 in the cautious pursuit which would be safe or successful — 
 would to heaven I could have had more leisure!" 
 
 "Well, by the blessing of God, Charles, within a week, we 
 will have our heels on that nest of rattlesnakes. But it is 
 time to organize. You were right about a guard — will you 
 attend to placing it, wliile I assemble the company in the barn, 
 and see that each has the watchword?" 
 
 Allen now ordered lights to be brought, and placing him- 
 self at the door of the building, he called to the company to 
 advance and enter singly. Each man as he presented himself, 
 and before suffered to pass in, was strictly required to give 
 the watchword, which, as a precautionary measure to prevent 
 any one being present whose views had not been previously 
 ascertained, had been confidentially imparted by Allen and his 
 associate leaders since the meeting was in agitation. The 
 word chosen for this purpose was Carillon, an appellation by 
 which fort Ticonderoga was designated by the French while 
 in the possession of their government. After every man 
 had passed this test of admittance^ and thus proved himself 
 entitled to mingle in the deliberations of the assembly. Col. 
 Allen called the meeting to order, and, after stating that 
 important business was in contemplation, the successful re- 
 sult of which might depend on the secrecy with which it was 
 conducted, proposed a sort of oath or affirmation, binding all 
 present by a solemn promise not to divulge the proceedings 
 of this meeting, and its consequent measures, till the reasons, 
 which made secrec}^ necessary, should cease to exist. This 
 proposition was acceded to and the oath taken by rising. 
 
158 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 Allen then, as the acting chairman of the assemblage, de- 
 clared the meeting open for remarks on the subject which 
 they had met to discuss. 
 
 The dead silence, which was now for a few moments ob- 
 served by the expectant assembly, was broken by Warrington, 
 who, calmly rising, proceeded, after a few preliminary obser- 
 vations, to give a brief liistory of the commencement and 
 progress of the quarrel between the colonies and mother 
 country. He then enumerated the wrongs and aggressions 
 which the former had suffered, while meekly and vainly peti- 
 tioning for redress, and closed by a vivid picture of the re- 
 cent massacre at Lexington, and with an eloquent appeal to 
 the settlers to join the inhabitants of the sister colonies in 
 avenging the death of their slaughtered countrymen. 
 
 As he closed his harangue, which had been listened to with 
 the most profound attention, a visible excitement ran tlirough 
 the assembly. And' the hasty changing of positions, as they 
 sat upon their rude plank seats ranged in rows round a small 
 table, on which dimly burned a small taper, the glistening eye, 
 the indignant glance, the firmly compressed hp, and the silent 
 working of the muscles of the faces of these hardy moun- 
 taineers, plainly told the speaker that he had been addressing 
 men who neither lacked the intelligence to comprehend, nor 
 the spirit to act, as soon as a definite object for action was set 
 before them. 
 
 Eemember Baker, one of the most shrewd, sagacious, and 
 coolly calculating men of the settlement, next arose and ad- 
 dressed the meeting. With a few observations, for he was not 
 a man of many words, going to confirm the statements, and 
 fortify the positions of Warrington, he told them, that al- 
 though he doubted not in the least, that principle alone with 
 them would be sufficient to excite them to action in the com- 
 ing contest, yet their policy, as settlers engaged in a con- 
 troversy with ISTew York for their homes and property, de- 
 manded that they should take a bold and decided stand 
 against the British; for by doing this they would at once 
 enlist the sympathies of the other colonies in regard to their 
 wrongs, draw upon themselves the attention and respect of 
 Congress, to which, if backed by the consideration of a meri- 
 torious service in the common cause of the country, they 
 could successfully appeal for protection against the aggres- 
 sions of Xew York, and thus place themselves in an attitude 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 159 
 
 in which they could not only command justice, but finally 
 secure the privilege of becoming an independent State. 
 
 "^Member is right!" exclaimed one of that class with 
 whom this artful, and as the event afterwards proved, by no 
 means illgrounded argument, was calculated to operate with 
 particular force. 
 
 "Ay, ay!" responded another, "give me 'Member Baker for 
 foresight! The more birds we can kill with one stone the 
 better." 
 
 Although the argument of Baker was not probably without 
 its effect on the minds of all, situated as the settlers were with 
 respect to their controverted rights, and when added to the 
 manly appeal of Warrington to their patriotism and prin- 
 ciples, had wrought up the assembly to a high pitch of feel- 
 ing, yet Allen, conceiving that something more was needed 
 to ripen them for action, and raise their minds, as he was 
 desirous of doing, to a level with his own high-toned en- 
 thusiasm, now rose, and, after looking for a moment fearless- 
 ly and confidently around him, as he stood towering with his 
 giant form, like Saul among the people, began, — 
 
 "Men of the Green Mountains, — 
 
 "In the struggle in which you have been for many years 
 engaged, you have won among the people of these colonies 
 a name for valor and patriotism. But have you gained this 
 proud distinction in surmounting the difficulties of the past, 
 to lose it now by inaction in the more important stake of the 
 present? Have you so long, so nobly, so triumphantly, re- 
 sisted arbitrary power in the shape of little tyrants near home, 
 to submit now to the lawless dictations of great ones from 
 abroad? Are you, who have just saved your homes and pos- 
 sessions from the grasp of these, now willing to yield them 
 tamely to those? — -to those whose despotic dominion would 
 soon render them but possessions in name, to be transmitted 
 to whom? to whom I say? — To slaves in the persons of your 
 own children! Yes, your own children, who, if sufi^ered to 
 retain their inheritance at all, must retain it with a foot of 
 a lord on their necks, and the hand of a priest in their pockets! 
 Green Mountain Boys! could you, who have drank in liberty, 
 from the very air of your green hills, never yet contaminated 
 by the breath of a tyrant, could you witness this and live? 
 x\nd above all, can you now look idly on, and see a hireling 
 soldiery swarming your country, enforcing the accursed re- 
 11 
 
160 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 qiiisitions of their masters at the point of the bayonet^ shoot- 
 ing down 3^our countrymen and brothers by scores, as if they 
 were wild beasts, for exercising bnt the rights which G-od and 
 nature have given them — as yon look upon a scene like this, 
 and lift no hand for your rights? — strike no blow to avenge 
 the cold blooded murder of your countrymen at Lexington? 
 Great God, forbid; No! no! my brave mountaineers, you 
 were never born to be cringing slaves! Your bold hearts and 
 sinewy arms were never made to be listless and idle at a time 
 like this! Come, then, come on! follow me, whose heart is 
 laboring and leaping for the work of vengeance, and whose 
 arm is nerved and aching for the blow! Follow me, and I will 
 lead you to deeds, which shall cover the Green Mountain 
 Boys with imperishable glor}^, and make their name the watch- 
 word of liberty, while a t3Tant shall remain to disgrace the 
 image of God, or pollute the earth with his presence." 
 
 During the delivery of this brief and exciting appeal, the 
 expectant audience at first sat in their seats as silent and 
 motionless as a group of statues. Before the speaker had 
 proceeded through many sentences, how^ever, the whole com- 
 pany had noiselessly risen in their places, where they stood 
 as if spellbound in their tracks, every head eagerly bent 
 forward, and every eye, gleaming with the kindling fire within, 
 rivited upon their idolized leader, to catch the bold and in- 
 spiriting thoughts that fell burning from his lips, now with 
 looks of fire and scorn, and now with the intonations of 
 thunder. And as he went on, rising in energy and power at 
 every sentence, eyes were seen to flash brighter and brighter 
 with indignation, tears of excited and overflowing feeling to 
 gush over many a rough cheek, while many a clenched and 
 brawny fist was branclished aloft, in mute response to the 
 heart-stirring words of the speaker. And when he closed, 
 "Ethan Allen, forever! Ethan Allen, forever!" rose in one 
 loud convulsive shout to heaven. 
 
 All being now ripe for action, and many loudly demanding 
 the object which might immediately require their services, 
 Allen laid before them the project of marching at once upon 
 the British forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, with the 
 object of surprising and capturing these two important though 
 now weakly garrisoned fortresses. The settlers being in gen- 
 eral well apprised of the state of these garrisons, and enter- 
 ing with great zeal into the views of their leaders respecting 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 161 
 
 the importance and feasibility of the proposed plan, the latter 
 now made a call for volunteers, and immediately commenced 
 an enrollment of names, which, when completed, was found, 
 to the joy and surprise of Allen and his colleagues, to em- 
 brace more than three-fourths of the assemblage now present, 
 while even the rest expressed an earnest wish to aid in the 
 enterprise so far as it could be done without leaving the 
 neighborhood of their homes, where their presence was de- 
 manded. All necessary measures preparatory to the expedi- 
 tion, as far as regarded the forces raised in this section of 
 the Grants, were then discussed and settled, and a sufficient 
 number of men were selected to guard every road by which 
 any information of the contemplated movement could be con- 
 veyed to the enemy. These were ordered to enter upon their 
 duties the next day; while the main body were to equip, and 
 otherwise prepare themselves in the best manner the circum-' 
 stances would admit, and assemble at Castleton on the fourth 
 day from the present time. x\fter these arrangements were 
 completed, Allen ordered his horse to be brought to the door, 
 and announced his intention of departing that night for the 
 south part of the settlement, to superintend the mustering 
 of the forces enlisting, or enlisted, in that quarter. 
 
 ^^Well, my brave boys," said the Colonel, mounting his 
 horse, while his devoted followers were crowding around him, 
 "remember to meet me at Castleton on the 8th. Captain 
 Warrington and 'Lieutenant Selden will muster and take 
 charge of you. Captain Baker goes to Winooski river to raise 
 w^hat force he can there, and come in boats to join us on the 
 lake. As to myself, before to-morrow's sunset I must be at 
 Holy Hill.* And now, my fine fellows, go home, and pre- 
 pare yourselves, without letting your left hands know what 
 your right are doing, and may the Lord bless you all till I 
 see you again." 
 
 So saying, and putting spurs to his horse, he rushed down 
 the road to the south and disappeared. 
 
 * An appellation by whicli Ethan Allen was in the hahit of call- 
 ing Bennington. 
 
 U 
 
162 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS, 
 
 CHAPTEE Xy. 
 
 'Now be thou strong! Oh! knew we not 
 Our path must lead to this? 
 A shadow and a trembling still 
 Were mingled with our bliss!" 
 
 The following epistle from Miss Hendee to Miss Eeed, in 
 answer to the one from the latter, inserted in a previous 
 chapter was written in the interval between the meeting of 
 the Green Mountain Boys last described, and the general 
 mustering of their forces for their contemplated enterprise: 
 
 Forgive me, dear Jessy, but really I could not help 
 laughing, on the receipt and perusal of your vivacious, and 
 very interesting letter, to see the desperate attempts you there 
 repeatedly make to conceal from me, and yourself, by naked, 
 unmasked assertions, and inferences without premises, the 
 heart-hidden secret which your every third sentence, at least, 
 most palpably discloses. Yes, my lady, whether you believe 
 it or not, yourself, you are but little better than a gone girl, 
 and your doughty major will find it out, too, as sure as 
 Jealousy has eyes, and Love none. But never mind it, my 
 dear girl, nor turn up that pretty slender nose in a miff at 
 what I say, since the same letter that gives you cause of dis- 
 pleasure, if cause there be, will furnish you also with the 
 means of an smple revenge: for I, too, have adventures to re- 
 late, of the past week's occurrence, scarcely less ertraordinary 
 than your own. When you said, Jessy, in that little paren- 
 thesis, which you threw into your letter concerning Warring- 
 ton, "A noble looking fellow, I wish you could see him," you 
 little thought that your wish had been granted ere expressed; 
 and far less did you dream, when you added, "I think you 
 would like him,'' how much of a prophetess you was likely 
 to become; for Charles Warrington I have seen, Warrington 
 the Green Mountain Boy, AVarrington the York outlaw, and 
 Wnrrins^ton the generous, high-minded, and, as you truly say, 
 noli!.' lr'Q]:j]i.g Icilowl And in what estiwcition I secretl^^ bold 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 163 
 
 him, you will better understand, wlien I inform you, that my 
 old acquaintance Howard, of whom you have often heard 
 me speak, and Warrington are one and the same person! 
 You cannot be more surprised at this news than I was, my- 
 self, at the discovery. And not small was the confusion of 
 thought and feeling I experienced at first, I confess, in rec- 
 onciling the warring conceptions I had previously entertained 
 of these two, as I supposed them, different, and almost 
 diametrically opposite characters. In this, however, I have 
 at length succeeded, and even to that degree that I cannot 
 but feel, that the character of Howard, pure and exalted as 
 1 ever thought it, receives an additional luster from the noble 
 and disinterested part he has taken in behalf of these poor, 
 and as I am nov/ satisfied, unjustly treated settlers. 
 
 And with this avowal of opinion, you will of course under- 
 stand that I think none the worse of him for being a New 
 York outlaw. 
 
 We have had three interviews. The two first I must pass 
 over lightly, as I have much of a more interesting character 
 to communicate. I first encountered Warrington in the 
 border of the Vv^oods adjoining our opening, where I wandered, 
 a fatalist would think, but to be frightened by the question- 
 able appearance of a sergeant from the fort, and to be re- 
 lieved by the opportune arrival of my knight-errant Green 
 Mountain Boy. Our next meeting was at our house, where, 
 in the course of the evening, he made known to me for the 
 first time the identify of which I have spoken, and where also 
 he came near being seized by tliis same sergeant and his 
 soldiers, who, I feel sure, came here for no other purpose, 
 being prompted by the reward, and instigated, as I cannot 
 but suspect, by one who shall be nameless. But Warrington 
 and another of the leaders of the Green Mountain Boys, wdio 
 happened here that evening, and who, by the way, was a most 
 extraordinary man, fairly out-generaled their mercenary en- 
 emies, and, by a little favoring from a quarter which you are 
 at liberty to guess at, both luckily made their escape. Our 
 last interview has been to-day, and a most important one, 
 too, I fear it may prove, to the destinies of your perplexed, 
 and in some respects truly unhappy friend. But before en- 
 tering upon particulars, I must recur to some events which 
 transpired in the interim. The next day after W.'s visit and 
 fortunate escape, Sherwood came here, and raised a storm in 
 
164 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 our quiet famil}^, wliicli lias not 3^et wholly ceased raging. 
 It seems this sagacious lover of mine who has often heard my 
 father recount the Samaritan kindness of Howard, and per- 
 haps suspected my own secret partialities, had discovered, by 
 worming himself into the confidence of the settlers, that 
 Howard and Warrington were the same, but, for reasons of 
 his own, had kept the discovery entirely to himself, though 
 he had been for several months in ]oossession of the secret. 
 It appears also, that he had been apprised of each of my in- 
 terviews with Warrington. And coming armed with all this 
 annihilating array of facts, as he believed it, he without say- 
 ing a word to me, called my father aside, and poured the 
 whole story into his ears, with such additions and embellish- 
 ments as he conceived would best subserve his purpose, — the 
 amount of which was, as near as I could gather, that my 
 father had been harboring a branded villain, who, in the guise 
 of a gentleman, .had been aiming at the seduction of his 
 daughter, and the eventual seizure of his possessions. Trem- 
 bling from head to foot with uncontrollable rage, my father 
 immediately hastened to my apartment. I v,411 not, I cannot 
 even attempt a description of the painful scene that followed. 
 You are not unacquainted with my father's unfortunate in- 
 firmities of temper. You can, therefore, in some measure 
 fancy, perhaps, how he would feel and act under such a rep- 
 resentation of things, so nearly affecting his wishes and in- 
 terests—a representation in which fact and falsehood were 
 so artfully blended, that a much cooler temperament, under 
 the circumstances, might have been thus wrought up to 
 anger. He swore and wept alternately. I wept freely also, 
 but only at witnessing his distress, and at the thought of 
 ni}" own luckless destiny, which had placed m.e in a situation 
 where I must sacrifice my own happiness for life, or prob- 
 ably be the means of destroying that of a parent, who, with 
 all his faults, is still dear to my heart. I said but little, how- 
 ever. Delicacy, as well as prudence, forbade my disclosing 
 the state of my feelings. And as to all other charges, I 
 could only assert my innocence, for I had then given Mr. W. 
 scarce a word of encouragement. 
 
 After my father had exhnusted his store of reproaches 
 upon my poor head and left me, Sherwood entered and took 
 up the discourvSe. I could not but feel amused, in spite of my 
 indignation and contempt at his despicable course, to see 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 165 
 
 all the doubling and sliiftings lie went through in his des- 
 perate attempts to regain my favor^ which my manner prob- 
 ably pretty plainly told him he had put in considerable 
 hazard. After protesting^ flattering, apologizing, and arguing, 
 with the sycophancy of a Frenchman and the sophistry of a 
 Jesuit, he finally departed, leaving me to myself, and that 
 negative happiness which his absence has not very lately failed 
 to afford me. 
 
 The next morning I reminded my father, whose madness 
 seemed to have something more of method in it than the day 
 before, of a visit which had a few days previous been pro- 
 jected at his own suggestion. This was a ride, on horseback, 
 to Otter Creek to carry a few necessaries to a distant relative 
 of ours, Aunt Story, as we call her, whose curious subterran- 
 eous abode I have before described to you, I believe. No 
 serious objection being made to the proposal, I accordingly 
 set out with Neshobee, my usual attendant on these excur- 
 sions, who, on another horse, accompanied me in the capacity 
 of baggage man and squire. We had a pleasant ride, and ar- 
 rived without any particular adventure at the Creek, opposite 
 her wood-begirt residence. 0, how delightful is a morning 
 ride at this season of the year through these flowering forests! 
 How fragrant the viewless odors that regale your senses at 
 almost every step! And, in the present instance, as you near 
 the Green Mountains, how pure and invigorating the breezes 
 that, seemingly uncontaminated by a contact with earth, come 
 wafting down their dark sides fresh from the mid-heavens! 
 I never approach these green-hilled monuments of sylvan 
 magnificence, but my physical powers receive an impulse, and 
 my moral nature becomes sensibly exalted. jSTo wonder the 
 Green Mountain Boys should be men of such high-toned 
 character! 
 
 On reaching the banks of the Creek, Neshobee set up his 
 shrill whoop (not war whoop) to make known our arrival to 
 this fearless woman of the woods. This being heard and un- 
 derstood by her, she quickly made her appearance, came 
 across with her boat, and ferried us all safe over the stream, 
 our horses having been left tied to saplings on the bank be- 
 hind. 
 
 I must not stop to describe the cordial reception I met with, 
 as I always do in this singular, yet interesting family; nor 
 my romp with the curlv headed brood of children, that 
 
166 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 thronged around me^ ca23enng in wild glee at my arrival^ and 
 their eyes fairly sparkling with joy and gratitude at the sight 
 of the tit-bits I had brought them. After the rumpus and 
 romping with the joyous little creatures had somewhat sub- 
 sided, I took the bright-eyed and lisping little Julia, in my 
 lap; when the pretty rogue immediately clambered up, and 
 putting her arms around my neck, in the sweet, pleading, and 
 playful tones of infantile eloquence exclaimed. 
 
 "Now, Couthin Alma, mayn^t I kith you again? — there, 
 I did! I will again! There! ha! ha! ISTow I have kithed you 
 ath many timetli ath I did the Young Captain.'^ 
 
 "And who, pray, my pretty one," said I quite innocently, 
 "who is this Young Captain with whom you appear to have 
 been so familiar?'^ 
 
 "0, he ith the Young Captain," replied she, hesitating in 
 her childish simplicity how to define her favorite by any other 
 appellation than the one by vdiich she had been accustomed 
 to hear him called: "he ith — he ith a good Young Captain. 
 I kithed him three timeth. And wouldn't you kith him too, 
 Couthin Alma, if he'd let you? Wouldn't the Young Captain 
 let Couthin Alma kith him, ma?" 
 
 Puzzled and confused, at I scarcely knew what, I turned to 
 the mother for an explanation; when to my still greater con- 
 fusion, I beheld her holding her sides, while her eyes were 
 fairly dancing in the bright tears of suppressed risibility, to 
 which she now gave way in a right hearty fit of laughter. 
 
 "Excuse me. Alma," said she, as soon as she could com- 
 mand her merry emotions sufficiently to speak; "excuse me 
 for laughing at the child's ludicrous introduction of a subject, 
 which I was at the very moment thinking how I could my- 
 self break to you. The Young Captain, as some of the set- 
 tlers call him, is no other than the well known leader of one 
 of the bands of the Green Mountain Boys, Charles Warring- 
 ton. Why, bless me!" she continued, with a look of surprise 
 as she now lifted her eyes from her work to my features, 
 "What ails you, Alma? Why, your face is as red — oh! — ah! 
 — aha! — you knew all this before, did you! And you have 
 seen him yourself, you rogue?" she added mischievously, 
 shaking her finger at me, and fixing her keen eyes on my face; 
 "You have, Alma, and you need not attempt to deny it." 
 
 "I have not deniod it, aunt — have I?" I replied, rallying as 
 well as I could. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 167 
 
 ^'Well;, now, Alma Hendee," she rejoined, with a gratified 
 and serious air, "I have not heard anything this long while 
 that has done me more good than this news. Indeed, for the 
 past week in particular, I have actually prayed that you might 
 meet him, though I dared not he the means of bringing it 
 a.bout. And the reason why I wished it is, because I think so 
 much of the man, and feel such an interest in the cause which 
 he has done so much to sustain; and, also, because I knew 
 that you, from your intercourse and connection with the 
 York party, and from your hearing, as you naturally would, 
 nothing but slander and misrepresentation of the man, and 
 curses on the cause in which he has been so nobly engaged, 
 that you, I say, must have almost necessarily imbibed wholly 
 erroneous opinions of both him and his cause — now, has it 
 not been so?'' 
 
 "Such," I answered, "was once, I confess, too much the 
 case." 
 
 "T thought so," she resumed, "and but for the fear that I 
 might displease you, — for I never know hov/ to hold up when 
 I begin, — and, perhaps, be led into a quarrel with your fiery 
 old father, who has been so good to me, I should, before this, 
 have spoken to you on these matters. Whj, this same War- 
 rington and a party of his followers were up on Lake Dun- 
 more the very day you Avere last here, and while you were 
 here in the house playing with the cliildren, I discovered, as 
 I was out to the edge of the woods to get cedar boughs for a 
 broom, a gang of "Yorkers going in pursuit of them. Don't 
 you recollect I came in and proposed sending Neshobee out 
 to kill us a partridge?" 
 
 I remembered it, and assented. 
 
 "Well," she continued, "it was for no other purpose than 
 to despatch him to Yv^arrington Avith a note that I scribbled 
 in that closet. ISTeshobee, I knew, was a friend to the Cap- 
 tain." 
 
 "Keshobee!" said I, in surprise, "why, I never heard him 
 so much as utter the name!" 
 
 "It is true for all that," she rejoined; "Warrington once 
 did him a service when they happened to meet on a hunt, 
 and JSTeshobee, being made acquainted with the other's sit- 
 uation, and knowing yours, has been as prudent as he is 
 faithful." 
 
 "But what became of the Yorkers?" I asked. 
 
168 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "Tlie Green Mountain Boys tlirew them into the lake and 
 returned to this neighborhood/^ she answered. "The Cap- 
 tain and his Lieutenant came and slept that very night in 
 this house^ and were here asleep on the floor, when I came up 
 to the house, after helping you off the next morning. Do 5^ou 
 remember singing us a song that night, just before going to 
 bed, and how you were interrupted by a noise in the woods 
 above us?'^ 
 
 "I do, but what of that?" said I, somewhat startled. 
 
 "Wh}^, nothing," she replied, smiling, "onl^^ Warrington, 
 who rambled out, after his friend fell asleep, heard your per- 
 formance." 
 
 "You astonish me, aunt Story," I replied; "but surely he 
 could not have distinguished my voice in that under-ground 
 abode?" 
 
 "^ot exactly," answered she, "and yet he was strangely puz- 
 zled, and seemed, vdien telling me of the affair the next morn- 
 ing, to have some suspicions of the truth." 
 
 "But did you tell him who it was?" I eagerly demanded. 
 
 "j^o, Alma," she said, "I kept your secret for reasons which 
 I have before named, and sent him off worse puzzled than 
 before. But how did he introduce himself — as Howard, or as 
 Warrington? for that the two were one and the same, is a 
 riddle that I guessed out long ago." 
 
 I told her the circumstances; after which she resumed. 
 
 "So you have a hurricane at your house. Well, Alma, let 
 it blow on, and overturn, till it levels falsehood and corruption 
 to the ground, and brings truth and justice uppermost. x\nd 
 when that takes place, if you will believe me, Jake Sherwood 
 will be swept into the gulf of infani}^, where he ought to 
 be now, instead of being here among men, with the preten- 
 sions of a man, but with the real character of a spy and hypo- 
 crite!" 
 
 "You are very severe, aunt," I remarked, not so much of- 
 fended, however, as I might have been. 
 
 "I hold, Alma," she rejoined, "that the boldness of a truth 
 is no reason for suppressing its utterance. Why, Alma Hen- 
 dee, whether you know it or not, — whether you will beheve 
 it or not, it is God's truth, that with all his smooth manners 
 nnd gentlemanly appearance, the heart of that same Jncol) 
 Sherwood is as black ns the outside of mv dinner pot!" 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYg. 169 
 
 I began to say something which she took for a qualified 
 assent, when cutting me short, she went on, — 
 
 "You know that it is so, Alma. And, now, that you have 
 again met with Warrington, I know where your heart is, or I 
 should not venture to say so much. Far be it from me ever 
 to interfere with matches — matches that are truly such.. 
 But mis-matches patched up on earth, and accursed of heaven, 
 I should feel myself honored in being the instrument of break- 
 ing. And knowing, as I think I do, all the motives and cir- 
 cumstances which led you to accjuiesce in this entanglement 
 with Sherwood, and knowing, also, that a match between you 
 would be yoking darkness to light, I stand prepared, as your 
 friend, acting in the place of your sainted mother, now in 
 heaven,' to advise you to say, even in despite of the favorite 
 schemes of your mistaken and blinded father, to say to Sher- 
 wood, as Peter said to Simon Magus, who would buy the 
 sacred gift with money, 'Thy gold perish witli,thee!' " 
 
 A long conversation then ensued between us, in which all 
 the information possessed by either, relative to the York con- 
 troversy, and the part taken in the same by Warrington, 
 Sherwood, and others, was mutually imparted and received, 
 and our opinions and feelings on these subjects freely ex- 
 changed. While still engaged on this engrossing theme, one 
 of the children came running into the house with the cry, 
 "The Young Captain is coming! the Young Captain is com- 
 ing!" I was struck dumb by this unexpected announcement, 
 and so surprised and fluttered, that, had I been a bird, I be- 
 lieve I should have instantly clapped my wings and flown 
 away. But as it w^as, I had nothing to do but prepare to meet 
 the half dreaded, half courted danger, as unconcernedly as 
 possible. We had little time allowed us for preparation, how- 
 ever; for scarce had the announcement been made, before 
 Warrington entered the door attended by — whom think you, 
 Jessy? I wish you could have been there! In that case, to 
 follow up that odd comparison of yours, the brisk little drum- 
 mer in your heart would have found his match, I think, to 
 keep up the accompaniment with the lively performer at work 
 in my own: for Captain Warrington^s attendant was no other 
 than your favored knight, the gay, witty, and handsome Sel- 
 den. An hour spent in his company was sufficient to make 
 me feel that these flattering epithets, and even more, might 
 be justly applied to him. 'Now, don^t be jealous, girl^ for 
 
I'^O THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 though peculiarly pleased with him I certainly was, yet my 
 feelings were anything but those constituting, what we define 
 to be that undefinable concern, called love — no, no, not that, 
 but a singular sort of flowing away of the heart towards him, 
 which I can neither describe nor account for, unless the solu- 
 tion be found in the prepossessions of him* that your letter 
 had implanted. 
 
 We were now summoned to dinner, which our free-hearted 
 hostess had done her best in preparing for us. The meal 
 itself, as you know it must ha^'C been, considering the limited 
 store from wliich it had to be prepared, was certainly a plain 
 one. But partaken in such company, how could it be other 
 than a delightful one! With me, it forcibly exemplified the 
 proverb of the wise man, "Better is a dinner of herbs, where 
 love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." 
 
 After dinner, Warrington, with his peculiar delicacy of 
 manner, proposed a ramble. My tongue would have declined 
 the proposal, but my heart, rising in rebellion, suppressed the 
 utterance, and I, silently, and with a,- palpitating bosom, as- 
 sented. All seemed to understand the object of our walk, and 
 no one, not even a child, offered to accompany us. I felt, 
 indeed, myself, that my destiny for life hung on the events of 
 that hour. We proceeded in almost unbroken silence to the 
 bank of the river, when I soon found myself seated, I scarcely 
 know how, by his side, upon a flowery hillock. The quiet wa- 
 ters, sparkling in the rays of the meridian sun, were gently 
 gliding along in soft murmurs at our feet; while a spreading 
 thorn tree, loaded with blossoms of snowy whiteness, and 
 filling the air with delicious fragrance, formed the canopy for 
 our heads. I cannot describe what now passed. My heart 
 soon overflowed with contending emotions. I found myself 
 able to prevail against its stronger dictates no longer; and 
 my feelings found vent in a flood of tears. My head involun- 
 tarily rested on his shoulder, while he advocated his cause 
 with all the tender pathos of love, which found a chord in 
 my own bosom so powerfully responsive to its eloquent plead- 
 ings that, 
 
 "Then our hearts together run; 
 And like kindred drops of water, 
 Met and mingled into one." 
 
 The winged moments flew by unheeded; and when, at the 
 end of an hour, which, in this sweet trance of the affections, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 171 
 
 seemed as a moment, we rose to return, onr mutual vows of 
 unchanging love and eternal constancy, had ascended to the 
 registry of Heaven. 
 
 Soon after our return to the house, the gentlemen apprised 
 us of the necessity of their immediate departure; when, after 
 an affectionate adieu, they proceeded on their destination. 
 This destination I am not at liberty to unfold, and shall con- 
 sequently be debarred from some particulars connected with 
 my parting with W. which awakened a solicitude alike new 
 and painful to my feelings. I did not tarry long after they 
 left us. But after a shower of thanks, praises, and blessings 
 from our hostess, for the step, which I apprised her I had 
 taken, I soon set out for home, where I arrived before sunset. 
 
 On another page of this letter I styled myself your per- 
 plexed friend. I am so, though not because I regret the step 
 I have taken, but on account of the difficulties which must 
 soon beset me. I have also many painful apprehensions of 
 the effect which my engagement may have when it becomes 
 known, as ere long it necessarily must, on not only my 
 father's happiness, but his property, owing to the peculiarities 
 of our situation. As these cannot be understood without a 
 knowledge of some former events connected with our family, 
 I will, in confidence, briefly relate to you the leading partic- 
 ulars of our family history. My paternal grandfather's family 
 consisted of my uncle Gabriel Hendee, and my father, James 
 Hendee, with their halt sister Mary, who married John Sher- 
 wood, father of Jacob Sherwood. To these three was left a 
 considerably extensive property, which Avas increased as far 
 as regarded the shares of Gabriel, and his brother-in-law, 
 Sherwood, who, becoming partners, engaged in the lucrative 
 trade and commerce of the Connecticut river, on the banks 
 of which, within the borders of Massachusetts, you are al- 
 ready aware, we all once resided. But my father, who was of 
 a different disposition and less inclined to confine himself to 
 the details of business, entered into uncertain speculations^ 
 which, instead of increasing, diminished his original inher- 
 itance, involved him in some pecuniary embarrassments, and 
 finally led him to abandon trade, for which he seemed neither 
 to have much tact nor inclination, and seek a commission 
 in the army, destined for the French and Indian wars, then 
 beginning to rage along our borders. Obtaining the commif?- 
 mn he sought; he was soon called into active service, having 
 
172 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 entrusted Sherwood to arrange hh affairs and take charge of 
 our property; while Uncle Gabriel^ having no family^ and be- 
 coming an invalid, retired from business, and came to reside 
 with our family in father's absence. Several years thus 
 passed away, father at intervals returning home to see his 
 wife and son, the darling little Edward, and spend such time 
 with them as his public duties would permit, scarcely troub- 
 ling himself to look into the state of his property, which he 
 believed to be in hands where it would be husbanded to the 
 best advantage. My uncle Gabriel in the meanwhile still 
 continuing to live in the family, and appearing much attached 
 to it, especially to his little nephew, made his will, bequeath- 
 ing his whole property to the child, when of age, and all the 
 income till that time, and certain portions of it after, to my 
 father. But it so happened not long after this that Mr. Sher- 
 wood, who had taken a temporary residence further up the 
 river, paid our family a long visit, at the *end of which he 
 took ni}' uncle home with him, w^here he soon grew worse and 
 died; not however, as it soon appeared, till he had added a 
 codicil to his will, making, in case of Edward's death, Mr. 
 Sherwood^s son, Jacob, legatee, and placing that family where 
 the will placed ours. From that time misfortunes seemed to 
 fall fast and heavy on our devoted fam^ily. My mother soon 
 sickened and died, leaving me, her youngest child, about a 
 3^ear old. Our family establishment was then broken up. Ed- 
 ward was placed in the family of Mr. Sherwood; and I was 
 sent to a relation of my mother in Hartford. But father, al- 
 ready borne down with sorrow at the loss of two wives (for 
 my mother was a second wife by whom he had no other 
 child), was doomed to another blow scarcely less fatal to his 
 happiness, and more so to his future prospects, in the further 
 loss of that son on whom all his hopes and dependence had 
 been placed. The boy had been allowed, as the story was 
 told, to accompany a reckless young man, then in Sherwood's 
 employ, many miles into the interior, and there strayed av/ay, 
 and never could be found. There was a rapid river running 
 through the woods, in which he might have been drowned, 
 and swept down into the Connecticut. But it was considered 
 more probable, that he had been seized by some small, lurk- 
 ing band of Indians (traces of whom were discovered in the 
 vain search for the boy), and by them murdered, as it was 
 supposed, since no tidings of him ever reached us, My father. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 173 
 
 when he returned, and learned the fate of his son, was incon- 
 solable. And Mr. Sherwood seemed deeply to sympathize 
 with him, and moreover to manifest great regret that uncle 
 had so altered his will as to take all his property from our 
 family, assuring my father that he would make such provision 
 for us as would be a recompense. After this visit my father 
 remained abroad to the close of the war, when, being dis- 
 charged from the service, he began to bethink him about the 
 means of a future livelihood, and called on Sherwood to ac- 
 count for his property, which, to his dismay, had dwindled 
 to a mere pittance. And receiving it, he commenced a small 
 business in Hartford, where he resided till I was about seven- 
 teen, living in good style, and bestowing on me the best edu- 
 cation the place afforded. But again becoming embarrassed 
 by expenses beyond his income, and his joride revolting at 
 the thought of being a bankrupt in this place, he took me, 
 and secretly left town for Albany, to avail himself of the 
 many promises of Mr. Sherwood, who had removed to the 
 latter place many years before. We were kindly received by 
 Mr. S., who furnished father with money to pay off his credi- 
 tors in Hartford, and subsequently to purchase our present 
 residence, though most of the improvements have been made 
 through the means of the half pay which he receives from 
 government. 
 
 You will now, Jessy, be able to appreciate the difficulties 
 of my situation, and perceive the reasons which actuate my 
 father in the strenuous course which he has pursued, and 
 will be likely still to pursue, in urging a connection between 
 me and Jacob Sherwood. Jessy, adieu. A. H. 
 
 P. S. — When I closed as above, last night, I expected the 
 letter would have been taken early this morning by Major 
 Skeen's colored man. Jack, who said he should go up with 
 his boat to-day; but he has just called and says he shall not 
 go till to-morrow morning. The main object of this post- 
 script is, however, to say, that if you thought it so important 
 that I should keep your secret, you cannot but see how much 
 more so it is that you keep mine. I know not but Mr. War- 
 rington^s life may depend on it — I did not mean to say this, 
 but my fears and forebodings have compelled me. You do 
 not know Mr. S. — would to heaven I had never known him. — 
 Farewell. Alma. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 175 
 
 THE GEEEN MOUNTAIN B0Y8. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 'They came, impatient for the fight, — 
 Burning to rush into the slaughter, — 
 Ready to pour their blood like water 
 For what they deem the right; — 
 Like men, preferring glorious graves 
 To life if it must be the life of slaves! ' 
 
 It seems to be universally conceded that the first settlers of 
 Vermont were men of an h'on mouldy and of an indomitable 
 spirit. And it is no less true, we apprehend^ that with cor- 
 poreal frames, nnnsually large and muscular, and constitu- 
 tions peculiarly robust and enduring, they possessed, also, 
 intelligence and mental energies, which, considering what 
 might naturally be expected of men of their condition in life, 
 and in their, situation in a wilderness affording none of the 
 ordinary means of intellectual culture, w^ere equally remark- 
 able. The proof of these assertions is to be abundantly 
 found, we think, in the unequaled stand taken by them for 
 their rights, in their memorable controversy with E'ew York, 
 and in the multiplied documents that grew out of it, in the 
 shape of resolves and decrees of conventions, addresses to the 
 people, memorials and remonstrances to the governor of that 
 province, and to the British throne itself, all drawn up witli 
 great clearness and cogency of reasoning, and evincing a 
 knowledge of natural and constitutional rights in a people, 
 among whom law as a profession was then entirely unknown, 
 which are generally to be found only in the courts and coun- 
 cils of old and highly civilized countries. And even were 
 these testimonials to their character wholly wanting, ample 
 evidence that they were a generation of no ordinary men 
 
 12 
 
176 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 may still be seen in tlie scattered remnant of tiiis noble band 
 of heroes yet lingering among us, like tlie few and aged pines 
 on their evergreen monntains, and, though now bowed down 
 by the weight of nearly a century of years, exhibiting frames, 
 which would almost seem to indicate them as men belonging 
 to another race, and which are still animated by the light 
 of wisdom and intelligence, and warmed by the unconquerable 
 spirit of freedom yet burning unwasted within them. 
 
 Those who have treated on this subject, vvhen alluding to 
 the facts we have stated, have generally coupled them with 
 observations upon the invigorating effects of mountain air, 
 etc., leaving us to infer that these peculiarities of the early set- 
 tlers were attributable only to such causes. It is, indeed, doubt- 
 less the case, that the wild scenery, and the pure elastic air of 
 mountainous countries, are the most favorable, under the same 
 degree of culture, to the formation of the highest grade of 
 physical, as well -as moral and intellectual character — ^impart- 
 ing, in the one instance, that health and peculiar vigor which 
 brings the human system to all the perfection that it is capa- 
 ble of attaining, and, in the other, engendering, with firm- 
 ness of nerves and firmness of purpose, the 
 usual attendants of great bodily powers, a healthy 
 and high-toned imagination, and those lofty aspira- 
 tions that exalt the character, and promjot to great and noble 
 actions. But whatever influence the peculiar climate and 
 scener}^ of this Switzerland of America, as Vermont may, per- 
 haps, be appropriately termed, may have had, in this respect, 
 on the descendants of these hardy settlers, little of this in- 
 fluence, probably, would have been perceptible on the settlers 
 themselves: they, it must be recollected, were not natives of 
 these mountains, but recent emigrants from other IS^ew Eng- 
 land colonies. And whatever peculiarities they possessed must 
 mainly have originated in other causes — from the very nature 
 of the enterprise, probably, vrhich brought them together, that 
 of settling a wild and rough frontier country, known to be 
 attended by a thousand difficulties and hardships, and beset 
 by a thousand dangers, in which men of ordinary stamina 
 would never think of engaging. They, indeed, may be looked 
 upon in the light of picked men, or more properly, perhaps^ 
 in that of volunteers, stepping boldly and confidently forth 
 for some extraordinary enterprise, of which the hazard and 
 difficulty are so great, that nothing but an uncommon union 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS, 177 
 
 of courage and strength can accomplish it, and of which the 
 success, or even the attempt, it may be, furnishes the best 
 evidence of these quahties in those who vokmtarily enhst in 
 the undertaking. And as regards the intelHgence and mental 
 character of these settlers, their educations were generally 
 equal to those usually received among tlie better classes of 
 the old settlements where they were obtained, and superior, 
 probably, to what the same men were able to furnish to their 
 immediate descendants. And this fact, together with the 
 emergencies, which not only called all the energies of their 
 minds into action, but constantly improved them, and en- 
 larged their information by the investigations they were in- 
 duced to make for the successful prosecution of their cause 
 in the N'ew York controversy, will sufficiently account for 
 their intellectual superiority over the ordinary settlers of 
 other new countries. 
 
 With these observations, here thrown in by way of showing 
 our warrant for many of the descriptions of character which 
 we have introduced, and which, we thought it not impossible, 
 might otherwise subject us to the charge of indulging in im- 
 probabilities, we will now proceed with the incidents of our 
 story. 
 
 The morning of the ninth of May broke brightly upon the 
 encampment of our troops at Castleton, disclosing to the 
 view, now for the first time, an organized band of about three 
 hundred as brave and hardy men as ever assembled for deeds 
 of daring and danger. Of this number more than three- 
 fourths were Green Mountain Boys. The remainder were 
 men collected from the nearest parts of Massachusetts and 
 Connecticut, and led on by several enterprising militia officers 
 of these colonies, who had actively co-operated in getting up 
 the expedition, A council had been held the night previous, 
 for the purpose of organizing these united forces, which had 
 been dropping in irregularly through the day and a greater 
 part of the night, and also for making all other necessary ar- 
 rangements to march for their destination on the following 
 morning. At this council Ethan Allen had been unanimously 
 appointed the commander-in-chief of the expedition. Col- 
 onel Easton, one of the Massachusetts officers, was placed sec- 
 ond in command. And the third grade was assigned to War- 
 rington; while Selden, in making the subordinate appoint- 
 ments, was raised to the post of captain to supply the place 
 
 12 
 
178 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 left vacant by the promotion of his superior. Even onr friend, 
 Pete Jones, though now absent, was not forgotten in the dis- 
 tribution of honors, but named to take charge of the scouts, 
 provided he Joined the expedition. All these arrangements 
 having been made the night before, as just stated, the troops 
 by sunrise had breakfasted, and were now under arms, and 
 undergoing a review preparatory to marching. All were in 
 high spirits, and animated at the thought of being immedi- 
 ately led to the important object of their enterprise. Their 
 gallant leader, now dressed and equipped in a manner appro- 
 priate to his rank, and mounted on his own noble charger, 
 was riding proudly along their imposing front — now pausing 
 to give some directions to an officer, now to inspect the 
 equipments of a company, and now backing his curvetting 
 steed to take a view of the whole; while his towering form 
 seemed to dilate, and rise still higher to the view, his bosom 
 heave with pride,' and his eyes glisten with delight, as they 
 ran along the lines of his stout and broad-chested Green 
 Mountain Boys, and read in their hardy features, lit up with 
 enthusiasm, and eagerness for action in a cause which every 
 man had made his own, the same high resolves, the same 
 burning desires to signalize themselves that animated his 
 own bosom. 
 
 At this moment, a stranger, who, with a single attendant 
 in the capacity of a servant, had but a short time before ar- 
 rived, came on to the ground, and took a conspicuous stand in 
 front of the troops. He was of about the middle age, stout, 
 well-made, and handsomely featured, while a Roman nose, 
 a thin, curling lip, and a black flashing eye, with the peculi- 
 arly contemptuous, and even sinister expression, and reckless 
 air, which they combined to give his countenance, denoted 
 no ordinary degree of self-esteem, and a fiery and impetuous 
 disposition. He was richly and fashionably dressed, and wore 
 a sword, epaulet, and other insignia usually worn by field 
 officers of the times. 
 
 "Captain Blagden," said Selden, turning to a Connecticut 
 officer near him, and pointing to the stranger just described, 
 "can you inform me who that proud and scornful looking 
 fellow yonder may be? He belongs not to us of the Green 
 Mountains; nor docs he appear to have any connection with 
 the troops from Massachusetts, or with those from your ov/n 
 colony; and yet his demeanor, and showy military appendages^ 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 179 
 
 would lead one to suppose that lie came here to take com- 
 mand of the whole of us/' 
 
 "I have been looking at the man myself/' replied the person 
 addressed^ "and, though not quite certain, yet I believe I 
 know him. I think he must be one whom I well knew when 
 we were boys, and of whose singular career I have since been 
 often informed. And, if my conjectures are right, his name 
 is Arnold, Benedict Arnold, of New Haven." 
 
 "But what do you imagine has brought him here with these 
 apparent assumptions ?" 
 
 . "Well, nov/ I bethink me, sir, I remember, that the day I 
 left home, a townsman of mine, who Jiad just returned from 
 N'ew Haven, reported that, when the news of the battle of 
 Lexington arrived at that place. Captain Arnold, who is the 
 commander of an independent company there, started, with 
 several other military men, post haste for the scene of action. 
 And as he is said to be a good officer, having been a soldier 
 in the army (into which he ran away and enlisted in his 
 3^outh), I should not be surprised to learn he had received a 
 commission from the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. 
 And further, as he was stationed, vfhile a bo3-soldier, at Ticon- 
 deroga, and knows, doubtless, considerable of its situation, 
 I will hazard a bottle with you, Captain Selden, that he has 
 craved, and obtained, permission of that Committee, to take 
 charge of the troops which they probably heard were collect- 
 ing for this expedition." 
 
 "Aha! Colonel Allen, I imagine, will have a word to say 
 to that bargain. It would fairly break his heart to be de- 
 prived of the chance of receiving the first charge of grape or 
 canister that shall salute us from the wide-mouthed war-dogs 
 of Old Ti. And if your surmises are correct, a collision, I 
 fear, is unavoidable unless Mr. Arnold should, as I think he 
 certainly ought, waive his pretensions to the command." 
 
 "A collision it v/ill be then; for Arnold, it is said, was 
 never yet known to yield to anything, when his purposes were 
 fixed. A more reckless dare-devil, I suppose, never trod the 
 footstool. Why sir, when we were but boys, I have known 
 him spring upon a large water-wheel in full motion, grasp 
 one of its arms, with his head towards the circumference, and 
 there remain till he had been dashed through the back-water 
 beneath, during forty revolutions! I have known him, single- 
 handed, seize and overcome a mad ox, which had broke away 
 
iSO THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 from^ and nearly killed a dozen men. One or more duels lie 
 has fought abroad; while scores of bullies have been cudgeled 
 and conquered by him about home. Indeed^ if one half that 
 is told of him is true, the wild bulls of Bashan had not a 
 spirit more untamable, nor scarcely more bodily strength to 
 back it.'^' 
 
 "All that may be, sir, but those who knovv^ Ethan Allen will 
 laugh at the very idea of there being found a man in ISTew 
 England who can outdo him in feats of either strength or 
 courage. And when they tell you, as they truly may, that 
 they have seen him bite off the heads of board nails by dozens, 
 — seize by his teeth, and throw over his head, bags contain- 
 ing each a bushel of salt, as fast as two men could bring them 
 round to him, — grasp two opponents who had beset him, one 
 in each hand, and lifting them clear off the ground, hold them 
 out at arms length, and beat them together till they cried for 
 merc}^, — engage alone with a York sheriff and his posse of 
 six common men, rout the whole, and leave them sprawling 
 on the ground — you will probably allow that such a man will 
 not be very likely to succumb to your hero: Let this Arnold 
 but offer to assume the command, and, unless I am sadly mis- 
 taken, you will see what kind of stuff our old Green Mountain 
 lion is made of. But see! the fellow is beckoning the officers 
 to approach him. Let us move up to the spot, and hear what 
 he has to offer on the occasion.^' 
 
 Understanding and heeding the intimation of the stranger 
 officer, who was indeed no other than Benedict Arnold, after- 
 wards so infamously conspicuous in the annals of our revolu- 
 tion, most of the officers, including Allen, who had dis- 
 mounted for the purpose, immediately advanced and formed 
 an irregular line before him. 
 
 "Gentlemen,'' said he, with a perfectly assured and confi- 
 dent air, after waiting till all had approached and assumed a 
 listening attitude, "I am personally unknown, 1 presume, to 
 most, or all of you, but having been clothed with the proper 
 authority, and directed to proceed to this place for the pur- 
 pose, I have the honor to announce myself to you as the com- 
 mander of this expedition; consequently it is now my duty 
 to take charge of these troops." 
 
 "Sir?" said Allen, taking a step in advance of his fellow offi- 
 cers, placing bds arms akimbo, and turning up his ear, as if 
 the better to catch the words of the speaker, whom he eyed 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 181 
 
 askance with a look of queerly blended doubt and scorn: 
 '^Sir? did I hear aright? Did yon say that yon thonght it your 
 duty to take charge of these troops?" 
 
 "I did, sir, and still so consider it/' replied Arnold, rather 
 restively. 
 
 "Do yon, indeed sir," rejoined Allen, with a look of cool 
 derision. "Then it was altogether a mistake of mine in sup- 
 posing that the reverse of your proposition would have made 
 out a more probable case?" 
 
 "I know not what you mean," said Arnold, his voice trem- 
 bling with stifled anger at the biting significance of the other's 
 remark. "You may learn, however, that I am not a person to 
 be trifled with, sir." 
 
 "'Well, I can't pretend to say what, or who you are not," re- 
 plied Allen, waxing warm, and giving token of a direct onset, 
 but I should like to know who the devil you are, that come 
 here from another colony to take the control of men who 
 now own allegiance to no power short of that of the Grod of 
 Heaven?" 
 
 "My name is Arnold," replied the other, biting his lips in 
 suppressed rage, "and I hold a commission of Colonel, with 
 the orders I named, from the Massachusetts Committee of 
 Safety. There! examine it for yourselves!" he added, pulling 
 out a parchment, and disdainfully hurling it at their feet. 
 
 The roll was instantly picked up, and attentively examined 
 by several of the officers; while Arnold stood aloof in con- 
 temptuous silence, sc^cely deigning to bestow a glance on the 
 eompan}^ thus engaged. It indeed proved, as he had stated, 
 a Colonel's commission, from the source above mentioned, 
 enclosing another document, signed by the same Committee, 
 authorizing Arnold to raise troops in Massachusetts, or else- 
 where, to the number of four hundred^ and march them for 
 the redaction o'f Ticonderoga. 
 
 "ISTow, sir, where is your commission? I should like to see 
 it in turn," said Arnold, addressing Allen, and advancing with 
 an air of triumph, as soon as the examination of his creden- 
 tials, which he supposed must silence all further question of 
 the right he had assumed, was completed. 
 
 "M}^ commission?" promptly replied Allen, by no means 
 disturbed by tliis unexpected demand, though in fact he had 
 no paper commission to show, as the council appointing him 
 had not deemed such an instrument essential; "where is my 
 
182 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 commission^ do you ask? Tliere^ sirT' he continued, pointing 
 to liis troops, who, understanding Arnold^s claim to take com- 
 mand of them, already began to exhibit visible tokens of dis- 
 pleasure at the thought of having their idolized leader super- 
 seded by a stranger, ''there, sir! there it is, engraven on the 
 hearts of these two hundred and thirty Green Mountain Boys! 
 Trace it out there for yourself! Eead it in their eyes, in 
 every lineament of their countenances! And if that is not 
 enough for you, then ask them whether Ethan Allen, who is 
 getting gray in their service, is to be thrust aside for a com- 
 mander v\^hom they have never before seen?" 
 
 "Never! no, never!" fiercely burst from a hundred lips 
 along the lines, while many indignantly threw down their 
 arms, and all, either by vv'ord, look or gesture, gave un- 
 equivocal indication of their determination to allow no man to 
 usurp the place of their chosen leader. 
 
 The countenance of Arnold, with all his assurance, instant- 
 ly fell at so decided, and, to him, so unexpected a manifesta- 
 tion of the disposition of the troops; and he bit his lips in 
 vexation and mortified pride at his defeat. 
 
 At this crisis of the affair, Warrington, fearing, in common 
 with the other officers, that the altercation might prove 
 ruinous to the enterprise, stepped forward and interposed. 
 He first, respectfully, and in a manner calculated to soothe the 
 irritated feelings of Arnold, set forth the doubtfulness of his 
 right, even under the instructions and commission he had re- 
 ceived, to assume the command of troops who had not been 
 enlisted by him, but who had volunteered, without any knowl- 
 edge of him or his instructions, and with the implied condi- 
 tion that they should be left to the choice of their own lead- 
 ers. He then appealed to him as a gentleman, a patriot, and 
 friend to the commdh cause, whether he would do well to 
 insist on his claim, since doing so, as he must see, would prove 
 destructive of their expedition. This courteous and well- 
 timed appeal, which opened a door by which Arnold might 
 honorably retreat from his awkward position, seemed to pro- 
 duce on his mind an instantaneous effect. The dark and 
 angry frown, which had settled on his countenance, gave way 
 to a bright and cheerful look. Vv^ith one hand he instantly 
 tore the epaulets from his shoulders, while, with the other 
 he drew his sword and threw it on the ground, gallantly ex- 
 claiming, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 183 
 
 "Gentlemen^ I most cheerfully waive all pretensions to the 
 command^ which of right, I am now convinced, belongs to the 
 brave leader of the far-famed Green Mountain Bo3^s. But as 
 to going with you on this glorious enterprise, it is a privilege 
 
 which, by , I won^t relinquish! Gentlemen, v/ill you 
 
 furnish me with a common musket, and accept me as a volun- 
 teer soldier of your gallant band?" 
 
 Allen appeared to be taken completely aback by tliis sud- 
 den declaration of Arnold. His naturally forgiving and noble 
 disposition, and quick feelings, were instantly touched with 
 this mark of magnanimity, as unexpected to him as it was 
 remarkable in the man, being the most striking, and perhaps 
 the only instance of the kind, ever displayed by this brave, 
 but unprincipled officer in his whole public career. 
 
 "Done like a man, by Jove!'^ exclaimed the chivalrous lead- 
 er of the Green Mountain Boj^s, advancing and cordially prof- 
 fering the other his hand, while the tears of admiring and 
 grateful emotion fairly started out on to his brawny cheeks. 
 ''Done like a man and a hero! Here, God bless you, give us 
 your fist! There is about the right kind of stuff in you, after 
 all, my friend. Will you accept the post of my aid-de-camp, 
 with the rank your commission gives 3^ou?'' 
 
 "Most cheerfully, sir," replied the flattered Arnold, waving 
 his hand with easy and grateful courtesy. 
 
 "Pick up your sword and badges, then, sir," resumed Allen. 
 "Gall for your horsQ, and we will now on together, like broth- 
 ers, in the cause of God and the people. Officers and soldiers!" 
 he continued, in a loud and cheering voice, that rung like a 
 deep toned trumpet far and wide over field and forest around, 
 while he sprang upon his impatient charger, and waved his 
 sword on high; "prepare to march! Ethan Allen still com- 
 mands you. Peace is in the camp, the Lord on our side, and 
 victory before us! Forward, march!" 
 
 Three loud and lively cheers told the satisfaction of the 
 men at this double announcement; and, in another moment, 
 the whole corps, wheeling off to the brisk and stirring notes 
 of shrieking fife and rattling drum, v^ere sweeping down the 
 road in full march towards the object of their destination. 
 
 The route of the troops was along the military road, which 
 in the French war of 1759, had been opened from Charleston, 
 on Connecticut river, across the Green Mountains to Lake 
 Champlain_, by a Kew Hampshire regiment, acting under the 
 
184 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 orders of General Amherst. This road, leading directly 
 through Castleton, and taking a northerly direction, branched 
 off within a few miles of the lake, one fork running down to 
 the shore o^Dposite to Ticonderoga, and the other proceeding 
 onward to Crown Point. Although this, at the period, was 
 jDerhaps the best road in the settlement, still it was little more 
 than a roughly cut path through the wilderness, abounding, at 
 this season, with deep sloughs, fallen trees and other obstacles 
 calculated to prevent much expedition in traveling. But such 
 was the spirit and constitutional vigor of the men, that a 
 march of four or five hours brought them over half the dis- 
 tance from their late rendezvous to their destined landing on 
 the lake, the former place being about thirty miles from the 
 latter. They had now, for several miles, been passing through 
 a heavy unbroken forest, and the mounted officers, riding a 
 short distance in advance of the men, v/ere anxiously looking 
 forward for a clea-ring, or some suitable place to halt for a 
 mid-day refreshment. 
 
 ^'There!'' said Allen, turning to his companions, as the 
 sound of a falling tree came booming through the forest from 
 a distance, "did you hear that? We are nearly through these 
 endless woods at last, it seems." 
 
 "Is that so clearly proved by the falling of a tree?" asked 
 Arnold, who was but little of a woodman. "'Old trees, I 
 thought, like old men, often fell without human agency." 
 
 "True, sir," rejoined Allen, "hut human agency brought 
 that tree to the ground; and it stood beside some opening, 
 too, or I will agree to be reckoned, like the prophets of old, 
 without honor in my own country." 
 
 "Colonel Allen is right," observed Warrington: "The fall- 
 ing of a green tree always produces a dull, heavy, lumbering 
 sound, such as we just heard, occasioned by the air it gathers, 
 or more properly, perhaps, disturbs in its course; while the 
 sound of a dry tree in falling is sharper, and comes with a 
 single jar to the ear. That this tree stood near an opening, is 
 sufficiently evident from the echoes that followed the first 
 sound, which, in tliis flat land, could only be produced by the 
 reverberating wood-walls of an opening. Yes, the Colonel is 
 correct: I can now hear the chopper's blows quite distinctly." 
 
 The falling of another tree in the same direction here in- 
 terrupted the conversation; while the axman's blows, sound- 
 ing in the distance, and in the tranquil medium through 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 1S5 
 
 which the}^ were conveyed to the ear, like tlie ticking of a 
 clock in the stillness of night, conld now plainly be heard by 
 all. In two or three moments, a third tree came tluindering 
 to the earth. Another, and yet another followed at equally 
 brief intervals, — the noise attending each successive fall, as 
 well as that of the fast repeating blows of the chopper, who 
 was causing such destruction among the sturdy tenants of 
 the forest, all growing more loud and distinct as the party 
 approached. 
 
 "There must be more than one of them," observed Colonel 
 Easton, "to level so large trees at that rapid rate." 
 
 "No, sir," replied Y^^arrington; "the regular, and non- 
 interfering sounds of those blows indicate but one axman. 
 You have not witnessed so much of the execution of which 
 our Green Mountain Boys are capable, as I trust you will 
 within twenty-four hours. Colonel. At all events, the fate of 
 a tree under the sinewy arms of one of them, is very soon de- 
 cided." 
 
 "This fellow, hov/ever," remarked Allen, "does indeed lay 
 to it with a will. I think he must make a good soldier; and 
 as such, he shall go with us, if of the right way of thinking — 
 if not, as a prisoner; for it behooves us now, to know pretty 
 well the character of every man who is permitted to remain 
 behind." 
 
 The party now soon came in sight of the man who had been 
 the subject of their conversation. He had made an opening 
 in the forest of about two acres, which he was rapidly en- 
 larging. Having just leveled one large tree, he was now 
 bending his tall frame in an attack upon another, a giant hem- 
 lock, standing near the road, and had struck two or three 
 blows, sending the blade of his ax into the huge circum- 
 ference up to the helve at eyeij stroke; when the tramp of 
 the approaching party reached his ear, causing him to sus- 
 pend and look around him. 
 
 "As I live, it is Pete Jones!" exclaimed Warrington, "just 
 beginning upon his new pitch, which he mentioned to us." 
 
 "Good!" said Allen, "I am glad we have come across the 
 droll devil. But we vrill furnish him with business a notch 
 or two above that : the Eed Coats need leveling a cursed sight 
 more than the trees, at this crisis. If nothing more, he shall 
 lend us that everlasting long body of his for a ladder to scale 
 the walls of Old Ti.! Jupiter! if Frederick of Prussia had a 
 
ISe THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 regiment of such chaps, how the fellow would brag!. Hallo, 
 there!" he added, dashing forward towards the woodsman, 
 who stood gazing with an expression of quizzical wonder, now 
 at the approaching cavalcade of officers near by, and now 
 straining forward his long neck to get a view of the lengthened 
 columns of the men, just beginning to make their appear- 
 ance in the distance. 
 
