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diff --git a/6947-0.txt b/6947-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9cf0b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/6947-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14347 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rangers, by D. P. Thompson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + + +Title: The Rangers + The Tory's Daughter + +Author: D. P. Thompson + + +Release Date: November 2004 [EBook #6947] +This file was first posted on February 16, 2003 +Last Updated: March 16, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RANGERS *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +THE RANGERS + +OR, THE TORY'S DAUGHTER + +A Tale Illustrative Of The Revolutionary History Of Vermont And The +Northern Campaign Of 1777 + +By D. P. Thompson + +The Author Of “The Green Mountain Boys” + + +Two Volumes In One + +Tenth Edition + + + + + +VOLUME I. + + +On commencing his former work, illustrative of the revolutionary history +of Vermont,--THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS,--it was the design of the author +to have embraced the battle of Bennington, and other events of historic +interest which occurred in the older and more southerly parts of the +state; but finding, as he proceeded, that the unity and interest of his +effort would be endangered by embracing so much ground, a part of the +original design was relinquished, or rather its execution was deferred +for a new and separate work, wherein better justice could be done to the +rich and unappropriated materials of which his researches had put him in +possession. That work, after an interval of ten years, and the writing +and publishing of several intermediate ones, is now presented to the +public, and with the single remark, that if it is made to possess less +interest, as a mere tale, than its predecessor, the excuse must be found +in the author's greater anxiety to give a true historic version of the +interesting and important events he has undertaken to illustrate. + + + + +THE RANGERS; + +OR, + +THE TORY'S DAUGHTER + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + “Sing on! sing on! my mountain home, + The paths where erst I used to roam, + The thundering torrent lost in foam. + The snow-hill side all bathed in light,-- + All, all are bursting on my sight!” + + + +Towards night, on the twelfth of March, 1775, a richly-equipped double +sleigh, filled with a goodly company of well-dressed persons of the +different sexes, was seen descending from the eastern side of the Green +Mountains, along what may now be considered the principal thoroughfare +leading from the upper navigable portions of the Hudson to those of the +Connecticut River. The progress of the travellers was not only slow, +but extremely toilsome, as was plainly evinced by the appearance of +the reeking and jaded horses, as they labored and floundered along the +sloppy and slumping snow paths of the winter road, which was obviously +now fast resolving itself into the element of which it was composed. Up +to the previous evening, the dreary reign of winter had continued wholly +uninterrupted by the advent of his more gentle successor in the changing +rounds of the seasons; and the snowy waste which enveloped the earth +would, that morning, have apparently withstood the rains and suns of +months before yielding entirely to their influences. But during the +night there had occurred one of those great and sudden transitions from +cold to heat, which can only be experienced in northern climes, and +which can be accounted for only on the supposition, that the earth, at +stated intervals, rapidly gives out large quantities of its internal +heats, or that the air becomes suddenly rarefied by some essential +change or modification in the state of the electric fluid. The morning +had been cloudless; and the rising sun, with rays no longer dimly +struggling through the dense, obstructing medium of the dark months gone +by, but, with the restored beams of his natural brightness, fell upon +the smoking earth with the genial warmth of summer. A new atmosphere, +indeed, seemed to have been suddenly created, so warm and bland was +the whole air; while, occasionally, a breeze came over the face of the +traveller, which seemed like the breath of a heated oven. As the day +advanced, the sky gradually became overcast--a strong south wind sprung +up, before whose warm puffs the drifted snow-banks seemed literally to +be cut down, like grass before the scythe of the mower; and, at length, +from the thickening mass of cloud above, the rain began to descend in +torrents to the mutely recipient earth. All this, for a while, however, +produced no very visible effects on the general face of nature; for the +melting snow was many hours in becoming saturated with its own and water +from above. Nor had our travellers, for the greater part of the day, +been much incommoded by the rain, or the thaw, that was in silent, but +rapid progress around and beneath them; as their vehicle was a covered +one, and as the hard-trodden paths of the road were the last to be +affected. But, during the last hour, a great change in the face of the +landscape had become apparent; and the evidence of what had been going +on unseen, through the day, was now growing every moment more and more +palpable. The snow along the bottom of every valley was marked by a +long, dark streak, indicating the presence of the fast-collecting waters +beneath. The stifled sounds of rushing streams were heard issuing from +the hidden beds of every natural rill; while the larger brooks were +beginning to burst through their wintry coverings, and throw up and push +on before them the rending ice and snow that obstructed their courses to +the rivers below, to which they were hurrying with increasing speed, and +with seemingly growing impatience at every obstacle they met in their +way. The road had also become so soft, that the horses sunk nearly to +the flank at almost every step, and the plunging sleigh drove heavily +along the plashy path. The whole mass of the now saturated and +dissolving snow, indeed, though lying, that morning, more than three +feet deep on a level, seemed to quiver and move, as if on the point of +flowing away in a body to the nearest channels. + +The company we have introduced consisted of four gentlemen and two +ladies, all belonging, very evidently, to the most wealthy, and, up to +that time, the most honored and influential class of society. But though +all seemed to be of the same caste, yet their natural characters, as any +physiognomist, at a glance, would have discovered, were, for so small a +party, unusually diversified. Of the two men occupying the front seat, +both under the age of thirty, the one sitting on the right and acting +as driver was tall, showily dressed, and of a haughty, aristocratic air; +while his sharp features, which set out in the shape of a half-moon, +the convex outline being preserved by a retreating forehead, an aquiline +nose, and a chin sloping inward, combined to give him a cold, repulsive +countenance, fraught with expressions denoting selfishness and +insincerity. The other occupant of the same seat was, on the contrary, +a young man of an unassuming demeanor, shapely features, and a mild, +pleasing countenance. The remaining two gentlemen of the party were much +older, but scarcely less dissimilar in their appearance than the two +just described. One of them was a gaunt, harsh-featured man, of the +middle ago, with an air of corresponding arrogance and assumption. The +other, who was still more elderly, was a thick-set and rather portly +personage, of that quiet, reserved, and somewhat haughty demeanor, +which usually belongs to men of much self-esteem, and of an unyielding, +opinionated disposition. The ladies were both young, and in the full +bloom of maidenly beauty. But their native characters, like those of +their male companions, seemed to be very strongly contrasted. The one +seated on the left was fair, extremely fair, indeed; and her golden +locks, clustering in rich profusion around her snowy neck and temples, +gave peculiar effect to the picture-like beauty of her face. But her +beauty consisted of pretty features, and her countenance spoke rather +of the affections than of the mind, being of that tender, pleading cast, +which is better calculated to call forth sympathy than command respect, +and which, showed her to be one of those confiding, dependent persons, +whose destinies are in me hands of those whom they consider their +friends, rather than in their own keeping. The other maiden, with +an equally fine form and no less beautiful features, was still of +an entirely different appearance. She, indeed, was, to the one first +described what the rose, with its hardy stem, is to the lily leaning on +the surrounding herbage for its support; and though less delicately fair +in mere complexion, she was yet more commandingly beautiful; for there +was an expression in the bright, discriminating glances of her deep +hazel eyes, and in the commingling smile that played over the whole of +her serene and benignant countenance, that told of intellects that could +act independently, as well as of a heart that glowed with the kindly +affections. + +“Father,” said the last described female, addressing the eldest +gentleman, for the purpose, apparently, of giving a new turn to the +conversation, which had now, for some time, been lagging,--“father, I +think you promised us, on starting from Bennington this morning, not +only a fair day, but a safe arrival at Westminster Court-House, by +sunset, did you not?” + +“Why, yes, perhaps I did,” replied the person addressed; “for I know I +calculated that we should get through by daylight.” + +“Well, my weatherwise father, to say nothing about this storm, instead +of the promised sunshine, does the progress, made and now making, augur +very brightly for the other part of the result?” + +“I fear me not, Sabrey,” answered the old gentleman, “though, with the +road as good as when we started, we should have easily accomplished it. +But who would have dreamed of a thaw so sudden and powerful as this? +Why, the very road before us looks like a running river! Indeed, I think +we shall do well to reach Westminster at all to-night. What say you, Mr. +Peters,--will the horses hold out to do it?” he added, addressing the +young man of the repulsive look, who had charge of the team, us before +mentioned. + +“They _must_ do it, at all events, Squire Haviland,” replied Peters. +“Sheriff Patterson, here,” he continued, glancing at the hard-featured +man before described, “has particular reasons for being on the ground +to-night. I must also be there, and likewise friend Jones, if we can +persuade him to forego his intended stop at Brattleborough; for, being +of a military turn, we will give him the command of the forces, if he +will go on immediately with us.” + +“Thank you, Mr. Peters,” replied Jones, smiling. “I do not covet the +honor of a command, though I should be ready to go on and assist, if I +really believed that military forces would be needed.” + +“Military forces needed for what?” asked Haviland, in some surprise. + +“Why, have you not heard, Squire Haviland,” said the sheriff, “that +threats have been thrown out, that our coming court would not be +suffered to sit?” + +“Yes, something of the kind, perhaps,” replied Haviland, contemptuously; +“but I looked upon them only as the silly vaporings of a few disaffected +creatures, who, having heard of the rebellious movements in the Bay +State, have thrown out these idle threats with the hope of intimidating +our authorities, and so prevent the holding of a court, which they fear +might bring too many of them to justice.” + +“So I viewed the case for a while,” rejoined Patterson; “but a few days +ago, I received secret information, on which I could rely, that these +disorganizing rascals were actually combining, in considerable numbers, +with the intention of attempting to drive us from the Court-House.” + +“Impossible! impossible! Patterson,” said the squire; “they will never +be so audacious as to attempt to assail the king's court.” + +“They are making a movement for that purpose, nevertheless,” returned +the former; “for, in addition to the information I have named, I +received a letter from Judge Chandler, just as I was leaving my house in +Brattleborough, yesterday morning, in which the judge stated, that +about forty men, from Rockingham, came to him in a body, at his house in +Chester, and warned him against holding the court; and had the boldness +to tell him, that blood would be shed, if it was attempted, especially +if the sheriff appeared with an armed posse.” + +“Indeed! why, I am astonished at their insolence!” exclaimed the squire. +“But what did the judge tell them?” + +“Why the judge, you know, has an oily way of getting along with ugly +customers,” replied the sheriff, with a significant wink; “so he thanked +them all kindly for calling on him, and gravely told them he agreed with +them, that no court should be holden at this time. But, as there was one +case of murder to be tried, he supposed the court must come together +to dispose of that; after which they would immediately adjourn. And +promising them that he would give the sheriff directions not to appear +with any armed assistants, he dismissed them, and sat down and wrote me +an account of the affair, winding off with giving me the directions he +had promised, but adding in a postscript, that I was such a contrary +fellow, that he doubted whether I should obey his directions; and he +should not be surprised to see me there with a hundred men, each with a +gun or pistol under his great-coat. Ha ha! The judge is a sly one.” + +“One word about that case of murder, to which you have alluded, Mr. +Patterson,” interposed Jones, after the jeering laugh with which the +sheriff's account was received by Haviland and Peters, had subsided. “I +have heard several mysterious hints thrown out by our opponents about +it, which seemed to imply that the prosecution of the prisoner was got +up for private purposes; and I think I have heard the name of Secretary +Brush coupled with the affair. Now, who is the alleged murderer? and +where and when was the crime committed?” + +“The fellow passes by the name of Herriot, though it is suspected +that this is not his true name,” responded the sheriff. “The crime was +committed at Albany, several years ago, when he killed, or mortally +wounded, an intimate friend of Mr. Brush.” + +“Under what circumstances?” + +“Why, from what I have gathered, I should think the story might be +something like this: that, some time previous to the murder, this +Herriot had come to Albany, got into company above his true place, +dashed away a while in high life, gambled deeply, and, losing all his +own money, and running up a large debt to this, and other friends of +Brush, gave them his obligations and absconded. But coming there again, +for some purpose, a year or two after, with a large sum of money, it was +thought, which had been left or given him by a rich Spaniard, whose life +he had saved, or something of the kind, those whom he owed beset him +to pay them, or play again. But he refused to play, pretending to have +become pious, and also held back about paying up his old debts. Their +debts, however, they determined to have, and went to him for that +purpose; when an affray arose, and one of them was killed by Herriot, +who escaped, and fled, it seems, to this section of the country, where +he kept himself secluded in some hut in the mountains, occasionally +appear-ing abroad to preach religion and rebellion to the people, by +which means he was discovered, arrested, and imprisoned in Westminster +jail, where he awaits his trial at the coming term of the court. And +I presume he will be convicted and hung, unless he makes friends with +Brush to intercede for a pardon, which he probably might do, if the +fellow would disgorge enough of his hidden treasures to pay his debts, +and cease disaffecting the people, which is treason and a hanging matter +of itself, for which he, and fifty others in this quarter, ought, in +justice, to be dealt with without benefit of the clergy.