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diff --git a/old/55772-0.txt b/old/55772-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 90ff1d9..0000000 --- a/old/55772-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4684 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Peddler Spy, by W. J. Hamilton - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Peddler Spy - or, Dutchmen and Yankees - -Author: W. J. Hamilton - -Release Date: October 18, 2017 [EBook #55772] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PEDDLER SPY *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - - BEADLE’S - DIME NOVELS - - Semi-Monthly. Novel Series. - - No. 107. - - THE PEDDLER SPY. - - BEADLE & CO., 118 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. - A. Winch, 505 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. - - - - - A CHARMING ROMANCE OF THE SEA! - - Beadle’s Dime Novels, No. 108, - TO ISSUE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, - IS - THE LOST SHIP; - OR - A Cruise After a Shadow. - - BY ROGER STARBUCK, - AUTHOR OF “OVERBOARD,” “CAST AWAY,” “MAD SKIPPER,” ETC. - - Few writers of sea stories throw around the personages of his - narratives so much that is novel in character as this pleasing - author. His plot and incidents, too, are widely out of the - “beaten path”—he always gives us something _new_. In this - admirable production we have such a commingling of the elements - of parental affection and devotion, of singular and deeply - stirring adventure, of the tenderness of the loves of two good - lives as renders the work one of its author’s most readable sea - creations. - - 🖙 For sale by all Newsdealers; or sent, _post-paid_, to any - address, on receipt of price—TEN CENTS. Address, - - BEADLE AND COMPANY, General Dime Book Publishers, 118 William - Street, New York. - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by BEADLE - AND COMPANY, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the - United States for the Southern District of New York. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE PEDDLER SPY; - OR, - DUTCHMEN AND YANKEES. - - A TALE OF THE CAPTURE OF GOOD HOPE. - - BY W. J. HAMILTON, - AUTHOR OF “BIG FOOT, THE GUIDE,” “EAGLE EYE,” ETC. - - NEW YORK: - BEADLE AND COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, - 118 WILLIAM STREET. - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by - BEADLE AND COMPANY, - In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States - for the Southern District of New York. - - (No. 107.) - - - - -THE PEDDLER SPY. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -BOSTON “DICKERS” WITH THE DUTCHMEN. - - -Down the Connecticut, not many miles from the city of Hartford, in the -early days of the State of Wooden Nutmegs, stood an ancient fort, known -by the name of “The House of Good Hope.” By reference to that veracious -chronicle known as “Knickerbocker’s History of New York,” you will find -that it was built by the good people of New Netherlands, to prevent -further encroachment on the part of a race which has since taken the -generic name of Yankee. Although the history mentioned may be correct, -it might be open to censure on the ground that the writer was biased in -favor of his own people. Be that as it may, the people of Good Hope had -planted themselves upon the river, determined to keep back, as far as -possible, the domineering race which had intruded upon the happy valley. - -Although honest Diedrich may have been somewhat angry at our ancestors, -the Puritans, still we are forced to say that they were not very far -wrong in their estimate of character. The stolid Dutchmen were poorly -suited to contend with them in an encounter in which wit was the weapon -used. Placed face to face, each with a stout oak cudgel in his hand, -perhaps no Dutchman would have feared to meet one of the hated race. -But when it came to the commodity in which they did not deal, namely, -cunning, the Puritans had the advantage. - -The New Netherlanders claimed all the land extending from the banks of -the Hudson to the Connecticut; and certainly, if any white man could -claim the soil at all, their claim was prior to that of the English. But, -with the wholesome proviso that “might makes right,” the Puritans pushed -their settlements to the side of the Happy River, under the very nose of -the Dutch commandant at Good Hope. - -What that worthy thought, when the first members of the hardy band, who -pushed their way through the trackless wilderness to this spot, made -their appearance, is not fully set down. We only know, by the history -before mentioned, that they became obnoxious to the Dutch from their -desire to teach the damsels the absurd custom of “bundling,” in which -no true Dutchman would indulge. Besides, they had begun, even at this -early period, to show that sharpness in making bargains which since has -distinguished them above other nations in the world. Certain of them made -a practice of “swapping horses” with the men of Good Hope; and, although -the beasts they brought for “dicker” were, to all appearance, good ones, -yet no sooner was the bargain completed than the horses begun to show -traits which had not been “set down in the bill.” Indeed, it begun to be -proverbial that horse-trading with the Windsor people meant a transaction -in which a Dutchman gave a very good beast and some _gelt_ for a very -poor one and no _gelt_ at all. Moreover, the English were addicted to -the practice of overreaching the spouses of absent Hans and Yawcop with -transactions for small articles, such as constitute a peddler’s pack in -our day. Some will go so far as to say that, under the mask of perfect -disinterestedness of purpose, these Yankees would almost break up -housekeeping on the part of a couple possessed of considerable means, in -a single visit—so much were they ahead of the tramps of the present day. -Indeed, it is averred that the main cause of hostility on the part of -the Dutchmen against the English was the fact of the influence of these -profane wanderers over the partners of their phlegmatic joys and stolid -sorrows. - -But, be that as it may, the inhabitants of Hartford were not in very good -order with those of Good Hope. On whose side the blame lay, we will leave -to historians to decide—if they can—while we proceed with our narrative. - -Good Hope was an awkward structure of mud and logs, such as the Dutch -built in that day; strong enough, however, for the purpose for which it -was built, if it had been in different hands. It faced upon the river, -was armed with some of the clumsy ordnance common to the period, and -was garrisoned by about forty men from the settlement at New York, who -were somewhat overfed, and inclined to smoke all the time they were not -eating or drinking. Their leader, Van Curter, was one of those fiery, -self-willed men sometimes found in his nation, who mistake pig-headed -obstinacy for firmness of heart. An old soldier, trained under the -unhappy Prince of Orange, he thought no people like his own, and no -soldier like himself. He had seen, with ill-disguised jealousy, that a -people were growing up about him who were ahead of his own in acuteness, -and who were daily outstripping them in matters of business. He had -written a dispatch to Wouter Von Twiller, Governor of New Netherlands, -acquainting him with the inroad of these Windsor people, and of the -absolute incapacity of his men to compete with them. The governor -thereupon issued a proclamation, commanding the English to withdraw from -land which was the property of the Dutch East India Company. - -The Yankees’ answer was very much to the same effect as that of the -worthy Master Nicholas, when he defied the trumpeter of William Kieft, -applying his thumb to the tip of his nose, and spreading out the fingers -like a fan. At least, they paid no attention to the proclamation, but -continued to take up land, and increase the limits of their colony. -The only reply they did vouchsafe to the demand of the governor was -that they claimed the land in the right of possession, and would not -give it up. The New Netherlanders had no desire to make a quarrel with -their neighbors, who were, for the most part, strong men, who would not -hesitate to use manual _persuasion_ in case it became necessary. Hence -the Dutchmen resorted to all manner of threats, entreaties—any thing but -violence. - -There was one person, in particular, who was a source of constant -annoyance to the people of Good Hope. This was a hawker of small -trinkets, known in the settlements as Boston Bainbridge. A sharp, -business-like fellow, not a bad prototype of the Down-Easter of our day, -he made his way into every house from Boston to the City of Brotherly -Love. His pack was welcomed in the houses of his own countrymen, who, -being as sharp in buying as he was in selling, seldom allowed him to -get the better of them. But the Dutchmen were not so cunning, and were -overreached in many a bargain. Boston did not confine himself entirely to -dealing in small wares, but sold many articles of greater value; bought -and sold horses, or, as he expressed himself, was a “mighty man on a -dicker.” - -Boston came into Good Hope on a bright morning in the early part of -the month of June. His pack had been replenished in Hartford, and he -hoped to diminish its contents among the Dutch. He was a middle-sized, -active-looking man, about forty years of age, clad in a suit of gray -homespun. His pack was, as usual strapped upon his back, while he led a -forlorn-looking Narragansett pony, which paced slowly along behind its -master, like a captive led to the stake. Boston had some misgivings that -certain things sold to these people must have come to grief since his -last visit. But this was not by any means the first time he had been -tackled by them for selling bad wares, and he never was at a loss for an -answer. - -The families of the Dutch had built up a little village about the fort, -and he entered boldly. The first man he met was an unmistakable Teuton, -with a broad, bulky figure, built after the manner of Wouter Von Twiller, -then Governor of New Netherlands. This individual at once rushed upon the -Yankee, exhibiting the blade of a knife, severed from the handle. - -“Ah-ha, Yankee! You see dat, eh? You sell dat knife to me; you sheat me -mit dat knife.” - -“You git eout,” replied the Yankee. “I never sold you _that_ knife!” - -“Yaw! Dat ish von lie; dat ish von _pig_ lie! You vas sell dat knife mit -me.” - -Boston lowered the pack from his shoulder and took the despised blade in -his hand. - -“Now then, Dutchy, what’s the matter with this knife, I should like to -know?” - -“Donner unt blitzen! Das ish von big sheat knife. Goot for nix. Das knife -not coot preat, py Shoseph!” - -“How did you break it?” asked the peddler, fitting the pieces of the -knife together and taking a wire from his pocket. “This is a good knife, -I reckon. You broke the rivet. Now look at me, and see how far we are in -advance of you in the arts and sciences. I tell you, Hans Drinker, you -don’t know any thing about these matters—blamed if you do.” - -As he spoke, he took out a pair of pincers, riveted the blade in, pounded -it, and held up the knife for inspection. - -“Look at that, neow, Hans Drinker. Any one but a Dutchman would have done -that long ago, instead of waiting for a poor fellow who sold you the -knife at a _sacrifice_.” - -“Vat ish dat, eh? I no care for dat? I says de knife vill not cut preat,” -cried Hans. - -“See here—where have you had this knife? You put it in hot water, I know. -Tell the truth and shame the adversary—didn’t you, now?” - -“Vell, I did; but dat no hurt.” - -“All you know. Of _course_ it hurts! What do you expect a knife to be -that you can buy for a shilling, English money? It took the temper out of -it, I allow.” - -“Vat ish demper?” - -“Never you mind. That knife is spoiled, and I know how. I wouldn’t give -an English penny for it to-day. For why? A Dutchman don’t know how to use -a knife. Consequence—he spoils it.” - -Hans paused in some doubt, seeing the blame of the failure of the knife -laid so fully upon his guiltless shoulders. Boston gave him no time to -think, but threw open his pack. - -“Now, I’ll tell you what I mean to do. You don’t deserve it; but I will -do a violence to my conscience, and do something for you. Keep your -fingers to yourself and feast your eyes upon that.” Here he produced a -knife somewhat better than the one which Hans had returned. “Now, I’ll -tell you what I will do. ’Tisn’t right, I know it; ’tisn’t behaving -properly to those who bought the last lot I had, but you may have _that_ -knife for four shillings sterling. You stare. I don’t wonder, for that -knife ought to bring fully _ten_ shillings. It’s worth it, if it’s worth -a farthing; but what can I do? I must put my goods down to you fellows or -you won’t look at them. I am making myself a poor man for your sakes.” - -“Vour shilling. Dat ish too mooch, by Shoseph!” - -“Too much! I tell you I am _giving_ the knife away—absolutely _giving_ -it away. That knife you bought before was a _cheap_ knife, I allow that; -but it was _sold_ cheap; but I lose on this knife if I sell it at six -shillings, and here I offer it to you at four. Many a time I am tempted -to shut up my pack and tramp through the woods no more; but when I think -that it will be impossible for you to get along without me, I repent, -and sacrifice my own interests for your good. I can’t help it, if I am -soft-hearted, it’s one of my little failings. I sell below cost because I -hate to be hard upon poor men.” - -Hans took the knife in his hands and begun to open and shut the bright -blade. He had been beaten again and again by this same peddler, and did -not care to be taken in once more. The polished blade shone like glass in -the sunlight. - -“Dat ish goot knife, eh?” - -“Good! You’d better believe it’s good. Why, I know a man down to Hartford -has got one of them there knives, and what do you reckon he does with it? -You can’t tell, scarcely. No, ’tain’t probable you can. Then _I’ll_ tell -you. He uses it for an _ax_, and he can cut down a good-sized maple with -it about as soon as you cut a cat-tail down with one of your clumsy axes. -I don’t say that _this_ is as good a knife as _that_. Probably ’tain’t; -but it came out of the same mold.” - -“Big price, dat. Sure dis is goot knife, eh? You sell me bad knife two, -t’ree, vour dimes. Dat ish pad—dat is worser as pad. Vour shillings?” - -“Four. But see here. I ain’t given you inducement to buy, it seems. Rot -me ef I don’t think you are about the toughest tree I ever tried to -climb. Now look at me, and see a man always ready to sacrifice himself -for the good of the people. Here are a pair of combs. They are worth -money—they are _good_ combs. I throw them into the pile, and what else? -Here is a good pair of shoe-buckles. I throw them in, and beg you to -take the pile away for six shillings. You won’t? I thought so. You ain’t -capable of it, more’s the pity. I’ll again hurt my own feelings by saying -five-and-six. If you don’t take them at that I must shut up my pack. -Hans Drinker, you were born to good luck. I don’t think, upon my word -and honor, that any one ever had such a chance since the days of Noah. I -don’t, sart’inly.” - -“You talk so fast dat I has nottings to zay mitout speaking. Vell, I -takes dem. Py Shoseph, if tey ish not goot, I kills you mit a mistake, -shure!” - -“I’ve half a mind to take it back. I think—” - -“Nix, splitzen, nean; I puys dem goots. Dey ish mine. Vive-unt-sax; dere -it ish.” - -“Well, take them,” said Boston, with a sigh of resignation. “I lose by -you, but I gave you my word, and you may have them.” - -Having thus effected a sale of the articles, which were dear at eighteen -pence, Boston lifted his pack and proceeded blithely on his way, while -Hans Drinker hurried away to display his treasures, and chuckle over his -bargain. Boston was not fated to proceed far, when he was arrested by a -yell from a house by the roadside. - -“Holt on, dere! you sleutzen Yankee, holt on!” - -“He-he,” chuckled Boston, “That’s old Swedlepipe. Now _he_ will give me -rats about that horse.” - -As he spoke, the person who had stopped him threw open the door of his -cottage, and rushed out into the road. He was a stout-built old man, very -red in the face, and flourishing a staff over his head. - -“Dear me,” cried Boston. “Is it possible that I see my dear friend -Mynheer Swedlepipe? Give me your hand, mynheer. This is, indeed, a sight -for sore eyes.” - -“It vill be a sight for sore heads, pefore you go, or else my name is not -Paul Swedlepipe. Vat you do, you Yankee rascal? You comes to Good Hope -mid your flimpsy goots, unt sell dem to honest Dootchmen. I vill preak -every pone in your skin.” - -“Now, Mynheer Swedlepipe, my dear mynheer, what _have_ I done? Just tell -me what I have done? Shake hands.” - -“You dry to shake hands mit me unt I preak your head. Vat you done to -your tear Mynheer Swedlepipe, eh? Vell, den, I dells you. You prings to -dish place von old hoss dat ish not vorth _von_ guilder. Hein, you curry -him unt you comb him, unt you make him look ver’ nice. I dinks it ish von -ver’ goot horse, unt I pays you von hunder guilders! _Sturm unt wetter!_ -Ish dat nottings, eh? _Hagel!_ I kills you deat ash von schmoke-herring.” - -The stick flourished about in dangerous proximity to Boston’s ears, who -sat upon his pack with an immovable countenance, watching every motion on -the part of the other with his sharp eyes. There was something in his -face which deterred the Dutchman from striking. - -“What’s the matter with the horse, mynheer, I should like to know?” - -“Matter! Dere ish not von disease vich a horse can have dat he hash not.” - -“Let me know one.” - -“He hash de _heaves_.” - -“Yes.” - -“And de _ring-bone_.” - -“Yes.” - -“And he ish bone-spavined.” - -“Yes.” - -“And he sprained-shoulder.” - -“Yes.” - -“Donner! Ton’t sit dere unt say yes, yes, yes! S’all I dell you one more -t’ing? Vell, here it ish. He has nix toot’ in his head!” - -“No?” cried Boston, in surprise. “He had when I brought him here. How did -he lose them?” - -“Dey shoost dropped out in his manger te first times I feed him. Ton’t -lie to me. You put his teet’ in to sell him. You tied dem in mit strings, -you pig, _pig_ rogue!” - -“Gracious, mynheer! Is it possible that you consider me capable of such -business?” - -“Yaw!” - -“Oh, you do? Now you are wrong. I bought that horse of a friend in -Hartford. He is not the man I took him for, nor the horse is not what you -took him for. Well, who is to blame? I take it, that it is the man who -sold me the horse first. I didn’t think he’d a-done it, mynheer; I didn’t -think he’d a-done it.” - -Mynheer looked at him in a species of indignant admiration. He had -thought that the peddler would not certainly have the surpassing -effrontery to deny the fact of his knowledge of the various diseases by -which the poor animal was afflicted. - -“You means to dell me, den, dat you don’t know dat dis horse ish _plind_?” - -“Is he?” - -“Yaw; he ish plind ash a pat. He ish teaf. You not knows dat, either?” - -“That explains it! Now, I fired off a gun close to his ear, one day, and -he didn’t even jump. That was because he was deaf. Well _now_!” - -“Dere ish one t’ing more. You didn’t know dat de nice tail he carried -pelonged to some nodder horse?” - -“You don’t say! Not his own tail? If I ain’t beat! Well, mynheer, the -rascal has beat us both this time. He has got the money, and we can’t -help ourselves. I didn’t tell you that I gave a hundred and ten guilders -for the beast, did I? No? Well, you see by that I lost on the trade with -you. I always lose, most years.” - -Swedlepipe shook his head, and dropped his stick dejectedly. He would -have understood the pleasant little fiction on the part of Boston if -he had known that a farmer near Hartford had lost a horse by drowning. -Boston had taken possession of his tail and teeth, and by the aid of the -two had so contrived to patch up an ancient steed which he picked up in -the woods, where it had been turned out to die, as to sell him to poor -Swedlepipe at an exorbitant rate. - -Old Swedlepipe scratched his head. He had sworn by the name of his patron -saint, worthy Nicholas, that he would give Boston Bainbridge a taste of -wholesome Dutch cudgel, if he ever dared to set foot in Good Hope again. -And yet here he was, and had purged himself of all stain, by saddling the -guilt upon some unfortunate third person. - -“I’ll tell you, squire,” said he, “I’m sorry for this. If I had only -_known_ that the horse was a bad one, I would have brought you another -from Windsor. Oh, you better believe they have horses _there_.” - -“Yaw, dey must have dem _dere_, for dey never prings dem _here_.” - -“Ha,” said the other. “There are some sharp people down to Windsor. -There’s Holmes, now. You know Holmes? He is the man who wouldn’t stop -when you threatened to blow his sloop out of water. Of course they don’t -send away their best horses often. Sometimes they do. You see this pony? -If I had known that you would want a horse you might have had him. You -know Ten Eyck?” - -“Yaw. Pig rascal he is!” - -“Yes. Just so. Wal, that hoss is for him.” - -“For Ten Eyck?” - -“Yes.” - -“’Tain’t a very pig hoss.” - -“No, ’tain’t. But it’s the best hoss of its kind in the country. He ain’t -very fast, to be sure. But, for all that, if he ran a race against a -red deer, I should know which to put my money on. That’s the same hoss, -mynheer, that went from Providence to Salem in jist tew days. You don’t -believe it? Wal, I don’t ask it of you. Don’t take _my_ word for it. I -don’t say that the hoss has got a good eye. ’Twouldn’t do me any good; -you wouldn’t believe me. Look for yourself.” - -“Did Ten Eyck send for dat hoss?” - -“Oh, never mind,” replied Boston, in high dudgeon. “’Tain’t no use for -you to ask. You can’t have this hoss.” - -“Not if I gif’s you money?” - -“Hey?” - -“Not if I gif’s you more money as Ten Eyck?” - -“You wouldn’t.” - -“How much he gif’s?” - -“Fifty guilders.” - -“Hein!” - -“Fifty guilders.” - -“Der tuyvel!” - -“But what’s the use talking? I must go on and leave the hoss. Want any -thing in my line, mynheer?” - -“Holt on. Ten Eyck shan’t hav’ dat hoss. I gif’s you sixty guilders for -him.” - -“Do you think I’d break my word for ten guilders?” cried Boston, taking -up his pack. - -“Seventy.” - -“Say eighty.” - -“No; seventy.” - -“Seventy-five. Come, git up, Lightfoot!” - -“Vell, I gif’s it. I gets de money.” - -“All right. I’ll stay here. By the way, where is that other hoss?” - -“Turned