 "Well, hallo, it is, then. Colonel, if there's nothing better to 
 be said," responded Jones, after waiting an instant to see if 
 the other was going to proceed. "But now I think on't. 
 Colonel, where did you get so much folks? By Jehu! how 
 they string along yonder! Why, there's more than a hun- 
 dred slew of men coming! And then what pokerish-looking 
 tools they've all got! Now I wonder if they ain't a going a 
 visiting over to Old Ti., or somewheres?" 
 
 "I should not be surprised if something of that kind should 
 prove the case," replied Allen, laughing. "But what are you 
 about, that you have not joined us in the proposed visit?" 
 
 "Why, I calculate to be about this old hemlock till I get it 
 down. Colonel." 
 
 "JSTonsense, you ninny! Why were you not up to Castleton 
 last night?" 
 
 "Now, don't fret. Colonel, — I did think of it, honestly; but 
 knowing you must all come this way, I though I might as well 
 be making a small beginning here till you got on. And so I 
 put in yesterday a little, and have now let in heaven's light on 
 something over tAvo acres, I calculate. But if you are expect- 
 ing to have pretty funny times of it over there, I don't much 
 care if I — that is, I'll think of it, after I have brought the top 
 of this old hemlock a. little lower — "" 
 
 "Your most obedient. Captain Jones," gayly exclaimed 
 Warrington, now riding up. 
 
 "Captain of what?" asked Jones, a little puzzled to know 
 whether he was to receive this address as a joke, and let off 
 one of his own in return, or whether something serious was 
 intended by it: "Captain of what? — of the Surveyor, that I 
 sent over the York line, a day or two ago, by a gentle touch 
 with my foot on his northerly parts?" 
 
 "No, seriously, Jones," said Allen, "in organizing last night, 
 we deemed it best to have a small band of scouts, of whom 
 you was fairly voted in the Captain, or Scout-master, if you 
 like the name better. No man in the settlement can go be- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 187 
 
 fore you in performing the duties of this post. Will you, with- 
 out more words, accept it, and join us?" 
 
 "Can't you let me stop to cut this tree down first? 'Twon't 
 take scarce a minute^ Colonel." 
 
 "No, the men are at hand. We did think to find a spot to 
 halt and dine here, but as I see neither place nor water, we 
 must on till we find them. How soon shall we meet with such 
 a place?" 
 
 "Let me see, as the blind man said — Oh! there is a cute 
 little beauty of a brook, with smooth banks, that's just your 
 sorts, not half a mile ahead." 
 
 "Fall in here with the troops then. But where is yonr 
 rifle?" 
 
 "Hard by there, under a log," replied Pete. "I'll warrant 
 you never catch me far separated from old Trusty, with a good 
 store of bullets, to go on such errands as she and. I have a 
 mind to send them. Well, old ax," he added in an under- 
 tone, as he took up the implement to which he seemed ad- 
 dressing himself, and carried it round to the back of the tree, 
 "the Colonel thinks it best that you and I should bid each 
 other good-bye, for a short time; and there! you may sit in 
 that nook between those roots till I come back a^^ain. — 
 
 '&•■ 
 
 *So now in the wars I go, I go. 
 All for to go a sodjering. 
 
 Trol, lol, lol de larly.'" 
 
 And thus, in the prompt spirit of the times, and with the 
 characteristic sang froid of the man, this jolly and fearless 
 Yfoodsman, drawing out his rifle from under an old log^ and 
 cheerily trolling the above quoted catch of some homely old 
 song, with a chorus of his own making, fell into the ranks of 
 the troops then passing, having left his favorite ax, for which 
 he seemed to have contracted a sort of fellow-feelino:, standins: 
 behind the tree, on which we found him ens^ao^ed, where it 
 was destined to remain unregarded by its ov/ner, during a 
 great part of the revolutionary war; — and where, on return- 
 ing, after many years of hardship and danger, spent in bravely 
 battling for his country's freedom, he found it, in the same, 
 place and position, safe and uninjured, except in the thick 
 coat of rust that had gathered over it — an incident of olden 
 times, well known as a historical fact by many in that see- 
 tiow of the country ^here it occurred:. 
 
188 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 The spot described by Jones being found and appropriated, 
 tlie troops partook of a dinner from the provisions of their 
 packs, after which they were allowed an hour^s rest, which 
 was enlivened, as they were seated along the mossy banks of 
 the gurgling rivulet, with song, tale, and jest, till the deep 
 recesses of the forest rang with the sounds of their merriment. 
 While the officers, who were seated in a group by themselves, 
 were consulting their watches, and awaiting the moment set 
 by them for resuming their m^arch, a horseman, approaching 
 from the west, suddenly rode up, dismounted, and stood before 
 them. 
 
 "Ah! Phelps !^^ exclaimed Colonel Allen, springing up and 
 shaking the new comer heartily by the hand, "is it possible ? — 
 a spy returned unhung from a British fort? Well, sir, what 
 news from the camp of the Philistines?'^ 
 
 "Almost everything we could wish, gentlemen," replied 
 the person addressed, a Connecticut gentlem.an of consider- 
 able shrewdness and address, who had been dispatched a day 
 or two prcAdous to go over to the fort, enter it on some feigned 
 errand, and gain the best knowledge of its situation the cir- 
 cumstances would permit. "I have been within the fort — 
 mostly over the works — staid there last night, and came away 
 unsuspected this morning." 
 
 Phelps then proceeded to give an account of the manner 
 he had effected his discoveries at the fort, without exciting 
 the suspicions of the garrison, relative to the object of his 
 visit — how, in the assumed character of a green country 
 bumpkin, he made it his ostensible errand to see a war-can- 
 non, and also the strange man what shaved other men, called 
 a barber — how the soldiers laughed at his pretended ignor- 
 ance, and the officers, coming to see the green Yankee, amused 
 themselves by questioning him, and listening to his replies, 
 at which they were amazingly tickled, and then ordered a 
 twenty-four pounder to be fired, for the fun of witnessing the 
 prodigious fright, into which the report appeared to throw 
 him. And, finally, having induced him, after man}^ en- 
 treaties, to permit the barber to shave him, how they all 
 stood by to see the performance, laughing heartily at the 
 wincing and woeful countenances he assumed, and the fears 
 he pretended of having his throat cut. 
 
 After finishing his diverting descrij)tion of this part of his 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 189 
 
 adventures^ lie detailed with great accuracy tlie situation of 
 the fortress, the names and grades of the officers, and the 
 number of the garrison. 
 
 "But, gentlemen/' said he, in conclusion, "there is one 
 question which I will no longer delay to ask you. Have you 
 made provision for boats to transport the troops across the 
 lake? There is not a single craft larger than a skiff on this 
 side, just now, within ten miles of the fort." 
 
 "God forgive me the oversight!" exclaimed Allen. "We 
 must instantly set measures on foot for repairing it. Doug- 
 lass — Lieutenant Douglass, step forward here a moment! 
 What boats are there this side the lake to the north of this?" 
 
 "An excellent scow for our purpose is owned by the Smiths, 
 a few miles this side of Crown Point," replied the blue-eyed 
 and broad-shonldered descendant of his Caledonian name- 
 sakes, stepping promptly forward, and comprehending at a 
 glance the emergency that produced the question. 
 
 "The Smiths? Good! They are Avith us, too, in heart, and 
 should be also in person," rejoined the Colonel. "Well, their 
 scow we must have at all events. And you, Douglass, are the 
 very man to go and get it. Will you do it?" 
 
 "I am the very man who is willing to try. Colonel Allen," 
 answered the other. 
 
 "And can you reach the landing against Ti. with it by nine 
 o'clock this evening?" 
 
 "Hardly, I fear. - It is nearly a dozen miles; but I'll do my 
 best. Colonel." 
 
 "Go, then, as if the devil kicked you on end. The salvation 
 of our project may depend upon your getting back in season. 
 But stay! We must have more boats than one. To the 
 South, I know of none. Perhaps you may meet with some 
 going up or down the lake, which might be pressed into the 
 service; or, as the last resort, one might possibly be got away 
 from Crown Point without a discovery which would endanger 
 us. Another man, however, will be wanted for any of these 
 purposes, besides the oarsmen you will pick up on your way. 
 And — Jones! this way! Have you heard what we aje at? 
 Very well. You are just the chap to go on this hap-hazard 
 errand. What say you? Can you bring anything to pass, if 
 we send you?" 
 
 "Why, I can't exactly say, Colonel," replied Jones, placing 
 his feet astride, and looking up with one eye queerly cocked 
 
190 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 on his interrogator^ wliile the other was tightly closed: "I 
 ain't so much of a water fowl as some; but^ perhaps, I mought 
 make fetch come a little/' 
 
 "Pack up then, and be off with Douglass in two minutes; 
 and remember, both of you, if you fail us — " 
 
 "Then what?" asked Jones, suddenly stopping and looking 
 back. "I don't calculate to be over particular. Colonel, but if 
 it wouldn't be too much trouble, I should like to know that, 
 before we start." 
 
 "You shall be doomed to sit forty days and nights in sack- 
 cloth and ashes," humorously said Allen. 
 
 "By Jonah!" exclaimed Pete, "the boats shall be there by 
 the time. Colonel!" 
 
 While the latter part of this dialogue was going on, War- 
 rington stood with his back to the company, with one foot 
 on a log, busily engaged in writing with his pencil on a blank 
 leaf, torn from his pocket book and placed on his knee. 
 
 "Aha! my lad," said Allen, in a -playful undertone, as he 
 approached the former, and significantly placed one finger on 
 his shoulder, "more faith now, than when we two were lying 
 on the hay, in the Captain's barn, waiting for our rifles, eh?" 
 
 "I really wish you would mind your own business. Colonel," 
 replied Warrington, with affected anger. 
 
 "Well, well," resumed Allen, laughing, "send it, my boy. 
 Mars, they say, never prospers so well as when he has Cupid in 
 his train, in any case. But with such a piece of God's handi- 
 work, as yours, to incite to action — heavens! if the knights of 
 old had been blest with such lady-loves, they would never 
 have needed to carry half a hundred .weight of old iron on 
 their lubberly carcasses to make them heroes." 
 
 Stripping off their coats to fit them for a rapid march, these 
 athletic and resolute woodsmen now seized their rifles, took 
 a glance at the sun for a hasty calculation of the bearing of 
 the course to be taken to lead them to their proposed destina- 
 tion, and, plunging into the woods, were soon lost to the sight 
 of their companions. 
 
 A small guard was then sent on in advance, with orders to 
 pick up and detain every man on the road, not in the secret of 
 the expedition. Scouts to range the woods on the right and 
 left, were also dispatched for the same purpose; after whicli 
 the main body of the forces quietly resumed their march for 
 the lake. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 191 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 "There are strange movements among all the troop. 
 And no one knows the same." 
 
 Leaving Allen and Ms companions in arms to make their 
 way to the lake shore, we will now, by way of marking the 
 progress of the two active foresters, who had been dispatched 
 northward for boats, change the scene, for a short time, to 
 the quiet residence of Captain Hendee. 
 
 It was a little past sunset on the evening of the day on 
 which the events last described transpired. It had been a day 
 of iinnsual stillness in the northern part of the Grants. The 
 lively sonnds of the plying axmen, which were usually heard 
 ringing through the forests in every direction, were all 
 hushed. The women went a visiting, and were seen to whisper 
 in the corners apart from the children. The boys finished 
 their tasks by noon, and for the remainder of the day were 
 sauntering round the brooks with their fishing-poles. All the 
 active men had disappeared; though no one mentioned aloud 
 the cause of their absence. And a sort of Sabbath-day quiet 
 and inaction seemed to prevail over all this section of the set- 
 tlement. Captain Hendee was sitting in his open door, en- 
 joying, as usual, his evening pipe, and wrapped in that placid 
 and contemplative mood to which this indulgence generally 
 disposes. His daughter was seated near him at a window, 
 in an attitude equally calm and contemplative, though en- 
 grossed with reflections, probabl}^, of a far different nature: 
 for her fair white hand rested on a small volume lying on 
 the window-sill before her, opened upon those heart-melting 
 strains of the hapless Eloise, which Pope, that master of 
 rhyme and marrer of reason, sung with such seductive sweet- 
 ness; and her tear-moistened eye was fixed, pensively and un- 
 observant, on the slumbering vv^aters of the outspread lake; 
 while occasionally a gentle sigh, betokening the inward con- 
 flicts of hope and fear, was heaving her snowy bosom. While 
 13 
 
192 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 the father and daughter were thus seated^ and their minds 
 thus absorbed in their different trains of reflection, their at- 
 tention was suddenly arrested by the sounds of advancing 
 footsteps. 
 
 "By all the saints in the calendar!" exclaimed the Captain, 
 after gazing an instant in surprise at the striking proportions 
 of our young Anak of the woods, for it was no other than 
 Pete Jones, who, at the distance of eight or ten rods, was 
 now seen stalking towards the house, "what a cloud-brusher 
 is there. Alma! Can you imagine who he may be?" 
 
 "No, father," replied Alma, who was also looking at the ap- 
 proaching visitor with an expression of mingled wonder and 
 curiosity; "but I just noticed that Young Tyler and Wilcox 
 of this neighborhood passed beyond the barn yonder, and I 
 conclude that this man is some friend of theirs. They are 
 probably all going on some fishing excursion. The man, I 
 presume, wishes, to get a little fire for this purpose." 
 
 By this time Jones had reached the door in which the Cap- 
 tain was sitting. 
 
 "Good evening! Will you walk in, sir?" said the latter in 
 an indifferent tone, and without moving, as if he expected the 
 other would decline the invitation, and announce his errand 
 at his door. 
 
 "Why, yes, I may as well, replied Jones, offering to pass in 
 without appearing to notice the hesitating and inquiring look 
 of the Captain, who now at once yielded the space to his 
 guest. "You see I was bred to manners," continued the 
 woodsman, jocosely bowing, so as to enable liim to enter 
 the door. 
 
 The Captain, smiling good naturedly at the remark, handed 
 Jones a chair, took another himself, and waited in silence, and 
 with the same expecting air as before, for the stranger to 
 name his business. This, however, Jones did not seem ready 
 to make known, but continued sitting in silence, with a puz- 
 zled and undecided air, as if greatly at loss what to say, or 
 how to bring about some object he had in view, now glancing 
 at the Captain, now at the different objects about the room, 
 and now at Miss Hendee, on whom his eyes lingered with an 
 expression of unfeigned admiration. 
 
 "Very fine weather, this," remarked the Captain, by way of 
 breaking the silence, which he seemed to think was becoming 
 a little awkward. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 193 
 
 "Very; considering the times^ and the state of the nation," 
 responded Pete, dryly, and with the manner of one who would 
 show that he is too busy in thought to engage in conversa- 
 tion. 
 
 The Captain then made some other commonplace obser- 
 vation, which met with no reply of any kind; when finding 
 himself thus defeated in every attempt to draw the other into 
 conversation, and tired of waiting for him to name his er- 
 rand, he mthdrew his attention, and sunk into his own 
 reveries. 
 
 After Jones had sat a while longer chewing his cud of per- 
 plexity, a change appeared suddenly to come over him. A 
 flash of intelligence and decision lit up his countenance. 
 And, after dropj)ing his head an instant, as if settling the 
 details of a plan which he appeared to have hit upon, he 
 slowly drew up his features into a sober and troubled air, and 
 began to catch his breath, and shiver all over, like a man 
 taken with an ague fit. He then rose, tottled across the floor 
 to the hearth, raked open the fire and spread his shaking 
 hands over the coals, at the same time attempting to speak 
 as he observed the eyes of the Captain and his daughter were 
 turned upon him with a look of lively concern. 
 
 "0, nev — never mind!" — he said, articulating with great 
 apparent difficulty, in his attempt to quiet their alarm, — 
 " 'twill s — s — soon be o — o — over now — though the — the — 
 these swamp ag — ag — agues are bad while they last. You, 
 you don't — keep — ^l^eep great fires — here — I — I — I see." 
 
 "We will have one in a moment, my friend," said the Cap- 
 tain, leaping up at this hint, and hobbling out of doors after 
 wood, with unwonted activity. 
 
 No sooner was the old gentleman fairly out of sight than 
 Jones's malady- entirely disappeared. He quickly drew out a 
 billet, and turning, tossed it into the lap of the astonished 
 Miss Hendee. 
 
 "Here, mum," said he, in a low, confidential tone, "there's 
 no time to be polite; but read that, and if you want to scrab- 
 ble off two lines, or so, in answer, contrive to get it into my old 
 hat there on the table, in almost no time, as I'm in a taking of 
 a hurry. But stay, where's the Indian?" 
 
 "He has gone to take a letter for me to Major Skene's 
 colored man, now lying with his boat down here at the land- 
 ing, I believe," replied the blushing girl, already on her way 
 13 
 
194 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 to her apartment to read and answer the billet, which a glance 
 at the hand-writing told her was from her accepted lover. 
 
 ^'That^s lucky/' said Jones; "now I want that chap to go 
 with ns. We have got a trifling chore to do to-night some- 
 where in the neighborhood of Old Ti. Had I better speak 
 to the old gentleman about his going or notT 
 
 "My father should be consulted, and yet/' — answered Alma^ 
 hesitating lest the suggested application to Captain Hendee 
 might in some way lead to a discovery of her own secret — "1 
 heard him promise Neshobee's services to Colonel Allen for 
 such an emergency. Perhaps you had better consult no one 
 but Neshobee himself, and if he is willing to go, I will stand 
 his friend in defending the delinquency, if such it be." 
 
 Captain Hendee now returned with the wood, and found 
 Pete's ague much as he left it. But as the fire blazed up from 
 the light combustibles which had been thrown onto it, the 
 attack seemed gradually to subside. Meanwhile, Alma had 
 retired, read the brief out-pouring- of her lover's heart, and 
 penned in answer — 
 
 /Trom my heart I thank you for your kind note. All as 
 3^et remains undiscovered, — painful, painful exigency! which 
 compels concealment of so important a step from an only 
 parent! And yet I regret not my troth; and whatever of sor- 
 row it -may cost me, I will not repine at the fruit of a tree of 
 my own planting. Heaven preserve you, my very dear friend, 
 in the hour of peril, and crown with success j^our efforts in the 
 cause of freedom. 
 
 Yours, but too truly, 
 
 A. H." 
 
 By the time Alma had completed her note, and managed on 
 her return to the room, to slip it, unobserved, into the desig- 
 nated place of deposit, Jones had so far recovered from his 
 pretended indisposition, that he announced himself in a con- 
 dition for proceeding on his way. And taking a coal of fire^ 
 between a couple of chips, by way of accounting to the Cap- 
 tain for his call, and stopping a moment to listen to the sagej 
 nostrums recommended by his host to prevent the recurrence] 
 of his ague, he departed, and joined his two newly enlisted! 
 associates, who were impatiently awaiting his coming in the! 
 adjoining field, It being now m^cientlj dusk to prevent all 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 195 
 
 observation from the opposite garrison^ they proceeded im- 
 mediately to the hmding, which they found guarded by two 
 Green Mountain Boys, who, making fishing their ostensible 
 business, had, in pursuance of the arrangement before men- 
 tioned, closely watched the place during the two preceding 
 days. Here, also, they met JMeshobee, who had just returned 
 in a skiff, from Major Skene^s scow, in possession, as before 
 intimated, of a stout negro, who, with two low, sottish fel- 
 lows under his command, having spent that day at the fort to 
 take in some loading, and visit the soldiers previous to starting 
 for home, as they intended to do, the next morning, had come 
 over just at night and taken a fishing station near the land- 
 ing. Jones and his companions hesitated not to open their 
 project of obtaining this boat to N'eshobee, who very cheer- 
 fully agreed to co-operate with them in duping the negro, 
 and to assist in rowing ihe boat up to the landing, where they 
 were to be met by Allen^s forces. The boat was lying about a 
 dozen rods from the shore; and black Jack, as he was called, 
 and his men, having pulled up their anchor, were now on the 
 point of putting back for the fort; when the party on shore, 
 their plan of operations being all arranged, hailed the black 
 commander, and desired him to haul up to the landing. 
 
 "Who the debil you, who want me do all dat for notting?^' 
 replied Jack, in a swaggering, consequential tone. 
 
 "0, pull up to the shore," said AYilcox, "there are three or 
 four of us here who are wishing to make a bargain with you." 
 
 "Bargain, hey? you shackaroons, you! You tink for play 
 some deblish trick, don't you? Guess you find out you no 
 catch weazel sleep so easy as all dat come to!" responcled the 
 negro, chuckling at his own wit and sagacity. 
 
 "No, now, honestly. Captain Jack," rejoined the first speak- 
 er, "we want to. go to Shoreham landing to-night, to be ready 
 to join a wolf hunt which they are going to start there early 
 to-morrow morning." 
 
 "Gosh all fire-lock!" exclaimed the black, whose opinion of 
 his own importance was greatly raised by being addressed as 
 Captain: "You tink I row my boat all de way up dar in de 
 dark jest for commodate you? ISTo! see you all dam fus!" 
 
 "ISTow you are too bad, Captain; but you won't damn our 
 jug of old Jamaica, that we intended to offer you for carry- 
 ing us up there, will you?" said the other, taking a jug from 
 under his coat and swinging it over his head, so that the 
 
196 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 black, whose taste for liquor was well known to the young 
 men, might catch a. view of it in the tvvdlight. 
 
 "What yon say, dere?" eagerly said Jack, stretching for- 
 ward his neck to see, and make sure of the existence of the 
 tempting implement. 
 
 "We say,^^ replied the former, "that here is a gallon of as 
 good rum as ever run down your throat, which is at your ser- 
 vice, if you will close the bargain. Come, give us your answer, 
 for if we can't make a trade with you, we must be off for a 
 boat somewhere else. What say you? — and mind ye, we will 
 lend you a stiff hand at the oars to boot.'' 
 
 "You help row de boat, you say?" answered Jack, in an 
 altered and yielding tone. "\"\niy de debit you no say so fore? 
 Dat be a case dat alter de circumstance. You werry much to 
 blame, gemmen, dat you no mention so portant a difference in 
 fus place," added the negro, while he and his men headed 
 roimd the boat, and handled the oars with such effect that 
 nearly the next moment she was lying at the landing. 
 
 Within five minutes from this time, the magic jug, which 
 had effected such a wonderful change in the aspect of affairs, 
 having been well tested in the meanwhile by Jack and his 
 associates, all hands were stripped and bending to the oars of 
 the old scow, which, under the forceful strokes of Jones and 
 his party, aided by the rum-j)ower of Jack's two besotted boat- 
 men, was surging through the waters towards the south, as 
 fast as their united strength would drive her. 
 
 They were soon met, however, by puffs of south wind, 
 against which they found it impossible to make but a very 
 slow headway. And it was not till considerable past mid- 
 night that they came to the last reach, and hove in sight of the 
 destined landing. But here, overhauling Douglass with the 
 other scow, and the party he had enlisted to help man it, both 
 boats, with renewed efforts of rival speed, pushed forward 
 for the appointed shore. 
 
 "Boat ahoy!" called out Allen from the landing, where, as 
 the boats neared the place, his huge, tower-like form, rising 
 in bold relief over the stationary group of officers around him, 
 could now plainly be discerned by the approaching crews: 
 'HDoat ahoy! wdio comes there?" 
 
 "Douglass and friends, in this," was the reply from the first 
 boat, coming in about its lengtli in advance of the other. 
 
 "And who in the next?" asked Allen. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 197 
 
 "Jones and a thunder clond!" responded the well known 
 voice of the jolly woodsman. "iTow yon needn^t think I am 
 fibbing, Colonel; for yon will see it lighten when we get 
 ashore." 
 
 ^'All is well, then/' said Allen, without heeding the re- 
 marks of Jones, further than his announcement of himself 
 with a boat, "all is well, and glory to Grod in the highest, that 
 you have got here at last! I thought you would have never 
 come. Why, it has been an age since dark! Some old sun- 
 stopping Joshua must be fighting on the other side of the 
 earth, or, I swear, it would have been daylight long ago !" 
 
 By this time the first boat had struck the shore, and the 
 crew, leaping out, were all readily recognized by the leader, 
 who then turned to the other boat, at that instant driving up, 
 with the astonished and frightened negro (now for the first 
 time mistrusting a trick), gibbering and sputtering aloud, — 
 
 "What de hell all dis? — who all dese? what pretty dam 
 scrape you got me into here, you shackaroon debils, you?" 
 
 "What in the name of all that is black and red have you 
 got here, Jones?" cried Allen, in surprise, stepping up and 
 peering into the boat, on hearing Jack's exclamations. 
 
 "Why, just what I told you. Colonel. Here! don't you see 
 it lighten, now?" said Pete, pointing to the negro's eyes, 
 which, glaring wide with fear and astonishment, at what he 
 saw and heard, glimmered like fire-bugs in the dark. "But 
 the English of it is, Colonel, that we came across Major 
 Skene's scow, commanded b}^ Captain Darke}'-, with his two 
 oarsmen, here, who for a gallon of rum were kind enough to 
 bring us along to join a hunting match at Shoreham, where 
 we have now arrived, safe and sound," he continued, turning 
 to the black, "so now. Captain Jack, you have fulfilled your 
 bargain with us-; and we have nothing more to say, as far as 
 we are concerned. If these rough looking chaps here want to 
 employ you further, they will let you know it, likely." 
 
 "Jones, you deserve a pension for life!" exclaimed xlllen, 
 comprehending the whole affair in an instant. "You and your 
 friends here, have killed more birds with one stone than you 
 dreamed of yourselves, perhaps. But we have not a moment 
 to lose, so leap out, my lads. And as to Major Skene's boat, 
 it is my lawful prize; and Major Skene's negro, and Major 
 Skene's negro's understrappers here, are all my prisoners!" 
 
 "0, no, totally unpossible to stop, gemmen!" said .Tack, in 
 
198 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 a good lord, good devil sort of tone, being donbtfnl whether 
 they really intended to make him prisoner, or engage him 
 and his boat to carry them to some other place. "1 have 
 provision for de Major^s family aboard. Dey all out ob supply 
 for dere necessity. Quite unpossible, gemmen.^^ 
 
 "We will take care of the provisions. So out with you in 
 no time, you black Satan !'^ said Allen, impatiently. 
 
 "0, it be out ob all question I stop!'^ persisted the negro 
 with increasing alarm, "I have odder portant business — I have 
 letter from de young leddy at Captain Hendee^s to de young 
 leddy ob Colonel Eeed at de Major's dat I oblige for dehver, 
 early in the morning." 
 
 "We will undertake the delivery of the letter," said Selden 
 and Warrington, simultaneously. 
 
 "Tumble them out, boys!" sternly exclaimed Allen. 
 
 "0, Lordy, I den be ruin! totally, foreber ruin!" groaned 
 the distressed and frightened black, as the men seized him and 
 his two drunken associates, and led them to the rear to be 
 put under guard. 
 
 The boats were now instantly headed round, the oars 
 m-uffled, careful oarsmen selected and placed in their seats; 
 when, after each boat had been filled with as many trooj)s as 
 their respective burthens would safely permit, they pushed 
 off from the shore, preceded a short hailing distance by a skiff, 
 occupied by Allen and Arnold, with Phelps to pilot them to 
 their contemplated landing, on the opposite shore. The wind 
 had som.e time since died wholly away; and the elements were 
 now all hushed, as if in the slumbers of death; while the 
 deeply freighted crafts glided slowly on, impelled by the light 
 dip of the feathery oars, which, in the hands of the experi- 
 enced and careful men who plied them, unitedly rose and 
 fell as noiseless as the feet of fairies on beds of flowers. At 
 length the dark, massy walls of the fortress, looming up, and 
 marking their broad outlines against the western sk}", be- 
 came discernible to the men. And yet^ as they drew near 
 these frowning walls, pierced by a hundred cannon, over 
 which, for aught they knew, the lighted matches were sus- 
 pended, awaiting but the signal to send their iron showers of 
 death to every man of their devoted band, no misgivings, no 
 weak relentings came over them: but at a moment like this, 
 nnd that which followed at the onset, — moments, furnishing, 
 perhaps, a more undoubted test of courage than those of the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 199 
 
 half frantic^ half mechanical charges of tlie disciplined 
 legions of Napoleon^ at the later fields of Aiisterlitz and 
 Marengo — at a moment like this^ we say, their stout hearts, 
 nothing daunted at the dangers hefore them, beat high and 
 proudl}^ at the thought of the coming encounter, and with 
 stern determination gleaming in every eye, and with the low 
 whispered words of impatience for the moment of action to 
 arrive, they moved steadily on to the daring purpose. 
 
 Passing down obliquely by the works, they landed some dis- 
 tance to the north of them. The instant they touched the 
 shore the troops leaped on the banks; and scarcely had the 
 last foot been lifted from the boats before they were backed, 
 wheeled, and on their return for another load, leaving those 
 on shore to await in silence the arrival of a reinforcement 
 from their companions left behind, before marching to the 
 onset. Those companions, however, were not destined to 
 share in the glory of this splendid achievement of the eighty 
 Green Mountain Boys who had landed; for in a few moments, 
 to the dismay of Allen, the faint suffusions of dawning day 
 became visible in the east. Cursing the luck which had 
 caused such delays, and chafing like a chained lion held back 
 from his prey, that impetuous leader for a few moments rapid- 
 ly paced the shore before his men, in an agony of impatience 
 — now casting an eager look at the fort, still silent and un- 
 disturbed, now straining his vision after the receding boats, 
 which, to him, seemed to move like snails across the waters, 
 and now throwing an uneasy glance at the reddening east, 
 whose twilight glow, growing broader and brighter every in- 
 stant, plainly told him that before another detachment of 
 troops could arrive, his forces would be discovered, and the 
 enterprise, in all probability, would thus be defeated. Mad- 
 dened at the thought, he stopped short in his walk, paused an 
 instant, and brought his foot with a significant stamp to the 
 ground, showing that his resolution was taken. And quickly 
 calling out Jones and jSTeshobee, he dispatched them to go for- 
 ward, cautiously reconnoiter the fort on all sides, and return 
 as speedy as possible to report their discoveries. He then 
 formed his men in three ranks and addressed them. 
 
 "You see, my friends and fellow soldiers," he commenced, 
 pointing his sword towards the east, "that daylight will re- 
 veal us to the enemy before a reinforcement can possibly ar- 
 rive. But can you, who have so long been the scourge of 
 
200 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 t3Tants^ bring your minds to relinquish the noble enterprise, 
 and with it the proud name you have achieved, by turning 
 your backs on the glorious prize, when it is now almost within 
 your grasp ?^^ 
 
 He paused for a reply; when "no! no! no!" ran through the 
 lines in eager responses. 
 
 "I see, I see, my brave fellows," resumed the gratified lead- 
 er, "I see what you would do. I read it in your deeply 
 breathed tones of determination — in your quick and short 
 drawn respirations, and in your restless and impatient move- 
 ments. But have you all well considered? I now propose to 
 lead you through yonder gate; and I fear not to tell men of 
 your stamp, that we incur no small hazard of life in the at- 
 tempt. And, as I would urge no man to engage against his 
 own free will, I now give free and full permission to all who 
 choose to remain . behind. You, therefore, who will volun- 
 tarily accom]Dany me, poise your guns." 
 
 Every man^s gun v/as instantly brought to a poise, with a 
 motion which told with what good will it was made. 
 
 "Grod bless you, my noble fellows!" exclaimed Allen, proud- 
 ly, and with emotion: "Courage like that" — he continued, in 
 tones of concentrated energy, "courage like that, with hearts 
 of oak, and nerves of steel like yours, must, will, andj b}^ the 
 help of the God of hosts, shall triumph! Come on^ then! fol- 
 low me— march while I march — run and rush when I set the 
 example; and if I fall, still rush on, and over me, to ven- 
 geance and victory! To the right wheel! march!" 
 
 When the band arrived within about a furlong of the ram- 
 parts, they were met by the scouts, who reported that all was 
 quiet in and about the fort, while the open gate was guarded 
 only by one sluggish and sleepy looking sentinel. Halting no 
 longer than was necessary to hear this re]3ort, Allen, placing 
 himself at the head of the center column, silently waved his 
 sword to the troops as a signal for resuming the march; when 
 they all again moved forward with rapid but cautious steps 
 towards the guarded gateway. And so noiseless and unex- 
 pected was their approach, that they came within twenty 
 paces of the entrance before they were discovered b}^ the 
 drowsy sentry, who was slowly pacing to and fro, with shoul- 
 dered musket, before it. Turning round with a start, the 
 aroused soldier glared an instant at the advancing array, in 
 mute astonishment and alarm; when he hastily cocked, and 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 201 
 
 leveled Ms piece at Allen^ wlio was striding towards him, sev- 
 eral yards in advance of liis men. It was an instant on whicli 
 luing the fate of the hero of the Green Mountains and, probab- 
 ly, also the destinies of Ticonderoga. But the gun missed fire. 
 The life of the daring leader was safe, and the garrison slept 
 on, unalarmed, and unconscious of their danger. Leaping 
 forward like the bounding tiger on his victim, Allen followed 
 up the retreating soldier so hotly that, with all the speed 
 which fear could lend him, he could scarcely keep clear of the 
 rapidly whirling sword of his fiery pursuer, till he gained the 
 interior of the fortress; when he gave a loud screech of alarm, 
 and, making a desperate leap for a bomb proof, disappeared 
 within its recesses. Meanwhile the rushing column of troops 
 came sweeping like a whirlwind through the gate; when fair- 
 ly gaining the parade ground in front of the barracks, they 
 gave three cheers which made the old walls tremble with the 
 deafening reverberations, and caused the slumbering garrison 
 to start from their beds in wild dismay at the unwonted sound. 
 Scarcely had the last huzza escaped the lips of the men and 
 their leader, who disdained not to mingle his own stentorian 
 voice in the peals of exultation and defiance, which rose in 
 thunders to heaven, before the latter was rapidly threading 
 his way through flying sentries and half dressed officers, 
 towards the quarters of the commandant of the fortress. 
 Pausing an instant on his way, to chastise a dastard sentinel 
 whom he caught making a pass at one of our officers with his 
 .bayonet, and whom, with one blow with the flat of his sword, 
 he sent reeling to the earth with the cry of mercy on his lips, 
 the daring leader bounded up the stairway leading to the 
 commandant's room, and thundering at the door, called loud- 
 ly to that officer to come forth. Captain La Place, who had 
 just leaped from his bed, on hearing the tumult below, soon 
 made his appearance with his clothes in his hand, but sud- 
 denly recoiling a step, he stood gazing in mute amazement at 
 the stern and threatening air, and the powerful and com- 
 manding figure of the man before him. 
 
 "I come, sir, to demand the immediate surrender of this for- 
 tress!" sternly said Allen, to the astonished commander. 
 
 "By what authority do you make this bold demand of His 
 Majesty's fort, sir?" said the other, almost distrusting his 
 senses. 
 
 "By what authority?" thundered Allen, "I demand it, sir. 
 
202 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Con- 
 gress !^^ 
 
 "The Continental Congress?'^ stammered the hesitating offi- 
 cer. "I know of no right — I don't acknowledge it, sir — '' 
 
 "But you soon will acknowledge it, sir!" fiercely inter- 
 rupted the impatient leader. "And hesitate to obey me one 
 instant longer, and by the eternal heavens! I will sacrifice 
 every man in your fort! — ^beginning the work, sir," he added, 
 Avhirling his sword furiously over the head of the other, and 
 bringing the murderous blade at every glittering circle it 
 made in the air, nearer and nearer the head of its threatened 
 victim, "beginning the work, sir, by sending your own head 
 dancing across this floor!" 
 
 "I yield, I yield!" cried the shrinking commandant. 
 
 "Down! down, then, instantly!" exclaimed Allen, "and 
 communicate the surrender to your men while any of them 
 are left alive to liear it." 
 
 Scarcely allowing the crest-fallen officer time to encase his 
 legs in his breeches, Allen hurried him down to the scene of 
 action, in the open parade below. Here they found the Green 
 Mountain Boys eagerly engaged in the work of capturing the 
 garrison, who were making considerable show of resistance. 
 Two of the barrack doors had been beaten down, and about 
 a third of the enemy already made prisoners. And the fiery 
 Arnold was on the point of blowing a third door from its 
 hinges with a swivel, which he had caused to be drawn up for 
 the purpose; while a fourth was shaking and tottering under 
 the tremendous blows of an ax, wielded by the long and 
 powerful arms of Pete Jones, who was found among the fore- 
 most in the contest. 
 
 "Cease, cease ye all!" cried Allen, in a loud voice of com- 
 mand, as he appeared among them with La Place by his 
 side. 
 
 "Now, raaly, Colonel," said Jones, suspending his elevated 
 implement, and holding it back over his head in readiness for 
 another blow, "I wish you would let me settle with this devel- 
 ish old oak door before I stop. Why, I never was so bothered 
 with such a small potato in my life!" 
 
 "No, no!" answered the other, smiling, "let us have silence 
 a moment, and we will save you all troubles of that kind." 
 
 "Well, then, here goes for a parting blessing!" exclaimed 
 the woodsman, bringing down his ax with a tremendous 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 203 
 
 blow, which brought the shattered door tumbling to the 
 ground. 
 
 The British commandant then calling his officers around 
 him, informed them that he had surrendered the fortress, and 
 ordered them to parade the men without arms. While this 
 was in performance, a second detachment of Green Mountain 
 Boys reached the shore, and, having eagerly hastened on to 
 the fort to join their companions, now with Warrington at 
 their head, came pouring into the arena. A single glance 
 sufficed to tell the latter, that he was too late to participate 
 in aught but the fruits of the victory. With a disappointed 
 and mortified air he halted his men, and aj)proached to the 
 side of his leader. 
 
 "Ah! Colonel," said he, "is this the way you appropriate all 
 the laurels to yourself, entirely forgetful of your friends?" 
 
 "Pooh! pooh! Charles," replied Allen, turning to the other 
 with a soothing, yet self-complaisant smile, at the half-re- 
 proachful compliment thus conveyed, "you need not mourn 
 much lost glory in this affair. Why, the stupid devils did not 
 give us fight enough to whet our appetites for breakfast! But 
 never mind, Charles, there is more business yet to be done; 
 Crown Point and Major Skene's stone castle must both be ours 
 to-night. The taking of the first shall be yours to perform. 
 And after breakfast and a few bumpers in honor of our vic- 
 tory, we will dispatch you for that purpose, with a corps of 
 your own selection.'- 
 
 "Thank you, thank you. Colonel," replied the other with a 
 grateful smile. But the expedition to Skenesboro' — may I 
 not speak a word for our friend, Selden!" 
 
 "Aha!" replied Allen, laughing, "then this offer to take 
 charge of the negro's letter had its meaning, eh? I don't 
 know exactly about that chip of a British Colonel for a 
 Yankee patriot. Now, yours, Major, I acknowledge to be a 
 true Cynosure. But his, I fear, will prove a Dog-star. How- 
 ever, this is his own hunt; and as he is a finished fellow, and, 
 doubtless, brave and true, I think I will give him the com- 
 mand of the" expedition unless claimed by Easton. But hush! 
 the commandant is about to go through the forms of the sur- 
 render. I must away, but will see you again." 
 
 The brief ceremonies of the surrender were soon over; 
 when, as the fortress was pronounced to be in full possession 
 pf the con(^iTerors^ the hea.Yen,s were ^gain rent by the yeiter" 
 
204 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ated huzzas of the Green Mountain Boys, while British cannon 
 were made to peal forth with their deep-mouthed thunders to 
 the tremhling hills and reverberating mountains of the coun- 
 try around, the proclamation of victory! — the first triumph 
 of Young Freedom over the arms of her haughty oppressor. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 "A thousand evil things there are that hate 
 To look on happiness; these hurt impede, 
 And leagued with time, circumstance and fate. 
 Keep kindred heart from heart, to pine and pant and bleed." 
 
 — Mrs. Brooks. 
 
 It is time, perhaps, that we should recur a little, to trace the 
 operations of some personages of our story, whose agency, 
 though unnoted by us through several of the last chapters, had 
 yet, in the meanwhile, been actively exercised in bringing 
 about the events that were destined to follow. And it is with 
 a sort of reluctance of feeling that we turn from the soul- 
 kindhng task of describing the noble exploits of Allen and 
 his patriot companions, to the low and despicable plottings of 
 the base Shervfood, and his still more execrable associate in 
 crime. Though twice foiled in his attempts to procure the 
 destruction of Warrington, under the sanction of a despotic 
 law, of which advantage was taken mainly to cloak the true 
 motives of the act, — though signally defeated in this, and 
 the bolder attempt at assassination, which was subsequently 
 made at his instigation, yet still restless as the dark spirit of 
 evil, this plotter of mischief, instead of relinquishing his ob- 
 ject, was now only the more intently engaged in devising and 
 putting in practice, new ways of accomplishing his nefarious 
 designs. 
 
 On the evening that Darrow had attempted the life of War- 
 rington in the woods, Sherwood was sitting in his house, 
 which was kept by a simple couple, wholly in the interests of 
 their employer. He had just arrived from a visit to the house 
 of Captain Hendee, where, as the reader has been apprised, he: 
 had been sowing the seeds of discord in that hapless family. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 205 
 
 And the chilly reception with which his parting advances had 
 been met by the indignant girl, whom they were intended to 
 soften and deceive, more than ever confirming him in what 
 his jealonsv had long since suggested, that her inclinations 
 were setting strongly towards his hated rival, and foreseeing 
 that something mnst speedily be done to counteract the cur- 
 rent, he was now revolving over the different schemes that 
 rose in his teeming brain for effecting his purpose, in case of 
 the failure of his minion to remove the object alike of his 
 hatred and his fears. While thus occupied in mind, DarroAv, 
 whose coming was not wholly unlooked for, arrived, and 
 sulkily entered the apartment. 
 
 "Ah, Darrow!" exclaimed Sherwood, with his usual hypo- 
 critical smile, "very glad to see you. I knew not whether you 
 would come to-night, or return to the fort.^^ 
 
 "Why,'^ replied the other, "when I concluded to give it up 
 
 for a cl n bad day's work, I found myself nearer your 
 
 house than the fort; so I came, that's all." 
 
 "Glad you did. So come, unrig, and sit down. The old 
 woman, in the other room, will have us some supper ready 
 soon. But no luck with your rifle to-day?" said Sherwood, 
 with a significant smile. 
 
 "None — except getting half tired to death, in this cursed 
 wild goose chase of yours," petulantly replied the surly 
 minion. 
 
 "What! not even get a sight of the game, after so much 
 beating about the blish?" 
 
 "Yes, twice; and failed both times, as the devil, who sent 
 me on the errand, would have it," answered Darrow, with an 
 equivocal glance at the other. 
 
 "Failed! how?" said Sherwood, without appearing to notice 
 the half -intentional sarcasm of Darrow. 
 
 "Why, the first time, the devilish rifle missed fire, for a 
 rarity — ^the second, its owner missed his aim, and had to take 
 to his legs to save his bacon." 
 
 "All this is very singular, Mr. Darrow," observed Sher- 
 wood, with a disappointed, and somewhat incredulous look. 
 
 "Yes, but true for all that. Believe it or not^ just as you 
 please, I care not a groat." 
 
 "What mean you now, Darrow?" 
 
 "Exactly what I say; and I am beginning to mean some- 
 thing more too.'^ 
 
206 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "You are a strange fellow, Darrow. But let us have all 
 your meanings, wants, and wishes, in a lump. I am in no 
 humor for riddles." 
 
 "Nor I neither. Well, then, though the fellow escaped my 
 bullet by no intended fault of mine, yet I am not sorry I 
 missed him. I have been thinking of the business coming 
 along, and for all your talk about his life being forfeited^ I 
 can't make it out much better than killing — not to use a 
 worse word, — which they say gives a fellow ugly dreams. So 
 I have made up my mind to let you do your own jobs of this 
 sort, in future. And if you persist in urging me further — " 
 
 "Killing! who asked you to kill him?" interrupted Sher- 
 wood in feigned surprise. 
 
 "Curse you, Jake, you know well enough you meant that. 
 But I am still willing to help take the fellow, and hand him 
 over to the Yorkers to punish, or lend 3^ou a hand to carry any 
 other point, if you will do the clean thing by me. But in the 
 first place you must tell me what you fear from this fellow, 
 and why you are so specially set on having him taken, more 
 than Allen, or any other outlaw?" 
 
 "That is more than I intended to tell any one: but as I 
 suppose you will better serve my interests by understanding 
 this, you shall know the whole business: well, after I had 
 been here awhile, I noticed that the girl, when the Captain 
 said anything in praise of this Howard, as he supposed his 
 name was, never joined her father in praises of the fellow, 
 though she never had any ears for anything else while the 
 slightest mention was made of him. And if I so much as 
 asked a question impljdng a doubt about the fellow's per- 
 fection, she would show resentment as plain as looks could 
 do it. JN'ow, Darrow, if you would discover whether a girl 
 entertains any secret liking for a man, just introduce his 
 name in her presence, contriving both to praise and censure 
 him, and if she refuse to join you in either, but is all attention 
 when you praise, and grows restless when you censure him, 
 you may safely set it down that love is secretly lurking about 
 her heart. It was something like this that led me to think 
 that this Howard had made an impression, which I little 
 rehshed. This suspicion caused me to obtain from the old 
 Captain a minute description of the fellow, and having before 
 had one of Warrington, it occurred to me that this favorite 
 might be no other than the outlaw, himself. And being de- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 207 
 
 termined to ascertain whether my conjectures were correct, 
 I made a secret journey to Bennington, where I got a sight at 
 Warrington, and where, by professing great wrath against the 
 Yorkers, I was let into secrets which confirmed me in my 
 suspicions. There, also, I made arrangements for being ap- 
 prised of Warrington's future movements with one Willough- 
 by, who sent the word which enabled me to ferret out him and 
 his band at Lake Dunmore. All this, however, I kept secret 
 from the Hendees, but took especial pains to inspire the old 
 man, and more particularly his daughter, with a horror of 
 the character of Warrington. And now, Darrow, after the in- 
 sufferable scoundrel has caused me to be tied up and whipped 
 like a dog, and, to cap the climax, has found his way into 
 this family, and attempted to beguile from me my bethrothed, 
 can you ask why I wish to see him brought to justice?" 
 
 "Why, you seem to make out considerable of a case of it, 
 to be sure," replied the other carelessly, as he rolled his 
 tobacco quid in his lips. "But, ^betrothed,' do you call her? 
 Why, I thought you cared so little about the girl, that you 
 was quite undetermined whether you would have her or not?" 
 
 "Well, whatever I may have said before, I am not unde- 
 termined now — for the girl, in spite of men, or devils, I swear 
 I will have!" 
 
 "What mighty object is there, Jake, in breaking your neck 
 for her? Be sure, she is a snug piece enough^ but you can 
 catch other fish as fair, and those, too, who will bring you 
 hundreds to her none." 
 
 "I have plenty of objects to answer: one is to defeat this 
 hated scoundrel, — another, to punish her for presuming to 
 like him. I don't say now I will marry her. But she shall be 
 mine, to do with as I choose. I will have her, and keep her in 
 a spot where it shall be mine, not hers, to decide whose wife 
 she shall become. That, indeed, was mainly my motive in 
 drawing her into an engagement in the first place: for you 
 know, Darrow, that in case the old concerns should happen to 
 be ripped up, a matrimonial plaster would cure all. And so 
 long as I kept things in this posture, I should have the remedy 
 at hand." 
 
 "Yes, but what chance do you consider there is of ripping 
 up old matters?" asked the sergeant, throwing a keen in- 
 quiring glance at the other. 
 
 "Why, such a thing is possible, you know. The old man, 
 
 14 
 
208 ' THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 my father, I mean, as lie grows weak and cliildisli-, may re- 
 pent, and kick over his own kettle, and, of course, mine. 
 Indeed, I have great fears of this: for, though he never said 
 anything to me of the kind, not dreaming that I ever met 
 with yon here, or discovered by any other means the secrets 
 of his former management, yet I have lately observed in him 
 a sort of growing uneasiness, a whining melancholy way, 
 which, with his great anxiety that I should marry this girl, 
 has made me rather Jealous, that his firmness is giving way in 
 this quarter. Besides this, there are other dangers: that boy, 
 who, you say the old man still thinks, was done for, may yet 
 be alive, and return to make me trouble." 
 
 "Well, if he should, he would be a no very lousy foe for you 
 to contend with, Jake, — ^that is, if he is as smart for a man as 
 he was for a boy — I tell you, he was a bright one for a four- 
 year-old. I liked him, and never had the least notion of 
 harming a hair of his head." 
 
 "What object had you, then, in making the old man be- 
 lieve as you did?" 
 
 "Why, I mistrusted that wou.ld please the old man best, 
 and FU be hanged if I don't believe it did, Jake, if he is your 
 father." 
 
 "Well, there are these chances against me, and then — " 
 
 "And then Bill Darrow may leak, you was going to say, 
 was you, Jake?" sneeringly asked the minion. 
 
 "0, no!" quickly responded the consummate dissembler 
 with a gracious smile, and a surprised air, as if such a thought 
 never entered his head. "No, indeed. I should as soon fear 
 myself. But I was thinking, and about to say, that besides 
 these chances, Warrington's communication with the girl will 
 13rove dangerous to my plans, and that they must be stopped." 
 
 "Well, how are you going to do it, short of following up the 
 plan we have been already acting on to so little purpose?" 
 
 "Why, I have already taken one step to-da}^, by informing 
 Eendee, that his friend Howard was no less than the outlaw 
 AVarrington in disguise. This was touching the fire to his 
 gunpowder temper; and has pretty effectually blown the 
 fellow up as regards any open communication with the girl." 
 
 "That may be, but it has also blown up your best trap for 
 taking him, you see, don't you?" 
 
 "Perhaps so, but I dare not risk his visits with the standing 
 he evidently held in their minds. And now, having broken 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 209 
 
 off all open intercourse between the girl and the andacious 
 rascal^ we must go to work to sunder those ties^ which may 
 yet secretly remain." 
 
 "Hum! That, I should think, would he like trying to cut 
 off sun-heams with a jack-knife. I should like to know how 
 the old boy you calculate to do that?" 
 
 "0, easy enough^ though my plan is not quite made up. I 
 will tell you in the morning. But will you assist me in carry- 
 ing it out ?" 
 
 "Don^t know but I will. But supposing I do, and see you 
 fairly through the whole scrape, what do you finally intend to 
 do for me?" 
 
 "Anything almost that you may ask, Darrow. You will 
 own that the earnest money I gave you the other day was a 
 handsome affair?" 
 
 "Hum! — Yes, decent." 
 
 "Well, from the late news, I suppose we shall have war. 
 Warrington and most of these rascally settlers will be wdth the 
 rebels. I, from several motives, shall go for the king. And 
 I have made up my mind to get a Captain^s commission, and 
 raise a company to act in this quarter. You shall be my 
 Lieutenant. And then we will use up these refractory settlers 
 in a way they little dream of. But hark! The old woman is 
 rapping for us to come to supper. I will mature my plans, 
 and open them to you, as I said, in the morning." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 'I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing 
 (Always reserv'd my holy duty), what 
 His rage can do on me. You must begone: 
 And I shall here abide the hourly shot 
 Of angry eyes; not comforted to live, 
 But that there is this jewel in the world, 
 That I may see again." 
 
 The development made by Sherwood, at his late visit, 
 seemed to produce on Captain Hendee, whose mind had been 
 previously prejudiced and poisoned for the purpose, all the 
 u 
 
210 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 effect which the former could have desired. The Captain's 
 feelings of pride were deeply touched at the thought of hav- 
 ing entertained^ and v/elcomed in his family, a man acting 
 under the disguise of an assumed name, and consequently 
 harhoring, as he reasoned, no honorable purposes. And 
 these views going to confirm all the falsehoods and dark in- 
 sinuations, by which that lago in malice and subtlety had 
 accompanied his disclosures concerning Warrington, the 
 mind of the irritable old gentleman had been wrought up to 
 a pitch of exasperation and bitterness, which he pretended 
 neither to disguise nor control, and which he failed not to 
 vent on all around him, but more particularly upon his un- 
 happy daughter. To her, indeed, his whole demeanor became 
 changed; and his treatment was marked by a distrustful cold- 
 ness, and continued austerity of manner, which she had never 
 before, for so long a time, experienced from her passionate, 
 but hitherto quic-kly relenting, parent. And yet she, who was 
 happily the very reverse of her father in temper, had neither 
 manifested, nor felt the least wish to resent the unkindness; 
 but calm and amiable in disposition, as she was fearless and 
 spirited in action, she had. borne all with the most forgiving 
 patience, prudently awaiting the subsiding of the tempest of 
 his passion, before she should attempt, as she was resolved to 
 do, to exculpate Warrington, and gradually bring about a 
 change in his views and feelings, in regard to the connection 
 with Sherwood. She well knew that he was now laboring 
 under many false impressions, which she felt conscious of 
 her ability to remove, as soon as he should become sufficiently 
 calm to listen to the voice of reason. Da}^ after day, there- 
 fore, she had anxiously watched for some appearance of re- 
 lenting, some more softened mood, which should afford her an 
 opportunity of making this attempt v\^ith a reasonable hope of 
 success. But till the evening on which Jones called at the 
 house, she had observed nothing that indicated the least re- 
 laxation in her father's feelings. And being then interrupted 
 by the woodsman's call, at an hour which usually afforded her 
 the only opportunity she had through the day of conversing 
 with her parent alone, she deferred her purpose to another 
 day. But the next day brought along with it events, which 
 so engrossed her time and attention, that this desired object 
 was not again sought to be obtained till circumstances inter^ 
 
THB GREEN- MOUNTAIN BOYS. 211 
 
 vened which destro3^ed every motive and wish she could en- 
 tertain for accomplishing it. 
 
 Snch was the state of feelings, and such the relative posi- 
 tion in which the father and daughter stood towards each 
 other on the day which proved so triumphant to the American 
 arms on Lake Champlain. In the early part of that day the 
 attention of this family, as well as that of all the inhabitants 
 of the vicinity of the lake, was aroused by heavy and repeated 
 discharges of cannon, in the direction of Ticonderoga. Little 
 dreaming of the fact that the cannonading, which was filling 
 the whole valley of the lake with its echoing thunders, v/as 
 the harbinger of a victory already won, the whole neighbor- 
 hood was instantly in commotion — some riding post haste into 
 the interior to carry the news, or rally volunteers, some flpng 
 from house to house to interchange the expressions of their 
 fears and sympathies, and the greater number, rushing down 
 to the nearest landing on the lake shore, to gain the first tid- 
 ings of their friends engaged in the deadly conflict, vfhicli 
 they supposed was at that moment raging round the walls 
 of the hostile fortress. In a short time the dooryard of Cap- 
 tain Hendee^s cottage vv^as filled with a group of excited boys 
 and anxious females. And agonizing were the sensations of 
 many an affectionate wife and sister, and oft and fervent their 
 trembling ejaculations to Heaven for the preservation of hus- 
 bands, brothers, and lovers,, in this hour of danger. And not 
 the most indifferent among those thus oppressed with painful 
 solicitude, for the event, which they believed involved the fate 
 of all they held dear on earth, was Alma Ilendee. To her, 
 w^hose lover might be expected to be among the foremost of 
 those engaged in the perilious assault, every gun that came 
 booming over the waters brought w^ith it a pang for her 
 agitated bos.om. I^or was her anxiety the less painfully felt, 
 because circumstances compelled her to endure it in silence. 
 The firing at length ceased, and all awaited in trembling soli- 
 citude some arrival, which should bring them information 
 of the result. This, however, continued for several, and to 
 most of them long and tedious hours, to. rest in uncertainty. 
 But at length a horseman, covered v»dth dust, and lashing 
 his foaming horse to speed, came furiously galloping down the 
 road to the south. All, v/ith beating hearts and breathless 
 expectation, awaited the announcement of the rapidly ap- 
 proaching messenger. The necit moment, as he neared them^, 
 
212 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 lie swung his hat round his head exclaiming, ^^Victory! vic- 
 tory! hurra for the Green Mountain Boys! Ticonderoga is 
 taken, and not a man killed! hurra! hurra !^^ and, without 
 scarcely checking the speed of his horse, on he dashed, to 
 carry to others the joyful tidings. The cracked Yoice of the 
 war-worn and veteran Hendee was the next instant mingling 
 with the shrill and high-keyed cry of the hoys around him in 
 the responsive hurra that now involuntarily hurst from their 
 lips. "With tears of joy and thankfulness gushing over many 
 a fair cheek, the females hurried on such hahiliments as they 
 had laid aside, and the compan}', immediately dispersing, 
 hastened to their respective homes with the gladdening news, 
 leaving Captain Hendee and his daughter again by themselves_j 
 and their cottage to relapse into its usual quietness. The day, 
 however, was not destined to close upon them without the 
 occurrence of other events of stirring interest. Towards sun- 
 set, several batteaux filled with armed men, made their ap- 
 pearance on the lake, approaching from the south, and as they 
 neared, were soon discovered to he hearing down upon the 
 fortress of Crown Point. 
 
 "Bring me out my old spy glass, Alma!^' cried Captain 
 Hendee, hobbling from the garden where he had been to work, 
 towards the house, and turning round every few steps to 
 look at the little armament, which he had discovered ap- 
 proaching. ^'Here comes more trouble for the British — or 
 else that fellow fooled us with his news, and these are a re- 
 inforcement for the garrison. Come, step quick, girl, I can't 
 make them out with certainty.^^ 
 
 "Would British troops be likely to come in that direction, 
 father?" said Alma, in accents tremulous with emotion, as 
 she approached, and handed the required instrument to the 
 other. 
 
 "Why, no, I should hardly have expected it; but let us 
 see," replied the Captain, adjusting his glass and placing it to 
 his eye. "By heavens, the girl is right! Those boats contain 
 anything but British regulars. No, they must be Green 
 Mountain Boys, about to make an onset on the fort. See! 
 how stiffly they bear down towards the old v»^alls!" he con- 
 tinued with animation. "Gad! they are bold fellows, to say 
 the least, to be sailing directly in the teeth of yonder war- 
 dogs! But here, child, your eye is keener than mine; — take 
 the glass and watch ttieir movements." 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 213 
 
 The girl took the glass, and bringing the boats within its 
 field of vision, looked long and intently without speaking. 
 
 "They are coming to a halt now, are they not?'' asked the 
 Captain. 
 
 ^TTes, they have nearly ceased rowing now," replied the 
 maiden. "Why, how plainly I can see even their features! 
 K'ow there is one, who has mounted a bench, and appears to 
 be giving commands to the rest, l^ow he has turned his face 
 
 this way, as if — as if " 
 
 "Why! how unsteady the girl's hand is! nonsense! child, 
 you need not be frightened, — they are not coming near us," 
 half pettishly, half encouragingly, exclaimed the Captain, 
 supposing his daughter's very visible agitation proceeded froni 
 an apprehension that the commander was about to order the 
 boats to cross over the lake towards the house. 
 
 "I am not afraid, father, only — but see! their boats are 
 turning to the shore. They appear now to be putting into a 
 small cove." 
 
 "There is where they are cunning," observed the other. 
 "They don't think it altogether safe to approach much nearer 
 in the range of those murderous long guns. If I had been 
 there in command of the fort, I think they would have seen 
 trouble some time ago. Thank God, however, the stupid 
 fools within there have lost their best chance! But what are 
 they doing now?" 
 
 "They have landed, nearly all landed now, and seem to 
 be forming on th& bank." 
 
 "Good! now. Alma, you will have a chance to see a little 
 of your father's old trade — that is, if the garrison have sense 
 and courage enough to make use of the advantages they 
 possess for repelling their assailants. Are they moving for- 
 ward yet for the fort?" 
 
 "No, the -commander appears to be addressing two men 
 apart from the rest, one of whom seems to be unrolling some- 
 thing white. Ah! I see, now; it is a white flag. The two 
 now advance along the path leading to the fort, while the rest 
 appear to stand in a waiting attitude, anxiously watching 
 the motions of their two companions as they approach the 
 gate." 
 