--What say you, +Squire Haviland?” + +“I agree with you fully,” replied the squire. “But to return to Judge +Chandler's communication: what steps have you taken, if any, in order to +sustain the court in the threatened emergency?” + +“Why, just the steps that Chandler knew I should take--sent off one +messenger to Brush, there on the ground at Westminster; another to +Rogers, of Kent; and yet another to a trusty friend in Guilford, +requesting each to be on, with a small band of resolute fellows; while +I whipped over to Newfane myself, fixed matters there, and came round to +Bennington to enlist David Redding, and a friend or two more; as I did, +after I arrived, last night, though I was compelled to leave them my +sleigh and horses to bring them over, which accounts for my begging a +passage with you. So, you see, that if this beggarly rabble offer to +make any disturbance, I shall be prepared to teach them the cost of +attempting to put down the king's court.” + +“Things are getting to a strange pass among these deluded people, that +is certain. I cannot, however, yet believe them so infatuated as to take +this step. But if they should, decided measures should be taken--such, +indeed, as shall silence this alarming spirit at once and forever.” + +“I hope,” observed Miss Haviland, who had been a silent but attentive +listener to the dialogue, “I hope no violence is really intended, either +on the part of the authorities or their opponents. But what do these +people complain of? There must be some cause, by which they, at least, +think themselves justified in the movement, surely. Do they consider +themselves aggrieved by any past decisions of the court?” + +“O, there are grumblers enough, doubtless, in that respect,” answered +the sheriff. “And among other things, they complain that their property +is taken and sold to pay their honest debts, when money is so scarce, +they say, that they cannot pay their creditors in currency--just as +if the court could make money for the idle knaves! But that is mere +pretence. They have other motives, and those, too, of a more dangerous +character to the public peace.” + +“And what may those motives be, if it be proper for me to inquire, sir?” + resumed the fair questioner. + +“Why, in the first place,” replied the sheriff, “they have an old and +inveterate grudge against New York, whose jurisdiction they are much +predisposed to resist. But to this they might have continued to demur +and submit, as they have done this side of the mountain, had New York +adopted the resolves of the Continental Congress of last December, and +come into the _American Association_, as it is called, which has no +less for its object, in reality, than the entire overthrow of all royal +authority in this country. But as our colony has nobly refused to do +this, they are now intent on committing a double treason--that of making +war on New York and the king too.” + +“Well, I should have little suspected,” remarked Haviland, “that +the people of this section, who have shown themselves commendably +conservative, for the most part, had any intention of yielding to the +mob-laws of Ethan Allen, Warner, and others, who place the laws of New +York at defiance on the other side of the mountains; and much less that +they would heed the resolves of that self-constituted body of knaves, +ignoramuses, and rebels, calling themselves the Continental Congress.” + +“Are you not too severe on that body of men, father?” said Miss +Haviland, lifting her expressive eye reprovingly to the face of the +speaker. “I have recently read over a list of the members of the +Congress; when I noticed among them the names of men, who, but a short +time since, stood very high, both for learning and worth, as I have +often heard you say yourself. Now, what has changed the characters of +these men so suddenly?” + +“Why is it, Sabrey,” said the old gentleman, with an air of +petulance, and without deigning any direct answer to the troublesome +question,--“why is it that you cannot take the opinion of your friends, +who know so much more than you do about these matters, instead of +raising, as I have noticed you have lately seemed inclined to do, +questions which seem to imply doubts of the correctness of the measures +of our gracious sovereign and his wise ministers?” + +“Why, father,” replied the other, with an ingenuous, but somewhat +abashed look, “if I have raised such questions, in relation to the +quarrel between the colonies and the mother country, I have gone on the +ground that the party which has the most right on its side would, of +course, have the best reasons for its measures; and as I have not always +been able to perceive good reasons for all the king's measures, I had +supposed you would be proud to give them.” + +The old gentleman, though evidently disturbed and angry at this reply, +did not seem inclined to push the debate any further with his daughter. +The other gentlemen, also, looked rather glum; and for many moments not +a word was spoken; when the other young lady, who had not yet spoken, +after glancing round on the gentlemen in seeming expectation that those +better reasons would be given, at length ventured to remark,-- + +“Well, for my part, it is enough for me that my friends all belong to +the loyal party; and whatever might be said, I know I should always feel +that they were in the right, and their opposers in the wrong.” + +“And in that, Jane, I think you are wise,” responded Jones, with an +approving smile. “The complaints of these disaffected people are based +on mistaken notions. They are too ill informed, I fear, to appreciate +the justice and necessity of the measures of our ministers, or to +understand very clearly what they are quarrelling about.” + +“Ah, that is it,” warmly responded Haviland. “That is what I have always +said of them. They don't understand their own rights, or what is for +their own good, and should be treated accordingly. And I think some of +our leading men miss it in trying to reason with them. Reason with them! +Ridiculous! As if the common people could understand an argument!” + +“You are perfectly right, squire,” responded Peters, with eager +promptness. “My own experience among the lower classes fully confirms +your opinion. My business, for several years past, has brought me often +in contact with them, in a certain quarter; and I have found them +not only ignorant of what properly belongs to their own rights and +privileges, but jealous and obstinate to a degree that is excessively +annoying.” + +“Friend Peters probably alludes to his experience in the great republic +of Guilford,” said Jones, archly. + +“There and elsewhere,” rejoined the former; “though I have seen quite +enough of republicanism _there_, for my purpose. One year, the party +outvoting their opponents, and coming into power, upsets every thing +done by their predecessors. The next year the upsetters themselves get +upset; and all the measures they had established are reversed for others +no better; and so they go on from year to year, forever quarrelling and +forever changing.” + +“And yet, Peters,” resumed Jones, banteringly, “I doubt whether _you_ +have been much the loser by their quarrels.” + +“How so, Mr. Jones?” asked Haviland, who noticed that Peters had +answered only by a significant smile. + +“Why, you know, Squire Haviland,” replied Jones, “that I have been on +to attend several of the last sessions of your court, as the agent of +Secretary Fanning, [Footnote: Edward Fanning, secretary to Governor +Tryon, New York, before the revolution, obtained, by an act of +favoritism from his master, a grant of the township of Stratton, which, +in 1780, Fanning having been appointed a colonel of a regiment of +tories, was confiscated, and re-granted, by the legislature of Vermont, +to William Williams and others. Kent, afterwards Londonderry, which had +been granted to James Rogers, who has been introduced, and who became a +tory officer, was also, in like manner, confiscated and re-granted.] to +see to his landed interests in this quarter. Well, friend Peters, here, +who has gone considerably into land speculations east of the mountains, +you know, had brought, it seems, several suits for the possession of +lands, mostly in this same Guilford; and among the rest, one for a right +of land in possession of a sturdy young log-roller, whom they called +Harry Woodburn, who appeared in court in his striped woollen frock, and +insisted on defending his own case, as he proceeded to do with a great +deal of confidence. But when he came to produce his deed for the land he +contended was his own, it was found, to his utter astonishment, to bear +a later date than the one produced by Peters. This seemed to settle the +case against him. But he appeared to have no notion of giving up so; +and, by favor of court, the further hearing of the case was deferred +a day or two, to enable him to procure the town records, which, he +contended, would show the priority of his deed. So he posted back to +Guilford for the purpose; but, on arriving there, found, to his dismay, +that the records were nowhere to be found. One of the belligerent +parties of that town, it seems, had broken into the clerk's office, +stolen the records, and buried them somewhere in the ground. The fellow, +therefore, had to return, and submit to a judgment against him. +Still, however, he clung to his case, and obtained a review of it, in +expectation that the records would be found before the next court. But +the poor fellow seemed doomed to disappointment. At the next court, no +records were forthcoming; and though he defended his case with great +zeal, he was thrown in his suit again; when he concluded, I suppose, to +yield to his fate without further ado.” + +“Not by any means,” said Peters, in a tone of raillery. “He has +petitioned for a new trial; and the question is to come on at this +court.” + +“Indeed!” exclaimed Jones, laughing. “Well, I must confess I have never +seen so much dogged determination exhibited in so hopeless a case. And I +really could not help admiring the fellow's spirit and uncultured force +of mind, as much misapplied as, of course, I suppose it to have been. +Your lawyer, Stevens, really appeared, once or twice, to be quite +annoyed at his home thrusts; while lawyer Knights, or Rough-hewn Sam, +as they call him, who, either from a sly wish to see his friend Stevens +bothered, or from a real wish to help Harry, volunteered to whisper a +few suggestions in his ear occasionally, sat by, and laughed out of +his eyes, till they ran over with tears, to see a court lawyer so hard +pushed by a country bumpkin.” + +“Pooh! you make too much of the fellow,” said Peters, with assumed +contempt. “Why, he is a mere obstinate boor, whose self-will and vanity +led him to set up and persevere in a defence in which he knows there is +neither law nor justice.” + +“And yet, Mr. Peters,” observed Miss Haviland, inquiringly, “the young +man must have known that he was making great expense for himself, in +obtaining delays and new trials, in the hope that the lost records +would be found. If he was not very confident those records would have +established his right, why should he have done this?” + +“O, that was a mere pretence about the records altering the case, +doubtless,” replied Peters, with the air of one wishing to hear no more +on the subject. + +“It may have been so,” rejoined the former, doubtfully; “but I should +have hardly inferred it from Mr. Jones's description of the man and his +conduct.” + +“Nor I,” interposed the other lady, playfully, but with considerable +spirit. “Mr. Jones has really excited my curiosity by his account of +this young plough-jogger. I should like to get a sight of him--shouldn't +you, Sabrey?” + +But the latter, though evidently musing on the subject, and mentally +discussing some unpleasant doubts and inferences which it seemed to +present to her active mind, yet evaded the question, and turned the +conversation, by directing the attention of her companion and the rest +of the company to a distant object in the wild landscape, which here +opened to their view. This was the tall, rugged mountain, which, rising +from the eastern shore of the Connecticut, was here, through an opening +in the trees, seen looming and lifting its snowy crest to the clouds, +and greeting the gladdened eyes of the way-worn travellers with the +silent but welcome announcement that they were now within a few miles +of the great river, and in the still more immediate vicinity of their +intended halting-place--the thriving little village which was then just +starting into life, under the auspices of the man from whom its name was +derived--the enterprising Colonel Brattle, of Massachusetts. + +Having now the advantage of a road, which, as it received the +many concentrating paths of a thicker settlement, here began to be +comparatively firm, the travellers passed rapidly over the descending +grounds, and, in a short time, entered the village. As they were dashing +along towards the village inn, at a full trot, a man, with a vehicle +drawn by one horse, approaching in an intersecting road from the south, +struck into the same street a short distance before them. His whole +equipment was very obviously of the most simple character,--a rough +board box, resting on four upright wooden pins inserted into a couple +of saplings, which were bent up in front for runners--the whole making +what, in New England phrase, is termed a _jumper_, constituted his +sleigh. And this vehicle was drawn by a long switch-tailed young pony, +whose unsteady gait, as he briskly ambled along the street, pricking up +his ears and veering about at every new object by the way-side, showed +him to be but imperfectly broken. The owner of this rude contrivance for +locomotion was evidently some young farmer from the neighboring +country. But although his dress and mode of travelling seemed thus to +characterize him, yet there was that in his personal appearance, as +plain as was his homespun garb, which was calculated to command at once +both attention and respect. And as he now rose and stood firmly planted +in his sleigh, occasionally looking back to watch the motions of the +team behind him, with his long, toga-like woollen frock drawn snugly +over his finely-sloping shoulders and well-expanded bust, and closely +girt about at the waist by a neatly-knotted Indian belt, while the +flowing folds below streamed gracefully aside in the wind, he displayed +one of those compact, shapely figures, which the old Grecian sculptors +so delighted to delineate. And in addition to these advantages of +figure, he possessed an extremely fine set of features, which were shown +off effectively by the profusion of short, jetty locks, that curled +naturally around his white temples and his bold, high forehead. + +“Miss McRea--Jane,” said Jones, turning round to the amiable girl, +and tapping her on the shoulder, with the confiding smile and tender +playfulness of the accepted lover, as he was,--“Jane, you said, I think, +that you should like to get a sight of that spunky opponent of Mr. +Peters, whom we were talking of a little while since--did you not?” + +“O, yes, yes, to be sure I did,” replied the other briskly; “but why +that question, just at this time?” + +“Because, if I do not greatly mistake, that man who is pushing on before +us, in yon crazy-looking establishment, is the self-same young fellow. +Is it not so, Peters?” + +“I have not noticed him particularly, nor