him out to commons.” - -“I’ll give you five guilders for him.” - -“Dake him. He not wort two kreutzers.” - -“Not to _you_,” replied the Yankee; “but to me he may be of use. Git the -money.” - -Swedlepipe plunged into the cabin, and reappeared a moment after, and -counted the money into Boston’s hand. - -“Any thing else I can do for you, mynheer?” - -“Yaw.” - -“What is it?” - -“Vell, I dells you. Shoost you sheat Ten Eyck so bad ash you sheat me, -unt I gif’s you _den_ guilders!” - -“Is that a bargain, squire?” - -“Yaw! He vound out dat you selt me dat hoss, unt he laughs von whole day. -Now, you sheat him. Vill you do it?” - -“Yes. I’ll cheat him for the ten guilders, for your sake. You know I -don’t often do it; but, to please a good friend, I will do a violence to -my conscience, particularly in a case like this.” - -“Ven will you do it?” - -“Oh, I don’t know; pretty soon. When I have done it, you shall hear from -me. I shall want that old hoss, howsumdever.” - -“Send for him ven you wants him. How you sheat Ten Eyck, eh?” - -“I don’t know now. I’ll tell you when I do it.” - -He took up his pack and trudged courageously down the little street -toward the fort. The stolid sentry made some demur against his entrance; -but he got through at last. Swedlepipe gazed after him, with open mouth, -until his form was concealed from view. Then, slowly replacing the pipe -between his teeth, he ejaculated: “Dat ish ter tuyvel’s poy, I dinks.” - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -BOSTON ON THE WITNESS-STAND. - - -Boston Bainbridge knew that he entered the fort at considerable peril to -himself; but he had learned, in his wandering life, to look danger in -the face. His trickery in trade was as natural to him as the rising of -smoke. But, underlying his whimsical manner, there was a vein of pure -bravery, and an inherent love for deeds of daring. The jealousies between -the Yankees and Dutch had strengthened by degrees, until the two parties -begun to concert plans to oust each other from the stronghold they had -taken. The Windsor party was headed by Captain William Holmes, a man -of great individual courage, who had refused to retrace his steps when -he first ascended the river, and ran by under fire of the Dutch guns. -Knowing that the Dutch were concerting some plan for his overthrow, he -determined to send Boston Bainbridge to Good Hope with his pack, to see -what he could pick up in the way of information. - -The appearance of Boston was no sooner made known to Van Curter, the -commandant, than he sent out his orderly to bring the hawker into his -presence. The former was a tall, hook-nosed man, with the erect bearing -of a soldier. Boston did not like the expression of his eye. It was full -of fire, dark and penetrating. - -“Your name is Boston Bainbridge,” said he. “If I remember aright, you -were here some four months ago?” - -“You are right, squire. I _was_ here then, and I calculate I did a heap -of dicker.” - -“Oh, you did? Allow me to remind you of the fact that you were told not -to come here any more. You did not pay much attention to that.” - -“Now, see here, squire, I’ll tell you all about it. I’m a trader, and it -stands to reason that when a feller gets a good place to sell, he don’t -like to leave it. I didn’t think you more than half-meant it. Let me show -you some goods I’ve got—” - -“Silence!” thundered Van Curter. - -“Eh?” - -“Silence, I say. Listen to me. Who sent you here?” - -“Who sent me here? Now, squire, I calculate that ain’t a fair question. -Who should send me here? I came here to sell goods. Let me show—” - -“Hans!” cried Van Curter. - -The orderly entered. - -“Draw your sword,” continued Van Curter, “and if this fellow attempts -again to speak of his beggarly pack, run him through the body.” - -The eyes of the hawker begun to flash, and he folded his arms upon his -breast. - -“Your questions?” he cried. “Let me hear them.” - -“First, then, who sent you here?” - -“I have told you already.” - -“What did you come to do?” - -“You will make nothing out of me while a man stands over me with a -drawn sword. I am only a poor man—one of the poorest in his majesty’s -colony—but the threats of no _Dutchman_ under heaven can scare _me_.” - -“What would you have me do?” - -“Send away this fellow with the sword, and let me talk in my own way. We -shall get along quite as well. And don’t try to bully. I ain’t used to -it. There are those who will see me righted if I am ill-treated—_that_ -you must know.” - -“Do you threaten?” - -“Will you send this fellow away?” - -“Retire, Hans, and stand at the door. Enter when I call.” - -The orderly obeyed. - -“Now speak,” said Van Curter. - -“You see, squire, I had been to Boston, and I calculated it was about -time you were out of nicknacks, so I came out.” - -“You stick to that story? Have you been to Windsor?” - -“Wal, I calculate I have.” - -“What is Holmes doing?” - -“That’s rather a hard question. The last time I saw him, he was eatin’. -He _has_ got a mouth to put away the provisions in, now I tell you.” - -“Pish, man; you know what I want to know. Tell me what they are doing at -Windsor.” - -“They are building a mighty big stock-house there, I reckon—nigh as big -as Good Hope. But law, what _can_ they do? You could eat them up!” - -“Are they preparing to attack me?” - -“No, I calculate not. They have all they kin do to keep the Indians -friendly.” - -“Do they talk much about us?” - -“Yes, more or less. Not any thing to count, howsumdever.” - -“_What_ do they say?” - -“I reckon they think you are pretty strong here. They talk about that -some.” - -“Do you think, if they were to attempt it, they would drive us out of -Good Hope?” - -“Now, I don’t know as to _that_. I am a bit of a Boston man myself, and -don’t care so much for Windsor. I don’t say they wouldn’t if they got the -chance. You see, it’s a pretty bit of land, and you asked them to come -out here.” - -“So we did, fools that we were to do it. What would you advise us to do?” - -“You want me to tell you?” - -“Yes.” - -“Honest?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then _this_ is what I think: Don’t stir us up. We are good folks, if you -let us alone; but if you rile us up, we git hornety. I don’t say this to -scare you, or any thing. But we are tough colts to ride without a halter.” - -“Do you think we fear you?” - -“I don’t say it. You may or you may not. But, you ask my advice, and I -give it. Don’t cut up rough. Don’t go to smoothing us against the grain. -Go with the nap of the cloth, and you’ll find it’ll work better.” - -“Ah! How many men have you at Windsor?” - -“Don’t keep mixing me up with the Windsor folks, squire. I don’t belong -there. I am a Boston man, myself.” - -“Then you won’t refuse to tell me how many men you have?” - -“I would if I could. A good many had gone out to hunt and trade. All -through, there was a pretty lively sprinkling of them, I calculate.” - -“Do you think they have as many as we have?” - -“How many do you reckon?” - -Van Curter instantly gave him this information, and immediately cursed -himself for doing it, fearing that the hawker would take advantage of the -fact against him. He was the more angry from the fact that Boston refused -to be at all explicit in regard to the number at Windsor. “He hadn’t -counted,” he said. “They were scattered round a good deal; might be more -or might be less. Couldn’t bring himself to say, to a certainty, whether -they had as many as Van Curter or not, but most probable a likely number.” - -“How did you come here?” - -“I reckon that is easy to answer. Part of the way I walked, and part of -the way I rode. Couldn’t I sell you something, squire?” - -“Wait until I have finished my questions. Did you see Captain Holmes at -Windsor?” - -“Yes, I told you before.” - -“Was William Barlow in Windsor?” - -“The lieutenant?” - -“Yes.” - -“Y-a-a-s. He was there.” - -“Did he know you were coming here?” - -“Guess so.” - -“Do you _know_?” - -“Y-a-a-s, I think he did. I didn’t make no secret of it. I trade here a -great deal.” - -“The last time you were here, you brought a message to my daughter from -him. Don’t deny it, for I know you did. Have you one now?” - -“No. The lieutenant found out that you were mad about it, and he thought -he wouldn’t trouble the gal just now.” - -“You are sure you have not a letter about you somewhere?” - -“You may s’arch me, if you think I have. ’Twon’t be the first time it’s -been done.” - -“You are willing?” - -“I can’t say I am just _willing_. I allus prefer to have the handling of -my goods _myself_. Before you call in your men, I’ll go over the box and -show you that there ain’t any message in that.” - -Van Curter looked on zealously as the hawker tumbled over his goods -upon the floor, and turned over its contents. He then examined the pack -itself, and found nothing. Boston put the things back, saying, that -“Dutchmen had sometimes light fingers as well as heavy bodies.” - -Van Curter now called in two men, who searched the hawker with great -care. They found nothing. - -“I told you so before you begun,” said he. “You wouldn’t believe _me_. -Perhaps you will next time, and save yourself trouble.” - -The fellows went out, and Van Curter begun again, with the air of a man -without hope: - -“Did you come here alone?” - -“Yes, I did. What will you ask next? I’d like to have you get done as -soon as you can, for I want to be at work. I’m losing money on you.” - -A light came into the face of the other. “You like money, then?” - -“I ain’t much ahead of any Dutchman of my acquaintance, then. They like -money. Of course I like money. Why not?” - -“Then I have not been holding out the right inducement for you to speak.” - -“You are right in your head, old lad. I don’t speak without a proper -inducement.” - -“Is this right?” asked Van Curter, slipping a couple of gold pieces into -his hand. - -“Double it,” said the other, shortly. The commandant obeyed. Boston -clinked the pieces upon the floor, tried them with his teeth, and, being -satisfied that they were good, put them in his pouch and turned to the -commandant. - -“That _is_ the right argument. What do you want?” - -“Did Barlow send any message to my daughter?” - -“Y-a-a-s, he did.” - -“Have you got it?” - -“Not in writin’.” - -“What did he say?” - -“Assured her that he was hers till death.” - -“Ha!” - -“That his love would never grow cold.” - -“The insufferable Englishman!” - -“That he had not yet given up hope.” - -“He had better.” - -“Hopes to win your good will.” - -“Never!” - -“Bids her trust in him, and they will meet again.” - -“Is that all?” - -“Yes.” - -The commandant mused for some moments, with his head bowed upon his -hand. Van Curter was one of those obstinate men, found often among -soldiers, who loved or hated with vindictive energy. His hatred of the -Yankees was intense, and it offended him greatly that his daughter -should fix her affections upon one of the despised race. It would have -pleased him better to have seen her married to some fat burgher of New -Netherlands—one of his own nation. - -“Listen, sir,” said he, at last. “I have a few words to say to you. I -love my child as well as any man can do. But I would sooner see her dead -at my feet than married to a Yankee.” - -“Now, see here, squire. Don’t talk that way. ’Tain’t proper. We are an -odd kind of people; I calculate we always get even with any one who hurts -us. You don’t know the lieutenant very well, I see. I do. There ain’t a -finer boy from the Floridas to Penobscot. He is brave, of good family, -and I really don’t see what you have against him.” - -“Let that pass. I have told you what I think about this matter. He shall -never again see Theresa Van Curter.” - -Boston hummed a low tune. - -“What do you mean by that?” - -“Don’t you believe any such thing, squire. You can’t keep two young -people apart. If I want to hurry on a marriage, I always get some old -maid, old woman, or old man, no matter which, to _oppose_ the match. -_That_ will bring it on, as sure as a gun!” - -“You think so?” - -“It stands to reason. It’s just the way of human nature. They always want -to eat forbidden fruit. Your best way would be to laugh the girl out of -the idea, if you are so set against it.” - -“What a nation you will make some day,” cried the other, in a tone -of admiration. “You can not fail. There is nothing which you can not -compass, for your desires are boundless. I seem to see with a prophet’s -eye. This great continent will one day bear a great nation famous for its -liberal ideas, a nation of cunning men, who will hold the world in their -grasp. My nation will contribute to make up _this_ nation; for where -liberal ideas and freedom to mankind hold sway, the Dutch must have a -hand.” - -Worthy Van Curter, sitting in his rude fort upon the banks of the bright -river, and prophesying the future of the land, in his wildest dreams -never approached the reality. Who could hope that, in less than ten -generations, the power of the wonderful race should have built up a -republic, the grandest of nations, the hope of all the world! - -“But, this is idle talk,” the soldier continued, rising from his seat. -“When you go back to Windsor, and you must go soon, as I will not have -you hanging about here, you will see this Lieutenant Barlow, and take -this message from me: under no circumstances will I tolerate, in the -least degree, his addresses to my daughter. Let him beware how he crosses -my path, or worse will come of it. Will you remember?” - -“Y-a-a-s, squire.” - -“You may now go out and sell your goods. I give you two days. After that, -you must leave the settlement.” He rose and left the room, not aware of -the fact that Boston was snapping his fingers behind his official back. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -TWO DUTCH BEAUTIES. - - -“Git eout,” said Boston, executing another flourish as he disappeared. -“Two days, umph. Where will you be in two days, I should like to know? -Now to business.” - -He took up the pack and departed from head-quarters, going out upon the -parade. There he was besieged by a score of Dutchmen, several of whom -reproached him with bad faith in previous bargains, but did not fail to -buy; indeed, Boston Bainbridge was gifted by nature with that shrewdness -in a bargain which is characteristic of that famous town from whence he -took his name; so gifted, indeed, that one of his own countrymen, who -had been cheated by him, gave him the name, and it had stuck to him ever -after. - -Getting rid of his purchasers, he carried his diminished pack to the door -of a house more pretentious than the others, situated upon the river -bank. His knock brought to the door a Teutonic damsel, who started back -in undisguised dismay at the sight of the hawker. - -“Hist, Katrine,” said he; “don’t make a row. How are you?” - -“What do you want, Boston?” replied the girl, quickly. “I will not join -any scheme against the peace of my cousin.” - -“Sho, now, who asked you? It seems to me, my dear, that you don’t seem -glad to see me, after so long a time.” - -“I ain’t. Don’t you know it’s dangerous to come here? You were in trouble -enough before, cheat that you are; but now—” - -“Well, what now?” - -“I won’t tell. It’s enough for you to know that something besides a -broken head will be yours if you stay. Take up your pack, for heaven’s -sake, and be off about your business.” - -Boston passed his arm about the waist of the buxom girl, and led her into -the kitchen. There he dropped his pack, drew her down upon his knee, -and kissed her with hearty good-will. She struggled desperately, uttered -a good many protests, and ended by returning his kisses in right good -earnest. - -“Dere now,” said Katrine, in her pretty English, just enough touched with -the Teutonic element to give it a zest, “I hope you be satisfied. Now -tell me why you come here? Be quiet, can’t you?” - -The last exclamation was elicited by an attempt on the part of Boston to -kiss her again. This she resisted, as in duty bound, until out of breath, -and then yielded as before. - -“You want to know why I am here. I came upon that which you would have -sent me away on a while ago—business, and to see you.” - -“Me! Far enough from Good Hope you would be, if only poor Katrine brought -you here. Confess, now, you have other business?” - -“Of course; I said so. _Plenty_ of business, and you must help me, -Katrine. But first, tell me what you meant by saying I should have -something besides my head broken?” - -“Just your neck, that’s all.” - -“That ain’t much, Katrine.” - -“No, dat ain’t much, or you wouldn’t risk it so many times every day. I -tell you to go away.” - -“You haven’t told me why.” - -“I won’t tell, either.” - -“Then I won’t go. I am not going to run away from a shadow.” - -“Dis no shadow; you will be taken as a spy.” - -“Sho; we ain’t at war with the Dutch. No saying how soon we may be, -though; besides, I don’t mind telling you that I have been before the -commandant to-day, and was pretty thoroughly searched, too. What does it -matter? They didn’t find any thing, though. Where is your cousin?” - -“I knew you would come to that, Boston; but it is no use. I won’t—I -_won’t_—I WON’T! You needn’t ask me.” - -“You won’t—you _won’t_—you WON’T! and I needn’t ask you. That’s pretty -strong. Pray, before you refuse any thing, wait till you are asked. Do -you think I want to hurt your cousin?” - -“I don’t know,” sobbed poor Katrine, “I don’t think you would; but I love -my cousin.” - -“So do I!” - -“What!” - -“I love her just as every man who ever saw her loves her, as I love -a beautiful picture or a clear night, or as something holy and pure, -entirely beyond my reach. As a lovely piece of God’s handiwork, I admire -her—but she would not do for every-day use. I have some one in my mind -who would suit me better.” - -“Who?” asked Katrine, quickly. - -“I don’t like to tell; you might not like it.” - -“Never mind,” said she, struggling away from him. “Don’t touch me again; -I don’t want to know her name.” - -“Oh, but you must hear it,” replied the other, “I’ll tell it now, just to -spite you. Her name is—” - -“I won’t hear,” cried the girl, putting her fingers in her ears—“I won’t -hear. Don’t you try for to tell me.” - -“She is a pretty girl, I tell you,” said Boston, with a malicious twinkle -in his eyes, “and you don’t know how I love her—you don’t want to hear -her name?” - -“No,” said Katrine, with a quiver of the lip, “I won’t hear it.” - -“I’ve a good mind not to tell you, though I know you are dying to hear -it. Yes, I will; her name is—” Katrine took her fingers partly out of her -ears. - -“A Dutch one,” went on Bainbridge. The girl again stopped her ears. - -“But a pretty name for all that,” said Boston. “You don’t want to hear -it; then I’ll tell it. I call her _Katrine_!” - -“What’s her other name?” - -“Veeder.” - -“_Me!_ Oh, you beast—you been fooling me all dis time. You lie, -_dreadful_; I don’t know what may happen to you; but, after all, I am -glad you said Katrine, and I am glad you said Veeder, for I don’t know -what I should do if you were to fall in love with any one else, you dear, -cheating, bundling old vagabond!” - -With these somewhat contradictory epithets, Katrine kissed him, then and -there. - -“Let’s get back to what we were talking of before, my dear,” said Boston. -“I can’t afford too much time here. Where is Theresa?” - -“Somewhere about the house.” - -“Where?” - -“I don’t know, Boston; promise me—promise poor Katrine that you will not -lead her into any rash things, which may make her father angry; he is -none too kind to her since she saw dat young lieutenant, and they learned -to love each other. Dat’s de same time you and me tried it, you dear old -swindler.” - -“The very time. Now, I ain’t going to make no rash promises. I don’t know -what _may_ happen; but, this I will promise—through my means, no harm -shall come to the gal. I like her for herself, and I like her for the -sake of Willie, who is the best young fellow I know.” - -A clear, rich voice sounded at this moment in a merry song. Katrine held -up her hand. - -“That’s her; who could have the heart to do her a wrong? Ah; she is -coming in here.” - -The door was thrown open, and the singer stood upon the threshold like -a picture in a frame—a beautiful picture, too. Theresa Van Curter was -a rare type of her style of beauty—the blonde. Her fair hair, lustrous -and waving, was put back from a white forehead, and confined at the back -with an antique comb; her dress was suited to the station in which she -was placed, partaking something of the Indian character, and giving free -play to her limbs, a broad hat, which she had been wearing in her stroll -through the forest, was swung upon her arm, while her hand clasped a -bouquet of wild flowers she had gathered. She started in some surprise at -the appearance of Boston, and then, dropping the flowers and hat to the -floor, sprung forward. - -“Oh, sir, you here! Have you any news?” - -She paused in some confusion. - -“You needn’t go on,” said Boston, “I never keep a lady waiting. I have a -letter for you.” - -Theresa put out her hand quickly. - -“It must be from _him_!” - -“Yes, it’s from _him_. Your father tried hard to find it. He would give -me both Jerusalem and Jericho if he knew I had it. You see I calculated -on being searched, and hid the paper.” - -“You did?” - -“Yes, I did. Have you got such a thing as a knife around here? Thank you, -Katrine. What a famous little house-keeper you’ll make, having every -thing so handy about you! Take hold of my old cap and help me.” - -A few moments’ work about the lining of the old hat which the hawker had -worn revealed a letter, which he took and handed to Theresa. She turned -away to the window, and read it hastily. A shade passed over her fine -face as she read. - -“Is he well?” she asked, turning to Boston, who was engaged in a -flirtation with Katrine. - -“Oh, yes, ma’am. You see he is out of spirits on your account, and that -runs him down some. But he is hearty. Just send him a cheery word, and -all will be well in the twinkling of an eye.” - -“I am going to my room now, and shall write an answer to this. You must -remain until I come back. I shall not be long.” - -She hurried away quickly, leaving Boston with Katrine—and they sat down -by the casement. They quarreled, and “made up” again, several times, -before Theresa appeared with an answer to the note. - -“I have a little to say to you. Your father took me to-day, and made me -confess that I had a message to you.” - -“Oh dear! You did not show him that letter?” - -“Not a bit of it. But I told him that the message was verbal, and gave -him one of my own making