 "It is a summons from the commander, girl — a summons 
 for the surrender of the fort. Now you will see whether 
 they will obey it, and yield without a blow the prize that cost 
 
214 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 the king so mueh toil and blood in the winning, as my sad ex- 
 l^erience can well attest. Many a dark and fearful night, 
 Alma, have I ranged these woods, while the savage foe were 
 lurking around us in every direction. Old Major Put, as we 
 used to call that dare-devil, and myself once '^ 
 
 "There! there! father,^^ interrupted the other, "the mes- 
 sengers have now approached near to the walls. A man ap- 
 pears on the top. They are conferring together. The mes- 
 sengers point to their companions. The man on the walls 
 seems to hesitate. They now seem to direct his attention 
 to som-ething down the lake. Look, father, and see if any- 
 thing is to be seen coming in that direction.^' 
 
 "Now the Lord be with the assailants for a sudden rush, 
 or their game is up V^ exclaimed the Captain, as, in compliance 
 with his daughter's request, he turned and threw an inquir- 
 ing look along the lake towards the north. "Two boats filled 
 with armed men are coming uj) the lake rowing for life — 
 British, no doubtj hastening to succor the garrison." 
 
 "No, father, no!'' joyfully exclaimed the girl as with trem- 
 bling haste she turned the glass to the armament in ques- 
 tion. "You are again mistaken. These, too, are Green Moun- 
 tain Boys, coming on to join their companions." 
 
 "Green Mountain Boys! from that quarter? where should 
 they come from?" 
 
 "From the Winooski river, father. Captain Baker has been 
 on there, and" — eagerly replied the other, but stopping short 
 and blushing, as it occurred to her that the remark would lead 
 to the discovery of the source of her information. 
 
 "Eeally, girl! one would suppose you had been to the coun- 
 cil of war, where this campaign was planned/' said the Cap- 
 tain, with an air of surprise; but being, too much occupied 
 with present objects to trace the association, he, to the great 
 relief of his confused daughter, reverted to the scene before 
 him, and said, "You may be right after all, — if so, victory 
 is certain. But turn now to the fort and see what is going 
 on there." 
 
 "I will — I am, father," replied the flustered girl. "Ah! I 
 have a view again: now the conference between the command- 
 er, or man on the walls, and the two messengers, seems to be 
 broken off. The latter are departing. But now the man 
 seems to be calling them back. They turn to him again and 
 hold parley. Now the messengers turn quickly round, and 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 215 
 
 wave tlieir flag to their companions, who seem suddenly to be 
 put in motion. And, see! see! their whole body is rushing 
 towards the fort. How their guns glimmer through the trees 
 as they pour along the path! How their commander's sword 
 flashes in the sun, as half turning he whirls it about his head 
 to motion them on! There! there! father, they mount the 
 swell! — they approach the walls — the gate is thrown open; 
 and now they disappear within the works, and all is still." 
 
 "And all without a single gun being fired in defense of Old 
 Frederick! impossible !'' exclaimed the Captain, with mingled 
 feelings of joy for the success of his countrymen, and shame 
 for the garrison, who would surrender, without resistance, 
 a fortress which years of his life had been spent in helping to 
 wrest from the Frenchmen. 
 
 "Here! look, look, father!'^ again exclaimed the excited 
 girl. "The lion flag goes down! another of a lighter color goes 
 up! Have they not conquered, father? — They have! They 
 have! and oh! how thankful!'^ 
 
 "Yes! 'tis all over!" responded the Captain, rubbing his 
 hands in ecstasy. "Quick work, by heavens! Not a gun 
 fired! — not a man killed, and the old Lion is flat on his back! 
 The command of the whole of Lake Champlain is ours! 
 Huzza for liberty!" he shouted, leaping from the ground, for- 
 getful of his lameness in the excitement of the moment, and 
 throwing his hat into the air. "Huzza for the Green Moun- 
 tain Boys! They deserve a hecatomb for their victories!" 
 
 At this instant a^ dozen columns of smoke shot out fiercely 
 from the walls of the fortress, and the deafening peal of can- 
 non, which followed, announced to the shuddering hills 
 around the surrender of the last controlling foot-hold of 
 British power on the waters of Lake Champlain, to the 
 prowess and patriotism of the G-reen Mountain Boys, 
 
 Alma now- delivering up the spy-glass to her father, has- 
 tened into the house, and took a seat in her window, where, 
 unobserved by any, she could observe what further move- 
 ments might transpire at the scene of action, and at the same 
 time freely indulge in her emotions of joy and gratitude for 
 the preservation of her lover, whom she had distinctly made 
 out to be the leader of the victorious party. 
 
 An hour or two after the surrender, a skiff, containing a 
 single individual, put off from the shore under the fort, and di- 
 rected its course to the landing below the cottage. The in- 
 
216 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 dividual, on reacliing the shore, came directly towards the 
 house, and was soon ascertained to be Neshobee by the Ca^o- 
 tain, who, still remaining in his garden, had been watching 
 the coming boat. The Indian rather sheepishly approached 
 his master, conscious, perhaps, that as far as regarded the 
 Captain, he had played the truant in joining the expedition. 
 
 ^^Well, Neshobee,^' said the Captain, as the other, with 
 averted face, came carelessly along, "where have you been all 
 this time?" 
 
 "Umph! me been go learn fight um." 
 
 "I thought it likely enough they had got you away for that, 
 as I suspected from several things I noticed yesterday, that 
 this business was afoot. But how did you know I should be 
 willing 3^ou should join in these doings?" 
 
 "What you tell big Cappen — Colonel, who make believe 
 drunk todder night?" 
 
 "Well, well, m}^ lad, I don't mean to scold you much for 
 joining in so good a work, though you might have talked 
 with me a little before -you went. ■ But have you been with 
 the big Captain, who is no other than Ethan Allen, Mr. Sher- 
 wood informed me?" 
 
 "Me have." 
 
 "Well, he was commander of the expedition, I suppose — 
 what did he and his men do there at Ticonderoga?" 
 
 "They take um red-coats, — pile up their guns for no let 
 um have um more, — fire big guns, more fift}^ — hoo! bang!" 
 replied the Indian with significant gestures. 
 
 "'And was it the big Captain who came on with the men to 
 take this fort?" 
 
 "Xo, young Cappen, Major, what you call Misser Howard." 
 
 "Well, you may go, now," said Hendee, impatiently, motion- 
 ing the other to go on to the house. 
 
 "How proud I should now be of that same Warrington, 
 outlaw though he be, but for this accursed business!" muttered 
 the Caj^tain to himself, after the Indian had departed, with 
 a tone and manner in v/hich admiration and dislike, kindness 
 and resentment, regret and bitterness, were strangely blended. 
 Hang me, if I don't almost think tlie better of the girl for 
 liking him. Though if Jake's stories be true! — I wonder now 
 if the fellow did not lie to me? — would to God things had 
 been different! But they are not different, and won't be; and 
 hell town! what am I talking about? It shan't go 
 
^rME GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 217 
 
 — no, no! and "by the powers of eurtli! it shan't go, an inch 
 further, or I will make the house too hot for her!" 
 
 While the passionate and unhappy father was thus giving 
 vent to his conflicting feelings, the Indian entered the house, 
 and proceeded to the apartment of the daughter, who had also 
 noted his approach, and beckoned him from the window to 
 come to her room. 
 
 "IsTow tell me, in the first place, ISTeshohee," said she eagerly, 
 ^'whether Mr. Sherwood was over there to be taken prisoner 
 with the rest?" 
 
 "Me no see him." 
 
 ^^ou said yesterday, he was then there." 
 
 "Me see him, as me say, then, — no there to-day when we 
 come — guess him run." 
 
 "Very likely, but Darrow was there, of course, was he not?" 
 
 "Him no there, too." 
 
 "How unfortunate!" exclaimed the maiden with an air of 
 disappointment and regret. "Not even one of them, then, is 
 secured! Well, well. Heaven knows best; and in that I will 
 still put my trust. But what have you there?" she added, as 
 her quick eye caught the hand of the other fumbling for 
 something in his pocket. 
 
 "Cappen send um," quietly answered Neshobee, pulling out 
 a billet, which was instantly snatched from his hands by the 
 eager girl. 
 
 "0, why not have told me before! But you may go now, 
 ISTeshobee;" and with a quick, impatient waving of her hand, 
 she motioned him away. 
 
 With a beating heart and glowing cheek, the happy girl 
 read and re-read, many times, the precious note; when, after 
 pondering anxiously and deeply, awhile, she took her sheet 
 and wrote, — 
 
 "Your few lines, my dear sir, have been received, and read, 
 I know not how many times over, and with an interest which 
 T dare not acknowledge. Your propositions, too, have been 
 all candidly, and even anxiously weighed. And it is with 
 many, very many regrets, my more than friend, that I am 
 forced to the conclusion that, at present, it were better, that 
 they be not comxplied with. You first propose to come here 
 openly, explain to my father the reasons which compelled 
 you to that course, which he pretends so much to censure, 
 
218 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 and claim the privilege of addressing me — all tlie explanations, 
 wliicli it may be needful to make, would, I am satislied, witli 
 my father's present feelings and impressions, be better lis- 
 tened to from me than yourself. And most assuredly they 
 shall be made to him as soon as his mood shall be such as 
 shall warrant the belief that they will be received without 
 passion or prejudice. And before you take the step you pro- 
 pose, I could wish also to see some change in his views rel- 
 ative to the match he has marked out for me. And changed, 
 believe me, they sooner or later will be. Eeason will at 
 length resume her sway; and, to say nothing of your char- 
 acter, the character of one of whom I would not willingly 
 speak my opinion, must soon be better known to him. And 
 he will see, and feel, for himself, that his present requirements 
 are neither wise nor generous. But do not, for my sake, for 
 your own sake, beloved friend, attempt to accomplish all this 
 now, under circumstances so inauspicious: for I feel it would 
 be useless; and not only so, but lead, j)robably, to the defeat 
 of the objects, and consequently the happiness of us both. 
 JSTo, Warrington, be patient, trust in Heaven to expose guilt, 
 and reward innocence, and rely on the constancy of her, who 
 is resolved to bring about a state of things when her lover can 
 be received in her father's house with the kindness and re- 
 spect to which he is entitled. 
 
 "As an alternative, in case I disapprove your first proposal, 
 you request to be favored with secret, or stolen interviews, — 
 Warrington, Charles Warrington! would you recommend 
 such a course to a beloved sister? With your delicacy of senti- 
 ment, with your admiration of exalted virtue, I know 3^ou 
 would not. Why, then, ask it of one whom you propose to 
 make more than a sister? Again, dearest friend, I must say 
 to you, no! I have ever disapproved of clandestine meetings: 
 — there is an air of guilt about them — a something that seems 
 to imply a consciousness of wrong, which innocence and 
 rectitude of purpose should never stoop thus tacitly to ac- 
 knowledge. And the same views, which have led to the dis- 
 approbation of these, have, in most respects, an equal applica- 
 tion to the measure that you hint it may be expedient for us, 
 as a final resort, to adopt, — a private elopement. In some 
 countries, and in some states of society, such a measure may, 
 perhaps, be sometimes justifiable; but is it so in a land like 
 ours, where force is rarely, if ever, used to defeat the engage- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 219 
 
 ments of lovers ? While armed with the panoply of virtue and 
 reason, and possessed of the moral courage which these should 
 ever impart, few females, I apprehend, need here resort to 
 this questionable practice. Ancl were I to he wed to you to- 
 day, Mr. "Warrington, it should be done openly, and, if per- 
 mitted, in the presence of my natural protector. But if the 
 ceremony were forbidden, I would then, after frankly appris- 
 ing Mm of my intentions, as openly depart with j^ou to a 
 place where it would be allowed. And if force were employed 
 to restrain me, I would then throw myself on the protection 
 of him who would defend, or deserve to lose me. 
 
 "You know not how rejoiced is my heart to hear of your 
 personal safety, — how proud to learn your brilHant successes, 
 and how gratified at the promotion you have received. You 
 say you are about to proceed south, to make enlistments for 
 an expedition into Canada. Go! — deserve well of your coun- 
 try, be true and constant, and, wliile you remain what I now 
 believe you, count me so, and be assured, that all the reward 
 that this poor heart and hand can confer, shall be eventually 
 yours. My prayers will attend you amidst the perils of war. 
 Apprise me often — as often as possible, of your situation. 
 And, notwithstanding I have declined your present proposals, 
 0, do not believe me now, do not hereafter think of me, less 
 devotedly yours. Alma." 
 
 When Alma had finished her letter, she sought her trusty 
 messenger, and confided it to his charge, with instructions 
 to convey it to Warrington at the fort that night, or as soon 
 as he could absent himself without exciting the observation 
 of her father; after which she again returned to her solitary 
 apartment, and soon sought her pillow, to escape the perplexi- 
 ties of the present in the bright visions of the future. During 
 the next day, her time and attention were more than usually 
 occupied by calls at the house, from those passing to and from 
 the fort. And it was not till nearly night, that she found 
 an opportunity to escape from the company, with which, in 
 successive parties, the cottage had been thronged through 
 the day. But being relieved at length from these hospitable 
 duties, and wearied with bustle, in which she had been en- 
 gaged, she threw a light kerchief over her head, and wan- 
 dered into the fields to indulge in those solitary musings so 
 grateful to separated lovers. The golden sun was just sink- 
 
220 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ing beliind the western hills. The earth was a variegated car- 
 pet of flowers beneath her feet; and tempted by the beauty 
 of the evening, she continued her course almost unconsciously, 
 down the little vale towards the woods; and before she was 
 aware how far she had wandered, she had arrived at the bor- 
 der of the field, and was standing by the tree beneath which 
 Warrington had first breathed to her the word "love." After 
 indulging awhile in the associations which this sequestered 
 spot awakened in her mind, she turned, and was retracing her 
 steps homeward, when she was startled by the sharp rattling 
 voice of some one a few rods below her, and turning, she be- 
 held Pete Jones making his way up the slope towards her. 
 
 "Hold up a little bit there, lady, that is, if you^re a mind 
 to," he said, respectfully approaching and holding up a letter 
 between his thumb and finger. "There's a little concern of 
 a letter, which Captain Selden handed me to give you." 
 
 "Indeed! an answer from Skenesboro' so soon?" said Alma, 
 with a subsiding blush, which was -raised by the thought first 
 occurring to her mind that the message came from another 
 quarter. 
 
 "AnsYi'er to the letter the nigger had, — d'ye mean? — why, 
 yes, rather spose so. Any how, I believe it came from that 
 little hum-bird of a girl that we caught at that small scrape 
 we had with the old podunk of a Scotchman and his folks, 
 at the. lower Falls, a week or two ago." 
 
 "You mean Miss Eeed, probably — have you been up to 
 Skenesboro', since you were here ?" 
 
 "0, yes, a lot of us went up there yesterday, after things 
 had been pretty well fixed at Old Ti." 
 
 "For what purpose, if I may ask, sir?" 
 
 "Why only just to let the Major there know, that the Con- 
 tinental Congress had kinder taken a fancy to his stone 
 house. At all events. Captain Selden told them something 
 of that sort, as we made them all prisoners there." 
 
 "'What! the ladies and all? — I trust they will have no rea- 
 son to complain " 
 
 "Ah, you needn't borry no trouble there mum, I guess. 
 The ladies vron't be very likely to cry their eyes out, at falling 
 into the hands of such a chap as Captain Selden — now you 
 see if they do. For instance, mum, by way of a similar," con- 
 tinued Pete, beginning to look mischievous, being no longer 
 able to keep down his ruhng propensity for joking, "for in- 
 
l^HE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 221 
 
 stance^ suppose^ now^ that Major Warrington slioiild come 
 over here with men enough — and ^twonldn^t take over a thou- 
 sand neither, mayhap ^' 
 
 "You need not trouble yourself to explain, sir/' interrupted 
 Miss Sendee, rather flurriedly. "The letter will inform me 
 of all particulars, doubtless. You vrill now excuse me, as I 
 must return. But perhaps you will go to the house for some 
 refreshment, or to remain with us through the night?" 
 
 "Yfhy no, — thank'ee mum,'' replied the other, a little 
 abashed at the dignity which, the girl had assumed. "No, I 
 must be off to my traps: I am a sort of a water-mail to carry 
 orders to-day. Captain Selden sent me on this morning, with 
 dispatches to old thunder-bolt. Colonel Allen, you know. 
 Well, the Colonel, he sent me with my little bird of a canoe 
 agoing again, like a foot-ball, down here to Crown Point, to 
 notify the Major to come up to a council there, to-night, 
 or in the morning. So you see I must, put on with my errand, 
 as I haven't been to the fort yet. You may just tell the old 
 Captain at the house, if you're a mind to, that my ague, since 
 I was there hasn't been very desput, considering." 
 
 So saying, the jolly borderer turned, and bounded down the 
 
 slope like a young colt, giving vent to the exuberance of his 
 
 animal spirits, as soon as he was fairly out of the restraining 
 
 |- presence of the lady, in his favorite old chorus, "Trol, lol, lol 
 
 de larly!" 
 
 Hastening to the, house, and then to her room. Miss Hen- 
 dee eagerly tore open the letter just received, and read as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 Be astonished, 0, ye heavens! and Alma Hendee, be you 
 thunder-struck! as I know you will be, when you learn, that 
 we are — every -man of us, — the Major and all, prisoners of war! 
 Yes, I am a second, time prisoner to Mr. Selden! What means 
 it. Alma? There is some strange fatality about it, that passes 
 my poor comprehension. 0, for some one deeply skilled in 
 scanning the future — some one gifted with the second sight, 
 which is claimed by our Highland seers in Scotland, to divine 
 ' to me the potent of this singular happening! How very sur- 
 prised we all were when they landed — a body of armed men 
 — and marched up, taking possession of the yard, and dis- 
 arming our soldiers. 
 
 The Major was in the house, and never mistrusted, I really 
 
222 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 believe, what could be their object, till they had seized the 
 sloop and batteaux, and by their rapid movements in sur- 
 rounding the men, put it out of his power to make any re- 
 sistance. All this was, seemingly, the work of a moment. 
 And before we had recovered from the first shock of the sur- 
 prise, Mr. Selden, who appeared to be chief in command, had 
 entered the house, and with drawn sword, stood before us. 
 The Major then, indeed, began to show some symjotoms of un- 
 easiness—more, however, even then, I thought, at the pres- 
 ence of one, whom he evidently has both feared and hated, 
 since the former visit, than because he really supposed he was 
 in earnest about capturing the establishment. After Mr. Sel- 
 den had politely saluted us ladies, he bowed formally to the 
 Major, who returned the compliment only by a vain attempt 
 to get his organs of speech in motion. 
 
 *^'Who? — what?— Hem!" he stammered, stepping restlessly 
 about the room^ and looking daggers at the other. "Why, 
 sir — I should like to know, sir,— yes, sir — let me tell you, 
 sir, what I think of you, sir" 
 
 "0, never trouble yourself. Major," replied Mr. S. with a 
 satirical smile, "it might take you a longer time than I could 
 possibly spare to devote to so unimportant a purpose." 
 
 "Why, sir!" resumed my doughty warrior of a lady^s parlor, 
 
 — "d n you, sir! do you mean to insult, sir? — Fll just 
 
 let you know, sir — you'll just please to walk out of the house, 
 sir!" 
 
 "0, be patient. Major," rejoined Selden, with the most pro- 
 voking coolness. "Let me explain to these ladies the nature 
 of our call, lest they be unnecessarily alarmed." 
 
 He then informed us of the outbreaking of the war, the 
 capture of Ticonderoga — and the determination of the 
 Americans to possess themselves of this post also; and con- 
 sequently the necessity of our removal to some other place, 
 to which he assured us of a safe escort. 
 
 "Now, Major," said he, turning to the other, who had sev- 
 eral times broken in on Mr. S., "I have only to say to you, 
 that both you and all your men are prisoners of war." 
 
 Even then the Major could scarcely comprehend what had 
 befallen him; for he again began to bluster and threaten. 
 But Selden, at once cutting him short, ordered him away; 
 when they both left the house together. I never saw creatures 
 so puzzled and confounded as were Marge and Merry Skene. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 223 
 
 Tliey neither knew what to say or how to act. As for my- 
 self^ I could hardly hold in till the gentlemen had left the 
 loom, when I fairly shed tears with the laughter, which I 
 could not repress, at the ludicrous scene I had witnessed. 
 In regard to the valiant Major, he will not, probably, make 
 much more fuss about the aftair to-day. To-morrow he will 
 be considerably moved at the disaster; and by the next day, 
 he will have so collected his ideas and his wrath, that he will 
 be tremendously mad. 
 
 They took the place about noon; — since which we ladies 
 have held our council of war. And it has been decided that 
 we take our departure to-morrow morning for Albany, where 
 we shall at present remain, with a connection of the Skenes\ 
 I should have certainly preferred, for myself, to go and reside 
 with you. But I dare not name it to them; for the girls are 
 already as jealous of me as witches; and I well knew, that 
 should I make such a proposition, it would be attributed 
 to a secret wish to be where I could see more of Mr. S. And 
 further, I am not quite sure, but they might be so kind as to 
 communicate their suspicions to father; for I have a father, 
 who may claim a voice in some matters as well as you. ^ow 
 don't draw any inferences from that observation. Alma; be- 
 cause, positively, there are none to draw. 
 
 Mr. Selden handed me your letter, brought by black Jack, 
 till he fell into the hands of the powers that be. I read it 
 with much interest, — the more so, perhaps, as I thought of 
 the possibility that we may yet have cause to mingle our 
 sympathies. 
 
 I shall remain with the Skenes till father returns — if he 
 does return; for now we have war, I am rather uncertain 
 what course he will pursue. Should he receive a commission 
 that suits him, he may engage in the war. This, however, 
 is doubtful. And I think it very likely he will remain neutral, 
 as I suspect he thinks the government have not done him 
 justice. At all events, I don't believe he feels very bitter 
 tov/ards the Americans; but if he does, I know of one who 
 don't. 
 
 P. S. — Mr. Selden is to escort us in person to Albany; and 
 what is better, the Major is compelled to go with the other 
 prisoners to Ticonderoga. His face is most unreasonably long 
 at this arrangement — I think he vdll be crazy by to-morrow. 
 Marge is secretly rejoiced, and I know another who is less sad 
 
 15 
 
224 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 abuut it than she might be. I have had a conversation with 
 Mr. Selclen alone^ wliich has shown me that he can be serious 
 when he pleases. But I have no time left me to state partic- 
 ulars. In my next I will be more explicit. 
 
 Adieu, adieu. 
 
 Jessy. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 "Y/ith pleasures, hopes, affection gone. 
 The wretch may bear, and yet live on. 
 Like things within the cold rock found 
 Alive, when all's congeal'd around." 
 
 During the week succeeding the stirring and important 
 events^, wliich we have been endeavoring to describe, cir- 
 cumstances of both a public and private nature, conspired to 
 bring Miss Hendee in contact with her neighbors and ac- 
 quaintances, much more than usual. The recent chang<L of 
 masters at the fort having led to a new and frequent inter- 
 course with the inhabitants of this section of the country, 
 many of both sexes had called at the cottage, on their visits 
 to their friends, who were now members of the garrison. Busi- 
 ness connected with her father's household concerns had also 
 caused her to make several calls, during the period above men- 
 tioned, at the houses of the different settlers in the neighbor- 
 hood. It could not reasonably be supposed, in a country 
 settlement where people, in the absence of other employment 
 of their leisure, are usually so curious respecting the affairs 
 of their neighbors, and where every kind of gossiping always 
 finds so ready a circulation, that the visits of so distinguished 
 a 5^oung gentleman as Warrington, at a house containing 
 one so lovely and excellent as Alma Hendee, had been suffered 
 to transpire without being generally known, and commented 
 on, by the inhabitants of the vicinity. Such, at all events, 
 appeared not to have been the case in the present instance: 
 for Miss Hendee soon discovered, that her social intercourse 
 with her lover, as limited as it had recently been, w'as well un- 
 derstood by nearly every one of her acquaintance with whom 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 225 
 
 slie now happened to fall in comj)any. And many were the 
 jokes and banterings which she was compelled to meet on the 
 subject. But there was one circnmstance attending , them 
 which soon strnck her as pecnliar and uncommon in snch kind 
 of rallyings; and this was^ that, instead of the flattering and 
 gratefnl approvals, and happy predictions, usually uttered on 
 such occasions, they were now, in almost every instance, ac- 
 companied with some manifestations of regret or disapproba- 
 tion, at the conjectured intimacy — some hesitation of manner, 
 some ominous shaking of the head or some mysterious hinting 
 at the dangers that would attend the connection, which none, 
 at the same time, seemed to treat as one that would terminate 
 in marriage. At first. Alma paid but little attention to these 
 intimations; but as they were repeated, they began to oc- 
 casion her considerable uneasiness. And when she found 
 them coming from all quarters, prudence would no longer per- 
 mit her to pass them unheeded. And she began to busy her 
 mind in trying to account for impressions, which she sup- 
 posed to be much too general to be attributed to chance opin- 
 ions, or personal prejudices. She felt satisfied that this feel- 
 ing could not proceed from any wish to favor Sherwood's pre- 
 tensions to her hand; for she well knew he was no favorite 
 with the people at large. Nor could she perceive how it could 
 arise from any ill opinion entertained against Warrington, 
 who, as she had been told, was held in the highest estimation 
 by the settlers generally, both for the signal services he had 
 publicly rendered them, and for the many excellent traits of 
 his private character. Although delicacy of feeling, as well 
 as prudence, prevented her making any inquiries of those 
 who had introduced this subject, yet the amount of what she 
 had gathered from them seemed to indicate the existence of 
 some insurmountable barrier to the union, to which she had 
 recently engaged herself. But what the nature of this ob- 
 stacle could be, she v/as wholly unable to conjecture. 
 
 One dSij, after making one of her excursions among the set- 
 tlers, she had returned home under an unusual depression of 
 spirits, occasioned by some hints and vrarnings of a m.ore 
 pointed nature than she had before received, together with 
 the mortifying reflection that her views and feelings, in regard 
 to her secretly contemplated union, had found no response 
 in the minds of her acquaintance. Although an easy credulity 
 formed no part of the discriminating mind of Miss Hen dee, 
 
 15 
 
226 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 yet prudence and discretion were ever among the leading 
 traits of her finely balanced character. And these taught her 
 the necessity of pausing in the path she had begun to tread, 
 lest it, indeed, should be found to be beset with dangers, 
 which had been concealed from her view. She recalled to 
 mind some insinuations thrown out by Sherwood at his late 
 visit, by which, she now, on reflection, supposed he intended 
 she should believe, that Warrington was not only a hbertine, 
 but that he had, by a clandestine marriage, entered into with 
 some of his victims for the purpose of accomjDlishing his de- 
 signs, put it out of his own power to contract a legal marriage 
 with another. Considering those insinuations at the time 
 entirely false and malicious, she had instantly rejected them 
 from her mind, without paying attention enough to them to 
 examine the import of the words by which they were conveyed. 
 But now, on recurring to the subject, and comparing Slier- 
 wood^s words with the dark hints she had since received from 
 others, she could not but be startled with the coincidence 
 she perceived in all the different intimations that she had 
 heard. And the more she reflected on the various remarks 
 of her acquaintance, all seeming to tend to the same point, 
 and to be strangely corroborative of each other, the more ap- 
 prehensive she became of the existence of some fact, which 
 would not only level with the dust the fair fabric of prospect- 
 ive happiness she had lately been rearing, but would place 
 her in no enviable position before the public, when the step 
 she had taken should become known. 
 
 While Miss Hendee was revolving these distracting thoughts 
 in her mind, that had now reached that state of uncertainty 
 and fluctuation which peculiarly flts it for the reception of 
 questionable statements, her reflections were interrupted by 
 the entrance of a man, who announced himself as a tinker, 
 wishing to know whether there were any wares in the house 
 which required the aid of his profession. Being answered 
 in the affirmative, he pulled off his pack, and, producing his 
 tools, went to work on such utensils as were brought him for 
 repairing. He was a man of a loquacious turn; and he had 
 scarcely become seated at his work, before his tongue was 
 going as rapidly as his hammer. Being somewhat amused at 
 the remarks she heard him make to Ruth, the domestic of 
 whom we have before spoken. Alma soon quitted, the adjoin- 
 ing room, where she had seated herself, and, entering the 
 
I'HE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 22f 
 
 kitchen^ took a seat, and fell into conversation with the talk- 
 ative stranger, occasionally asldng a question herself, and 
 good naturedly answering the various questions he put to her, 
 as he rapidly roved from subject to subject, in so disconnected 
 a manner, that it would have puzzled a philosopher to have 
 traced the association of the man's ideas. 
 
 "Your fort over here has lately changed masters, I learn," 
 he carelessly observed, after he had started and dispatched 
 every other topic v/hich he apparently could think of as con- 
 nected with the affairs of the neighborhood, — "I wonder who 
 has the command of the place under the new order of things?" 
 
 "Major Warrington, I believe," replied Alma, as a slight 
 tinge overspread her fair cheek. 
 
 "Major Warrington, Wiarrington, did you say?" said the 
 man inquiringl}^, repeating the name: "not Charles War- 
 rington of Bennington way?" 
 
 "Yes, the same, sir," replied the other. 
 
 "Now I v/ant to know! Do tell us if he has got to be 
 Major?" half exclaimed, and half inquired the seemingly sur- 
 prised tinker. 
 
 "Is he a former acquaintance of yours, sir?" asked Alma, 
 turning with a look of interest to the man. 
 
 "Lord, yes!" exclaimed he, with great apparent simplicity. 
 "Why ma'm, I have known him ever since he was knee high 
 to a toad — used to live in the same town with him and his 
 father's family, in old Connecticut, before they moved to the 
 Grants, and have seen Charles there often since, on his visits 
 back among his relations — and — and old sweethearts," he con- 
 tinued, looking up roguishly to Alma, as if to see how the last 
 remark took with her, but perceiving the uneasiness of her 
 looks, he jocosely added, "Why, I s'pose the girls know that 
 the young men will have sweethearts, don't they?" 
 
 "I pretend not to know young gentlemen's business, sir," 
 replied Alma, in a voice tremulous with suppressed emotion. 
 
 "Well, well, I meant no offense," rejoined the tinker, seem- 
 ingly abashed at the poor reception of his rally. 
 
 "You have given me none, sir," timidly remarked the other. 
 "But I think you said you had kept up your acquaintance 
 vvdth Mr. Warrington, and you may know whether — that is 
 you" — and she paused, unable from the fluttering of her heart 
 to proceed with an inquiry, the answer to which would prob- 
 ably involve her every hope of happiness for Kfe: for she felt 
 
2^8 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 that this plain and apparently honest nian^ with his intimate 
 knowledge of Warrington's previous life and character, would 
 be able to furnish her testimony, which would remove her 
 apprehensions, or confirm them, and seal her doom for ever. 
 
 '^May know what, marm?" asked he, after waiting patiently 
 awhile for her to proceed. 
 
 Alma made an effort to go on; but so great was her agita- 
 tion that she could not utter a syllable, and she remained 
 silent. 
 
 "Yes, I know all about Charles Warrington as well as any 
 other man,'' resumed the fellow, after he saw the other was 
 not likely to go on with her inquiry. "A considerable of a 
 chap he is, too. In fact he is a smart fellow; and a lively one, 
 too, in the main. I never knew but one mean trick about him 
 in my life; and that was shuffling off and deserting that poor 
 simple wife of his, that he married kinder privately there in 
 Connecticut, a year or two ago." 
 
 Had a winged shaft from an Indian's bow, at that instant 
 been driven through the heart of Alma Hendee, the convul- 
 sive start, the sudden contraction of the muscles of her face, 
 and the fearful death-gasp, would have been scarcely more 
 visible than was the effect of the words of the last speaker. 
 She sat a moment as if suddenly paralyzed in all her senses. 
 Presently commenced the twitching, nervous motion of her 
 fingers, as she rapidly handled over the work in her lap. Then 
 suddenly rising, she went to the window, and gasping for 
 breath, stood an instant vacantly gazing out upon the land- 
 scape, with a face as white as the bloodless marble. She then 
 turned quickly away, and, with hurried, unsteady steps, 
 rushed out of the room. Eeaching her own apartment, she 
 again stopped short, and remained several moments mute and 
 motionless as a statue, while the woe-stricken expression of her 
 countenance and the silent workings in the muscles of her 
 blanched and beautiful features, as she stood, like a tearless 
 Niobe, with her anguished eye upcast to heaven, and both 
 hands pressed tightly against her heart, told more forcibly 
 than language can express, the mental agony with which she 
 was contending. 
 
 After Alma left the room, the miserable wretch, who had 
 so cruelly inflicted this dreadful blow upon her feehngs, hur- 
 ried through his work, received his stipulated wages, and 
 departed. JSTo sooner had he turned his back than the faith- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 229 
 
 ful Eiitli^ who liad noticed^ and understood all that had 
 passed^ hastened with looks of visible concern^ to the apart- 
 ment of her idolized young mistress. 
 
 "Alma!" said she, tenderly placing her hand on the now 
 burning brow of the suffering girl, who had flung herself 
 upon her bed, where she was lying, with one hand pressing 
 her closed eyelids and the other her side: "Alma, your fore- 
 head is very hot — shall I bathe it?'^ 
 
 "No, no, Euth," faintly murmured the fair sufferer, "it 
 is no attack of disease: my head, I know, is some fevered, and 
 my eyes are sore, very sore; but the trouble is here!" she 
 added, indicating the spot by lifting and replacing her hand 
 upon her heart. 
 
 "I was aware of your feelings in somiC measure. Alma," 
 replied the other soothingly, "and being like yourself, de- 
 ceived in the character of the man of your secret choice, I 
 confess, I did not disapprove of your partiality. But, now. 
 Alma, should you not be thankfiil, that you have made this 
 discovery in season to retrace your steps, and escape the dan- 
 ger?" 
 
 "Yes, and I am, I certainly am; but 0, Euth, Euth, you 
 little knew how much I loved him! and oh! how cruelly — 
 cruelly has he repaid my lavished affection!" 
 
 With this the sealed fountain of her tears suddenly opened. 
 x\nd as the pearly drops flowed thick and fast over her lovely 
 cheeks, she breathed more freely; and the torture, the scorch- 
 ing, tearless agony,' that she had felt withering both heart 
 and brain, was removed, giving place to the mitigated suffer- 
 ing of ordinary sorrow, in which she long, long indulged, 
 while her faithful domestic, in character of nurse and friend, 
 watched over, and comforted her. 
 
 The next niorning, when Miss Hendee arose, she was calm 
 and composed, though looking extremely pale. Her appear- 
 ance very plainly told that the struggle she had passed 
 through had been a fearful one; but it told, also, that she had 
 not struggled in vain for the mastery over her feelings. 
 Though her heart had been pierced and lacerated, she seemed 
 to have succeeded in silencing its throbbings. There was a 
 decision in her looks and movements, that indicated the stern 
 and unwavering resolves she had made. And in pursuance 
 of the course she had marked out for herself, it was her first 
 object to dispatch siicli a notice to Warrington of her de- 
 
220 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 termination^ as slioiild effectually deter him from attempting 
 any renewal of the intercourse. Accordingly, after she had 
 suioerintended, as nsnal, the household affairs of the family 
 for the morning, she retired, and penned the brief note: — 
 
 "Major Warrington: — Onr intimacy is forever ended. As 
 no explanations need be given, so none will be received. I 
 trust, therefore, that no further communications on your 
 part will be attempted. Alma Hendee.^' 
 
 Sealing the note, she summoned ISTeshobee to her room, and 
 with the same desperate sort of calmness which she had ex- 
 hibited through the morning, though with a slight tremor 
 in her voice, she said to him: 
 
 "Here, i^eshobee, take this to Major Warrington without 
 delay, if you can find him within twenty miles of this place. 
 But I understand 'that there was a vessel, with several boats 
 filled with troops, arrived from the south last night; and he 
 probably came with them, as he has been absent from the 
 fort, I am told, for the purpose of enlisting more men. Go, 
 give it him; and do not stay an instant for an answer, or to 
 give him a chance to question you." 
 
 The Indian, who perceived both in her words and manner, 
 that some sudden change had taken place in the connection, 
 which he was aware existed between her and his friend, War- 
 rington, threw a keen inquiring glance upon the face of his 
 mistress, and seemed to hesitate and linger, as if for an ex- 
 planation of so unexpected an errand. But receiving only an 
 impatient motion of her hand for his. immediate departure, 
 he turned away, and with an air of mingled wonder and re- 
 grjet, left the house in silence, and proceeding to his skiff at 
 the landing, rowed directly over to the fort. When he arrived 
 there he found all in bustle and commotion, prej^aratory to an 
 expedition into Canada. x\llen, Warrington, and Arnold had 
 arrived, as before intimated, the evening previous, with a 
 schooner and a number of batteaux, filled with a considerable 
 body of troops, collected for the contemplated expedition, 
 all of whom were now on the point of embarking, — Arnold 
 in the schooner, with such Massachusetts troops as had ar- 
 rived since the capture of Ticonderoga, and were now prop- 
 erly under his command, and Allen and Warrington, with the 
 remainder of the forces, in the batteaux. As soon as the In- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 231 
 
 clian readied the shore he sought out Warrington^ and put 
 the note into his hand. Eeceiving it as one who might be 
 expecting a favor of tlie Idnd^ the latter carefully put the 
 supposed prize into his pockety and informing the messenger^ 
 that he had one for him to take back to his mistress in re- 
 turn^ he turned to finish the directions he was at the mo- 
 ment engaged in imparting to his men. When he had com- 
 l^leted the business immediately on hand^ he turned to look 
 for ISTeshobee, that he might take him into the fort to receive 
 the letter he intended to send back by him. But after search- 
 ing for him in vain among the men, he cast his eye on to the 
 lake, and to his surprise and vexation, he beheld the native 
 rapidly pulling for the opposite shore, and already out of 
 hailing distance. Still supj)osing, however, that the messen- 
 ger had misunderstood his request, the impatient lover has- 
 tened to a solitary room in the fort for the purpose of reading 
 the precious paper alone, and adding a postscript to the one 
 he had written, that he might dispatch it by a special mes- 
 senger before he embarked. As soon as he was alone, he 
 eagerly broke the seal of Alma's brief note, and read, with 
 the most unmingled pain and astonishment, its unexpected 
 contents. Hastily rising from the seat he had taken, he for 
 many minutes rapidly paced the room in silence, while the 
 agitation visibly depicted on his manly countenance plainly 
 bespoke the depth and bitterness of his emotion. 
 
 "Yes, noble girl," he at length mournfully said, "incapable 
 of intrigue and meanness j^ourself, you have, in some way, 
 unsuspectingly become a victim to the snares of a villain! 
 It is — it must be so. A deception has been practiced ujaon 
 you — a gross deception could alone have prompted to a meas- 
 ure so sudden, so cruel, so inconsistent, and so destructive, as 
 I know it must be to your own happiness. Well, well, I have 
 no leisure now, even if I would, to enter the lists with this 
 despicable plotter of mischief, who has thus entered our 
 Eden, and turned its happiness to sorrow, in trying to ferret 
 out his villainies, or compete with him in his low game of in- 
 trigue and deception. I must leave you, too credulous girl, 
 to discover for yourself the arts by which you have been duped, 
 and the injustice you have done m.e — till then, farewell — till 
 then, be my country my heart's only mistress." 
 
 Before another hour had elapsed, Warrington had em- 
 barked with his troops, and, with the gallant and war-like 
 
232 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 array with whicli he was borne down the lake, had passed 
 from the scene of his love and disappointment on his way to 
 fields of blood and glory. 
 
 It comes not within the scope of our design to accompany 
 our Green Mountain Boys through the eventful campaign 
 that followed their present embarkation, or to attempt to 
 trace the varied fortunes of their gallant leaders, — the daring, 
 talented, and chivalrous Allen, who, Tn his heroic attempt 
 on Montreal, was taken prisoner and carried to England in 
 irons, and there kept through a long and doleful captivity, 
 wdiich deprived his country of the aid of one of her most 
 energetic sons during the most trying period of the w^ar, — 
 the skillful, cool, and intrepid Warrington, whose conduct 
 soon won for him the admiration of his country, — the gay 
 and gifted Selden, whose sword and pen were alike success- 
 fully wielded in the cause, — and the jolly and fearless Jones, 
 who became known as the most sagacious and trusty scout- 
 leader in the northern arm}^ These, and the brave, resolute, 
 and patriotic men under their command, who soon, by their 
 courage and success in battle, and their fidelitv to the cause 
 of freedom, rendered the name of Grreen Mountain Boys a 
 terror to their foes, and an appellation of honor among their 
 admiring countr3anen, we must now leave to struggle with 
 their enemies abroad, while we remain on the spot we have 
 chosen as the scene of our stor}^, there to wait their return 
 to make the place once more the theater of glorious conflict. 
 
 From this time for a period of about two years, there w^as a 
 pause in the action of our story. Although the events which 
 formed its commencement were intimately connected with 
 those attending its catastrophe, yet nothing occurred, during 
 that interval, particularly to vary the aspect of the one, or to 
 hasten the other. And the relative situation of all the dif- 
 ferent individuals of our "dramatis personae," from this time 
 separated and scattered in various directions, remained nearly 
 unaltered, till the tide of war, combined with other circum- 
 stances, brought them again together to figure on the scene 
 of action where we have thus far described them. We pro- 
 pose, therefore, to pass lightly over this interval, and with a 
 few observations, by way of noticing the situation and 
 progress of affairs in the TTendee family in the meanwhile, we 
 shall proceed at once to the closing period of oiir story. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 233 
 
 From the hour of her supposed discovery of the duplicity 
 and base conduct of Warrington^ life was but a joyless blank to 
 Alma Hendee. Although by the fortitude and firmness of her 
 character^ aided by female pride^ which had been deeply 
 wounded by the mortifying development, she had succeeded 
 in her determined efforts to keep from sinking under the cruel 
 disappointment, yet she could not but feel, that the young 
 affections, which she had thus lucklessly suffered to entwine 
 round her heart, and root themselves in its very core, were 
 withered, never to be revived to their original freshness at 
 the bidding of another. In the unbounded confidence of her 
 youthful love, she had squandered her hearths best treasures 
 on one from whom neither pride nor principle would longer 
 suffer her to accept a return. And she was deeply conscious, 
 that she could never gather them again, to bestow them 
 on a more worthy object, or where they would yield her the 
 earthly happiness to which she had begun to look so fondly 
 forward in her anticipated connection. 
 
 It is an interesting and beautiful trait in the character of 
 woman^s affections, that she never truly worships but at one 
 altar. If that remains to her, though no new attraction be 
 added, — no new inducement offered to ensure the continuance 
 of her devotion, — she asks no more, but worships on, and on, 
 more deeply and fervently, till the heart, that offers the hom- 
 age, ceases in death to cling to all earthly objects. But if 
 that is destroyed or; removed, the incense of her heart passes 
 away with it. She ma}^ indeed, sometimes be found kneel- 
 ing at another shrine, and offering up the forms of devo- 
 tion, but the life, the spirit of the worship is forever gone. 
 
 After the rupture between Miss Hendee and AYarrington, 
 Sherwood becam^e, for a while, unusually constant in his visits 
 at Captain Hendee's, and quite assiduous in his attentions to 
 the listless girl, to whom they were offered. At his first call, 
 after that event, he soon, and with a malicious satisfaction, 
 discovered that the arts he had put in practice had been 
 crowned with success. This he not only read in her pale 
 face, in which the settled air of gloom and disappointment 
 were visibly depicted, but also, in her altered, and more 
 respecting manner towards himself, which, without any change 
 of opinion respecting his general character, she very natural- 
 ly, though unconsciously, perhaps, exhibited toward him, as to 
 one whom she now exonerated from the particular charges 
 
^^4 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 to which she believed him obnoxious. Having satisfied him- 
 self of this state of things, he at first cunningly forebore to 
 renew his former pretensions to her hand. In a short time, 
 however, he began again to make professions of attachment, 
 and, without asking of her any other than the tacit acquies- 
 cence she had formerly yielded, talked of their engagement 
 as of a settled business, and as if nothing had occurred to 
 alter the relation formerly existing between them. These 
 addresses Alma rather suffered than received; and the affair 
 between them was, in this manner, allovred by her to fall into 
 much the same train in which it was moving on "Warrington's 
 appearance. And yet she still had but little thought of unit- 
 ing her destinies wdth those of Sherwood; but continuing to 
 hope that something would eventually occur to save her from 
 the dreadful fate, she permitted the affair to glide along as 
 she had formerly done, solely out of regard to the feelings of 
 her father and the interests of the family. And, indeed, nov/, 
 more than ever, did it seem necessary, that the family should 
 avoid a rupture with Sherwood, as they were becoming more 
 and more dependent on his assistance. With the breaking out 
 of the Eevolution, the half pay wdiich Captain Hendee had 
 before regularly received, and which had constituted his main 
 dependence, ceased to be transmitted. And he was there- 
 fore driven to avail himself, from time to time, of the offers 
 of Sherwood to loan him money to meet his exigencies. In 
 this manner Miss Hendee wore away about two years of her 
 dull and joyless existence, finding nothing in the present to 
 console or cheer her desponding mind, and seeing nothing but 
 clouds and darkness in the future; when an incident occurred 
 that threw a new light upon her dark "and cheerless path, and 
 produced a revolution in her whole views and feelings, as sud- 
 den and complete, as the event which caused it was singular 
 and unexpected. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 235 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 "A sudden joy lights up my loneliness.' 
 
 It was a soft and balmy evening, in that loveliest of all 
 months of the year in onr northern clime, delightful June, 
 when two ladies were seen issuing from the Hendee cottage, 
 to v\rander abroad, to enjoy the beanties of the evening, and 
 hold in the solitudes of the fields, that confidential communion 
 on the subjects of mutual concern, which is ever interesting to 
 friends, who have just met after a long separation. One was in 
 height something above the ordinary standard of women, but 
 with a form as faultless as the chiseled marble. Her carriage 
 and general demeanor, though easy and graceful, were yet not 
 of that light and joyous kind, which generally bespeaks cor- 
 responding lightness of heart, but were marked, rather, by 
 that serious, drooping cast, that tells of secret cares and sor- 
 rows; while an air of deep and pensive thoughtfulness rested 
 in her dark blue eyes, and overspread her somewhat pale, 
 though exquisitely fiiolded features. The other female was a 
 trifle smaller, and as volatile as a child in her movements. 
 The very reverse of her companion, she seemed to be the 
 creature of joyous impulses. Though both possessed far more 
 than an ordinary share of personal beauty, yet their beauty 
 was of an entirely different order; for while the appearance of 
 the former was calm, intellectual and commanding, that of 
 the latter was sprite-like and playful, partaking largely of that 
 certain prettiness, that eccentric will o' wisp sore of witchery, 
 which men generally pursue eagerly rather than worship pro- 
 foundly. They were both old acquaintances of the reader, 
 and we will, therefore, allow them to announce themselves by 
 the conversation that now ensued between them. 
 
 "Now tell me, Alma," said the smaller girl, "for, in spite 
 of all the dogged silence you have shown in your letters on 
 the subject^ I determined I would know the first time I saw 
 
236 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 yon — tell me, I say, what was the true reason of yonr dismiss- 
 ing Warrington." 
 
 "There are some things, Jessy," replied the other, "which 
 involve such imputations on our own prudence and discern- 
 ment, and are, of themselves, so humiliating to our feelings, 
 that we can hardly bring ourselves even in thought to re- 
 cur to them, — much less to reveal them to others. And this 
 is the main reason why I have never ap]3rised you of the fact 
 you seek to know." 
 
 "Yes, but I shall not let you off on such a reason, you may 
 depend upon it. Come, come, girl, I will be your confessor, 
 and the more crossing to your feelings the confession, why the 
 more it will be for your good, if the Catholic priests are in the 
 right of it." 
 
 "Ko, Jessy, let us forget the subject: I would not again dis- 
 turb my feelings by recalling to mind the man who once caused 
 me so much sorrow. It is enough to say that I ^YSLS grossly de- 
 ceived in his character." 
 
 "Deceived! How deceived? — now I tell you. Alma Hen- 
 dee, I will know, and, as I am to live with you till father re- 
 turns from. England, I will thorn you night and day, till you 
 tell me." 
 
 "'Well, then, Jessy, if you must know^, the cause of my dis- 
 carding him was the best of all causes; because he could 
 never be lav/fully mine; for, wherever his heart may have 
 been, his hand belonged to another. And while he was 
 vowing his heart to me, he was the husband of a living wife 
 in Connecticut. What say you to a deception like that, 
 Jessy?" 
 
 "Why, monster! — if so — but how know you that fact. 
 Alma?" 
 
 "I received intimations of it from various sources, which I 
 disbelieved, when a man called here who was well acquainted 
 with Warrington^s whole career, and he confirmed all that I 
 had heard." 
 
 "Warrington — the high-minded, and brave Colonel War- 
 rington, guilty of baseness like that? — Impossible! Are you 
 c[uite sure that there is not some mistake, or some intended 
 deception, about this, Alma?" 
 
 "Yes,yes, — think not that, with my unbounded confidence 
 in the man, I should have l^een brought to believe this easily. 
 And Oh! if you knew what the discovery cost me!'' 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 237 
 
 "But did you apprise him of this discovery ?^^ 
 
 "Ko!'^ 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Simply^ because^ as I was fully satisfied of the fact, all at- 
 tempted explanations would not only fail to mend the matter, 
 but make it worse, by continuing a correspondence which 
 would be ruinous to me, and disgraceful to us both." 
 
 "Alma Hendee, I can hardly believe this strange story. I 
 fear you have been deceived. I wish I had known it before. 
 Neither Col. Warrington, nor Captain Selden, have the least 
 idea that such were your reasons for the sudden, and, to them, 
 unaccountable step you took. I have conversed with them both 
 on the subject; and they both believe, I imagine, that you were 
 either coerced by your father, or were laboring under some 
 misapprehension. Mr. Seldon, I know, believes this; and he 
 told me on our way here, that if you would keep yourself from 
 becoming entangled with Sherwood, the affair might yet be 
 reconciled between you and the Colonel, who yet cherishes 
 for you all his former sentiments." 
 
 "It never will be reconciled, however, Jessy." 
 
 "Why, you have not seriously determined to marry Sher- 
 wood have you?" 
 
 "I can hardly bring myself, I own, to think seriously of such 
 a sacrifice," said Alma mournfully, "I certainly never should 
 harbor the thought a moment, if I had now any other object 
 to live for, than to render my infirm and embarrassed father 
 ,as happy as possible. This I see but one way of doing. And 
 as my own hopes of happiness are gone, should it not now be 
 my duty to attend to his in the only way I can accomplish it ? 
 At best it is but a dark and dreary prospect that lies before me, 
 Jessy. And let us turn from it now to your own, which has at 
 least hope to brighten it." 
 
 "Yes, hope, faith, and resolution, come what will, except 
 such a damper as you received. By the way, Alma, did not 
 you think that your father was a good deal taken with Selden 
 for so brief an acquaintance as his short stay with us to-day 
 afforded?" 
 
 "I did, indeed, and with great pleasure, notice it. And well 
 my father might be pleased with him; for I know no gentleman 
 whom I — " 
 
 "Take care! take care!" briskly interrupted the vivacious 
 
238 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 Jessy, "Be cautious how far you proceed with, your praises. 
 Miss!" 
 
 "I will be moderate rather than alarm you, then," replied 
 Alma, smiling. 
 
 "Well, see that you are; or Fll be jealous as sure as you live. 
 Besides, I cion^t care a fig about obtaining your praises for him. 
 But Captain Hendee^s good opinion of him is a point gained 
 with me; for my father, you know, has placed me, and my 
 destinies, too, for aught I know, in the Captain's hands for the 
 present. I wish I could get a peep at that letter of instruc- 
 tions, as I suppose it was, which I brought from my father to 
 yours. What cautious old things these papas are about us 
 girls, are they not now?" 
 , "Your father, then, suspects your attachment — does he?" 
 
 "Why, that is w^hat I am myself puzzled to decide. Selden 
 contrived right cunningly to get introduced to my father, 
 soon after the old gentleman arrived at Albany, where the 
 Green Mountain troops, with their officers, have been posted 
 the past season, you know. They have since met several times, 
 and by the fact of my being entrusted to Selden's care in 
 coming on here, I know father considers him a man of honor 
 at least. But whether he has ever suspected the truth about 
 us, I have been wholly unable to ascertain. If he has, and 
 disapproves it, he has studied out some sly, indirect way of 
 breaking up the connection without recourse to open opposi- 
 tion, which, I have often heard him say, made ten matches 
 where it broke one." 
 
 "But did not Major Skene, after his exchange and return, 
 or his sisters, inform Colonel Eeed of their suspicion, most 
 probably?" 
 
 "They would have done so, perhaps, had they continued as 
 jealous as at first, but since my engagement with Selden we 
 have both acted in concert to blind them, and I think they are 
 in the dark themselves." 
 
 "And hovv have you disposed of the Major, in the mean- 
 while?'' 
 
 "I laughed him out of countenance — ^jeered and joked him 
 about his valor at Skenesboro' before the officers, ridiculed 
 him in every way I could devise, till at last the fellow became 
 so sore under the torment, that he fairly avoided me, as if I 
 had been a viper, and that is the v;ay I advise you to take with 
 your eternal hanger-on, wlio, like Major, was never man enough 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 239 
 
 to cease his attentions when he knew they were not agreeable. 
 But where is Sherwood now?" 
 
 ^'We don't know. He has been absent several weeks. He 
 told us he was going to Albany. You heard nothing of him 
 there, did you?'' 
 
 "No! but if he was there, he would hardly show himself in 
 public, I think. Did you know they strongly suspected him of 
 being a tory?" 
 
 "I knew not that he was suspected by others. But from his 
 standing blooi from the contest when uur bleeding country 
 required the aid of every friend, from the character of his 
 associates ; and among the rest that despicable Darrow, and 
 more especially from one or two secret journeys, which I 
 feel satisfied he has lately made into Canada, I have for some 
 time known that he was any thing but an American patriot." 
 
 By this time our fair friends, having wandered down the 
 slope toAvards the lake, had reached the shore, and seated 
 themselves on a little grassy elevation near the landing, where 
 they were about to resume their conversation, when a skiff 
 containing three men, whose approach from the south had 
 been screened from their sight by intervening bushes, made 
 its appearance, and put in for the shore. The girls instantl}^ 
 arose, and were hastily retiring, when they were hailed by the 
 leader of the party, after he had risen in his boat, and looked 
 intently a moment at those on shore. On turning round, Al- 
 ma at once recognized him to be the tall woodsman, with 
 whom she first became acquainted as the messenger of War- 
 rington. 
 
 "H you'll agree not to be scart much at such a beauty as I 
 be, gals," said Pete, leaping ashore and striding up the bank, 
 "I should like well enough to have one of you stop running 
 away long enough to have me tell you what one of you wants, 
 that is if I "haven't forgot the face that used to belong to 
 her." 
 
 Jones, now advancing to the spot from which the girls, with 
 hesitating steps, were slowly retreating, pulled out a soiled 
 and crumpled letter, and offered it to Alma. But the latter, 
 supposing it to be from Warrington, shook her head, and de- 
 clined receiving it. 
 
 "Well, now!" said the scout, a little disconcerted at the un- 
 expected refusal: "by hoky! if this ain't the first time I ever 
 knew a body that wouldn't take a letter that belonged to 'em ! 
 
 16 
 
240 THE GREEN MOUNTxilN BOYS. 
 
 A^'ell, I've done all that the fellow, who asked me to hring it, 
 could expect of me, I consider/' 
 
 "From whom did you receive the letter, sir?" asked Jessy, 
 w^ho easily apprehended the reasons of her friend for declin- 
 ing to receive it. 
 
 '^Well, now, marm," replied Jones, scratching his head, 
 "that is asking a notch more than I am very well able to an- 
 swer. I partly hinted to the man to tell me his name, but he 
 kinder screwed round in his talk so that he kept clear of tell- 
 ing me. Howsomever, it was an honest looking fellow 
 enough, that I fell in with at Skenesboro', where we stopped 
 for breakfast, this morning." 
 
 "0, it is not from any in the army, then," rejoined Jessy, 
 throwing a significant look at her companion, intended to 
 convey a sly joke for her over cautiousness. 
 
 "Any in the army?" said Jones, repeating the words of the 
 other, as he began to assume his old comic twist of features, 
 "no, unless you might call him a kettle drummer; for now I 
 think on't when we first came into the house where we found 
 him, he was at it hammer and tongs upon an old brass kettle, 
 making clatter enough to crazy a small nation." 
 
 "I beg your pardon, Mr. Jones," said Alma, courteously, 
 "I Avas under a misapprehension in regard to the source of this 
 letter — I will receive it now, sir, if you please; and thank you 
 kindly for your trouble in bringing it," she added, extending 
 her hand and taking the proffered paper. 
 
 "Are you direct from Albany, sir?" asked Miss Eeed, pre- 
 paratory to some other question, apparentlj^ 
 
 "We started from there about twelve last night, and in a 
 bit of a hurry, too," replied the scout, turning and looking 
 upon the face of his fair interrogator, whom he now for the 
 first time seemed to recognize. "Why, now, if I ain't beat, 
 to find that queer fighting bird again — beg pardon, marm — 
 I didn't mean it for offense; for I don't calculate to be very 
 sarcy to folks, except to the Britishers. And I kinder guess 
 you ain't very stiff for that side after all, or you wouldn't al- 
 low yourself to be caught by the Green Mountain Boys so 
 easy and often." 
 
 It was Jessy's turn to be disconcerted now, and blushing to 
 the very temples, she turned confusedly aA\'ay, and pretended 
 to be looking for wild strawberries in the grass, while Alma, 
 smilincf to see the discoiiifiture of her friend at the honest but 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 241 
 
 sly liit involved in the remark of the woodsman^ now address- 
 ing the latter, asked: 
 
 "Has any late intelligence of the enemy's movements been 
 received at headquarters, that has caused yon to to be dis- 
 patched in this direction so hastily?" 
 
 "I rather expect there has, marm." 
 
 "Any threatened invasion? I know there have been fears 
 of one, from Canada, bnt hearing nothing of it lately, we had 
 begun to believe it a false rumor." 
 
 After looking Alma earnestly in the face an instant, Jones 
 motioned her to step a little further from her companion, 
 when in a low tone he observed to her, 
 
 "You used to be true blue — I wonder if you are now ?" 
 
 "If you mean a friend to your cause, who can be trusted, 
 you may count me as one." 
 
 ."I rather thought so — well, we fear there will be hot work 
 in this quarter in a very few days from this. A British de- 
 serter, who was taken up over on Winooski River, and sent 
 on by Captain Baker, arrived at headquarters yesterday, and 
 gave us the information that General Burgoyne with an army 
 of ten thousand men had already reached St. John's on his 
 way through this settlement to Albany, if he can get there. 
 Colonel Warrington and his regiment of Green Mountain 
 Boys were to march this morning to reinforce St. Clair at 
 Ticonderoga. And General Schuyler's whole army, before 
 this are on the move for Fort Edward, as the place where the 
 grand tussle is to be had, if the enemy are not stopped before. 
 I, and my scouts in the boat there, are now on our way to re- 
 connoiter, and watch the progress cd the Reglars as they come 
 on. N'ow, this last part of it you must keep dark about to all 
 where there is the least chance of its getting into the wind. 
 If I get along back as far as here, I will try to call, and let 
 you and the folks in this quarter know when the enemy may 
 be expected, that you may be all out of the way before they 
 arrive. But I must be off; for we must row ten good miles 
 further to-night, before we encamp. Good nighty, marm." 
 