do I care whether it is he +or not,” answered Peters, with an affected indifference, with which +his uneasy and frowning glances, as he kept his eye keenly fixed on the +person in question, but illy comported. “Well that is the fellow--that +is Harry Woodburn, you may rely on it, ladies,” rejoined Jones, gayly, +as he faced about in his seat. + +Both young ladies now threw intent and curious glances forward on the +man thus pointed out to them, till they caught, as they did the next +moment, a full and fair view of his personal appearance; when they +turned and looked at each other with expressions of surprise, which +plainly indicated that the object of their thoughts was quite a +different person from what they had been led to expect. + +“His dress, to be sure, _is_ rather coarse,” observed Miss Haviland +to her companion, in a low tone; “but he is no boor; nor can every one +boast of--” Here she threw a furtive glance at Peters, when she appeared +to read something in his countenance which caused her to suspend the +involuntary comparison which was evidently passing in her mind, and to +keep her eye fixed on his motions. + +The arrogant personage last named, wholly unconscious of this scrutiny, +now began to incite his horses afresh, frequently applying the lash with +unwonted severity, and then suddenly curbing them in, till the spirited +animals became so frantic that they could scarcely be restrained from +dashing off at a run. The young farmer, in the mean while, finding +himself closely pressed by those behind him, without any apparent +disposition on their part to turn out and pass by him, now veered partly +out of the road, to give the others, with the same change in their +course to the opposite side, an opportunity, if they chose, of going by, +as might easily have been done with safety to all concerned. + +“Mr. Peters!” suddenly exclaimed Miss Haviland, in a tone of energetic +remonstrance, at the same time catching at his arm, as if to restrain +him from some intended movement, which her watchful eye had detected. + +This appeal, however, which was rather acted than spoken, was unheeded, +or came too late; for, at that instant, the chafing and maddened horses +dashed furiously forward, directly over the exposed corner of the young +man's vehicle, which, under the iron-bound feet of the fiercely-treading +animals, and the heavy sleigh runners that followed, came down with a +crash to the ground, leaving him barely time to clear himself from the +wreck, by leaping forward into the snow. Startled by the noise behind +him, the frightened pony made a sudden but vain effort to spring forward +with the still connected remains of the jumper, which were, at the +instant confined down by the passing runners of the large sleigh; when +snorting and wild with desperation, he reared himself upright on his +hinder legs, and fell over backwards, striking, with nearly the whole +weight of his body, upon his doubled neck, which all saw at a glance was +broken by the fall. + +With eyes flashing with indignation, young Woodburn bounded forward to +the head of the aggressing team, boldly seized the nearest horse by his +nostrils and bridle curb, and, in spite of his desperate rearing and +plunging, under the rapidly applied whip of the enraged driver, soon +succeeded, by daring and powerful efforts, in bringing him and his mate +to a stand. + +“Let go there, fellow, on your peril!” shouted Peters, choking with rage +at his defeat in attempting to ride over and escape his bold antagonist. + +“Not till I know what all this means, sir!” retorted Woodburn, with +unflinching spirit. + +“Detain us if you dare, you young ruffian!” exclaimed the sheriff, +protruding his harsh visage from one side of the sleigh. “Begone! or I +will arrest you in the king's name, sir!” + +“You will show your warrant for it first, Mr. Sheriff,” replied the +former, turning to Patterson with cool disdain. “I have nothing to +do with you, sir; but I hold this horse till the outrage I have just +received is atoned for, or at least explained.” + +“My good friend,” interposed Jones, in a respectful manner, “you must +not suppose we have designedly caused your disaster. Our horses, which +are high-mettled, as you see, took a sudden start, and the mischief was +done before they could be turned or checked.” + +“Now, let go that horse, will you, scoundrel?” again exclaimed Peters, +still chafing with anger, but evidently disturbed and uneasy under the +cold, searching looks of the other. + +“Hear me first, John Peters!” replied Woodburn, with the same determined +manner as before. “I care not for your abusive epithets, and have only +to say of them, that they are worthy of the source from which they +proceed. But you have knowingly and wickedly defrauded me of my farm; +unless I obtain redress, as I little expect, from a court which seems so +easily to see merits in a rich man's claim. Yes, you have defrauded me, +sir, out of my hard-earned farm; and there,” he continued, pointing +to his gasping horse,--“there lies nearly half of all my remaining +property--dead and gone! ay, and by your act, which, from signs I had +previously noticed, and from the tones of that young lady's exclamation +at the instant, (and God bless her for a heart which could be kind in +such company,) I shall always believe was wilfully committed. And if I +can make good my suspicions and a court of law will not give me justice, +I will have it elsewhere! There, sir, go,” he added, relinquishing his +hold on the horse, and stepping aside,--“go! but remember I claim a +future reckoning at your hands!” + +The sleigh now passed on to the yard of the inn, where the company +alighted, and soon disappeared within its doors, leaving the young +man standing alone in the road, gazing after them with that moody and +disquieted kind of countenance which usually settles on the face on the +subsidence of a strong gust of passion. + +“Poor pony!” he at length muttered, sadly, as, rousing himself, he +now turned towards his petted beast, that lay dead in his rude +harness,--“poor pony! But there is no help for you now, nor for me +either, I fear, as illy as I can afford to lose you. But it is not so +much the loss, as the manner--the manner!” he repeated, bitterly, as +he proceeded to undo the fastenings of the tackle, with the view of +removing the carcass and the broken sleigh from the road. + +While he was thus engaged, a number of men, most of them his townsmen, +who being, like himself, on their way to court, had stopped at the inn, +or store, near by, where the noise of the fray had aroused them, now +came hastening to the spot. + +“What is all this, Harry?” exclaimed the foremost, as he came up and +threw a glance of surprise and concern on the ruins before him. + +“You can see for yourselves,” was his moody reply, as others now +arrived, and, with inquiring looks, gathered around him. + +“Yes, yes; but how was it done?” + +“John Peters, who just drove up to the tavern, yonder, with a load of +court gentry, run over me--that's all,” he answered, with an air that +showed his feelings to be still too much irritated to be communicative. + +But the company, among whom he seemed to be a favorite were not to be +repulsed by a humor for which they appeared to understand how to make +allowance, but continued to press him with inquiries and soothing words, +till their manifestations of sympathy and offers of assistance had +gradually won him into a more cheerful mood; when, throwing off his +reserve, he thanked them kindly, and frankly related what he knew of +the affair, the particulars of which obviously produced a deep sensation +among the listeners. All present, after hearing the recital of the +facts, and on coupling them with the well-known disposition of Peters, +and his previous injuries to Woodburn, at once declared their belief +that the aggression was intentional, and warmly espoused this cause of +their outraged friend and townsman. A sort of council of war was then +holden; the affair was discussed and set down as another item in the +catalogue of injuries and oppressions of which the court party had been +guilty. Individuals were despatched into all the nearest houses, +and elsewhere, for the purpose of discovering what evidence might be +obtained towards sustaining a prosecution. It was soon ascertained, +however, that no one had seen the fracas, except the parties in +interest,--all Peters's company being so accounted,--and that, +consequently, no hope remained of any legal redress. On this, some +proposed measures of club-law retaliation, some recommended reprisals +on the same principle, and others to force Peters, as soon as he +should appear in the street, to make restitution for the loss he had +occasioned. And so great was the excitement, that had the latter then +made his appearance,--which, it seemed, he was careful not to do,--it is +difficult to say what might have been his reception. But contrary to the +expectations of all, Woodburn, who had been thoughtfully pacing up and +down the road, a little aloof from the rest, during the discussion, +now came forward, and, in a firm and manly manner, opposed all the +propositions which had been made in his behalf. + +“No,” said he, in conclusion, “such measures will not bear thinking of. +I threatened him myself with something of the kind you have proposed. +But a little reflection has convinced me I was wrong; for should I take +this method of obtaining redress, nowever richly he might deserve it +at my hands, I should but be doing just what I condemn in him, and thus +place myself on a level with him in his despicable conduct. No, we will +let him alone, and give him all the rope he will take; and if he +don't hang for his misdeeds, he will doubtless, by his conduct, aid in +hastening on the time, which, from signs not to be mistaken, cannot, I +think, be far distant, when a general outbreak will place him, and all +like him, who have been riding over us here rough-shod for years, in a +spot where he and they will need as much of our pity as they now have of +our hatred and fear.” + +“Ay, ay,” responded several, with significant nods and looks; “that time +will come, and sooner than they dream of.” + +“And then,” said one, “it will not be with us as it was with one last +fall; when, just as the winter was coming on, and milk was half our +dependence for the children, our only cow was knocked off by a winking +sheriff, for eleven and threepence, to this same Peters.” + +“Nor as it was with me,” said another poorly-clad man of the crowd, +“when for a debt, which, before it was sued, was only the price of a +bushel of wheat I bought to keep wife and little ones from starving, my +pair of two-year-olds and seven sheep were all seized and sold under the +hammer, for just enough to pay the debt and costs, to Squire Gale, the +clerk of the court, who is another of those conniving big bugs, who are +seen going round with the sheriff, at such times, with their pockets +full of money to buy up the poor man's property for a song, though never +a dollar will they lend him to redeem it with.” + +“No, my friends,” said a tall, stout, broad-chested man, with a clear, +frank, and fearless countenance, who, having arrived at the spot +as Woodburn began to speak, had been standing outside of the crowd, +silently listening to the remarks of the different speakers,--“no, my +friends; when the time just predicted arrives, it will no longer be as +it has been with _any_ of us. We shall _then_, I trust, all be allowed +to exercise the right which, according to my notions, we have from +God--that of choosing our own rulers, who, then, would be men from among +ourselves, knowing something about the wants and wishes of the people, +and willing to provide for their distresses in times like these. I have +little to say about individual men, or their acts of oppression; for +such men and such acts we may expect to see, so long as this accursed +system of foreign rule is suffered to remain. We had better, therefore, +not waste much of our ammunition on this or that tool of royalty, but +save it for higher purposes. And, for this reason, I highly approve of +the course that my young neighbor, Woodburn, has just taken, in _his_ +case; although, from what I have heard I suspect it was an outrageous +one.” + +“Thank you, thank you, Colonel Carpenter,” said Woodburn, coming forward +and cordially offering the other his hand; “the approbation of a man +like you more than reconciles me to the course which, I confess, cost me +a hard struggle to adopt.” + +“Ay, you were right, Harry,” rejoined the former, “though a hard matter +to bear; and though I am willing this, and all such outrages, should go +in to swell the cup of our grievances, that it may the sooner overflow, +yet you were right; and it was spoken, too, like a man. But let me +suggest, whether you, and all present, had not better now disperse. The +powers that be will soon have their eyes upon us, and I would rather not +excite their jealousy, at this time, on account of certain measures we +have in contemplation, which I will explain to you hereafter.” + +“Your advice is good,” returned Woodburn, “and I will see that it is +followed, as soon as I can find some one to dispose of the body of my +luckless pony; for then I propose to throw the harness into some sleigh, +and join such of the company here as are on foot on their way to court.” + +“Put your harness aboard my double sleigh standing in the tavern yard +yonder, Harry. And I am sorry I have too much of a load to ask you to +ride yourself. But where shall I leave the arness?” + +“At Greenleaf's store, at the river, if you will; for I conclude you are +bound to Westminster, as well as the rest of us.” + +“I am, and shall soon be along after you, as I wish to go through +to-night, if possible, being suspicious of a flood, that may prevent me +from getting there with a team, by to-morrow. Neither the rain nor thaw +is over yet, if I can read prognostics. How strong and hot this south +wind blows! And just cast your eye over on to West River mountain, +yonder--how rapidly those long, ragged masses of fog are creeping up its +sides towards the summit! That sign is never failing.” + +Woodburn's brief arrangements were soon completed; when he and his +newly-encountered foot companions, each provided with a pair of rackets, +or snow-shoes,--articles with which foot-travellers, when the snow was +deep, often, in those times, went furnished,--took up their line of +march down the road leading to the Connecticut, leaving Peters and his +company, as well as all others who had teams, refresing themselves or +their horses at the village inn. + +But, before we close this chapter, in order that the reader not versed +in the antiquarian lore of those times may more clearly understand +some of the allusions of the preceding pages, and also that he may +not question the probability that such a company as we have introduced +should be thus brought together, and be thus on their way to a court so +far into the interior of a new settlement, it may not be amiss here to +observe, that the sale and purchase of lands in Vermont at this period +constituted one of the principal matters of speculation among men +of property, not only those residing here, but those residing in the +neighboring colonies, and especially in that of New York; and that the +frequent controversies, arising out of disputed titles, made up the +chief business of the court, which, on the erection of a new county by +the legislature of New York, embracing all the south-eastern part of the +_Grants_, and known by the name of Cumberland, had here, several years +before, been established. And it was business of this kind, and the +personal, in addition to the political, interest they had in sustaining +a court, the judges of which were themselves said to be engaged in +these speculations, and therefore expected to favor, as far as might +be decent, their brother speculators, that led to the journey of the +present company of loyalists, consisting as before seen, of Haviland, a +large landholder of Bennington; Peters, an unconscientious speculator in +the same kind of property, belonging to a noted family of tories of that +name, residing in Pownal, and an adjoining town in New York; and Jones, +the agent of Fanning, from the vicinity of Fort Edward; the fated +Miss McRea, of sad historical memory, from the same place, having been +induced to come on with her lover, at the previous solicitation of her +friend, Miss Haviland, to join her, her father, and Peters, to whom she +was affianced in their proposed excursion over the mountains to court. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + “Now forced aloft, bright bounding through the air + Moves the bleak ice, and sheds a dazzling glare; + The torn foundations on the surface ride, + And wrecks of winter load the downward tide.” + + +After travelling a short distance in the road, Woodburn and his +companions halted, put on their snow-shoes, and, turning out to the left +into the woods, commenced, with the long, loping step peculiar to the +racket-shod woodsman, their march over the surface of the untrodden +snow. The road just named, which formed the usual route from the village +they had quitted to their place of destination, led first directly to +the Connecticut, in an easterly direction, and then, turning to the +north, passed up the river near its western banks, thus describing in +its course a right angle, at the point of which, resting on the river, +stood the store of Stephen Greenleaf, the first, and, for a while, the +only merchant in Vermont; whose buildings, with those perhaps of one or +two dependants, constituted the then unpromising nucleus around +which has since grown up the wealthy and populous village of East +Brattleborough. Such being the course of the travelled route, it will +readily be seen, that the main object of our foot company, in leaving +it, was the saving of distance, to be effected by striking across this +angle to some eligible point on the northern road. And they accordingly +pitched their course so as to enter the road near its intersection with +the Wantastiquet, or West River,--one of the larger tributaries of the +Connecticut,--which here comes lolling down from the eastern side of +the Green Mountains, and pours its rock-lashed and rapid waters into the +comparatively quiet bosom of the ingulfing stream below. + +After a walk of about half an hour, through alternating fields and +forest, they arrived, as they had calculated, at the banks of the +tributary above named, where it was crossed on the ice by the winter +road, which, owing to the failure of the rude bridge near the mouth of +the stream, and the difficulty of descending the bank in its immediate +vicinity, had been broken out through the adjoining meadow and over +the river at this point, which was consequently a considerable distance +above the ordinary place of crossing. + +On reaching this spot, it was found that the flood, which, on the high +grounds, where we have last been taking the reader, was but little +observable, had made, and was evidently still making, a most rapid +progress. The rising waters had already forced themselves through the +small but constantly widening outlets of their strong, imprisoning +barriers, and were beginning to hurry along, in two dark, turbid +streams, over the surface of the ice, beneath the opposite banks, where +it was still too strongly confined to the roots and frozen earth to +permit of its rising; while the uplifting mass, in the middle of the +river, had nearly attained the level of the surrounding meadows. And, +although the main body still remained unbroken, yet the deep, dull +reports that rose in quick succession to the ear from the cracking mass +in every direction around, and the sharp, hissing, gurgling sounds +of the water, which was gushing violently upwards through the fast +multiplying fissures, together with the visible, tremor-like agitation +that pervaded the whole, plainly evinced that it could not long +withstand the tremendous pressure of the laboring column of waters +beneath. + +The travellers, who were not to be turned back by a foot or two of water +in their path over the ice, so long as the foundation remained firm, +drew up a long spruce pole from a neighboring fence, and, shooting it +forward through the first stream of water, passed over upon it to the +uncovered ice; and then, drawing their spar-bridge to the water next the +other bank, went through the same process, till they had all reached the +opposite shore unwet and in safety. + +Here they again paused to note the appearance of the disturbed elements; +for, in addition to the threatening aspect which the river was here +fast assuming, a slight trembling of the ground began occasionally to +be perceptible; while unusual sounds seemed to come mingling from a +distance, with the roaring of the wind and the noise of rushing waters, +as if earth, air, and water were all joining their disturbed forces for +some general commotion. + +“The water and ice are strangely agitated, it appears to me,” observed +Woodburn to his companions, as they stood looking on the scene before +them. “See how like a pot the water boils up through that crevice +yonder! Then hear that swift, lumbering rush of the stream beneath! +The whole river, indeed, seems fairly to groan, like some huge animal +confined down by an insupportable burden, from which it is laboring to +free itself. I have noticed such appearances, I think, when the ice was +on the point of breaking up; but that can hardly be the case here, at +present can it?” + +“On the point of breaking up, now?” said one of the company in reply. +“No, indeed! Why, the ice is more than three feet thick, and as sound +and solid as a rock. Should it rain from this time till to-morrow noon, +it won't start.” + +“Well, now, I don't know about that,” remarked an observant old settler, +who had been silently regarding the different portents to which we have +alluded. “I don't know about the ice staying here twenty hours, or even +one. This has been no common thaw, that we have had for the last six or +eight hours, let me tell you.” + +“And still,” observed Woodburn, “I should not think the water high +enough as yet to cause a breaking up, should you?” + +“With a slow rise, and in a still time, perhaps not, Harry. But when +the water is rising rapidly, as now, and especially if there is a strong +wind, like this, to increase the motion, as it does either by outward +pressure, or by forcing the air through the chinks in under the ice, +I have always noticed that the stream acts on the ice at a much less +height, and much more powerfully, than when the rise is slow and the +weather calm.” + +“Then you look upon the appearances I named as indications that such an +event is soon to take place here, do you?” + +“I do, Harry, much sooner than you are expecting; for the signs you name +are not the only ones which tell that story, as I will soon convince you +all, if you will be still and listen a moment.” + +This remark caused the company to pause and place themselves in a +listening attitude. + +“There,” resumed the speaker, pointing up to the bold, shaggy steeps +of the mountain, which we have before alluded to, and which, from the +opposite side of the Connecticut, and within a few furlongs from the +spot where they now stood, rose, half concealed in its “misty shroud,” + like some huge battlement, to the heavens--“there! do you hear that +dull roar, with occasionally a crashing sound, away up there among those +clouds of fog near the top peaks of the mountain?” + +“Ay, ay, quite distinctly.” + +“Well, that is an echo, which, strangely enough, we can hear when we +can't the original sound, and which is made by the striking up there +of the roar of the river above us; that of course must be open, having +already broken up and got the ice in motion somewhere. But hark again! +Now, don't you hear that rumbling noise? Can't you, now, both hear and +feel those quick, irregular, deep, jarring sounds?” + +“Yes, plainly--very plainly, now--you are right. Sure enough, the ice in +the river above us is on the move!” responded all, with excited looks. + +“To be sure it is; and from the noise it makes, it must be coming down +upon us with the speed of a race-horse! Let us all to the hills, boys, +where we can get a fair view of the spectacle.” + +The company, accordingly, now all ran to gain the top of a neighboring +swell, which commanded a view of West River for a long distance up +the stream, as well as one of a considerable reach of the more distant +Connecticut, both of which views were obstructed, at the spot they +had just left, by a point of woods and turn in the river in the former +instance, and by intervening hills in the latter. + +Among the many wild and imposing exhibitions of nature, peculiar to the +mountainous regions of our northern clime, there is no one, perhaps, of +more fearful magnificence, than that which is sometimes presented in the +breaking up of one of our large rivers by a winter flood; when the ice, +in its full strength, enormous thickness, and rock-like solidity, is +rent asunder, with loud, crashing explosions, and hurled up into ragged +mountains, and borne onward before the raging torrent with inconceivable +force and frightful velocity, spreading devastation along the banks in +its course, and sweeping away the strongest fabrics of human power which +stand opposed to its progress, like the feeble weeds that disappear from +the path of a tornado. + +Such a spectacle, as they reached their proposed stand, now burst on the +view of the astonished travellers. As far as the eye could reach upwards +along the windings of the stream, the whole channel was filled with the +mighty mass of ice, driving down towards them with fearful rapidity, +and tumbling, crashing, grinding, and forcing its way, as it came, +with collisions that shook the surrounding forest, and with the din and +tumult of an army of chariots rushing together in battle. Here, tall +trees on the bank were beaten down and overwhelmed, or, wrenched off +at the roots and thrown upwards, were whirled along on the top of the +rushing volume, like feathers on the tossing wave. There, the changing +mass was seen swelling up into mountain-like elevations, to roll onward +a while, and, then gradually sinking away, be succeeded by another in +another form; while, with resistless front, the whole immense moving +body drove steadily on, ploughing and rending its way into the unbroken +sheet of ice before it, which burst, divided, and was borne down +beneath the boiling flood, or hurled upwards into the air, with a noise +sometimes resembling the sounds of exploding muskets, and sometimes the +crash of falling towers. + +But the noise of another and similar commotion in an opposite direction, +now attracted their attention, They turned, and their eyes were greeted +with a scene, which, though less startling from its distance, yet +even surpassed, in picturesque grandeur, the one they had just been +witnessing. Through the whole visible reach of the Connecticut, a +long, white, glittering column of ice, with its ridgy and bristling top +towering high above the adjacent banks, was sweeping by and onward, like +the serried lines of an army advancing to the charge; while the broad +valley around even back to the summits of the far-off hills, was +resounding with the deafening din that rose from the extended line of +the booming avalanche, with the deep rumblings of an earthquake mingled +with the tumultuous roar of an approaching tempest. + +The attention of the company, however, was now drawn from this +magnificent display of the power of the elements, by an object of more +immediate interest to their feelings. This was an open double sleigh, +approaching, on the opposite side of the river, towards the place at +which they had just crossed over, in the manner we have described. +The mountain mass of ice that was still forcing its way down the river +before them, with increasing impetus, was now within three hundred +yards of the pass, to which those in the sleigh were hastening, with the +evident design of crossing. And though the latter, owing to a point of +woods that intervened at a bend in the stream a short distance above, +could not see the coming ice, yet they seemed aware of its dangerous +proximity; for, as they now drove down to the edge of the water, they +paused, and a large man, who appeared to have control of the team, +rose to his feet, and with words that could not be distinguished in +the roaring of the wind and the noise from the scene above, made an +appealing gesture, which was readily understood by our foot travellers +as an inquiry whether the team would have time to cross before the ice +reached the spot. + +“It is Colonel Carpenter and his company,” said Woodburn. “He will have +no time to spare, but enough, I think, if he instantly improves it, to +get safely over. He has smart horses, and is anxious to be on this side +of the river. Let him come.” + +Accordingly, they returned him encouraging gestures, which being seen +and understood by him, he instantly whipped up his horses, and, forcing +them on the ice, soon effected his passage in safety, and drove +rapidly down the road, leading along the northern bank of the stream to +Connecticut, the object of his speed being obviously to keep forward of +the icy flood, which by his progress might otherwise be soon obstructed. + +“There,” resumed Woodburn, breaking the silence with which he and his +companions had been witnessing the rather hazardous passage of their +friends,--“there, the colonel is well over; but his is the last sleigh +to cross this year, unless it be drawn by winged horses.” + +“Well, winged, or not winged, there is another, it seems, about to make +the attempt,” said one of the company, pointing across the river, where +a covered double sleigh, with showy equipage was dashing at full speed +down the road towards the stream. + +“It is a hostile craft!” “Peters and his gang!” “We owe them no favors!” + “Let the enemy take care of themselves!” were the exclamations which +burst from the recently-incensed group, as all eyes were now turned to +the spot. + +“O, no! no!” exclaimed Woodburn, with looks of the most lively concern. +“Be they foes or friends, they must not be suffered to enter upon that +river. Why, the breaking ice has already nearly reached the bend, and +unless it stops there, that path across the stream, within five minutes, +will be as traceless as the ocean! Run down to the bank, and hail them!” + he continued, turning to those around him. “I fear they would not listen +to me. Will no one go to warn them against an attempt which must prove +their destruction?” he added, reproachfully glancing around him. + +“Shall we interfere unasked?” said one, who was smarting under a sense +of former injuries; “ay, and interfere, too, to save such a man as +Peters, that he may go on robbing us of our farms?” + +“And save such a man as Sheriff Patterson, also, that he may hang the +innocent and pious Herriot?” said another, bitterly. + +“And save them all, that they may keep up the court which will soon hang +or rob the whole of us?” added a third, in the same spirit. + +“O, wrong--wickedly wrong! and, if no one will go, I must,” cried +Woodburn, turning hastily from the spot, and making his way down the +hill towards the river with all the speed he was master of. + +A few seconds sufficed to bring him to the edge of the stream, when, +in a voice that rose above the roar of the wind and waters around, he +called on Peters, who was already urging his reluctant and snorting +horses down the opposite bank into the