up. Sounded natural enough. Faithful unto death, -and that sort of stuff. You understand.” - -“And did not Willie send any such message to me?” - -“A thousand; but I couldn’t think of half he said, if I were to spend a -week in meditation on the subject. You will take them all for granted.” - -“I fancy that Willie had better change his messenger,” said Theresa, with -a pout. “I am sure he might do better.” - -“I am sorry to say that _I_ think you are wrong,” replied Boston, coolly -stroking his beard. “There ain’t another man in the five provinces that -would do for you what I’ve done, time and again.” - -“I am sorry I said that, Boston,” said Theresa, relenting quickly. “I -know you are faithful and true, but you ought to remember. Was my father -_very_ angry?” - -“Very particularly angry,” replied Boston. “Looked as if he wanted to eat -all the tribe of Yankees, beginning with me.” - -“Was he angry at me?” - -“I calculate he _was_. I don’t want no one to be angrier with me, I -guess. He was _awful_ mad.” - -“Then you had better go away. But first open your pack and let me get -what I need. We have waited a long time for you.” - -“That’s because you can trust me. You know that, though I will beat Dutch -_men_ sometimes, I never try to beat women.” - -“What a twister,” cried Katrine. - -“Now don’t you put in at all, Katrine. I won’t have it. Let me trade with -Miss Theresa in my own way. You know I won’t try to cheat her.” - -“But you do some women.” - -“In trade I might. You stop talking, or the dress I am going to sell you -will fall to pieces in washing.” - -The girl was bending over the pack when the commandant entered. He looked -a little angry when he saw the peddler. - -“Don’t attempt to ply your trade here, sir. Go elsewhere.” - -“Why, squire, as to that, the way I look at it is this: You gave me two -days to trade, and you didn’t say _where_ I should go in particular. You -didn’t buy any thing, and I thought your daughter might want a few traps.” - -“Where do you intend to pass the night?” - -“I don’t know. But surely some one will be glad to entertain me, and take -some of my wares in consideration. I’ve picked up a good many furs since -I came out here, and they are getting heavy. I can’t travel far in a day.” - -“You should have a horse,” said Theresa, looking up from the pack, which -she was turning over after a woman’s fashion. - -“I _did_ have one when I came, but old Paul Swedlepipe wouldn’t take ‘no’ -for an answer, but would have him.” - -“I’ll wager my commission that he paid for the horse,” said Van Curter, -with a laugh. “How much did he give you?” - -“Seventy-five guilders. I look upon it in the light of a praiseworthy -action—_giving_ that hoss away.” - -“Giving it away! S’death, man, I have a dozen horses, and you may have -the best of them for seventy-five guilders.” - -“I’ll take a look into your stable before I go away,” said Boston. “In -the mean time, I’ve got something I want _you_ to look at.” He tumbled -over the wares and took out a pair of heavy spurs. “Now look at that,” -he cried, in a tone of exultant admiration. “Did you ever, in your born -days, see sech a pair of spurs as that? No you didn’t, so you needn’t say -it. I don’t say that they are the best pair of spurs in the Colonies, but -I put it to you, squire, can you put your finger upon a pair as good, -anywhere? If you can, I should be proud to know it.” - -Van Curter took up the spurs and looked at them closely. - -“Now tell me,” said he, “where is the cheat in this pair of spurs. I -take it for granted that there is such a thing about it, since a Yankee -brought them. Is it in the price, or in the articles themselves?” - -“Oh, as to that,” replied Boston, with an air of injured innocence, “I -don’t say any thing. You will have it that there is a cheat in every -thing I offer for sale; but, if there is one there, _you_ can’t find it.” - -Van Curter laughed again. - -“Come now,” he said, “I am willing to take the spurs, and at your price, -too, if you will tell me just where the cheat is to be?” - -“You will take them any way?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then I’ll tell you; or, rather, it won’t be necessary to tell you any -more than the price.” - -“And what is the price?” - -“Forty guilders.” - -“Hein!” shouted Van Curter, breaking into Dutch. “Do you mean, seriously -and gravely, to ask me forty guilders for a pair of spurs not worth ten?” - -“You wanted to know where the cheat was—in the spurs or the price. You’ve -got it. It’s in the _price_.” - -“Der tuyvel! Hold; here is your money. And now take away your pack, or -you will ruin my house. Go quickly.” - -“I was thinking to wait,” said Boston, coolly buttoning up the cash in -his breeches-pocket, “until the lady has made her selections; she don’t -seem to have finished.” - -“Make your purchases quickly, Theresa, and come with me. I wish to speak -with you. Do not delay.” - -Theresa gathered up her purchases and demanded the price. He gave such a -moderate one, even for him, that Van Curter was astonished, and made no -attempt to make the price less. - -“You have some conscience yet, Bainbridge,” he said. “Here is your money. -Come, Theresa.” - -The girl followed him from the room, casting a glance back at the -peddler, who had stooped over his pack, and was throwing out various -articles, at the bidding of Katrine. - -“Do you know what I will bring from Boston when I come again?” said he. - -“No,” said Katrine, with a smile. “What?” - -“A ring and a minister.” - -“What for?” asked Katrine, in sublime unconsciousness. - -“If you don’t know now you will know then,” was the answer. “You’d better -have this dress made up against that time.” With this he kissed her -again, arranged his pack, and left the house, making his way back to the -house of Paul Swedlepipe. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -BOSTON “SHEATS” THE LEAN DUTCHMAN, AND TURNS UP IN HIS REAL CHARACTER. - - -Boston found Paul Swedlepipe exercising the horse which he had so lately -bought from him. Beyond a strong desire to get his hind feet higher than -his head when hard pressed, and a tendency to roll upon his rider when -spurred, Paul had no fault to find with his purchase. He found that -the little beast really possessed great powers of endurance, and was -tolerably swift. The truth of the matter was, Boston had purchased the -pony for his own use, and not to _sell_. The pleasant little fiction on -his part, in regard to his having been purchased for Mynheer Ten Eyck, -was made up on the spur of the moment, to induce Swedlepipe to buy, for -Boston never missed any opportunity for a trade. - -Not being cheated so badly as he expected, Swedlepipe was in good humor, -and received the peddler with a smile, even while he restrained an -attempt to kick on the part of the Narragansett. - -“Ah-ha! Boston. Dat you, eh? Dis pretty goot hoss; glad dat you not sheat -me too mooch dis time. You come for dem guilders, eh?” - -“Not yet, mynheer. You see I’ve been pesky busy sense I left you. But -I’ll keep my word. There comes Ten Eyck now.” - -“Yaw, dat is goot. Let me stant by vile you sheat him.” - -“I am only going to begin to-day. To-morrow I will finish,” replied -Boston. - -The ancestor of that famous race, the Ten Eyck’s of our country, rode up -at this moment. It may be well to mention that this man and Swedlepipe -were hereditary foes, and lost no opportunity for inflicting loss upon -each other. Ten Eyck had rather the best of the encounter, as he had -heard the story of the horse sold to Swedlepipe a few months before, -which had caused the quarrel between the peddler and Swedlepipe. - -In person, the two Dutchmen were at variance. Swedlepipe was short and -stout; Ten Eyck was tall and lank. Swedlepipe’s hair was black; Ten -Eyck’s was yellow, nearly approaching to red. Swedlepipe’s voice was -pitched in a high treble; Ten Eyck had a deep, resounding bass. In an -encounter with cudgels, the battle would have been to the strong, in -the person of Swedlepipe. The acute Ten Eyck knew this right well, and -likewise knew that he had the advantage in the use of harsh words and -taunts. He had been especially hard upon poor Paul in the matter of the -horse-trade. - -The steed which Ten Eyck himself bestrode would not have been selected -as an object of admiration upon Broadway or Rotten Row. In spite of the -food which his master crammed into him, he would _not_ grow fat. His -bones protruded in a highly objectionable manner. His head was nearly -double the size of that of any ordinary horse, and his neck being very -long, he found it extremely difficult to hold it up. In consequence, a -line drawn from the ears to the tail would have touched the back at every -point. Boston hailed the appearance of this remarkable beast with a yell -of delight. - -“Oh, Lord! What a hoss—what a hoss!” - -Swedlepipe joined at once in the cry. - -“Whose hoss you laughing at, you Yankee? Dat hoss you sell to Swedlepipe -a _little_ worse, I guess.” - -“I calculate you are wrong there, Mister Longshanks. Why, I know that -hoss you are riding. He is forty years old. Some say that he was brought -over in the Mayflower; some say not. A man like you oughtn’t to ride such -a horse. Look at Mynheer Swedlepipe, and see what a hoss _he_ rides! I -s’pose you have heard how I sold the other one to him. That was all a -mistake, and I have made it all right. Haven’t I, Mynheer Swedlepipe?” - -“Yaw;” said Paul. “Dat ish goot now; dat vash bad hoss, dis ish goot von.” - -Ten Eyck looked at the prancing pony with infinite disgust. Such was the -nature of the two men, that one could not bear to have the other possess -any thing which he could not get. Every prance of the Narragansett, -every shake of his long tail, went to the tall man’s very heart. As for -Swedlepipe, his face fairly beamed with exultation, and he stuttered in -his joy, when he attempted to speak. - -“The fact is, Mynheer Ten Eyck,” said Boston, “you don’t know who to buy -a horse of, and you get cheated. Now I will tell you, in confidence, that -there are several men in Windsor who would not hesitate to cheat you, -upon any occasion. But, I have a character to lose; I must deal in a good -article. If I sell you bad goods or a bad hoss, you will not buy of me -again. Do you see?” - -Ten Eyck saw. - -“Very good, then. If you had bought a horse from me, it would have been a -good one, if you paid me a _good price_. Of course you wouldn’t expect a -very good horse for a very poor price. That’s plain enough, is it not?” - -“You got long tongue, Boston,” said Ten Eyck. “Have you got a hoss to -sell?” - -“I can’t rightly say that I have a hoss just now. But I know where I can -put my hand upon one within five hours.” - -“Steal him?” - -“You say that again, and I’ll drive your long legs four feet into the -ground,” cried Boston, turning upon the Dutchman in sudden wrath. “Hark -ye, sir. I am a plain man, and I speak plain language. In the way of -trade I’ll get as much out of a man for as little in return, as any man -in the five colonies. But, I won’t take ‘thief’ from any man. So look -out.” - -Ten Eyck almost fell from his horse in fear, and hastened to disclaim any -personal allusion in his question. - -“All right. Now I’ll answer your question. This hoss is where I can get -him easily. All you have got to do is to ride home, and come again about -five this evening to Paul Swedlepipe’s. You can see the hoss there.” - -Turning up his nose at Paul Swedlepipe, and applying his heels to the -sides of the remarkable courser he bestrode, Ten Eyck rode away, bobbing -up and down in his saddle like a dancing-Jack. - -“Now, Paul,” said Boston, “I want your help. Where is this hoss I sold -you the other day?” - -“Out in de bush.” - -“Send for him.” - -“What you want of him?” - -“Never you mind; he is mine, and I want him. And mind, I also want the -teeth and tail I sold with him. Them I must have.” - -Paul called to one of his boys, and sent him after the horse, while he -himself produced the tail and teeth which he had carefully preserved. The -boy returned in about an hour, during which Paul and the hawker imbibed -large quantities of apple-jack, not strong enough, however, to unsettle -their ideas. When the boy appeared, Boston took the bridle of the horse, -and led him away, closely followed by Swedlepipe. - -Reaching an open glade in the forest, the peddler stopped, and tethered -the horse to a swaying limb. He then took from his pack a keen lancet, -with which he made a small incision in the skin under the shoulder of -the beast. In this slit he inserted a quill, and begun to blow. Those -accustomed to the management of a horse know the effect of this. In a few -moments Paul, who stood looking on in open-mouthed wonder, did not know -the horse, who seemed to grow fat under the hands of the skillful jockey. - -After he had blown the animal up to a wholesome plumpness, Boston nicely -and tightly sewed up the small incision. Then taking from his pack a -small vial, he filled a large gourd which he had brought from the house -with water from the spring, and poured into it the contents of the vial. -The water at once assumed a greenish hue. With this mixture he now -washed the horse thoroughly in every part, keeping him carefully in the -shade. This done, he led him out into the sunlight, and, to the intense -astonishment of Paul Swedlepipe, by some chemical action of the sun upon -the mixture, the horse changed at once from a dirty white to a delicate -shade of brown. Raising his hands upward, as if calling witnesses to his -astonishment, the Dutchman cried: - -“Der tuyvel is upon earth. You ish der tuyvel!” - -“No, Paul. A lineal descendant of the old fellow, though. Do you think I -could sell that horse to Ten Eyck?” - -“Yaw. He is so goot changed he would sheat me again. I never puys -nottings from you no more.” - -“He must stand in the sun for a couple of hours, to let the color fasten, -and then we will take him up to the house. Now let me put you up to a -wrinkle. When Ten Eyck comes for the horse, I want you to bid against -him.” - -“Vat ish dat?” - -“If he offers forty guilders for him, you must offer fifty.” - -“For dat hoss? I no wants dat hoss.” - -“You needn’t have him. Of course Ten Eyck will bid sixty. You will then -say seventy.” - -“Yaw, put I ton’t vant dat hoss.” - -“I tell you I only want you to _bid_, and when I think he has offered -enough, I shall wink to you, and you must stop bidding.” - -“Put I needn’t have te hoss, eh?” - -“No, you blockhead! Do as I tell you, if you want him to buy the horse.” - -All this while, however, the Yankee was at work putting on the alien tail -and putting in the ejected teeth, which, instead of being tied in, as -Paul had said, were, in truth wired together with a skill which a modern -dentist might have envied. It must have cost Boston time and patience -to have produced such a double row of horse-incisors and molars; but he -accomplished the task quite to his satisfaction—“good enough to deceive a -dumb Dutchman,” he ejaculated. - -It took some time to drum into Swedlepipe’s head that he was only -required to make Peter Funk bids against the destined victim. Boston knew -full well that if he _sold_ Ten Eyck he would make a powerful enemy, as -the tall man was high in power in the House of Good Hope. But, the events -which he knew were on the march made him careless of consequences. Ten -Eyck came at the appointed time, and found the two seated amicably over -some long pipes and a goodly measure of apple-jack. - -“Vere is dat hoss?” he said. - -“Outside,” said Boston. “Let’s go out and see him. Oh, by the way, since -you were here my friend Swedlepipe has seen this horse and has taken a -fancy to it. I am afraid he will bid against you.” - -“You promised him to me.” - -“I promised to _show_ you a hoss, and I will keep my word. Come, mynheer, -let us go together.” - -The horse was now tied in a little inclosure at the back of the house, -whither the party now wended their way. Boston’s jockey-training had not -been in vain, and it was really a handsome beast to look at! - -“Now, den,” said Ten Eyck, taking out a plethoric purse, “vat you ask for -dat hoss?” - -“I don’t set any price for him,” replied Boston. “What do you think he is -worth.” - -“I gif’s you vifty guilders.” - -“What do you say, Mynheer Swedlepipe? Shall I let it go for that? I leave -it entirely to you.” - -“No,” said Paul. “I gif’s sixty.” - -“You try to git dat hoss, _pudding-head_,” cried the other; “I gif’s -seventy guilders.” - -It is needless to follow the course of the trade—to give the words which -passed between the bidders—how Paul, forgetting that he was only bidding -in jest, refused to stop when Boston winked at him, but bid higher! -Affairs trembled in the balance. Ten Eyck looked at the horse and his -rival, and swore in his inmost soul to have the beast, if it took every -guilder from his purse. He bid higher, and while he cogitated, Boston had -winked Paul into submission. - -“One hundred and fifty guilders,” said Boston. “It’s a good pile. You -don’t go any higher, Mynheer Swedlepipe?” - -“Nein,” said Paul. - -“Then you may have him, Ten Eyck. It’s as good a _sell_ as you ever heard -on, I guess.” - -The last named individual counted out the money, bestrode the transformed -beast, and rode away to his home, while Paul, falling prostrate upon the -earth, hugged himself, and shouted with laughter. Boston, chinking the -money in his purse, uttered a satisfied chuckle, and went his way. - -The hawker did not stay in the settlement, though the sun was low in -the forest, and the Indians were thick as the deer, and bloody as the -panther. Once in the woods, and out of sight of the village, he deftly -hid his pack beside a fallen tree, drew out a beautiful gun from its -place of concealment, and assumed an active, erect attitude, much unlike -the slouching gait which had marked his course in the village. He cast a -keen glance about him, and begun to load his piece before he set forward -on the trail. This done, he tightened his belt, took a hasty glance at -the sky, and buried himself in the woods. - -The forest path along which he journeyed was tangled, and covered by -fallen leaves, in which his feet fell with a slight rustle. At times the -deer started up from a thicket, and went crashing away. At others the -brown bear went lumbering over the path, casting a surly glance over -her shoulder at the strange intruder upon her native woods. The warning -rattle of the venomous snake sounded in his ear; the howl of a distant -panther was heard. Such were the sights and sounds of a Connecticut -forest, in those early times. - -The change in the man who trod the forest path was wonderful. No longer -the peddler keen for a trade, and seeing only the main chance, but a -sharp, vigilant woodman, ready for any emergency which might arise. - -As he passed through a thick part of the woods, a confused sound came -to his ears, as of a struggle among the dry leaves. Dashing aside the -branches, with a hasty step he broke into an open place in the forest, -and looked in upon a strange scene. - -The glade was not empty. Two men lay upon the ground, engaged in a -struggle for life or death. Their quick, panting breaths came to Boston’s -ears. Drawing his knife, he rushed forward, shouting: - -“Hold your hands! He who strikes another stroke will have me to fight.” - -The two men rose slowly and sullenly to their feet, casting looks of hate -at each other. One, however, recognizing Boston, extended a hand, giving -him a cheerful welcome. - -“But what means this, William Barlow? How is it that I find you brawling -like a boy with a stranger, when you have weighty affairs to attend to? -By my faith, I did not look for this at your hands!” - -The person he addressed was young, and clad in the uniform of the early -Connecticut soldiery. His form was erect, and his bearing that of a -soldier. He bent down his eyes, wonderful as it may seem, at the words of -the peddler. - -“You are right, Boston, in saying that I had no right to quarrel. But it -was forced upon me against my will. Yonder man will tell you that this -quarrel is none of my seeking.” - -The person of whom he spoke had stood upon his guard, drawing his sword, -and expecting to fight both men when they had done with their conference. -He, too, had the erect bearing of the soldier, and _his_ dress was that -of captain of the soldiers at Manhattan. His face was a study. Seen in -repose, it was beautiful, for a man. But now, with his anger fresh upon -him, it seemed the face of a fiend. This was Joseph Van Zandt, captain -in the army of the governor at New Netherlands, a brave soldier, but an -unscrupulous foe. - -“If it will aid you,” said he, “I do not hesitate to say that I forced -this quarrel upon Lieutenant Barlow.” - -“So sure as my name is Boston Bainbridge,” said that worthy, “I could -give you no worse punishment than to leave you in the hands of Willie -Barlow. I have not the least doubt he would give a good account of you. -But, it may not be. How came this quarrel about?” - -“I met him here,” said Barlow, “and he talked in a friendly tone at -first; but when I gave my name he drew upon me with the utmost fury.” - -“Why was this, sir?” asked Boston, turning to the captain. “Can not men -meet in the forest, but they must fight like dogs?” - -“Ask me no questions. I do not recognize your right to do so. It is -enough for me to know that the name of the man who stands by your side is -so hateful to me that I am his enemy to the death.” - -“You are over bold, sir,” said Boston, setting his teeth hard. “What hope -have you, if we two set upon you together.” - -“The hope of a man and a soldier,” replied Captain Van Zandt, quickly. “I -may fall, or I may conquer. Set on!” - -“I did not say we would attack you. We are peaceful men, and do not pick -quarrels with every man whose name does not suit us.” - -“Let _him_ ask me why I hate the name he bears,” replied the other, “and -I will tell him. That is, if he cares to know.” - -“If you choose to tell,” said Willie, “I should like to hear; for, by my -faith, I never offended you in the slightest degree.” - -“I will tell you. Because you took advantage of your position as -ambassador from the Plymouth Colony, and tried to win away from me my -affianced wife, Theresa Van Curter.” - -Willie took a forward step, and addressed the young man boldly: - -“I am glad you have spoken,” said he. “We now understand each other. -While I fought with you a few moments since, I was angry at myself, -because I fought with a man with whom I had no quarrel. I am best pleased -that you have told me what cause we have to be bad friends. And yet, I -can not feel that it is necessary to fight. Let the one who can win the -heart of Theresa Van Curter take her for a wife, and let the other do as -best he may. If you win her, I shall bid you God-speed. If I win, you may -do the same. Is not this the nobler way?” - -“Such sickly philosophy may do for you Englishmen,” answered the other, -coldly. “As for me, I am not of such blood. I love Theresa. She has been -a guide to me through life—my leading star. I will not lose her now, when -the time has come when she was promised to me. Will you give her up?” - -“Not I. If I have any place in her heart, I would not yield it for any -living man.” - -“Be it so then. We are enemies from this hour. When we fight again it -shall be where no man can come between. Do you intend to detain me, sir? -I do not know your name.” - -“Not at all. Go your way and leave us to go ours,” said Boston. - -The captain turned hastily away, for it was now quite dark in the forest, -and made his way to the river-side, where he expected to meet a party -from the House of Good Hope, sent to meet him by Van Curter. The two men, -being left alone in the forest, did not remain in the place where they -stood, but hastened away to the river-side, by a different route. Here -they entered one of the limestone caves, found on the river’s bank. The -peddler lighted a pine torch. Then the two sat down to talk. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -BOSTON AS A MISCHIEF-MAKER. - - -Theresa had met the young Englishman on an embassay to Manhattan, as -Captain Van Zandt had said. Their love had been a plant of quick growth, -and her father learned too late that her heart was given to Willie. -She had been betrothed in youth to young Van Zandt, the son of an old -comrade in arms. Hence the knowledge made the fiery colonel particularly -angry. In his rage, Van Curter had sent a messenger to Joseph, desiring -his presence at Good Hope. Every thing being remarkably quiet in the -Manhattan settlement, just then, the captain readily obtained leave of -absence. While on his way to the House of Good Hope, by the river, he -met the young lieutenant, who was evidently waiting for somebody, on -the river’s bank. Retiring as the boat-load of Manhattaners approached, -Barlow was followed into the forest by the captain. Not being a man to -run from a Manhattaner, Barlow paused, and, as we have seen, closed in -mortal combat. - -It was the desire of Van Curter to hurry on the marriage by every means -in his power. But, at present, his whole attention was turned to a -project for driving the English from Windsor. He saw, with increasing -fear, that the domineering Yankees were spreading more and more through -the country, and that, unless checked by some means, they would soon -possess the whole country. The transactions carried on by our English -ancestors, of which the dealings of Boston Bainbridge was a fair type, -were enough to drive that well-intentioned people stark mad. No wonder, -therefore, that they concocted a plan for the possession of Windsor, on -the river above Good Hope. - -Captain Holmes had set up this post, as has been suggested, in direct -opposition to the wishes of Van Curter. The dialogue which passed between -them as the English sloop passed up the stream, was so characteristic of -the two men, that we repeat it: - -“Where would you go?” cried Van Curter. - -“Up the river, to trade,” replied Holmes. - -“Strike and stay!” shouted the commandant, “or I will fire into you.” - -“Fire and be hanged,” returned Holmes. “The river is mine as much as your -own.” - -Van Curter thought better of it, and did not fire. The sloop passed up -the stream, and founded the post which afterward awakened the Dutchman’s -ire to such an extent. - -It was night when Joseph Van Zandt arrived at Good Hope, and he went at -once to the cabin of Van Curter. He had not retired, but sat alone at a -table, by a flaring lamp, writing a dispatch to the governor. He started -up in great joy at the sight of the captain, and held out both hands to -him. - -“Sit thee down, lad. Thou art welcome. How go things in the Manhattoes?” - -“Very fairly. Can you say as much of this colony?” - -“No. The Yankees advance step by step, and the time is not far off when -we shall be driven entirely away, unless we do something ourselves. But, -I have a plan in my mind, Joseph—I have a plan; and, faith, it is a good -one. How long have you been on the way?” - -“Four days. I should have been here ere now, but my horse got his foot -into a stocking on the road, and broke it. I was forced to shoot it and -take to the sound and river.” - -“That is bad; but I think we can supply you. Ten Eyck bragged to-day, in -the council, that he had the best horse in the colony. It ought to be, if -he paid the price he says he did, which is a hundred and fifty guilders. -You ought to have seen Paul Swedlepipe’s face while Ten Eyck told about -that horse.” - -“What? Do they keep up the old feud yet?” - -“Stronger than ever, my dear Joseph. But, what puzzled me most was, that -Paul seemed to work hard to refrain from laughing, when he ought to have -felt more like crying. It looked suspicious to me.” - -“Has any one else seen the horse?” - -“Yes—several of the council. And they all agree that it is a good beast. -Most wonderful of all, he was sold by a Yankee. Swedlepipe bid as high as -a hundred and forty guilders before he would give up. But that a Yankee -should sell a good horse! Who ever heard of such a thing?” - -Joseph laughed at this, but he was not so far from Good Hope as not to -know that Yankees did not sell good wares. - -“We will see this wonderful beast to-morrow, and if he is any thing -like what he is reported, I shall want him. Whom think you I met in the -forest?” - -“I could not guess.” - -“You will hardly believe it. A man whom I never saw but once in my life, -and whom I hate, for all that, with all my soul.” - -“Who may that be?” - -“William Barlow.” - -Colonel Van Curter leaped to his feet. “I swear by the bones of my -father, that if Boston Bainbridge dares to show his face again in Good -Hope, I will crop his ears off close to his head, and turn him off.” - -“Boston Bainbridge!” - -“Ay.” - -“That is the very man who came between us. You must know, then, that I -followed this man Barlow into the woods, and soon had him at bay, curse -him! We were down upon the earth, tearing at each other’s throats, so -closely grappled that we could not use our swords, when this man rushed -in and parted us, swearing to strike the one who made another stroke—a -daring, resolute fellow, I saw at a glance.” - -“You astonish me. It can not be the man I mean. The Bainbridge I knew is -a sneaking dog of a hawker, who has made more mischief in Good Hope than -any ten men I know. But he is a pitiful wretch, who will do almost any -thing for money.” - -“This man was as determined-looking a fellow as I ever saw in my life, I -am certain; and looked as if a fight was meat and drink to him. And what -is more, your friend Barlow deferred to him as to a superior.” - -“It can not be that there are two. The fellow showed some spirit to-day, -and all the information I got out of him did not amount to much. You may -be right; it may be the hawker—confound him! But I am at a loss. Did he -have his pack?” - -“No. He was armed, though, with musket, knife and pistols, and looked an -ugly customer.” - -“Let it pass. As to the Boston Bainbridge who is known to me, we shall -have something to say to each other when we next meet. If it is the one -who is known to you, we may have something else to say to him. You say -you quarreled with Barlow.” - -“Yes. The very name of the fellow aroused me to rage. I struck him with -my open hand in the face—and we fought. This Bainbridge came between; but -it is a quarrel to the death. In the first burst, he spoke quite angrily -to Barlow, as one who had a right to do it, and the young man appeared -ashamed.” - -“What can it mean?” said Van Curter, uneasily. “This fills me with doubts -and fears which I can not fathom. Did you leave them together?” - -“Yes, in the forest, a league or more from Good Hope.” - -“It must be Bainbridge,” mused Van Curter. “He is the sworn friend of -Barlow; and yet, the new character you give him is so utterly unlike the -one he has borne, that I can’t understand it at all.” - -“Let us speak of something else. Does Theresa know of my coming?” - -“No; I thought it would be a pleasant surprise for her.” - -Van Zandt set his teeth hard at the words, for he realized, only too -painfully, that any thing like love for him was now foreign to the heart -of Theresa. The old soldier knew that he was angry, and wisely allowed -him his own time to answer. When the captain had controlled himself -sufficiently to speak, he said: - -“I have my fears upon the subject—I am afraid I shall never get my own. -You have promised me the hand of Theresa; I have waited for it long -years; but I have always feared that something would come between me and -the promise. It _has_ come.” - -“Do you fear this Barlow?” asked the other, in some contempt. “Have you -not an honored name—a name second to none in our own land? Have you not -the most handsome face in the seven colonies? Bah!” - -“You are old, Colonel Van Curter, and you do not know a woman’s heart, -after all. I tell you that I have made woman a study; they claim to be -influenced by personal beauty in man; but, put them to the test, and you -will find that, after all, the most beautiful women make a choice of men -who, though plain in person, are the only ones who can find the road to -their hearts.” - -“In truth, you may be right; but you may be the one who has the key to -Theresa’s heart. You _shall_ be, by heaven!” - -“Would you force her to marry me against her inclination?” - -“I would keep my word to your father, even if I had to use force.” - - -“I would not have her upon such terms,” said the young man. “She must -be mine entirely, heart and hand; if it can not be so, I renounce her -hand, and apply myself to the task of taking worthy vengeance upon the -man who has dared to step in between me and the love of the woman I prize -highest. I know him, I thank God. He can not escape me. Where is Theresa?” - - -“She has retired.” - -“There will be a meeting, I am sure, between her and this Yankee. We must -watch.” - -“This is the work of Bainbridge; he has gone between them, carried letter -after letter, and been the means of making her fancy stronger; he, too, -has something which will draw him back to this place.” - -“What is that?” - -“Katrine.” - -“Bah!” - -“She is a beauty not to be despised, and her family is good—she is first -cousin to Theresa.” - -“Right, I forgot; but I have not seen her for years. Do you know that in -coming up the river, I fancied I was followed by a canoe part of the way.” - -“Indians?” - -“I do not know.” - -“Never mind; come nearer, and I will tell you my secret plans about -Windsor and the English, whom I am determined to baffle and defeat.” - -The men drew close together, and looked over the paper. As they did so a -face rose slowly into view on the other side of the room, peering in at -the open lattice. It was the face of Boston Bainbridge. - -“You are sure no one listens?” asked Joseph. - -“Ay; my men know better than to listen at the windows or doors of Jacob -Van Curter; I would string them up to a swaying limb, or give them forty -stripes, save one.” - -“I thought I heard a sound, a moment since.” - -“The girls, perhaps; open that door, and look into the kitchen.” - -Joseph rose and opened the door; the kitchen was empty; the fire burned -low upon the hearth, and the rays danced upon the dishes in the dresser. - -“You heard the wind,” said Van Curter; “it is rising fast. It will rain -to-night.” - -“I am glad I got in safe before the storm. Hark to that.” - -The wind was rising with a sullen and fast-increasing roar; in a few -moments the rain begun to fall. Joseph stirred the fire with a feeling of -enjoyment, and the two drew up to the table. - -“You remember this Captain Holmes—my curse upon his head—who would not -pause when I told him to strike and stay?” said Van Curter. - -“I remember him well.” - -“He commands this post at Windsor; if any thing would make me long to -take the post more than another, it would be the fact that I hate him. To -him we may trace the entrance of these Yankees into our midst.” - -“Did you not invite them to settle?” - -“Yes, fool that I was to do it; but I did not know them then as I do now. -I would as soon have let in fiends from the pit.” - -“Then they are not to blame for hanging on to their possessions. You -should not have asked them here.” - -“They have learned to despise us, because we are so easily taken in. -They are right in that; a greater set of dunderheads than those under my -command never congregated before. If it were not for two or three of my -officers, my blockheads would have their teeth drawn in the night, and -never know it.” - -“What slander upon such men as the worthy Paul Swedlepipe and Mynheer Ten -Eyck.” - -“There you have a specimen. What can a man do who must be guided, in a -manner, by the advice of such men as those? It is enough to make one give -up in despair.” - -“But they will fight, if it is necessary.” - -“Yes; it is their only redeeming quality. They are too thick-headed to -appreciate the danger. But to my plan. I shall march out with forty men -in the night, and get near enough to Windsor to attack them early in the -morning. We will take the fellows prisoners and send them to the nearest -English post.” - -“Very good; how many men can the English muster?” - -“Not over twenty, and those we will take by surprise.” - -“Captain Holmes is there.” - -“Yes. His brother is next in command, and Barlow next. I should not care -to fight them if they are on their guard.” - -“I never heard of this brother of Holmes’.” - -“He has never been in Good Hope; I do not know that I have seen him. He -is represented as a man under forty, active, vigilant and acute—a man -formed by nature for a life in the woods.” - -“You describe such a man as I take this very Bainbridge to be.” - -“You are mistaken; I know the man well; he may have taken the attitude of -a brave man because they were two to one; but, in reality, he is one of -the most egregious cowards upon the face of the earth.” - -“This is pleasant news to come to a man’s ears,” muttered the peddler, -lying _perdu_ beneath the shelter of the eaves. “They say listeners never -hear any good of themselves, and I am not inclined to doubt it; but go -on—go on, the time will come to settle yet, and I will give you back that -coward in your teeth. Phew! how the rain comes down.” - -“The Windsor people are not in a very strong stockade, and I think I may -succeed. I shall march on the afternoon of to-morrow.” - -“Who will you leave here?” - -“I don’t know certainly. We shall not be long gone, and I think one of my -blockheads may be trusted for a day. Come, taste this aqua vitæ, which -was sent to me from Manhattan by my worthy friend, Wilhelem Kieft, and -then to bed, to be ready for the morning. ’Tis a wild night.” - -They sat talking for some time over the liquor, and then went to their -couches. Boston wrapped himself warmly in a wolf-skin robe which lay upon -the porch, and lay down to rest; he slept two hours. When he arose, the -storm was at its height, and he could move about the house with perfect -impunity. Walking quickly to a window-lattice on the south, he gave a -single tap upon it, and waited. The tap was answered from within, and the -lattice was raised to allow Katrine to thrust out her head. She looked so -provokingly sweet that Boston solaced himself with a kiss before a word -was said. - -“Impudence!” whispered the girl. “I shall close the lattice.” - -“No you won’t, my dear. Where is Theresa?” - -“Like your impudence to ask. She is in bed, and you ought to be in yours, -instead of tramping about on such a night as this.” - -“We have no time to talk. Go in and wake Theresa, and tell her to open -her lattice in half an hour, for one she wots of will come to her before -that time.” - -“You are crazy, both of you. It is death for you to be near Good Hope -to-night. Do you not know that Captain Van Zandt is here, and that he -spares none who stand in his way?” - -“Little care we,” replied the other, snapping his fingers, “for Captain -Joseph Van Zandt. We know more of his movements than you think, Katrine. -But get you gone, and tell Theresa that Willie is here. When you have -done that, come back to me.” - -“You speak sometimes like one born to command” said Katrine, looking at -him fixedly. “If it should be so—if you _should_ deceive me!” - -“Katrine, you mistrust me. Have I ever given you cause?” - -She was back in a moment, with one soft arm about his neck. “I trust -you,” was all she said. - -“I _have_ a secret from you, my darling,” he said, returning her embrace. -“But, take this to your heart—whatever your station, whatever mine, I -love you entirely. Now, go.” - -She opened the door which led into the room of Theresa. She found her -awake, with her head bowed upon a table. Katrine was not so much a -servant as a dear friend to Theresa, and she passed her arm about her -kindly, as she asked why she was sad. - -“He is here,” was the answer. - -“Who?” - -“Van Zandt.” - -“I know that; but why should you fear him? Your lover will never see you -forced to be his wife. I will not. My lover will not.” - -“Alas, what can they do? Willie is far away.” - -“Not so far as you may imagine. I heard a tapping at my window just now. -I opened it, and who do you suppose was there?” - -“Hans Drinker,” said Theresa, with a smile, for she knew that the worthy -Dutchman persecuted poor Katrine to the verge of distraction. - -“If I served you rightly,” said Katrine,“I should go back to my room, and -not tell you a single word.” - -“But you won’t. Who was it? Carl Anselm?” - -“Be careful! It was Bainbridge.” - -“I knew he was here. Did he say any thing about Willie?” - -“He told me to bid you rise, and be at your lattice in half an hour, for -Willie Barlow would then be there.” - -Theresa clasped her hands in fervent thanksgiving. - -“You have brought glad tidings, dear Katrine,” she said. “Sit with me -until he comes. Ah, what is he doing in this frightful storm?” - -“It is enough that he is here. You should have seen poor Boston. Wet—oh, -so wet! Like one drownded cat.” - -The two sat with clasped hands until a tap came at the lattice. Theresa -rose and opened it softly. - -“Who is it?” she whispered. - -“Willie,” he replied. Hands and lips met. That hour could not be -forgotten, in any after pain. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE HUMAN COLLISION AND HORSE COLLAPSE. - - -The meeting between the lovers was long, and it was only the wise council -of Boston which induced them at length to separate. He had moved away -a little from the window, and was calling in a low tone upon Willie to -make haste, when a chamber lattice was thrown rudely back, and a gun -protruded. It was Captain Van Zandt who had heard voices. - -“Come away,” cried Boston, now careless. “You will spoil all. Obey me, -Sir Lieutenant!” - -“How dare he speak in that way?” thought Katrine. - -Willie, imprinting a farewell kiss upon the willing lips of Theresa, -bounded away. A stream of fire leaped from the muzzle of the musket of -Van Zandt. A mocking laugh came back in response. Without a moment’s -hesitation, he leaped from the window, sword in hand, calling upon Van -Curter, who was up and armed by this time, to follow. It is a maxim which -all woodsmen should heed, not to follow an enemy _too_ closely in the -dark. But, an angry man is not apt to take maxims to heart. Van Zandt had -recognized the voice of the peddler, and heard him call “Willie,” and -knew full well who were the intruders and their business. - -Boston did not run far. Reaching the edge of a little thicket, he paused, -and waited for the captain, who was only a few feet behind, hurrying -forward at his best pace; when Boston, making a single forward step, -dealt a blow with such fullness and force, that the furious soldier went -down like an ox under the ax of the butcher. No one, looking at the light -frame of the peddler, would have imagined for a moment that his muscles -were developed to such an extent. No sooner was the blow struck, than -he grasped Willie by the arm and hurried him forward at a quick pace, -leaving Van Zandt prostrate upon the earth. - -“Have you hurt him badly?” inquired Willie. - -“Oh, no. I hit him behind the ear in the way you wot of. I did not care -to use my weapons.” - -“You are right. What shall we do now? I am afraid you have betrayed -yourself. You called out, ‘obey me!’ in a way that made me start.” - -“Katrine suspects too, the little darling. I have promised to tell her -the secret. She shall know it when the house of Good Hope is ours.” - -“You have hope, then?” - -“When I shall tell you what I have heard this night from the lips of -Jacob Van Curter, you will understand why I have hope. But, we can not -stay now. We must go to Windsor at once. We know the river, and our canoe -is at hand.” - -“I am ready to go.” - -As they glided from the shore, Van Curter stumbled over the prostrate -form of Joseph. This aroused the captain, and he staggered to his feet, -making a weak attack upon his friend, who parried his blows with great -ease. - -“You are mad. It’s I, Van Curter.” - -Van Zandt came to his senses. - -“I believe I am crazy,” he said. “But what a blow. My head seems split -asunder.” - -“What did he strike you with? Ho, there, Hans! Bring the torch hither. -What did he strike you with?” - -“It seemed like a clinched hand. And it can not be that a human hand -should have such power. I would sooner be kicked by a horse than take -such another blow.” - -“Do you know who struck you?” - -“Not I; though when the blow came every sun, moon and star in a clear sky -seemed to blaze close before my eyes. By my faith, I am dizzy yet.” - -“I should think you were. Lean upon me, and let us return to the house. -Do you know who they were?” - -“Surely. Who should it be but the worshipful Lieutenant Barlow, and his -friend Bainbridge. I tell you again that he is something more than he -shows upon the outside. S’death, man, he called out to the lieutenant -like a master, I can tell you, and he came at his call.” - -“What was it all about?” - -“I heard voices under my window, and listened. It was Theresa talking -with Barlow. I threw open my window and called upon him to speak. But -Bainbridge called to his comrade to come away, and I missed him—it was -very dark.” - -“By the bones of my father!” cried Van Curter. “Has it gone so far as -that. Follow me.” - -He strode into the house, and knocked heavily at his daughter’s door, -ordering her to come forth. She did so, with her garments thrown loosely -about her. She greeted the young man in a hesitating manner, which went -to his heart. - -“How is this?” said her father, harshly. “Who dares to come to Good Hope -in the dead of night, to meet the daughter of a Van Curter? Where is your -womanhood, girl? Can you think of this and not blush?” - -Theresa had much of her father’s untamable spirit, and answered quickly: - -“It is no shame to meet one whom I love! And I take no fear in saying -that I love Willie Barlow.” - -“Say you so? Am I bearded to my face by a child of mine? Look upon Joseph -Van Zandt. You were promised to him long ago. He has waited long years -until this hour. And now you—you, of all others, spit upon the contract -of your father, and plight your faith to one of alien blood! While I -live, it shall never be.” - -Theresa did not lower her eyes, but met the angry orbs of her father with -a full glance. - -“Speak no more of Joseph Van Zandt. Joseph, I am very sorry that you have -set your heart upon a thing which can never be. I do not love you. But, -if report says true, you would not have far to go to find one who would -be true to you in wedlock. But _I_ love you not as a wife should love, -and I never can be yours.” - -Van Zandt looked at her a moment, the fierce anger in his heart blazing -in his eyes. He had waited long years for Theresa—had seen her grow more -beautiful, day by day, and now, the torture of hearing her say that she -loved him not! He raised his clinched hand on high, and brought it down -upon the table with a force which made the glasses ring again. - -“God in his mercy keep him out of my sight, or I shall kill him,” he -cried. - -“Father!” she cried, “look upon the man you would have me marry. He is a -murderer in his heart.” - -“So am I,” her parent answered, moodily. “Girl, get you in. You shall wed -Joseph, as I am your father.” - -“I would not have it so,” said Joseph. “I marry no unwilling wife. But -him—let him take care!” - -“What would you do?” she half-screamed. - -“Murder! You have described the feelings of my heart. If he cross not -my path, well—he is safe. But, if I meet him, God do so to me, and more -also, if both leave the ground alive!” - -“He is mad,” she said. - -“You have made me so—you, with your accursed beauty. Blame that, and -nothing more.” - -“Get you in, I say,” cried Van Curter. “Do you still tarry to madden him -the more? Get to bed! As for you, Joseph, go to your room and try to get -a little sleep. Remember that in the morning we prepare for the march.” - -“You are right. Now she is gone, I am a man again. I tell you she maddens -me. I did not mean to tell her that, when I spoke. Let him look to -himself, the alien dog!” - -“You will have the chance, Joseph, as we march against him, to do away -with him forever. Come, be a man.” - -“I am. You have seen me fight, and know my power. I shall do good service -if it comes to blows.” - -“Thanks. Go to your room and get a little sleep. You will need it. -To-morrow we shall see Ten Eyck, and secure his horse for your service.” - -“Will he sell it?” - -“I shall give him command while we are gone. That will make him ready to -do any thing. Good-night.” - -Joseph went up to his room and sat at the open window. The rain drifted -in his face, but he heeded it not. He could hear Van Curter tramping -to and fro in his room, and the voices of Theresa and Katrine in low -conversation below. Before morning, he dropped into an uneasy slumber, -with his head upon the sill. He was waked by the sound of noisy -preparation in the open space below the window. He sprung up at once, -buckled his sword-belt about him, and went down. He met Theresa in the -large room in which he had seen her the night before. Neither spoke a -word; but the glance of mingled repulsion and fear upon the one side, and -of deadly threatening upon the other, was of greater expression than -a volume. He passed her quickly, with his spurs ringing upon the hard -floor, and went out into the open space, or parade of the House of Good -Hope. He was greeted by a cheer from those of the men who recognized him, -for Captain Van Zandt was known far and near as a brave and skillful -leader. He called to his side a slender youth, who was cleaning a gun in -the corner of the parade. He had a strange face, sharp features, with -thin, cruel lips, receding forehead, and small, glittering, deep-set -eyes. The youth laid down the gun when called by the captain, and -followed him from the stockade to a retired spot outside the works. - -“Carl Anselm,” said the latter, stopping suddenly, and laying his hand -impressively upon the shoulder of the young man, “do you owe me any -thing?” - -“A life!” said the boy, quickly. - -“You have said often, Carl, that you would like to do me a service. I do -not remind you of your indebtedness to me because I like to remind people -of their obligations; but the time has come when I need your help.” - -“I have waited long,” said the young man. “When I lay under the hand of -the savage Mohawk, and you killed him, I swore to repay you for the life -you gave me. You have made me happy. What would you have me do?” - -“Do you know the road to the Nipmuck village of Wampset?” - -“Yes; one of Wampset’s men was here but a day or two ago.” - -“Is it far?” - -“Twenty miles—so the brave said.” - -“It can be done, then. Take your arms and go to the village; find the -chief, Wampset, give him this wampum belt, and tell him that the sender -calls upon him to meet him at the three hills above Windsor, at midnight, -with all the men he can muster. Do not fear for yourself; there is no -Indian who owns the sway of the Nipmucks or the Mohawks who would lay a -hand in anger upon the man who wears that belt. Put it on.” - -Carl encircled his waist with the wampum belt. “Shall I go now?” he -asked. - -“Yes, and make haste; you must have a horse. Ha, Paul Swedlepipe, come -hither.” - -That individual, who was passing in a great hurry, came up at the call. - -“Where is that Narragansett pony you bought from the Yankee?” - -“In my stable.” - -“You must lend him to Carl. We are going on an expedition in which you -are to have an important trust. Can he have the horse?” - -“If you will be responsible for him, yes.” - -“Go with him, Carl,” said the captain, turning away. “Do not stop a -moment to talk. Kill any one who attempts to stay you. I know you are -good and true. Good-by, and all luck to you.” - -In a few moments Carl Anselm, with the wampum belt girt about his waist, -rode out of Good Hope. The captain stepped to the side of his horse for a -parting word: - -“Do you know William Barlow, the man who was in Good Hope last night?” - -“I have met him and know him perfectly by sight.” - -“He is my enemy. Do you fear him?” - -“I fear no man,” replied the youth, drawing himself up proudly. “What -would you have me do?” - -“I tell you he is my enemy. Is not that enough for thee? Say, shall he -die, if you meet? Will you give him a grave in the forest?” - -“If knives are sharp or bullets dig deep—if water can drown or fire burn, -when we meet he shall die.” - -“You are a friend indeed,” cried Joseph, grasping his hand. “Go out upon -your duty, with my thanks for your kindness. And remember, that in me you -always have a friend.” - -They shook hands and parted, the young man riding swiftly forward upon -his way, along the bank of the “Happy River,” while Joseph went back to -the camp. On the way, he met Van Curter, who asked him to go with him to -secure the horse of Ten Eyck. - -That worthy was reposing in front of his house, smoking a pipe in great -enjoyment. He greeted the approach of the two dignitaries with a nod -of recognition, thinking in his heart how he would crow over Paul -Swedlepipe, who could not boast of the honor of such a visit. - -“Good-day, mynheer, good-day,” said Van Curter. “We have agreed to go out -against Windsor to-day, and, after considerable discussion, my friend the -captain and myself have agreed upon a person to take command of Good Hope -during our absence.” - -“Who is it?” asked Ten Eyck, watching the puff of smoke which ascended in -spiral rings from his fair, long pipe. - -“What would you say to Paul Swedlepipe?” asked the captain, with a touch -of mischievous humor. “Would he be a good man for the place?” - -“What! Paul Swedlepipe? Do you insult me? I would suggest that you go and -get Hans Drinker’s boy, Jacob, and give him command, before you take Paul -Swedlepipe. To be sure, little Jacob is a fool; but what of that? Paul is -a fool, too.” - -“Then you don’t think Paul would do?” - -“Nix, _no_, NO!” he cried using all the negatives at his command. - -“Well, we concluded, after due discussion, not to take Paul. What do you -say to Hans Drinker?” - -“He is a bigger fool than Jacob!” - -“Then _he_ won’t do; and, in fact, we didn’t think of having him. The man -we have in our mind is one Ten Eyck!” - -“Ha!” said he, without moving a muscle of his face, “that is sensible! -Oh, Saint Nicholas,” he thought, “won’t I crow over that Paul Swedlepipe -after this!” Then he added aloud: “How many men do you leave with us?” - -“Five. You won’t need many, as our expedition must be kept secret. Mind -that, and don’t blab.” - -Ten Eyck nodded his head vigorously, and the captain came to the -principal object of the visit. “You bought a horse yesterday?” - -“Yaw,” said he. - -“What did you give for him?” - -“One hundred and fifty guilders.” - -“Ah; the price is large. I want to see the horse. If he is good, I will -give you a hundred and fifty.” - -“I sells him den. I puys him,” he went on, now using broken English, as -it was more in sympathy with the subject, “vor fear Paul Swedlepipe get -him. Coom over unt see him.” - -The two men followed to the place where the beast had spent the night. -The reader will remember that a tremendous rain had fallen during the -night. The horse had been shut up in a sort of corral of rails which, -however, afforded little shelter. - -To describe the puffed-up and vainglorious manner in which Ten Eyck -approached the corral, would be in vain. He seemed to grow taller, and -his head was thrown back to such a fearful extent that there seemed to be -immediate danger of his falling over on his back. Those familiar with the -ballad which some years since was the delight of the youngsters of this -country and of Merry England, “Lord Bateman,” will remember the engraving -representing that individual. Mynheer Ten Eyck, approaching the corral, -was his exact representative. Mentally, he was crowing over his enemy at -every step. They entered the corral by a bar which was set in holes in -two posts, set upright, about eight feet apart. Ten Eyck put up the bar, -lest the spirited beast should attempt to escape. - -Where was he? There, shivering in one corner of the corral, was a strange -animal, without tail or teeth, for he had dropped them both in the night; -a hide streaked here and there with marks of the coloring-substance which -Boston had used in the metamorphosis; with drooping head and dejected -looks generally. Ten Eyck took in all at a glance. Sold! fearfully and -irrecoverably by the Yankee, aided and abetted by Paul Swedlepipe! - -“Where is your horse?” asked the captain. “Not this, I hope!” - -“You have been cheated again,” cried Van Curter. - -Ten Eyck glared from side to side for an object upon which to wreak his -vengeance. In that unlucky moment Paul, who had heard in some way that -Joseph intended to buy the horse, and had followed to see the fun, peeped -over the rails. The woebegone face of his enemy met his eye. It was too -much. He burst into a stentorian laugh. Ten Eyck turned, wrath blazing -from his eyes, and rushed at his foe. Nothing loth, Paul tumbled into -the inclosure and met him half-way. At any other time, Ten Eyck would -have known better than to peril his fame in open battle. But, the last -drop had been put into the pot of his wrath, and it boiled over. They -met, like Ajax and Hector, in the center of the list, and great deeds -were achieved, whereof Good Hope rung for many a day. As we have said, -Paul was short and choleric, and ready for a fray. The strokes of the -combatants fell thick and fast. Ten Eyck had armed himself, in hot haste, -with the fallen tail of the cause of the quarrel. Paul had caught up -a more hurtful weapon, a short cudgel, which he had found outside the -corral. At him, Paul! At him, Ten Eyck! Now Hector! Now Ajax! It was -the Battle of the Giants. The horse-tail swept the air with a whistling -sound and lighted with stinging force upon the face of Paul. The cudgel -cracked upon the crown of Ten Eyck, and twice brought him to his knee. -The two lookers-on would not interfere, for they knew the quarrel had -been fomenting for many years, and they hoped this would decide it. - -Holding their sides with laughter, the two soldiers watched while the -unequal fight went on—unequal because the weapon of Ten Eyck, beyond -maddening Paul to new exertions, did no harm. At last, a well-directed -blow brought the tall man to the ground. - -As Paul rushed forward, ready, like ancient warriors, to fight for the -body of his conquered foe, the captain held him back: - -“Enough of this. Away to your duty, Paul. Leave him to us.” - -Paul obeyed, and Ten Eyck rose from the ground, a dejected man—a sadly -different one from him who had entered the corral. He was humbled in the -dust. Not only had he been overreached by his hated foe in the bargain, -but he was beaten in open battle. From this day, he dared not meet Paul -Swedlepipe. The star of Ten Eyck had set forever! - -They left the spot, as the captain did not desire to invest in -horse-flesh of that kind. It was in vain that they attempted to console -Ten Eyck. His self-respect was gone; he had been betrayed, beaten, sold! - -“Cheer up, man, cheer up,” said the captain, slapping him upon the -shoulder. “Paul didn’t do it. He never had the head for it at all. It -was all the work of that scoundrel, Boston Bainbridge.” - -“The lightning blast him!” roared Ten Eyck. - -“If I catch that fellow,” said Van Curter, “I will keep my promise to -him. I will strap him up to a swaying limb and give him forty stripes -save one.” - -“I imagine you will have to catch him first,” answered the younger man, -setting his teeth hard. “I have to thank him for his interference when I -met Barlow in the forest, as well as for the blow which I think came from -his hand last night. Barlow is not cool enough to knock a man down who -has a sword in his hand. He would have used the steel.” - -“Hot blood, hot blood, like your own. How did you miss _him_, last night?” - -“It was dark enough, the only light coming from a taper at the back of my -room. No, I do not wonder that I missed him.” - -“Where did you send Carl Anselm?” - -“I thought I told you. In my Indian-fighting I made the friendship of -Wampset, a sachem of the Nipmucks. He gave me a wampum belt, and promised -that, if I needed his help, and would send or bring that belt to him, he -would come to my aid with all the men at his command.” - -“Ah, that is good; where shall we meet them?” - -“At the three hills, near Windsor.” - -“It is a good place. You must be satisfied with one of my horses.” - -“It will do. Let us go in.” - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -AN OLD FOX AND A YOUNG ONE. - - -Carl Anselm rode swiftly up the fertile valley, making the most of the -Narragansett pony. He kept well to the west, away from the post at -Windsor, fearing that, if he met any of Holmes’ men, they might ask -awkward questions. The Nipmuck country proper was further north than -Windsor; but one of their villages, not a stationary one, stood not far -away. This was the village of Wampset, a sort of Indian bandit, who lived -like the gipsys, pitching his wigwams where he chose. He had fully one -hundred men in his village, the bravest and most restless spirits of his -nation. The Pequods, the Romans of New England, knew and hated Wampset. -Many a plan had been laid to surprise his village; but they had always -failed. The party which came, if stronger than Wampset, found only warm -ashes in the ruined lodges; but the Nipmucks had flown. Wampset claimed -no particular hunting-ground, but roamed from the most western border of -the Pequod country to the Connecticut, a river he never crossed. - -The young German had heard of the whereabouts of Wampset, from a man of -the Nipmuck nation who had come into Good Hope a few days before. As -he approached the village, he took careful note of every thicket near -which he passed. All at once, the woods seemed alive with signals, and -stealthy footsteps could be heard. Carl knew he was hemmed in, and was -not surprised when an Indian of commanding presence stood in the path and -ordered him to pause. Carl had been skilled in Indian dialect. - -“What would the white man here? He is far from the strong house of his -people.” - -Carl took off the belt and held it up before the eyes of the man. He -started a little, and then assumed a calm attitude: - -“Let the warrior look upon the belt,” said Carl. “Has he ever seen it?” - -“He has. Where did the white man get it?” - -“From one who sent me to seek the chief, Wampset, that I might speak a -word in his ear.” - -The warrior turned and uttered a whoop. It was evidently an understood -signal, for the sound of retiring footsteps could be heard, and they were -alone. The warrior turned again to Carl: - -“Wampset is always to be found by his friends, and by his enemies when he -_chooses_ to be found. Let the young man speak. Wampset is here.” - -“Where?” - -The savage laid his hand upon his naked breast, in an impressive and -graceful gesture. Carl could not doubt that he spoke the truth. - -“There is a young war-chief upon the banks of the great river, to whom -the chief gave this belt. Long ago, the Indians gave the land to his -people. But the English people of Shawmut have come and built a strong -house upon the river. The young war-chief is coming to drive them away, -and he sent the belt to Wampset, that he may come to his aid with all his -men.” - -The chief mused: - -“I have seen the strong house of the people whom we call Yengees. They -will not go away if they can help it. But, my word is given to my young -brother, and I will go.” - -“He said that you must meet him at the three hills, near the strong -house, at midnight to-night.” - -“It is well. Let the young man come into the village.” - -Carl followed him into the village, which consisted of huts formed only -for summer weather. In winter they had different habitations. - -The chief led the way to his lodge, and invited his guest to sit upon a -pile of skins in one corner. A squaw brought in two large wooden bowls, -with spoons of the same material. One of the bowls contained boiled -venison, and the other parched corn. Flat, wooden dishes of the same -material as the rest, were placed in their hands, and the two made a -hearty meal, for the young man was tired by his long ride. When the meal -was over, they sat and conversed for an hour. Then the chief, thinking -that the young man looked as though he needed rest, left the lodge, and -Carl lay down upon the skins and slept. - -He rose in about an hour, and went out into the village. He found the -warriors making preparations for a march. The chief joined him. - -“Are not these cabins cold in winter?” asked Carl. - -“The Indians do not dwell in such wigwams when the north wind blows -cold,” said the other. “There are pleasant places high up among the -hills, where the Pequods can not find us, and where we can live until the -sun is warm again.” - -“You do not stay in one place long.” - -“The knives of the Pequods are long, and their arrows sharp. They have no -love for Wampset. They come upon his lodges in the night; but, Wampset is -not a fool. He knows when to hide, and when to be found. The sparks are -not out in the lodges when the Pequods come, but the men of Wampset are -gone.” - -“Do you ever fight them?” - -“When they are not too many. The braves of Wampset have often sent them -howling back to their lodges. But when we are weak and they are strong, -we hide in the bush. Sassacus, sachem of the Pequods, would give much -wampum for the scalp of Wampset.” - -“Does Wampset love the white chiefs at Windsor?” - -“Wampset can not love the men who tread upon the graves of his fathers. -The Pequods are my enemies. By day and night they watch for the -camp-fires of Wampset; but they are brave, and they are _Indians_. Is the -white man owner of the soil? Did he receive it as an inheritance? No; it -is the land of the Indian. Pequod or Narragansett, Mohawk or Nipmuck, it -is _theirs_! No, Wampset does not love white men; but the young chief -who saved my life in battle is my friend. I will aid him, if it is in my -power.” - -“I must not stay,” said Carl. “There is work before me. I will go out -toward the fort, and you must follow with your braves. Give me a token by -which I may pass your warriors in safety.” - -The chief unclasped a wampum bracelet from his brawny arm, and fastened -it upon that of his young friend. “The Nipmuck doesn’t live,” said he, -“who would lay a finger upon the man who wears this. Go in peace.” - -Carl rose, took up his rifle and left the lodge. His horse was tied to -a post near the door. He mounted and rode away toward the east. Wampset -looked after him with a half-sigh, for he saw in him a type of the men -before whom his nation was fading like dew in the sunshine. - -Carl pursued his way until he struck the river a few miles from Windsor. -There was something peculiar in the temper of this young man. He was -relentless to his enemies—eager for their blood; but true as steel to -his friends. In his code, nothing was too much to do for the man who had -saved his life. To risk his own seemed to him a duty which he _must_ -perform. Young as he was, he was a fit tool for such work as Joseph Van -Zandt assigned him. He had fled from the old country with the blood of -a brother on his hands—shed in a moment of anger. Others had felt his -steel, and the story had never been told. He thought it an easy way to -pay his debt to Joseph, merely by taking the life of William Barlow. - -Approaching the trading-post, he paused and considered. He felt quite -certain that he might enter the place without fear, as there had been -no