 Having given this exciting piece of information, imparted 
 with more seriousness and directness of manner, than any 
 thing of equal length he had uttered, perhaps, for years, 
 Jones turned on his heel, bounded forward to the shore, and 
 leaped into the boat, which the next instant shot by the land- 
 ing and disappeared. ■ -^ 
 
 Knowing that the scout's secret would be as safe with her 
 companion as with herself. Alma immediately called her, and 
 
 16 
 
242 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 repeated the startling news she had just received. And the 
 solicitude and trembling apprehensions which filled the bosom 
 of each^ as they thought of their respective friends in connec- 
 tion with the approaching danger, for a while sv/allowed up 
 every other feeling. Even the letter, the delivery of v> hich had 
 occasioned the call of the scouts, was forgotten, till the girls 
 had retraced their steps more than half the distance to the 
 house. It being then recalled, hov^^ever. Miss Hendee seated 
 herself on a hillock, opened and began reading it, with an air 
 of listless curiosity, which showed how little she expected to 
 be interested in its contents, while Jessy knelt before her on 
 the grass, watching the varying expressions, from simple curi- 
 osity to eager interest, and from that to deep emotion, which 
 successively passed over the countenance of the other as she 
 proceeded in the perusal. The letter was without signature, 
 and ran thus: 
 
 "Miss Hendee, I guess, will remember, how, a year or two 
 ago, a man came to your house and mended the things; and 
 how he made some statements about Charles Warrington, the 
 Colonel that now is. ^ow, what I said at that time has wor- 
 ried my feelings a great deal most ever since. Though I then 
 really thought what I said was justifiable, even if it was not 
 quite true, as I was made to believe it to be for your good. But 
 I soon after found out what I told you was not so, for I didn't 
 know m^yself, and only said what I was asked to say. This 
 was the story of it. As I was going from house to house, work- 
 ing at my trade there in your part of the settlement, I fell in 
 with a plausible sort of a man, — I don't think I had best call 
 him by name, — and we after a while got to talking about War- 
 rington, whom I had seen often enough, though I knew noth- 
 ing of his private affairs. Well, he in a smooth kind of way, 
 said there was one thing that hurt his feelings; and that was 
 that Warrington was doing the wrong thing by a relative of 
 his, a very likely girl, that he pretended to be courting for the 
 sake of getting her family on his side in the York quarrel, 
 when to his certain knowledge, he had a young wife that he 
 had deserted down country. He said it was a great pity to 
 have the girl so deceived, and he would give two gold guineas to 
 any one who would break up the courtship. But he said it would 
 do no kinder good for her relations to try; and they were very 
 anxious some one else should undertake to do it. He then 
 
I^I-iE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 243 
 
 told me liis plan was^ that lie and I^ if I would agree to do it, 
 shonld first kinder secretly tell folks this story about the de- 
 serted wife^ so that it should get to her, and make her begin 
 to believe it; and then I should go there and pretend to come 
 from where Warrington used to live, and let drop some how, 
 before the girl, that I was knowing myself to that business 
 about his being married. Well, he kinder drew me into his 
 plan, and I being poor, consented for the money to do as I did. 
 But I soon mistrusted that this man had some wrong design, 
 which I found out to be the case, and I feel very sorry, and 
 ask joardon for what happened; and shall feel very bad if I 
 done any mischief by it, as I think Colonel Warrington a very 
 likely man. I think I shall feel easier now in my mind, but I 
 guess, considering, I shan't sign my name, though I am not 
 ashamed of it, or at least I never was in any other affair since 
 I was born. 
 
 "Your well wisher to serve.'^ 
 
 The first feeling that pervaded the bosom of Miss Hendee, 
 on reading this humble epistle, the truth and genuineness of 
 which she found it impossible to doubt, was that of un- 
 mingled indignation at the base and detestable conduct of the 
 man who had instigated the deception that had been prac- 
 ticed upon her with such complete success. The vv^hole of that 
 transaction, together with all the dark hints and warnings 
 she had previously received from her acquaintance, now stood 
 explained before her. She found no difficulty in tracing all 
 to the same source, and she saw at once the motives which 
 had actuated the subtle author of this piece of refined villainy 
 in the course he had pursued. Her next feeling was that of 
 deep and unfeigned regret, for the injustice she had uninten- 
 tionally done one, whom, but for this erroneous belief, she 
 would have "held, of all on earth, the most dear and honored. 
 At last came the heart's rich gushings of returning love. And 
 from the overpowering force of these mingled emotions, she 
 sat down and wept like a child. 
 
244 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 "Anid how felt he, the wretched man 
 
 Reclining there — while memory ran 
 
 O'er many a year of guilt and strife. 
 
 Flew o'er the dark flood of his life, 
 
 Nor found one sunny resting place. 
 
 Nor brought him back one branch of grace.' 
 
 In the environs of Albany^ at the period of which we are 
 writing, stood an ancient looking tenement, originally de- 
 signed, as its general appearance indicated, for a common farm 
 house; though the grounds around it seemed lately to Imxe 
 been left almost wholly uncultivated; while dilapidated fences, 
 and an unchecked growth of rank weeds springing up every 
 where about the premises, told anything but of good husbandry 
 in the occupant. Indeed, there was an air of solitude and de- 
 cay about the place, which might reasonably have been taken by 
 all as an evidence of a corresponding decay in the circum- 
 stances of the owner but for the fact, known to many, that he 
 had brought large sums of money, which he must have in- 
 creased, as he had ever lived on an economical scale, and hus- 
 banded his treasures with the most miserly care, — ever spec- 
 ulating upon the necessities of others, and loaning his money 
 at exorbitant usury. Since the commencement of the unset- 
 tled times of the Revolution, however, he had been busily 
 engaged in drawing in his funds, while he began to talk of 
 pretended losses, and to feign the appearance of approaching 
 povert}^, by suffering his farm to run to waste, as if through in- 
 ability to bestow upon it a proper cultivation. This was at- 
 tributed by many to actual impoverishment; but those who 
 knew more of his affairs, set it down at once to his unwilling- 
 ness to trust out his property in such fluctuating times, and his 
 fears of being compelled to loan or otherwise part witli it, for 
 maintaining the American cause, to which, it was suspected, 
 he was not over friendly. He had ever been a man of few 
 friends, and still fewer confidants. And for the last year or 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 245 
 
 two^ he had almost wholly withdrawn himself from society; 
 while, as was noticed by those who occasionally saw him, his 
 health appeared to be gradually undermining, and his counte- 
 nance wore an air of deep dejection, arising, it was surmised, 
 as he had no visible grounds of sorrow, from remorse of con- 
 science, or other mental inquietudes, the causes of which he 
 had never divulged. 
 
 To this cheerless spot we would now invite the reader for 
 the purpose of introducing one to whom allusion has been 
 several times made, the father of Jacob Sherwood. The un- 
 happy old man had been for several weeks rapidly failing, and 
 he now lay stretched on the bed of sickness, Vv^ith the full con- 
 sciousness, that the end of 'his earthly career was fast ap- 
 proaching; while a retrospect of his life began to fill his 
 mind with terror and alarm, in view of the retribution which 
 his guilt-stricken conscience told him was at hand. Although, 
 by the constant exercise of that peculiar cunning and cau- 
 tiousness, which were leading traits in his character, he had al- 
 ways contrived to steer clear of the penalties of the law, yet 
 there had been certain secret passages in his life, the memory 
 of which now turned his dying bed into a couch of thorns, 
 and drove him to think of making some atonement for the in- 
 juries he had inflicted before he dare go to his final account. 
 
 With this, among other views, he had, the week previous, 
 sent a special messenger for his son, and he was now anxious- 
 ly looking for his arrival. But the lingering days passed on, 
 and he came not, till the wretched invalid, warned by his fail- 
 ing strength, that he could hold out but a few days longer, 
 dared no more delay the act of justice, which his guilty fears 
 had urged him to perform, to those Avho had been the victims 
 of secret villainies. But let us now enter his gloomy abode, 
 and proceed to his bedside. He had been lying about an hour 
 in a troubled sleep, from which he had several times sud- 
 denly started up, with a wild, apprehensive glare, and a few 
 incoherent mutterings, that gradually died away on his work- 
 ing lips, as he relapsed into his uneasy slumbers. He now, 
 however, became thoroughly awakened, and turning his face 
 to the nurse in attendance, a wrinkled old crone, who, with an 
 ignorant, clownish looking boy^ made up the rest of the fami- 
 ly at the present time, he eagerly inquired if his son had ar- 
 rived, And being answered in the negative, he sunk b^ck on 
 
246 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 his pillow with a look of blended woe and disappointment^, 
 which told the utter wretchedness of his feelings. 
 
 ^^0, when will he come! when will he come!^^ at length mnt- 
 tered to himself the hapless old man. "I shall die before he 
 arrives! no^, no, I must not die, I cannot die, till I see him — 
 till he promises. But if he should not come! Or if he come 
 and would not promise, or promising, w^ould not perform, 
 where would be the reparation? I fear — I fear him, with so 
 much interest at stake! Oh! why have I delayed this so long! 
 Why have I carried this dreadful weight till now! If I had 
 but strength to write it! — perhaps I have — I will try — I will! 
 N'abby!" he continued, calling to the deaf old woman, "I say, 
 Nabby! bring me here pen and paper.^^ 
 
 "Eh? 0, ay!'^ replied the crone, bringing the required im- 
 23lements. 
 
 "N"ow bolster me up on the bed, and lay that old ledger 
 open on the bed-clothes before me. There! that will do." 
 
 Having been a ready penman, and deriving a temporary 
 strength from the excitement of his sudden resolution, the in- 
 valid succeeded in writing out a brief statement, or confession, 
 of the misdeeds which laid heaviest on his troubled conscience. 
 
 "There! there !^^ he exclaimed in a sort of unnatural glee, 
 "it is on paper! it is down — thank God it is dowm! I feel 
 easier now — relieved — some of the poison has passed from my 
 heart to the paper;" and he read over, and. continued looking 
 some time uj)on the lines with a wild, exulting satisfaction, 
 muttering at intervals, "yes, thank God, it is down!" 
 
 He then, having again called the nurse, and directed her to 
 seal the paper securely, superscribed it to Captain James Hen- 
 dee, giving the woman strict orders to give it to his son when 
 he arrived, or to some other person, who would promise to de- 
 liver it to the person to whom it was addressed. After this, 
 he fell back exhausted, and lay some time in silent meditation. 
 
 "Yes, that is something," he said, at length, resuming his 
 soliloquy: "but will it bring back the lost, or dead? ISTo! Will 
 it restore the property I took from them? No, not a shilling 
 without a suit, and then Jake will find some way to defeat it — 
 and then the letter may be lost — ^lie may mistrust what I have 
 written and destroy it. It won't do — I must make a will and 
 place it out of his hands — I must, 0, I must — and I will do it 
 — I will do it, now. Ezra! Ezra!" he continued, speaking with 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. * 247 
 
 nervous rapidity, "Nabby! tell Ezra to come here in a min- 
 nte!" 
 
 The ill-clothed, and more ill-favored boy soon made his ap- 
 pearance. 
 
 ^^Ezra, yon go over to Esqnire Vanderpool's, and tell him I 
 want he should come here as quick as possible — run! run!" 
 
 The man, Avho was thus summoned, and who v/as an at- 
 torney, whom the old gentleman had sometimes employed, 
 and consulted, on account of the prudence and secrecy with 
 which he conducted all matters submitted to his charge, in a 
 short time entered the apartment, and quietly seated himself 
 by the bedside of the sick man. The old nurse was then or- 
 dered to leave the room. 
 
 '^1 am going to die. Squire," said the old man feebly. 
 
 "I hope not,^' replied the attorney, casting a scrutiniz- 
 ing glance at the pallid face of the other, but without betray- 
 ing the least emotion. 
 
 "I know best, and have thought of making a will — can you 
 draw one that will hold?'^ 
 
 "None of my making have ever yet failed.^' 
 
 "So I suppose, and I believe you honest, and to have a mind 
 of your own, or I should not have sent for you. But can it all 
 be kept secret till the will is proved in court?" 
 
 "Who is to be executor?" 
 
 "I have been thinking of that. So much money is a great 
 trust, but if you are not honest, who is? I must have you." 
 
 "All can be managed, then." 
 
 "Yes, but will it be done? will you promise? I have rea- 
 sons — you know Jacob — will you not let him buy you up ?'' 
 
 "ISTever!" 
 
 "Write me a will then; and be quick, — quick — ^bequeath- 
 ing a thousand pounds to Captain James Sendee of the New 
 Hampshire Grants, and all he now owes me — another thou- 
 sand to his daughter. That will make them good for what 
 
 I—' 
 
 "That is right! make a clean breast of it, Mr. Sherwood," 
 
 observed the attorney, encouragingly. 
 
 "I will — God forgive me for taking that amount from the 
 property left with me to manage. Put it down in the will 
 '^reparation.' " 
 
 "T will. But the rest of the property?" 
 
 "All to my son — write on — be quick/', 
 
248 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 The attorney, with an acquiescing nod, proceeded diligently 
 with his task, while the restless invalid again muttered to him- 
 self: 
 
 "It will he an inducement for Jake to marry the girl, which 
 I fear he means to avoid. But he probably will do it now, and 
 then nothing will be lost by this; and if he don't, why, he 
 has enough without it. Yes, this will do. I shall feel better — 
 better.'' 
 
 The will was very soon completed, witnesses were called, all 
 the requisite formalities passed through; when, after receiv- 
 ing from the testator many additional injunctions, the attor- 
 ney departed with the important instrument in his pocket. 
 
 As soon as this business, for which the sick nian had sum- 
 moned all his failing energies, was accomplished, he again 
 became as helpless as an infant, and lay several hours in a 
 state of exhaustion and stupor. At length his malady began to 
 assume a different and more threatening aspect. The pains 
 of approaching dissolution set in, attended with mental an- 
 guish, even more fearful in appearance than his bodily agony; 
 and to the wretched old man a night of horrors succeeded. 
 While his limbs Avere writhing with pain, and he seemed to 
 be grappling in bodily effort with the king of terrors, the most 
 fearful images appeared to rise continually before his dis- 
 tracted mind, to complete the horrors of his situation. 
 At one time he seemed to be contending with desperate fierce- 
 ness against troops of fiends, that stood palpably before him, 
 reaching out their long, skinless claws to drag him from his 
 bed, while, "keep them off! 0, keep them off," would burst in 
 the accents of despair from his lips. At another time, the im- 
 ages of those he had injured appeared to rise upon his 
 troubled fancy, and stand before him, giving, even by their 
 quiet presence, unspeakable tortures to his feelings. 
 
 "Leave me. Brother Hendee, 0, leave me!" he would pite- 
 ously exclaim, waving his hand for the other, whom he fancied 
 to be standing by his bedside, to depart. "Away! away! I 
 cannot look on you. You forgive me? what is that to me, so 
 long as that great burning eye is looking down so fiercely 
 upon me? 0! don't smile upon me! don't. Brother Hendee! 
 It stings — it kills me! There! that is right — kind. He is 
 gone now. But what is that coming? 0! what is that?" he 
 continued, starting up with a look replete with horror and 
 distress: "see, how he reaches out his little hands as they car- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 249 
 
 ry him off into the woods, crying, uncle, save me, nncle, from 
 the Indians! It is a lie! I say I am not your uncle ! You are 
 an imp! — a fiend, come to torment me! There! I told you so 
 — I knew it — see! see, there! he is sending that troop of devils 
 to drag me down into that dreadful black gulf! 0! God! they 
 have seized me! I won^t, I won^t go! help! murder! 0! help! 
 help!" and with the expiring efforts of his delirious energies, 
 he rose up in his bed, and throwing his arms wildly above him, 
 and uttering a fearful screech, he fell down on his face, and 
 the next moment was a livid corpse! 
 
 Such was the fearful end of John Sherwood, who, with no 
 penitence that could be acceptable in the sight of Heaven, 
 thus thought to compound with his conscience, and atone for 
 his misdeeds by offering up a portion of that wealth which 
 he had made the only idol of his worship through life — a life 
 marked, indeed, with many acts of specious kindness, per- 
 formed towards those he had wronged, but always performed 
 on the principle we have mentioned, or to veil the secret in- 
 juries he had inflicted, from the eyes of his victims, and blind 
 the public to his true character. 
 
 On the second day after the event just described, and but 
 a few hours before the time appointed for the funeral cere- 
 monies, Jacob Sherwood rode into the yard, and without any 
 previous intimation of his father's death, entered the house. 
 
 "How is the old gentleman, N'abby?" he asked, approach- 
 ing and putting his mouth close to the ear of the deaf old do- 
 mestic. 
 
 "Eh? 0, — why, don't ye know? Han't they told you how 
 he is dead?" 
 
 "l*«ro! shocking! — Why, Avhen did he die?" 
 
 "Tester night — jest fore day. Desput sick, the old gentle- 
 man was that night. And he was in a terrible taking to see 
 you. Mister Jacob, fore he died." 
 
 "What did he wish to see me for in particular, do you 
 know?" 
 
 "No — not sartainly. But he was under some consarn of 
 mind, I reckon. It was malagantly to hear him take on, and 
 see him act. 0, 'twas dreadful times with us that night: I, and 
 Ezra sot up. I hope the old gentleman never did any thing 
 that was wrong." 
 
 "Ezra, what did he say?" asked Sherwood, eagerly turn- 
 ing to the boy, who was present. 
 
250 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "0^ he talked clrefful bad and scary bout somfing carrying 
 liim off. Fse mortal feared^ and went beliind the door.'' 
 
 "K'abby — say Nabby!" said the former, again addressing 
 the old woman, "who has been here since father was taken 
 sick besides the doctor?'^ 
 
 "Doctor! he wonldnH have no doctor — he took his own 
 physics." 
 
 "Who, then, has been here?" 
 
 "Why, none but old Mrs. Chandler, to tell me about fixing 
 his gruel and things, except the folks that cam_e to lay him 
 out, and Squire A^anderpool, the day fore he died, and then 
 the next morning, to carry off the papers and chests." 
 
 "Vanderpool! papers and chests! what can all that mean?" 
 said Sherwood, in an undertone, and with an air of concern. 
 "But, say, old woman, what did Squire Vanderpool and father 
 do when they were together?" 
 
 "Don't know nothing no way about it; cause they sent me 
 out — may be about some writing. La! now, I forgot the let- 
 ter," added the woman, jumping up and bringing the letter 
 the deceased had entrusted to her charge: "there lie told me 
 to make you promise to give this to Captain Hendce." 
 
 "Certainly — I promise," said Sherwood, seizing the letter 
 and putting it in his pocket. 
 
 After a few more inquiries, Sherwood retired to another 
 room, when, taking out the letter and carefully breaking it 
 open, so that it might be re-sealed, if he saw fit to suffer it to go 
 to its destination, he proceeded to read it; after which he rose, 
 took out a pocket pistol, drew the charge, went to the fire 
 place, and flashed the priming against the letter, which he 
 held between his thumb and finger till it was entirely con- 
 sumed. 
 
 "Well," said he to himself, as he replaced his pistol, "that 
 piece of evidence is at rest, I think, and if all other matters 
 can be managed as easily, all will be well. But it is very evi- 
 dent that the old man has been making a will: and Vander- 
 pool, who must be executor, I imagine, by his presuming to 
 carry off the papers and money, is a hard customer to manage 
 I confess; though it must be done by some means or other, — 
 that is if the old man's weakness and silly fears have led him 
 to make any serious inroad on my ])ro.spects. And who knows 
 how far he may have gone — devil! if he has been willing away 
 my property! But that he could not do. lie could only dis- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 251 
 
 pose of his own, the lesser half I think it must be. Well, that 
 is mine, too; and I won't go it. So, if he has been willing it 
 away, curse me, if I don't find a way to suppress or break the 
 will. Let's see, — Yanderpool is rather poor. That is lucky; 
 for a cool hundred is something of a tempter. But if that 
 fails then there are the deaf old haddock of a woman and the 
 doltish boy, ready with their humbug stories to svrear the old 
 man insane at the time. Good! I'll make it traverse some 
 how. But the first thing is to see Yanderpool; and I may 
 as well do it now. No, I forgot, — the time of the funeral is 
 at hand, and I must be rigging up, and putting on a sorrow- 
 ful face — sorrowful! as if it was a matter of special grief to 
 come into possession of a clear ten thousand!" 
 
 Thus soliloquizing, and settling his plans for repairing the 
 rent which he feared his father had made in his fortunes, the 
 heartless heir dressed himself, and Joined the domestics and 
 others, who had now come in to assist in making arrange- 
 ments for the approaching obsequies. These being made, and 
 the hour appointed for the funeral, now arriving, the cere- 
 monies were performed by a small train of the nearest neigh- 
 bors, including his executor, and one or two other individuals 
 from the city, who had sustained some connection with the de- 
 ceased in business transactions. Though the demeanor of all 
 present was marked with the decency and sobriety natural on 
 the occasion, yet none of that emotion, which the ties of heart- 
 felt friendship, severed by death, usually produces at such 
 times, was visible among the company. Not a sigh was heard, 
 not a tear was seen to bedew a single cheek, as they followed 
 the old man, who had never exhibited any feelings in common 
 with them, unwept and unhonored, to his long home. 
 
 That evening, and as early as he thought decency would per- 
 mit, after his father's remains were consigned to the earth, 
 Sherwood repaired to Yanderpool's office. And, after what 
 he deemed would be considered some suitable observations 
 upon his recent bereavement, he carelessly remarked: 
 
 "My father made a will in his last sickness, I understand." 
 
 "Well, the old gentleman undoubtedly, had property to dis- 
 pose of, I think," replied the attorney, evasively. 
 
 "You drew it, I am told," observed the other, cautiously 
 approaching the point at which he was aiming. 
 
 "Prafting instruments of that kind is part of my trade, you 
 
252 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 are aware/^ remarked Yanderpool, still evading any direct an- 
 swer to the question implied by the other's observation. 
 
 "You will not deem it improper, I presume/' said Sher- 
 wood, "for me to inquire what are the provisions of the in- 
 strument, since I am the person most interested?'' 
 
 "Why, sir," coolly remarked Vanderpool, "whether you are 
 the most interested, I should think must depend entirely 
 upon the will, whose provisions you seek to know. And as 
 regards the propriety of your making inquiries respecting those 
 provisions, I am not aware of any impropriety in your ask- 
 ing, but whether, in the case you assume, it would be proper 
 for me to answer, for the present, would depend solely on the 
 conditions imposed on me, and the instructions I have re- 
 ceived." 
 
 "0, certainly, certainly, Mr. Yanderpool," rejoined the other 
 obsequiously, though he was evidently not a little startled 
 at the ominous import of some of the attorney's remarks; "but 
 what possible motive could my father have for enjoining 
 secrecy in such a case?" 
 
 "Why, that, Mr. Sherwood, is undoubtedly a question that 
 the interrogator is no less competent of answering than the 
 interrogatee," rephed the imperturbable attorney. 
 
 "Why, surely, Mr. Yanderpool," said the baffled heir in a 
 tone of expostulation, "you do not think I wish you to do any 
 thing wrong, I trust. But if the will be a just one, there can 
 be no good reason for keeping its provisions a secret the short 
 time that intervenes before it must be openly proved; and 
 on the other hand, if it be an unjust one, a delay can be of no 
 benefit to the legatees of a will which can be so easily broken." 
 
 "Broken! how?" 
 
 "Why, I suppose you must be aware, sir, that my father was 
 not in his right mind when he executed this pretended will, 
 as can be proved by the family." 
 
 Being a little nettled at the imputation involved in the last 
 remark, that he had assisted in the making of a will when he 
 knew the testator to be incompetent, the conscientious attor- 
 ney with considerable spirit replied: 
 
 "Whose testimony, think you, sir, would weigh the most in 
 such case, two good, honest, intelligent witnesses (to say noth- 
 ing of myself), who were present and heard the testator 
 converse, or a stupid old woman, so deaf as not to hear one 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 253 
 
 word in ten of an ordinary conversation, and a more stupid 
 boy, who was rarely in his presence?'' 
 
 "0, I am no lawyer, sir/' rejoined Sherwood, with affected 
 complaisance: "that must be left to gentlemen of your pro- 
 fession to decide. I merely repeated what w^as told me. And 
 the only motive I have in making these inquiries is, to obtain 
 such knowledge of the will as shall enable me to make my ar- 
 rangements for the future; since I am compelled to return 
 immediately to my post in the Grants. And now," he con- 
 tinued, cautiously veering round on another tack, "I really 
 don't see how I can go without knowing something about the 
 disposition of this property. It is a going to be such a dis- 
 advantage to me! Why, I would not begrudge a hundred 
 pounds. Indeed, in mj peculiar situation at this time, it 
 might make more than that difference in my circumstances — " 
 
 "Ah! indeed?" observed Yanderpool, beginning to suspect 
 the drift of the other, but wishing to see how far he would 
 venture to go, if encouraged a little. 
 
 ^'Yes, that is really the case. Squire," said Sherwood, think- 
 ing he had now hit upon a right course; "and if there are 
 some nice rules among your profession to prevent your showiug 
 this will yourself in obedience to such very singular instruc- 
 tions, why, that can be easily got along with. The will can be 
 left, for instance, on yonder shelf, or some where, so that 
 should I come in to-morrow to write a letter, or the like, it 
 might be glanced at, and still no blame could fall on you — even 
 if the instrument should be afterwards missing. All would 
 come right between you and I, Squire, depend upon it. Now, 
 I should suppose, that one live client, with my means, and 
 with my friendship, would be worth a dozen dead ones, 
 shouldn't you. Squire?" 
 
 "Why, that might depend," gravely replied the attorney, 
 willing to alarm the other by way of punishing him for his 
 insulting proposals, "that would depend, I should think, some- 
 what on the question wdiether the live client had means 
 enough left him by the dead one to make good his promises." 
 
 "What mean you, sir?" hastily asked Sherwood, turning 
 pale at the intimation. 
 
 "0, I am merely making suppositions by way of answer- 
 ing your inquiries — you must put your own constructions up- 
 on them," replied Yanderpool, with a look so equivocal as still 
 to leave the would-be tempter in doubt how to proceed. 
 
254 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "Well, sir/' said Sherwood, after a hesitating pause, "what 
 am I to understand 3^ou are willing to do in this business? 
 Eeally a hard case for me, Squire — what do you say upon 
 the whole?" 
 
 "Upon the whole, then," replied the indignant attorney, 
 looking the other sternly in the face, "I say, sir, that it does 
 not follow that I am a villain and unworthy the trust reposed 
 on me, because others may think they can make me so. I am 
 sole executor on your father's estate; — the real estate, which 
 is but a small portion of the property, you can take possession 
 of as soon as you please, as to the rest, I shall take and keep 
 charge of it for the present. I know my duty, both towards you, 
 and others concerned, and you may depend I shall do it. My 
 supper waits. Good evening, sir." 
 
 So saying, and taking his hat, the independent and incor- 
 ruptible attorney turned his back on the other, and immedi- 
 ately left the office. 
 
 Yexed and discomfited at the failure of his attempt, and 
 alarmed at the startling intimations which had fallen from 
 Vanderpool, Sherwood turned his steps homeward. Eeascn- 
 ing from his own principles and feelings, he supposed that 
 the attorney would never have withstood the different tempta- 
 tions which had thus been placed before him, unless he knew 
 that the property was about to pass into the hands of others, 
 whom it was now more his interest to serve. And joining his 
 argument, unanswerable to one wdio could scarcely conceive 
 of actions not prompted by interested and selfish motives, 
 with the contemptuous bearing of the attorney, and the inti- 
 mations he had dropped, the partially- deceived, though justly 
 punished heir arrived at the maddening conclusion, that his 
 father must have bequeathed the greatest portion of his prop- 
 erty to others; and in all probability to the Hendee family, 
 to whom, besides being his only near relatives now left, his 
 penitent and remorseful feelings would naturally direct his 
 mind. And in addition to this, he was not without strong ap- 
 prehensions, that his father had imparted to Vanderpool the 
 secret which was contained in the letter directed to Captain 
 Hendee, and which, in case the son of the latter was alive, 
 would greatly multiply the chances of losing the other part 
 of the property, also. And no sooner had he become confirmed 
 in these conclusions, than he made up his mind in regard to 
 the only alternative which he believed was now left him for 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 255 
 
 securing the property. Accordingly, after making a few brief 
 arrangements with a neighbor for managing the farm, he 
 started that very night, and proceeded with all possible ex- 
 pedition to the New Hampshire Grants, where we will en- 
 deavor to meet him in another chapter. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 'Oh! what a tangled web we weave. 
 When first we practice to deceive." 
 
 After a rapid journey by land, Sherwood arrived at his 
 house in the Grants, inauspiciously for his present object, on 
 the very evening on which his base and execrable maneuvers 
 to cause the dismissal of AYarrington had been discovered by 
 Miss Hendee, in the manner we have described. And deeply 
 intent on carrying into execution his project of a union with 
 her, whom he supposed to be still the dupe of his machinations, 
 believing this now to be Ms only resource for securing the 
 property, and being deteirmined to accomplish it, if possible, 
 before the provisions of his father's will should be made 
 known, to lessen his chances of success, he, early the next 
 morning, repaired to her residence, for the purpose of urging 
 an immediate fulfillment of the engagement, which he now 
 chose to claim as having for several years existed betv\^een 
 them. And from the well known wishes of the father, on 
 whom he counted for a strong ally, and the late acquiescent 
 manner of the daughter, he had the fullest confidence that he 
 should be able to bring about his object with very little diffi- 
 culty or delay. When he arrived, however, he soon saw indi- 
 cations which considerably lowered the tone of his assurance. 
 In the first place, he was not at all pleased to find, as he un- 
 expectedly did, that Miss Eeed had taken up her residence in 
 the family, believing that she, from the connection which he 
 suspected she sustained with Selden, the friend of "Warrington, 
 Avoiild naturally exercise her influence against one of whom 
 she had doubtless received unfavorable impressions. And in 
 17 
 
256 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 addition to this^ his quick eye detected a change in tlie manner 
 of Alma herself towards him, which he fancied had reference 
 to the subject of his present anxiety. And even in the demeanor 
 of the father, he thought he perceived a want of cordiality, 
 which never before marked his receptions. But notwith- 
 standing all these discouraging appearances, he determined 
 on persevering in his original purpose. And, carefully abstain- 
 ing from all mention of his father's death, he early sought a 
 private interview with Miss Hendee, who, with a sort of busi- 
 ness-like promjDtitude, and with the air of one who is fully 
 prepared for an eclaircissement, immediately assented to his 
 proposal. 
 
 "Mr. Sherwood has something particular to offer, I con- 
 clude?'' enquiringly said Alma, with a most freezing dignity 
 of manner, as soon as they were seated in a room by them- 
 selves. 
 
 "Why, you know. Alma, my attentions to you have ever 
 been particular," replied Sherwood, with what he intended 
 for an endearing smile. 
 
 "Enough so, certainly," was the ecjuivocal response. 
 
 "Well, I am happy," rejoined the other, purposely constru- 
 ing the remark in his own favor, "that you acquit me of 
 any neglect in my attentions to one who is so worthy of 
 them, and one in whom I have ever felt so deep an interest." 
 
 "You have manifested but little lack of interest in me, or 
 my concerns, I am free to acknowledge, sir," remarked Alma, 
 in the same equivocal manner. 
 
 "I hope I am not doubted in this respect," said Sherwood, 
 with the air of an arraigned school boy, attempting to put 
 an immaterial issue, in order to escape, or delay a blow, 
 which he sees the disposer of his fate is preparing to give 
 him. 
 
 "0, not in the least, sir," replied Alma, in a tone and man- 
 ner still more ironical and significant than before; "for I have 
 lately received a sufficient proof of the interest you have taken 
 in my affairs, in the confession of a certain tinker, whom you 
 may recollect having consulted on the subject, on a former 
 occasion?" 
 
 "Why — now — really!" stammered Sherwood, utterly discon- 
 certed at this cutting allusion to a transaction which he sup- 
 posed was known only to himself and the immediate actor in 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 257 
 
 the affair: ^^really. Miss Hendee, I have not the happiness of 
 understanding your meaning/^ 
 
 "Would further disclosures be likely to increase your hap- 
 piness in that respect, sir?" asked Alma, coolly. 
 
 "I did not seek this interview. Miss Hendee," rejoined the 
 other, now recovering his assurance, "to listen to a recital of 
 all the slanders that may have happened to reach your ears; 
 but I sought it on more important business." 
 
 "I will not hear your proposition, sir," said she, without 
 deigning any further reply. 
 
 "Why, surely. Alma," observed Sherwood, in an expostu- 
 lating tone, "I know not how I have had the misfortune to 
 offend you, as from your manner, I fear I have. I had fondly 
 anticipated a different reception. I had at last arranged my 
 business, so that I felt myself, for the first time since our 
 intimacy, at liberty to settle down in life; and, accordingly, 1 
 came to propose a consummation of the engagement, which has 
 been so long settled between us." 
 
 "I v/onder, sir," said Alma, "you had not first made knovrn 
 your intentions to my father, with whom the engagement you 
 claim to exist, was made, I believe. Perhaps you might meet 
 with better success in that quarter." 
 
 "You seem disposed to trifle with my feelings. Miss Hen- 
 dee,'^ rejoined Sherwood, growing restless. "I wish for a 
 direct answer, whether you will, or will not, fulfill your en- 
 gagement Avith me." 
 
 "A direct ansv/er, sir, then you shall have; and I will add, I 
 feel not a little grateful for being, for the first time since my 
 acquaintance with you, allowed the opportunity of giving one.. 
 Mr. Sherwood, I shall never voluntarily unite my destinies with 
 yours." 
 
 "Surely you would not break a solemn engagement?" 
 "A passive acquiescence — a tacit consent, wrung from me 
 by the force of circumstances, is, as you well know, sir, all the 
 engagement that you can claim of me. And even that, your 
 conscience must tell you, you have long since forfeited by 
 your own conduct." 
 
 "Are you prepared. Miss, for the consequences which may 
 follow the step you seem determined on taking?" 
 
 "You do well, sir, I acknowledge, to remind me of that 
 consideration," bitterly retorted the indignant maiden; "for I 
 am aware that it is no light matter to brave the revenge 
 
258 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 of one who could instigate the assassination of a supposed 
 rival." 
 
 Sherwood started as if stung by an adder, at the damning 
 truth of the allusion. His face became fairly livid with sup- 
 pressed rage and chagrin, and biting his bloodless lips, he 
 rose and slunk out of the apartment, as would a demon from 
 the presence of some pure being from the skies, without utter^ 
 ing one word in his own defense, or even lifting his eyes to the 
 withering countenance, which was bent upon him, with a look 
 of mingled pity, abhorrence, and contempt. Leaving the 
 house, the discomfited villain immediately sought Captain 
 Hendee in an adjoining field, for the purpose of instigating 
 the old gentleman to measures of compulsion upon the re- 
 fractory daughter, in furtherance of his designs. But here, 
 also, he was unexpectedly doomed to disappointment and de- 
 feat. Upon Alma's return to the house, after the receipt of 
 the communication exposing the baseness of Sherwood, she 
 had sought an interview with her father, read him the letter, 
 frankly confessed her own feelings, and disclosed all she knew, 
 no't only of the course and conduct of Sherwood, but also that 
 of AYarrington, for a part of which she was indebted to her 
 fair companion, who in turn received it from her lover, Selden, 
 the intimate of Warrington. And among the rest, she ,had 
 made known to the astonished father the magnanimous con- 
 duct of the latter in regard to his ownership of the land on 
 which the}^ resided, the circumstances of which she herself had 
 never been apprised of till that very evening. And although 
 the old gentleman had listened to her disclosures without ut- 
 tering a single word in reply, from which she could learn his 
 opinions on the subject, her communications, nevertheless, had 
 produced a deep impression on his mind and feelings, that were 
 now fluctuating back and forth, like contending currents of 
 wind, when but a slight impulse is required to turn them back 
 in fury in a direction exactly the reverse from that in which 
 they commenced blowing. 
 
 ^'I little expected. Captain Hendee," said Sherwood, with 
 the air of an injured man, as he approached the other, "I 
 little expected, sir, when I arrived here to have met with 
 the reception which I have just received from your daugh- 
 ter." 
 
 *^Why, what's the matter, sir, — what's the matter?" re- 
 ,plied the Captain, with an air of indifference. 
 
TilE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ^ ^59 
 
 ^^Tlie matter, sir? wliy, your dangliter refuses to fulfill her 
 engagement to me, sir." 
 
 ^'Ah! what reasons did she give for that, sir?" 
 
 "No good reasons, sir. She has been listening to the tales 
 of slanderers — some enemy has been prejudicing her mind 
 against me, by falsehoods — utter falsehoods, sir!" 
 
 "Or has she not heard, rather more truth about your ma- 
 neuvres than you intended should have reached her ears? 
 Come, now, be honest, Jake, and tell me." 
 
 "Are you, too, in the league against me? — am I to under- 
 stand that you, too, justify her in this course, sir?" hastily 
 demanded Sherwood, nettled at the cool, indifferent manner 
 of the other, as much as at the blunt severity involved in his 
 question. "I had little expected this from you, sir! I should 
 have supposed the interest of your family would prompt you 
 to a different course." 
 
 "Hinging on my obligations, are you, sir?" said the Cap- 
 tain, turning fiercely on the other, with eyes flashing indigna- 
 tion. "Look ye, Jake Sherwood, I have, from the very first, 
 used all reasonable exertions with my daughter, to reconcile 
 her to this match. And even more, I have done that, which, 
 when I have looked upon her fading face, and knew that she 
 was martyring her own heart to please me, has smitten my con- 
 science for years. And now I am resolved to leave her to make 
 her own decisions, unbiased by word of mine. And as to your 
 threats, sir, all I have to say is, go, and do your worst! Take 
 all there is here to yourself, if that will satisfy you; or go 
 join the enemies of your country, as I have long suspected you 
 intended, and bring them down upon us to murder and des- 
 troy, if you choose. But donH think to buy and bribe me to 
 sell my own flesh and blood! And don^t come here again, sir, 
 with accusations against us, till you can come with cleaner 
 hands. Good morning, sir!" 
 
 So saying, the indig-nant old man unceremoniously turned 
 his back on his abashed and astonished guest, and hastily 
 hobbled off to his work; while the latter, after standing mute 
 and motionless, on the spot several minutes, and leering on 
 the receding form of the other, with the concentrated malice 
 of a fiend in his looks, slowly turned away, muttering between 
 his clenched teeth, "Revenge! revenge! I wonder if they will 
 cheat me out of that too?" 
 
 Feeling no desire of returning to the house, or again encoun- 
 
260 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 tering any of its inmates^ Sherwood now struck across tlio 
 fields, and directed his course towards Snake Mountain, at the 
 particular spot which we have before described as the encamp- 
 ment of the Green Mountain Boys; but which was now occu- 
 pied by another and a far dilf erent company. To this place wq 
 will now take the reader preceding the baffled intriguer a short 
 time, to take a glance at the party there assembled. 
 
 Sherwood had secretly been in the interests of the Royalists 
 for nearly two years previous to this period of our story; and 
 more than a year before he had received a captain's com- 
 mission, with directions to raise a company in the Xew Hamp- 
 shire Grants, in which, he had represented to the British 
 officers, with whom he privately kept up a communication, 
 were to be found many faithful adherents of the Crown. And 
 Darrow, through Sherwood's influence, had also been com- 
 missioned as Lieutenant of the contemplated company. But 
 with all that this pair of military worthies were able to efffict, 
 they never had found more than about a half dozen men in 
 this settlement, to wdiom they dared to propose an enlistment 
 into the king's service. These, with about an equal number 
 picked up within the borders of New York, they had at length 
 enrolled, and organized into a fragment of a company, which, 
 for the first time, had been called out a few days previous to 
 this time, with the view of cooperating with the invading army 
 of Burgoyne. About a dozen in all, they were now encamped, 
 on the ground formerly taken, as before mentioned, by War- 
 rington and his companions, and were waiting in conceal- 
 ment, the approach of the British hordes, that were now 
 pouring down upon the devoted settlement from the north. 
 
 At the time we would introduce this group to the reader, 
 Darrow had just arrived from the British camp, whither he 
 had been despatched by Sherwood, wdien the latter was on 
 the point of setting out on his recent visit to Albany. And 
 having taken some refreshment, the lieutenant was now sit- 
 ting on a rough bench, near the entrance of their shantee, en- 
 joying a little repose after the fatigues of his morning's march. 
 He had fallen into a doze, and appeared to be lost to all ex- 
 ternal objects; while the men within, mostly morose, sullen 
 looking fellows, were some of them playing cards, some tell- 
 ing stories, and otliers talking over the plans they had formed 
 to revenge themselves upon certain families in the settlement, 
 against whom they entertained private grudges, as soon as they 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 261 
 
 should be let loose upon the inhabitants, at present wholly nn- 
 protected by any military force within their borders^ and but 
 little aware of the dangers that awaited them. 
 
 At this moment, Sherwood, having passed the line of sen- 
 tries, posted at intervals round the encampment, more to 
 guard against being seen and reported by the inhabitants, than 
 any expected attack, approached his sleeping subaltern, and 
 tapped him lightly on the shoulder. But the latter not 
 awakening, the other grasped his coat collar, and gave him a 
 rough, impatient shake, at which the sleeper, suddenly start- 
 ing, leaped on his feet, and dashing away the grasping hand of 
 his superior, fiercely exclaimed: 
 
 "Fll be d — ned, if you shall! You have come before your 
 time, be off! be off, I say! Oh! ah!" he continued, rubbing 
 his eyes, and beginning to distinguish between the reality and 
 the image that appeared to have been haunting his dreaming 
 fancy: "Why, Captain, it is only you after all, is it? Well, 
 well, now!" 
 
 "Why, who did you suppose it was, Darrow, I should like to 
 know?" 
 
 "0, no matter, now, — I was in the middle of a cursed dream, 
 and thought a different character had waited on me to do a 
 little business in his line — though not so very different, per- 
 haps. But let the humbug go — ^rvdiat is the news?" 
 
 "Everything that is bad," replied Sherwood, morosely. "The 
 very devil himself, I would not have believed, could baffle me 
 so much in my plans, as I have been, since I saw you." 
 
 "Why, what now. Captain? you seem rather out of humor 
 — what has happened?" 
 
 "In the first place the old man is dead. He died the day 
 before I arrived." 
 
 "Well, what of that? He did not carry off his money with 
 him, did he?" 
 
 "No, but he got penitent before he went off, and wrote out 
 a confession of that old affair, in a letter to Hendee." 
 
 "And you let it reach him, hey?" 
 
 "Not so big a fool as you think. I gave it to the flames, be- 
 fore it was read by anyone but myself, I think." 
 
 "Very well, where are your great troubles, then?" 
 
 "Why — why — " replied Sherwood, hesitating to inform the 
 other, as he was about to do, the particulars about the will, 
 and the extent of his fears respecting the disposition of the 
 
262 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 property, lest the minion might consider it for his interest to 
 betray him to the Hendees; "why, I did not think to name it/' 
 continued the artful dissembler, deciding the question he had 
 been debating in his mind in the negative, "but, upon the 
 whole, as you already know so much about the affair, I think 
 I will: well, getting home last night, I thought I would go 
 down to Hendee's this morning; so I went, and soon found 
 the devil to pay. That snealdng tinker had been there, and 
 confessed all, and the girl fairly spurned me from her presence; 
 while her father — curse the old dotard! he, though owing 
 me for half his living for years, had the audacity to in- 
 sult me — yes, insult me. Bill. But'' — and he nodded signifi- 
 cantly. 
 
 "But what?" 
 
 "I can help myself, Darrow." 
 
 "Well, I would do it, Jake, without any more puttering 
 with the proud minx." 
 
 "I will. My plans are fixed. When did you return from 
 head quarters?" 
 
 "Kot two hours ago — I left there early this morning." 
 
 "What is the news ?" 
 
 "The whole army have moved on to the mouth of the 
 Boquet, Avhere they are now encamped. A large body of 
 Indians joined them yesterday, and General Burgoyne dis- 
 tributed presents among them^ made a speech to fix them for 
 fight, and wound ofi: by giving them a grand war-feast. Hell 
 and thunder! what whooping and yelling there was there last 
 night! one would have thought that all tophet had been 
 emptied upon the earth, and that the world was alive with 
 devils!" 
 
 "Good! Just the instruments for our purpose in punishing 
 the doubly damned rebels of this settlement. But did not the 
 General send me any directions?" 
 
 "Yes," replied Darrow, taking a letter from his pocket, 
 "he sent you this, and also," he continued, stepping within 
 the shantee and bringing out a thick package of papers, "and 
 also this bundle of proclamations, to be immediately distri- 
 buted over the settlement." 
 
 "Well, let us first see what the General has written me," 
 said Sherwood breaking the superb seal, and reading the con- 
 tents of the letter, a very fair specimen of the official fustian 
 of its doughty author, who, it may be recollected, was a fop 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 263 
 
 in literature as well as a braggart in arms. The communica- 
 tion ran thus: — - 
 
 J. Sherwood, Esq., Captain of His Majesty's Loyal Americans 
 
 in the N"ew Hampshire Grants, — 
 
 It is one of the felicities of soldiership, and of the gratifica- 
 tions of a commander, to award the meed of approbation to 
 fidelity in a common cause, and fealty to a common sovereign. 
 This meed, sir, I deem it no flattery to say is yours, speaking, 
 as I do, from ]3ersonal acquaintance, and on the voucher of 
 Colonel Beverly Eobinson, a Loyal American officer, of worth, 
 and zeal, and activit}^ 
 
 The army under my command will now in a day or two 
 move southwardly, mainly by water, but partly by land on 
 either side of the lake. To you, sir, and the brave and loyal men 
 whom you have, and may yet further induce to act with you^ 
 we look for a hearty co-operation in all that can be effected 
 on the eastern shore, and, by the blessings of God, I will effect 
 much, while we i3roceed to the investiture, and consequent cap- 
 ture of Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and all other opposing 
 obstacles, on our victorious march to Albany. I send you by 
 the bearer. Lieutenant William Darrow^ a package of procla- 
 mations> issued by me, and signed by the same, and counter- 
 signed by Epbert Kingston, Esquire, Secretary. They are ad- 
 dresses to the deluded and suffering people of your settle- 
 ment. I anticipate great and universal effect from this appeal^ 
 made irresistible, as it is, by offers of royal mercy to the peni- 
 tent, arguments of ineffable potency to the deceived by rebel 
 sophistry and falsehood, and by the palpable shadowing forth 
 of the sword of justice, in the contingent action of our red 
 allies, to the perverse and stubborn. You will cause one of 
 these^ my proclamations, to be immediately left at every cot- 
 tage and hamlet, if possible, in the settlement — ^to the pro- 
 testations of which proclamation, together with such pecuniary 
 inducements as you may deem it expedient to offer towards 
 redeeming the land from the disgrace and ruinous anarchy 
 of an unnatural rebellion, and restoring a government of laws, 
 of honor, of legitimate and happy sovereignty, you will add 
 your own attestations. 
 
 With sentiments, believe me, 
 
 my very dear sir, of esteem, 
 
 J. Burgoyne. 
 
264 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "There! what think you of that, Bill?" exultingly ex> 
 claimed Sherwood, as he concluded the perusal of the precious 
 document. "Is not that a handsome thing for a man, who 
 stands so high at the British court, to say to and of us?" 
 
 "Why, yes, Captain, what he means is well enough, I 
 s'pose; but if a British General had not writ it, I should 
 have called some of it nothing but damn flumididdle." 
 
 "0, it is a feather in our caps, Darrow, depend on't. Bur- 
 goyne is hand and glove with the king and ministers, be- 
 sides being a noted warrior. He will conquer all the northern 
 colonies. The rebellion, indeed, is as good as crushed al- 
 ready. And then the country will be divided oif into lordships, 
 and those, who have been most active in subduing the rebels, 
 will all receive rich rewards out of their confiscated estates. 
 Bright days are before us. Bill. And while we are thus mak- 
 ing our fortunes, what a glorious chance to pay off old scores 
 upon these rascally settlers? You can safely act out nature 
 now. Bill, with a vengeance. We will have our revenge, and 
 the beauty of it is, that others must father our deeds, and pay 
 us well into the bargain for what it is only a happiness to 
 perform." 
 
 "What are your plans. Captain?" 
 
 "You, or I, must go, this very night, over to the British 
 camp, and get Burgoyne to let us have fifty redskins to make 
 up our.compan}^ We shall want them soon, and perhaps I 
 may, for the first purpose." 
 
 "Damn it, Jake, you are too thirsty," said the minion, 
 looking keenl}^ at the other and comprehending the purpose 
 of which he spoke: "they are your own flesh and blood. 
 You donH mean to let those red devils loose upon them, do 
 you?" 
 
 "i^o; but leave me to take care of them. They need not 
 be harmed, but prisoners they shall be till that haughty jade's 
 pride is brought to begging terms. And this is the first case, 
 Darrow, to be attended to." 
 
 "I am not quite sure but there is another case for you to 
 attend to, also, Jake." 
 
 "'AVhat is that?" asked Sherwood, turning to the other, 
 with a look of blended curiosity and apprehension. 
 
 "Why, perhaps it is all nothing but a iiotion, after all. But 
 I will tell 3^ou the wrinkle that^s got into my head, and how it 
 got there. In coming from head quarters to-day, I ran my 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 265 
 
 canoe generally close in to the shore of the other side of the 
 lake, and, on arriving within abont a mile of Crown Point, 
 and abont as far as I intended, before crossing over to this 
 side, I took it into my head I would go np into the woods, 
 climb a tree, and try to get a peep into the fort, as the general 
 asked me very particularly about the number of the garrison 
 there. Well, I went on a piece into the woods, when I heard 
 the steps of some one crossing my course ahead, and taking his 
 way to the fort; so I squatted down in an old tree top, where 
 I could remain unseen till he passed by. His course brought 
 him within a few rods of the spot where I lay; and when near- 
 ly abreast of me, he mounted an old log, and, without discover- 
 ing me, took a sort of leisurely survey of the woods around 
 him, turning his face so as to give me a fair view of his coun- 
 tenance — and — '' 
 
 "Well, what more about it — who and what was he?" 
 
 "Why, though not in full uniform, I think he must be a 
 young rebel officer, who had been out with his gun for game. 
 Though he must have arrived at the fort quite lately." 
 
 "But who do you mistrust him to be?" asked Sherwood, 
 with evident uneasiness. 
 
 "That is the question that has been bothering my brains 
 ever since. Jake, don't you think it possible for a man to 
 wear about the same face and look that he did when a boy, 
 so that one, who had never seen him from four or jBve years 
 old, would know him again when grown up?^' 
 
 "Yes, barely possible; but what the devil are you coming 
 to. Bill? What has that to do with this case?" demanded 
 Sherwood, with an agitation which he was unable to conceal. 
 
 "May be a good deal. There was something in this fel- 
 low's looks that struck me, — that made me ready to swear I 
 had seen the. same countenance before, though some how, not 
 just the same neither. Well, he finally went on, and I, forget- 
 ting all about spying into the fort, went back, and struck off 
 for this side, this fellow's countenance all the while haunt- 
 ing me, and working up a devilish strange, streaked kind of 
 feeling, that I can't very well describe. Well, as I was cross- 
 ing over, still bothering on the subject, I happened to cast my 
 eyes up the lake, when I caught a glimpse of old Hendee's 
 house through the trees; and by heavens! it came across my 
 mind, like a flash of lightning, who the fellow must be." 
 
 "What mean you, Darrow?'' exclaimed Sherwood, seizing 
 
266 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 the arm of the other with a convulsive grasp, while his face 
 became as pale as ashes. 
 
 '^^I mean/' replied Darrow, looking his agitated companion 
 full in the face, and speaking in a low, measured, and decisive 
 tone, "I mean, Jake Sherwood, that if Captain Hendee's boy 
 lived, he is now among us!'' 
 
 Long and earnestly communed these worthies in conjec- 
 tures about the person concerning whom Darrow had made, as 
 he felt confident he had, so startling a discovery. Who could 
 he be? By what name now known ? Could he be aware of his 
 own family history? Had he discovered his relations? were 
 questions which were raised b}^ them, but without finding any 
 satisfactory answers. The two last questions, however, were at 
 length settled in the negative. And, after some further dis- 
 cussion, in regard to the best means of ascertaining more about 
 the private history of the unconscious object of their delibera- 
 tions, and the most feasible way of disposing of him, if the in- 
 formation gained rendered it probable he was the person they 
 feared him to be, they broke up their conference, Darrow re- 
 tiring to rest, and Sherwood, with two of his men, as attend- 
 ants and oarsmen, setting off for head quarters, fifteen or twen- 
 ty miles distant from the tory encampment. 
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 "Sounds from the waters, sounds upon tlie earth, 
 Sounds in the air of "battle! Yet with these 
 A voice is mingling, whose deep tones give birth 
 To faith and courage." 
 
 The storm of war which had been gathering for some weeks 
 in the north, almost unnoticed by the Americans now began 
 to roll down upon their frontier settlements with a rapidity 
 as alarming as it was unexpected. Although the leaders of the 
 continental army were aware of the landing of a large British 
 force at Quebec, in the month of May, from which an invasion 
 was expected, either by way of Osvrego, as had previously been 
 given out, or through the valley of Lake Champlain; yet, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 267 
 
 countiBg on tlie same dilatory action, by whicli all the move- 
 ments of the enemy had been characterized ever since the bat- 
 tle of Bunker Hill, they supposed it might be late in the sum- 
 mer before the hostile army, should they take the eastern 
 route, would reach the military posts on Champlain. But 
 whatever might have been the errors of other British com- 
 manders in the respect just named, none of that kind certainly 
 could be chargeable on General Burgoyne. The navigable 
 waters of the north had scarcely burst their wintry fetters be- 
 fore he landed at Montreal. And in another week he was 
 pouring the disciplined bands of his ^jroud and numerous 
 army along the western shores of Lake Champlain. The 
 American generals were, in a great measure, taken by surprise 
 by this rapid advance of the enemy, and having delayed to • 
 strengthen their defenses, they were but illy prepared to 
 meet the first shock of so powerful a force. And if those, 
 whose duty it was to make themselves early acquainted with 
 the enemy's movements had thus been kept in the dark re- 
 specting the important one in question, still less, as may well 
 be supposed, were the inhabitants of the country apprised of 
 the time and extent of the coming invasion. The settlers of 
 the iSTew Hampshire Grants, who were directly in the route 
 of the enemy, were consequently almost wholly ignorant of 
 the dangers that awaited them till the storm was nearly ready 
 to burst on their defenseless heads. And their surprise, there- 
 fore, was only equalled by their dismay, when the American 
 scouts, who had been despatched to gain intelligence of the re- 
 ported invasion, returned and spread the startling news, that 
 a British army of ten thousand regulars, with several thou- 
 sand savage foes, was within a few miles of their borders, 
 ready to spread death and devastation over their whole settle- 
 ment. This .information, which many still hoped might be 
 false, or greatly exaggerated, was fully confirmed the next 
 morning after it was received by the scouts, by Burgoyne's 
 proclamations, which, through the activity of Sherwood's band 
 of tories, had been left during the night at the door of every 
 house through all the northern section of the country. This 
 pompous and gasconading document, however, with all its 
 promises and threats, had, notwithstanding its author's an- 
 ticipations, no other effect on the inhabitants than to bring 
 them to the determination of driving off their stock so far into 
 the interior as to be out of the reach of the enemy, and of 
 
268 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 commencing active preparations for fleeing themselves before 
 tlie invading army. 
 
 ^Yith these general observations on the situation of affairs 
 at this particular junction, we will now return to the Hendee 
 family, to follow their fortunes through the fearful trials 
 which were now shortly to await them. 
 
 It was not till night, after the signal failure of Sherwood 
 at their cottage, that Miss Hendee had an opportunity of as- 
 certaining what had passed between that personage and her 
 father in their recent interview. That evening Captain Hen- 
 dee, on his return from the labors of the day, entered the room 
 where Alma happened at the moment to be sitting alone, and 
 silently took a seat at the open window. A frown was upon 
 his brow. The uneasiness, which a man of high spirit may be 
 expected to feel from a sense of obligations to one he secretly 
 despises, combined, in the jDresent instance, with the mean ad- 
 vantage taken of such obligations by Sherwood, had, all the 
 afternoon, been operating upon the old gentleman's irritable 
 temperament; and he was novv^ evidently in no very pleasant 
 frame of mind. At the first glance his daughter detected 
 in his countenance the unfailing indications of a storm: but 
 on whom it was to burst, she vs^as unable to determine. Erom 
 the circumstances attending the interview between Sherwood 
 and her father, she felt satisfied, that she, herself, had been 
 the subject of their discourse; and although extremely anxious 
 to know the result of that conference, yet she almost feared 
 the knowledge she wished to obtain. And with trembling 
 solicitude, therefore, she awaited in silence the announcement, 
 which she saw from her father^s mood, would not long be 
 withheld. After sitting some minutes pufiB.ng away rapidly 
 at his pipe, and knitting his brows, with an angry flashing 
 expression of countenance, he suddenly drew the implement 
 from his mouth, and by way of knocking* out the ashes, 
 gave it so spiteful a rap on the window-sill as to shiver it to 
 pieces in his hand. Hastily dashing the broken fragments 
 out of the window, he turned abruptly to his daughter, and 
 said: 
 
 ^''Alma, what did Jake Sherwood say to you to-day?" 
 
 "Why, many things, father, — would you wish me to repeat 
 all he said?" 
 
 ^•Yes. I don't hold to prying into such matters, for a 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 269 
 
 general rule, hut I have particular reasons for wishing to know 
 now." 
 
 Still feeling uncertain on whom the resentment of her father 
 was about to fall, Alma, with some agitation, proceeded to 
 detail the conversation in question, giving the words used by 
 Sherwood, and the substance of her own replies. 
 
 "Threats to you, too, hey?" said the Captain, after listen- 
 ing attentively to his daughters relation of the affair. "Why 
 didn't you drive the pitiful puppy from the house with your 
 broomstick ?'' 
 
 "You astonish me, father!" replied Alma, looking up into 
 the face of the other with an expression of joyful surprise. 
 
 The old gentleman made no reply, but again relapsing into 
 moody silence, sat some time without uttering a word. At 
 length he brought his foot to the floor with an angry, decisive 
 stamp — and while the tears, which were brought to his eyes 
 by his keenly conflicting emotions, were glimmering on the 
 quickly moving lashes, he again turned suddenly to his ex- 
 pecting daughter and asked: 
 
 "Alma, are you willing to become a slave?" 
 
 "For my own, and your support, I could cheerfully be- 
 come one, dear father. But a slave to a villain I can never 
 be." 
 
 "Nobly said! spoken with the spirit of a Hendee! would to 
 God I was more worthy of such a daughter!" exclaimed the 
 passionate old man, choking with emotion: "come here. Alma, 
 I have been wrong, and you have been right, — come, come 
 to me, my child, forgive and kiss me." 
 
 In another instant the father and daughter were locked 
 in each other's arms, intermingling their tears, and giving 
 themselves up to the gush of feelings which was overflov.dng 
 their hearts at this return of mutual love and confidence to 
 their long estranged and distrusting bosoms. 
 
 "I did not make any reply to you, Alma, when you laid open 
 to me the conduct of that base and intriguing villain," at 
 length observed the Captain, releasing his daughter from his 
 embrace, and regaining his composure, though the other con- 
 tinued weeping. "But it was not because I doubted the truth 
 of what you told me, or because I had it in my heart to try 
 to restrain you any further. It was because I felt self-con- 
 demned, guilty — guilty for what I had already done in mak- 
 ing war upon the happiness, and, I know not, but upon the 
 
^70 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 healtlij of my own^ and only child. 0, don't vreep so — don't, 
 my dear daughter! Thank God, we have both now cut the ties 
 by which we were held in bondage, and are free. The bher- 
 woods may have all: and we won't trouble them neither to 
 drive us off: we will leave this place Alma, for the southern 
 part of the settlement. As old and infirm as I am, I can still 
 work. Our faithful Neshobee will also stick by us, and work 
 as much as an Indian will ever work, for you know the Indians 
 are a lazy race, and we must make allowance for him. But 
 at all events, as poorly as we may fare, our poverty will be 
 happiness compared to the slavery that Jake Sherwood would 
 now impose on us if we remain. Yes^ Alma, we will go — that 
 is if you are willing. What say you, my danghter, are you 
 ready to relinquish this pleasant home, and go with me, penni- 
 less, indeed, but with the proud and happy consciousness that 
 we are free.^' 
 
 ^^0, yes, yes, indeed, my dear father,'^ eagerly replied the 
 other, with a look of joy and gratitude, that beamed brightly 
 through her still fast falling tears; '^^and never coiUd an east- 
 ern slave leave his gilded fetters behind him with more pleasure 
 than I shall quit this place. Yes, yes; and, believe me, my 
 father, however hard my lot — ^liowever menial I had known 
 would be my employment for support, I have not seen an hour 
 for the last two long and Joyless years, but my heart would 
 have leaped to hear you make such a proposal. And if such 
 then were my feelings, judge what must now be my pleasure 
 to hear your announcement.^^ 
 
 The conversation was here interrupted by a light rap on 
 the door, and while the Captain and his daughter were pausing 
 for a repetition of the sound, uncertain whether it proceeded 
 from some one wishing for admittance, the door was partly 
 opened by a man without, and the queer visage of our old 
 friend Pete Jones, was protruded with a comical, inquiring 
 look, into the room. 
 