water, warned him of the +situation of the ice, and begged him, as he valued the lives of his +friends, to desist from his perilous attempt. + +“Do you think to frighten me?” shouted Peters, who, perceiving the +speaker to be his despised opponent, became suspicious, as the latter +had feared, that the warning was but a _ruse_ to prevent him from going +on that night,--“do you think to frighten me back, liar, when a heavy +team has just passed safely over before my eyes?” + +And, in defiance of the timely caution he had received, and the warning +sounds, of which his senses might have apprised him, had he paused +a moment to listen, he furiously applied the whip, and plunged madly +through the water towards the middle ice But as rapidly as he drove, +the team had not passed over more than one third of the distance across, +before he and all with him became fully aware of the fearful peril they +had so recklessly incurred; for, at this critical moment, with awful +brunt, the mountain wave of icy ruins came rolling round the screening +point into full view, and not fifty yards above them. A cry of alarm +at once burst from every occupant of the menaced vehicle and Peters, +no less frightened than the rest, suddenly checked the horses, with the +half-formed design of turning and attempting to regain the shore he +had just left. But on glancing round, he beheld, to his dismay, the ice +burst upward from its winter moorings along the shore, leaving between +them and the bank a dark chasm of whirling waters, over which it +were madness to think of repassing. At that instant, with a deep and +startling report, the broad sheet of ice confining the agitated river +burst asunder parted, and was afloat in a hundred pieces around them. +Another piercing cry of terror and distress issued from the devoted +sleigh and Miss Haviland, with an involuntary impulse at the fearful +shock, leaped out on to the large cake of ice on which the sleigh and +horses were resting. She seemed instantly to perceive her error; but +before she could regain the sleigh, or even be caught by the extended +hands of her friends, the frightened horses made a sudden and desperate +lunge forward, and, with a speed that could neither be checked nor +controlled, dashed onward over the dissevering mass, leaping from piece +to piece of their sinking support, and each in turn falling in, to be +drawn out by his mate, till they reached the shore, and rushed furiously +up the bank, beyond the sweep of the dreadful torrent from which they +had so miraculously escaped. + +“O God of heaven, have mercy on my daughter!” exclaimed Haviland, in +a piteous burst of anguish, as he sprang out of the sleigh among the +company, who, with horror-stricken looks, stood on the bank mutely +gazing on the fast receding form of the luckless maiden, thus +left behind, to be borne away, in all human probability, to speedy +destruction. + +For a moment no one stirred or spoke, all standing amazed, and seemingly +paralyzed at the thought of her awful situation having no hope of her +rescue, and expecting every instant to see her crushed, or ingulfed +among the ice that was wildly heaving and tumbling on every side around +her. But fortunately for her, the broad, solid block, on which she had +alighted, and on which she continued still to retain her stand, was, +by the submerged and rising masses beneath, gradually and evenly forced +upwards to the top of the column, with which it was moving swiftly down +the current. And there she stood, like a marble statue on its pedestal, +sculptured for some image of woe, her bonnet thrown back from her +blanched features, and her loosened hair streaming wildly in the wind; +while one hand was extended doubtfully towards the shore, and the other +lifted imploringly to heaven, as if in supplication for that aid from +above, which she now scarcely hoped to receive from her friends below. + +“O Sabrey, Sabrey! must you indeed perish?” at length burst convulsively +from Miss McRea, in the most touching accents of distress. + +“Is there no help? Can no one save her?” added the agonized father. + +“Yes, save her--save her!” exclaimed Peters, now eagerly addressing +the men he affected so to despise. “Can't some of you get on to the ice +there, and bring her off? Five guineas to the man who will do it; yes, +ten! Quick! run, run, or you'll be too late,” he added, turning, from +one to another, without offering to start himself. + +Throwing a look of silent scorn on his contemptible foe, Woodburn, +having been anxiously casting about him in thought for some means of +rescuing the ill-fated girl from her impending doom, now, with the air +of one acting only on his own responsibility, hastily called on his +companions to follow him, and led the way, with rapid strides, down +along the banks of the stream, as near the main channel as the water and +ice, already bursting over the banks into the road, would permit. But +although he could easily keep abreast of the fair object of his anxiety, +of whom he occasionally obtained such glimpses through the brushwood +here lining the banks as to show him that she still retained her footing +on the same block of ice, which still continued to be borne on with +the surrounding mass, yet he could perceive no way of reaching her--no +earthly means by which she could be snatched from the terrible doom +that seemed so certainly to await her; for along the whole extent of the +moving ice, and even many rods in advance of it, the water, dammed up, +and forced from the choked channel, was gushing over the banks, and +sweeping down by their sides in a stream that nothing could withstand. +And, to add to the almost utter hopelessness with which he was compelled +to view her situation, he now soon began to be admonished that she was +immediately threatened by a danger from which she had thus far been so +providentially preserved--that of being crushed or swallowed up at once +in the broken ice. He could perceive, from the increasing commotion of +the ice around her, that her hitherto level and unbroken support was +growing every moment more insecure and uncertain. And as it rose and +fell, or was pitched forward and thrown up aslant, in the changing +volume, he could plainly hear her piteous shrieks, and see her flying +from side to side of the plunging body, to avoid being hurled into the +frightful chasms which were continually yawning to receive her. + +“Lost! lost!” he uttered with a sigh; “no earthly aid can now avail +her. But stay! stay!” he continued, as his eye fell on the two or three +remaining beams or string-pieces of the old bridge still extended across +the river a short distance below. “If she reaches that place alive, and +I can but gain the spot in time, I may yet save her. O Heaven, help me +to the speed and the means of rescuing her from this dreadful death!” + +And calling loudly to his companions, whom he had already outstripped, +to come on, he now set forward, with all possible speed, for the place +which afforded the last chance for the poor girl's rescue. The banks +of the river, at the point which it was now his object to gain, were so +much more elevated than those above, that he had little fear of finding +the path leading on to the bridge obstructed by the water. And it had +glanced through his mind, as he descried this forgotten spot, and saw +the remains of the bridge still standing, that the maiden might here +be assisted to escape on to the bank, or be drawn up by a cord, or some +other implement, to the top of the bridge, which, being high above the +ordinary level of the water, would not probably be swept away by the +ice, at least not till that part of it on which she was situated should +have passed under it. There was an occupied log-house standing but a +short distance from the place, and the owner, as Woodburn drew near, +was, luckily, just making his appearance at the door. + +“A rope, a rope! be ready with a rope,” shouted Woodburn, pointing to +the scene of trouble, as soon as he could make himself understood by the +wondering settler. + +The man, after a hurried glance from the speaker to the indicated scene, +and thence to the bridge below, during which he seemed to comprehend +the nature of the emergency, instantly disappeared within the door. +In another moment Woodburn came up, and burst into the house, where he +found the settler and his wife eagerly running out the rope of their +bedstead, which had been hastily stripped of the bed and clothing, +and the fastenings cut, for the purpose. The instant the rope was +disengaged, was seized by the young man, who, bidding the other to +follow, rushed out of the house, and bounded forward to the bridge, +which they both reached just as the unbroken ice was here beginning +to quake and move from the impulse of the vast body above, which, now +scarcely fifty paces distant, was driving down, with deafening crash, +towards them. + +“Thank Heaven, she yet lives, and is nearing us!” exclaimed Woodburn, +as he ran out on to the partially covered beams of the bridge, where he +could obtain a clear view of the channel above. + +She is there, hedged in, though as yet riding securely in the midst of +that hideous jam, but, if not drawn up here, will be the next moment +lost among the spreading mass, as it is disgorged into the Connecticut +here below.” + +“Shall we throw down an end of the rope for her to catch?” said the +settler, hastening to Woodburn's side. + +“I dare not risk her strength to hold on to it; I must go down myself,” + said Woodburn, hurriedly knotting the two ends of the cord round his +body. “Now stand by me, my friend. Brace yourself back firmly on this +string-piece; let me down, and the instant I have secured her in my +arms, draw us both up together.” + +“I can let you down; but to draw you both up--” replied the other, +hesitating at the thought of the hazardous attempt. + +“You must try it,” eagerly interrupted the intrepid young man, “My +friends will be here in a moment to aid you. There she comes! be ready! +Now!” + +Accordingly, sliding over the edge of the bridge, Woodburn was gradually +let down by the strong and steady hands of the settler, till he was +swinging in the air, on a level with that part of the approaching mass +on which stood the half-senseless object of his perilous adventure. The +foremost of the broken ice was now sweeping swiftly by, just beneath +his feet. Another moment, and she will be there! She evidently sees the +preparation for her deliverance; a faint cry of joy escapes her lips, +and her hands are extended towards the proffered aid. And now, riding +high on the billowy column, she is borne on nearer and nearer towards +those who wait, in breathless silence, for her approach. And now she +comes--she is here! She is caught in the eager grasp of the brave youth; +and, the next instant, by the giant effort of the strong man above +them, they are together drawn up within a few feet of the bending and +tottering bridge. But with all his desperate exertions, he can raise +them no higher, and there they hang suspended over the dark abyss of +whirling waters that had opened in the disrupturing mass beneath, at +the instant, as if to receive them; while a mountain billow of ice, +that must overwhelm them with certain destruction, is rolling down, with +angry roar, within a few rods of the spot. A groan of despair burst from +the exhausted man at the rope; and his grasp was about to give way. + +“Hold on there, an instant! one instant longer!” cried a loud voice on +the right, where a tall, muscular form was seen bounding forward to the +spot. + +“Quick, Colonel Carpenter! quick! O, for God's sake, quick!” exclaimed +the settler, throwing an anguished and beseeching glance over his +shoulder towards the other. + +The next instant, the powerful frame of the new-comer was bending over +the grasped rope; and, in another, both preservers and preserved were +on the bridge, from which they had barely time to escape, before it was +swept away, with a loud crash, and borne off on the top of the mighty +torrent. They were met on the bank by the companions of Woodburn, and +the friends of the rescued maiden, who came promiscuously running to +the spot; when loud and long were the gushing acclamations of joy and +gratitude that rang wildly up to heaven at the unexpected deliverance. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + “The king can make a belted knight, + Confer proud names, and a' that; + But pith of sense and pride of worth + Are brighter ranks than a' that.” + + +The village of Westminster yields, perhaps, in the tranquil and +picturesque beauty of its location, to few others in New England. +In addition to the advantage of a situation along the banks of that +magnificent river, of which our earliest epic poet, Barlow, in his +liquid numbers, has sung, + + “No watery glades through richer valleys shine, + Nor drinks the sea a lovelier wave than thine,” + +it stands upon an elevated plain, that could scarcely have been made +more level had it been smoothed and evened, by the instruments of art, +to fit it for the arena of some vast amphitheatre, which the place, with +the aid of a little fancy, may be very easily thought to resemble; for, +from the principal street, which is nearly a mile in extent, broad and +beautiful fields sweep away in every direction, till they meet, in the +distance, that crescent-like chain of hills, by which, with the river, +the place is enclosed. + +It was probably this natural beauty of the place, together with its +proximity to the old fort at Walpole, at which a military establishment +was once maintained by the government of New Hampshire for the +protection of its frontier, that led to the early settlement and rapid +growth of this charming spot, which, having been entered by the pioneers +as far back as 1741, continued so to increase and prosper, though on the +edge of a wilderness unbroken, for many years, for hundreds of miles on +the north, that, at the opening of the American revolution, it was the +most populous and best built village in Vermont. + +This place, at the period chosen for the beginning of our tale, had +been, for several years, the seat of justice for all the southern part +of this disputed territory, under the assumed jurisdiction of New +York, in which a majority of the inhabitants seemed to have tacitly +acquiesced. And the most prominent of its public buildings, as might be +expected, was the Court House, embracing the jail under the same roof. +This was a spacious square edifice conspicuously located, and of very +respectable architecture for the times. The village, also, contained +a meeting-house, school house, and the usual proportion of stores and +taverns. The whole place, indeed, had now nearly passed into the second +stage of existence, in American villages, when the pioneer log-houses +have given place to the more airy and elegant framed buildings; and, +compared with other towns, which, in this new settlement, were then just +emerging from the wilderness, it wore quite an ancient appearance. + +Among the most commodious and handsome of the many respectable dwellings +which had here been erected, was that of Crean Brush, Esquire, +colonial deputy secretary of New York, and also an active member of the +legislature of that colony for this part of her claimed territory. This +house, at the sessions of the courts, especially, was the fashionable +place of resort for what was termed the court party gentry, and +other distinguished persons from abroad. To the interior of this +well-furnished and affectedly aristocratic establishment, we will now +repair, in order to resume the thread of our narrative. + +In an upper chamber of the house, at a late hour of the same evening on +which occurred the exciting scenes described in the preceding pages, sat +the two young ladies, to whom the reader has already been