open rupture between the commandants of the two posts. But he was -naturally of a suspicious disposition, a feeling which is common to such -natures as his. - -He finally rode into the place and was kindly received. He gave them -to understand that he had been out upon a scout at the command of Van -Curter, and had been chased by a part of the band of Wampset. They knew -that the young German was an active scout, and thought nothing of the -story. Willie and Boston Bainbridge had not yet come in. After finding -out all he cared to know, Carl rode away toward Good Hope, upon the trail -usually pursued by travelers. Once out of sight of the village, he went -aside from the path, took down his rifle and looked at the priming, and -sat down beside the trail, with a look of grim determination upon his -face. - - * * * * * - -The two Englishmen, after their hasty flight from Good Hope, had pressed -on as fast as their feet would carry them toward Windsor. Boston’s -knowledge of the proposed assault caused him many an inward chuckle. He -gloried in the discomfiture of Van Zandt. - -“I heard a fall,” said Willie, “while they were pursuing us from the -house. How was that, Bainbridge?” - -“That,” replied Bainbridge, with an indescribable twist of his features, -“_was_ caused by the fall of—something.” - -“A wise observation. What was it?” - -“I would not be certain upon this point, worthy young man of war,” said -Boston. “I can not fight with carnal weapons. I am a man of peace, and -live by trade.” - -“Don’t keep up that farce here, I beg you. I have laughed in secret at -the manner in which you have kept this character, until I am nearly past -laughing again. But, what is the use of keeping it up here?” - -“It must be done, Willie. Until Good Hope is ours, and the Dutch driven -out of the valley, I am nothing but Boston Bainbridge. Do you think any -of them suspect, except Katrine?” - -“Yes. Once or twice you have given orders in your usual tone. Van Zandt -heard you to-night, I am sure. Katrine and Theresa heard you. They are -pretty sharp people, and hard to blind.” - -“Katrine is a darling,” said Bainbridge. “I hate to deceive her. But it -must all come right sometime. When she is my wife we can laugh together -over the life of a hawker.” - -“I wonder what old Paul Swedlepipe and Ten Eyck are doing about this -time. Won’t the fellow tear when he sees that horse after the rain? Oh, -I would give fifty pounds to see his face at the time. This rain will -wash every grain of color off from his hide, and we should see a skeleton -instead of the horse I sold him. Never mind; we have a right to spoil the -Egyptians. Ha! The bush moves!” - -The sudden exclamation caused Willie, who stood at his side, to start -back in some alarm. The movement saved his life, for the rifle of Carl -Anselm cracked at that moment, and the ball tore a bloody track through -the fleshy part of his arm. In an instant the bushes parted to the rush -of the body of Bainbridge. For a man of peace, he certainly behaved in -a wonderful manner. The movement was so sudden, that he was close to the -side of the would-be assassin before he could turn. Carl was no coward. -His courage had been proved in a hundred different ways. Drawing his -knife, he made a sudden rush at the hawker, and struck at him viciously -with the keen blade. Boston nimbly eluded the stroke and returned it by -a slashing blow, which laid open the cheek of the other, marking him for -life. As soon as he felt the wound, Carl turned and fled along the river -shore, at his best speed, with the hawker following like a sleuth-hound -on the trail. He passed round a point of rocks which completely hid him -from view. Bainbridge rushed forward, in time to catch a glimpse of the -German upon the back of his horse, which he had tied there for security. -His jeering laugh came back to them on the wind. - -“He has escaped,” cried Boston, as Willie came up. “He got to his horse. -The devil fly away with him!” - -“Is he hurt?” - -“Yes. I laid open his cheek from the ear to the chin. The scoundrel. He -will carry my mark to the grave. That he may, is my fervent prayer. Do -you know him?” - -“I have never seen him before.” - -“I have. He is a minion of Van Zandt, or my name is not Bainbridge. It -is young Carl Anselm. That bullet was meant for you. How could he miss, -when he was not thirty feet away? The miserable scoundrel belongs in -Good Hope. They say his character is none of the best, even among his -associates. Let me see your arm.” - -With some labor and pain, Willie stripped the jacket and shirt from the -wound and showed it to Bainbridge. It was a deep flesh-wound, and Boston -shook his head. Going down to the river bank, he gathered some leaves -from a plant which grew there. These he bruised into a poultice, with -which he bound the wounded limb. - -“I know the nature of the herb,” he said. “An old Indian woman told me -about it, and tried it on a bear-scratch I once got in a fight with that -animal. It was wonderful in its effects.” - -“It feels comfortable,” said Willie, placing the arm in a sling which the -other improvised from a sword-belt. “I will yet have the pleasure of -wringing the man’s neck who did me this favor.” - -“He is no enemy to despise,” replied Boston. “When you have an open, -avowed enemy, you know how to guard against him; but a sneaking fellow -like this, who would shoot you from behind a bush, is more to be feared. -He is full of energy, and will come upon you in impossible places. In the -assault to-night, look out for _him_!” - -“You think they will come, then?” - -“They are not the men to be laggards. I can not understand what Carl was -doing here. He certainly was not sent out on purpose to shoot you. I -could give a reason if I knew where Wampset was.” - -“I know just where he is encamped.” - -“Where is he?” - -“About twenty miles away. An Indian of the Narragansett tribe, who came -into Windsor the day after you left, told us where he was. I know that -man. He is an outcast from all tribes, and yet he maintains himself -against any force they can bring against him. He must have a powerful -mind.” - -“He has. I have seen him once or twice, and he is a noble Indian. With -all his prejudices against the whites, he has none of the cold-blooded -animosity of Sassacus, nor the supercilious behavior of Mennawan. But -this news troubles me. I doubt not he will come to the aid of the Dutch, -for I have heard it said that Van Zandt once did him a great service -which the Indian will not hesitate to repay, and now is the Dutchman’s -time of want, if ever.” - -“Then we have, indeed, much to dread, if Wampset is brought against us.” - -“What Indians were at the post when you came away?” - -“Only the young son of the Narragansett chief, the Fox.” - -“None better. He is truly named. Let us hasten. Do you think he will stay -in Windsor?” - -“He said he would until the full moon.” - -“Good. Make haste.” - -They hurried into the post. Catching sight of an idler near the gate, -Boston called him, and asked him if the “Fox” was yet in the post. Being -answered in the affirmative, he desired that he should be sent to him at -once. - -Willie turned away, and entered a log-house in one corner of the -stockade, bestowing a smile of recognition upon a young Indian, who was -coming out. The latter made his way at once to Boston, who greeted him -kindly. - -“How is the chief, your father?” he asked, touching the young man upon -the naked shoulder with his open palm. “How long will it be before he -will give the tribe into the hands of his son, who, though he is yet -young, has left his mark upon the enemies of his nation?” - -“The chief is very well, and sends his greetings to the white chief; his -warriors hope it will be many years before he lays down the wampum of a -head chief for another to take up. Who is worthy to take the mantle of -Miantonomah?” - -“None but his son, when Miantonomah is ready. The young chief has often -said that he only waits to do the white man a service. Will he do it -to-day?” - -“When was the Fox unwilling to aid his white brothers?” - -“It will take him into the forest.” - -“That is well; the forest is his home.” - -“He must keep his hatchet keen, for the Pequods may lurk along the track.” - -“A Narragansett does not fear a Pequod.” - -“It is well; now let the Fox listen.” - -In a few decided words, the Yankee informed the young man what he wished -him to do. Having thoroughly mastered it and acquiesced in the service, -he took his weapons, tightened his belt, and left the post, taking the -trail which led to the camp of Wampset. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -“THERE’S MANY A SLIP ’TWIXT THE CUP AND THE LIP.” - - -Van Curter and his men made good time in their march to Windsor, and at -four o’clock in the afternoon they were encamped behind the three hills. -Hardly had they settled themselves to wait for night, when Carl Anselm -came in. His face was disfigured by the knife-cut; the blood lay in -thick clots about it, and his small eyes sparkled with vicious fire under -his heavy brows. He made his way at once to the place where Van Zandt -sat, under a large maple tree. - -“Welcome, Carl,” said the captain. “In the name of the saints, what is -the matter with your face?” - -“I have taken the mark in your service,” replied the other, angrily. -“Come away from the rest and I will tell you how.” - -The captain followed him to a retired spot, then called upon him to speak. - -“I waited in the path for the coming of your enemy until I became weary -and fell asleep; their voices woke me as they came, and I started up so -quickly that the bush stirred. He was not alone.” - -“Ah-ha!” - -“No; that cursed spy—for he is nothing better—Bainbridge, was with him. -Sturm and wetter! I will have _his_ heart’s blood upon my own account.” - -“On with your tale, quick. You fired, did you not?” - -“Yes. As the bush stirred, Bainbridge called out to his companion, and he -jumped; if he had not done it, a ball would have been in his heart. My -curse upon the meddler.” - -“Then he escaped?” demanded the other, hoarsely. - -“Escaped. Not fully, for my ball struck him on the arm, and there was -blood starting through his clothing. Before I could look, that devil, -whom we call the peddler, was upon me with an open knife. I had mine in -my hand, and made a blow at him. He is quick as a cat; he dodged the -knife, and struck at me. You see the result. I lay that wound up against -him. I shall do him mischief yet.” - -“What did you do then?” - -“I saw that he was not what he seemed, and more than a match for me, I -dropped the knife and ran for my horse, I had tied him in a ravine by the -river-side. Curse the Yankee, he was like a greyhound; if there had been -twenty rods more to run I should be a dead man; but I got to my horse and -was off.” - -“It is a total failure, then?” - -“Not so. Before, I worked only for you; now I work for both. I have an -account with the man who calls himself Boston Bainbridge.” - -“You might have had before, if you had any eyes. You love Katrine, the -cousin of Theresa.” - -The young man turned upon him with a quick look. “Who told you that?” he -said. - -“It matters not.” - -“Why do you bring her into the conversation?” - -“Have you no eyes? Why, man, the other night, while Barlow stood at the -window of my willful maid, whispering in her ear, whom think you stood at -that of Katrine?” - -“Who?” - -“Boston Bainbridge.” - -“You know this to be true? It is not a trick to make me more surely your -friend?” - -“I saw it myself.” - -“Ah.” Carl stopped, and with his knife-blade stabbed the earth at his -feet. “Would that I had him here,” he cried, “would that I knelt upon his -breast as I kneel upon the earth. He is my enemy until death.” - -“You never knew this?” - -“I knew that she was proud, and would not listen to me. I hoped for -better things; I thought that a lover’s persistency would bring about the -desired end, and this is the re—result.” - -His countenance became as that of a fiend; in the heat of his passion -the blood gushed anew from his wounded face. He caught some of it in his -hand, and cast it from him, crying passionately: - -“Let this blood witness against him.” After that he was calmer. - -“We will work together, my master; much may be done where there is a good -heart in the cause. I am with you, body and soul.” - -“The compact is made. By knife, cord and bullet, I will be true to you in -this business.” - -“So let it be,” responded Carl. - -“Have you seen Wampset?” - -“Yes. Before nightfall he will be here with a hundred men.” - -“Well done. The English power shall be swept from this river; our enemies -shall be—where?” - -“It matters little so that they cumber the earth no more. It is time -Wampset were here.” - -“You are sure he will keep his appointment?” - -“The promise of an Indian is sure. He will keep his word.” - -“Did you look over the block-house and note the entrances?” - -“Yes. There are eighteen men in all, now that this spy and Barlow are -here; the whole is under the command of William Holmes; his second in -command is his brother, who is away in Boston.” - -“His brother?” - -“Yes.” - -“I never heard of such a man until I came here.” - -“Few have; he is seldom seen; people who live in this region know that -there is such a man as Robert Holmes. He tramps the forest, makes -treaties with the Indians, and prepares the country for the next inroad -of Yankees. No man can put his finger on him and say, ‘This is Robert -Holmes,’ and yet, he is a fixed fact. The people in Windsor have great -faith in him, but are non-committal about him.” - -“He is a mystery, then?” - -“One which we can not unravel. Some of our people swear that Robert -Holmes is only a name for a devil, who has taken up his abode at Windsor. -I begin to think it is half right, for who but a devil could exert such -an influence over Yankees?” - -“Phew, such talk as that will do for other men than us; as for this -imaginary potentate, if there is such a man, we probably shall meet him -to-night, and try the virtue of cold steel upon him. I wonder Wampset is -not here; he is not a man to shirk his appointment. Who comes there? Is -this the way they keep guard?” - -An Indian, gliding forward like a stealthy ghost, at that moment appeared -before him. At the first look, Van Zandt knew him; it was one of the -men who belonged to the band of Wampset—his messenger, a light, active -fellow, with a cunning face. - -The first salutation of the captain was sharp and to the point, “Where is -Wampset? It is long since the chief was known to linger on the war-trail.” - -“Wampset has not lingered. But, he can not come to the aid of his young -friend. The Hawk hovers with outspread wings above his tree-top. Shall -not the Eagle guard his own nest first?” - -“What mean you?” - -“Sassacus has sent Mennewan upon the war-trail. A dog who had eaten bread -in our lodges told the Pequods that the Eagle rested his tired wings upon -the banks of the great river. The Pequods are very mad for the scalp of -Wampset, and his band are known in every lodge in the nation. They are -very brave.” - -“How do you know this?” - -“The band had painted their faces for war and set forth. Near the -river-side they met the Fox. He is the son of Miantonomah, sachem of the -Narragansetts. The Fox is very cunning, and he loves Wampset. He has -sworn to have the scalp of Sassacus. He told us that he had been in the -Pequod lodges, and they were on the way. They did not know that he was -with them. None are so cunning as the Fox.” - -“What did he do then?” - -“What could he do? Should he leave his little ones a prey to the -tomahawks of the Pequods?” - -This was unanswerable, and Van Zandt could only mutter curses on the -unlucky fate which had worked against him. If he had only known the -truth, _fate_ would not have had the curses on that day. But, curses -would do no good. Wampset was by this time half way back to his camp, -and the Fox, who had done his work well, was back in Windsor, reporting -to his employer the success of the stratagem. As the reader has no doubt -surmised by this time, the coming of the Pequods was a coinage of the -brain of Boston, who hoped by this to send the Indians back to their -camp. The ruse succeeded to a charm, and deprived the Dutch of their -allies. - -There was nothing for it but to take the place without help, and Carl, -in company with Captain Van Zandt, set out to reconnoiter the position. -It was now growing dark, and they advanced with caution. All about the -stockade was still. The silence, in fact, was so profound as to be -suspicious. Van Zandt, a practiced Indian-fighter, had his suspicions of -such quiescence. He advanced carefully. There was only one light in the -stockade. That was a fire in the center, around which sat four or five -of the garrison. They were all stalwart men, for Captain Holmes brought -no others into the wilderness. The spy could see through the chinks that -their arms lay beside them, and ready to take up at a moment’s notice. - -In the mean time, Carl had stolen round to the other side of the -building, and looked through the chinks in the logs. The cabin in which -the officers lived stood close at hand, and through another orifice in -the logs, the young German could see the interior. There were three men -in the cabin—Barlow, Captain Holmes and Boston. They sat upon stools, -by the side of a wooden table, talking eagerly in low tones. From the -place where he stood, it was impossible for Carl to hear a word. But, -to his astonishment, he saw that Boston not only took an active part in -the conversation, but his opinion was listened to with great deference. -Carl’s blood boiled in his veins. Since the last night, an intense hatred -of the peddler had grown up in his heart. This was the man who had stolen -the heart of Katrine. He should die. - -He drew a pistol from his pocket, and leveled it through the chinks. The -light of a candle upon the table glimmered along the barrel. He pulled -the trigger. The hammer came down upon the flint without a report. The -priming had been shaken out of the pan in coming from the camp. With a -muttered invective Carl slipped behind the logs of the stockade and felt -for his powder-flask. He had left it in the camp! The passion of the man -was fearful to see. He ran back to find his captain, and lead him to the -spot. The moment his eye rested upon the group he put a pistol into the -hand of Carl. “Hold,” he said, as that person was about to fire. “Don’t -do it. We must get nearer, and hear what they say.” The stockade was -about twelve feet high, but the corners were rough, and stood out about -six inches from the rest of the work, forming a sort of ladder. Van Zandt -took the lead, climbed over, and dropped down into the work, between the -wall and the cabin. - -The conversation continued; but, to the rage of the two spies, it was -now carried on in whispers. It was impossible to hear a word. Twice Carl -raised his pistol, and as often he was restrained by the hand of his -leader, who had no notion of betraying their presence by a shot, while -they were inside the fort. He feared the men who sat by the fire. - -“In God’s name,” whispered Carl, “are you going to let him escape? I must -fire.” - -“Who do you speak of?” - -“He. That devil, Bainbridge.” - -“I have not so much quarrel with him as with Barlow. Let us get out of -this. I tell you you must not, _shall_ not fire. Come.” - -Carl obeyed, sullenly enough. They climbed the wall without molestation, -and reached the other side. All at once the captain was startled by the -report of a pistol, and saw Carl looking through the crack, with the -pistol still smoking in his hand. A terrible uproar was heard in the -cabin. - -“Run for it, captain,” shouted Carl. “Missed him,” he hissed, in his -desperation. - -They ran in silence until they reached the edge of the woods, when Van -Zandt turned, and took his companion by the throat. The epithets he -exhausted upon him were of the most fearful nature. Carl shook him off -with an angry gesture. - -“Take your hand from my throat, Captain Joseph. You ought to know, by -this time, that the blood of the Anselms is hot, and can not brook an -insult. Hands off, I said!” - -“You infernal hound! Did I not order you not to fire?” - -“I know it. If I had expected to die the next moment, I would have fired -that pistol. I will have him yet. He is doomed. Either he or I.” - -“Little cares he for such as you are. Fool, do you not see the immense -advantage this man has over you in every point. He is cool; your blood -is like fire. He calculates every chance; you act upon the first thought -which enters your crazy head. You have, doubtless, by this rash act, -spoiled our chance of taking the stockade. If you have, I am not the man -to shield you from the rage of Van Curter.” - -“Take your own course,” replied Carl, angrily. “I care not. You had -better look to it, or you will cancel the bond between us.” - -This was what Van Zandt did not care to do, and he begun to conciliate -the man. This led him back to the subject of Bainbridge. - -“The unquiet beast stooped for a paper he had dropped just as I fired. -What has happened to me? Is my aim gone? When was I ever known to miss -such shots as these?” - -They hurried back to camp, and put the men in order for the attack. When -they approached a change had taken place in the aspect of affairs. The -works were now brilliantly lighted. Pitch-pine torches blazed in every -crevice; the bright barrels of guns glistened along the wall. Van Curter -halted his men and came forward, demanding a parley. - -“It shall be granted,” cried a voice from within. “Wait.” - -In a few moments the door of the stockade swung open, and two men came -out. They were Captain Holmes and Barlow. Calling Van Zandt to his side, -Van Curter advanced to meet them. - -“You have seen me once before,” said Holmes, “and know I have authority. -What has the commandant to say to me.” - -“I am in the service of the Dutch republic. When you passed up the river, -on your way to this place, I warned you to strike and stay. You refused, -and kept on your course! I was not in a position then to enforce my -commands. I had even made up my mind to tolerate you, as well as I might. -But, since you have been here, the riot and disturbance caused by your -men are beyond the power of my nature to endure longer.” - -“Of what do you complain?” - -“You are a cheating set.” - -“Ah!” - -“You sell my men horses which are good for nothing.” - -“They ought to know better than to buy.” - -“But they don’t. Your men make a very bad horse look