 "How are ye?" he said, after glancing from father to 
 daughter a moment, with a half sheepish, half roguish ex- 
 pression, indicating his consciousness of having on a former 
 occasion, played a little upon the credulity of the old gentle- 
 man, of which he felt slightly ashamed, though still inwardly 
 tickled at the recollection of the trick: "how are ye, Captain? 
 Sarvant, marm!'' 
 
 "It is Mr. Jones of the army, father, the person who gave 
 me the news I imparted to you respecting the expected in- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 27i 
 
 rasion/' observed Miss Hendee^ noticing that lier father did 
 not recognize the scout. 
 
 "Ah! the tall gentleman that called here once — I recollect 
 — did yon try my remedy — bnt no matter^ now — walk in, walk 
 in, sir," said the Captain. 
 
 "Why, no, tankee/' replied Jones, leaning his long body on 
 his arm, and swaying it to and fro by the play of the door 
 on its hinges as he grasped the handle, "I guess I'm rather 
 too much in a hurry about these times.'' 
 
 "You called on some errand, then? — to give us some news, 
 perhaps?" rejoined the Captain, expectingly. 
 
 "Why, yes — that is, if you would like to hear it — that is, 
 if you han't heard it already." 
 
 "Speak on, sir." 
 
 "AYell, I thought I'd just pop in my countenance, as I came 
 along back, to see, that in case the devil was at your heels, 
 whether you would like to know it?" 
 
 "You speak in riddles — ^liow shall I understand you, sir?" 
 
 "Well, I an't particular, how." 
 
 "You said the devil?" 
 
 "Yes, and his name is Legion. Why, to be plain about it. 
 Captain, a British army of ten thousand, with as many red 
 skins as one would wish to see, will most likely be here before 
 to-morrow niiiht." 
 
 "You astonish me, sir! Has any news of this reached the 
 other settlers in this quarter?" 
 
 "I have just sent a brother scout up the road here, to tell 
 them they may as well be driving off their cattle, and jogging 
 along south themselves in the course of to-morrow. I just 
 come from the fort over here, and they've ^Dretty much con- 
 cluded to pack up there, and be oif for Old Ti. to-night; so 
 the red coats and Indians will have full play along the shores 
 till they get to Ti., where there will be something of a brush, 
 likely." 
 
 "You would advise us women and cripples, then, to beat a 
 retreat, would you?" 
 
 "Why, yes, that's rather my notion, considering. Though 
 Burgoyne says — haven't you seen his proclamation?" 
 
 "Ko." 
 
 "Well, you will soon, I guess. The tories have scattered 'em 
 as thick as bumblebees along north of here. Burgoyne says, 
 as nigh as I can English the high-flown concern, stay at home, 
 
 18 
 
272 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 sell Mm your cattle, and he will protect you. But if you 
 budge an inch, he will let loose the red skins to act at their 
 pleasure upon you. And what that will be, you know as well 
 as any man, they say. Captain/' 
 
 "Yes, I know enough of their tender mercies. And I know 
 also that Burg03^ne, what ever he may promise, can no more 
 restrain the hell-hounds, after he has once let them from their 
 slips, than he can crupper the whirlwinds. Montcalm tried 
 that experiment, on that dreadful day of blood and horror, 
 at Fort William Henry — at least, I think he tried to avert 
 the catastrophe: for Montcalm, though an enemy that 
 troubled us much, was yet a brave man; and as a general rule, 
 my friend, you will never find a truly brave man either cruel 
 or treacherous. The great sin is in employing the Indians. 
 And this circumstance will do much, in the present case, to 
 hasten the destruction of Burgoyne. Even the dead, almost, 
 will rise up to bear arms against him. All 'New England in 
 a week, will be in motion. In another week as he passes 
 along up the lake they will be hanging like an angry thunder 
 cloud on his flank. And, mark my word, sir, this General 
 will find, before he reaches Albany, that neither his numbers 
 nor his proclamations will save him." 
 
 "The Lord grant you may prove a true prophet, and I think, 
 upon the whole, you will. Howsomever, Captain, it will be 
 considerable of a chore to bring it all to pass. And while we 
 are fixing for it, I rather guess you, along the northern parts 
 here, may as well make yourselves scarce a little." 
 
 "We intend it, sir. Indeed, as regards my family, we had 
 
 alreadv determined on a removal soon. And now we shall 
 
 * 
 
 follow your advice immediately, wath many thanks to you for 
 calling. Let me see — our first move shall be for Eutland, 
 where we can probably safely remain a few days, to conclude 
 on a place for a more permanent residence." 
 
 "Will you, sir," said Miss Hendee, with a slight blush, as she 
 perceived the scout v\^as about to depart, "will you apprise 
 our friends in the army of the destination we think of tak- 
 ing?" 
 
 "Will you take this, sir, to the person to whom it is ad- 
 dressed?" said Miss Eeed, who, during the latter part of the 
 conversation, had been nimbly plying her fingers over the 
 blank leaf of a little volume which she had been reading in 
 an adjoining apartment, when the scout's voice and anticipated 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 273 
 
 errand broiigiit lier into the room. "You see^ Alma, I am not 
 afraid to write to my beau; now I will leave it to the Cap- 
 tain to say, who is the bravest?" she added, turning to the 
 latter with an expression in which roguish defiance, and fear 
 of disapprobation, were queerly blended. 
 
 "Ah, girls," said the Captain in reply, after a moment's 
 hesitation, which seemed to end in a conclusion to treat the 
 matter good naturedh^, "you may be setting your caps for men 
 that will be swinging on the gallows in three months: for you 
 know, in attempted revolutions, men are only patriots and 
 heroes when they succeed^ and are but rebels and traitors when 
 they don't." 
 
 "We prefer, however," replied Alma, with spirit, "to set our 
 .caps for men who may be hung on that principle, rather than 
 for those who should be hung on every other." 
 
 "Is there not a law. Captain Hendee," asked Jessy, archly, 
 "that a man may be pardoned on the gallows, if a lady can be 
 found who will step up and marry him on the spot?" 
 
 "Why, I have heard such stories," replied the Captain 
 laughing, "but supposing there was such a provision, in this 
 country, you little quiz?" 
 
 "Why, in that case," replied Jessy, casting a roguish look 
 at Alma, "I think there are certain officers in our army who 
 need not be under any great apprehensions of being hung at 
 present." 
 
 "jSTow, that is what I call grit," observed Jones, who had 
 been looking on the two beautiful and spirited creatures before 
 him, with an admiration equaled only by his surprise. "The 
 Colonel and Captain knov/ considerable well what they have 
 been about, after all, I see. Well, I must be jogging, I guess. 
 Captain, so good night}'. And you, gals, may the Lord bless 
 ye and keep you steadfast in your resolution! If I had a 
 hogshead of blood, it should all be shed for ye, and the like 
 of ye. Trol, lol, lol, lol de larly!" 
 
 During that night and the following day, all was bustle and 
 commotion throughout the northern part of the settlement. 
 "To arms! to arms!" resounded in ever}^ direction. And 
 nearly all the able bodied men, promptly responding to the 
 call of General Schuyler, whose expresses were seen furiously 
 dashing along the roads to rally the hitherto slumbering set- 
 tlement, seized their rifles or muskets and hastened off to join 
 their countrymen in arms leaving the old men, invalids and 
 
 IS 
 
274 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS, 
 
 boys_, to take charge of their families, in removing from the 
 scene of danger. The stock was collected in droves, marked 
 with the initials of the owner's name and started off for the 
 south; while the inhabitants, taking with them all the articles 
 of value, which their respective modes of traveling would per- 
 mit, collected in small companies, and soon followed. The 
 party whose destinies more immediately concern our story, 
 consisting of Captain Hendee, Neshobee, the two young ladies, 
 and their respective female domestics, in the course of the day, 
 bade adieu to their pleasant cottage, and mingled in the gen- 
 eral flight, which, by night fall, brought them in safety to 
 the house of a hospitable friend, nearly twenty miles distant 
 from the home, to which, as they supposed, they were never 
 more to return. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 — "Not all so much for love 
 
 As for another secret close intent, 
 
 By marrying her, vv^hich I must reach unto. 
 
 But yet I run before my horse to market: 
 
 Clarence still breathes: Edward still lives, and. 
 
 When these are gone, then must I count my gains." 
 
 Several unforseen circumstances connected with the remov- 
 al of their elfects, together with the impression that they 
 were now so far south as to be in no very immediate danger 
 from any incursions of the enemy, having induced our party 
 to accept the invitation of their kind entertainer to remain a 
 few days at his abode, nearly a week had unfortunately been 
 suffered to elapse without resuming thir journey. Aroused, 
 however, at length by the news that Burgoyne had reached 
 Ticonderoga, and closely invested the fortress, while a party 
 of tories and Indians were ravaging the country to the north 
 of them, both the families of Captain Hendee and his host, 
 determined on an instant departure for a place of more safe- 
 ty. Accordingly, with a few hasty preparations, they started 
 in their respective carriages about the middle of the afternoon 
 for Castleton, which they were under the expectation of be- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 275 
 
 in^ enabled to reach by dajdigbt. The day being excessively 
 sultry^ Captain Hendee^ after traveling awhile at rather a 
 brisk pace, checked his horses, and suffered them to fall into 
 a moderate walk, dnring which the other party, who were in 
 advance, and who seemed less disposed to slacken their speed, 
 passed entirely out of sight, and soon became vv-ideiy separated 
 from their more tardy fellow travelers. When onr party had 
 proceeded several miles in this leisurely manner, and while the 
 Captain, to use a quaint and somewhat curious expression of 
 the poet Parnell, was "deceiving the road,^^ by the relation 
 of one of his old war stories, they were met by a stout huilt, 
 though an ordinary looking, and slovenly dressed man on 
 horseback, who, after closely scrutinizing the company a mo- 
 ment, stopped his horse, indicating, at the same time by 
 his looks and gestures, a wish that the others should stop 
 also. Supposing the stranger was desirous of making some 
 inquiries. Captain Hendee instantly pulled up his horses, and 
 sat waiting, with an air of expectation, for the man to pro- 
 ceed with what he might have to propose. 
 
 "I was thinking what your name mought be. Mister," at 
 length began the horseman, with a bold, saucy air. '^^It 
 kinder seems to me I have seen you somewhere or other." 
 
 "Very possibly, sir," replied the Captain, in a manner suffi- 
 ciently cool and repulsive, as he thought, to check the in- 
 trusive familiarity of the other. 
 
 "Well, I knowed I had," rejoined the stranger, not at all 
 abashed by the coolness with which his advances had been 
 met, "and yet I don^t know as I can quite call you by name." 
 
 "My name is Hendee, sir." 
 
 "Ah! 0, yes; — you live down there against Crown Point?" 
 "Yes; or at least we did till within a few days. But 
 how happens -it, that you are going to a part, which, at this 
 time, the settlers are so generally deserting?" 
 
 "Why an't it safe traveling that way?" 
 
 "It would be for some, doubtless," replied the Captain 
 significantly. 
 
 "Well, I s'pose you've hearn of me," observed the stranger, 
 evidently disconcerted at the suspicions which he perceived 
 were beginning to be entertained of him, "my name is 
 David Remington. You are acquainted in Castleton, an't 
 you?" 
 
 "Yes, with several individuals in that town." 
 
2t6 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "Well, that's where I live, when Fm to home. Do you know 
 Mr. Woodward there?" 
 
 "I do, sir." 
 
 "I want to know? Well, now, he is one of my near neigh- 
 bors. Here's a paper he gin me t'other d^y. Jest read it, will 
 
 ye'" 
 
 Captain Hendee, with an air of curiosity, not unmingied, 
 however, with surprise, at an offer so gratuitously made to an 
 entire stranger, took the paper, which the other now extended 
 to him, and read as follows: — 
 
 "This may certify that David Eemington, the bearer hereof, 
 is thought to be a true friend to the States of America. 
 
 JOSEPH WOODWAED, Com. of Safety.* 
 Castleton, June 2d, 1777." 
 
 "This appears to bf^ genuine, and should be sufficient," 
 remarked the Captain nmsingly, as he handed back the paper. 
 "Have they received any news at Castleton within a day or 
 two, sir?" he added, with more freedom of manner than he 
 had before exhibited towards the other. 
 
 "^ews? — ^from where?" 
 
 "From our forces at Ticonderoga, I mean, of course." 
 
 "Oh, yes, I s'pose so — why, I came from there myself, last 
 night." 
 
 "Indeed, sir? Well, what is the prospect of St. Clair's being 
 able to cope Avith the enemy, so as to put a stop to their 
 progress at that place?" 
 
 "Cope! hum! He will be lucky if he don't get coped himself, 
 I guess." 
 
 "What, sir? The garrison are in no danger of being taken 
 themselves, surely?" 
 
 "Well, sir, I don't pretend to know nothing about it; but 
 I shouldn't be surprised if the folks about here heard news, 
 within twenty-four hours, that made 'em stare." 
 
 * A literal copy of the original certificate, lodged in the public 
 archives of Vermont, and accompanied by another from the noted 
 tory. Colonel Philip Skene, certifying that Remington had taken 
 the oath of allegiance, and was a true Royalist. These papers, to- 
 gether with a receipt signed by "J. Sherwood, Captain," for two 
 heifers procured far the British, by Remington, all dated about 
 the same time, are supposed to have been found on the person 
 of this or other tories, when subsequently slain oir taken prisoners. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. . 277 
 
 ^^Impossible ! But what is the situation of affairs there, that 
 leads you to this conclusion?" 
 
 "Why, sir, the situation is, that General Eed Hazle,* with 
 his Jarman brigade, has got possession on this side of the lake, 
 up as far as East Creek, where he is now posted; while Gen- 
 eral Burgoyne has entirely enclosed the fort on the t'other side. 
 And what is still more, he has cut out a road, and drawn up a 
 whole slew of cannon clean to the top of Mount Defiance, 
 which he will have all mounted, and ready to pour hell and 
 thunder down on ^em in the fort before they dream of it." 
 
 "Is it possible that St. Clair can have suffered Burgoyne to 
 get possession of that commanding spot for such a pur- 
 pose !" exclaimed the Captain. "I knew," he continued, "that 
 most of our officers in the old war used to consider that moun- 
 tain inaccessible with artillery. I, however, always thought 
 differently, and agreed, in this respect, with Major Putnam, 
 who, I well remember, suggested the project of getting can- 
 non up this eminence to General Howe, as our army was 
 approaching the fort the day previous to the battle which 
 cost poor Howe his life. And had that gallant young noble- 
 man, who was the only lord of common sense whom the 
 British ever sent to America, been spared, the thing would 
 have been done, and we should have taken the fortress, in- 
 stead of drawing off our army without effecting anything. 
 But, as I said, is it possible that St. Clair can have permitted 
 this in an army approaching from the north, and wholly un- 
 acquainted with the surrounding localities?" 
 
 "It is true, any how; and if they don^t find themselves 
 in a pickle, there in the fort, by to-morrow morning, I lose 
 my guess," replied the other, with a satisfaction which he was 
 unable wholly to conceal. 
 
 After a few apparently careless inquiries respecting the 
 destination of our travelers, and their expectation of reach- 
 ing it. Remington seemed suddenly to become convinced that 
 it would not be prudent to proceed any further in the land- 
 looking excursion, which he stated was his business to the 
 north, and announced his intention of immediately returning. 
 
 * From original papers, still preserved, written by those whose 
 spelling was evidently guided solely by the common pronuncia- 
 tion of words, it appears that Gen. Reidesel went, to a consider- 
 Elble extent, at least, by the name of Red Hazle. 
 
278 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 Accordingly, wheeling round his horse, and bidding the com- 
 pany good day, with the remark, that he should probably ride 
 rather faster than their team would travel, he rode olf at a 
 moderate trot, till the intervening bushes at the first turn of 
 the road screened him, as he supposed, from the sight of those 
 he had just left, when he applied his whip, and dashed for- 
 ward at full speed. 
 
 "What opinion did you form of that man, father?'^ asked 
 Miss Hendee, after they had ridden some distance in silence. 
 
 ^'Why, but for the certificate of so true and vigilant a friend 
 to the cause as Woodward, who undoubtedly signed it, I should 
 certainly have had strong suspicions that the fellow was some 
 designing tory,'' answered the Captain, indirectly, and with 
 the tone of one still doubting over evidence which he could 
 not reject, nor yet receive as wholly conclusive. 
 
 "I know not," rejoined the other, "that I can give any good 
 reasons for my impressions; but there was a certain some- 
 thing about the man, which, from the first, struck me imfav- 
 orably. And is it not possible, that he may be secretly in the 
 interest of the enemy, notwithstanding his' certificate, which, 
 without being asked, he was so ready to show?" 
 
 "I noticed his readiness to show the paper," again replied 
 the Captain, without any direct answer to his daughter's 
 question. "And it also occurred to me that he appeared to be 
 far better acquainted with the movements of the British, than 
 with those of our own army." 
 
 "And did not you think. Captain Hendee," observed Miss 
 Eeed, "that he betrayed a secret pleasure, when relating the 
 perilous situation in which he stated the American forces to 
 be placed?" 
 
 "1 don^t know that I noticed that in particular," said the 
 Captain; "but if he be a tory, and has told us the truth, I fear 
 he has too much reason to rejoice, I cannot, however, think 
 that St. Clair would fail to keep open a way for retreat, so that 
 the garrison shall not be taken in any event." 
 
 "Here, Neshobee," said Alma, as the Indian, who had trav- 
 eled mostly on foot, keeping generally a few rods in advance 
 of the horses, now fell back to the side of the carriage; "you 
 have some times shown yourself a shrewd guesser; and we will 
 have your opinion in this case. Wliat did you think of the 
 man father was talking with Just now?" 
 
 "Me guess him have two tongue — mean something no good," 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ^ 279 
 
 replied the native, in his usual quiet manner. "Him no think 
 me see him through the bush, when him ride away slow — then 
 look back for find out we see him, then whip — off a gallop!" 
 
 "So much the better/' remarked Jessy, "for the faster he 
 goes, the further he will get from us." 
 
 "N'eshobee, perhaps, would draw a different inference," said 
 the Captain. 
 
 "Why should he, father?" asked Alma. 
 
 But the other, not Avilling to alarm the ladies by nam- 
 ing his secret apprehensions, which, after all, might prove 
 groundless, made only some evasive, or indifferent reply, and 
 became silent. 
 
 "He can have no immediate communication with the tories 
 and Indians, by going in that direction," resumed Alma. 
 "They, if we are rightly informed, are still far behind us." 
 
 "They were behind us," observed Captain Hendee, relaps- 
 ing into silence, in which his example was soon imitated by the 
 rest of the company, all of whom seemed oppressed by that 
 undefined sense of impending danger, which is some times felt 
 without the inclination — on account of conscious inability, 
 perhaps, — of communicating it to others. 
 
 It was now drawing towards sunset; and our party had yet 
 nearly ten miles to travel before reaching their proposed des- 
 tination for the night. They had been, for some miles, pass- 
 ing through a dark, continuous forest, whose unvaried gloom 
 soon began to be increased by the shades, which, before the 
 usual hour, were slowly stealing over the wilderness, in con- 
 sequence of the broad and deepening masses of vapor now 
 gathering along the western horizon. And presently, the low, 
 deep rumbling of distant thunder, heralding an approaching 
 shower, reached the ears of the company, and increased their 
 anxiety to gain some opening, at least, before storm and dark- 
 ness, to say nothing of their secret apprehensions of more ter- 
 rible foes, should overtake them. Casting an uneasy glance 
 at the lurid and threatening aspect of the heavens. Captain 
 Hendee applied the whip, and was urging on his horses to re- 
 newed efforts of speed, when his arm was suddenly seized by 
 the convulsive grasp of his daughter: 
 
 "Stop! stop! father!" she exclaimed, in a low, hurried tone, 
 "look at Neshobee! There is danger near us!" 
 
 All eyes were at once directed towards the Indian, who was 
 now about a dozen rods in front of the carriage. He had 
 
280 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 turned rounds and with quick and eager gestures, was motion- 
 ing tliem to halt. Instantly reining up the horses, and bring- 
 ing them to a stand, the Captain, with the rest of the com- 
 pany, continued, with intense interest and alarm, silently to 
 watch the motions of the native, who seemed to be still in con- 
 siderable doubt, either of the nature of the apprehended dan- 
 ger, or of the exact point from which it was to proceed. After 
 standing a short time however in the attitude of listening, 
 slowly turning his head, as his eyes w^ere keenly searching the 
 woods around him, he hastily started back, ancl, pointing to a 
 dark thicket nearly abreast of the carriage, leaped nimbly be- 
 hind a tree, and seemed awaiting some expected result. The 
 next moment the shrill, quavering sounds of the terrific war- 
 whoop, issuing from the coverts in every direction, announced 
 to the appalled travelers the fearful character of the foe by 
 which they were surrounded. And in another instant, a score 
 of painted savages leaped from the bushes, and menacingly 
 brandishing their tomahawks aloft, closely invested the car- 
 riage. Knowing it would be utterly useless to attempt any re- 
 sistance, the old veteran put up the pistols, which he had 
 drawn out on the first alarm, and, while the shuddering fe- 
 males, with a terrified glance at the frightful group around 
 them, were burying their faces in their hands, very coolly pro- 
 ceeded by signs, and such phrases as he supposed might be un- 
 derstood, to signify to his assailants that he yielded himself 
 and family as prisoners. The captors, having ordered out their 
 prisoners in the road, immediately fell to work with their 
 knives, in cutting the harness from the horses, each of which, 
 when releaser], was mounted by one of the enemy, and ridden 
 oif into the woods; while the carriage was run into the near- 
 est thicket and concealed. The prisoners, including Xesho- 
 bee, who, in attempting to escaj)e, had been seized and brought 
 in, were then placed in Indian file, alternately with a sufiicient 
 number of their captors to guard the whole, and marched out 
 of the road the same way in which their horses had been 
 previously taken, which soon brought the company into an old, 
 overgrown path, leading through the forest in a westerly direc- 
 tion. In this manner our party were urged forward at a rapid 
 pace for nearly an hour, during which, not a word was uttered 
 by either captors or captured, with the exception of Captain 
 Hendee, whose irritable temper occasionally broke out in a 
 h^lf -suppressed anathema^ as he jarred a rheumatic limb, while 
 
^iiE GREEN Mountain boys. 2^1 
 
 liobbling along the rough and frequently obstructed path. At 
 length, to the great and unexpected joy of the wearied cap- 
 tives, the cheering light of an opening broke upon their view, 
 affording hope that the fatigues, under which they were near- 
 ly ready to sink were now to be terminated for the night; and 
 that they were to be favored with quarters in some kind of a 
 house, instead of an unsheltered bed of earth in the wilder- 
 ness, as they had anticipated. The opening, consisting of thir- 
 ty or forty acres of land, and containing two small log tene- 
 ments, with a barn of similar construction attached to one of 
 them, was situated along the margin of a picturesque pond, em- 
 bedded in a forest of majestic pines. On entering the clearing, 
 Captain Hendee instantly perceived from appearances about 
 the cabins, that they had reached the headquarters of the gang, 
 who, as he rightly concluded, had taken possession of the place 
 since its desertion by the inhabitants. His horses, that had ar- 
 rived before him, had been turned out; and were nov/ quietly 
 grazing in the field; while a large number of the enemy, nearly 
 equaling that of the party who had been engaged in the cap- 
 ture, were scattered about the place, some bathing in the pond, 
 some fishing, some pitching quoits, and others lounging about 
 the buildings. As he approached this portion of the enemy, 
 the Captain soon noticed a difference in the appearance of 
 many of them, as contrasted with that of such of his captors 
 as had come under his inspection, which with his acquaint- 
 ance with the peculiar motions and demeanor of the natives, 
 immediately led him to suspect that a considerable part of the 
 band, though painted and habited like Indians were white 
 men in disguise. And he now readily understood that he was 
 indebted for his present misfortune to the traitor, Eeming- 
 ton, who, being secretly connected with this band of Indians 
 and tories, had doubtless been employed by them to bring 
 intelligence of the approach of such families as should be pass- 
 ing along the road; though why his own family should have 
 been thus particularly marked for capture, while others were 
 sufi^ered to escape, it did not at that time occur to him. 
 
 When our party, with their captors, arrived at the first 
 cabin, which they reached about dark, they were halted at the 
 door, while a consultation was held at some distance aloof be- 
 tween two or three, who appeared to have the control of the 
 band; after which, one of them came forward, and, having 
 first caused Neshobee to be taken to the barn, motioned to the 
 
282 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 rest of the prisoners^ except Miss Hendee, who stood in the 
 rear, to enter the honse. Perceiving it was intended to sep- 
 arate her from her friends, the alarmed maiden suddenly darted 
 by her immediate keepers, and attempted to reach the door at 
 Avhich her father at that moment was entering. A rongh hand, 
 however, was instantly extended, and grasping her arm, rudely 
 pulled her back. 
 
 "Kill me, if you will," she exclaimed, "kill me, but let me 
 die with my friends." 
 
 "Prisoners can't always be choosers, my proud one/' said 
 the apparent savage in good English. 
 
 "It is Darrow!" said Alma, with blanching features, and 
 with a look of alarm, which the brandished tomahawk of the 
 Indian had failed to call forth. "I see it all, and know the 
 design. Death I fear not; but such a fate I — Oh! as you value 
 the innocence and eternal peace of your daughter, protect me, 
 my father." 
 
 Comprehending the meaning of his daughter, and appreciat- 
 ing all apprehensions, even before she had done speaking, 
 the maddened father hastily drew a pistol from his pocket, 
 and discharged it full at the head of Darrow. The bullet 
 grazed the temple of the astonished ruffian, and his locks were 
 slightly singed by the burning powder; but he escaped v,dth no 
 other injury. Recovering from the shock of the explosion, 
 he hurriedly pulled out one of the heavy pistols which hung 
 in his belt, raised it to the breast of his unflinching opponent, 
 and, with the look of a fiend, was in the act of taking deliber- 
 ate aim, when the heroic girl, who v/as the innocent cause of 
 the strife, suddenly threw herself between her father and the 
 weapon leveled for his destruction. After holding the deadl}'' 
 implement in the same threatening position nearly a minute, 
 as if deliberating whether he would send the bullet through 
 both father and daughter, for the sake of wreaking his ven- 
 geance on the former, the baulked villain with an angry move- 
 ment thrust the pistol into its place, and turning to his men, 
 fiercely exclaimed: 
 
 "Seize the damned old dotard! Secure him, and let him 
 wait for my revenge till I have disposed of this silly jade. She 
 will soon find out, I guess, what she has gained by the rum- 
 pus," he added, again grasj)ing the arm of his recoiling vic- 
 tim, and, regardless of her shrieks, roughly dragging her off 
 to the other cabin; while, in obedience to his orders, his 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 283 
 
 painted minions proceeded, with demoniac glee, to bind the 
 old gentleman, and thrust him with the rest of the prisoners 
 into the house. With the assistance of his men, several of 
 whom he ordered to attend him, Darrow soon succeeded in 
 forcing his half senseless victim to the other cabin, situated 
 on the shore of the pond, near the western extremity of the 
 clearing; when, opening the door, he gave her a spiteful push, 
 which sent her reeling through the entrance, at the same 
 time gruffly exclaiming: 
 
 "There, madam! there are your quarters for the present. 
 And let me just inform your ladyship, that the less fuss you 
 make about the matter the better it will be for you.'^ 
 
 With this he drew the door to and, after posting a guard 
 round the house, returned to the main body of his band, who 
 were now assembled round the first mentioned house, busily 
 engaged in cooking their suppers in the open air, or patching 
 up the leaky roof of the log barn, to protect those from the 
 threatened storm who should be compelled to take quarters in 
 it, in consequence of the arrangement which the leaders had 
 seen fit to make of placing the prisoners in separate houses. 
 
 After being left alone. Miss Hendee made an effort to re- 
 gain her compo.sure. And having succeeded in a good degree, 
 she proceeded, by the dim twilight yet remaining, to examine 
 the interior of the house, containing but a single room on the 
 ground floor. Three or four old chairs, a rough pine table, and 
 a straw bed laid upon a rudely constructed bedstead, with a 
 couple of coarse blankets for covering, constituted all the visi- 
 ble furniture of the cabin. With these observations, she seated 
 herself in a chair, and endeavored to think coolly on the novel 
 and alarming situation in which she now found herself placed. 
 From Sherwood's known connection with Darrow, the appar- 
 ent leader of the present band, she had but little doubt that 
 the former was in fact the commander of these marauders, or 
 at least the instigator of the seizure of herself and family. And 
 in either case, she was at no loss to understand that the pos- 
 session of her person was the main, if not the only object, of 
 the present capture, l^or did she doubt, for similar reasons, that 
 Sherwood must be near, — probably already on the ground. 
 And from the circumstance of her being separated from her 
 friends, and confined alone, she felt but too fearfully certain 
 that a fate was in reserve for her on which, at the best she 
 could hope for^ she shuddered to think. After she had re- 
 
284 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 mained in this situation awhile, listening to every movement 
 from withont, and starting at the sound of every footstep, lest 
 it prove the herald of a visit from Sherwood, which she now 
 every moment expected wonld be paid her, and to which she 
 looked forward with a dread that the anticipated presence of no 
 other foe could impart, the door was thrown open, and a man 
 unceremoniously entered. She hastily rose from her seat and 
 threw a look of alarm towards the intruder. A second glance, 
 however, told her that he was not the dreaded visitor, but only 
 one of the disguised tories come to bring her lights and re- 
 freshments. Placing the torch which he bore in the chimney, 
 the man silently advanced, and set a trencher of coarse food 
 on the table; after which he turned, and departed, neither 
 questioning nor questioned. Feeling no inclination to taste 
 the food, the hapless girl resumed her seat, and again gave 
 herself up to the distressing thoughts which her situation was 
 so well calculated to inspire. The last gleams of twilight had 
 now faded away, and night had fallen upon the earth with al- 
 most Egyptian darkness. There was a low, rushing sound 
 abroad, betokening an approaching conflict of the elements. 
 The attention of Alma being arrested by these renewed in- 
 dications of the storm, which, for several hours, appeared to 
 have been slowly concentrating its forces in the distance, she 
 arose and went to a narrow window, that opened upon the dark 
 waters of the forest girt pond. The ominous sounds before 
 heard had given place to the more audible murmurs of the 
 troubled air, which in fitful and variant undulations, now 
 moaned dismally along the ground, and now piped, in brief 
 and broken strains of melancholy music, among the tops of 
 the neighboring pines. Large, black masses of jagged clouds 
 were hurrying through the heavens, which were occasionally 
 made visible by slight, quivering flashes of the electric fires, 
 partially disclosing the broad outlines of the convolving vapor 
 above, and dimly lighting up the dark landscape of wilds and 
 w^aters beneath. Wliile the maiden was looking abroad upon 
 this scene of gloomy magnificence, which seemed strangely to 
 harmonize with the kindred gloom of her own sad and deso- 
 late bosom, a bright, but far off fiash gleamed fiercely athwart 
 her vision. Turning her eyes to the quarter whence it pro- 
 ceeded, she beheld a distinct, attenuated, and ribbon-like 
 flame approaching from a distant part of the horizon, and de- 
 scribing in its apparently slow, and. .crinkling movement, as it 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 285 
 
 came, an arch of fearful splendor across the illuminated heav- 
 ens. The next instant it fell upon the top of a towering dry 
 j)ine, standing on the opposite shore of the pond, and hurled 
 the hlazing fragments of its giant trunk in every direction 
 over the woods, and far into the hissing and bujjbling waters 
 around. A single stunning report followed, and all without 
 was again dark and silent. Eecoiling at the shock of the deaf- 
 ening concussion, and almost blinded by the intensity of the 
 flash, the astounded girl turned suddenly from the window, 
 and attempted to grope her way back to her seat. Before reach- 
 ing it, however, a slight noise within the room arrested her 
 steps. Pressing her hand upon her eyes an instant to enable 
 her to discern the objects in the dimly lighted apartment, 
 she sent an apprehensive glance towards the door, when to her 
 unspeakable disma}^, she encountered the basilisk eyes of Sher- 
 wood, who was quietly standing within the entrance, and look- 
 ing upon her with an expression in which guilt, effrontery, 
 and triumph w^ere singularly blended. 
 
 "Leave me!^^ she exclaimed, as the other now began to ad- 
 vance towards her; "leave me, sir!" she repeated with all the 
 firmness and decision of manner she could command, while 
 she gradually retreated to the opposite side of the room. 
 
 "Why should I leave you, captious gir^ he responded in 
 his usual and affectedly meek and plausible manner, "why 
 should I leave you, or you desire it, when I am the only friend 
 to whom you, or your family, can look for intercession with 
 those into whose power you have fallen? Having heard of 
 your misfortune, I hastened immediately to the spot, and have 
 but this moment arrived." 
 
 "Base dissembler!" said Alma, with an indignation which, 
 for the instant seemed to overpower every other feeling, "will 
 you pretend, sir, that these are not all 3^our doings?" 
 
 "Why — why, I admit," he replied, considerably disconcerted 
 at the question and pointed manner of the other, which led 
 him to suppose that she had by some means received a much 
 more certain knowledge of his connection with the band than 
 she really had; "I admit that these men belong to a company 
 Avhich I have a commission to command. But I protest, I 
 have had nothing to do vdth your capture. And wdiy should 
 you always be imputing to me the vrorst motives for every ac- 
 tion I may perform? Here, noAv, I come to befriend and save 
 you; and you receive me only with insults!" 
 
286 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "I will put the sincerity of your professions to the test, sir/' 
 promptly rejoined the other. "If you really came to befriend 
 me and have the power, as you admit, let me go instantly to 
 my father and friends.'^ 
 
 "Why the time has arrived, it strikes me, when I am under 
 no very particular necessity of being fui'ther dictated,'^ sneer- 
 ingly replied the villain, now throwing off the mask, which 
 he perceived was serving him but little purpose. "I have a 
 certain condition to propose, and when you comply wdth that, 
 neither you nor your family are longer prisoners.^' 
 
 The heart of the wretched girl sunk within her, but she 
 made no reply. 
 
 "You have not forgotten probably," resumed the other, 
 "our late interview^ when I proposed the fulfillment of a long 
 settled engagement. — Well, if you have, I have not, nor the 
 manner in which my overtures were then treated. But not- 
 withstanding all the scorn and abuse I have received both from 
 you and your father, I still feel disposed to allow you a chance 
 to fulfill that engagement, which, as a prisoner, and in my pow- 
 er, is more than you could reasonably expect. I am still will- 
 ing to make you my legal wife; but it must be done on the 
 spot. I have a clergyman within call to perforin the ceremony. 
 Will you consent?" 
 
 "Never!" replied the indignant and yet unconquered girl. 
 "What! consent under such circumstances — under the menaces 
 here held forth, and the feelings here exhibited ? — I would as 
 soon unite myself to a fiend! consent to such a mockery, in- 
 tended only to disguise violence and outrage, iinder the sacred 
 rite of marriage? N'ever! While death can be my alternative, 
 0, never!" 
 
 "But supposing death can not be your alternative, you 
 foolish girl?" said the miscreant suitor in a taunting tone: 
 "You w411 do well, perhaps, to bear in mind that your person 
 is already in my power; and that I am the one to name your 
 alternative. And I shall name one, too, in Avhich I shall be 
 likely to dispense wdth the services of the parson." 
 
 "Monster!" exclaimed the aroused maiden, with an energy 
 which insulted virtue alone could have excited, "begone with 
 your polluting presence, lest the thunders of Heaven, which 
 are now angrily rolling over our heads, strike you to the earth 
 in vengeance for your meditated villainies!" 
 
 With all the innate baseness and disguised effrontery of his 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 287 
 
 nature, Sherwood could not help quailing under the wither- 
 ing scorn and almost unearthly majesty which accompanied 
 this bold rebuke; and unable to summon the hardihood to pro- 
 ceed any further at present, he turned towards the door, mut- 
 tering as he went: 
 
 "AVell, we will soon see who is to be balked this time! Two 
 hours," he added, pausing at the threshold and looking back, 
 without, however, venturing to raise his eyes to the face of the 
 other, who still stood fearlessly confronting him, — "just two 
 hours shall be allowed you to conclude which of the tw^o al- 
 ternatives you vvdll embrace, and in making up your mind, you 
 may as well take into consideration, that your father at- 
 tempted the life of my lieutenant, who will require such an in- 
 ducement as I alone can ofter him, to make him relinquish his 
 purpose of revenge." 
 
 After the first glad and grateful sensations of relief, which 
 came over the feelings of our heroine on being freed from the 
 dreadful presence of her relentless persecutor, had passed 
 away, all the moral energy, that had sustained her through 
 her fearful trial, forsook her, while, with it, her over-strained 
 nerves, which so powerful an excitem_ent had braced for the 
 exigency, gave way; and weak, exhausted, and despairing, she 
 tottered across the room and throwing herself upon the miser- 
 able pallet, yielded herself up, for a while, to the dread cer- 
 tainties of a fate, which now even ever-flattering hope could 
 suggest no way of escaping. For her family she felt no great 
 apprehensions of any fate much more severe than that which 
 usually falls to the lot of ordinary prisoners; since the present 
 contest, as she was aware, had so far been conducted, wherever 
 the Indians had been employed, on altogether different prin- 
 ciples from the preceding wars in this country. And content- 
 ing themselves with plunder, the savages had generally, on 
 making prisoners, delivered them over unharmed to their white 
 allies, when such only as had been found in arms were re- 
 tained, while the rest, especially females and the young and 
 aged, were soon dismissed for their homes. 'Nov could she be- 
 lieve that either Darrow or Sherwood really intended as they 
 had threatened, to make her father an exception for an act 
 which, however hasty it might have been, had resulted in no 
 injury. But all these considerations could, in her present pe- 
 culiar situation, be of no avail to herself. An immediate es- 
 cape, or some sudden rescue, were apparently the only raerns 
 
 19 
 
288 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 of snatching lier from the impending doom. And yet how 
 were either of these to be effected? Any attempt to get from 
 the housC;, guarded as it was by posted sentries^ the sound of 
 whose footsteps frequently reached her ear, she knew would be 
 utterly useless. Equally futile also must be the hope of any 
 rescue till long after her fate would be decided. No other re- 
 source, therefore, remained to her but to face the danger, as 
 terrible as it was to her, even in the least abhorrent of the al- 
 ternatives which had been set before her, and persevere in the 
 determination she had already announced of resistance unto 
 death. And she earnestly besought the great Protector of the 
 innocent and injured to arm her with strength and fortitude 
 to meet the coming trial, or interfere, in his mercy, to save her 
 from its terrors and perils. 
 
 While the mind of the almost frantic girl was thus pain- 
 fully engrossed, as she was reclining on the bed with her face 
 buried in the clothes, a noise, differing from any thing she had 
 before heard, and proceeding from some point above, but 
 seemingly neither exactly within nor without the building, 
 had several times reached her ear. And now it became too 
 distinct not to attract her particular notice. Startled, though 
 as yet not seriously alarmed, she hastily rose and endeavored 
 to ascertain the nature of the sounds that had disturbed her. 
 The rain, which had now for some time been heavily pouring 
 to the earth, had extinguished the fire, and while utter dark- 
 ness pervaded the room, nothing was to be heard but the cease- 
 less roar of the descending torrents. At length, however, the 
 noise was repeated. It appeared to proceed from the Hue of 
 the chimney, down which, it soon became evident, that some 
 thing possessing life and motion, was slowly and cautiously 
 descending into the room; but whether it was a man, or wild 
 beast, she was unable to determine. Presently the mysterious 
 object seemed tc reach the hearth. And, in a short time, the 
 dark outlines of a seemingly shapeless figure became discern- 
 ible to the perplexed, and now thoroughly frightened maiden. 
 Her excited imagination instantly took wing, and in the be- 
 wilderment of the moment, the motionless object swelled into 
 a ferocious monster, preparing to clutch her in his horrid em- 
 brace. A strange feeling of undefined fear and dread took pos- 
 session of her bosom, and seemed to paralyze all her faculties. 
 She tried to speak, but could after no sound — to move, but 
 her limbs refused to do their office, while a peculiar, cold. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 289 
 
 curdling sensation, commencing with the crown of her head, 
 settled over her, converting her whole system into a helpless, 
 inanimate, and frozen mass, alike incapable of thought and ac- 
 tion. At that instant a vivid flash of lightning lit np the room 
 with the brightness of the noon-day's sun, and broke the spell 
 that had so strangely enthralled her senses: for, equally to her 
 joy and surprise, she beheld, in the object of her alarm, no 
 other than her faithful friend Neshobee, who, uncertain 
 whether the room might not contain some of the enemy as 
 well as his mistress, whom he knew to be confined here, had 
 squatted in the fire place, after his descent, with the view of 
 ascertaining the fact before he should speak or advance. 
 
 "Umph?'^ uttered the Indian, apparently nearly as much 
 relieved as his mistress, at the mutual disclosure. "Missus 
 Alma speak very no loud," he continued, in a half whisper, as 
 he glided noiselessly forward to her side, and laid his hand on 
 her arm in token of caution. "Them three tory, what stand 
 for watch, all gone fore side for get out of the rain, and so no 
 see, N'eshobee climb up back side and come down chimney. 
 But Missus talk soft, them stand close up side, hark um, hear 
 um, catch um Neshobee.'^ 
 
 "How fares it with my father and the girls — are they still 
 in the other house, and yet unharmed?" eagerly whispered 
 Alma. 
 
 "All um there. Them tory and Indian all in the barn when 
 the rain come. Leak down, make um jump, crowd thick, so 
 no see Neshobee creep away. Me go back side tother house, 
 peep through crack, see um there when flash come bright. 
 Cappen hands all tie tight. Him look sorry. Three tother 
 girls lay on straw in corner — cry much — all look very scare." 
 
 "And v/hat is to become of us, N'eshobee?" asked Alma, 
 mournfully, as she brushed away a tear, elicited by the Indian's 
 brief but graphic and touching description of the situation of 
 her friends. 
 
 "Neshobee no get in there for help Cappen and them. But 
 me help Missus Alma up chimney, get out and they no hear 
 so long the rain pour hard." 
 
 "No, no, Neshobee, it is impossible," replied Alma, after 
 reflecting a moment on the proposal of her friend, who had 
 run such risks to rescue her. Could I succeed in getting out 
 upon the house, my light dress, if nothing else, would betray 
 \is to tb.e guards, and we should both be taken, And even could 
 
290 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 I escape, how could I withstand an exposure all night in the 
 woods to this dreadful storm? No, Neshobee, leave me to my 
 fate, which will probably be decided long before you can be 
 the means of our rescue. But my poor father and the girls 
 you may perhaps be instrumental in saving. Then go, Nesho- 
 bee. — If you succeed in escaping from this place, proceed 
 directly to our army at Ticonderoga, and tell them that we are 
 prisoners to Sherwood and Darrow, with a band of tories and 
 Indians. Tell Colonel Warrington, or Captain Selden, that 
 father's life is threatened — that I — 0, heavens! but let my 
 situation be passed over. And should they send a force to de- 
 liver us, as I knov^ they will, you can guide it to the spot. iSTow 
 don't hesitate to leave me, my faithful friend, — to leave me to 
 the care of Heaven," she added, laying her hand on the other's 
 shoulder and gently pushing him towards the avenue by which 
 he descended into the room. ^^Don't delay an instant. Go, 
 and I will ask the blessing of a good Providence to speed you 
 on your way." 
 
 "Me go," laconically responded the native, vanishing from 
 the sight of his mistress in the darkness, and silently ascend- 
 ing the chimney. 
 
 After anxiously listening a few moments to the cautious 
 egress of her messenger, and satisfying herself that he had 
 reached the ground, and escaped undiscovered, the unhappy 
 girl once more returned to her homely couch, — not there, 
 however, to find repose or any alleviation of the woes that so 
 deeply oppressed her feelings. The distracting apprehensions, 
 from which her mind had been in some measure diverted by 
 the presence of her humble friend, now, on his departure, re- 
 turned with ten-fold force to her mind. And a feeling of 
 utter loneliness and desolation took possession of her despond- 
 ing bosom. Conscious that the time set by Sherwood for his 
 return, to execute one of the dreadful alternatives with which 
 he had brutally menaced her, was now nearly at hand, and her 
 feelings becoming, at the maddening thought too intense to 
 permit her to remain longer quiet, she arose, and again took 
 her station at the little window. The storm cloud still girt 
 darkly and heavily the whole visible horizon; and the ele- 
 ments were in fearful commotion. The howling of the blast, 
 as it swept over the vexed wilderness, attended by the crash 
 of falling trees, the deep, but varying roar of the deluging 
 torrents of wind-driven rain, and loud over all; the terrific 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ^91 
 
 peals of bursting thunder^ preceded by flashes of lightning 
 that seemed to envelop earth and heaven in a blaze, came 
 mingling on the senses in awful tumult. And yet the scene, 
 as awful as it was, and would have been to her under ordi- 
 nary circumstances, had no terrors for the wretched captive 
 now; — nay, as the forked lightnings were leaping from cloud 
 to cloud, and darting to the earth in terrific gambols around 
 her, she felt a strange pleasure in their fearful proximity. 
 And, regarding them as the instruments of Heaven, which 
 might, perhaps, be commissioned for her deliverance, she 
 often, during that dreadful hour, under the wild impulses of 
 maidenly terror and despair, with which the recurring 
 thoughts of her situation filled her, involuntarily stretched 
 forth her hand towards the deeply charged clouds, as if to 
 invoke the fatal shaft to descend, and snatch her from a doom 
 to which death was a boon of mercy. But that Heaven to 
 which she was looking to relieve her thus, had reserved her 
 for another fate: the storm rolled heavily away, and left her 
 beauteous form unscathed. The rain at length ceased; and 
 the lightnings, as they played along the black parapet of 
 clouds, that lay piled in the east, shone with less dazzling 
 fierceness, and only to show the ravages which the tempest 
 had left behind. As mute and desponding, the lovely cap- 
 tive stood with her eyes still vacantly riveted on the receding 
 storm, she, during the continuance of a bright and lingering 
 flash of lightning, cast her eye obliquely towards the quar- 
 ters of her enemies, when she caught a glimpse of a man pick- 
 ing his way along the half-flooded path leading to her cabin 
 whom she instantly recognized to be the dreaded Sherwood. 
 A deadly sickness came over her, her brain begun to whirl, 
 and she sunk senseless on the floor. 
 
292 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 CHAPTEE XI. 
 
 'For freedom's battle once begun, 
 Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son. 
 Though, baffled oft, is ever won." 
 
 While the incidents last described were transpiring, an 
 event occurred, which spread consternation and alarm over 
 all the neighboring country. This was the unexpected evacu- 
 ation of the important fortress of Ticonderoga, to which the 
 xVmericans seemed to have confidently looked as a barrier 
 which was to interpose an effectual check to the further prog- 
 ress of Burgoyne in that quarter. But whatever may have 
 been said of the remissness of General St. Clair, in suffering 
 the enemy to gain those advantages which compelled him, 
 for the salvation of his army, to evacuate that post, and what- 
 ever disasters were immediately occasioned by the movement, 
 the final consequences Avhich resulted from the event, proved 
 highly auspicious to the American arms: For while it in- 
 spired the British General with an undue confidence of suc- 
 cess, and caused him to push rashly into the heart of the coun- 
 try, it at once aroused the Americans from the apathy, \nth 
 which they seemed to have viewed the approach of the in- 
 vading army, and kindled up the flagging spirit of patriotism 
 to a pitch of enthusiasm that soon brought the rallying bands 
 of the hardy yeomen of the north to the post of danger, and 
 led to that series of brilliant achievements which terminated 
 in the entire overthrow of this formidable array of British 
 power. 
 
 Scarcely had St. Clair succeeded, under cover of darkness, 
 in reaching the eastern shore of the lake, and getting his army 
 in motion for the interior, before an active pursuit was com- 
 menced by General Frazier, with a large detachment of British 
 regulars, followed by General licidesel with most of the 
 Brunswick forces. The Americans, however, kept some miles 
 in advance of the enemy through the day; and St. Clair, with 
 the main body of his troops, pushed forward that night as far 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ^ 293 
 
 as Castleton, leaving the rear guard of the army, consisting 
 of about a thousand men under the command of Colonel AVar- 
 rington on the road some distance behind, where he encamped 
 at a farm house within three miles of the place which was 
 the same night occupied by the lawless gang of Sherwood and 
 their unfortunate captives, all parties being equally .ignorant 
 of their vicinity to each other. 
 
 With this glance at the situation of our army, with whose 
 movements were more or less closely linked the destinies of 
 all those whose individual fortunes we have undertaken to 
 follow, we will now go on with our tale, which the crowding 
 events of the next twenty-four hours were destined to bring- 
 to its catastro^^he. And leaving our fair and persecuted cap- 
 tive in the happy state of insensibility, in which we last de- 
 scribed her, we will now follow her trusty messenger on his 
 adventurous way to the American army, which both he and 
 his mistress supposed was still posted at Ticonderoga, some 
 twenty miles distant. 
 
 Happily succeeding in leaving the cabin and gaining an 
 adjoining field, undiscovered by the guards, Neshobee, after 
 stopping a moment to pitch his course, plunged directly into 
 the tangled and dripping wilderness lying along the northern 
 borders of the pond. Pausing at every considerable interval 
 of darkness, that still almost impenetrably shrouded the 
 earth, and darting forward by the views which the fast flash- 
 ing lightning afforded, he threaded the difficult mazes of the 
 forest with a rapidity rarely attainable by any but natives of 
 the wilds. Passing round the western extremity of the pond, 
 and bending his course in a more southerly direction, an 
 hour's traveling brought him to the great military road lead- 
 ing directly to the lake. The storm having now ceased, he 
 hastily stripped olf his drenched garments, wrung out the 
 water to enable him to run with more expedition, reinvested 
 himself, and again set off at a long trot down the road to- 
 wards his supposed destination. It was to be his fortune, 
 however, to travel but a short part of the distance for which 
 he had prepared himself: For, after proceeding about a mile 
 along the now unobstructed way with a speed to which his 
 feverish anxiety lent wings, he came to a large opening, which 
 presented the unexpected appearance of numerous dimly- 
 burning fires scattered through an extensive field. Stopping 
 short at a spectacle so unusual under the present circum- 
 
2H THE GEEBN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 stances^ the cautious native immediately put his ear to the 
 earth, and listened long and intently. A low, mingled hum, 
 as of a hushed and reposing multitude, rose in a scarce per- 
 ceptible murmur on the air; and soon the slight jar of meas- 
 ured footsteps, resembling the distant tread of slowly-pacing 
 sentinels, became distinguishable to his acute senses. No 
 longer doubting the presence of an encamped army in the 
 opening, but whoU}^ ignorant of its character, he cautiously 
 crept forward, rising, from time to time, to discover, if possi- 
 ble, without exposing himself, whether it was a friendly or 
 hostile force, which he had thus unexpectedly encountered. 
 Keeping within the range of a stump, or some object by the 
 road-side, to screen his approach, he crawled along about a 
 dozen rods, and again paused for a more careful observation. 
 The clouds were now rapidly breaking away, and in the in- 
 creasing light, he was soon enabled to trace the outlines of a 
 sentry, standing motionless as a post in the middle of the 
 road, but a few rods ahead. While he thus lay, tasking his 
 vision to discover something in the dress, arms, or appear- 
 ance of the man, from which the fact he sought to know 
 might be inferred, the waning moon shone out through the 
 parting clouds, and disclosed to the startled Indian the Brit- 
 ish uniform of the sentry, and at the same time the numerous 
 tents of the enemy dotting the fields in the distance beyond. 
 The first thought of ISTeshobee, on making this alarming dis- 
 covery, was to secure a retreat from this dangerous vicinity 
 to the sentinel, though he was wholly at a loss what course 
 he should now take to find those to whom he had been de- 
 spatched for succor. But his doubts in this respect were set 
 at rest by information he the next moment obtained from 
 an unexpected quarter: For, while he lay anxiously watch- 
 ing a cloud that was nearing the moon, and promised in a 
 few moments again to obscure her light, which now made it 
 hazardous for him to move from his position, a soldier ap- 
 proached to relieve the one on guard. 
 
 "AVell, Tom," said the soldier just arrived, ^''you have had 
 a devil of a drenching this bout, haven't you? Why! what! 
 has the man turned to stone? Say, Tom, why don't you an- 
 swer me?" 
 
 "0, yes, yes," replied the other, arousing himself from his 
 stupor, "yes, wet enough— a ghastly time I've had of it, Jerry, 
 since I've been out here. Hang me, if I haven't got quite 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. , 295 
 
 enough of this chasing the Yankees into the bush. I wish 
 'twas over. But do you know the orders for to-morrow?" 
 
 '^'Why to chase the d — -n'd rebels till we take them^ be sure. 
 Our Captain has just returned from General Frazier's quar- 
 ters, and he says they have a sort of go-between, by the name 
 of Eemington, who came directly from the Yankee camp, 
 and broug-lit word that the main body of the rebels have got 
 about ten miles ahead, while a regiment or two, under a Col- 
 onel AYarrington, are encamped within a league of us on the 
 road. And the plan is, I believe, to move on, at daylight, to 
 the attack of the nearest force. And if the main body return 
 to the rescue, why, we have G-eneral Eeidesel, with a plenty 
 of Hessians, a few miles behind, to back us; so very likely 
 we may get a tolerable bush fight of it, before it is over, par- 
 ticularly as this Warrington, they say, is a fellow of grit; 
 and his men are mostly Green Mountain Boys, who have 
 more of the regular-built bull-dog about 'em, than anything 
 the Yankees have got in their ragamuffin army." 
 
 "Well, Jerry," replied the other, in accents partaking some- 
 what of the doleful, "I can't exactly tell how 'tis, but if we 
 do have a battle, I have a notion I shan't live through it." 
 
 "Why, what makes you think so, Tom?" 
 
 "0, I don't know — I feel it creeping over me, and that 
 ain't all, I am very sartain — 'deed I could swear to it — that I 
 saw a shape out there in the road yonder, a little while ago, 
 that rose right up out of the ground, and then stood kinder 
 quivering a minute, and vanished. I exj)ect it was my spirit^ 
 Jerry." 
 
 "Pooh! man, your liver must have got water-soaked here 
 in the rain, to make you down in the mouth about such 
 whimsies. Here, take a suck at my canteen. There! now 
 back to your tent, your pluck will be up by morning." 
 
 Animated by the cheering intelligence he had gathered 
 from the conversation above detailed, every word of which 
 had reached his attentive ears, the native slowly and noise- 
 lessly withdrew from the spot in the now favoring darkness, 
 till fairly beyond the sight and hearing of the guard; when 
 he began rapidly to retrace his steps along the road towards 
 the American encampment, to which we will now repair in 
 anticipation of his arrival. 
 
 It was a calm and cloudless morning that ushered in the 
 day so long remembered in Yermont for the sanguinary con- 
 
296 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ilict of Hubbardton, which proved so destructive to the boast- 
 ful and haughty foe, while it widely scattered the weeds of 
 woe throughout her infant settlement.* The sun had just 
 burst over the long range of eastern mountains, whose broad, 
 empurpled sides lay looming in the distance, and a thousand 
 sparkling exhalations were rising from the storm-beaten en- 
 campment of the Green Mountain Boys. Though deeply 
 worn and fatigued by the forced march of the previous day, 
 and drenched to the skin through the night, yet the troops 
 were already in motion, eagerly engaged in preparing them- 
 selves for whatever emergency might follow, and while hastily 
 snatching their morning's repast, many an eye was turned 
 anxiously towards the quarters of their gallant commander, 
 where it was understood a council of war was being held, to 
 determine whether to continue their flight after the main 
 army or remain to give battle to the pursuing enemy. At 
 length the officers were seen emerging from the quarters in 
 question, and with quickened steps returning to their re- 
 spective corps, while the increased activity which succeeded 
 throughout the camp indicated the importance of the result 
 now communicated. 
 
 "Well, Captain Selden," said Warrington, as rousing him- 
 self from the reverie into which he had fallen after the coun- 
 cil had broken up, he looked around and observed that his 
 confidential friend now remained with him in the apartment, 
 "what do you think of the argument of Hale, and those who 
 so strenuously opposed our proposition of making a stand 
 against the enemy?'* 
 
 * There was no engagement in our Revolution, perhaps, which 
 exhibited such determined energy and resolution on the part oi:. 
 the Amjericans, as the battle of Hubbardton; and yet there was 
 no one, of which the results are more obscurely or incorrectly 
 stated by our leading historians — most of them making our loss 
 from 200 to 300, and that of the British from 100 to 200. But if 
 they had reversed the statement they would not even then have 
 done justice to our gallant troops. Ethan Allen, in his narrative, 
 says: "Our loss was about 30 killed, and that of the enemy 
 amounted to 300 killed, including a Major Grant. The enemy's 
 loss I learned from the confession of their own officers when a 
 prisoner among them. I heard them likewise complain that the 
 Green Mountain Boys 'took sight.' " After a diligent inquiry I am 
 satisfied that Colonel Allen's statement is substantially a correct 
 one. 
 
THE GREEN MOtJNTAlK BOYS. • 297 
 
 '^Qiiite as well of tlieir arguments as their patriotism^ Col- 
 onel/' promptly answered the person addressed. '^"Shakes- 
 j)eare never better evinced his knowledge of the human heart 
 than when he put into the mouth of one of his secretly cra- 
 ven boasters the salvo argument that *^discretion is the better 
 part of valor.' '' 
 
 '"The inference is a sharp one^ Captain, but I fear me, too 
 well deserved. There was one thing, however, which grati- 
 fied me: not a single officer from the Green Mountains op- 
 posed the proposition. And it is so with the troops of my 
 regiment. I was out among them this morning by daylight 
 to gather their feelings on this subject; and, though the poor 
 fellows were wet, weary, and war-worn, I found our Green 
 Mountain Boys universally burning for the encounter.'' 
 
 "There is no doubt of it. But after all, Colonel, I fear these 
 /^preachers of prudence were prophesying by instinct, when 
 they told us we had a bloody day's work before us. The 
 force we are sure to encounter is, perhaps, more than double 
 our own; and we know not how many more are on their way 
 to reinforce them." 
 
 "I am aAvare of all this. But as soldiers can we longer en- 
 dure the thought of being driven before the foe? — as citizens 
 and settlers of these our mountain homes, can we see the 
 enemy marching into the heart of our country, and strike no 
 blow for its protection? As little as the people expected our 
 evacuation of Ticonderoga, much less will they expect us to 
 continue a flight which will soon leave the whole settlement 
 exposed to the ravages of the merciless minions of Burgoyne. 
 With my own regiment alone, I can make a successful stand 
 against the force which immediately menaces us with an at- 
 tack; and if more arrive, the reinforcements which St. Clair 
 will surely send us, when our express shall reach him, will be 
 in season for the rescue." 
 
 "Gen. St. Clair may send us a reinforcement, but — " 
 
 "May? he must! And if he does, and will send another 
 force round the rear to cut off the enemy's retreat, they are 
 all ours before sunset. Think you Ethan Allen would be found 
 longer skulking before the foe, or, if in St. Clair's command, 
 would suffer a man of them to return to the lake alive, or un- 
 captured?" 
 
 "Never! but Ethan Allen is not our general. And the 
 man who suffered the enemy to get possession of every com- 
 
298 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 man ding post round Ticonderoga till we had good reason to 
 evacuate^ may still, like some of his humble imitators in our 
 council just now, think it prudent to take care of himself, 
 and leave us to do the same/' 
 
 At this moment the sergeant of the guard entered the door. 
 