introduced, +silently indulging in their different reveries before an open fire. +They had safely arrived in town, about an hour before, with all their +company, except Jones, who had been left at Brattleborough; and having +been consigned to the family of this mansion, with whom they had formed +a previous acquaintance at Albany, where Brush, the greater part of the +year, resided, and where both of the young ladies were educated, they +had taken some refreshment, and retired to the apartment prepared for +their reception. The demeanor of these fair companions, always widely +different, was particularly so at the present moment. Miss Haviland, +with her chin gracefully resting on one folded hand, and her calm and +beautiful, but now deeply-clouded brow, shaded by the white, taper +fingers of the other, was abstractedly gazing into the glowing coals on +the hearth before her, while the gentle, but less reflective McRea, with +a countenance disturbed only by the passing emotions of sympathy that +occasionally flitted over it, as she glanced at the downcast face of her +friend, sat quietly preparing for bed, by removing her ornaments, and +adjusting those long, golden tresses, with which, in after times, +her memory was destined to become associated in the minds of tearful +thousands, while reading the melancholy history of her tragic fate. + +“Come, Sabrey,” at length said the latter, soothingly, “come, cheer +up. I cannot bear to see you so dejected. I would not brood over that +frightful scene any longer, but, feeling grateful and happy at my +escape, would dismiss it as soon as possible from my mind.” + +“I am, Jane,” responded the other, partially rousing herself from her +reverie; “I am both grateful and happy at my providential escape. +But you are mistaken in supposing it is that scene which disquiets me +to-night.” + +“Indeed!” replied the former, with a look of mingled surprise and +curiosity. “Why, I have been attributing your dejection and absence of +mind, this evening, to that cause alone. What else can have occurred to +disturb your thoughts to-night, let me ask?” + +“Jane, in confidence, I will tell you,” replied Miss Haviland, looking +the other in the face, and speaking in a low, serious tone. “It is the +discovery which I have made, or at least think I have, this day, made, +respecting the true character of one who should command, in the relation +I stand with him, my entire esteem.” + +“Mr. Peters? Though of course it is he to whom you allude. But what new +trait have you discovered in him, to-day, that leads you to distrust his +character?” + +“What I wish I had not; what I still hope I may be deceived in; but +what, nevertheless, forces itself upon my mind, in spite of all my +endeavors to resist it. You recollect Mr. Jones's account of the +lawsuit, in which Mr. Peters succeeded in obtaining the farm of this Mr. +Woodburn, whose gallant conduct we have all this afternoon witnessed?” + +“Yes, certainly.” + +“Well, did you think that story, when rightly viewed, was very +creditable to Mr. Peters?” + +“I am not sure I understood the case sufficiently to judge; did you?” + +“Well enough, Jane, with the significant winks that passed between +Peters and the sheriff, to convince me that an unjust advantage had been +taken. But perhaps I could have been brought to believe myself mistaken +in this conclusion, had I seen nothing else to confirm it, and lower him +still more in my esteem.” + +“What else _did_ you see? + +“An exhibition of malice, Jane, which astonished as much as it +pained me. That pretended accident, in running over Woodburn, was +designed--nay, coolly designed.” + +“Why, Sabrey Haviland! how can you talk, how can you believe, so about +one whose betrothing ring is now on your finger?” + +“It is indeed painful to do so; but truth compels me.” + +“Might you not have been mistaken?” + +“No; I saw the whole movement. I had been watching him some time, and I +noticed how he prepared those fiery horses of his for a sudden spring, +and saw the look of malicious exultation accompanying the final act. And +even now, I shudder to think what guilt he might have incurred! Even as +it resulted, only in the destruction of property, how can I help being +shocked at the discovery of a secret disposition which could have +prompted such a deed? O, how different has been the conduct of him who +has thus been made the victim of his misusage!” + +“Different! Why, what has he done? I was not aware--” + +“True, I am reminded that I have not told you. That loquacious landlady, +where we stopped to dine, told me, as we were coming away, that there +had been a great excitement among the people in the street, about the +outrage; and that Peters would certainly have been mobbed, if Woodburn +had not interfered and prevented it.” + +“Indeed! I should have hardly expected so much magnanimity in one of his +class. It was truly a noble return for the injuries he had received from +Peters.” + +“Ay, and by this last act of saving my life, he has still more nobly +revenged himself upon Peters, and upon us all.” + +“Assisted to save you, I conclude you mean; for I heard Peters tell +your father, that it was the settler who lived in the house near by, and +Colonel Carpenter, who finally rescued you.” + +“Did he tell my father that story, without mentioning Woodburn?” asked +Miss Haviland, with a look of mingled surprise and displeasure. + +“Yes, as he came back to meet us with the news, while we were getting +round with the sleigh to the spot.” + +“Well, my father shall know the truth of the case; and Mr. Woodburn, +though he did not boast of his services, nor even stay to give me an +opportunity to thank him for what he had done, shall also know that we +are not insensible to his gallant conduct; for, whatever they may say, +Jane, I am indebted to him for my life. As dreadful as was my situation +among that crashing mass of ice, with which I was borne onward down +the stream, I saw all that was done. He led the way from the first, +contrived the plan, and with the assistance of the hesitating settler, +carried it into execution, with a promptitude that alone could have +saved me. It is true, that we both must have perished but for the timely +arrival of Colonel Carpenter; but that detracts nothing from the merits +of Mr. Woodburn, who, as we hung suspended over that frightful abyss, I +knew and felt, was throwing his life to the winds to save mine. O, +why could it not have been, as I have often said to myself during our +cheerless ride this evening,--why could it not have been Peters, to +perform all that I have this day seen in that poor, despised, and +persecuted young man?” + +“Why, Mr. Peters certainly appeared much alarmed, and anxious that +something should be done to save you,” replied Miss McRea, after +a thoughtful pause, produced by the words and fervid manner of her +companion. + +“Then why did he leave it to another to save me?” responded the former, +severely. + +“That I do not know, certainly,” replied the other; “but he at once +bestirred himself, and I heard him offer five guineas, and I think he +doubled the price the next moment, to any one who would go on to the ice +and bring you off.” + +“Five guineas!” exclaimed Miss Haviland, starting to her feet, with a +countenance eloquent with scorn and contempt--“five guineas, and at a +pinch, ten! What a singular fountain must that be, from which such a +thought, at such a time, could have flowed! Had it been one of those +favorite horses, it would have sounded well enough, perhaps, though I +think he would have offered more. It is well, however, that I now know +the price at which I am estimated,” she added, bitterly. + +“It _does_ sound rather strangely, now you have named it,” responded +Miss McRea, abashed at the unexpected construction put on what she had +communicated, and mortified and half vexed, that every attempt she had +made to remove her friend's difficulties only made the matter worse: “it +sounds oddly, to be sure, but I presume he did not mean any thing.” + +“O, no, I dare say; nor did he do any thing, as I can learn, through the +whole affair, except attempt to deprive Woodburn of the credit he had +gained. Jane,” she continued, with softened tone, “what would you have +thought, had you been in my situation, and your lover had acted such a +part?” + +“I should have thought--I don't know what I should have thought,” + replied the other, with a feeling which showed how quickly the appeal +had taken effect. “But I should have had no occasion to have any thought +about it; for I _know_ he would have been the one to save me, or die +with me. O, I wish Mr. Jones had come on with us, for had he been there, +so good and so brave as he is, I am sure even you need not have become +so deeply indebted to this low young fellow.” + +“Low, Jane, low?” said the former, reprovingly. “Was it low to overlook +so easily the injury and affront he had received from Peters, and then +return good for evil? And was it low to rescue me from the raging flood, +by exertions and risk of life, which would have done credit to the first +hero in the land?” + +“O, no, not that; I did not mean that; for his conduct has been generous +and noble indeed; and from the first, when I heard Mr. Jones's account +of him, I was disposed to think highly of the man, for one in his +situation of life. I only meant that he did not belong to our party, but +was one of the lower classes of society.” + +“It is true he may not belong to our party, Jane; but how much should +that weigh in the argument? Perhaps at this very hour, two thirds of +the American people would count it as weight to the other part of the +balance. And even I, trained as I have been by and among the highest +toned loyalists, wish I could help doubting that our party is the +only one that has right and reason on its side. And as to the claim of +belonging to what is called the first society, I can only say that I +wish many, who are allowed that claim among us, were as worthy of +the place as I think Woodburn is. I have always loved Justice for her +beautiful self and hated her opposite; and I never could see how those +who are guided by her and the kindred virtues, could be accounted low, +or how, or why, those who lack these qualities could claim to be called +high. Is it any wonder then, Jane, that I should feel troubled and +distressed at discoveries which, in my mind, reverse the situation that +my friends assign to the two individuals of whom we have been speaking?” + +“O, you are too much of a philosopher for me in all that,” replied Jane, +“Come, be a woman now, Sabrey, and I will discuss the matter with +you, claiming, perhaps, a little, a very little, of the right of the +confessor. I can easily understand how painful it would be to have +doubts of the character of one's lover, and I can also understand,” she +continued, looking a little archly, “how one, who did not love a suitor +very hard, could feel grateful--yes, very grateful--to a good-looking +young man who had behaved gallantly. And I have a good mind to half +suspect--” + +“Hark!” interrupted the other, hurriedly, while a slight tinge became +visible on her cheek--“hark! did you hear the striking of the house +clock below? It is telling the hour of midnight. Let us dismiss these +embarrassing thoughts, and retire to our repose. Your prospects, Jane,” + she continued, rising and speaking in a sad and gently expostulatory +tone--“your prospects are bright with love and happiness; and it will +be ungenerous and cruel in you to say aught which will deepen the shade +that I fear is coming over mine.” + +“O, I will not, Sabrey,” warmly returned the kind-hearted Jane. “I +did not intend it. Forgive me, do; and we will dismiss the subject for +something which will give us pleasanter dreams, and then, as you say, go +to rest and enjoy them.” + +Leaving these fair friends to their slumbers, disquieted or sweetened by +the various visions which the incidents of the day had been calculated +to excite in the bosom of each, we will now repair to a lower apartment +of the house, to note the doings of a select band of court dignitaries +there assembled, for a purpose concerning which a spectator, at the +first glance, might, from the appearances, be at a loss to decide +whether it was one of revelry or secret consultation, so much did it +partake of the character of both. + +Around a long table, well furnished with wine and glasses, sat a select +company of gentlemen, whose dress and deportment denoted them to be +persons of the first consequence. And such, indeed, may be said to have +been the fact, till the present time, for the party embraced the judges +and officers of the court, and such of the most stanch and influential +of their supporters as could be convened for a special consultation, +which, it was considered, the portents of the times demanded. Here was +the aristocratic and haughty Brush, the host, and leading spirit of +the party, with his florid face, cracking his jokes and ridiculing “the +boorish settlers,” in which he was sure to find a ready response in the +boisterous laugh of Peters and other young supporters of the court and +loyal party. Here, too, sat the fiery and profane Gale, the clerk of +the court, with his thin, angular features, and forbidding brow, +occasionally exploding with his short, bitter, barking laugh, as, with +many an oath, he dealt out anticipated vengeance on all those who should +dare cross the path of the established authorities. And here also was +Chandler, the chief judge of the court, with his plausible manners, +affectedly sincere look, and deferential smile, as he exchanged the +whisper and meaning glance with his colleague, Judge Sabin, a stern, +reserved, and bigoted loyalist, or as he nodded approbation to the +remarks, whatever they might be, of those around him. These with +Stearns, a tory lawyer of some note, Rogers, a tory land holder, +Haviland, and a few others, all leading and trusty supporters of the +court party, constituted the company, or rather the cabinet council, +here convened, all of whom, as appeared by the entire freedom of their +remarks, were fully in each other's confidence. + +There was one person in the room, however, who had no thought or feeling +in common with the rest of those present, but who did not appear to be +deemed by them of sufficient consequence to be interrogated in relation +to his opinions, or of sufficient capacity to comprehend what was said +in his presence, at least not to any degree which might render it unsafe +that he should hear the discussion so unreservedly going forward. This +person, who was acting in the capacity of waiter to the company, being +under a temporary engagement to the master of the house, to serve him in +such work as might be wanted about the house and stables, was a youth, +of perhaps eighteen, of quite an ordinary, and even singular appearance. +His figure was low and slight, and he was made to appear the more +diminutive, perhaps, by his dress, which consisted of short trousers, a +long, coarse jacket, and a flat woollen cap, drawn down to the eyebrows. +His hair, hanging, in lank locks, to his shoulders, was light and +sandy, and his face was deeply freckled; while a pair of long, falling +eyelashes contributed to add still further to the peculiarity of his +looks, and to give his countenance, with those who did not note +the keen, bright orbs that occasionally peeped from their usually +impenetrable coverts, a sleepy and listless appearance. He now sat on +the top of a high wood-box, placed near one corner of the chimney, +with his legs dangling over one end of the box, and his head drooping +sluggishly towards the fire, apparently as unconscious of what was said +and done in the room, as the little black dog that lay sleeping on the +floor beneath his feet. + +“Here, Bart,” exclaimed Brush, as the company, having dropped