beautiful. There is -one vagabond among you whom I will give forty stripes save one, if he -ever comes to Good Hope. I have sworn it.” - -“What is his name?” - -“Boston Bainbridge.” - -“Ah, indeed! What has Boston been doing?” - -“Every thing that is bad; nothing that is good. I will make him wish that -he had never been born. He sold a horse to one of my council for a very -high price, bought it back for five guilders, and sold it to another man -for a hundred and fifty.” - -“And you intend to flog him?” - -“Surely.” - -“I can’t do better than to warn him to keep out of your way when I see -him again. Boston _is_ a cheat in _one_ way. But to business. You have -run out of your course to talk of him. What are the men of Good Hope -doing here?” - -“You are on our land. We claim it as the right of our country, in the -name of Hendrick Hudson, the man whom your country would not honor, and -who came to us for his due. You must break up this trading-house, and -take yourself again to your sloop, get out of the country, and keep out -of it.” - -“You are modest in your demands, sir. I will say that for you. What if I -refuse?” - -“You see these men?” - -“Yes.” - -“They have arms in their hands.” - -“I see the arms. They are very rusty. You don’t use them much, I guess.” - -“If you refuse we shall take the place.” - -“Perhaps you mean you will _try_ to take it.” - -“We will _take_ it,” said Van Zandt, speaking for the first time. - -“If you can,” replied Barlow, returning the Dutchman’s look of hate and -defiance. - -“Be quiet, Willie,” said the captain. “It can do no good. Now, sir, to -your demand. I hold this post in the name and by the authority of my -monarch, king of England. I care nothing for other powers. My force is -not large; but, while I or any of my officers or men can lift an arm in -its defense, no Dutchman shall enter the block-house, except as a friend. -If he comes as an enemy we will give him English steel.” - -“You speak plainly.” - -“I speak as I feel. Twice to-day murder has been attempted by one of your -men. We know him. His name is Carl Anselm, and he is a servant of Captain -Van Zandt.” - -“Murder!” - -“Nothing else. This morning he fired from a bush and missed my lieutenant -here, or rather wounded him in the arm, though his intent was to kill.” - -“The other?” - -“That occurred to-night. The captain and his servant came down together -to reconnoiter. While the captain was on one side of the building, his -servant snapped a pistol at one of my officers through a chink in the -logs. Then they climbed over the wall at the corner.” - -“The devil!” cried Joseph. - -“You see we were not altogether uninformed in regard to your movements, -sir. You climbed over the wall and listened at the chink in the cabin. We -whispered, and you could not hear what we said.” - -“_Are_ there devils upon earth?” muttered Joseph, in utter astonishment. - -“Your man still wanted to fire, and you restrained him. You climbed the -wall first, and as your back was turned, Carl fired the pistol, and -missed. Is the account correct?” - -“Perfectly. And now tell me, if you will do so, how you know all this?” - -“Certainly. You were watched all the time. And since Mynheer Van Curter -has thought proper to speak of one of my men, and of the punishment he -intends to give him, let me say that I have my eye on this Carl Anselm. -If he falls into my hands he shall not taste a whipping-post, but he -shall have a ride on a higher horse than any he has ever saddled. And he -will find it a tough colt to ride. I shall hang him as sure as my name is -Holmes.” - -“You refuse to surrender?” - -“Utterly—and I advise you to clear out at once.” - -“The consequences must light upon your own head then.” - -“I am ready to abide them. My stockade is strong, and I have men enough -to man it. If you try to take it you will have to fight. It is useless -to prolong this conference. Let me bid you good-night.” - -As they turned to leave, Barlow saw some men creeping up in the rear, led -by Carl. He whispered to the captain. He turned quickly, when Van Curter -laid hands upon him, and attempted to detain him. Willie found himself -in the grasp of Joseph. With one effort of his prodigious strength, -Holmes dashed Van Curter breathless to the ground, and turned to the aid -of Willie. But, the young men, clinching, had fallen, and Joseph’s head -struck the earth with such force as to deprive him of his senses. Rising -quickly, the two turned toward the stockade. There were seven men between -them and the gate—unarmed, however, as they had intended to overpower the -officers—not to harm them. Holmes measured the distance to the gate with -his eye, threw forward his chest, bringing his fists up to his sides. The -Dutchmen gathered in a body to seize them as they started to run for the -gate. As the two men came near they increased their speed, and came down -upon the little group with the might of giants; using their hands in a -manner which astounded their would-be captors. Carl, who threw himself -directly in Willie’s path, got a “facer” from the one uninjured arm which -sent him down as if struck by a bullet, with a broken nose. Right and -left went the Dutchmen, the dull thud of the blows sounding ominously of -defeat to them. At last the two men broke through the crowd and reached -the stockade, breathing hard, but not in the least hurt. - -“The scoundrels,” said one of the garrison. “Say the word, captain, and -we will go out and whip the entire lot.” - -“That word I won’t say. I think too much of my men. What are they doing, -Bailey?” - -“Picking up the broken bones and taking them away. Oh, sir, if you could -only have seen the blow the lieutenant gave the Dutchman who was here -this morning!” - -“I am glad he got a stroke at him. I will hang that fellow yet.” - -“Here comes Van Curter again, sir,” said one of the men. “What shall I -say to him?” - -“Give him a shot. Be careful not to hit him; only give him a hint to keep -out of way or he will get hurt.” - -The man obeyed. Van Curter, seeing the uselessness of further parley, -formed his men in the woods and made ready for the attack. Holmes threw -more wood on the fire, ordered his men to cheer, which they did with a -will, and waited. - -“Do you think they will try it,” asked the captain of Barlow. - -“I don’t know,” he replied. “We are ready for them in any case.” - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -CUDGELS TO THE FRONT. - - -Van Curter did not intend to give up without a struggle. The attempt to -take the officers prisoners was made at the instigation of Captain Van -Zandt, who argued that they were to the garrison at Windsor what the -head is to the body, and that the head once off the body is useless. How -poorly they succeeded has been seen. Still at their posts within the -fort, Holmes knew that they were gathering to attack him. He passed the -word to the men to fight steadily. - -Van Curter’s men advanced from four sides, bearing ladders hastily -constructed, with which to scale the walls. Even now Holmes did not like -to use his rifles on them, and called on them to stay. They only answered -by yells of defiance, and quickened their pace. Holmes reluctantly gave -the order to fire. - -The balls whistled about the ears of the Dutch. Several of them were -wounded, but none killed. The injured were hurried to the rear, and the -rest planted their ladders and begun the ascent. Holmes, who did not like -to kill any of them, ordered his men to throw down the ladders as fast as -they were placed. As there were generally two or three men on each ladder -when they fell, bruises and broken ribs resulted. - -“Cudgels to the front!” cried out a laughing voice at this juncture. - -The men turned. Boston Bainbridge was just coming out of the cabin, -carrying an armful of stout oak cudgels, which he had been smoothing so -as to fit the hand. These he distributed to the men, who received them -with lusty cheers. - -“Throw open the gate,” cried Boston. “We shall show these knaves that -we do not fear them. What do they mean by coming against us with empty -hands. They will bring guns next time.” - -The gates were flung open with a will, and the eighteen men of the -garrison found themselves opposed by about twenty-five Dutchmen, the -rest having been placed _hors de combat_ in various ways. But, they were -not the men to yield tamely, and catching up clubs and stones, they met -the sortié bravely. Foremost among the party from the stockade, Boston -Bainbridge came—not the Boston who sold his wares in Good Hope, but an -active forester, eager for a fray. Carl Anselm, with his bruised and -distorted face, looking fiendlike under the glare of the fires, rushed at -him with a knife in his hand. But he went down at once like an ox under -the ax of the butcher. The Dutch tried in vain to stand up before the men -of Windsor. They were driven from the field, and made their way back to -camp, dragging their wounded with them. - -Next day they went back to Good Hope. They wanted to be as far as -possible from the long-armed men of Windsor. With curses both loud and -deep, Van Curter led his men home, closed his gates, and sat down to -think. - -“Who is Boston Bainbridge?” he asked of Captain Van Zandt. - -“The devil himself,” replied that worthy. - -“At least, he is something more than a peddler. Did you see him fight? -Our men went down like grass before the mower. He has powerful arms.” - -“Poor Carl is disfigured for life. First, that blow he took from Barlow -spread his nose all over his face, and now his head is broken. He will go -mad if he does not get revenge.” - -“Where is he?” - -“The surgeon has him.” - -“That was a bad failure.” - -“Bad! I should think so. But who, I ask you, would have thought it -possible for two men to escape from such a net? I would have periled my -soul on my power to hold Barlow; but my head struck a stone. That will be -settled sometime. When we meet again with swords in our hands, one or the -other must die. Where is Theresa?” - -Van Curter pointed to the door of the next room. The young man rose, -pushed open the door, and entered. Theresa sat at a table, engaged in -some household duty. She looked up with an odd sort of smile as he -entered. - -“Have you no welcome for me, Theresa?” he asked, in a tone of passionate -entreaty. - -“Would it not be better, Joseph, for us to cease at once at _playing_ -friendship, when I, at least, have not a spark of respect for you in my -heart?” - -“When did I become so hateful to you?” he asked, in a low tone. - -“I was afraid of you always; but the time from which I ceased to hold -even respect toward you was when you struck your hand upon this table, -and swore to kill Willie Barlow.” - -“You do not remember, Theresa, that those words were spoken in the heat -of passion, aroused by your refusal of me. Would a man with any heart -have said less? Listen to me, Theresa Van Curter, and mark my words well. -You have it in your power to make for yourself and for me a glorious -destiny. I have influence in the old world. There is nothing I can not -claim in the way of honor and wealth. My love for you is so entire that -you can shape me as you will. My nature only needs a guiding hand—a -loving, tender, womanly hand like yours. Be my wife. We will turn our -backs forever upon this new country and all its bad associations, and -make a new life in our own fatherland.” - -Theresa mused. His appeal had been so impassioned, so full of heart, that -it was not in her nature to hurt his feelings. He noted her indecision: - -“You hesitate, my darling! I have not given you time enough. You want -more. Take it. Weeks, months, a year! I can wait, only give me some hope, -and promise that you will no longer listen to this plotting Englishman.” - -“Do not deceive yourself, Joseph,” she said. “It is not in my power to do -as you ask. Spare me any longer speech upon the subject. It is only just -to me that you should cease.” - -“You are hasty; you should take time.” - -“This was decided some time since,” she returned, quietly gathering up -some things from the table, and placing them in a box at her side. - -“It then remains for me to tell you what may result, if you push me too -far. Remember, I can bear, and have borne much for your sake. There is -only one way by which you can save yourself and him.” - -“You have no power over him,” she answered, with a curl of her proud lip. -“What may be the way in which we may be _saved_?” - -“By being my wife.” - -“Death before such a redemption! Do you use threats to me?” - -“Not at all. I never threaten. I act, as you and your minion shall find. -I bid you good-night, Theresa Van Curter—as a lover, forever. In after -times we may meet again, and you shall say that I am not a man to be -despised. Give you good-night.” - -The door closed behind him, and Theresa was alone. Once rid of his -presence, and the firmness which had sustained her through the interview -gave way; she dropped her head upon the table, and gave way to a flood of -tears. - -The night came, dark and gloomy, and Theresa retired early. The men of -Good Hope, tired by their fruitless expedition, sunk into repose. There -was no rain, though the clouds covered the whole face of the sky. Theresa -could not sleep; she rose, threw on a light wrapper, and sat at the -latticed casement, the place where Willie had so often come. - -A dark figure rose outside the window, and a scream rose to her lips, -which was hushed by a low “hist” from the stranger. She threw open the -casement with care. It was Willie. - -“I have not time to exchange a word,” he said, kissing her. “Whatever -happens to-night, keep to your room. Warn Katrine, also; but be -cautious.” - -With these words he was gone, and she sat in breathless expectation. An -hour dragged by, when, all at once, there rose upon the still night air -the shouts of men in combat. The Windsor men had turned the tables and -attacked Good Hope! - -Cheers and execrations mingled upon the sultry air. Dark forms flitted to -and fro in the gloom. The Windsor men had followed close upon the trail -of the men of Good Hope, and attacked them at the hour when the senses of -all but the guards were locked in slumber. Indeed, some of the men yet -lingered in the works before the assault came. - -In a very short space the outer work was won, and the Dutch driven into -the houses within the works. These they barricaded, and prepared to make -a vigorous resistance. - -At the first alarm, Van Zandt and Van Curter were upon their feet and -seized their weapons. In the _melée_ outside, they were separated in some -way, and were driven into different houses. The one in which the captain -took refuge was that of the commandant. Carl was with him. - -There were three of these houses in the works, built of logs, notched -and squared at the end. They were solid structures, capable of resisting -a very strong force. About twenty in the garrison were fit for duty, of -whom ten were in one house, under Van Curter, seven under Van Zandt, -while, by a series of unlucky accidents, Paul Swedlepipe, Ten Eyck and -Hans Drinker were by themselves. As neither of these worthies would be -dictated to by the other, the house was divided against itself. All the -rest of the men were either wounded or prisoners. - -“You look a little out,” said Hans, “unt see if dem Yankees out dar’, -Paul Swedlepipe.” The Dutchmen, as if the occasion called for it, now -talked in English. - -“Vat you dink, Hans Drinker? You dells _me_ vas I must do? No. _You_ go -look mit your own eyes, schoost like pung in a peer barrel.” - -“I pe de oldest; I commands dis house,” said Ten Eyck. - -“Don’t you vant to puy a _horse_?” demanded Paul, in a threatening tone, -by way of reminding his adversary of the battle they had fought in the -horse-corral. Ten Eyck subsided instanter. - -“I commands dish house,” asserted Drinker, “by orders mit te commandant.” - -“You’s a liar,” said Ten Eyck. - -“So he is,” said Paul, “and you’s a pigger liar.” - -At this moment a sound was heard like the ripping up of a bark roof. All -three cast their eyes upward. - -“Vat’s dat?” asked Ten Eyck. - -“You go and see,” replied Paul. - -“I’ll see you in—Amsterdam first,” answered the other, stoutly. “You go, -Hans Drinker.” - -“I won’t,” said Hans. He lighted his pipe, and sat down to smoke. Paul -and Ten Eyck followed his example. - -The ripping of boards continued, and something could be heard dropping -upon the floor above. - -“Something cooms into dis ’ous’,” quoth Hans, taking his pipe from his -mouth to say it. - -“Dink so myself,” rejoined Paul. - -“Yaw, den vas shall happen?” - -“You go see.” - -“Nix—nay—_no_! You go, Ten Eyck.” - -“Nein!” thundered Ten Eyck, puffing away with great vigor at the long -pipe. As he spoke, the doorway was darkened, and four of the detested -Windsor men sprung into the room. They had mounted the roof, torn off the -bark roofing, and dropped into the garret. - -“Surrender!” cried the foremost, as he drew near. “No use of fighting. -Who commands here?” - -“Me!” burst simultaneously from three pair of lips. - -“All of you, eh? A corporate body, this. Come, boys, let’s bind these -fellows fast and leave them.” - -With this benevolent intention he approached Hans Drinker. When he came -near enough, it suddenly occurred to the Dutchman that it would be no -more than his duty to fight a little. Accordingly, he unexpectedly let -go his right fist, taking the Yankee under the ear. This prowess excited -the others to feats of valor. Paul seized a stool upon which he had been -seated, and hurled it at the head of his adversary. Ten Eyck grabbed the -poker from the wide fireplace, and attacked his adversary with great zeal. - -But fire soon burns out when the fuel is scant. Hans, conceiving that he -had done his duty to the State of Holland, submitted to be bound, after -knocking down his man. This left four men to two. Paul was overpowered in -a moment; but Ten Eyck retreated to a corner, from which he menaced all -who dared approach with the poker. This at first excited laughter on the -part of the men, but soon turned to anger at his pertinacity. He stood -near the fire and thrust the poker into the hot coals when it was likely -to become cool. - -“This Dutchman is too hot,” said one of the men. “Let us cool him.” - -A large tub of dirty water stood in one corner of the room. Two of the -men brought this and placed it in front of the obdurate Hollander. - -“Will you give up?” cried the leader. - -“Nein!” replied Ten Eyck. “Never so long as I pe shoost as I am.” - -“Lift her, boys!” was the order. The two men raised the tub from the -floor. “One—two—three—and away!” - -The contents of the tub were discharged upon the person of Ten Eyck, -cooling his ardor and poker at the same time. As he stood there, with the -water running in streams from every angle upon his figure, the men threw -themselves upon him, and tied him neck and heels. - -“That job is done,” said the leader. “Now, boys, follow me, but you, Seth -Mather, had better stay with the prisoners.” - -One of the men sat down to keep guard, and the rest passed out into the -open space within the works. The rest of the men stood there, waiting for -the issue of the work upon the first house. The leader reported. - -“You have done well,” said Holmes. “Very well, indeed. Let us hail this -house.” - -He approached the building in which Van Curter was, with the strongest -party in the works. In answer to his hail, Van Curter himself came to the -window. - -“Who is there?” he cried. - -“King George and Captain Holmes, of Windsor.” - -“To what am I to attribute the honor of this visit?” - -“To my ardent desire to return your late courteous visit to my quarters. -It’s a reciprocation of favors. We Yankees never like to be in debt long -for such things.” - -“Bah! you talk too much, like all Englishmen. Do you design to take this -post?” - -“I do. I have now more men than you. Counting the wounded, those taken -prisoners at the first rush, and those in yonder house, half your force -is out of the battle. You have just seventeen men.” - -“You are well informed.” - -“I always aim to be so. Do you surrender?” - -“Give me an hour to consider?” - -“I will give you five minutes.” - -“Your demands are hard. What are your terms?” - -“You will find them easy. You shall have permission to march out under -your own colors, with your arms and personal property. We want nothing -but the House of Good Hope.” - -“We shall keep our colors?” - -“Yes, even to the red color of your noses.” - -“And our side-arms?” - -“Every thing that is Dutch.” - -“In short, all you demand is the surrender of the work itself?” - -“Precisely; clear out—that is all.” - -“Then I will open the door; your terms are generous, and I believe are -made in good faith.” - -“You must submit to be imprisoned in one of the houses until all your men -are in my hands.” - -“I will attend to that,” said Van Curter. “Place a guard upon my men here -and come with me.” - -The doors were thrown open. The ten men were placed in a room by -themselves and a guard placed over them. Holmes, Willie and Van Curter -now proceeded toward the other house, and Van Curter called the name of -Captain Van Zandt. He knew the voice and came to the window immediately. - -“Is that you, Van Curter?” he asked. - -“It is I; open.” - -“Are the English gone?” - -“No.” - -“Then why are you here?” - -“I have surrendered.” - -“Coward!” - -“Be careful, sir! I repeat, I have surrendered the place. It was useless -to resist. The terms are noble. We are to be allowed to march out with -drums and colors, and make our way to the islands. Our private property -is ours. In short, better terms were never given. Therefore open your -doors and give yourselves up.” - -“I never drew a cowardly breath in my life, Van Curter. This house is my -castle; I will keep it against all who come against it.” - -“I tell you I have surrendered,” shouted Van Curter. - -“And I tell _you_ that _I_ have _not_! And, what is more, I don’t intend -to. I have a strong house, and the best of your men, and the morning is -at hand. I will give a good account of myself, and drive the ragamuffins -of Captain Holmes back to their filthy quarters.” - -“You use modest terms,” said Holmes. - -“Ah-ha. You are there, Yankee? I give you good-night.” - -“You refuse to surrender?” - -“Yes; refuse to the bitter end.” - -“Then we must make you do it.” - -“Do it if you can.” - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -A NIGHT IN BONDS. - - -Holmes stepped back and took a survey of the building. His practiced eye -at once took in its strong points. The doors were of