 "ColoneV said he, ^Sve have taken a prisoner this morn- 
 ing, who came from the direction of the enemy; and though 
 he professes fair, and pretends business with you, yet having 
 no pass, or papers of any kind, and refusing. to give any fur- 
 ther account of himself, we have kept him under guard, till 
 we thought you might have leisure to examine him." 
 
 "What is he, — -a British soldier?" 
 
 "No — an Indian, or part Indian, I should think." 
 
 "Bring him here, instantly," said Warrington, with an ex- 
 pression of interest. 
 
 The sergeant accordingly left the apartment, and in a few 
 moments returned with Neshobee by his side, when, upon an 
 intimation from his superior, he withdrew, leaving his pris- 
 oner and the two officers by themselves. 
 
 "Neshobee, my good fellow," exclaimed Warrington, ad- 
 vancing to the native, and shaking him cordially by the hand. 
 "I hope they have not misused you; but how came you here?" 
 
 "Me come for purpose find you. Missus Alma — " 
 
 "Alma Hendee! where is she?" eagerly interrupted the Col- 
 onel. 
 
 The Indian then related to his astonished auditors, in his 
 peculiar manner, the particulars of the capture of the Hen- 
 dee family, and all of the subsequent occurrences which had 
 come to his knowledge till he reached the American encamp- 
 ment. 
 
 "Execrable villain!" exclaimed Warrington, with unusual 
 bitterness, after a few questions and answers respecting the 
 number and equipment of Sherwood's gang had been rapidly 
 exchanged between the excited officers and the native, "exe- 
 crable villain! but his triumph shall be a short one!" 
 
 "God grant it!" responded Selden with the same spirit, 
 "but what do you propose. Colonel?" 
 
 "To proceed instantly to their camp, storm it, and rescue 
 the captives within this hour — if possible, within this very 
 hour!" 
 
 "And you are willing to risk, even at this emergency, the 
 absence of men enough to accomplish it?'^ 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 299 
 
 *^I must,- — as much as we may need them, I must risk it. 
 And would to God, that my duties would permit me to head 
 them against this farrago of fiends incarnate. Will you per- 
 form the service. Captain Selden?" 
 
 ^^Most joyfully." 
 
 "Go then. Take your company, including Jones and as 
 many of his scouts as you think best. If you succeed, furnish 
 the family with an escort to a place of safety, or hring them 
 to the rear of the army, as circumstances shall dictate. — Stay, 
 Selden, a moment," he continued approaching the side of the 
 spirited and impatient young officer, and speaking in a low 
 confidential tone, "I am well aware that this may be a day of 
 danger — of death to many of us — Tell that lovely girl her 
 frank and noble explanation, has been received and appreciated 
 — that my heart has ever been, and is now doubly hers — that 
 if I survive, I will soon be by her side, and if I fall, my last 
 thoughts will be upon her." 
 
 At that instant the quickly successive reports of a dozen 
 muskets in the direction of the expected enemy broke the still- 
 ness of the morning, announcing a collision between the op- 
 j)osing outposts, and the battle at hand. 
 
 "To arms!" exclaimed the commander, rushing out into the 
 open air, and leaping upon his charger that, caparisoned and 
 ready for his gallant rider, stood impatiently pawing the 
 ground at the door, "to arms, instantly to arms!" 
 
 As the loud and thrilling tones of the well known voice 
 ot their idolized leader rung through the camp, falling upon 
 the ears of the aroused and excited troops, every man sprang 
 for his musket, and the busy quiet, that one moment before 
 had reigned through the tented lines, was at once changed into 
 the noisy din of preparation. Captain Selden, in accordance 
 with the arrangement just settled between him and his super- 
 ior, hastily formed his company, briefly informed his men of 
 the object of their proposed expedition, and amidst the clangor 
 of rattling steel and rolling drums, mingled with the stern, 
 brief words of command, filed off rapidly across the field to- 
 wards the northern forest, and, with Feshobee as guide, soon 
 disappeared within its borders. 
 
 Let us now return to the captured. The first object that 
 saluted the eyes of our hapless heroine, on recovering her con- 
 sciousness, was the dimly seen figure of Sherwood standing 
 in the doorway, in the attitude of one whose attention on 
 
300 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 entering had been suddenly arrested by some unexpected sigbt 
 or sound behind him. Tlie next instant a man on horseback 
 came dashing up furiously to tlie spot. Hastily closing the 
 door behind him^ Sherwood immediately advanced to the side 
 of the halted horseman; when the following dialogue dis- 
 tinctly reached the ears of the eager listener within. 
 
 "Captain Sherwood — ain't it?'' 
 
 "Yes — Eemington, I believe^ from the voice? — Well, what 
 news ?" 
 
 "Important — great — glorious!" 
 
 "Aha, what is it?'' 
 
 "The rebels have evacuated Ti.l" 
 
 "The devil! and all escaped?" 
 
 "Every scoundrel of them, but their race is nearly up." 
 
 "A¥hy? How? Where are they?" 
 
 "St. Clair, mth the bulk of them, made shift to push on 
 to Castleton by dark, — Warrington with a regiment or two, 
 now lies encamped at Seleck's farm right against us over on 
 the military road. Gen. Frazier, who followed hard on their 
 tracks through the day, lies at Lacy's Camp, with his brigade; 
 and Eed Hazle and his Jarmans are but a few miles be- 
 hind." 
 
 "And what is Frazier 's plan?" 
 
 "To move upon Warrington at daylight; and he told me to 
 tell you to be on hand when the attack is made, — flank the 
 rebels in the woods, and keep on ahead of them to cut off 
 their retreat. But the order needn't interfere with your busi- 
 ness here," added the traitor, with a knowing chuckle, point- 
 ing towards the house with one hand, and giving his master 
 a significant nudge with the other: — There's no need of your 
 marching before break of day; so you see you'll have time 
 to—" 
 
 "Hush! speak lower, you prying devil, — she'll hear you." 
 
 "Well, w^ell; but what is to be my share for this night's 
 job?" 
 
 "British gold, — Burgoyne will see to that." 
 
 "Yes, I know that; but I mean what share of the same kind 
 of coin that you are about to make free with? — You under- 
 stand me, hey?" 
 
 "That's asking more than you have any right to expect, 
 Eemington." 
 
 "The hell is it! I know there is game to be had^ and if L 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 3Q1 
 
 can't have my sliare^ when my betters are helping themselves^ 
 ril know the reason why, by — " 
 
 "Yes, bnt don't get in a passion abont it: Something of the 
 kind may be effected for yon, perhaps. The Scotch girl is 
 promised to Darrow; but there are two maids. It can be 
 managed, possibly — '' 
 
 "To-night?'' 
 
 "Why, — why, not very conveniently — if yon will delay till 
 
 to-m.orrow night but hnsh! hnsh! who is that? — who is 
 
 that coming in snch haste?" — hnrriedly exclaimed Sherwood, 
 as startled by the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, he 
 looked round and distinguished the figure of some one hastily 
 making his way towards them. 
 
 "It is the lieutenant's gait," observed Eemington, whose 
 situation on his horse enabled him best to determine the point 
 in question. "And it is Darrow, too, ain't it?" 
 
 "Yes, I am the chap," responded the ruffian, striding up to 
 the spot. "AYhere is the Captain ? — here ! Jake, the devil is 
 to pay!" 
 
 "What is the matter?" eagerly asked Sherwood. 
 
 "Why, it may be matter enough for us soon, if what Eem- 
 ington here says about the rebels being so near us is true — 
 Hendee's cursed Indian has escaped!" 
 
 "Hell and furies! Bill, who suffered that?" 
 
 "The lubberly curse that you set to guard the red scamp in 
 the corner of the barn got asleep, I s'pose; and the confusion 
 and crowding caused by the storm prevented any one else from 
 seeing to it." 
 
 "How long has he been gone?" 
 
 "These two hours, for aught I can ascertain." 
 
 "Did you see any thing that could be taken for the imp^ on 
 your route, Eemington?" 
 
 "Ko, Captain. As soon as I found that the rebels were on 
 the road, I rode several miles round in by-roads, to reach the 
 British camp." 
 
 "Well, Darrow, we must move," said Sherwood, after musing 
 a moment; "I know that fellow well. He will know what to 
 do without being told, and v/ill be as cunning as Satan in 
 bringing it about. In beating about for help to rescue the 
 family, he will learn Yfarrington's position, which ten to one 
 he has reached before this. You, as well as I, can guess what 
 will come next. Within an hour, a hundred of Warrington's 
 
302 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 bull dogs may be upon us^ with ambuscades in every direction 
 around us. We must march, and that instantly. Our private 
 plans. Bill, must be deferred till another night. And, by that 
 time, I am thinking, there wont be enough left of the damned 
 scoundrel, or his men, to trouble us. We will take to the hill 
 on the south end of the pond yonder. The moon is coming 
 out; and this breeze will shake the water from the trees, so 
 that we can make our way comfortably. Go forward, Dar- 
 row, and be mustering the men. Eemington, let me mount 
 that horse, till we enter the woods. Guards! ho! you may 
 close up round the house now, and in a few moments we will 
 relieve you of your charge.'^ 
 
 If ever an offering of unfeigned, unmingled gratitude as- 
 cended to Heaven from the lips of mortals for boon bestowed, 
 it was that of Alma Hendee, as on bended knees she poured 
 out the incense of her gushing and grateful heart to her 
 divine Preserver for this temporary deliverance from the perils 
 that so nearly threatened her. She had scarcely risen from her 
 devotions, when a messenger from Sherwood's quarters en- 
 tered and summoned her to attend him to the other cabin. She 
 obeyed with cheerful alacrity and, in a few moments more, was 
 in the silent embrace of her friends, receiving the low mur- 
 mured caresses and blessings of her overjoyed father, on whose 
 bosom she lay sobbing till interrupted by the stern, harsh 
 voice of Darrow at the door, commanding them all to come 
 forth, to be taken with the band in the movement which had 
 been so hastil}^ concerted by the alarmed leaders! 
 
 On emerging from the house the prisoners found the entire 
 band of their captors drawn up in the yard, waiting only to 
 receive them before commencing the contemplated march. 
 And, after the former had been ordered to take their places 
 near the center of the line, separated from each other by the 
 alternate intermingling of guards as on the afternoon's marcli, 
 the whole moved silently forward across the pasture in the 
 direction previously mentioned by their leader. AA^ien they 
 arrived at the outskirts of the clearing, Sherwood relinquished 
 the horse, upon which he had thus far superintended the 
 march, to liemington, and after sending off the latter on some 
 secret destination, took his station at the head of the forces, 
 and plunged directly into the forest. After many windings 
 through the pathless and still dripping woods, for the purpose 
 of confusing or misleading their enemies, in any attempts 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. S03 
 
 which might be made to follow the trail, they bore down upon 
 the pond, and soon struck into an old Indian path nmning 
 along the margin of the water towards the south. In this 
 they slowly pursued their dark, and often difficult way, till 
 day-light; when arriving at the southern extremity of the 
 pond, and being here, as they believed, out of the reach of any 
 immediate danger from pursuit, they withdrew a short dis- 
 tance from the vicinity of the water, and halted to wait the 
 operations of the hostile armies, being now within a short dis- 
 tance of the clearing in which the action was expected to take 
 place. 
 
 After scouts had been dispatched to watch the movements 
 of Warrington's forces, and some time spent in inspecting 
 their arms, and preparing them for instant service, the band, 
 at the intimation of their leaders, proceeded to partake of a 
 hasty repast, consisting mostly of bread and dried meats, which 
 each produced from his own knapsack, with the exception of 
 the ofhcers and caj)tives, for the supplying of whom one of 
 Cap+iin Hendee's horses, loaded with provisions and tent- 
 cloths, had followed in the rear. A scanty portion of this kind 
 of food, with a gourd-shell of Avater, was, after a while, sent 
 to the faint and wearied prisoners by Sherwood, who seemed 
 studiously to avoid coming himself into their immediate pres- 
 ence. The meal was partaken by the captives in gloomy 
 silence, which, except here and there in the ribald jest of a 
 tory, or the low guttural grunt of a* savage, Avas imitated by 
 the mongrel gang of ferocious and brutal* looking fellows 
 around them. 
 
 Scarcely had they finished their homely repast, when a rat- 
 tling peal of distant musketry, followed by the sound of roll- 
 ing drums furiously beating to arms, came booming through 
 the forest, awakening the echoes of hill and dell for miles 
 around, and startling both captives and captors by the sound, 
 now well understood by all as the herald of the approaching 
 conflict. 
 
 "To the hills! forward to a station on the hills!" loudly 
 shouted Sherwood, now for the first time openly exercising the 
 command in the presence of the prisoners. 
 
 Hastily forming a line of march, Sherwood, with quick and 
 eager steps led his men up the ragged steeps towards his pro- 
 posed station, leaving the brutal Darrow, who had charge of 
 the rear, in which the captives were now placed^ to goad on 
 
 20 
 
304 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 tlie infirin old captain, and the tender and already exhausted 
 females, to keep pace with the rest. After a rapid and fatigu- 
 ing march of half an honr, at almost every step of which the 
 forest around them was resounding to the roar of thickening 
 conflict on the plains to the right, they reached the summit 
 of a wood-covered hill, which overlooked the extensive open- 
 ing to the west, now occupied as the scene of action by the 
 contending armies. Immediately detaching about a dozen of 
 his most trusty tories with Darrow at their head to guard the 
 prisoners, Sherwood, with the remainder of his force, proceeded 
 some forty or fifty rods down the hill, and took his station 
 in the bushes bordering the opening, to wait a favorable op- 
 portunity to co-operate with his British friends. The guard, 
 on the departure of Sherwood, wishing to take a stand them- 
 selves where they could witness the battle, ordered the cap- 
 tives forward to the brow of the hill, and permitted them 
 to take seats upon the edge of a cliff which afforded 
 them, through the openings of the overhanging foliage, 
 a distinct view of the field of conflict. A grand and thrill- 
 ing spectacle now burst upon their view. At the distance 
 of less than a mile, in the broad field beneath them, stood the 
 plain and hardy sons of liberty, unflinchingly engaged face 
 to face, and often arm to arm, in deadly strife with the gorge- 
 ous and disciplined bands of their outnumbering foes, — the 
 fluttering standards and glittering arms of wheeling squad- 
 rons now flasliing in the morning sun, and now enveloped in 
 clouds of eddying smoke, as the fires of a thousand death- 
 tubes blazed fiercely along the opposing lines; while hill and 
 forest around seemed rocking responsive to the deafening 
 thunders of the embattled plain. With an interest equally in- 
 tense, but with emotions widely different, was the scene wit- 
 nessed by the little group of captives: for while Alma and 
 Jessy gazed in silent awe upon the fearful spectacle, trem- 
 bling and amazed at the tremendous din that rose from the 
 spot, and Avith bosoms painfully beating with secret anxiety 
 for the fate of their betrothed lovers, engaged, as they be- 
 lieved, in the hottest of the strife, and exposed every instant 
 to the missiles of death, or already weltering in their gore 
 among the dying, and dead, — while, with such agitating emo- 
 tions gazed they upon the scene. Captain Hendee watched the 
 progress of the contest with the experienced eye of a soldier, 
 and with a view to its general results. For nearly an hour the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 305 
 
 battle raged witli unmitigated fury. Alternately driving and 
 driven, the contending foes, without any permanent ad- 
 vantage to either, fiercely disputed for the mastery of the field; 
 while volley after volley, bursting in rapid succession along 
 the serried lines of the opposing fronts continued to sweep 
 the plain with the leaden tempest, covering it with heaps of 
 the dying and the dead. At length there was a momentary 
 lull in the din of battle. Even the '^^stormy music" of the 
 shriek-drowning drum for an instant ceased to send up its 
 monotonous roar from the field of conflict. And all beneath 
 the broad and veiling cloud of smoke, that hung over the 
 spot, at first seemed as silent as if that cloud had been a pall 
 for an army of the dead. The next moment, however, a 
 sound reached the quick ears of the female captives, more 
 fearful than the thunders of battle. 
 
 "List! w^hat is that?" asked the girls, with a simultaneous 
 exclamation, and looks of horror, as the piercing and mingled 
 wail of many voices came wafting on the breeze with awful 
 distinctness to the ear. "Oh, father, what dreadful sound is 
 that?" repeated Alma, with a shudder. 
 
 The old gentleman, whose less acute organs had not been 
 affected by the sound, without replying, turned an ear to- 
 wards the fatal field. The same hideous, though low and dis- 
 tance-mellowed screech, came up again from the spot with the 
 succeeding undulation of the fitful breeze, but was the next 
 instant lost in a fresh burst of martial music, which once more 
 sent its swelling roar over the surrounding hills. 
 
 "It is the cries of the wounded!" said the Captain, turn- 
 ing to his unheeding auditors, for they sat with their hands 
 tightly pressed upon their ears to exclude the abhorrent sound. 
 "But it is over — it is over now," he continued, motioning them 
 to withdraw their hands. 
 
 Understanding the gesture rather than the words, the girls 
 hesitatingly unstopped their ears, and turned a mute and 
 startled look of inquiry upon the Captain. 
 
 "It was the groans of the wounded," resumed the Captain. 
 "It is, indeed, a dreadful sound to one not inured to the hor- 
 rors of war. The first time I ever heard it, I well remember, 
 it made my hair rise upright on my head, and filled me with 
 more terror and dread than the bullets of the enemy. But 
 it does not often occur, and should never, as it dish'^ar'tens the 
 men; vet it will some times happen, when some sudden change 
 
 20 
 
806 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 in the order of battle is taking place on both sides at the same 
 moment." 
 
 *'^And do you suspect any important change is about to 
 take place in the present battle, father?'^ anxiously inquired 
 Alma. 
 
 "I do, child. I can perceive there is a movement going on 
 among our troops. There! do you see that officer dashing at 
 full speed along the lines, as he occasionally appears in the 
 openings of the hfting smoke? He is rallying and forming 
 for a fresh onset, and is probably the chief in command, who 
 you understood was to be " 
 
 *'It is! it is he!'^ exclaimed Alma, with trembling eager- 
 ness. "Yes, it is he, and yet spared, thank Heaven!^' she 
 added, checking herself, and sinking her voice into an almost 
 inaudible whisper, "but oh! the perils which the next mo- 
 ment may surround him!" and she buried her face in her 
 hands to conceal her emotion. 
 
 "Well, whether Warrington or another," observed the Cap- 
 tain, "the officer in command there is winning glory for him- 
 self and his country. I have never seen a defense against 
 a superior force conducted with more abihty than he has 
 displayed, nor a field disputed with more determined intre- 
 pidity than this by the men under Mm; at least by all those 
 who have yet engaged. But there is one battalion standing 
 aloof by the copse, yonder, whose movements I neither un- 
 derstand nor like. I wonder who they are ?" 
 
 "That is Colonel Hale's regiment," said a voice from the 
 rear, "We have no great fears of him, or his men; but them 
 dare-devils in the thickest of it, there, are G-reen Mountain 
 Boys, and Fll own — but theyVe got to knuckle soon, for 
 Eed Hazle can't now be more than a mile or so off, and 
 then " 
 
 The Captain turned his head, and beheld in the speaker the 
 traitor Eemington, who had arrived unperceived, and now 
 stood unblushingly, and with a malicious and exulting leer, 
 looking him in the face. The double-faced villain, however, 
 was met by the old veteran with such a withering look of scorn 
 and contempt, as caused him to pause in his remarks, and 
 soon to slink away behind the guards. 
 
 Muttering a few deep and bitter curses upon the object of 
 his ayersion, on whom he looked as the despicable instru- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 307 
 
 ment of his present misfortunes^ Captain Hendee again turned 
 to watcli the progress of the battle. 
 
 "Keep your eyes on the field, girls/' said the old gentle- 
 man, after closely scanning the appearance of the belligerent 
 forces a moment. "They are evidently on the eve of some 
 important evolution. There! see there! there goes the fire 
 of our whole line upon them in a single blaze! Ah! that fire 
 must have told dreadfully on the enemy!'' he continued, with 
 an exulting air, while waiting for the dispersion of the smoke, 
 that, curling its wavy folds over the American lines, at this 
 terrible volley, concealed for an instant both them and their 
 foes completely from view. "Yes, dreadfully, as they ac- 
 knowledge, by not returning the fire. There, you can just 
 see their scarlet lines now, — and in confusion! — staggering 
 and recoiling in confusion, as I live! And, by Jupiter! see! 
 how like lightning the black masses of the continentals are 
 throwing themselves into columns! They charge! they 
 charge! Heavens! what a clash of encountering steel — but 
 no wavering in the charging column yet! On they move! 
 And, by the Lord of Heavens! the red-coats give way before 
 them! They reel — break, and run, — yes, see! see! the poor 
 beaten devils are fairly taking to their heels! ha! ha! Hur- 
 rah for the Green Mountain Boys! ha! ha! ha! ha!" And 
 the excited old veteran, breaking the restraint which his sit- 
 uation, as a closely guarded prisoner, had imposed, leaped 
 up, and clapped his hands in gleeful exultation. 
 
 "Stop that d n'd old fool's gab!" shouted the nettled 
 
 and chafing Harrow, who, having taken a separate station 
 in the bushes, some rods distant, stood deeply absorbed in the 
 movements of the field, when the old gentleman's exclama- 
 tions reached his ears: "stop his gab, I say! or spit him on 
 your bayonet, and hurl him over the cliff. Hell! Here, let 
 me come — I may as well have my revenge now as ever!" 
 
 As with angry growls Harrow was hastening through the 
 bushes to the s^^ot, the nearest guard brought down his piece, 
 and drew back for a thrust at the Captain with his bayonet; 
 but in the act, he suddenly started, dropped his musket, gave 
 a convulsive screech, sallied back, and was on his way to the 
 earth, when the sharp and stunning report of a dozen rifles, 
 from the back of the hill, burst upon the ears of the startled 
 captives, and their no less astonished captors, who, in their 
 
308 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 eagerness to see the action, had neglected to keep watch 
 against a surprise from pursuing enemies from the woods. 
 
 "There! take that, damn joiiV exclaimed Darrow, as, more 
 intent on accomplishing his meditated revenge than attempt- 
 ing a defense, he sprang forward, the instant he perceived 
 himself attacked, within a rod of the captives, discharged his 
 pistol at Captain Hendee, and, without v^aiting to see the ef- 
 fect of his shot, which his eager haste had luckil}^ rendered 
 a vain one, jumped off the cliff, and, venturously leaping from 
 shelf to shelf down the precipice, disappeared in the direction 
 of Sherwood^s station at the foot of the hill. 
 
 The surviving tories, for four of them had heen stretched 
 lifeless upon the earth, hj the shot of their assailants, dis- 
 charged their guns at random towards the covert of their yet 
 unseen foes, and fled along the cliff to the south, to gain the 
 gorge where Sherwood and his party had descended. But 
 they were a moment too late to effect their object. The 
 movement having been perceived by Selden's party, for, as 
 the reader has doubtless alread}^ anticipated, the assailants 
 were no other — the}^ suddenly closed up that end of their line, 
 and cut off the retreat of the fugitives, who, quickly tacking 
 about, commenced their flight back towards the captives, with 
 the view of escaping along the ledge to the north of them. 
 
 "Aha! je scampering satans, 3^ou can't go that this time!'*' 
 exclaimed the sharp and rattling voice of Pete Jones, who, 
 with a dozen sturdy fellows at his heels, at that instant burst 
 through the bushes, and came down like a whirlwind upon 
 the baffled tories, in time to prevent them from gaining the 
 thicket in the rear of the captives — "spread out, there, boys, 
 and be ready to give 'em the lead at the word," continued the 
 scout, motioning to his men, who promptly compl3dng, cocked 
 their rifles, and throwing themselves into a half circle, con- 
 tinued with hasty steps to advance upon the affrighted 
 wretches, now standing huddled together on the brink of the 
 precipice, and looking wildl}^ around them for some chance 
 to escape. 
 
 "Now, ye painted devils," resumed Jones, still drawing up 
 with leveled rifle, "now you have got to jump, or take it." 
 
 Misunderstanding the real intentions of the scout, which 
 were to frighten, and then give quarters, and expecting to be 
 shot down the next instant, the tories threw down their guns, 
 and with one consent, plunged madly from the cliff! 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. * 309 
 
 "Blood and bayonets! who would have tlionght that?'^ ex- 
 claimed the woodsman, in tones of mingled horror and sur- 
 prise, as he stepped up and peered over the brink, from which, 
 down a broken, but nearly perpendicular descent of over 
 an hundred feet, this desperate leap had been taken. "Now 
 I'll be blamed, if it don't make me feel ugly. Only see 'em 
 there!" he continued, gazing down upon the mangled 
 wretches at the foot of the precipice, with an expression of 
 the deepest commiseration, "only see! three or four lay there 
 in a heap, panting and quivering at the last gasp ! And there's 
 the rest, just crawling off into the bushes like snakes with 
 their backs broke! Howsomever," he added, turning away 
 with an effort to shake off the feeling, "we can't very well 
 afford the poor devils a great deal of lament, for the same 
 sarce would have been ours, if we'd fell into the hands of their 
 sort of cattle, jest as sure as tory is their name, and infarnal 
 their nater.'^ 
 
 In the meanwhile, Selden, followed by the rest of his com- 
 pany, had reached the spot; and the former having flown to 
 the side of his overjoyed Jessy and her friends, the now 
 liberated captives, was exchanging those hasty and heartfelt 
 greetings, which the circumstances were so well calculated to 
 call forth, when a new and startling war-cry rose from the 
 thicket below, where he had just learned from his rescued 
 friends that Sherwood with the main part of his band was 
 posted. 
 
 "Do you hear that, my brave fellows?" exclaimed the young 
 officer in a tone that rung through the forest, as he burst 
 from the group of his embracing friends, and, with a look of 
 kindling enthusiasm, leaped forward towards his men, "do 
 you hear that rall^dng shout below! But let them come! The 
 red-coats are flying in confusion before our friends in yonder 
 field. Let their scurvy minions here in the bush be taught the 
 same lesson. Every man to his post!" 
 
 Eesponding with hearty and reiterated cheers to the words 
 of their gallant leader, the men flew to their stations along 
 the ridge to await the approach of their foes, who were now 
 evidently rallying for a rescue. 
 
 At this instant a shower of bullets struck the crags at the 
 very feet of the captives. 
 
 "Jones, your assistance!" shouted Selden, rushing back to 
 the group who had thus narrowly escaped death, and point- 
 
310 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ing him to Alma, as he himself grasped his own affianced girl 
 in liis arms, and with raj^id steps bore her back, nestling and 
 trembling on his bosom, to a place of temporary safety over 
 the screening ridge in the rear. 
 
 Comprehending the other at a glance, the scout bounded 
 forward to the side of Miss Hendee, at that instant engaged 
 in trying to qniet the alarms of her less self-possessed do- 
 mestic, when, concluding to give the order of his superior its 
 most liberal construction, he gave a swoop with his long arms, 
 andj gathering both mistress and maid in his grasp, and lift- 
 ing them high from the ground, bore them, blushing through 
 their alarms, at their novel situation aloft, over the hill, oc- 
 casionally pausing in his monstrous strides over rock and log, 
 to give a wink to Neshobee to follow his example with Zilpah, 
 the only female now left on the spot of danger. 
 
 "Guess you catch um first,^^ tartly observed the yellow 
 maiden eluding the hesitating grasp of her bashful gallant, 
 and darting forward like an arrow towards her friends. 
 
 "AVhere is my father?" inc{uired Alma, with a look of con- 
 cern, the instant she was released from the arms of the scout. 
 
 "Your father, mum?" replied Jones. "0, didn't yer see 
 him? Why that careless shot of the enemy there among you 
 jest now, seemed to raise the old Captain's dander right up, 
 and, seizing the gun of that dead tory, that my old Trusty 
 here brought down in such good time for the old gentleman, 
 ril be blest if he didn't hobble off like the very mischief to 
 help the boys man the cliff. And your tame redskin has 
 concluded to do the same thing, I reckon, seeing as how he 
 got the mitten," added the scout, tipping a knowing and 
 saucy wink to Zilpah. 
 
 A general discharge of rifles and musketry by Selden's 
 party, along the top of the ridge to the south, here interrupted 
 the conversation, announcing that the enemy had made their 
 appearance on their way up the hill towards the accessible 
 points in the ledge. 
 
 "That must be a feint," observed Captain Selden; "they 
 can not be serious in any attempt to mount the ridge in the 
 very teeth of our death-dealing rifles, can they, Jones?" 
 
 "INTo, Captain, that ain't no part of their ealkerlation, I'll 
 swear to it. Neither need we have any fears of their flanking 
 round the ledge to the north of us, as that might bring 'em 
 between two fires, one from us, and another from the field. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 311 
 
 So, while a few of 'em are showing themselves, and firing just 
 enough to keep up the sham, the main part will push round 
 at the other end of the ridge, about a half mile or so, to the 
 south of us. And I shouldn't be surprised if the lead was 
 flying considerable thick along here in the matter of twenty 
 minutes from now — but suppose you put the women a jog- 
 ging. Captain; and let me be looking to the sarpents a little/' 
 added the scout, glancing uneasily around him, and showing 
 signs of impatience to be gone. 
 
 "You are right, Jones," promptly replied Selden, "and 
 there is now but one course to be pursued. The ladies must 
 pass down the hill, and, striking for the open field, endeavor 
 to gain the rear of our army. I must attend them, leaving 
 the command of the men with you to cover our retreat — can 
 you do it?" 
 
 "Wh)^, I rather guess I mought; that is, if you will clear 
 vrith the women — the sight of them kinder clogs a fellow, you 
 know." 
 
 "Call in Captain Hendee, then. He is not nimble enough for 
 a bush fight. Send us also I^Teshobee, and two of my men as 
 an escort." 
 
 "A}^, ay, Captain," cheerfully responded the scout, loping 
 off at a rapid pace to his charge — "ay, ay, we'll fix it about 
 right, Avon't we, old Trusty? Trol, lol, lol de larly." 
 
 Within five minutes from the disappearance of Jones^ the 
 family party v/ere all ccllected, and in rapid motion down the 
 hill. 'Not was the expedition with which the movement was 
 accomplished uncalled for by the event: For, scarcely had 
 they proceeded a furlong on their route, before the cracking 
 and irregular reports of rifles behind them announced an at- 
 tack by the foe, in a manner just predicted by the sagacious 
 scout. Passing onward with all the speed they were capable 
 of making, they paused not in their course till they reached 
 the spot where they and their captors had halted in the morn- 
 ing. There, after taking charge of Captain Hendee's horse, 
 which had been left tied to a tree, and ascertaining from the 
 direction and distance of the firing at the scene they had just 
 left, that Jones was at least maintaining his position on the 
 hill, they turned short to the west, and made their way im- 
 mediately to the opening, where the main action, as was evi- 
 dent from the heavy discharge of artillery that occasionally 
 came pealing through the forest, was still kept up by the 
 
312 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 slowly retreating enemy. On arriving at the borders of tlie 
 woods, our party entered the mouth of a ravine, which, while 
 it protected them, by its screening banks, from the view of 
 any spies whom Sherwood might have posted on the hill, 
 luckily led up, and opened upon the plain, directly abreast of 
 the position now occupied by Warrington's regiment of Green 
 Mountain Boys. 
 
 Passing hastily along, in Indian file, up this ravine, till 
 fairly beyond rifle-shot distance from the woods, and arriving 
 by this time at an elevation, where, still unseen, they could 
 easily obtain a glance over the scene of action, the company 
 halted, for the purpose of ascertaining, before proceeding any 
 further, the exact position of the American forces, and the 
 prospect of maintaining the temporary advantages which 
 they had evidently already gained over the boasted brigade of 
 the gallant, but now mortified General Frazier. 
 
 A misty veil of undissipated sm.oke still hung over the field 
 of battle, and prevented Selden and Captain Hendee, who 
 mounted the bank for the purpose, from ascertaining anything 
 more than the general positions of the hostile armies. The 
 Americans having pursued their routed enemies a short dis- 
 tance, had fallen back upon the ground occupied by them at 
 the onset; while the Eritish, having collected and rallied 
 their broken and disordered forces, had made a sullen stand 
 about half a mile distant. 
 
 "Our troops have beaten the red-coats, and driven them 
 from the field of attack, it is evident," observed Selden, mus- 
 ingly, as he ran his eye anxiously over the field, "and yet, I 
 fear, their temporary victory has been bought too dearly to 
 permit them to avail themselves of the -advantages they have 
 obtained." 
 
 "I fear so too," replied Captain Hendee. "Nor do I exact- 
 ly like the aspect and motions of the enemy yonder. See! 
 they are now deploying ofl: towards the woods against our left 
 wing. They are either preparing for a fresh onset in a new 
 form, or opening for a reinforcement large enough to form a 
 center; and I am apprehensive the latter, as, now I bethink 
 me, I heard a treacherous scoundrel, who came near us a few 
 moments before you arrived for our rescue, making the boast 
 that a fresh body of Burgoyne's German hirelings were but a 
 mile or two distant, and in full march for the field." 
 
 "God forbid!" exclaimed Selden, Avith a look of anxiety 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 313 
 
 and alarm. "But this must instantly be seen to. Perhaps our 
 ofl&cers are not aware of it. I must immediately forward to 
 Warrington. Keep your position here, my friends, till I re- 
 turn, which shall be soon, better informed how to act, and 
 with some plan for your disposal, or escape," added the young 
 officer, as, leaping down into the valley, he seized the horse 
 from the hands of ISTeshobee, mounted, and, waving a hasty 
 adieu to the ladies, dashed forward at full speed over the plain 
 to the American lines. 
 
 Captain Hendee, still retaining his post of elevation, con- 
 tinued anxiously to watch those movements of the enemy 
 which had raised his suspicions of an approaching reinforce- 
 ment. ISTor had many minutes elapsed before his worst ap- 
 prehensions were confirmed by the appearance of Eeidesel, 
 Yv^ho, with fl3'ing colors and rattling drums, and all the pomp 
 and pride of military array, came pouring the numerous 
 troops of his well trained brigade across the field, and bearing 
 down in solid columns directly upon the American center, 
 which stood calmly awaiting their approach; while, at the 
 same time, Frazier, with his whole force, a little in advance 
 of the Germans, moved rapidly along under the woods to the 
 south against the extreme left of the Americans, mostly com- 
 posed of the doubtful regiment of Hale. A few moments of 
 awful suspense followed; and again the flash of a thousand 
 exploding muskets enveloped the encountering hosts in clouds 
 of rolling smoke, and shook the earth and heavens with the 
 fearful concussions that followed. 
 
 At that instant Selden, accompanied by a soldier with two 
 horses, emerged from the smoke and came galloping to the 
 spot. 
 
 "Prepare for instant flight!" he exclaimed, hastily dis- 
 mounting, and urging his horse down the bank towards the 
 little grassy nook on which the females stood instinctively 
 crowding together in mute consternation at the fearful noise 
 and commotion of the plain above. "Ten minutes delay on 
 this spot may again make you prisoners, and in the hands of 
 a brutal and exasperated soldiery." 
 
 "There is no hope, then, that our troops can long with- 
 stand this fresh and formidable onset?" said Captain Hendee, 
 coolly preparing to mount the horse allotted to carry him and 
 his daughter, in the manner in vogue among the settlers of 
 carrying their females behind them on horseback. 
 
"314 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ^^Scareely longer perhaps than to allow us time to gain the 
 forest/' replied Selden^ placing Jessy on the crupper of his 
 own horse, and springing himself into the saddle before her, 
 while the little cavalcade, the two maids having been placed on 
 the back of the third horse, began to move slowly down the 
 rocky and frequently obstructed ravine. 
 
 "I feared so," said the former; "but where in the name of 
 Heaven is St. Clair all this time, that he sends no reinforce- 
 ment ?" 
 
 "Well may you ask that. Captain Hendee," said Selden 
 bitterly — "within hearing of our guns — with a full knoAvl- 
 edge of our attack by a superior force, and with more than 
 two thousand troops at disposal, all impatient to be with us, 
 he allows not a man to come to our assistance. God forgive 
 him! I can't.'' 
 
 "Nor I; but what of that dainty-fingered colonel, whom I 
 noticed from the hill standing aloof and idle with his regi- 
 ment at a distance on the left?" 
 
 "Hale? * Eternal infamy on his name! Having looked 
 coldly on, and mthout lifting a finger in assistance through 
 the whole of the first assault, he, on the approach of Frazier 
 in this last onset, hoisted a white flag — even before it could 
 be seen by the enemy, and disgracefully surrendered his regi- 
 ment, with all the chance in the world to save it by retreat. 
 And by this craven act he has thrown all that important part 
 of the field into the possession of the British, who are already 
 sweeping past us, and securing the roads to the south, leaving 
 our brave friend Warrington with his regim^ent of heroes 
 (scores of whom are stretched bleeding, or lifeless on the field), 
 and the gallant Colonel Francis, with his battalion of Massa- 
 chusetts troops, to contend with a fresh force of more than 
 double their numbers. But they must soon give way — not to 
 retreat in a body, for every pass by which that could be 
 efi^ected is now closed against them, — much less to surrender 
 themselves as prisoners, but to break, scatter and save them- , 
 selves as they best can, to rally again in some appointed place | 
 round the standard of their lion-hearted leader." 
 
 * It is but justice to say, that though this was the version put, 
 on Hale's conduct at the time by many, yet his family wholly 
 deny its correctness, and affirm he demanded a court-martial, but 
 died before obtaining it. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 215 
 
 '^And whicli way do yon and Warrington propose for our 
 flight, after reaching the forest?" 
 
 "An old by-road leading from the head of yonder pond di' 
 rectly across the country to Otter Creek, and there intersect- 
 ing the Creek road to Pittsford and the older settlements. 
 One of our guards, here, must be dispatched to call in Jones 
 with a dozen trusty men to guard us on our way, while the 
 rest of my company shall keep the accursed Sherwood and his 
 gang, if possible, engaged, that he may have no way to dis- 
 cover the route vv^e have taken till we are beyond the reach of 
 his malice. But hark! ^tis a shout of triumph from the 
 British line? Forward with all possible speed — for God's 
 sake, forward to the woods!" 
 
 Dashing onward at the word, the whole party in a moment 
 more gained the confines of the forest, and quickly disap- 
 peared within its recesses, thus escaping the dangers of the 
 field, where they had been nearly involved in the general 
 melee of dispersing pursued and pursuing combatants, that 
 ensued at the close of that fierce and bloody conflict, but es- 
 caping only to encounter other perils, in their flight through 
 the woods, of a still more fearful and dreadful characteie 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 •The hour of fate draws on.' 
 
 The setting sun was throwing its parting beams of rich and 
 mellow light, m a thousand variegated hues, over the inter- 
 mingling foliage of the deciduous and perennial forest, that 
 deeply clothed the mountain slopes to the eastward of the 
 sluggish Otter. The hardy and heroic woman, whose lot had 
 been cast in the wilderness on the banks of that stream, and 
 whose curious abode we have already described in a former 
 chapter, still fearlessly maintained her post, in spite of all 
 the terrors and dangers of an invasion which had driven every 
 settler, to the north and west of her, from his home, and laid 
 open all that section of the Grants, to her very doors, to the 
 unopposed raYages of British and savage foes. 
 
316 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 Her toils for the day being over, slie was now sitting at the 
 door of her rude cabin, enjoying, with an anxious and 
 thoughtful brow, the grateful coolness of the evening air, 
 while her hopeful brood of embryo foresters were lolling upon 
 the grass, or gambohng in childish freaks around her. 
 
 "Oh mother! what was it that I seed over yonder, that 
 twinkled kinder white in the bushes, just now?^' exclaimed 
 one of the younger boys, starting up with excited looks, and 
 pointing to the opposite side of the Creek at a spot some dis- 
 tance up the stream, where the clearing, extending to the 
 water, afforded a fair view of the forest-lined banks of the 
 western side of the river. 
 
 The mother started, and threw a quick glance in the di- 
 rection thus indicated, but perceiving nothing, she sank back 
 into her seat, and observed, "I doubt whether you saw any- 
 thing, my son; but if you did, it was probably a flock of 
 pigeons, or some other birds rising from the ground." 
 
 "1^0 it wan^t mother," replied the boy confidently, "it wan't 
 birds! It was something coming proper fast along this way, 
 by an open place in the trees, and looked just like folks run- 
 ning with white clothes on." 
 
 Aroused by this last remark, as well as by the eager and 
 confident manner in which it was made, Mrs. Story hastily 
 rose, advanced a few steps, and sent an anxious and scrutiniz- 
 ing look along the opposite bank, in search of the object that 
 had so excited the boy^s attention. That object was the next 
 moment disclosed to her in the partied view she obtained of a 
 small company of both sexes on horseback, urging forward 
 their smoking and jaded steeds with all possible haste towards 
 the landing on that side of the stream. She had been acci- 
 dentally apprised that the Hendee family were on their way 
 south the day previous, and having heard a distant, heavy fir- 
 ing, in the direction they had taken, the fore part of the pres- 
 ent day, and coupling the circumstances with the hurrying and 
 alarmed appearance of the approaching company, a painful 
 apprehension now flitted across her mind; and, with an air of 
 deep concern, she stepped inside the door, took down her 
 rifle, and began to proceed, at a hurried pace, towards the 
 Creek. Some doubt, however, seeming to arrest her steps, she 
 stopped short, and again gave eye and ear to objects before 
 and around her. The report of several rifles, some hundred 
 yards up the stream, follov/ed by the distant shout of skir- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 317 
 
 mishers, at that instant readied the spot, and at once re- 
 solved her doubts. Turning hastily to her children, now hud- 
 dling with looks of alarm around her, and ordering them into 
 the house, she flew down the path through the woods to her 
 landing, drew out her canoe from its concealment, and spring- 
 ing in, pushed out boldly for the opposite shore, at which she 
 arrived just as the fugitives, with soiled and torn garments, 
 and way-v/orn and troubled looks, came hurrying uj) to the 
 spot. 
 
 "God bless you for this timely promptitude, Mrs. Story,'' 
 exclaimed Selden, leaping from his horse, and assisting the 
 females and the infirm and sadly jarred old veteran to dis- 
 mount. 
 
 "You are pursued?" eagerly asked the widow. 
 
 "We are," answered Selden, "and have been every step of 
 the way from the red field of Hubbardton. We did not, how- 
 ever, intend to have brought peril to your house. But strik- 
 ing across the country to the Creek, with the hope of escaping 
 up the road to Pittsford, we discovered the road to be am- 
 bushed by a party of our outstripping foes, and, as our only 
 hope of escape, turned down stream to find refuge at your 
 abode. And even this we never should have reached alive, 
 but for the protecting rifies of that noble fellow, Pete Jones, 
 and his brave and trusty scouts, who are still keeping four- 
 fold their numbers at bay till v/e can cross." 
 
 "Well, Heaven be praised for your deliverance so far," re- 
 joined the widow, who still sat in her boat, heading it up 
 against the bank for the others to enter, '^TDut come, girls, 
 jump in here, we will take you over first." 
 
 "Ay, ay," said Selden, "there is not a moment to be lost. 
 And here, Neshobee," he continued, as the native, who had 
 followed his friends on foot, now arrived, "throw down your 
 rifle, dash in there, and swim across to bring back the boat, 
 while I lead the horses into a thicket — perhaps they may be 
 saved. At all events, there is no chance to swim them over 
 here." 
 
 "The canoe will not carry us all safely," said Alma, in a 
 quiet and sorrowful tone, as her companions, who had first 
 entered, seated themselves in the boat. 
 
 "Oh, no danger — not the least; step in," said the widow, 
 encouragingly. 
 
 "No, let me remain," replied the former. "There will 
 
318 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 probably be no danger till the boat can return. But if there 
 should he" she added^ in the same plaintive and desponding 
 accents^ "if there should be^ what matters it to me?" 
 
 "Alma Ilendee!" said the widow^ looking up at the other 
 with an air of mingled surprise and expostulation, "how is 
 this? where is your fortitude?"' 
 
 The grief-stricken maiden made a slight effort to speak, but 
 the utterance died away on her cjuivering lip, and the bright 
 tear-drops stood in her eyes. 
 
 "What has happened to her?" asked the widow, looking 
 round on the company Y^'ith an expression of wonder and con- 
 
 cern 
 
 Warrington has fallen in battle," replied Selden, with an 
 unsuccessful effort to speak v/ithout emotion. 
 
 "Now, Heaven forbid!" exclaimed the widow% in accents 
 which plainly told the shock which the sad announcement 
 had imparted to her feelings. 
 
 "Yes, the gallant fellow has left us," resumed the other. 
 "The melancholy tidings were received from a soldier, who 
 joined us in our flight, and who said he saw him fall dead 
 from his horse in the last moments of the battle. But do not 
 allow yourself to despond, my dear Miss Hendee. You had 
 better go over now," he added, soothingly, as he approached, 
 and gently urged the mutely sorrowful, but now passive girl 
 into the boat, which was instantly headed round, and, under 
 the strokes of the strong armed widow, sent surging towards 
 the other shore. 
 
 Stopping no longer than to see the females under v/ay, Sel- 
 den sprang up the bank, seized the horses by their bridles, and, 
 whipping them into a lively trot, led them into a neighboring 
 thicket, tied them to saplings, and flew back to the shore. The 
 active 3^oung Indian, who had readily undertaken to swim 
 the stream, had already returned with the canoe, taken in 
 Captain Hendee, and sat impatiently waiting, with uplifted 
 oar, to push again from the shore. 
 
 "There! now lay to with a will, my lad," cried Selden, leap- 
 ing into the boat, just as the scattering fire of several rifles, 
 quickly returned by that of a much larger number, a short 
 distance beyond, burst from the bushes at a point now not 
 more than a quarter of a mile up the stream, apprising them 
 that the enemy Avere rapidly driving in Jones and his party, 
 who, as previously concerted, v/ere retiring before their pur- 
 
THB GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 319 
 
 suers in three divisions, each in turn coming in front, dis- 
 charging their pieces from their coverts, and scudding on to 
 the rear of the others, to reload, and await the approach of 
 their foes. 
 
 "If we can get one boat-load of men safely over," resumed 
 Selden, "we shall be able, I trust, to protect the rest in cross- 
 ing; and when all are over, I hope to keep the rascals on their 
 own side of the river." 
 
 "That may be done till dark, perhaps," observed Captain 
 Hendee, "but with our small force, not after, I think. No, 
 Captain Selden, unless the disposition of these tories is less 
 devilish than I rate it, and the nature of their Indian allies 
 has changed since I used to deal with the hell-hounds, we may 
 as well prepare for a siege." 
 
 "Let it come, then," replied the other, determinedly — "with 
 the widow^s 'tother world' for a concealment and strong-hold 
 for the women and children, and those impervious logs of 
 her cabin to ^Drotect us while we fight, many a tory and red- 
 skin must take a leaden supper before they capture us. But 
 here we are, safe ashore. iSTeshobee, will you take back the 
 boat, or shall I?" 
 
 "Me go — no 'fraid," answered the native, again pushing out 
 into the stream. 
 
 "Very well, — I will remain to superintend the transporta- 
 tion of the men. And you. Captain Sendee, had better pro- 
 ceed immediately to the house, and, if you will, be looking a 
 little to the means of defending it. An old soldier like 3^our- 
 self will need no instructions in that duty. Hold out bright 
 hopes to the ladies, but see that they retire from the upper 
 world in season, and while they may, undiscovered, if their 
 passage to the lower, with which I am unacqiiainted, is likely 
 to expose them' to the sight of the enemy." 
 
 "Ay, ay, I will see to it," replied the other, hurrying off with 
 unwonted activity to the cabin, where he was met at the door 
 by the widow. 
 
 "What is the prospect. Captain?" she asked, in a low, eager 
 tone." 
 
 "The men will get over, I think, with few or no losses 
 but—" 
 
 "But what?" 
 
 "Those untiring fiends are after blood! Our men have al- 
 ready to-day made a heavy inroad on their numbers, and they 
 21 i 
 
320 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 are determiued on revenge. I have no hope but that they will 
 find means to cross the Creek and besiege us^ as soon as it is 
 dark/' 
 
 "I^or have I, the leasts since Alma has told me the par- 
 ticulars of your disasters, and the conduct of that wretch who 
 has caused them. Hendee, I have long known that Jake 
 Sherv/ood^ and have wondered at your course." 
 
 "I was duped — deceived, Ann Story, but I have been an 
 egregious old fool, even at that, I will ov/n, — besides treating 
 my own flesh and blood like a tyrant and a brute. Furies! I 
 could beat my own brains out! If you v/ere a man, and con- 
 nected with me as you are, you ought to curse me to my face. 
 A good round damning from a friendly source would seem 
 to relieve my feelings. But where are the girls?" 
 
 "All within here. They have taken a little refreshment, 
 and seem getting up their spirits a little." 
 
 "Well, we will not dampen their feelings at present; but 
 they, and you with your children, had better be on the move 
 for your underground refuge." 
 
 "That is easily gained now\" 
 
 "Why you enter the Creek as formerly, don't you?" 
 
 "No, I have made an improvement this summer. Come, 
 attend me, and you shall see." 
 
 "I will, but must first glance at the means we shall have 
 of defending the house, which we must make our fortress, for 
 beating off or Aveakening the enemy. Your place of conceal- 
 ment below must be the last resort of the men, if they enter it 
 at all." 
 
 They now entered the house, and were met by the anxious 
 and inquiring looks of the girls, who sat silently waiting to 
 hear the news which the Captain might have brought from 
 the scene of action. 
 
 "Has he — " at length commenced Miss Eeed, unable longer 
 to repress her anxiety, but stopping short and blushing at the 
 exclusiveness of the inquiry she was about to make, "has — 
 that is, is the danger over?" 
 
 "We hope so," replied the Captain, "at least, there can be 
 but little danger for you females. Captain Selden trusts to 
 prevent the enemy from crossing. He commands without, 
 and I, for the present, within; and I hope to find in you a 
 
 brave garrison." 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 321 
 
 "Jessy, at least, will prove no coward for herself, I suspect," 
 remarked the widow, a little archly. 
 
 "Well, both she and Alma are soldiers' daughters," resumed 
 the Captain, "and should danger beset us to-night, I trust 
 they will bear themselves as they have alread}'- done for the 
 last twenty-four hours, with firmness and fortitude. But now 
 for the business on hand," he added, turning to the hostess, 
 and glancing round the walls of the house. 
 
 "Very well, sir, and, to begin, here is my double plank 
 door — bullet-proof, I think, and the fastenings abundantly 
 secure." 
 
 "Yes, I have noticed; but what loop-holes shall we have to 
 fire from, besides that window?" 
 
 "Here," answered the widow, stepping up to one of the 
 walls, and pulling out a nicely fitting block from a cone- 
 shaped embrasure cut through one of the logs. There are 
 two of these on each side and end of the house, and as many 
 more just belov/ the eaves in the chamber loft above." 
 
 "Just the things for us — and now if we had but a long, 
 square block to fill that window — " 
 
 "You have it at hand, with a loop like the rest, in that 
 block on which the children are sitting there." 
 
 "Admirable! a regular fort, by George! Ann Story, you 
 ought to be the wife of a general. Let us now proceed to your 
 unfindable fastness below." 
 
 "In an instant," said the widow, going to the fire, and 
 blowing up a torch. "Boys, lift that door," she added, point- 
 ing to a trap door in the corner of the room, that opened into 
 the cellar. 
 
 Followed by the Captain, the widow now descended "through 
 the trap in the floor on a short ladder into the cellar, and 
 going to the western side, and removing a bundle of straw, 
 standing against the wall, disclosed the entrance of a narrow, 
 upright passage, leading off into the earth, in the direction of 
 the river. 
 
 "Come on!" said the prompt and energetic woman, plung- 
 ing, with torch in hand, directly into the dark, vaulted way 
 before her. 
 
 After proceeding several rods through this straight and nar- 
 row passage, all smoothly cut through the solid earth some 
 distance below the surface, they came to a lateral excavation, 
 forming an arched room about a dozen feet square, 
 
S22 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ^^Tliis is my half-way house — my innermost recess/' said 
 the widow, stepping into the center of the room and holding 
 up the light that the other might see to examine. ''This is 
 a much stronger place than the outer, or western room, which 
 you have been into before, I believe, as the earth is here much 
 thicker above us, owing to a swell in the surface, over which, 
 to make it still more difficult to dig through, spread the 
 Avidely branching roots of several large maples." 
 
 ''True," replied the Ca^otain, "and one man at each entrance 
 might defend the place against hundreds. Ah! I plainly see 
 that we old soldiers have got to jdeld the palm to you, Ann: 
 In all my experience of twenty years among these northern 
 forests in fighting and dodging the enemy, and planning, 
 building, or seeking out places for forts, defenses, and refuges, 
 I never saw or thought of anything like this establishment of 
 yours." 
 
 "I can think of no way by which our foes can rout us from 
 this," rejoined the widow, "unless they storm us, or smoke us 
 out. I believe I shall curtain off this room v»dth blankets for 
 the children and girls to-night, while we give up the other 
 room, if needed to our defenders. But you have seen enou.gh 
 of this, let us pass on." 
 
 They now entered the remaining part of the passage, which, 
 after running a few rods in a different line, and then winding 
 around. to the left, brought them into the large partitioned 
 room we have formerl}^ described. 
 
 "This you have seen before," said the widow, pausing as 
 they entered the room, "and there is nothing new to show you 
 here, except my stores; those barrels,". ^Dointing to two casks 
 standing just within the entrance of the smaller room, "con- 
 tain provisions, which, on the rumor of the approaching in- 
 vasion, I employed my neighbor just before he left us, to pur- 
 chase for me at Crown Point." 
 
 "Well, it is not impossible that we shall need them," re- 
 marked the Captain thoughtfully. 
 
 "Famine often follows closely in the footsteps of war," re- 
 sumed the other; "so I thought I would supply myself in 
 season. Nor do provisions constitute the whole of my sup- 
 plies; for it occurring to me at the same time that something 
 like the present emergency might happen, I made another 
 purchase, which may be still more important to us." 
 
 "W]iat may that be?" asked the other. 
 
I^n^ GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 22S 
 
 ^^Stand back to the mouth of the entrance, take, and hold 
 np this torch, and I will show you," ansvrered the woman, 
 proceeding to the opposite side of the room, taking down a 
 broad piece of bark, which had been snugly fitted into the 
 mouth of a little, low chamber, or recess, excavated in the 
 earthy wall, and disclosing to view the ends of some half 
 dozen strongly bound casks, to which she now directed his 
 attention with her finger. 
 
 "What have you there, Ann, so mysteriously hid up," said 
 the old gentleman with a look of mingled curiosity and sur- 
 prise. 
 
 "Gunpowder, with an abundance of lead behind there to 
 serve." 
 
 "Indeed! but not all your own, surely?" 
 
 "No; — only one is mine — the rest belong to the settlers, 
 who live north of this, and who^ expecting that a stand would 
 have been made against the enemy in this ^dcinity, had, it 
 seems, amply provided themselves for the crisis. But finding 
 that resistance w^ould be useless, they concluded to flee; when, 
 getting wind of my stronghold, they brought their munitions, 
 which they were unable to carry with them, to this place for 
 safe keeping till they should return or send for them." 
 
 "Faith! that's lucky," exclaimed the Captain. "It may be 
 wanted to supply the powder horns of the men, and-^and"' — 
 he continued partly to himself, as he glanced about the room, 
 with a look of wild and exulting joy at the thought which 
 .seemed to strike his mind, "and with the chance which these 
 under-ground rooms and passages aiford, as a last resort, of 
 blowing that infernal gang nearer heaven than they will other- 
 wise ever get — but timiC enough to think of that when other 
 measures fail." 
 
 "What measures ?" asked the widow, who, having been busy 
 in replacing the door of her magazine, had not heeded the re- 
 marks of the other, except two or three words at the close. 
 
 "0, nothing of any present moment," answered Captain 
 Hendee, wdth the air of one willing to let the words pass 
 Avithout being understood; "but let us now see how you have 
 fixed the outer entrance." 
 
 Eesuming her torch, the widow immediately led the way 
 through the passage to the entrance at the bank of the Creek. 
 
 "There! having no further use for this entrance, I have 
 fastened it up," said she, pausing as she appoached the end 
 
324 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 of the avenue, which was blocked up by a single layer of 
 square short timbers, placed horizontally across the passage 
 and let into the earth at the ends. "It can only be opened on 
 the inside, as yon perceive, or at least, not easily; and I have 
 considered it a safe barrier, though, to be sure, by consider- 
 able digging on the outside — but hush! — harkt Do you hear 
 that shouting out upon the Creek, or on its banks?" 
 
 "Ay; and it sounds as if there's trouble afoot too. Can not 
 this top timber be removed without danger of exposing the 
 entrance to the discovery of the enemy from the opposite 
 bankP' 
 
 "I should think so, as the mouth is pretty thickly overhung 
 with bushes." 
 
 "Let us lift it out then, that we may see, or at least hear, 
 what is going on." 
 
 The timber was accordingly carefully removed; when 
 through the crevice thus formed, a tolerable distinct view was 
 obtained of a long reach of the Creek above, and a short one 
 below. The last boat load of Selden's men had gained the 
 middle of the stream, and were pulling with all possible speed 
 for the hither shore, on which all those who had crossed were 
 posted behind their coverts, keenly watching, with cocked 
 and leveled pieces, for the first head that should be raised on 
 the opposite bank to fire upon the boat. The boat's crew as 
 they had been ordered, were all seated, save one man, who had 
 inadvertently risen on his feet to point out to his companions 
 on shore the object which had caused the noise and stir that 
 had reached the ears of the widow and her friend. The 
 man's arm was still extended up the river with the motions of 
 one trying to count a series of some moving objects. 
 
 The widow, having the most favorable position for the pur- 
 pose, instantly turned her eyes in the direction thus indi- 
 cated. 
 
 "What can you see as the cause of the commotion?" asked 
 the Captain, after the other had gazed an instant in silence. 
 
 "Well, I confess, I don't know exactly what to make of 
 them," replied the woman, as with a puzzled expression she 
 still kept her eyes riveted on the spot: — "something is evident- 
 ly crossing the Creek, nearly as far as I can see up the stream. 
 At any other time, I should think it must be a flock of cranes 
 with their long necks only above water." 
 
 "It is the Indians!" exclaimed the Captain, in low, start- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 325 
 
 ling accents — "it is the Indians^ swimming the Creek on their 
 backs^ and holding their guns upright on their breasts. I 
 have seen their tricks before to-day.^' 
 
 At that instant a stream of smoke, accompanied b}^ the 
 sharp crack of a rifle, shot out fiercely from an old tree-top 
 on the opposite bank, while^, at the same time, the man stand- 
 ing in the boat fell over backwards into the water, and sunk, 
 to rise no more, beneath its bubbling surface. An exclamation 
 of horror rose to the lips of the Captain and the widow; but 
 before it could be uttered, and while the echoes of the last 
 shot were yet ringing among the neighboring hills, the stun- 
 ning report of another rifle, bursting from the bank directly 
 over their heads, and followed by a hollow groan, and a 
 floundering in the bushes on the other side told that the 
 death of the victim was avenged. 
 
 *^'There! Jim Townley," exclaimed the well known voice 
 of Pete Jones on the bank above, " ^Old Trusty' has done the 
 business for your murderer, I guess; though if he hadn't tore 
 his coat so as to make a white spot in his back, as he was 
 slinldng away, I never could have got an aim worth firing for. 
 Well," he continued, soliloquizing, as he appeared to be re- 
 loading his piece, "that is the way with the best of us. Jim 
 was a fellow of first rate grit, and I'd rather gin an}i;hing but 
 old Trusty — yes, and that too, — ^than to have him gone so. 
 But if spirits can hear and see things, as some think, it will 
 be a grand comfort to one of Jim's spunk and pride, on his 
 way along up, to know that the bloody rascal didn't live to 
 brag on't." 
 
 The survivors of the boat's crew, now reaching the landing, 
 sprang upon the bank, and took their station among their 
 comrades along the shore, to watch any further appearance 
 of their foes. But none daring to show themselves after the 
 lesson just received, a silence of some minutes now prevailed. 
 The calm was not destined, however, to last long. Another 
 cry of alarm was soon raised by one of the men, eagerly calling 
 on the rest to look down the stream. 
 