the +discussion of all weighty matters, were now briskly circulating the +bottle, and beginning to give way to noisy merriment--“here, Bart, +you sleepy devil, come and snuff these candles. Our chap here,” he +continued, winking archly to those around him--“our chap Bart, or +Barty Burt, to give the whole of his euphonious name, gentlemen, may be +considered an excellent specimen of the rebel party, who talk so wisely +about self-government, sitting under one's own vine and fig-tree, and +all that sort of thing; for; in the first place, he has a great deal of +wisdom, handy to be got at, it all lying in his face. And then he is so +much for self-government that no one can govern him in anything. Then +again, as to the idea of sitting under a fig-tree, I think it is one +that Bart would most naturally entertain; for had he a tree to sit +under, be it fig or bass-wood, and enough to eat, he would sit there +till he was gray, before he would think of moving.” + +“Not badly drawn, that similitude,” said Stearns, after the burst of +laughter, by which these remarks were greeted, had a little subsided; +“but methinks I see a flaw therein, friend Brush: you said our young +republican's wisdom, alias ideas, all lay in his face; and then, in the +matter of the fig-tree, you go on to intimate he _has one_ distinct +idea in his head, thereby lessening the force and exactness of the +comparison, as I think you will allow.” + +“I crave pardon, gentlemen,” cried the secretary; “I should have +qualified; for, really, I have several times seriously suspected Bart +to have ideas, or, at least, one whole idea of his own; and if you think +that is too much to allow the individuals of the party generally, with +whom I have compared him, why, then I must knock under, that's all.” + +“You are down! you are down, then, Brush!” shouted several, with another +uproarious burst of laughter. + +Bart, the chief butt of this ridicule, in the mean while, was moving +quietly about the room in performance of his bidden tasks, without +appearing to notice a word that was uttered; and but for a certain +rapid twinkling that might have been seen in his eyes, which, as he +deliberately returned to his seat in the corner, were opened to an +unusual extent, one would have supposed him utterly insensible to all +the taunts and jeering laughter of which he had thus publicly been made +the victim. + +“Ah! Patterson, here you are then, at last,” exclaimed Gale, as the +former, with a disturbed and angry countenance, now came pushing his way +into the midst of the company. “We have done nothing but drink and +joke since you went out, scarcely; at all events, we have concluded on +nothing, except to wait and learn the result of your discoveries: so now +for your report.” + +“Ay, ay, Mr. Sheriff,” responded Brush. “But stay, take breath, and a +glass of this glorious old Madeira, first. There! now tell us how the +land lies abroad to-night.” + +“It lies but little to my liking,” growled the Sheriff, with an oath. +The rascally dogs have altogether stolen the march of us. They have been +swarming into town all the evening, as thick as bees, while not more +than a dozen of our flint-and-steel men have yet got on the ground. It +beats Beelzebub!--” + +“Our witnesses,” quickly interposed Judge Chandler, bowing with a +significant smile and cautionary wink, while he threw a sidelong glance +towards Bart, whom the wary eye of the judge had detected in slightly +changing his position, so as to bring his ear more directly towards the +speakers--“our witnesses and quarrelling suitors in court you mean, of +course?” + +“Why, yes--yes, your honor--if you think that necessary,” replied +Patterson, following the direction of the other's glance, and then +looking inquiringly at Brush, as if to ask whether there was any danger +to be apprehended from talking before the servant. “Pooh--nonsense!” + said Brush, readily understanding the mute appeal. “Nonsense! You could +not make him comprehend what we are talking about in six weeks, if you +should do your prettiest. Why, the fellow has not two ideas above a +jackass!--so talk out.” + +“Well, then,” resumed the sheriff, in a lower tone, “I have satisfied +myself that the rebels are plotting like so many Satans, and are in +earnest about carrying their threat into execution. Now, the question +is, what shall be done--yield the point and submit to be turned out +of the Court House to-morrow, as if we were a pack of unruly boys, or +what?” + +“Yield!” fiercely exclaimed Gale--“not till my pistol bullets have drank +the heart's blood of the d----d rascals, first.” + +“Ay, Gale,” responded Brush, “that would be well enough, but for one +small difficulty, which is, that these demi-savages understand quite as +much of that kind of play as we do; and so long as they outnumber us +so greatly, the fun of doing what you would propose might be less than +talking about it. Let us have Chandler's opinion. What course is it best +to take, judge?” + +“Temporize!” replied the latter, in a low, emphatic tone, and with a +look of peculiar significance--“temporize till----” + +“Till we can help ourselves,” said Patterson, taking up the sentence +where the other left it, or rather finishing in words what had been +expressed by looks. + +“That's just my notion,” remarked Stearns. “Let them see and be assured +that we are for peace, and want nothing but what is right; all of which +may be said truly. And in this manner, if the thing is well managed, +their suspicions can be allayed, and we can get possession of the +Court House as soon as our friends get on, which will be by to-morrow +noon--will it not Patterson?” + +“Yes, unless this cussed flood has carried away all the roads, as well +as bridges,” gruffly replied the sheriff. “Yes, and if these mobbing +knaves can be kept quiet then, we shall be in a situation to ask no +favors.” + +“And grant none,” said Sabin, with cool bitterness. + +“You don't learn,” asked Chandler, with feigned indifference--“you don't +learn that the people have brought any offensive implements with them, +do you, Patterson? It might be done covertly, you know. Has this been +seen to, by proper measures,--such as examining the straw in the bottoms +of their sleighs, and the like?” + +“Yes, thoroughly,” returned the former; “they have brought no arms with +them, at any rate. We are undoubtedly indebted to your honor's skilful +management with them at Chester for that.” + +“Ay, ay,” interposed Stearns, “nobody but the judge could have executed +that piece of diplomacy with the fellows. And no one but he can +carry out the business successfully now. His honor must be the one to +undertake it.” + +“Certainly.” “The very man.” “He must do it.” “They would listen to none +of us.” “The thing is settled, and he must go” unanimously responded the +company. + +“I really feel flattered, gentlemen,” replied Chandler, bowing and +waving his hand towards the company--“highly flattered by your opinion +of my capacity to negotiate in this delicate affair. But you will +understand, in case I accede to your wishes, gentlemen,” he continued, +with a look of peculiar meaning--“you will understand that I am to be +considered, on all hands, as utterly opposed to coercive measures--to +all--I am understood, I suppose, gentlemen?” + +“Yes, yes, judge,” returned the others, with knowing winks and laughter, +“we will all understand that you are opposed to the whole move.” + +Having thus arranged business for the morrow to their satisfaction, +these astute personages, who, like their party generally in America, at +that period, seemed to have acted on an entirely false estimate of the +intelligence and spirit of the common people, now rose and retired to +their respective lodgings, inwardly chuckling at their sagacity, in +being able to concoct what they believed would prove a successful scheme +of overreaching and putting down their opponents, and, at the same time, +of establishing their own tottering authority on a basis which might bid +defiance to all future attempts to overturn it. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + “But here, at least, are arms unchained + And souls that thraldom never stained.” + + +As soon as the company, described in the preceding chapter, had all +retired from the room, Brush, bidding Bart to rake up the fire and go +to bed, proceeded to lock all the outer doors of the house, muttering +to himself as he did so, “It can't be as Chandler fears, I think, about +this fellow's going out to blab to-night; but as this will put an end to +the possibility of his doing it, I may as well make all fast, and then +there will be no chance for blame for suffering him to remain in the +room.” + +So saying, and putting the different keys in his pocket, he at once +disappeared, on his way to his own apartment. When the sound of his +retiring footsteps had ceased to be heard, Bart, who had lingered in +the room, suddenly changed his sleepy, abject appearance for a prompt, +decisive look and an erect attitude. + +“Two ideas above a jackass!--two ideas above a jackass, eh?” he said, +and slowly repeated, as with flashing eyes he nodded significantly in +the direction his master had taken. “You may yet find out, Squire Brush, +that my ears aint sich a disput sight longer than yourn, arter all.” + +With this he blew out the last remaining light, and groped his way +to his own humble sleeping-room, in the low attic story of the back +kitchen. Here, however, he manifested no disposition to go to bed, +but sitting down upon the side of his miserable pallet, he remained +motionless and silent for fifteen or twenty minutes, when he began to +soliloquize: “Jackass!--sleepy devil!--not wit enough to see what they +are at in six weeks, eh? Barty Burt, you are one of small fishes, it is +true; but, for all that, you needn't be walloped about at this rate, +and bamboozled, and swallowed entirely up by the big ones of this +court-and-king party. You know enough to take care of yourself; yes, and +at the same time, you can be doing something towards paying these gentry +for the beautiful compliments you have had from them to-night and at +other times. The fact is, Bart, you are a rebel now--honestly one of +them--you feel it in you, and you may as well let it out. So here goes +for their meeting, if it is to be found, if I am hanged for it.” + +Having, in this whimsical manner, made a sort of manifesto of his +principles and intentions, as if to give them, with himself, a more +fixed and definite character, he now rose buttoned up his jacket, +carefully raised the window of his room, let himself down to the roof of +a shed beneath it, and from that descended to the ground, with the easy +and rapid motions of a squirrel engaged in nut-gathering. Here he cast +a furtive glance around him, and paused some moments, in apparent +hesitation, respecting the course to be taken to find those of whom he +was in quest. Soon, however, appearing to come to a determination, he +struck out into the main street, and, with a quick step, proceeded on, +perhaps a furlong, when he suddenly stopped short, and exclaimed, “Hold +up, Bart. What did that sly judge say about searching in folks' sleighs, +for--what was that word now?--But never mind, it meant guns. And what +did the sheriff say about a dozen flint-and-steel men having come? Put +that and that together now, Bart, and see if it don't mean that the only +guns brought into town to-night are packed away in the straw, in the +bottom of the sleighs of the court party understrappers? Let's go and +mouse round their stopping-place a little, Bart. Perhaps you'll get more +news to carry to the rebels,” he added, turning round and making towards +the tavern at which those in the interests of the loyalists were known +generally to put up. + +On reaching the tavern, and finding all there still and dark, he +proceeded directly to the barn shed, and commenced a search, which was +soon rewarded by finding, in the different sleighs about the place, +twelve muskets, carefully concealed in hay or blankets. With a low +chuckle of delight at his discovery, Bart took as many as he could +conveniently carry at one load, and, going with them into the barn, +thrust them one by one into the hay mow, under the girts and beams, +so as effectually to conceal them. He then returned for others, and +continued his employment till the whole were thus disposed of; when +he left the place, and resumed his walk to the northerly end of the +village. After pursuing his way through the street, and some distance +down the road beyond the village, he paused against a low, long +log-house, standing endwise to the road. This house was occupied by a +middle-aged, single man, known by the name of Tom Dunning, though often +called Ditter Dunning, and sometimes Der Ditter, on account of his +frequent use of these terms as prefixes to his words and sentences, +arising from a natural impediment of speech. He was a hunter by +profession, and passed most of his lime in the woods, or round the +Connecticut in catching salmon, which, at that period, were found in +the river in considerable numbers, as far up as Bellows Falls. Though +he mingled but little in society, yet he was known to be well informed +respecting all the public movements of the times; and it was also +believed that he had enrolled himself among the far-famed band of Green +Mountain Boys, and often joined them in their operations against the +Yorkers, on the other side of the mountains. Very little however, +was known about the man, except that he was a shrewd resolute fellow, +extremely eccentric, and perfectly impenetrable to all but the few in +whom he confided. + +Bart, from some remark he had overheard in the street, in the early part +of the evening, had been led to conclude that the company he now sought +were assembled at this house. And though he was personally unacquainted +with the owner, and knew nothing of his principles, yet he was resolved +to enter and trust to luck to make his introduction, if the company were +present, and, if not, to rely on his own wit to discover whether it were +safe to unfold his errand. + +As he was approaching the house, Dunning hastily emerged from the door, +and, advancing with a quick step, confronted him in the path with an air +which seemed to imply an expectation that his business would be at once +announced. Bart, who was not to be discomposed by any thing of this +kind, manifested no hurry to name his errand, and seemed to prefer that +the other should be the first to break the silence. + +“Ditter--seems to me I have seen you somewhere?” at length said Dunning, +inquiringly. + +“Very likely. I have often been there,” replied Bart, with the utmost +gravity. + +“Ditter--devil you have! And what did you--der--ditter--find there, my +foxy young friend?” + +“Nothing that I was looking for.” + +“Der--what was that?” + +“The meeting.” + +“Der--what meeting?” + +“The one I'd like to go to, may be.” + +“You are a bright pup; but--der--don't spit this way; it might be +der--ditter--dangerous business to me; for you must have been eating +razors to-night.” + +“No, I haven't; don't love 'em. But you haven't yet told me where the +meeting is?” + +“Ditter--look here, my little chap,” said Dunning, getting impatient and +vexed that he could not decide whether the other was a knave, simpleton, +or neither--“ditter--look here;--der--don't your folks want you? Hadn't +you better run along now?” + +“Reckon I shall, when you tell me where to go and not run against +snags.” + +“Ditter well, der go back the way you come, about ditter as far again as +half way; der then, ditter turn to the ditter right, then to the ditter +left, then der--ditter--ditter--ditter--go along! you'll get there +before I can tell you.” + +“In no sort of hurry; will wait till you get your mouth off; may be it +will shoot near the mark arter