hewn oak, crossed -by heavy iron clamps. On the inside, so Van Curter told them, were heavy -bars of seasoned wood, tough and elastic as so much steel, set into iron -rings upon either side of the door. These bars were four in number, at -equal distances from each other. No common power could force one of these -doors from its fastening. These entrances were two in number, one at -the front and one at the back. The windows were seven in number; two -in front, two on each side, and one at the back of the house, fastened, -like the doors, by solid wooden bars. These particulars they gained from -Van Curter, who was angry at the young captain for refusing to yield. He -determined to try him once more, but found him very obstinate. He then -demanded that his daughter should be permitted to leave the house. This -was refused at once. - -“Let me understand you, Joseph. Do you mean to tell me, seriously, that -you intend to keep my daughter in the house during the attack which will -be made upon it?” - -“I do.” - -“Then by that act you at once cancel any trust between us.” - -“Let it be as you say. I will make a new bond between us.” - -“Will you let my daughter and her cousin go?” - -“No, I will not.” - -“Why?” - -“I keep them as a safeguard. They are the tools by which we will drive -these Yankees away from Good Hope. You will understand it better when you -know that there is to be no childs’-play here—no fighting with cudgels, -as we fought at Windsor. But, with bullet, knife and sword we will make -the house good. Every ball from a rifle which enters this house will put -the life of your daughter in jeopardy. Katrine also will be in danger, -which _is_ a pity, since she is beloved by worshipful Boston Bainbridge. -Where is that godly youth? He should be here to defend her.” - -At these words there was a slight commotion in the rear of the group, and -a man strode forward and addressed the captain. It was Boston Bainbridge. -But, what a change had taken place in him! His hair, before rugged and -unkempt, was now allowed to fall loose upon his shoulders after the -manner of the cavaliers. He was carefully and richly dressed; the belt -which encircled his waist bore a long sword and a pair of pistols. His -air was defiant, as seen in the gory light of the coming morning. - -“You have called for Boston Bainbridge,” said he, “and he who hath borne -that name for years now stands before you in his own person, Lieutenant -Robert Holmes. What is this I hear? Does yonder knave dare to make women -a target for his protection? How now, sir; do you claim to be a _man_, -and yet need a woman for a safeguard?” - -“So Boston Bainbridge is dead, and one has arisen who is of my degree, -and we may cross swords with honor. What care I for what man can say of -me? I know my power. The fair Theresa is in my hands; Katrine is in those -of Carl Anselm. Believe me when I say that they might better be in the -hands of the devil. Draw off your men and leave the place, or we will do -that which will make you and them wish they had never been born. Away, I -say.” - -The fearful threat implied in the words of Van Zandt startled his -listeners; there was a quick glance from man to man, to see if every face -looked as ghastly as each felt his own to be. The girls were in the power -of this villain indeed. How could they be succored? - -“Joseph,” said the commandant, in a pleading tone. “Remember that we have -been friends for many years, and that I have ever listened kindly to your -suit. You are jesting now. You would not harm my child. Throw open your -doors and let us enter.” - -“I will not. We will fight while a hope remains, and when that hope is -gone, you shall have your daughter, as she will be then, not as she is -now!” - -“God’s curse upon you, villain. Do you not heed a father’s agony?” - -“Not a whit. You have given up the work like a coward, and I no longer -respect you.” - -“This shall be answered at the sword’s point,” cried Van Curter, striking -his hand upon his sword-hilt until it rung loudly in the scabbard. - -“As you will. I fight no old man without teeth unless he forces it upon -me. Your young friends there might take it off your hands.” - -“And they shall!” cried Robert Holmes, Boston Bainbridge no more. “Or my -right hand has forgot its cunning. Hark you, sir; _dare_ you come out and -fight me?” - -“I hope I am not such a fool. What surety have I that I should ever see -the inside of this house again?” - -“My word.” - -“Bah! The word of Boston Bainbridge!” - -“Boston Bainbridge is dead. I stand here in his place, a man of honor and -of family, and dare you to the fight.” - -“It will not do,” replied the other. “I have the advantage now, and -relinquish it I will not. Go your ways, Lieutenant Boston Bainbridge -Holmes, spy and cheat that you are, and let us go ours. It will be -better.” - -The friends drew off and consulted for some time. There seemed no -feasible way of getting into the house, with the fearful menace of Van -Zandt before their eyes. It was fully concluded to appear to draw off -from the house, and by underhand means to gain an entrance. This was -communicated to the defenders of the house, and every one appeared to -leave the spot. Leaving the window to the care of one of his men, the -Dutch captain turned aside into the little room in which the girls were -confined. They sat upon the bed, with their arms entwined about each -other, weeping, for every word of the conversation without had come to -their ears. - -“Go into the next room, Katrine,” said Joseph, “and do me the favor to -keep your ear from the crack. I wish to talk with Theresa.” - -“I shall stay here,” replied Katrine. - -“Fool!” was the uncomplimentary rejoinder. “Must I send for Carl Anselm -to drag you out by force?” - -“No, no!” pleaded the girl. “Any one but Carl.” - -“I should please you if I sent for Bainbridge, only that worthy is dead.” - -“Was it true,” said Katrine, turning her tearful eyes upon him. “Is he -indeed dead? Tell me when and by whose hand. I heard you say that he was -dead. Until then, I thought it was _his_ voice.” - -“He died by his own hand,” was the pitiless reply. “Boston Bainbridge -is no more. The man whose voice you heard was Lieutenant Robert Holmes. -Leave the room.” - -Katrine obeyed, passing into the next apartment and closing the door. -She took the precaution to bolt the door upon the inside, so that Carl, -who had uttered fearful threats since she had been a prisoner, could not -enter. He came soon and rattled at the door, but she would not let him -in. - -In the next room Joseph and Theresa stood face to face. There was a -settled gloom upon the face of the man. His fate was following him so -close that it appalled him. He begun to doubt if, after all, he should -succeed in his undertaking. Ho grew desperate, as he looked at the girl, -who was wonderfully calm in his presence. - -“Why do you come?” she asked. - -“I come to speak for your good, Theresa. I have told you many times that -love for you had taken a deep root in my heart. Do what you can, be cold -or disdainful, the feeling is the same. You have made me a desperate man. -I have you utterly in my power, you and Katrine. One thing only will open -yonder doors, and set you free.” - -“And that thing—” - -“Is to take a solemn oath upon this holy sign” (making the cross on his -breast) “that you will never marry another while I live, and that you -will be my wife when I ask it.” - -“If you had studied all your life to devise a cruel sentence, your study -could not have brought to life a more wicked one than this. No, Joseph -Van Zandt, you have had my answer. I have nerved myself to meet death, if -it must be, sooner than be your wife.” - -“You must swear it upon the cross,” he rejoined, “lest a worse fate come -to you. Reflect, and tell me if there is not at least one thing worse -than death. Reflect, too, that this fate shall be yours, and that of the -sniveling fool in the next room, if you refuse. The threat of what I -would do has driven your brave friend away from the house. I have sworn -to do it, and I will keep my word.” - -“God will protect me.” - -“I am an unbeliever. Your faith can not shake me. Perhaps He will protect -you. Perhaps He will batter down these strong gates, and let your friend -in. It is very probable! Foolish girl! yield while the way is clear.” - -“No, I will not. My friends will attack the house and set me free. You -shall feel what it is to arouse the vengeance of a true man. Go; you are -a coward. The heart of a dog beats in your breast. You threaten a woman, -and make her love for her friends work against her for your own foul -ends. You never had one true feeling in your heart. What you call love -for me is only a passion, which would burn itself out in a twelve-month. -Leave me, and do your worst.” - -He rushed from the room, closing the door violently behind him. Carl -stood with his face against the wall of the room, gnawing his nether lip -with such energy that the blood started from beneath his white teeth. The -two men saw in each other’s faces the mirror wherein to read their own -hearts. - -“I hear strange sounds,” said Carl; “and blood seems to run before my -eyes. If she were to open that door now, I should kill her. I am getting -mad, I think. Was I not right about that devil upon earth? I will kill -him yet, for he is the cause of all this.” - -“You were right enough. He is a brave fellow, in his gay clothes.” - -“To see him now, with his hair curled and his sword at his thigh! To hear -the grand tone in which he speaks! Will he take her, now that she is in a -more lowly station than he? It would be much to hope that he would slight -her now. Oh, that he would?” - -“But he will not. These Puritans have queer ideas of honor, and would -think it a shame to their manhood to break faith plighted to a woman. I -have given your little fool a bitter pill to swallow. I told her he was -dead. She heard enough of our conversation to hear us say that, and she -believes it. Do these rascals show any signs of a desire to attack us?” - -“I have lost sight of some of them, and can not tell where they are gone. -The rest sit out yonder by the other houses, eating breakfast.” - -“Whom do you miss?” - -“Robert Holmes is gone, and so is your friend Barlow. What if they -_should_ set the girls free.” - -“The windows are bolted.” - -“I know it, on the inside. What is to hinder the girls from opening them?” - -“They are spiked down. I tell you they have not the strength to open -one, even if they could get a signal from the outside. Did you see those -fellows go away?” - -“They slipped out of sight, and I think went out of the gate. After that, -I came to this door and tried to get in.” - -“And failed.” - -“Yes; it is bolted.” - -“I didn’t think Katrine would do it. I begin to respect her. What is -that, Jan?” - -The man who was at the window spoke: - -“The truce is over, sir.” - -“Are they coming?” - -“Yes, captain.” - -“Get your guns ready, then. Where is your rifle, Carl?” - -“Here, sir.” - -“Mark that Barlow.” - -“I can not. My bullet has another work to do. When Robert Holmes is dead -it is at your service.” - -“Say you so. Well, I do not care. I have no love for him. These rascals -come on slowly. They are well versed in woodcraft. Something different -from the way our blockheads came up to the stockade at Windsor. Fire -whenever you get a chance, boys.” - -The men of Windsor came forward with care, sheltering themselves as -well as they could behind the buildings in the works. As they came to -the last one, they paused and begun a close fire upon the house. Every -head which showed itself at a loop-hole became the mark of a bullet. One -of Van Zandt’s men was shot through the head before they had been in -action five minutes. The defenders saw that it was no boys’-play now, and -hesitated about approaching the windows. The captain ordered them all to -lie down, knowing that their fire could do no harm unless the men exposed -themselves. He took his place at one of the loops to watch, taking care -not to give any of the marksmen a shot. But a lively fire was kept up, -and he dared not go away. - -“Watch that side, Carl,” he said, pointing to the other loop. “If they -get under the walls we shall have trouble.” - -The moment Joseph left the room Theresa was upon her feet, and the strong -bar dropped into its place before the door. Then, looking into the other -room, she called to Katrine. - -“Rouse up, dear,” she said. “Do not lie down like a child. You have -bolted your door—good. When these dear creatures in the next room come -for us we may not be here. Bring me that stool. We will give them the -slip yet. See if we do not.” - -“Oh, Theresa,” said Katrine, rising, “_he_ is dead!” - -“Don’t you believe it. That fellow can lie, and you know it. Hold this -stool steady so that I shall not fall.” - -Katrine obeyed, and Theresa mounted the stool, and took down a stout -saber which hung from a pair of branching antlers over her head. She -lifted the stout weapon, and looked at it with beaming eyes. - -“My grandfather’s sword,” she said. “It has struck good blows for -the honor of his nation. May it do as much for the honor of his -granddaughter.” - -Assisted by Katrine, Theresa mounted the wide window-sill, and strove to -pry up the spikes which had been driven in to close the lattice. But they -were strong and resisted her best efforts. Seeing the uselessness of this -attempt, she begun to cut away the inner fastenings of the lattice bars, -and with the aid of the now active Katrine, at length succeeded with but -little noise, in detaching the ends of these bars. The way of escape was -then gained, since it was hardly five feet from the ground. - -“We are safe,” whispered Theresa. “Let us thank God.” - -The two fell upon their knees for a moment, before they attempted an -escape. The shots had begun to fall about the building. Katrine passed -out first, and Theresa followed, still bearing her grandfather’s sword. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -IT IS FINISHED. - - -Passing around the house to escape from the rear, the two girls suddenly -came upon two men, whom, in the darkness, they conceived to be Van Zandt -and Carl. - -Theresa, in the excitement of the moment, lifted her sword in her hand -and pointed it at the breast of the nearest, who rushed toward her. - -“Stand back,” she cried; “I will not be taken alive.” - -“Theresa!” - -“Willie!” - -The strength which had sustained her until this moment gave way, and she -sunk into the arms of her lover. - -“Let us away,” said Willie. “Come, Robert, you are slow.” - -Robert Holmes dropped the bar with which he had been prying open the -window, and came forward, saying: - -“Our work is taken out of our hands. Katrine, have you no greeting for -me, now that I am no longer Boston Bainbridge, but Robert Holmes?” - -His voice broke the spell; she was in his arms in a moment, sobbing. -“They told me you were dead. I thought I knew your voice.” - -“Let us get out of this, Robert,” said Willie. “You had better carry -Katrine. How much they must have endured.” - -“Preserve the sword, Willie,” whispered Theresa, “it has saved me.” - -Keeping in the rear of the house, they stole out of the postern gate -through which they had entered, and soon placed the girls in safety in -the house which was first taken. This done, the young men went back to -their duty. Van Curter was there. - -“Have you succeeded?” he cried, taking his cue from their happy faces. - -“Yes, thank God, the girls are out of that villain’s power, and we have -nothing to restrain us from an attack upon the house. Give me that white -scarf, and I will speak to them.” - -“Be careful, Robert,” said his brother; “they are desperate men, and may -not respect the flag.” - -“Robert took a ramrod, and fastened the white scarf upon it. Ordering his -men to cease firing, the young man passed into the parade and called to -Van Zandt. - -“Why are you here again?” he demanded, angrily. - -“To ask you to yield. Why should we shed blood, when nothing can be -gained? Open your doors and let us enter.” - -“You ask in vain,” was the stern answer; “you want the girls, I suppose; -but you shall never see the face of Katrine, and Theresa has bid good-by -forever to your friend Barlow. So away with you if you would save _them_ -trouble.” - -“If you could look into the room where you placed the girls, you would -see a broken casement and an empty cage. The girls are safe in our hands.” - -“A Yankee horse-trader’s lie.” - -“Go and see.” - -Van Zandt rushed away and tried the door of Theresa’s room; it was fast -bolted. He soon dashed a hole in it with the butt of his heavy rifle, and -saw the empty cage of which the other had spoken: the nest was warm, but -the birds had flown. - -He went back and whispered to Carl; their conference over, Van Zandt went -again to the window. - -“What terms can we make?” - -“The terms shall be the same as those given to Van Curter.” - -“To all?” - -“To every one.” - -“I ask no more,” said the Dutch captain. “Go down and open the door, Jan.” - -The doors opened and they passed out, Joseph and Carl looking back with -strange meaning on the shattered window from which the girls had escaped. -The countenance of the young German, Anselm, pale with contending -passions, looked absolutely hideous under the glare of the rising sun. -He had been foiled at every point; the revenge he had hoped for was torn -from his grasp. - -“Bear up, Carl,” whispered the young captain; “do not let these villains -see how you are moved.” - -He controlled his feelings by an effort of his powerful will. “It shall -be as you say,” he replied in a hushed tone. “They shall be aroused only -by the blow I shall strike them. Do your best, so that we shall pass -another night in this place.” - -“I will set about it,” answered the young captain. “I can read your -thoughts.” - -“That is well; then I need not speak. Where are the girls.” - -“In one of the houses, as I think.” - -“Do you see that accursed Holmes? He is going to her, now that he has -triumphed over me. Would it not be a pleasant thing to plunge a knife -into his heart? If he gives me time, I shall do it.” - -The two separated, and set about their preparations for departure. It was -found impossible for the former occupants to leave that day, so they were -assigned places outside the fort in the cabins they had built. - -Robert slept in the fort, in the room next to that in which the maidens -were, and from which they had escaped. This man was always on his guard. -He never lay down unarmed. His slumber was light, and only needed the -slightest sound to break it. At midnight, he was wakened by a sound as if -some fastening was broken. He raised himself upon his elbow and listened. -The sound was continued. It evidently proceeded from the girls’ room. He -rose with care, and, stepping softly into their apartment, discovered -a dark figure—that of a man—with something gleaming between his closed -teeth, climbing into the window. Robert’s plan was formed in a moment. - -The figure was that of Carl. By slow approaches he advanced his body, -until he stood upon the floor of the chamber. He now took the knife, -which he had held in his teeth, from his mouth, and approached the -bedside. - -The girls slept soundly. The perils of the night had wearied them -entirely, and they gave themselves wholly to slumber. The murderer, -for he had no less a thought in his heart, bent over them. The clear -moonlight—for the storm of the night before had been succeeded by a -remarkably bright evening—stole through the broken lattice, and fell -upon the upturned faces of the two. In his mad desire to be revenged -upon Robert and Willie, Carl could think of nothing which could wound -them deeper than the death of these pure beings. “They shall die,” he -muttered, “and I will never again look a white man in the face.” The -heart of a demon would have been touched by the beauty of those over whom -he lifted his steel; but the heart of Carl was harder than adamant. The -knife was lifted when a pistol cracked. The murderer, wounded unto death, -dropped the knife and staggered to the window. - -“You have triumphed, devil that you are—you have triumphed. I have -nothing left but to die. I curse you with my latest breath,” he said, -recognizing the man who had shot him. - -As he spoke his hold upon the window-sill relaxed, and he fell backward -upon the floor. The strong limbs stiffened, and the moon’s rays fell upon -the face of the dead. - -Robert quieted the frightened girls, and calling in help, removed the -body. He had, in some way, eluded the guard, and made an entrance into -the works, an unlucky thing for him. - -The garrison was permitted, the next morning, to march away, according -to the terms of surrender, with the understanding that by that surrender -they conceded all claims to the occupancy of the Connecticut Valley. - -But, all the captives did not retire. The captives Theresa and Katrine -very wisely preferred to remain at Good Hope, which fortress Robert -Holmes had resolved to retain against a future need. But, as preliminary -to such occupancy, the minister was put into requisition, and a double -marriage was consummated that morning at which Colonel Van Curter was -present. Though much against his will, he gave the hand of his child -away, bestowing upon her his benediction in good old Dutch fashion: “If -thee will marry an Englishman, he is the man I shall be content to see -thee wed; so God bless you.” And, the ceremony over, he passed away, -heavy-hearted enough—having lost both fortress and daughter in the -unlucky Good Hope. He soon forgot his sorrows by sailing away to Holland. - -Paul Swedlepipe lived to a good old age, ever retaining an unconquerable -aversion to Ten Eyck. To escape persecution, this last-named worthy -removed further up the Hudson river, where he became rich and powerful, -cursing the Yankees with his last breath. Wampset kept his band together -until his death, when it was broken up and merged into the Nipmuck tribe. -For years the Dutch settlers missed Boston Bainbridge, and could hardly -bring themselves to believe that the gallant soldier, of whose fame -they heard so much, was the same man who had supplied them with small -goods and poor horses; nor could they ever understand that his disguise -had been assumed in order to break forever the power of the Dutch in -Connecticut Valley, by gaining information of their designs in their own -houses. - - -THE END. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Peddler Spy, by W. J. 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