 "0, the divils! the divils!" cried the shrill voice of Jones, 
 "they have stole our horses, and are swimming them across 
 down there, with tv/o of the lubbers on the back of every 
 horse. By Judas! what a chance to plug them, if I was only 
 forty rods nearer! Say, Captain Selclen, what if I take two or 
 three men, and send them down that way a little?" 
 
326 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "ISTo, Jones/' replied Selclen^ "our force is too small to scat- 
 ter. The Indians in a few minntes more will be npon us from 
 above; besides, we have not a man to lose in open fight. Let 
 everyone, therefore/' he continued, raising his voice to a tone 
 of command, "retire from the bank, and, keeping a tree in his 
 range, repair directly to the house. Then let them come with 
 a welcome." 
 
 "Well, the hour of trial is at hand," observed the widow 
 with a sort of desperate calmness, "and may God be merciful 
 unto us. Assist me, Captain Sendee, to replace this timber; 
 and then I must instantly back to bring down my children and 
 the girls. The men vrill reach the house by the time we can 
 get there ourselves. There! that will do — all safe, I tliink. 
 I'^ow follow me as fast as your crazy old limbs will let you— 
 come on — faster — faster — come on! — come on!" And with 
 the old veteran, taxing his powers of speed to the utmost to 
 keep up, the fearless woman, though anxious mother, with 
 her torch streaming behind her, rather flew than walked, till 
 she had gained the cellar, and sprang up the ladder leading 
 up into the room, where she had left the objects of her solici- 
 tude. 
 
 "Here!" she exclaimed, raising her head through the trap, 
 and glancing round the room, where the females, ignorant of 
 what had taken place without, were unconcernedly sitting, 
 with the children sitting about their chairs, "here, to the 
 cellar, every chick and child of you, to the cellar! And you, 
 girls, must follow, without a moment's delay/' she added, 
 seizing the little urchins by the waists, and lifting them, one 
 by one, in rapid succession, down the pass-way, as, alarmed by 
 the startling tones of their mother's voice, they ran huddling 
 to the entrance. 
 
 "Is there any immediate danger?" asked Alma, calmly, 
 though with an expression of some surprise, at the rapid and 
 agitated manner of the widow. 
 
 "]^ot for us, if we are out of the w^ay; but the tories are 
 crossing below, and the Indians, on this side above, are, by 
 tbis time, perhaps, within gun-shot of us, in the skirts of 
 yonder woods." 
 
 "And Selden and his men?" — eagerly said Jessy. 
 
 "Will be here in a moment to make this room their fortress, 
 for tbeir own and our protection. And a shower of balls. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 327 
 
 through that open door and window, will probably salute them 
 as the}^ enter/' 
 
 "True, true/' observed Captain Hendee, who, having crowd- 
 ed by the widow on the ladder, and gained the floor, now 
 stepped to the door, hastily shut it, and proceeded to bring 
 the block for closing up the window, "true, this danger to 
 the girls and children did not occur to me, as it seems it did to 
 jou, by your leading my rheumatic legs such a deuced race 
 through the passage from the Creek. Yes, girls, down with 
 you all, and on to the middle room, and having no fears but 
 that we will defend you/' 
 
 "But you, father!" said Alma, looking back as she was 
 descending, v/ith an expression of solicitude, "you are surely 
 not to remain? — jou are too old — infirm — " 
 
 "I am young again, girl. The thought of our treatment, 
 and the fate which our foes evidently design for us still, make 
 me a soldier again — go down, my daughter, and may God be 
 with you, and strike for us all," said the old veteran, letting 
 down the trap upon the last of the retiring party. 
 
 Scarcely had the mingled voices of the women and children 
 died aw^ay, as they retreated along the passage to their refuge 
 under the earth, before Selden and his men came scattering 
 along into the house, fortunately not, however, with the 
 danger which the widow had anticipated. As soon as the 
 whole company, now numbering but twelve, including Cap- 
 tain Hendee and Neshobee, had gained the room, they im- 
 mediately proceeded to barricade the door, and put every- 
 thing in the best possible condition for a defense. 
 
 While they were busily engaged, unmindful of the severe 
 fatigues of the day, in the excitement created by the alarming 
 prospects of the night, which was now about to set in, the 
 trap door was pushed up, and the provident widow reappeared, 
 ascending the ladder with a large loaf of bread and a haunch 
 cf dried venison under one arm, and a pail of water, in which 
 floated the accustomed gourd-shell, slung on the other. With 
 many a blessing on the widow's head, and many an oath to 
 defend her and hers to the death, the famished and wearied 
 soldiers eagerly fell upon the grateful repast, after which they 
 repaired with renewed spirits to the several stations allotted 
 them, above and below, along the walls. 
 
 "I wish the rascals would make themselves manifest, if 
 they are arouiid uS;, as I suspect/' observed Selden, after the 
 
328 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 company had stood some time at their respective loop-holes, 
 silently awaiting the appearance of the enemy. 
 
 '^That they will be cunning enough not to do till the ap- 
 proach of darkness/' replied Captain Hendee. "Then you 
 will hear from them^ I'll warrant yon. And as they can have 
 but small hope of perforating these logs with their bullets, 
 they vail probably attempt to beat down the door^ or burn 
 the house over our heads." 
 
 "They will find the latter a difficult job, I imagine," re- 
 sponded Selden. "These bare logs, after the heavy rain of 
 last night, and that, too, at the distance at wiiich we can 
 manage to keep the knaves, cannot offer much inducement for 
 an attempt to ignite them with lighted arrows." 
 
 "True," replied the other, "but you forget the roof — these 
 bark coverings are rather combustible." 
 
 "No, I thought of that," rejoined Selden, "and was about to 
 remark, that if they fired the roof, we must tear it off." 
 
 "That can be done, perhaps," replied the former. "At all 
 events, it will be time enough to think of it when they ar- 
 rive for the attack; for I doubt whether there is now one of 
 them within a quarter of a mile of us." 
 
 "JSTow, I've a notion there is/' said Pete Jones, who, in the 
 meanwhile, had been keenly watching every appearance 
 within the scope of his vision. "And I shouldn't be much sur- 
 prised if some of those stumps and log-heaps over in the 
 widow's grass yonder, if they could talk, would be willing to 
 swear to it." 
 
 "Have you actually seen any of them, Jones?" asked Sel- 
 den. 
 
 "AYhy/' answered the scout, with his peculiar comic twist 
 of features, "I have actually seen a sign or two, that I have 
 never known fail, except in the dryest of times. And with 
 )'our leave, Captain Selden, I have thoughts of an experiment, 
 by way of putting the question at rest, and doing something 
 more, perhaps, into the bargain." 
 
 "Well — very well — " said Selden, pausing for the other to 
 explain the nature of his proposal. 
 
 "Here is at it, then/' said the scout, choosing to answer by 
 actions rather than words, the inquiry which the manner of 
 his superior implied, while he proceeded to strip off his coat, 
 button it up, and, with the brush of an old broom that stood 
 in a corner, distend the body, running the short handle into 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 329 
 
 one arm to keep tlie artificial limb thus made in a horizontal 
 position. 
 
 "What are yon a going to do with yonr scare-crow now?" 
 asked Selden^ who, with the rest of the company stood look- 
 ing on, anxious to learn the character of the proposed strata- 
 gem. 
 
 "Til show you in a minute," replied Pete, now getting the 
 poker, and suspending his contrivance on one end of it. 
 "There, Captain Hendee, I want you should take charge of 
 this concern — you^ll know how to manage it — while the rest 
 of us, who have keener sight for aim in the dusk, will attend to 
 our rifles. But mind ye, I have first got to deliver a little bit 
 of an oration for the benefit of the gentlemen outside, if so 
 be that they^re within ear-shot, as I surmise." 
 
 The scout then, after pulling out one end of the block in 
 the window a short space, that his voice might the better be 
 heard by those whom it was intended to reach, commenced 
 and carried on by himself a sort of ventriloquial dialogue, 
 purporting that a discovery had suddenly been made, that 
 they were out of bullets, and were wishing to obtain a bar of 
 lead that had been left standing outside under the window, 
 while the question seemed to be, who should expose himself by 
 reaching out his hand to get it; but one at length appearing 
 to be found hardy enough to undertake the task, the speaker 
 suddenly dropped the discourse, and turned to the company 
 present. 
 
 "There, boys, have your muzzles to your loops, and your 
 eyes on the look-out for game," he said, in a low, eager tone. 
 "And you. Captain Hendee, be ready to pass the figure up to 
 the window, which I am about to lay open, and which all, as 
 they value the union of body and soul, must keep out of the 
 range of. Don't fire till I give the word. All ready? well, 
 here goes, then," he added, swinging out the block, and step- 
 ping quickly to his loophole. 
 
 Captain Hendee now proceeded immediately to execute the 
 part he had been requested to perform. And while the com- 
 pany were waiting with breathless interest the result, he moved 
 along the effigy towards the window, so as to show only one' 
 arm and a portion of the bust to those who might be watching 
 without, skillfully imparting to the figure the cautious and. 
 hesitating motions of a living actor, who might be supposed 
 to be conscious of the hazard incurred, though determined to 
 
330 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 approach. Scarcely had the protruding arm entered the nar- 
 row opening, bringing one side of the body in fair view to the 
 supposed lurking enemy without, when a bright flash sudden- 
 ly gleamed through the window, and, with the almost simul- 
 taneous report of a dozen guns, bursting from the surrounding 
 coverts, a shower of bullets passed through the efhgy, and 
 buried themselves in the logs of the opposite wall. There 
 was again a momentary silence, when, with the lifting smoke 
 along the line from which the tire proceeded, several dark 
 forms became visible, j^^ering out from their respective 
 coverts, and quivering and dodging about in the dissipating 
 vapor. Then came the sharp word of command from the 
 w^atchful scout. 
 
 "Fire!" 
 
 Eight well-aimed rifles from the loops along the walls 
 above and below, instantly spoke in response; and the 
 mingled screech of a half dozen voices, followed by a yell of 
 rage and disappointment from the whole band of the be- 
 siegers, plainly told the result of the stratagem. 
 
 ''Now by hokey! if I don't keep this coat to brag oh — six 
 bullet-holes right through the body, and the owner still alive 
 and kicking!" exclaimed the scout, picking up the riddled 
 garment, and feeling out the bullet-holes with his fingers, as 
 the loud shout of exultation and defiance, which burst from 
 the little band on the occasion, died away in the surrounding 
 forest. 
 
 For -nearly an hour, the besieged, who had closed up their 
 window, and resumed their respective posts, now strained both 
 ear and eye in vain, to catch some sight or sound indicating 
 the presence of the foe around them. But fully aware of the 
 desperate and wily character of those with whom they had 
 to deal, they determined to suffer none of their vigilance to 
 relax. And but a short time elapsed, before they made a dis- 
 cover}^, which taught them the wisdom of the resolution: — 
 As all stood watching at their posts in silence, a low, short 
 exclamation from the young Indian, testified that something 
 suspicious had at length attracted his attention. 
 
 "What now, Neshobee?" softly asked Selden, stepping 
 noiselessly towards the native, who was lying on the floor in 
 one corner, listening through a crevice which he had found 
 between the lower logs. 
 
 "Me no see nothing, but hark um scratch um buttons — 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 831 
 
 guess tim lift something," was the somewhat hesitating reply. 
 
 "ril grant you the best ^harkum/ as you call it, boy/' said 
 Pete Jones, who stood near, and, on the exclamation of the 
 Indian, had renewedly taxed his vision to discover the cause; 
 "but as to eye-shot, you have got to knuckle to me, for I can 
 see them; and they are at some bobbery, too — though what in 
 the name of reason it can be,'' he continued, pausing and hesi- 
 tating, as he turned his head one way and then another, to 
 obtain a more distinct view; *^Svhat it can be, I am dubious 
 whether the divil himself can tell — unless he contrived it for 
 'em. They are moving down the path this way, I believe; yes, 
 and in pairs, too, like new-married geese. What? — no — yes, 
 they have got something upon their shoulders — I should think 
 it was one of the corpses we made for 'em, which they were 
 carijing to be buried, only it is as long as a sea-sarpent." 
 
 '^Aha! I understand it," cried the young leader, "it is some 
 long timber which they intend to use as a battering-ram, to 
 beat in our door. And thank Heaven for the timely discovery, 
 but for which, ten to one, we had been lost, — and even as it 
 is, there is danger enough. Stand to your guns, boys," he 
 continued, in a low, thrilling tone, though sufficiently raised 
 to reach every man within, "if we can but drop two or three 
 of the foremost, the whole probably, will be carried down by 
 the weight of the timber — cock your guns — keep a steady eye 
 on the advancing column, and be ready for the word." 
 
 Slowly, and with noiseless tread, did the performers of this 
 new mode of attack approach along the path, staggering under 
 the weight of the long, heavy pole, or rather the trunk of a 
 closely-trimmed tree, which they bore on their shoulders, till 
 within three or four rods of the house; when, squaring round, 
 and pointing. the butt end of their formidable implement 
 directly at the door, they began to bear it forward with mighty 
 force towards the object of its aim, which, the next instant 
 must have given way before the tremendous impetus which it 
 was gathering for the blow. At that critical juncture, Sel- 
 den gave the signal to his impatient men, and every gun that 
 could be brought to bear, was discharged upon the assailants. 
 A cry of agony rose from the spot, followed with a shout of 
 "hold on! for God's sake, hold on!" Then was heard the 
 sounds of floundering footsteps, and in another breath, the 
 whole came tlumdering to the grouiid. Once more the house 
 
332 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 rung with the triumphant shouts of the Green Mountain Boys, 
 and all again was silent. 
 
 Another long respite was allowed our little band, and dur- 
 ing the hour succeeding the last onset, nothing could be seen 
 or heard to betray the presence of the enemy anywhere in the 
 vicinity of the spot. They had evidently retired to some dis- 
 tance to hold a consultation, and arrange some new method of 
 attack. At length, however, the occasional crackling of a dry 
 stick, as it broke apparently under cautiously-moving feet in 
 the fields and woods around, apprised the intently-listening 
 band within, that the twice baffled foe were again stealthily 
 drawing up to the spot, still bent on renewing, in some shape 
 or other, the assault. After appearing to approach to their 
 line of coverts, reaching within five or six rods of the house, 
 a dead silence of many minutes ensued, leaving the besieged 
 still wholly ignorant of the form in which the threatened at- 
 tack was to be made, and even, at length, in some doubt 
 whether it was to be made at all. All at once a tremendous 
 outcry broke through the surrounding gloom, and the thrill- 
 ing yells of the savages, mingled with the hoarser shouts of. 
 the tories, resounded in one unceasing din through the forest. 
 Startled, but not dismayed-, by this sudden outbreak, the 
 Green Mountain Boys instantly cocked their pieces, and stood 
 straining their vision to catch a glimpse of the foe. But they 
 watched in vain. ]N"o living object was to be seen, though the 
 noise, which seemed not to be the regular war-cry sometimes 
 raised on the eve of an onset, but a promiscuous clamor, was 
 continued without the least intermission. And together with 
 the war-whoop and shout, the rattling- of guns and ramrods, 
 the crashing of dry brush, the beating of clubs against trees, 
 the mimic hooting of owls, the howling and bellowing of wild 
 beasts, with all imaginable noises, seemed to unite to swell 
 the strange uproar. 
 
 "Well, now, if I ain't beat,'' exclaimed Pete Jones, as usual 
 the first with his comments on the occasion. "I wonder if the 
 foolish satans expect to throw down our walls of hard maple 
 logs, and well locked together at the ends to boot, by racket 
 and roaring, as the Jewish militia did those of old Jericho, 
 that I've read of in the scripter? I rather guess they will 
 find it a hard go, unless they blow them down with horns of 
 powder, as I've sometimes kinder reckoned must be the mean- 
 ing of the good book, in that business I've just spoke of, seeing 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 333 
 
 as how it was jest as easy for God to make 'em gunpowder to 
 do it with, as 'twas manna to eat." 
 
 "I think it must be a feint/' replied Selden, ^^to cover some 
 design of a more dangerous character than mere noise. An 
 attack of some kind is doubtless in preparation for us; but in 
 wdiat manner or place the storm is to burst I am wholly at 
 loss to conjecture. Keep a keen eye abroad, boys. And you,. 
 Neshobee, go immediately down through the passage to the 
 western entrance, where you heard Captain Hendee say he 
 would repair, when he left us a short time ago. Tell him to 
 keep a strict guard in that quarter, and if beset, send instantly 
 for a reinforcement. And now, my brave lads," he continued, 
 turning to his men, ^"^a crisis may be at hand, which will re- 
 quire your coolness and — but stay — what means this? Do 
 my eyes deceive me, or is it groAving lighter in the room?" 
 
 "It is — it certainly is!" responded several. 
 
 "The moon — the rising moon!" suggested others. 
 
 "You needn't go to blaming the moon for this," coolly ob- 
 served Jones, "for, according to my reckoning, it won't be up 
 this two hours." 
 
 "True," said the leader, "though evidently reflected light, 
 it is not from the moon. See! see! how rapidly it increases!" 
 he continued, as a sort of flickering suffusion of light, weak 
 and scarcely perceptible at first, but growing stronger and 
 more distinguishable every second, as if reflected from a 
 steadily kindling flame in some unseen point in the heavens, 
 now began dimly to light up the grounds around the house, 
 and even render objects in the room visible. "This light was 
 never made by the enemy to enable us to shoot them. There 
 is mischief afoot somewhere. Let every man, then, stand to 
 his post, and let every eye be strained to discover the cause." 
 
 At that instant the appalling cry of "fire! the roof is on 
 fire!" resounded through the loft above, revealing at once to 
 the startled inmates below, the character of the expected dan- 
 ger, and the meaning of the mysterious uproar, which had, it 
 was now evident, enabled the enemy to approach the house, 
 mount it at the corners, set fire in different places to the roof 
 with their ready prepared combustibles, and descend and 
 escape unheard and undetected. 
 
 "Cut the fastenings of the outside binders of the roof, and 
 stave off every bark of the covering that the fire has reached," 
 shouted the excited leader to the men above. 
 
'sU The green mountain boys. 
 
 "It will expose us to certain death from the shot of the 
 enemy, to make an opening while we remain here/^ was the 
 reply. 
 
 '^Eip np the floor between us, then/' promptly said Selden, 
 "to give ITS a chance to do it from below here — off with the 
 fastenings! up with the floor! Hand us down two or three 
 of those longest plank for our purpose, and descend your- 
 selves to our assistance. Lively, my men! As you value your 
 salvation, be lively !'' 
 
 In prompt obedience to the command, the men tore up the 
 loose boards composing the fl.oor, and, after passing down to 
 their comrades below such as might be needed, hastily threw 
 the rest together at the ends of the loft, leaving all the inside 
 of the roof open to the lower floor; when, swinging them- 
 selves down by the bare beams, they joined in the operations 
 already then in rapid progress upon the frail covering above. 
 The long boards having been reared up endwise, and each one 
 placed in the hands of two strong men, were now thrust forci- 
 bly against the roof at the different points where the fires 
 were supposed to be burning on the outside; and several 
 breaches were made, all expecting, that, by the removal of a 
 few of the barks, the flames might be extinguished. But 
 appearances soon taught them, that their hopes of thus con- 
 quering the element were wholly delusive. The light above, 
 instead of d3dng away, as portions of the burning roof were 
 removed, continued rapidly to increase. Small tongues of 
 the lambent flames, began to show themselves through the 
 lateral crevices in the covering in numerous places, quivering, 
 and leaping from point to point along the inner surface, while 
 a general crackling above, plainly told them that the fire had 
 already spread nearly or quite over the whole of the outside 
 of the roof. Perceiving that nothing short of unroofing the 
 whole building would stop the ^^rogress of the flames, they 
 now proceeded with renewed vigor in their operations. Piece 
 after piece of the broad barks were beat off, and hurled blazing 
 to the ground. And the work was continued with unabated 
 energy, till the last vestige of the burning material had been 
 removed, and nothing but the naked rafters intervened be- 
 tween the lower floor, on which all our little band were now 
 assembled, and the starry heavens above them. 
 
 "There, thank Heaven, we are freed from that danger at 
 last!" exclaimed Selden, in tones of gratulation, as he threw 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 335 
 
 down the implement with which he had been assisting the 
 men in their labors. 
 
 ''That's right enough/' observed the scout, whose attention 
 for some moments seemed to have been arrested by some ap- 
 pearance he noticed through a loop-hole. "x\ll that is right 
 enough, mayhap; but while we are putting up thanks for de- 
 liverance from one danger, I am a little suspicious whether 
 or no we hadn't better join to 'em a small bit of a pra3^er to be 
 delivered from a worse one that we've got to see to soon, I've 
 a notion — jest look here. Captain." 
 
 Selden turned to the spot occupied by the speaker, who 
 stood silently and successively pointing to the different loop- 
 holes along the walls, and the words of the latter were ex- 
 plained. Flames, rising from the ground on the outside, be- 
 gan to be visible, and their flickering points were already 
 darting up in fitful leaps athv/art several of the apertures, 
 announcing to the dismayed inmates, that a fire was in rapid 
 progress on the outer walls of the house, from combustibles 
 which had been piled up against them, doubtless, at the time 
 of firing the roof, and which had been kindled by fire placed 
 there by the enemy, or by burning fragments of bark falling 
 down from above. All saw at a glance that it was utterly im- 
 possible to arrest, by any means now left them, the spreading 
 conflagration, and that, consequently, the house must soon 
 be relinquished to the devouring element. And but a few 
 more moments had elapsed, before they were warned, by the 
 spouts of crackling flames now beginning to shoot up above 
 the tops of the roofless walls, and by the sensibly increasing 
 heat in the room, to prepare for their retreat to their last 
 refuge in the subterraneous abode of their provident hostess. 
 At that instant, the voice of Sherwood, the leader of their 
 foes, was heard above the roaring of the flames, loudly calling 
 on the besieged to yield themselves as prisoners, and come 
 forth, lest they should perish in the fire. 
 
 "Is there a possibihty of getting a glimpse of that demon 
 through the loops?" asked Selden, in a tone of concentrated 
 bitterness. "If there is, let a rifle bullet take back his an- 
 swer." 
 
 In pursuance of the suggestion of their leader, the men 
 made an attempt to get a sight of their foes, who, now sensi- 
 ble of their advantage, were heard shouting within a few rods 
 of the house. But it was useless; for the walls, by this time, 
 
 22 
 
336 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 were so completely enveloped in fire and smoke as wholly to 
 intercept the view of every object without. 
 
 "Let lis beat a retreat, then, for the widow's stronghold be- 
 low/' resumed Selden; "but let us pause a moment to send a 
 glance over yonder tree-tops, lest they contain eyes vfhich 
 will discover, in our movement, what I trust those exulting 
 fiends do not, and will not suspect — ^that this is not our last, 
 nor best resource for bafliing their hellish purposes.'' 
 
 The last speaker had scarcely ceased, before Jones, who 
 seemed to have anticipated the object of his superior, raised 
 his rifle to his shoulder, preparatory to an aim, while his eye 
 continued intently fixed on the body of a large hemlock 
 standing eight or ten rods from the house. 
 
 "What now, Jones ?" said the former, who had noticed the 
 sudden movement of the scout. 
 
 "Hold easy!" replied the other, "there's something that 
 acts mightily like a red-skin going up the back side of that 
 tree yonder. But he's so pesky delicate about showing any- 
 thing better than toes and fingers — stay — stay" — he contin- 
 ued, in a low gleeful chuckle, "there's a large limb just above 
 him, which, if he's fool enough to try to pass it, must throw 
 his body out of the track so far that — and, by Jethro! he 
 is a going to try it. ISTow hold still as thunder, all, and I'll 
 be the chap to speak to the red divil." 
 
 Every eye now glanced anxiously from the long and stead- 
 ily poised tube of the scout to the tree in question, and a mo- 
 ment of breathless silence succeeded; when the sharp report 
 of the piece rung through the forest, and the dull heavy jar 
 upon the earth, that instantly followed, told that another foe- 
 man was added to the long list of victim's who had fallen be- 
 neath the murderous bullets of the unerring old Trusty. 
 
 "Down! down with you all, before the smoke of the piece 
 rises," exclaimed Selden, as he now, after hunting his men 
 through the trap into the cellar, hastily descended himself 
 and let the door down after him. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. S37 
 
 CHAPTEK XIII. 
 
 'The waves a moment backward bent— 
 The hills that shake, although unrent. 
 As if an earthquake pass'd — 
 The thousand shapeless things all driven 
 In cloud and flame athwart the heaven, 
 By that tremendous blast." 
 
 Leaving the burning building to its fate^ Selden and his 
 men immediately entered the dark avenue below^ when, after 
 blocking up the mouth as well as they could, with earth and 
 stones taken from the cellar wall, to keep out the smoke, as 
 well as to secure it against the discovery and entrance of the 
 enemy, should they break into the house before the progress 
 of the flames in the interior should prevent them, they pro- 
 ceeded directly to the middle excavation. Here they met 
 their hostess walking with restless steps and anxious looks 
 to and fro before the curtained apartment containing her 
 family. 
 
 "Well, Mrs. Story,^^ said Selden, as he approached at the 
 head of his followers, "I regret to inform you that your house 
 is irrecoverably on fire. We have done our best to avert the 
 catastrophe, but have wholly failed, and even have been 
 driven to retreat to your refuge for our own safety." 
 
 "I know it," replied the widow, "I have been up to the 
 mouth of th„e passage to listen every five minutes, and know 
 all that has happened. But let the house go — all — every 
 thing, and I am content if my treasures here," she continued, 
 with a slight tremor of voice as she pointed towards the cur- 
 tained recess, "if my treasures here can but be spared me. The 
 little fellows, thank Heaven, are now all asleep, and know 
 nothing of the dangers that hang over them. And God grant 
 that they may remain so till the hatchets of the hell-hounds 
 now yelling above us shall, — if it is so ordered of Heaven, — 
 shall be buried in their" — here choking with emotion at the 
 horrid tliought which her imagination began to suggest, she 
 stopped short and was for a moment silent. 
 
 22 
 
338 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "Captain Selden/^ she at length resumed^ "were my own 
 personal safety alone concerned, I think I could follow you 
 to the cannon^s mouth without flinching. But when I find 
 the lives of my children at stake, the mother instantly prevails 
 within me, and I become, in sjoite of all I can do, a poor trem- 
 bling coward. But enough of this — have you any reason to 
 suspect the enemy are aware of our place of refuge?" 
 
 "!I^one whatever; and even at the worst, we think you have 
 but little to fear. But where are the girls ?^^ 
 
 "Alma and Jessy are in yonder room guarding the hollow 
 stub through which the smoke of our fire-place escapes, lest 
 some of the enemy should discover that avenue to the room, 
 and attempt to descend." 
 
 "Xobly employed! But the duty shall now be done by 
 fitter hands," said Selden, as, followed by his men, he passed 
 on to the main apartment. 
 
 On reaching the room they found the girls, as the widow 
 had named, stationed before the rude fire-place. Alma was 
 sitting upon a block in an attitude which would enable her 
 to hear the least sound connected with the hollow trunk 
 above; while her more volatile companion, having chosen 
 the part of sentry, was silently walking back and forth be- 
 fore the hearth with the widow's rifle in her hand. ISTor was 
 this weaj^on their only dependence; a quantity of loose straw 
 was lying in the fire-place, and a slow burning torch was at 
 hand to apply and set the combustible material into a blaze 
 the instant any one should attempt to enter the cavity above. 
 
 "Bravo! ladies," exclaimed Selden as he approached. "I 
 don't now remember me," he continued, eyeing Jessy archly, 
 "to have seen so heroic a display of this character since whi- 
 lom at the bloody siege of the Lower Falls." 
 
 "'iSTow, Captain Selden," replied the other with a half-re- 
 sentful, half-deprecating look, "if you ever mention that 
 aft'air again, I will never — positively — never forgive you. Be- 
 sides, how can you feel lii^e joking at such an hour as this?" 
 
 "For ourselves we tremble not," interposed Miss Hendee, 
 rising and turning to Selden with her usual calm dignity of 
 manner; "but think of that distressed mother and her help- 
 less family, upon whose heads we have brought this fearful 
 peril!" 
 
 "Heaven, forbid that we should be unmindful of them," re- 
 joined the young leader^ seriously; "and believe me, Miss 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 339 
 
 Hendee, there is not a man^ — not a single man of us 
 here^ who, if need be, would hesitate to shed his hearths blood 
 in her defense. But we will now relieve you of your charge 
 here, ladies. Eetire then, and, if possible, to rest and slum- 
 ber; for 1 well know your exhausted systems must, by this 
 time, require both. Go, girls/' he added, conducting them to 
 the entrance of the passage leading to the apartment of their 
 hostess, "go, — keep up bright hopes, and rely on our disposi- 
 tion! and ability to defend you." 
 
 As soon as the ladies had retired, a guard was selected to 
 supply the place they had just relinquished^ and another was 
 ordered to relieve Captain Plendee and his faithful attendant 
 at the western entrance. The remainder of the men, glad to 
 seize ever}^ moment offered them for rest, mostly threw them- 
 selves upon the earthy floor, and fell asleep, while Selden and 
 Captain Hendee, willing to leave them to what repose they 
 might thus snatch from the duties to which they were liable 
 the next instant to be called, repaired to the small partitioned 
 room adjoining, to hold a consultation and, be ready for any 
 movements which might be made by their persevering foes. 
 A brief period of comparative silence now succeeded, in which 
 nothing was to be heard below but the deep, heavy snoring 
 of the wearied men, and the low, dull roaring of the flames 
 above. Slight jarrings of the earth, hov/ever, showing that 
 the enemy were again in motion, at length began to be per- 
 ceptible below; and soon the unexpected sounds of the blows 
 or hatchets were added to other indications of some fresh 
 project about to be attempted by the besiegers, the nature and 
 object of which the besieged had now no means of ascertain- 
 ing. 
 
 "!N"ow that just settles the question; for I'll be blest if I 
 stand it any longer," exclaimed Jones, who had for some time 
 manifested signs of uneasiness as he sat listening to the move- 
 ments above ground, and who, as the last sound struck his 
 ear, sprang upon his feet, and began with restless steps, to 
 pace the apartment. "To be cribbed and holed up here like 
 so many hunted foxes, with forty devils over our heads, who 
 may be preparing to send down one of those great hemlocks 
 to smash us like midgets, for anything we know, or fixing 
 some other contrivance for us not much better, and all without 
 allowing us the least chance to know the how, when and 
 whereabouts, is a thing I don't fancy. And if I can get out 
 
§40 TIIE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 thsre at the Creek^ I swow by Luciier's red talieta Jacket, I'll 
 jest know what they are up to there above ground." 
 
 "What do you propose to do, Jones?" asked Selden, who, 
 OA^erhearing part of the scout's soliloquy, now entered the 
 room: "not to go out, and alone, surely?" 
 
 "I reckon I jest do. Captain — ^that is, unless you swear right 
 doYvn I shan't." 
 
 "But consider the danger of its leading to a discovery of 
 our refuge, and the fearful j)ersonal risk you must encounter." 
 
 "And then again consider the chance that the satans have 
 smelt out that secret already, or, at the best, that they will, 
 when the house falls in, and the}^ find we ain't there. And as 
 to my own risk in the matter^ I think you hadn't ought to 
 grumble much, if I don't, considering," said the scout, tak- 
 ing the other's remarks for a consent to his proposed excur- 
 sion, and moving towards the entrance. 
 
 "Jones, you shall not go alone — it shall never be said I 
 suffered that," said Selden, calling after the scout, and snatch- 
 ing up a rifle, and following him into the passage. 
 
 Although Selden had given way to the proposal of the scout 
 Avith a mind nearly balanced between the dangers which might 
 be averted, and those which might be incurred by the meas- 
 ure^ yet, having once decided to permit and take part in it 
 himself, he threw aside all his doubts, and proceeded to carry 
 it into instant execution. And having ordered the guard at 
 this post to be doubled, and leaving the command with Cap- 
 tain Hendee, to act as circumstances should dictate, the two 
 adventurers removed a portion of the block-work at the mouth 
 of the passage sufficient for an egress, crept cautiously and 
 silently out into the open air, and soon gained the top of the 
 bank, above, immolested. Here they paused a moment to 
 listen and reconnoiter; and perceiving no signs of the pres- 
 ence of any enemy, except in the immediate vicinity of the 
 burning tenement, and being thus relieved from their fears 
 of an ambush at this spot, which they considered the greatest 
 personal hazard that they would be likely to incur, they again 
 set forward towards the scene of action, by separate and 
 slightly-diverging routes, under the agreement that each 
 should return by himself, and as speedily as possible, after ob- 
 taining the best knowledge of the situation and movements 
 of the enemy of which the case would admit. Carefully keep- 
 ing within the shadow of a tree or bush, lest the light of the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 341 
 
 conflagration, which was brightly illuminating every open 
 space in the woods aronnd, should expose him to the view of 
 the enemy, Selden, after leaving his companion, crawled noise- 
 lessly on to the border of the woods, where he soon succeeded 
 in gaining a position in a thick clump of low evergreens, which 
 luckily afforded him every chance he could wish for observa- 
 tion. The greater part of the enemy were still at their sta- 
 tions, a short distance from the house, where they stood, peer- 
 ing over their coverts, v>dth their guns leveled at the door, 
 which they were evidently each moment expecting to see 
 thrown open by the besieged, whom the flames, they sup- 
 jDosed, must soon drive from the house. A small band was 
 busily engaged in the edge of the woods, some eight or ten 
 rods to his left, in trimming out with their hatchets a small 
 spruce tree, which they had just cut down, and which, he at 
 once concluded, was to be used as another battering-ram; the 
 former one being found by them, probably, too unwieldy for 
 their purpose. While Selden stood making these observa- 
 tions, he heard the steps and voices of persons in the open 
 grounds, apparently approaching from the spot at which the 
 engine was preparing, and, turning his head, he was soon 
 enabled to see two men coming from a nook in the clearing 
 some rods to his left, of which his situation had not permitted 
 him a full view. Passing along near the woods, they soon 
 came between him and the burning pile, when they slackened 
 their pace; and finally coming to a stand a little to his right, 
 they turned their faces tov/ards the fire. With the first flash 
 of light that fell upon their features, Selden instantly recog- 
 nized in one of them Sherv/ood, the leader of the band. The 
 other he rightly judged to be Darrow, the reckless minion of 
 the former. Selden^s rifle was instinctively brought to his 
 face, with an aim at Sherwood^s heart, and his finger was feel- 
 ing for the trigger, when prudence overcame the temptation 
 of ending the life of the villain, and slowly and reluctantly 
 lowering his piece, he gave his attention to the dialogue 
 which now ensued between these two worthies. 
 
 "Yes, the tables are now turned, Darrow," were the first 
 words that became distinctly audible to our listener. "We 
 have now, singularly enough, chased them round nearly to the 
 spot where this same accursed Selden was one of the foremost 
 of the gang to have me tied up and whipped like some scurvy 
 
842 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 thief. And if he is the same fellow you saw in the woods, near 
 Crown Point — " 
 
 "That I can swear to." 
 
 "And if yon are right in your suspicions as to the other 
 particular — " 
 
 "I am more and more convinced of it, Jake." 
 
 "Well, I got one glance at his features to-day, and, come to 
 look at him with that object, I swear, I believe you are right; 
 and if so, both interest and revenge demands his death while 
 he is in our power. But I should prefer to have this brought 
 about before they surrender; and that was th« reason of my 
 particular orders to the men to pick him off as socn as |)os- 
 sible." 
 
 "Yes, and how the devil it has happened, that he has so 
 long escaped the eifects of that order, is more than I can tell. 
 I have had four fair shots at the fellow myself in the course 
 of the chase to-day; and two or three of the men say they 
 have tried it with^the same luck. Ho stands fire like a sala- 
 mander," added the ruffian, with a ferocious grin at his own 
 wit, "and, by hell! I am beginning to think they are all of 
 that sort of animals, to stand out there in the flames at this 
 rate." 
 
 "Well, the worst is their own, damn 'em," rejoined Sher- 
 wood, with a demoniac laugh; "and if they do get baked a 
 little, it is no more than they deserve. But the fact is, they 
 must have been driven out long ago, if they had not contrived 
 some way to keep out the flames — the one, probably, which I 
 suggested, that of bringing earth from the cellar, and strew- 
 ing it over the upper floor." 
 
 "And still they must know, that in fifteen minutes more, 
 they will all be buried beneath a blazing log-heap." 
 
 "True; and I am surprised, I will own, that they don't 
 throw open the door, and call for quarter. But we will now 
 very soon save them the trouble, as I see our men are just 
 starting with their battering-pole to beat in the door." 
 
 "I see; and I am glad they have got it under way, at last; 
 for that will tell the story, devilish quick; and to tell the 
 truth, Jake, I am plaguy suspicious of some trick about this 
 business." 
 
 "Well, if there is, this will be the best way to discover it; 
 but had not you better go and take the command?" 
 
 "Xo; Remington will know how to manage." 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 343 
 
 ^^Have you given him and the men their orders?" 
 
 "Yes — To let drive at the door with all vengeance." 
 
 "And in case they rush out?" 
 
 "Why, shoot down the men, and spare the women for our 
 use." 
 
 "And supposing they cry for quarter?" 
 
 "Eemington is to grant them; but three or four of such 
 marksmen as he shall select, are not to understand the order 
 till they have dropped Selden on your account, the old Cap- 
 tain on mine, and that long-logged devil, who has settled the 
 fate of so many of their companions to-day on their own." 
 
 "All right, Darrow; but come, let us move a little to the 
 south, where we can get a fairer view of the door, when they 
 make the trial, and where, at tie same time, we shall be out 
 of the range of the bullets, should the rascals be desperate 
 enough to attempt to fire uj^on us again.'' 
 
 It was with no small effort that Selden restrained himself 
 from taking immediate vengeance on the black-hearted villain 
 before him, as he listened in silence to the foregoing dialogue, 
 and discovered the extent of his diabolical designs. The 
 consciousness, hov,^ever, that the lives of many — and among 
 them, one whose life was dearer to him than his own — might 
 be endangered by the act, enabled him to master his feelings 
 to the end of the discourse. And the objects of his indigna- 
 tion having now withdrawn themselves from his view, he gave 
 his attention, in common with his foes, to the operations 
 about to be commenced on the house, being anxious to wit- 
 ness the result, to see to what discoveries it might lead, and 
 to what new movements it might give rise, among the enemy, 
 before retreating from the ground: nor had he to wait long 
 for that object. The new battering implement, when once 
 fairly placed upon the shoulders of the party immediately in 
 charge of it, was borne round to the front side of the house, 
 where it was transferred to the shoulders of those selected to 
 employ it against the door. For the next succeeding moment, 
 as the engine was being poised and directed to the object of 
 its aim, a breathless silence ensued, broken only by the sharp 
 clicking of cocking rifles, now heard in every direction, while 
 the dark forms of the enemy were seen slinking behind the 
 different objects of the lighted landscape, and protruding their 
 long^ death-commissioned tubes, in readiness for the expected 
 
344 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 rush of tlie besieged from the house, the instant the interior 
 should be laid open. 
 
 '''x\ll ready? — ahead with it, then!" now shouted the in- 
 famous villain to whom the command of the assaulting party 
 had been entrusted — '^ahead with it, as if the devil drove it 
 on end!" 
 
 Starting at the word, the men shot forward the butt end of 
 their engine with a desperate effort towards its object. It 
 struck; and the massy door flew nearly to the opposite wall 
 of the blazing interior; while the sides of the fabric, already 
 loosened, and about to separate at the corners, from the action 
 of the fire, after tottering a moment at the violent jar im- 
 23arted by the blov\% gradually swayed inward, and finally came 
 down in a mass of red ruins over the cellar, sending up to the 
 tops of the neighboring trees, a broad gush of flames, that 
 flashed far and wide over the surrounding wilderness. 
 
 The enemy, to whom this result was wholly unexpected, 
 looked on in mute astonishment, not unmingled, apparently, 
 with some feelings of horror^ at the terrific fate, which they 
 took for granted had befallen every soul of the besieged. 
 
 "The devil!" at length exclaimed Sherwood, awakening 
 from the stupor of the surprise into which he seemed to have 
 been thrown by the event — "so they have all gone to hell to- 
 gether!" 
 
 "That don't follow, by a damned sight!" bluntly replied 
 Darrov/. 
 
 "What do you mean by that. Bill?" asked the former, turn- 
 ing hastily, and with an air of concern, to his minion. 
 
 "'They have escaped, Jack!" 
 
 "In the name of hell, how?" 
 
 "Don't know; but depend on't they have. Why, do you 
 think them such cursed fools as to stay there to be roasted 
 alive, when the worst they could fear from rushing out, would 
 be the ten-fold preferable death by the bullet? ISTever! I 
 tell you they have found some Vv^ay of escape — probably by a 
 drain, or passage from the cellar into the woods. It began 
 to creep through my hair some time ago, but you were so con- 
 fident—" 
 
 "Damnation seize me for a dolt!" exclaimed the enraged 
 leader. "IIo! there, men, the game has slipped through our 
 fingers — to the woods! to the woods, for the trail!" he added, 
 springing forward himself to take the lead in the execution of 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 34B 
 
 the order. And so sudden and unexpected was the move- 
 ment, that before Selden had become fairly aware of the dan- 
 gers of his situation, Sherwood and Darrow had entered the 
 woods but a few rods to the south, and were rapidly approach- 
 ing the spot where he stood concealed. Deeming it impos- 
 sible now to retreat from his refuge undetected, and thinking 
 there might be a chance that they would pass by without dis- 
 coA^ering him, which would still leave him time to escape be- 
 fore others of the enemy could arrive, he prepared his arms, 
 and silently awaited the approach of these two deadliest of 
 his foes. They came nearly abreast of him, and were passing 
 by, when the motion of his shadow, which was. cast by the 
 bright flames of the burning pile across their path, caught 
 their sight, and caused them to stop short. Turning round for 
 the object, their eyes fell upon the other, and they gazed at 
 him an instant in evident doubt and surprise. 
 
 "The very fellow, by hell!^^ eagerly muttered Darrow, in 
 an undertone to his companion. 
 
 All three simultaneously raised their weapons and fired. 
 But in taking a hasty step forward, Selden's foot, as fortunate- 
 ly for him, perhaps, as for one of his foes, became entangled 
 in a small bush, and in the act of discharging his piece, he 
 fell to the ground. The bullets of his foes whistled harmless- 
 ly over his head, while his own, for the same reason, missed 
 the object of its aim. Leaping forward in the smoke, the 
 desperadoes both grappled with their unprepared antagonist, 
 before he could gain his footing, and throwing him back upon 
 the oTound, drew their knives to dispatch him. As Selden 
 was about to shut his eyes in anticipation of the fatal blow, 
 he caught a glimpse of the well known figure of the tall scout, 
 coming with tremendous bounds to the spot. And the next 
 instant, Darrow^ as he turned, and was starting up at the 
 unexpected apparition, received a blow over his head and 
 shoulders from the clubbed rifle of the former, that sent him 
 reeling to the earth; while Sherwood was seized by the same 
 powerful hand, and dashed against a tree with a force that 
 laid him nearly senseless by the side of his disabled com- 
 panion. 
 
 The surprise of Jones was equaled only by his joy, as Sel- 
 den, whom he supposed at least badly wounded, and whom he 
 was about to grasp and bear off in his arms, now sprang upon 
 his feet unhurt, and drawing his rapier, turned to add the 
 
^46 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 finishing blow to his two still prostrate, but fast reviving an- 
 tagonists. 
 
 At that instant, the shout of rallying foes, hurrying to the 
 rescue, and already entering the border of the woods, not 
 twenty yards distant, broke upon their ears, warning them 
 of the necessity of immediate liight. 
 
 "By Moses! we must leg it. Captain," said the scout, as 
 reluctantly relinquishing their object, they both darted away 
 from the spot, and, throwing each a tree in the range behind 
 him., commenced a rapid retreat towards the refuge they had 
 just left. In another moment they had reached the Creek, 
 thrown themselves over the bank, entered the passage, and 
 were in the embrace of their alarmed and anxious friends, 
 while the woods above were resounding with the hideous yells 
 of the disappointed foe, running about in search of the miss- 
 ing objects of their rage. 
 
 Our band, having but little reason to hope that their retreat 
 w^ould now long remain undiscovered, immediately set about 
 such preparations as were deemed necessary for its defense. 
 The short timbers, composing the barrier near the mouth of 
 the passage, were more firmly secured; while convenient loop- 
 holes were formed by raising some of the upper timbers, and 
 inserting, at intervals, flat stones between them. An efficient 
 guard, with muskets and fixed bayonets, were then stationed 
 at the spot, the charge of which was entrusted to the brave 
 and trusty scout. This and the other arrangements being com- 
 pleted, they awaited in silent anxiety the approaching crisis 
 of their fate, all intently listening, from the different stations 
 allotted them in the rooms, or along the passages, for some 
 sound which should indicate in what shape and direction the 
 expected assault was to be made. They were not long in sus- 
 pense. The sound of suppressed and eager voices, and cau- 
 tiously treading feet, fast gathering on the bank above, soon 
 apprised them that the entrance to their retreat was discov- 
 ered. For some time, however, the enemy seemed wary and 
 fearful about showing their persons in front of the passage. 
 But, after appearing to listen awhile, first one, and then an- 
 other, ventured out abreast of the barricade across the pas- 
 sage, which was situated about a yard from its mouth. In the 
 meantime Jones and his men stood within, holding their 
 breath in motionless silence, with their bayonets in their loops, 
 and their eyes eagerly fixed on their marked victims, who, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 347 
 
 feeling their dark way with the muzzles of their guns, were 
 slowly and cautiously ai^proaching within reach of the mur- 
 derous blades of those of whose dangerous proximity they 
 were wholly unaware. The assailants, now striking the barri- 
 cade with their guns, paused, and seemed to hesitate; but, 
 after again listening a moment, they withdrew their pieces, 
 and, coming up to the timbers, were beginning to feel with 
 their hands, apparently to ascertain the nature of the obstruc- 
 tion; when the death-doing bayonets were suddenly thrust 
 forth, and, with horrid shrieks, the pierced and recoiling 
 wretches sprang back, and fell over with a heavy splash into 
 the water below. 
 
 Warned by the fearful reception of their comrades, the 
 enemy ventured not again to appear before the mouth of the 
 passage, but soon retired from the bank, and for a long time 
 gave the besieged no further cause of alarm. So profoundly 
 still indeed, was all above, that our little garrison at length 
 entertained a strong hope that their assailants, grovv^n wise 
 by the lessons they had already received, had given up their 
 design, and made a final retreat from the place. The soldiers 
 gradually relaxed from that stern and determined air which 
 the exigencies of their situation had thrown over their war- 
 worn visages, and began to exchange the careless remark or 
 sportive jest. Mrs. Story, and the other females, venturing 
 from their secluded refuge, came out into the main room, to 
 hear from their gallant defenders a recital of the various oc- 
 currences of the night, to the deadened and imperfect sounds 
 of which they had been listening for many hours with the 
 most painful anxiety. These were accordingly narrated. And 
 every individual feat accomplished, or peril encountered, was 
 made the theme of praise or gratulation to the different actors 
 of the occasion I while to wind up, Pete Jones, with his char- 
 acteristic waggish gravity, displayed to the astonished ladies 
 his bullet-riddled coat, as a proof that his case afforded a 
 climax to all the hair-breadth escapes of the night. As the 
 attention of the company was thus engaged, and at the instant 
 w^hen the eyes of all, including those set to guard against the 
 descent of the foe down the hollow stub before described, 
 were turned upon the scout, a savage warrior dropped silently 
 upon the hearth, and rearing himself partially from his 
 crouching attitude, and throwing a keen, rapid glance around 
 the apartment, glided swiftly through the assembled group, 
 
348 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 and darted into tlie dark passage leading into the interior 
 room^ where the children were left unguarded. So sudden, 
 so noiseless and shadow like, had he entered, passed through 
 them, and disappeared, that few heeded, and still fewer be- 
 came fully aware of the character of the apparition. The 
 eagle-eyed vigilance of the mother was not, however, thus to 
 he eluded. She caught a glimpse of the flitting form of the 
 savage, as he entered the passage; and, with the heart-rending 
 exclamation, "My children! Oh! my children!" she sprang 
 forward like a maddened tigress, and disappeared in the pas- 
 sage after him. 
 
 "A light! follov/ instantly with a light!" shouted Selden, 
 drawing his sword, and rushing into the dark avenue to de- 
 fend or rescue the frantic mother and her periled children 
 from the deadly knife of their merciless foe. He had scarcely 
 passed the entrance, however, before he was met by the in- 
 trepid woman, dragging back, with resistless force, the strug- 
 gling savage, who had been overtaken while groping his un- 
 certain way onward, and seized round the waist from behind 
 by the desperately grasping arms of his captor. He had just 
 succeeded in unsheathing his knife, which v/as fiercely glit- 
 tering in the light of the advancing torch, as it rose and fell 
 in quickly repeated, but, as yet, ineffectual passes at her body. 
 A glance sufficed to show the young leader the imminent dan- 
 ger of his unheeding hostess, and, with the next breath, his 
 weapon was sent to the hilt into the body of the screeching 
 foe. 
 
 "Thank God! thank God!" hurriedly ejaculated the nearly 
 breathless and exhausted woman, casting from her, with a 
 shudder, the gasping and gory corpse, which, as she now 
 turned and hastened back to comfort her alarmed but un- 
 touched children, was drawn away, and covered up in a corner. 
 
 AVhile this was taking place, Jones had placed a quantity 
 of the combustible material, already prepared for such an 
 emergenc}^, in the fire-place, and applied the torch. And by 
 the time Selden had taken breath after his exploit, so as to 
 turn his attention to other objects, the rapidly kindling 
 flames were beginning to flash and roar along up the cavity 
 above. 
 
 "That was well thought of, Jones," said the latter, ap- 
 proaching the scout, who had dropped on one knee in the 
 porner of the fire place, and was intently listening to such 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 349 
 
 sounds as he could distinguish in the chimney above, amidst 
 the roaring of the fire, — "well thought of; but what do you 
 hear up chimney?^' 
 
 "Why/^ replied the scout, rising at the approach of his su- 
 perior, "I got down there to see if I could find out whether 
 there were any more of these visitors coming down the hol- 
 low, thinking that the Avay they would scratch and scramble 
 up back again, when the smoke and blaze met 'em, would be 
 a curiosity/' 
 
 "And what did you discover?" 
 
 "Jest nothing but unsartinty. Though from some noises 
 that reached me, I rather guess there was one or more of the 
 scamps at the top of the stub, harking down, and waiting to 
 see how the first got on, before venturing; but that wan't 
 what I was at, when you spoke — ^" 
 
 "Well, what was it, then?" 
 
 "Why, I should rather guess there was a considerable party 
 standing not far from over us, now, kinder consulting, or 
 mayhap waiting to have some contrivances made, as the rest 
 appear to be at work with their hatchets round in the woods 
 as busy as the divil in a gale of wind." 
 
 "Ha! what now? — felling trees upon us?" 
 
 "No — lighter work than that — and, I'm thinking whether 
 it an't sharpening stakes, or possibly hewing out wooden shov- 
 els. But hush! hark!" 
 
 Every voice was instantly hushed at the ominous words and 
 manner of the scout; and as the room became silent, the 
 sounds that had attracted his attention became distinctly audi- 
 ble to the whole company: at first was heard a distant tram- 
 pling of feet, apparently approaching with slow, irregular 
 movement, from all directions towards them. I^earer and 
 nearer they came, pausing every few steps, and stamping 
 lieaAdly upon the earth as they continued gradually to close up 
 to that portion of the surface which extended over the room 
 where our intrepid little band stood silently awaiting the re- 
 sult of this new movement, the object of which, they soon 
 conjectured, was to ascertain, by sounding the earth the exact 
 position of their place of concealment before attempting to 
 dig or otherwise effect a breach through the surface. In a 
 moment more the advancing lines reached the verge of the 
 solid earth, on either side, and began to step over the boundry 
 upon the hollow ground above the room; when^ seeming to 
 
350 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 become aware of the fact^ the}^ suddenly paused^ exchanged a 
 few words, and commenced a furious stamping over the whole 
 space covering the excavation beneath. As the trembling 
 earth gave back the hollow sounds thus affording unequivocal 
 evidence that the place of their search was at length discov- 
 ered, the}^ raised a fierce yell of exultation, and fell to work 
 with their hatchets, and such rude implements as they had 
 hastily prepared for the purpose, in cutting away the roots, 
 and loosening and removing the earth in such places as they 
 had selected for eifecting openings. 
 
 As soon as it was fairly ascertained that the enemy had com- 
 menced operations for effecting a breach through the earth 
 above, our band, with one consent, ceased listening, and began 
 to prepare for action. Every one seemed fully sensible that a 
 fearful crisis was now indeed at hand, and carefully examin- 
 ing their arms to see that everything was in readiness for in- 
 stant action, they arranged themselves at the command of 
 their leader, in lines around the sides of the room, while, in 
 the compressed lip and sternly knitting brows of each, was 
 depicted the deeply breathed resolution to fight to the death 
 in defente*e of themselves and the fair and tender ones whose 
 only hope was now in their bravery. 
 
 ^^'Give me a place among you," cried the intrepid widow, at 
 this moment emerging from the inner room, armed with her 
 rifle and equipped for battle, "give me a place, and see whether 
 I am the first to desert the post of danger.'' 
 
 "]3ut madam, dear madam," began to expostulate Selden, 
 "^'do you know the peril that novv' awaits us? Do you hear 
 the sound of those busy fiends, belaboring the earth above to 
 break through upon us? and there!- do you see those frag- 
 ments falling from that jarring and trembling ceiling? Are 
 you aware that in ten minutes — " 
 
 "I have heard all — I see and know all," interrupted the 
 woman, in tones of desperate ealmness; "I am prepared for 
 the v.^orst. I can never live to see my children murdered be- 
 fore my eyes. Here," she continued, planting herself at the 
 entrance of the passage, "^'here I will remain, and if the enemy 
 enter here, it shall be over my dead body. Nay, not a word, 
 Captain Selden, I will not l^e denied." 
 
 At this moment Miss Hendee and Miss Eeed glided past 
 the widow into the room, and with looks yet unmoved by the 
 danger, which they well understood now menaced every indi- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 351 
 
 vidual of the compan3% presented themselves before the ad- 
 miring gaze of the soldiers. 
 
 ^'Ah! girls, you missed the tread of your sentinel, did you? 
 I meant to have escaped you rmnoticed/' said the widow with 
 a melancholy smile. 
 
 "Aware that the hour decisive of the fate of us all had ar- 
 rived we came to see if we could be of any service here, or 
 elsewhere/' replied Alma, in a tirm, but serious tone. 
 
 "God bless you, noble girls!" said Selden, with emotion, 
 advancing to the side of his lovely and heroic friends. "God 
 bless you for this fortitude and self-sacrificing bravery." 
 
 "0! let me die by your side," murmured Jessy, dropping 
 her head on Selden's bosom. 
 
 Touched by this exhibition, so gratifying to his feelings as 
 a lover, and to his pride as a soldier, the hero, gently put- 
 ting her from him, gazed an instant on the slight symmetrical 
 form, and the beautiful and soul-speaking features of the fond 
 and spirited young creature before him, with the mingled 
 look which imagination would naturally ascribe to a wor- 
 shiper of the goddess beauty, while kneeling at the shrine of 
 her image, and proffering the strangely blended adorations 
 which the nature of that worship must necessarily have in- 
 spired. 
 
 "1:^0, no, Jessy," he at length replied, arousing himself 
 from the momentary entrancement : "^N'o, girls, you two, at 
 least, may not — must not remain: to say nothing of the perils 
 you must encounter, your presence here might more embar- 
 rass than aid us. Ketire, then, and trust to us, under Provi- 
 dence, for your deliverance." 
 
 "Is your father asleep. Alma?" asked the widow, as the 
 young ladies were leaving the room. 
 
 "lie is," was the reply, "for, though when he came to 
 our room, and threw himself down among the children to 
 try to get a little sleep, he desired me to awaken him on the 
 occurrence of any new danger, I yet could not find it in my 
 heart to disturb him so soon." 
 
 "Let him be instantly awakened," said Selden, "I would 
 have his counsel." 
 
 In a few moments Captain Hendee, who, nearly ready to 
 sink under the fatigues of the day, had retired to the inner 
 room in the interval of quiet which followed the repulse of 
 the enemy at the western entrance, had made his appearance 
 
 23 
 
852 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 A glance at the ceiling, now visibly shaking in two difierent 
 places nnder the rapidly progressing operations of the foe 
 above, enabled him, with the hasty intimations jnst imparted 
 by his daughter, to comprehend at once the situation of both 
 besiegers and besieged. 
 
 ^'This is a strait to which I both feared and expected we 
 should be finally reduced," he remarked coolly, after a mo- 
 mentary pause, '^but let no man despair; I have been in situ- 
 ations more hopeless than this, and yet escaped." 
 
 "We can at least sell our lives dearly," responded Selden. 
 
 "True," replied the old veteran thoughtfully, "even in the 
 method of defense which I see, from your arrangement, you 
 propose to adopt, — that of shooting the assailants as they 
 attempt to enter the breaches that they may make. But will 
 you be able to thus repel them long? Every foot of this 
 earthy covering, which now protects us from their bullets, 
 may be removed, or beat in upon us, before we can bring our 
 guns to bear upon them with effect. And every surrounding 
 tree-top will, by that time, conceal a foe, ready to send us 
 death from above; while fire-brands and combustibles will 
 be hurled down upon us by those remaining on the ground. 
 And if we retreat into our narrow passages, as we must, the 
 same game will follow us there." 
 
 "All these hazards. Captain Hendee," replied the young 
 leader, "I am fully aware we may encounter. But what other 
 mode of defense can we adopt? — A sally from the western 
 entrance, which is now doubtless closely guarded by the 
 enemy, with the expectation that we shall soon be driven to 
 make it, must prove fatal to all who shall attempt it; while 
 the entrance at the other end of the passage is blocked up by 
 a red mass of burning ruins. What other expedient, then, is 
 left for us?" 
 
 "I had thought of one," said Captain Hendee, with some 
 hesitation. "I had thought of one, as our last resort, in an 
 emergency like this. It may not be without risk to ourselves, 
 I am aware, but," he continued with fiercely flashing eyes, "but 
 it must be swift destruction to the accursed gang above, who 
 are thirsting for our blood!" 
 
 "In the name of Heaven, declare it, then!" eagerly cried 
 Selden, casting an uneasy glance at some fresh demonstra- 
 tions of the progress of the foe in the covering above. 
 
 "I will — here, this way," replied the former, as, stepping 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 853 
 
 across the room, lie opened the concealed recess in the wall, 
 and disclosed the widow's magazine to the wondering gaze of 
 Selden and his men, who, ignorant of its existence, did not 
 at once understand the nature of its contents, or perceive the 
 old gentleman's object in displaying it. ^'There!" he added, 
 significantly, pointing to the heads of the casks thus brought 
 to view, "there, that explains my plan." 
 
 "How? What do those barrels contain?" rapidly demand- 
 ed Selden, with the varying expression of doubt, surprise, and 
 alarm. 
 
 "Gunpowder!" was the emphatic reply. 
 
 "Good God! Captain Hendee, do you consider our case so 
 desperate, that, Samson-like, we should all perish with our 
 foes?" 
 
 "It does not follow that we shall perish with them. I have 
 seen somewhat of the operation of exploding mines, and can- 
 not believe that the effects in the proposed one can reach 
 far into that winding passage, to the further end of which, if 
 thought safer than the inner room, we can all repair." 
 
 "ril be blest if I don't think the old thrash-the-devil is 
 about riglit, Captain Selden," exclaimed Pete Jones, leaping 
 about, and snapping his fingers in great glee. "Jest place 
 them in that corner beyond the fire there, and it must be a 
 sort of powder that I'm not much acquainted with, if it turns 
 at a right angle very far into that passage after mischief. 
 Well, now, the Lord be thanked for putting this into your 
 noddle, old friend. I had about agreed to say gone dogs 
 for us all, but now I can see a considerable sprinkling of hope 
 through them barrels of thunder yonder." 
 
 "And you, Mrs. Storv, whose stake is the greatest in the re- 
 sult," said Selden, turning to the widow, after hastily run- 
 ning his eye over the different parts of the room, as if calcu- 
 lating the probable extent to which the explosion would affect 
 the earth laterally — what do you say to the measure?" 
 
 "I don't know — I don't know," replied the distressed moth- 
 er, who had been mutely listening to the startling proposi- 
 tion, in a sort of wild amazement. "The work of the element 
 will be terrific — perhaps fatal to us — but the work of the ex- 
 asperated foe, unless thus destroyed, will be, I fear, for all we 
 can do, no less dreadful. I leave it to you, and may God 
 direct the course which shall be for our good," she added, 
 with a shudder, 
 
 23 
 
354 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ^^It is a fearful experiment, but it shall be tried/' said the 
 young leader, turning away to begin the required arrangement. 
 
 At that instant a large fragment of earth was suddenly rup- 
 tured from the ceiling, and fell heavily to the floor, scatter- 
 ing dirt in every direction around, and disclosing in the place 
 from which it had been detached, the point of a huge sharp- 
 ened stake, protruding several inches into the room; while 
 the wild and exultant shouting of the foe above, as the stake 
 was drawn up, and the redoubled fury with which they re- 
 newed their exertions, all loudly warned our band that there 
 was no time to be lost in preparing for the execution of their 
 purpose. 
 
 "Clear the room, instantly!" cried Selden, in low, but 
 startling accents, '^back! back! every man of you, but Jones, 
 to the further end of the passage — no remonstrance — no of- 
 fers!" he continued, as urging them with drawn sword from 
 the room, several began to persuade him to permit them to 
 incur the hazard of exploding the fatal mine, "not a word I 
 the jnatch shall be applied by my own hand:" 
 
 As soon as the room was fairly cleared, Selden turned, and, 
 with rapid steps, proceeded to the recess, drew forth the bar- 
 rels, and, carrying them to the comer opposite to the entrance 
 of the inner passage, placed them firml}^ and pulled out the 
 bungs, allowing a quantity of the powder to run out from each 
 on to the ground. He then laid a small continuous tra'in 
 of dry powder, extending from the barrels across the room 
 into the entrance in question; while the scout, by his orders, 
 after having removed the lights to a safe distance, wet a cart- 
 ridge from the contents of his canteen, and hastily converted 
 it into a slow match, to apply to the end of the train. 
 
 "There! now leave the rest to me, Jones; take care of 
 yourself, and see that the passage is kept clear for my re- 
 treat," said the leader, receiving a torch which was brought 
 him by the other, and taking his station to await the fearful 
 moment of firing the train. 
 
 The enemy, in the meantime, were making rapid progress. 
 Two breaches were already made through the earth into the 
 room, and these, as was evinced by the almost constant fall- 
 ing of heavy masses of dirt, were every moment widening; 
 while from the trampling of feet, all gathering up to the spot, 
 the mingled shouts, curses, and commands of the infuriated 
 gang and their leaders, it was obvious that an attempt to de- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN E0Y3. S55 
 
 scend was about to be made. At this moment, they seemed 
 to perceive that the besieged had deserted their room, and 
 retreated further into the earth. Grown madly desperate by 
 being already so long bafiled and doubly infuriated by the 
 discovery that their intended victims had still a further refuge, 
 they were now heard hastily throwing aside their tools and 
 resuming their arms preparatory to entering the breach to 
 follow up the pursuit, little dreaming, in the hellish joy of 
 their anticipated revenge, that the torch was even then sus- 
 pended over the train, and waiting only their first movement, 
 to send them, in an instant, with all the passions of fiends 
 raging in their bosoms, unannealed into the presence of their 
 God. But while the foe-trampled earth was jarring to the 
 hideous tumult above, the silence of death prevailed through 
 the hushed vaults beneath. The agitated mother was breath- 
 ing hurried ejaculations over her clasped children. And 
 near her might be seen the huddling forms of her shuddering 
 female companions, with their fair hands tightly compressed 
 over both ears and eyes, as if to shut out from their recoiling 
 senses the noise of the now momentarily expected explosion; 
 while the men in the dark passage beyond, stood motionless 
 and silent, listening in the attitude of intensely excited ex- 
 pectation for the awful denouement. Selden, in the mean- 
 while, hesitating between his fears that the train would get 
 disturbed by the entrance of the foe into the room, and his 
 anxiety to have the band gather over, or so closely around it, 
 as to bring them all within the reach of the explosion, still 
 held the torch suspended in his extended hand over the train, 
 now lowering the point of the low flickering brand nearly to 
 a contact with the powder, at some indication of the expected 
 descent, and now hastily withdrawing it, as other and less 
 decisive sounds reached his ear. His hesitation, however, was 
 soon ended: at that instant, a loud j^ell at the western en- 
 trance, and the sounds of thickly-trampling feet that followed, 
 told him that the enemy had forced the barrier at the end 
 of that passage, and were rushing into the room; while an- 
 other hurra from the tories above, and the heavy, and quickly 
 repeated jar of feet striking upon the floor, which accom- 
 panied it, further announced that the latter were beginnins^ 
 to leap down the breaches to join the former in the assault. 
 At this critical instant, and before the mingled war-cry of 
 the savage and tory had died away in the echoing vaults be- 
 
356 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 yond him, tlie young leader applied the brand to the fuse, 
 and rapidly retreated along the passage towards his friends. 
 Having reached the curtained recess containing the women 
 and children, and here encountering Captain Hendee and 
 Jones, he turned round, and with them awaited, with palpi- 
 tating heart and suspended breath, the fearful result. With 
 the low, hissing sound of the slowly burning match, came a 
 cry of horror from the scrambling foe, over whose minds, now 
 for tlie first time, seemed to flash the dreadful truth. But 
 too late. The next instant, with a concussion that almost 
 threw Selden and his companions from their feet, the earth 
 yawned and opened along the passage overhead nearly to the 
 si:>ot where they stood; when through the long vibrating 
 chasm, was displayed to their appalled vision, the broad space 
 of tree-covered earth over and around the room beyond, leap- 
 ing, in disrupturing masses, into the air, along with the di- 
 verging column of fiercely shooting smoke and flame, in which 
 were seen, commingling with rocks, earth, and the limbs and 
 trunks of uprooted and swiftly revolving trees, a score of 
 human forms, wildly throwing out their arms, as if for aid, 
 and distending their mouths with unheard screeches, as, with 
 blackened and distorted features, and dissevering limbs, they 
 were borne upwards with amazing force in the flaming mass 
 to the heavens. The chasm slowly closed over the astounded 
 but unharmed band, and shut out from their reeling senses 
 the deafening din that was breaking in crashing thunders 
 above. A momentary stillness ensued; when the returning 
 shower of ruins came thundering to the earth; after which, 
 all again relapsed into a death-like and unbroken silence. 
 
 Once more the morning light was springing in the golden 
 chambers of the east, heralding the approach of the fiery 
 coursers of the day-god up the glowing pathway of the sky. 
 More and more brightly broke the suffusing radiance over the 
 mountains, darkly gleaming at first, upon the quiet surface 
 of the gently flowing Otter, and then, gradually lighting up, 
 one after another, the bolder features of the altered landscape, 
 till the whole scene of the last night's thrilling drama, and 
 its awful catastrophe, stood revealed to the sight. The hum- 
 ble tenement of the lone widow, which the last setting sun left 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 357 
 
 standing unmolested, in her toil-wrought opening in the 
 wilderness, had disappeared; and in its place lay a pile of 
 black and smouldering ruins. Fences w^ere thrown down 
 and scattered in every direction; while the growing crops in 
 the fields around, reared by the hard labors of the indefati- 
 gable occupant, and constituting her sole dependence for the 
 future sustenance of her numerous family, were scorched 
 and withered by the falling cinders thrown up from the 
 burning house, or prostrated and beat into the earth by the 
 trampling feet of reckless foes. The breath of war had, in- 
 deed, passed over everything, and her little all, in one short 
 night, had perished. 
 
 is'ear the banks of the stream, where stood a thick growth of 
 trees, over and around the main apartment of the subter- 
 raneous abode, now yawned a huge, black chasm in the 
 ground, in which scarcely a trace of the late regular room 
 was discernible; while the burnt and discolored bark and 
 foliage, marking the standing forest around, and the broken, 
 splintered and uprooted trees, which had been hurled out- 
 ward and prostrated with the earth for many rods in every 
 direction from the spot, and which were now Mng strewed 
 over the ground in wdld disorder, intermingled with smoking 
 rubbish, all told the fearful power and extent of the terrific- 
 explosion. Half buried among the wide scattered ruins lay 
 the torn, mangled and blackened corpses of savage and tory, — • 
 the fated victims of the mine, which had so suddenly, so un- 
 expectedly sprung beneath their feet, sweeping them, in an 
 instant, indiscriminately away, with the cries of anticipated 
 victory and vengeance on their lips, like chaff in a whirlwind 
 of fire. 
 
 As the increasing daylight began to fall more broadly upon 
 this scene of death and desolation, two human forms might 
 have been seen cautiously breaking through the loose earth 
 that closed up the mouth of the long passage into which our 
 little band last retreated. The small, topling head, crane-like 
 neck, long body and limbs, and the peculiarly rapid and 
 shambling movements of the one, as now crouching, now rear- 
 ing his tall form aloft, and throwing quick and wary glances 
 around him, he glided round beneath the sides of the broad, 
 black pit into which they had emere^ed, sufficiently announced 
 him as the incomparable scout. The swarthy and immovable 
 features, the short figure, and deliberate air of the other, pro- 
 
358 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 claimed Mm also to be an old acquaintance of the reader, the 
 trusty and faithful ISTeshobee. Creeping out of the exca- 
 vation, the two separated and quickly disappeared in opposite 
 directions in the woods and bushes along the banks of the 
 Creek. After the lapse of half an hour, in which they had 
 apparently made a reconnoitering circuit round the opening, 
 they reappeared on the banks of the excavation, communed 
 a moment, and, throwing aside the air of caution that had 
 marked their movements, approached, with bold and confi- 
 dent steps, towards the choked entrance, through which they 
 had forced their way into the open air. 
 
 ^•Hurra, there, below!" shouted Pete, dropping on one knee, 
 and poking his head and long neck into the dark hole before 
 him, "hurra! ye poor, half smuddered divils — asking the 
 Captain's pardon for the freedom — do you hear?" 
 
 "Ay, ay! what report — what news from the regions above?" 
 responded several voices from the dark, and, till then, silent 
 recesses within. 
 
 "The coast is as clear as a hound's tooth," replied the scout. 
 "Yes, all clear, and that, too, with what I should call a con- 
 siderable of a vengeance: so just troop along out here, and 
 see what G-od put it into men's heads to make gunpowder for." 
 
 This announcement seemed to produce an instant effect. A 
 lively bustle was immediately heard among the party below. 
 And in a few moments more, the men, followed by the women 
 and children, came creeping, one by one, from their crowded 
 and uncomfortable retreat, looking worn, haggard, and pale 
 from fatigue, and more especially from the want of fresh air, 
 with which they had but imperfectly supplied themselves by 
 digging, with their bayonets, small holes through the earthy 
 covering of their refuge, to the surface above. After reach- 
 ing the open air, the compan}^ stood a moment on the banks of 
 the chasm, viewing, in silent horror, the awful spectacle that 
 was here presented to their sight: when, at the suggestion of 
 Selden, the females, accompanied by himself and all but the 
 common soldiers (who were busy in searching for guns and 
 other spoils among the ruins), hastened to leave a scene so 
 revolting to the senses. And making the best of their way 
 over the tangled mass that everywhere encircled the spot, 
 with many a shudder at the disfigured, and sometimes limb- 
 less bodies of the slain, for which they were often compelled 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. ' 359 
 
 to turn aside in their route, they proceeded towards the open 
 grounds in front of the site lately occupied by the house. 
 
 "Umph! look! jus look um up there!" exclaimed Nesho- 
 bee, eagerly pointing up the trunk of a large dry hemlock, 
 which, standing some half dozen rods from the seat of the 
 explosion, the company were unobservantly passing. 
 
 Arrested by the unusually excited manner of the Indian, 
 the whole party suddenly paused, and looked upward in search 
 of the object to which he was so earnestly directing their at- 
 tention. About half-way up the tree, the doubling body of a 
 man hung dangling in the air, from a short, pointed limb, 
 upon which he had evidently been thrown from the earth, 
 and literally impaled through the middle, by the force of the 
 explosion. His cadaverous face was turned full towards the 
 company, and a glance at the peculiar cast of his death-set 
 features, explained, at once, to Captain Hendee and the girls, 
 the cause of the wild and gleeful interest manifested by the 
 native; it was the traitor, Remington,* who first betrayed the 
 family to their enemies, and who was afterwards discovered 
 to be in full league with Sherwood and Darrow, and, to the 
 last, in active co-operation with them, in the black designs 
 which they supposed themselves on the eve of accomplishing, 
 when thus awfully arrested in their guilty career. Awe-struck 
 and appalled at the strange and dreadful fate of the villain, 
 the company, with one consent, turned away from the sicken- 
 ing sight, and, hastening from the spot, pursued their way 
 in thoughtful silence, till they had passed, as they sup- 
 posed, beyond the scene of these multiplied horrors. An- 
 other trial, however, though of a different and mingled char- 
 acter, still awaited them: a deep groan, issuing from a small 
 covert on their left, now reached their ears, and caused theui 
 again to pause in- their steps. 
 
 ^'Tt is a human groan," said Selden, "and doubtless that of 
 some poor wounded wretch, who has crawled away from the 
 scene of action. Perhaps his life may yet be saved," he 
 added, as, beckoning to Jones, he promptly set out for the 
 place from vrhich the sound had proceeded. As the two 
 passed round to the spot, they discovered a man l,ving in a 
 state of almost utter exhaustion in the woods behind a long 
 
 * The last of this tory family, consisting of several brothers, I 
 ^m inforpied was sent to the state prisiom, a few years ago, 
 
860 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 log, by which he had apparently been arrested in his course 
 while trying to reach a small brook a few rods beyond. His 
 face, with every other exposed part of his person, was thickly 
 besmeared with dirt, gunpowder and blood, which last was 
 still freshly oozing from his mangled and broken legs; and 
 it was only by his hair, and the remains of his burnt and tat- 
 tered dress, that he could be distinguished as a white man. 
 He seemed to be aware of the presence of others, and the 
 lips began to move with some inaudible request. 
 
 '•The poor creature is begging for water," said Selden, low- 
 ering his ear over the face of the invalid; ''let us remove him 
 to the brook." 
 
 Eaising him carefully in their arms, they accordingly bore 
 him to the bank of the rivulet, and having placed him in a 
 sitting position, with his back against a large stump, they 
 applied a gourd-shell of water to his lips, of which he drank 
 eagerly and deeply. They then washed the blood and dirt 
 from his face, when he considerably revived; and, opening 
 his eyes, he looked up in evident surprise on our party, all 
 of whom, having gathered round him, now stood viewing his 
 gory and lacerated limbs in silent commiseration. 
 
 "Why! it is Darrow — the wretched and guilty Darrow!" 
 exclaimed Miss Hendee, starting back in surprise, and with an 
 expression of mingled pit}" and abhorrence. 
 
 "Ay, guilty enough, doubtless," responded Selden, "but as 
 deeply dyed in guilt as he is, there is another still more guil- 
 ty — wretched man, what has become of your master?" 
 
 "He escaped unhurt from your accursed mine," feebly mut- 
 tered the wounded ruffian in reply. 
 
 "And has fled?" asked the former. - 
 
 "Yes, fled like a craven brute," said the other, with an angry 
 scowl; "fled with the few who were as lucky as himself, leav- 
 ing me and the rest of the wounded, with our cries for as- 
 sistance ringing in his ears, to die like dogs, alone here in 
 the woods. And they have died — some of their wounds, some 
 by crawling into the river and drowning, and some by plung- 
 ing their knives into their own bodies, to put themselves out 
 of misery. Yes, all gone, but me; and I — " 
 
 "But perhaps 3'Our leader went off after a reinforcement, 
 expecting soon to return with better means of serving you," 
 interrupted Selden, with the view of gathering from the other 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS, 361 
 
 sucTi information as would enable him to judge of the prob- 
 ability of Sherwood's return to renew the attack. 
 
 "jN"o, damn him!" exclaimed the wretch bitterl}^ "he sup- 
 posed, as I did, that all of your band, as well as most of our 
 own, had perished in the explosion. No! the infernal vil- 
 lain intended I should die," he continued, with an expression 
 rendered f airl}^ diabolical with rage, combined with the bodily 
 anguish he was enduring. "But he did not dream I should 
 fall alive into your hands, else he had finished me on the spot 
 to prevent it, the black-souled devil! for he is well aware 
 that I know enough of him, and his father before him, to 
 make my revenge as ample as it will be svv eet." 
 
 "What do you laiow of his father?" asked Captain Hen- 
 dee, stepping forward, with looks of eager curiosity and in- 
 terest. 
 
 "Enough/' replied the other — "enough of both, to my 
 sorrow; for, between them^ they have worked my ruin and 
 death. In aiding the old man in his villainy, I damned my 
 soul; and in abetting that of his son, I have lost my life; 
 for I feel that I must go now soon, though I might have been 
 saved. Yes, and what have they done for me? what can 
 they do now? Nothing! The old man has gone to his place; 
 and Jake — perdition seize him!" 
 
 "What do you mean?" sharply demanded the Captain. "Is 
 John Sherwood dead? ^Vh}^, Jake told me, before he turned 
 devil to us, and not more than a week since, neither, that his 
 father was alive and — ^" 
 
 "And what if he did?" interrupted Darrow, growing rest- 
 less and impatient from the pain, which was now evidently 
 beginning to invade the citadel of life — "what if he did? 
 The old man made a will — too much in favor of your daugh- 
 ter here, or you, he suspects — and all was to be kept dark till 
 he could bring certain things about." 
 
 "Man, man, you are deceiving me!" cried the other, warmly. 
 
 "Father, I believe he is speaking the truth," interposed the 
 daughter, to whose mind the late conduct of Sherwood, be- 
 fore inexplicable, was now explained. 
 
 "Truth — truth! Alma Hendee," resumed the wounded man 
 now breathing thick, and speaking with increasing difficul- 
 ty; — "it is only the beginning of truths, that concern you 
 all, that — that I could — that I must and will tell, if — if soul 
 and body will hold together long enough for me to expose — ^' 
 
S62 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "Expose what? — what can you reveal? — go on! — speak — 
 speak !'^ exclaimed the old gentleman^ impatiently breaking 
 in on the other, in a tone and air of feverish excitement. 
 
 "Wait — wait/' resumed Darrow, grating his clenched teeth, 
 and writhing about in a fresh paroxysm of anguish — "I will — 
 will tell all — but wait till this is over — 0, that pain! 0! God! 
 that pain, that pain!'' and the poor wretch gasped for breath, 
 and wildly threw about his arms in the insufferable pangs of 
 his agony. 
 
 "Captain Hendee/' he faintly, and in a softened tone, re- 
 sumed, after the desperate paroxysm had subsided, "did you 
 ever mistrust that John Sherwood played you foul in re- 
 spect to your property, which 3^ou was blind enough to intrust 
 to his management?" 
 
 "Why, I thought strange," replied the other, "and yet I 
 could not detect — but was he dishonest, then?" 
 
 "Yes," exclaimed Darrow; "in that final settlement, he de- 
 frauded you out of more than half of what was honestly 
 your own: and in the main instance, you recollect a large 
 landed lawsuit he brought in your behalf?" 
 
 "I do," said the Captain; ''and finding he must fail in it, 
 and subject me to ruinous costs, he compromised, by paying a 
 small sum, and withdrew the action, as I understood." 
 
 "Well, now, it is God's truth, Captain," rejoined the former, 
 "that instead of paying anything he received a large sum — his 
 adversary, and not he, finding he must fail." 
 
 "The faithless villain!" exclaimed the astonished Captain, 
 "may the wrath — but I will not curse him, now he is gone." 
 
 "No; for you can revenge yourself more effectually," said 
 the other: "the man with whom this compromise was made 
 is still alive, and though it was agreed that the transaction 
 should be kept a dead secret, there is no doubt he will swear to 
 the amount he paid Sherwood, as he was not privy to the fraud 
 on you." 
 
 "But how know you all this?" asked the Captain, some new 
 doubt seeming to arise in his mind. 
 
 "You will know directly," replied Darrow — "that is, if — if 
 I tell you the rest" — he continued, pausing and hesitating, 
 as if irresolute whether to proceed; but at length seeming 
 to make up his mind, he resumed, "Captain Hendee, you once 
 had a darling son, who was lost?" 
 
 "I did, I did," responded the other with visible emotion. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 363 
 
 ^^And you have liearcl/' continued the former, '^that he was 
 last seen with a young man in John Sherwood's employ — did 
 you ever see that young man ?*' 
 
 "No," said the Captain, "nor do I know what became of 
 him, or whether he is now living." 
 
 "He is still living, but will not be long," said Darrow; "you 
 see him in the miserable, shattered, and dying creature lying 
 before you. Captain Hendee." 
 
 "You! you!" wildly and fiercely exclaimed the old man, 
 ^^ut what of my son? wretch! did you murder the boy?" he 
 added, raising his voice almost to a frantic scream, as the sus- 
 picion flashed over his anticipating thoughts. 
 
 "No, I was spared that," answered the other, "though my 
 instigator, who was no other than the same John Sherwood, 
 expected it of me, I think. No, I came across an Indian, who, 
 for a bottle of rum, was willing to take the boy where his 
 friends should never hear of him again." 
 
 "And you agreed with the hell-hound to do it, did you, 
 monster!" again fiercely demanded the Captain. 
 
 "Yes, I did that — I own it! I own it! aye, I confess it!" 
 exclaimed Darrow, eagerly repeating the words, as if he had 
 brought himself to this act of penitence by some mighty ef- 
 fort. "There!" he added, wildly and menacingly brandishing 
 his fist at some imaginary presence, as he began to draw up 
 his limbs and glare deliriously around him under another 
 and fearful attack of his pains, "there! I have confessed it, you 
 black fiend!" and with a terrible yell of seeming exultation 
 and defiance, he fell back convulsed from head to foot; and for 
 many moments, he appeared to be wrestling terribly with the 
 angel of death. 
 
 At length, however, he became calm, and again opened his 
 eyes upon the' horror-stricken, but intensely interested com- 
 pany. 
 
 "I can't live through another like that — so let me speak 
 while I can — you would know more of your son ?" faintly said 
 the reviving wretch, turning his glazed and blood-shot eye 
 languidly upon the Captain. 
 
 "Yes, yes," replied the other in a softened and imploring 
 tone, ^^yes, if you have strength to go on, tell me, if you 
 know, for God's sake tell me, whether there is any hope for a 
 bereaved and sorrow-stricken old man? — Did you ever bear of 
 the boy — do you think he is still living?" 
 
364 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "If that boy lived to grow up/^ said Darrow, in reply, — "if 
 he be still among the living, Captain Hendee, I believe he is 
 now standing by your side/^ 
 
 Wholly unprepared for a development so unexpected and 
 improbable, the company stood silently gazing at each other a 
 moment with looks of mingled doubt and astonishment; when 
 Selden, who was obviously the one alluded to by the con- 
 fessant, and who had appeared thoughtful and abstracted dur- 
 ing the latter part of the conversation, now turned to the 
 other, and, with the air of one trying to recall some indistinct 
 image of other days, observed: 
 
 "I have some strange dim recollections — but what circum- 
 stances can you name to warrant the belief you have just ex- 
 pressed ?" 
 
 "Why, if I am right," answered Darrow, "as I still think 
 I am, you must have had, for many years, if you have not 
 now, the proof on your person! For before I parted from the 
 boy, I pricked two crossed arrov^^s, with lasting ink, into his 
 skin, near the elbow." 
 
 A flash of joyous intelligence instantly broke over the beam- 
 ing countenance of the young officer, and, as quick as thought, 
 his arm was bared and held exultingly aloft, disclosing the 
 still visibly impicted arrows to the astonished and delighted 
 group around him. 
 
 For one full minute not a word was uttered, and the mute 
 eloquence of the speaking countenance alone told the spring- 
 ing emotions of those most interested in this unexpected but 
 happy denouement. 
 
 "My son!" at length convulsively burst from the trembling 
 lips of the overpowered father: "God bless — bless — bless" — 
 and then his voice died away in whimpering murmurs, as fath- 
 er, son, and daughter rushed into one long sobbing embrace. 
 
 Aroused in a short time from this absorbing scene of gush- 
 ing affections, by a noise from the wounded man, the com- 
 pany turned toward him. A change was passing over his face, 
 and with the low muttered words, "Eevenged — revenged on 
 the destroyers of my soul and body, at last!" he gave one long 
 quivering gasp and expired. 
 
 On the proposal of Selden, for such, for convenience, we 
 will for the present continue to call him, the company now 
 left the spot, and proceeded to an open and unencumbered 
 space by the road side, where the whole band were soon as- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 365 
 
 sembled preparatory to a final removal from the scene of 
 action. 
 
 At that instant a band of twenty armed horsemen burst 
 suddenly from the woods, and came pouring, in gallant array, 
 along the road from the south toward the spot. From their 
 equipments and general appearance, they were instantly dis- 
 covered to be a detachment of mounted riflemen from the 
 Continental army, headed by a field officer of considerable 
 rank. 
 
 "You are the day after the Fair, my hearties/' gayly re- 
 marked Captain Hendee, whose over-mastering feelings at 
 the recent joyful discovery, had now settled down into a fine 
 flow of spirits. "But I am glad they have come, for I want 
 the whole world to know how proud I feel of my new found 
 son." 
 
 "Aye, but when they hear," replied the young officer in the 
 same spirit, "that we owe this victory, and with it our lives, 
 solely to the old veteran's plan of blowing up the enemy by 
 wholesale, ten to one, they don't say, that the son has far 
 the more reason to pride himself in the happy discovery. Se- 
 riously, however, the arrival of these men, at this moment, 
 is most opportune, as some of them, doubtless, will give up 
 their horses to convey you, the females and children from the 
 place. But what ails our merry friend Jones, yonder?" he 
 added, pointing to the scout, who stood in the foreground, 
 eagerly and with mouth agape, looking at the advancing cav- 
 alcade, and holding his cap in his hand, as if about to hurl it 
 into the air, in some joyous outbreak. 
 
 "He is about to v/elcome them with a few cheers, I sus- 
 pect," replied the Captain. "And hang me, if I don't join 
 him; for if I don't give vent to my feelings in some way, I 
 believe my old broken shell of a heart will burst for very joy, 
 like some old rusty howitzer, charged to the muzzle with gun- 
 powder." 
 
 "No, no, father," rejoined the other good humoredly, "joy 
 rarely proves as explosive as that, I imagine. But I must 
 forward to attend to this reception myself, — Jones," he con- 
 tinued, advancing to the front, "let us ascertain their object, 
 and a little more exactly who they are, before we make up 
 our mouths for much of a hurra on the occasion." 
 
 "Well that's jest what I'm at. Captain," said the scout; 
 "and I calkerlate I have about two-thirds found out both them 
 
366 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 particulars already: for, if twenty-four hours ago, I had seen 
 a chap riding towards me, with the make, and bearing of that 
 officer, who sits so splendid in his saddle yonder, I would have 
 sworn, with a quarter of this bothering, that it was— and, by 
 the living Lazarus! I'll swear it is now — so here's hurra' for 
 the unshot Colonel! hurra! hurra!" he added, throwing his 
 cap thirty feet in the air, and leaping, in the ecstasy of his 
 joyous emotions, a yard from the earth at each of his sten- 
 torian shouts in the last of which he was heartily joined by the 
 whole band of his delighted comrades, as their beloved com- 
 mander, the heroic Warrington, whom they had mourned as 
 slain, now came dashing up to the spot, bowing low in token of 
 acknowledgment of this flattering mark of their esteem. 
 
 "Had you dropped down from the clouds before our eyes, 
 Colonel Warrington," said Selden, after the noise and bustle 
 of this enthusiastic reception had a httle subsided, "vour pres- 
 ence could have scarcely more surprised us." 
 
 "Indeed!" 
 
 "Yes, you was reported to have fallen in the last moments 
 of the battle." 
 
 "I must then have been mistaken, I think, for Colonel 
 Erancis." 
 
 "Has that noble fellow then indeed been added to the hon- 
 ored catalogue of martyrs in our glorious cause?" 
 
 "I. grieve to say it. — He fell covered with wounds, bravely 
 fighting at the head of his regiment." 
 
 "But you, and your men?" 
 
 "We yet mostly live to give Burgoyne a thrashing. But 
 here, overpowered with numbers, by my own orders, we 
 broke, scattered and fled, to meet again at Manchester. Reach- 
 ing Rutland last night, and guessing at your course, and at 
 your danger, I collected this small force, and hastened to the 
 rescue. And now. Captain, for your report, which, with these 
 evidences of a conflict before me, I should dread to hear, but 
 for the merry looks of the men, and the sunny faces of my 
 fair friends, whom I notice yonder in the rear." 
 
 "All in good time, my dear Colonel; but come, first go 
 along with me," said Selden with a significant and sKghtly 
 mischievous smile, as he took the arm of his superior, anil 
 urged him forward to the spot where the interesting group 
 to which he had just alluded still stood, in the agitation of 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 367 
 
 tlieir joyful surprise, with sparkling eyes and happy and flut- 
 tering hearts, eagerly waiting to greet him. 
 
 But over the touching and tender scene that followed, 
 marked as it was by the reuniting of long estranged hearts, 
 like the rushing together of kindred waters, the surprising 
 announcement of Selden's recently discovered relationship, 
 and the mad pranks of the excited old veteran, now clamoring 
 for the curses of Warrington on his own head, for his blindness 
 and folly, and now eagerly bestowing the hand of his daugh- 
 ter, as a compensation and reward, with many a sob-broken 
 ejaculation for blessings on the happy couple — over all this 
 we will drop the curtain, not caring to trust the pen to vie 
 with the reader's outstripping fancy in filling up the picture. 
 
 Before another hour had elapsed the whole were mounted 
 and in motion, on their unmolested way to the older settle- 
 ments in the southern part of the Grants. 
 
 COFCLUSIOK 
 
 The rolling seasons had nearly completed their annual 
 round since the stirring incidents, which we last narrated, 
 transpired, and nature was again enrobing herself in the leafy 
 glories of summer. The great struggle on the northern fron- 
 tiers was over. The battle of Bennington had been fought 
 and won, immortalizing the name of the Eoman Stark, and 
 covering with deathless laurels the brave Green Mountain 
 Boys. The whole of that proud army, indeed, that swept, the 
 last season, so vauntingly along these desolated shores, had felt 
 the vengeful arm of young Freedom, and withered at the touch. 
 The inhabitants on the borders of Champlain, who had fled 
 before the tempest of war, had mostly returned, and were now 
 in possession of their unmolested homes. The seat of their 
 country's strife was removed to a distance. And the hus- 
 bandman was again following his plough in the field; the 
 peaceful sounds of the axemen were heard in the woods, and 
 the hunter once more roamed his deer-trod hills unsuspicious 
 of hostile ambush. 
 
 At the pleasant, and no longer desolate cottage of Captain 
 Hendee, a company, evidently much larger than the usual 
 family circle, were assembled. The old veteran, as was for- 
 2^ 
 
368 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 merly his wont, was sitting in liis easy chair before one of the 
 open windows of the parlor, solacing himself with his old com- 
 panion, the pipe. The other window was occnpied by a fine 
 looking military person, now in the full bloom of vigorous 
 manhood, richly dressed in the lace-trimmed uniform, and the 
 surmounted badges of a field officer in the Continental army; 
 while by his side sat a peerless girl, whose simple, but rich 
 and tasteful array of spotless white, surmounted by the em- 
 blematic rose of the same color, instead of the dumb, un- 
 speaking jewel, told of bridal preparation. They were gazing 
 out upon the glittering expanse of the breeze-ruffled waters 
 of the Lake, and the gratified eye of the officer was resting 
 on the bright folds of his country's flag, which was again 
 proudly waving in the distance over the walis of the opposite 
 fortress; while the delicately blended fondness and respect, 
 that marked the blissful look of each, and the tender pathos 
 of their low intermingling voices, as they exchanged the oc- 
 casional remark, betokened the presence of mutual confidence 
 and love. There was another maiden in the room, scarcely 
 less beautiful than the one just mentioned, but though ar- 
 rayed, like her fair companion, in the bridal garb, yet she sat 
 unmated and alone, now listlessly running over the leaves of a 
 little volume in her hand, and now anxiously and impatiently 
 glancing through the window along one road to the south, 
 as if expecting the appearance of some one from that quarter. 
 The only other person at present in this apartment, with whom 
 the reader has been made acquainted, was a modest, staid look- 
 ing female, who, though comely, and not greatly faded, had 
 yet evidently out-lived, by many years, the freshness and bloom 
 of beauty's most favored period. She was sitting quietly in 
 a corner, partly screened from the rest of the company by 
 the door that swung inward. She, also, had been companion- 
 less, and had not, like the restless fair one last described, ap- 
 peared to expect to be otherwise. But at this moment, a 
 singularly tall, woodsman-looking fellow came stooping 
 through the door-way from the adjoining room, where part 
 of the company still remained; when after throwing a half- 
 sheepish, half mischievous look around him, apparently to see 
 if his movement was particularly noticed, he sidled around the 
 swinging door, with a sort of hesitating, stealthy air, and sunk 
 by degrees into a chair beside the demure looking damsel of 
 whom we were speaking. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 369 
 
 "Well, now, if this ain't a curious fix!" were his first words — 
 "I Yow to I^^ever-come-Jack — a sort of Saturday in the after- 
 noon-chap that Ave used to swear by in the army — if it ain't 
 too had! Don't you think so, now, honestly, Miss Ruth?" 
 
 "What is it that you complain of as so had, Mr. Jones?" 
 replied the girl, with a good-natured and encouraging smile, 
 which seemed instantly to reassure her somewhat flustered 
 companion, as he replied: 
 
 "What do I complain of? — Why to he invited, as I was, by 
 the Colonel and Alma there, to he here at two o'clock, to see 
 three weddings; when now it is well along towards night, 
 and one bridegroom don't get on according to agreement, and 
 no parson come to fix them that are here and ready for it. 
 Now, I like to see folks put out of their misery in some kind 
 of season, and so do the rest of them, I've a notion: only Jest 
 look at the old Captain yonder! He is getting out of sorts at 
 the delay, rather ra]3id, a body would guess, by the manner 
 he is puffing away at his old comforter there. And there is 
 the Scotch bird, too; may I miss my next aim on Old Trust^y, 
 if I don't believe she'll fly away, if Major Selden, as he has 
 now got to be — Major Hendee, I s'pose, you'll call him here 
 — don't come soon." 
 
 "Jessy does, indeed, appear rather uneasy," observed the 
 other, "and I really wonder Edward don't come, myself. He 
 sent us word that he expected to get the Sherwood property all 
 settled, so as to start from Albany yesterday morning. But 
 you said three weddings, didn't you?" 
 
 "Three, did I say, Euth ?" said Pete, with waggish gravity. 
 "Well, two then — that is, if there ain't raaly any chance to 
 be another, no way." 
 
 "Well, what other could there be?" said Ruth, quite inno- 
 cently. 
 
 "Well, now, I can't exactly say, but I was thinking it was 
 rather a pity there shouldn't be another match worked up 
 here somehow?" replied the scout, with a look at the other 
 so significant, that it brought the blood into her cheeks. 
 "You hold to save time and expense, don't you?" 
 
 "Why, it is well enough to think of that in some cases, per- 
 haps," muttered the doubtful and confused girl. 
 
 "Then, suppose, when the priest comes," said the other, 
 with a roguish squint at her glowing cheeks and downcast 
 
 24 
 
S70 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 looks^ "suppose you jest stand up with — with — with old Cap- 
 tain Hendee to be noosed the same time his children are?^^ 
 
 "0 nonsense Mr. Jones/^ replied the girl, greatly relieved;, 
 and yet evidently disappointed at this turn in the scout^s re- 
 marks, which she supposed were to terminate in proposing 
 one much nearer home — "Captain Hendee! why, he is old 
 enough to be my father! Besides, he would not have me/^ 
 
 "Yes he would." 
 
 "No he wouldn't." 
 
 "Well, if he should flummux at such a chance, I know of a 
 chap — and not too old, neither — who'll agree to take his 
 place." 
 
 "Really, Mr. Jones, I think you must be trying to trifle 
 with me?" 
 
 "Mayhap you've mistaken, now," said Jones, with the air 
 of one about to make some hazardous push, but looking 
 keenly about for some chance to secure his retreat. 
 
 "Then how am I to consider what you say?" asked the other, 
 seriously. 
 
 "Why — why," said Pete, hesitating, but finding himself at a 
 point where he must back out entirely, or proceed directly 
 with his object, he added, with a sort of desperate resolu- 
 tion — "yes, I will — so here goes for dead ruin — you may con- 
 sider it, Euth, as good and earnest an offer, as ever man stuck 
 an axe in a tree." 
 
 "Why, surely, Mr. Jones! — this is so sudden — so unex- 
 pected, that you cannot expect me now, as you have never be- 
 fore spoken to me on the subject — " 
 
 "N'o; but Tve looked at )^ou on the subject, Euth; and 
 that ain't all — I have thought on the subject, and that, too, 
 ever since I left off sogering, after we had used up that old 
 trooper, Burgoyne, last fall. But I didn't know how to get at 
 the bothering business. And now I have got at it, I want 
 to do it all up, while I've got the knack of it. Now, all I've 
 got to say for myself, by Vv^ay of recommendation, is jest only 
 this — I have a farm, and can love like a two-year-old. And, 
 if you can go it on that, let us agree on the spot, and go off 
 with the rest." 
 
 "Impossible, Mr. Jones — that is now — if — if — I had a little 
 time for reflection — perhaps — " 
 
 "Good! grand! glorious! I'll give you time, till the par- 
 son comes — a good half hour, I'll warrant you," exclaimed 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 3tl 
 
 the woodsman, leaping np, in his ecstasy, and, with a sud- 
 den bolt through the door, bounding oft' into the fields, and 
 giving vent to his delighted feelings in his old chorus, "Trol, 
 lol,lol, delarly!" 
 
 At that moment a horseman rode hastily into the yard, 
 leaped from his saddle, and, with a few light and joyous 
 bounds, landed on the threshold. 
 
 ^^My brother!" exclaimed Alma, rising and rushing to the 
 door. 
 
 "My son, God bless you!" said the Captain, hobbling for- 
 ward, with extended hand. "But how came you to be lagging 
 at such a juncture as this, you truant?" 
 
 "0, Edward!" cried Jessy, bursting from an adjoining room, 
 to which she had a few moments before retired. "0, Ed- 
 w^ard!" repeated the joyful but wayward girl, fl3ang to the 
 open arms of her betrothed, now dashing her hands about 
 her to clear her way among the advancing group, and now 
 shaking her slender finger aloft, in affected menace, as she 
 went, "now, if I don't punish you for this, sir! Back! back! 
 all of you, till I deal with the villain for his conduct." 
 
 "Eairly a prisoner, sir; you may as well surrender. Major," 
 gayly observed Warrington, to the laughing young officer, 
 now enclosed on every side by besieging friends. 
 
 "Aye, a^^e. Colonel," blithely replied the latter; "but I shall 
 be upon my parole in a moment, I think; when I will pay 
 my respects — I have a glad secret for your ear, Warrington." 
 
 "A secret! a secret to be kept from us, at this hour!" ex- 
 claimed both of the girls, at once, summoning a storm of af- 
 fected indignation to their pretty brows. 
 
 "x\h! you little tyrannizers!" said the Major, jocoseh^, "you 
 are wise to make the most of your power now; for your reign 
 is short. I saw the parson falling into the road behind me, 
 about a mile back." 
 
 The last intimation seemed to produce an instant effect on 
 the young officer's fair assailants. And releasing him at once, 
 they fled, in maidenly dismay, to their private apartment, to 
 compose and prepare themselves for the happy, though half- 
 dreaded crisis. 
 
 "Now, my son, tell us, in a word, what success you have 
 met with at Albany," said Captain Hendee, turning to his 
 son, as the girls disappeared. 
 
 "Very fair* the business is all definitely settled at last." 
 
iJ72 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 "Eight glad to hear that; but first, I am curious to know 
 with what kind of a face that black-hearted imp of mischief, 
 Jake Sherwood, met you, after all that has happened?" 
 
 "It was not till after many fruitless efforts^ and a long ne- 
 gotiation, carried on with him by a go-between of his own 
 kidne.y, that he could be induced to come from his lurking 
 places, to face me at all. And when he did, it was with the 
 same fawning and cringing, the same dissembling and false- 
 hood, that has marked his whole career." 
 
 *'And what kind of a treaty did you at length conclude 
 with the arch villain?" 
 
 "Better than he had any reason to expect from those who 
 had both the right and the power on their side: for, after 
 taking from the estate, that part which Jake had counted as 
 his own, by Uncle's will, when I was considered as disposed 
 of, and which, of course, became mine, on establishing my 
 identity as your son — after deducting also the legacies, which 
 old Sherwood's conscience wrung from him, in favor of you 
 and Alma, together with the sums which the indefatigable 
 Vanderpool had found evidence of having been embezzled by 
 the old man out of your property — even after counting your 
 legacies as so much restitution — after deducting all these, 
 there would have been a mere pittance in equity, and nothing, 
 probably, in law, left for the miscreant. And as he had been 
 apprised. of this by Vanderpool, whom he could neither in- 
 timidate nor corrupt, he chose to throw himself on my mercy, 
 rather than contend with us in law." 
 
 "Well, as skilfully as this web of iniquity was woven, it is 
 all unraveled, then, at last. But what did you finally allow 
 him?" 
 
 "A thousand pounds; for, while I despised, I could not but 
 pity the abject wretch. He signed acquittances, received his 
 portion, in money and drafts, and, the same day, as I acci- 
 dentally learned, started off to join his tory brethren at the 
 south." 
 
 The conversation was here interrupted by the arrival of 
 the parson, who had scarcely been ushered into the house, 
 before yet another guest was announced. This was the ama- 
 zon widow, who now rode into the yard, attended by Neshobee, 
 each having a brace of her hardy urchins, disposed of behind 
 and before, on the cruppers and necks of the Captain's thus 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 372 
 
 trebly burdened horses, which had been kindly sent for that 
 purpose early in the morning. 
 
 ^'IsTot at the eleventh honr after all/' said the woman, as with 
 stately tread she came sweeping into the room, and gave her 
 hand snccessively to each of the assembled guests, who rose, 
 and with looks of mingled cordiality and respect, advanced 
 to meet her. "Well, I ami gratified to find I am not too late 
 to witness the cerem^on^^, though another motive mainly 
 prompted my coming." 
 
 "Another motive?" said the Captain, "what might that be?" 
 
 "Gratitude," rejoined the widow, feelingly — "to offer, in 
 person, the thanks and blessing of the widow and fatherless 
 to these brave and generous young ofiicers, for their unde- 
 served gift of fifty pounds." 
 
 "ISTot underserved, especially from us, permit me to say, 
 Mrs. Story," replied Major Hendee. "And our only fear was, 
 that it would not even requite you for the losses you sustained 
 on our account on that fearful night, which none of us can 
 ever forget." 
 
 "Not requite me? 0, more — doubly so," replied the wom- 
 an, mastering her grateful emotions, and resuming her nat- 
 urally free and easy manner: "Why, gentlemen, if you would 
 but visit us there now, you would see a new house worth two 
 of the old one; flourishing crops, and a well provisioned and 
 happy family — and all from your bounty." 
 
 "Our pittance, if you please," observed the Colonel, "and 
 that too, under the management of one, who, I must say, of 
 all women — " 
 
 "Has the least patience with a flatterer, . Colonel," inter- 
 rupted the widow with good-natured bluntness, jumping up 
 and going to the window, as something seemed suddenly to 
 occur to her mind. "Now, I should like to know if you gen- 
 tlemen can tell me," she resumed, after gazing out on the lake 
 a moment, "I should like to know the meaning of the great 
 stir I noticed over at the fort, as I came down the road: one 
 would think they were preparing for a battle." 
 
 "We heard a firing in the direction of Ticonderoga an hour 
 or two ago, which we could not account for, but have noticed 
 nothing unusual over here, I believe," said Captain Hendee, 
 looking inquiringly at the two officers. 
 
 "Ah! your promised secret, Major?" cried Warrington, 
 
374 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 perceiving a knowing and mysterious smile upon the coun- 
 tenance of the other. 
 
 "You shall have it now — the rest of the company will know 
 it soon/^ replied the Major^ approaching his superior and 
 w^hispering in his ear. 
 
 "God bless you for the news!" exclaimed the Colonel^ with 
 a look of joyful surprise. "But where did you meet him?" 
 
 "At Bennington, where he arrived but three days ago amidst 
 the roar of guns and the shouts of a rejoicing people. I per- 
 suaded him to come on with me, as he did, to Skenesboro'; 
 when he took the water, while I came by land, having first 
 dispatched a runner to notify the garrisons at the two posts 
 of his approach." 
 
 "Heaven be praised!" rejoined Warrington, "and let the 
 Green Mountains rejoice!" 
 
 "They will, soon; for yonder he comes, by Jove!" exclaimed 
 the Major, eagerly pointing out ujoon the lake. 
 
 At that instant the house shook and trembled to the rever- 
 berating roar of a twenty-four pounder, belching forth a cloud 
 of fire and smoke from the gray v/alls of the opposite fortress. 
 
 The surprised and startled company instantly rushed into 
 the yard. A light sail boat had just made her appearance 
 on the lake from the south, and with bellying canvas, was now 
 scudding raj^idly before the freshening breeze, with her course 
 evidently let for the fort. As she neared, a tall, erect, mili- 
 tary figure apjoeared conspicuousl};' standing on the forecastle, 
 with folded arms, gazing steadily forward towards the works, 
 around wdiose ramparts w^ere seen the long rows of the ex- 
 pectant officers and soldiers of the garrison; while, at mo- 
 mentary intervals, came the welcoming peal of the deep- 
 mouthed gun. At length the sails of the vessel were furled, 
 and she swept around and lay to, directly abreast of the fort; 
 which, the next instant, was suddenly enveloped in a spring- 
 ing cloud of smoke, while the tall forest around nodded to 
 the united roar of a dozen cannon, among the broken echoes 
 of which, as they rolled from shore to shore and died away 
 among the far responding mountains, was heard the noisy 
 salute of drums, and the reiterated cheers of the soldiery, 
 once more making the welkin ring with the name of "Ethan 
 Allen!" 
 
 After a brief interval of silence, the same little craft was 
 seen, with hoisted sails, emerging from the lifting clouds of 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 375 
 
 smoke, and making lier way directly across the lake towards 
 the cottage. And in ten minutes more the hero of the Green 
 Mountains, unexpectedly returned from a long and painful 
 captivity, was received, and ushered into the house amidst 
 the warm and unfeigned congratulations of the rejoicing 
 party. 
 
 "Well, Colonel Allen," said Captain Hendee, scanning the 
 thin and worn person of the other, as they all became seated 
 in the room, "'they have rather worsted you in your captivity, 
 I perceive: you are now hardly the staunch and iron-hound 
 fellow you was three years ago, when eight or ten armed hire- 
 lings came here to seize you as a York outlaw, hut were fairly 
 cowed out of the attempt till they supposed you asleep, and a 
 little worse off than that, too, perhaps." 
 
 "Aha! my old friend, do you remember that foolish scrape?" 
 replied Allen. '''No, no. Captain, not the man I was then," 
 he added, glancing over the huge raw bones of his shrunken 
 frame with a melancholy smile; "no, the British could never 
 forgive me for taking old Ti.; so with characteristic magna- 
 nimity to a fallen foe, they took their revenge by battering, 
 hewing, hacking, and starving the old body, till there is scarce- 
 ly enough left of it to furnish a habitable tenement for the 
 soul, which remains as whole and sound as ever; for that, 
 thank God, they could neither kill nor bribe." 
 
 "Bribe! bribe! did they really try to do that?" exclaimed 
 the young officers, laughing at the thought of an attempt to 
 buy up Ethan Allen. 
 
 "To be sure, did the infernal fools!" said Allen, ^''and that 
 more than once; though the last, and perhaps the best offer 
 I ever had to induce me to damn myself, that is, to become one 
 of them, was made me by a high dignitary of the crown, 
 who, in behalf of his prince, as he said, offered me nearly half 
 the lands in Vermont, if I would enter his service against my 
 countrymen! — the Christless knave! It was well for him that 
 I was handcuffed, at the time." 
 
 "And what answer did you give him?" asked Warrington, 
 curiously. 
 
 "Answer?" replied Allen, smoothing his dark brows, which 
 had become fierce and stormy at the remembered insult, "what 
 answer? why, I told the royal ape to go and tell his master, 
 that he- reminded me, in his offer to give me lands in America, 
 of a certain other prince, mentioned in Scripture, who took 
 
376 THE GHS3N MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 the Savior up into a high mountain, and showing him all the 
 kingdoms of the world, offered to give him the whole of th^m, 
 if he would fall down and worship him, — when the fact was, 
 the poor devil had not a single foot of land on earth to give!" 
 
 The subject vv'as here dropped by common consent; when, 
 after a brief pause. Major Hendee turned a significant look 
 upon his father, who seemed readil}^ to understand what was 
 now expected of him, and he accordingly observed: — 
 
 "I suppose you have been apprised. Colonel Allen, of the 
 happy occasion, upon which, after all our troubles, we have 
 been permitted to assemble?" 
 
 "I have sir," gallantly answered the other, "and I felt that 
 my peculiar notions, relative to the certainty of the earthly 
 rewards of bravery and virtue, were strikingly confirmed, when 
 I learned that my tvro friends here were about to draw such 
 rich prizes in the lottery of life." 
 
 "Ah! Colonel Allen," exclaimed Jessy archly, "you, too, 
 caught playing the flatterer? I had thought well enough of 
 you to believe you an exception to the generality of men, in 
 that respect. But Fll expose you, my brave Colonel! — "What 
 did you say and predict at the time you captured Ticonderoga, 
 respecting the intimacy which you were then accidentally 
 led to suspect existed between your then Lieutenant Selden 
 and Colonel Reed's daughter?" 
 
 "Why the deuce is to pay!" cried Allen, taken rather aback 
 by his fair antagonist — "there has been treason here, some- 
 where. I recollect something about my misgivings in the 
 matter. But I am not a going to be tricked out of my com- 
 pliment, at all events; for if the daughter of a British Colonel 
 has the independence to marry a Yankee rebel, she must be, 
 to him, at least, a prize richly worth the winning." 
 
 "She is not married yet," observed Captain Hendee, with 
 well assumed seriousness: "for before that is suffered to take 
 place, I, who stand as a sort of sponsor for the girl, must be 
 heard in the business: and to this end, I beg leave to read a 
 little from my letter of instructions from her father; whicli 
 I have never before made known," he added, producing a let- 
 ter, from which he proceeded to read to his surprised and 
 wondering auditors the following extract: 
 
 "Wi' regard to that wayward bairn o^ mine, an' that Mr. 
 Xabody, her rebel lover, as I became satisfied he was, it is 
 out o' the question I should be consentin' to a match of sic' 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 377 
 
 a sort. ISTa, she must be cured, an' in some sic wav as I named 
 to you. An^ that being done^ then her old lover, Major Skene, 
 will come in for an eas}^ conquest. But in your moves to this 
 object, let me again caution you to beware how you forbid 
 this intimacy; for ever since mother Eve's dido wi' the ap- 
 ple, the moment you forbid, the Diel taks the woman." 
 
 ''Father, how is this, and at this late hour?" exclaimed 
 the astonished son, glancing from the former to the no less 
 surprised girl at his side, who also began to open her lips in 
 remonstrance, when, detecting a lurking smile on the old gen- 
 tleman's countenance, she stopped short. 
 
 ^'Perhaps we may as well read a passage from another let- 
 ter of a more recent date," said the Captain, opening another 
 paper, from which, after slyly enjoying the perplexity of the 
 party interested, a moment, he read, — 
 
 ''So you sly old Yankee, you an' Jessy have contrived to 
 checkmate me at last! This comes o' leaving a daughter in a 
 land o' rebellion: nathless I canna but sa}^, I regret that cir- 
 cumstances will not permit me to be present to take my stoup 
 on the merry occasion, which you say, wi' my consent, is to tak 
 place early the coming summer: weel, you may tell the youn- 
 ker, wi'out hinting my good opinion o' him as aboon written, 
 that, upon the whole, I will own him as a son-in-law, provided 
 he will tak the crap o' wild oats which the chick, frae sa 
 plentifu' a sowing, must now hae ready for the reaping, as a 
 portion o' the vrife's dowry." 
 
 ^'Gad! I begin to like the humorous old fellow," said Allen, 
 ^^and that stoup which ht regrets he can not take with us, I 
 will drink to his health as an extra bumper after the cere- 
 mony. Though before that takes place, I would ask if there 
 are no more cases which might be settled at this time?" 
 
 '^^e know of none," replied the Captain and his son, to 
 whom the last part of the speaker's remarks had been ad- 
 dressed in an undertone. 
 
 "I don't know about that," rejoined the former, "I have 
 been looking about me a little, and it strikes me that there 
 are materials enough, at least. If you will make me master 
 of the ceremonies, with powers to draw out the parties?" — 
 
 ^'Certainly, certainly. Colonel," replied the others, laugh- 
 ing, but shaking their heads dubiously at the well understood 
 suggestion. 
 
 ^^No faith, eh? Well, there is nothing like tr}dng," re- 
 
378 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 joined Allen. "Jones/^ he continued^ now turning round to 
 the scont, who had resnmed his seat by the side of Ruth, 
 "Jones, you have been a brave fellow — how is it that you are 
 not to be rewarded, at this time, as well as the rest?^^ 
 
 "Well, Tyb jest been thinking, Colonel,'^ replied Jones, 
 screwing up his phiz, now queerly streaked with blushes, 
 "that it was rather a hard case, considering, that I shouldn't 
 have any share in the loaves and fishes. But the fact is, 
 that the fish Fve had in my eye," he added, casting a sheepish 
 glance at Euth, "won't quite say whether I'm to be in luck 
 to-day, or not." 
 
 "Aha! just as I thought. But she shall say," cried Allen, 
 advancing a step towards the confused and blushing maiden, 
 on whom all eyes were now turned in surprise, at this develop- 
 ment of a courtship so little expected; ''she shall g-ive you an 
 answer, at least, or, b}^ the wrath of Cupid! she shall be pun- 
 ished for her cruelty by running a kissing gauntlet through 
 the company. And I'll have the first one," he added, still fur- 
 ther advancing, as if to suit the action to the word. 
 
 "It is so ridiculous!" stammered the shrinking Euth. 
 
 "Perhaps you had rather say yes to my worthy friend, here?" 
 said the former, his lip slightly curling with a sportive smile. 
 
 "I should — that is, I — I should," replied the girl, dropping 
 her head in confusion. 
 
 "Do you see that?" exultingly said Allen — "I have succeed- 
 ed in spite of your faithlessness: nor do I believe my triumphs 
 need end even here." 
 
 "Ah! I will knock under. Colonel," observed the Captain, 
 laughing. 
 
 "Ay, ay," responded the Major, gayly, "we must now 
 acknowledge your prowess in the court of Cupid, as well as in 
 the camp of Mars. But be not over ambitious, lest your zeal 
 be dampened by a failure. Where will you find materials 
 for another triumj^h?" 
 
 "Here," answered the other, pointing to I^eshobee and Zil- 
 pah, who, for reasons best understood by themselves, had 
 also paired off in a corner together. "I have been reading 
 eyes, which are about the only book I ever read where we are 
 sure of the truth; and if those who control these persons 
 should have no objections — " 
 
 "Never mind that. Colonel, if you have faith for the trial," 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 379 
 
 exclaimed the old Captain^ entering into the full spirit of 
 the game. 
 
 "IJpon my word, Colonel Allen, I think you a most incor- 
 rigible meddler; but you may proceed, for aught I care," said 
 Miss Eeed, pouting most beautifully. 
 
 "Ah, don^t laugh, ye wise ones, till you see,'' said the jovial 
 matchmaker, confidently. "Well, Miss Zilpah,'' he contin- 
 ued, familiarly addressing the half-blood, "you see which 
 way your young mistress is about to travel — now, as you in- 
 tend to f ollov/ her fortunes, don't you think it would be. more 
 pleasant and suitable for you, to have some such brave and 
 trusty companion on the road as Neshobee here would make 
 you?" 
 
 "Ki!" exclaimed the girl, with a blush which brought her 
 cheek to a fellow redness with that of the young Indian by 
 her side. "He! you queer man! But Neshobee, he no hab 
 me. 
 
 "Good!" cried the former, "there is a challenge for you, 
 my red friend. She says you won't marry her!" 
 
 "Umph!" uttered the still grave, though evidently delight- 
 ed native, "me never know Zilpah tell lie before." 
 
 "There! you unbelievers," exclaimed Allen, looking round 
 triumphantly upon the company, "see what a man can do. 
 N"ow parson, do your duty." 
 
 Header, our story is told, and, with a word upon the subse- 
 quent career of those in whose destinies we trust we have been 
 able in some degree to interest you, we will bid you adieu. 
 
 Of that singular, bold, rough, versatile, yet honest and 
 strong-minded man, Ethan Allen, little more need be said. 
 The remainder of his public life was devoted to the accom- 
 plishment of that object, for which he had so fearlessly con- 
 tended before the Revolution, the independence of his state. 
 And her history sufficiently attests to the importance of his 
 services. 
 
 The gallant young officers, after their twice extended fur- 
 loughs had expired, leaving their lovely and loving wives at 
 the cottage of Captain Hendee, to cheer and soothe the old 
 veteran in his declining years, and, in due time, to render 
 his second childhood anything but companionless, returned 
 to their posts in the army in which, honored and distin- 
 guished^ they remained^ till they had witnessed the achieve- 
 
380 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS. 
 
 ment of their country's independence; when they retired 
 to their homes in the Green Mountains^ to receive from their 
 fellow-citizens those substantial memorials of their esteem 
 which may still be found recorded among some of the early 
 acts of the Legislature of Vermont^ granting valuable tracts 
 of land to certain individuals for important public services. 
 
 Pete Jones and his staid spouse immediately repaired to 
 their little opening in the woods, where, having renewed his 
 acquaintance with his rusty axe, he caused the forest to melt 
 away before his powerful arm, till his labors were rewarded 
 by one of the best farms on the borders of the lake; while 
 his wife became one of the most notable of housewives, hav- 
 ing never had cause to regret her abrupt connection with the 
 eccentric, though amiable woodsman, as may be inferred 
 from the opinions she was often heard to express in favor of 
 long men and short courtships. 
 
 Widow Story remained on her farm, cultivating and en- 
 larging it with her own hands for many years; when, her old- 
 est son, having at length been enabled to butt his mother, to 
 use a chopper^s phrase, that is, to get off his cut first, in a 
 trial of skill on the same log, she concluded to betake herself 
 to household duties, giving up her farm work to her sturdy 
 little band of foresters, who, in the process of time, let in 
 the sun on extensive tracts of some of the finest lands on 
 Otter Creek. 
 
 INTeshobee and his yellow rib continued to reside on the 
 farm of Captain Hendee, in a log hut built expressly for them, 
 till the old gentleman's death; when they removed to the 
 woody shores of the Horicon, where they spent their days in 
 a ceaseless warfare upon the beautiful trout of the lake, and 
 the deer, bear, and other wild animals of its surrounding 
 shores. 
 
 And, lastly, the miscreant Sherwood, who, through the in- 
 scrutable ways of Providence, was permitted j;o live. Cain- 
 like, to old age, found his way, at the close ,of^he" Revolu- 
 tion, to the common refuge of American tories in Canada, 
 where he finished his days in poverty and disgrace, always 
 obtaining credit by flattery and falsehood, always abusing it 
 by fraud and treachery, and living, indeed, abhorred by men, 
 and seemingly accursed of God. 
 
 THE END. 
 
University of 
 Connecticut 
 
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