all.” + +“Ditter, dog, my cat, if I--der--don't begin to believe you are +considerable of a critter: and I've half a mind to risk you a piece; so +come into the house, and, der--let me take a squint at your phiz in the +light.” + +Taking no exceptions to the character of the invitation, Bart now +followed the other into the house, and, sitting down on a bench by the +fire, began very unconcernedly to whistle, on a low key, the tune +of Yankee Doodle, which was then just beginning to be considered a +patriotic air. Dunning, in the mean time, taking a seat in the opposite +corner, commenced his proposed scrutiny, which he continued, with one +eye partly closed, and with a certain dubious expression of countenance, +for some moments, when he observed, + +“You are a ditter queer chicken, that's a fact. But I der find now that +I know you, as the ditter divil did his pigs, by sight; I know also the +sort of folks you have been living amongst lately; and der knowing +all that, it's reasonable that I should be a snuffing a little for the +ditter smell of brimstone. So now if you are a court party tory, and +come here for mischief, you've got into a place that will ditter prove +too hot for you; but if, as I rather think, you are, or der want to be, +something better, and can let us into the shape and fix of matters and +things over there at ditter head-quarters, you may be the chap we would +like to see. Ditter speak out therefore, like a man, and no more of your +ditter squizzling.” + +After a few more evasive remarks, in which he succeeded in drawing out +the other more fully, and causing him the more completely to commit +himself, Bart threw aside all bantering, and proceeded to relate all his +discoveries relative to the contemplated movement of the court party. + +“Ditter devils and dumplings!” exclaimed the hunter, as, with eyes +sparkling with excitement, he sprang to his feet, as the other finished +his recital. “This must be made known directly. Come--der follow me, and +I'll take you to the company you ditter said you wished to see.” + +So saying, he immediately led the way through a dark entry to a room +in the rear of the house, which the two now entered; when Bart found +himself in a company of nearly twenty grave and stern-looking men, +deliberating in a regularly organized meeting. + +“Ditter here, Captain Wright,” eagerly commenced Dunning, as he entered, +addressing the chairman, a prompt, fine-looking man, and the leading +whig of the village; “here is one,” he continued, pointing to Bart, “one +who brings ditter news that--” + +“Esquire Knowlton, of Townsend, has the floor now,” said the chairman, +interrupting the speaker, and directing his attention to a middle-aged +man of a gentlemanly, intelligent appearance, who was standing on one +side of the room, having suspended the remarks he was making at the +entrance of Dunning and his companion. + +“As I was remarking, Mr. Chairman,” now resumed the gentleman who had +been thus interrupted in his speech, “the tory party, acting under +various disguises, have been, for several months past, secretly using +every means within their reach to strengthen their unrighteous rule in +this already sadly oppressed section of the country. They aim to +bring the people into a state of bondage and slavery. When no cash is +stirring, with which debts can be paid, they purposely multiply suits, +seize property, which they well know can never be redeemed, and take it +into their hands, that they may make the people dependent on them, +and subservient to their party purposes. And just so far as they find +themselves strengthened by these and other disguised movements, so far +they betray their intention to curtail all freedom of opinion, and to +overawe us by open acts of oppression. Here, one man has been thrown +into prison on the charge of high treason; when all they proved against +him was the remark, that if the king had signed the Quebec bill, he had +broken his coronation oath. There, another, a poor harmless recluse, as +I have ever supposed him, is dragged from his hut in the mountains and +imprisoned to await his trial for an alleged murder, committed long ago, +and in another jurisdiction; when his only crime, with his prosecutors, +probably, is his bold denunciations of their tyranny, unless, as some +suspect, even a baser motive actuates them. They even proclaim, that +_all_ who dare question the king's right to tax us without our consent, +are guilty of high treason and worthy of death! For myself, I seek +not the suspension of this court at this time, on account of the +questionable jurisdiction of New York merely, but because the court, +itself bitterly tory in all its branches, is sustained by a colony which +refuses to adopt the resolves of the Continental Congress, and thereby +continues to force upon us the royal authority, which our brethren of +the other colonies have almost every where put down, and which in our +case, Heaven knows, is not the least deserving the fate it has met +elsewhere. And the question, then, now comes home to us, Shall we +tolerate it any longer? The hearts of the people, though their tongues +may often be awed into silence--the hearts of the people are ready to +respond their indignant _no_! And I, for one, am ready to join in the +cry, and stepping into the first rank of the opposers of arbitrary +power, breast the storm in discharging my duty to my country.” + +“Amen!” was the deep and general response of the company. + +“Mr. Dunning will now be heard,” said the chairman, motioning to the +former to come forward. + +“Ditter well, Captain--der--ditter Mr. Moderator, I mean. I, being on +the watch against ditter interlopers, you know, have just picked up an +odd coon, here, who ditter seems to have ears in one place and tongue in +another; and his story is a ditter loud one. But let him tell it in his +own way. So now, Barty Burt,” he continued, going up to the other, +who stood by the fire, kicking the fore-stick with his usual air of +indifference; “come forward, and tell the meeting all you have der seen +and heard, in the ditter camp of the Philistines.” + +Bart, then, mostly in the way of answers to a series of rapid questions, +put by the chairman, who seemed to know him, and understand the best way +of drawing him out,--Bart then related his discoveries to his astonished +and indignant auditors, giving such imitations of the manner of each +of the company, whose words he was repeating, as not only showed their +meaning in its full force, but at once convinced all present of the +truth of his story. + +No sooner had Bart closed, than a half dozen of the company sprang +to their feet, in their eagerness to express their indignation and +abhorrence of the bloody plot, which their opponents under the garb of +peace and fair promises, had, it was now evident, been hatching against +them. + +“Order, gentlemen!” cried the chairman: “I don't wonder you all want +to denounce the detestable and cowardly conduct of the tyrants. But one +only can be heard at a time, and Mr. French, I rather think, was fairly +up first, and he will therefore proceed.” + +While all others, on hearing this remark of the chairman, resumed their +seats, the person thus named, as privileged to speak first, remained +standing. He was a young man, of about twenty-two, of a ready, animated +appearance, while every look and motion of his ardent countenance and +restless muscles proclaimed him to be of the most sanguine temperament +and enthusiastic feelings. An almost unnatural excitement was sparkling +in his kindling eyes, and a sort of wild, fitful, sad, and prophetic air +characterized his whole appearance as he began. + +“It has come at last, then! I knew it was coming. I have felt it for +months; waking and sleeping, I have felt it. In my dreams I have seen +blood in the skies, and heard sounds of battle in the air and +earth. Dreams of themselves, I know, are generally without sign or +significance; but when the spirit of a dream remains on the mind through +the waking hours, as it has on mine, I know it has a meaning. Something +has been hurrying me to be ready for the great event. I could not help +coming here to-night. I cannot help being here to-morrow. The event and +the time are at hand! I see it now--resistance, and battle, and blood! +Let it come! the victims are ready; and their blood, poured out on +the wood on the altar of liberty, will bring down fire from heaven to +consume the oppressors!” + +There was a short silence among the company, who seemed to pause, in +surprise and awe at the strange words and manner of the young man, which +evidently made an impression on his hearers at the time, and which +were afterwards remembered, and often repeated, at the fireside, in +recounting his untimely fate. + +“Mr. Fletcher,” at length observed the chairman, breaking the +silence--“Mr. Fletcher, of Newfane, is next entitled to speak, I +believe.” + +“I rose, Mr. Chairnan,” said the latter, a fine specimen of the hardy, +resolute, and intelligent yeoman of the times--“I rose but to ask +whether the news just received can be relied on: can it be, that Judge +Chandler, after his pledge to us at Chester, would be guilty of conduct +reflecting so deeply on his character as a man?” + +“I am not wholly unprepared to believe the story myself,” replied the +chairman; “our young friend here may have his peculiarities; but I +consider him a thousand times more honest and honorable, than some of +those whose sly hints and treacherous conduct he has so well described.” + +“Ditter, look here, Mr. Moderator,” interposed Dunning. “I was once, +ditter travelling, in the Bay State, with a friend, when we came across +a meeting-house with eight sides, and my friend asked me what order of +architecture I called it. Ditter well, I was fairly treed, and couldn't +tell. But I should be able to tell now. I should ditter call it the +Chandler order.” + +A desultory but animated debate now arose. Various methods of +accomplishing what appeared to be the settled determination of all--that +of preventing the sitting of the court--were suggested. Some proposed +to dismantle or tear down the Court House; others were for arming +the people, seizing the building, and bidding open defiance to their +opponents. At this stage of the deliberations, Colonel Carpenter, whose +character had secured him great influence, rose, and requested to be +heard. + +“From the gathering signs of the times,” said he, “we have good reason +to believe that the smouldering fires of liberty will soon burst forth +into open revolution throughout these oppressed and insulted colonies. +Our movements here may lead to the opening scene of the great drama; +and we must give our foes no advantages by our imprudence. If we are the +first to appear in arms, it may weaken our cause, while it strengthens +theirs. Let _them_ be the first to do this--let us place _them_ in the +wrong, and then, if they have recourse to violence and bloodshed, _we_ +will act; and no fear but the people will find means to arm themselves. +Let us, therefore, go into the Court House to-morrow, in a body, but +without a single offensive implement, and resist peacefully, but firmly; +and then, if they dare make a martyr, his blood will do more for our +cause than would now a regiment of rifles.” + +Although this prudent and far-sighted proposal was for a while opposed, +by the more ardent and unthinking part of the company, yet it was at +length adopted by the whole; and having made arrangements to carry it +into effect, the meeting broke up, and all retired to their respective +lodgings. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + “Thou ever strong upon the strongest side” + + +Although many were the anxious consultations, and deep plottings, +among the belligerent parties within doors, during the fore part of the +memorable 13th of March, yet it was not till the afternoon of that day +had considerably advanced, that any indications of the events which +followed became observable in the streets of Westminster. About this +time, one of the doors of Crean Brush's guest-filled mansion suddenly +flew open, and the crouched and cringing form of our humble friend Barty +Burt, hotly pursued by his recent employer with uplifted cane, was seen +coming down the steps of the entrance, in flying leaps, to the ground. + +“There, you infernal booby! please consider this caning and kicking as a +farewell to my house and employ forever!” exclaimed the enraged master, +standing in the door-way, and looking down with ineffable scorn upon the +prostrate person of the ejected Bart, as he lay sprawled out upon the +spot where he landed, without manifesting any disposition to rise. + +“I should like to know what I've done criminal, squire?” responded the +latter, looking back over his shoulder at the other, with a doleful +grimace. + +“What have you done?” sharply retorted Brush. “Why, you impertinent +puppy, you have done every thing wrong, and nothing right, ever since +you got your lubberly carcass out of bed, at the fine time of eight +o'clock this morning! and now, to crown all, in clearing off the table, +you must go, with your load of meats and half-filled gravy dishes, +through the parlor, where you had no business to go, and there, like +a blundering jackass, as you are, you must fall down and ruin the best +carpet in the house! I've had quite enough of you, sir: so up with you +there and clear out, you vagabond!” + +“Well, I'spose I know what you want,” muttered Bart, by way of reply to +this tirade--“you want to accuse, and drive me away, so you won't have +to pay me the two crowns you owe me for work, and other things.” + +“I don't owe you half that sum, you lying lout,” returned Brush, +fiercely. “But to get rid of such a pest, and prevent your going round +town with that lie in your mouth, I'll give you all you ask; and there +they are!” he continued, pulling out and disdainfully tossing the coins +down at the other's feet. “Your dirty rags, if you have any in the +house, shall be thrown out to you; and then, if you aint off, I'll set +the dogs on ye.” + +With this, and an expressive slam of the door behind him, the secretary +returned into the house; and in a few moments, the sash of a garret +window was thrown up, and a pair of shoes, a pair of old summer +pantaloons, a spare coarse shirt, and pair of stockings, were +successively flung down into the yard, near where the owner was still +lying, by the hand of a grinning and blushing servant maid, while her +dainty-fingered master stood by, directing the operation, + +“Well, Bart,” now soon began to mutter this singular being, in his usual +manner of addressing himself as a second person, when alone--“well, +Bart, your plan of getting driv away has worked to a shaving. You've got +your pay, too, jest in the way you calculated would fetch it; yes, all +your honest pay, and one crown more; but you charged that, you know, +when you told him two crowns, as damage for the kick and cane lick you +got. So that's settled. And as to the other accounts against him, and +the rest of 'em there, you'll be in a way to square all, fore long, +guess; for you will be your own rebel, now, Bart, you know.” + +While thus communing with himself, he had slowly, and with many winces +of affected pain, gathered up his limbs, risen on to his feet, pocketed +his two crowns, and collected and tied up his clothes. And he was now, +with a grieved look, as if sorrowing for the loss of his home, looking +back to the house, where several curious, half-laughing, half-pitying +countenances were seen peering through the windows to witness his +departure. He then looked hesitatingly abroad, one way and then the +other, with the sad and despairing air of one who feels there is no +place in the wide world where he can find a friendly shelter. After +this, with a wince and groan at every step, he slowly hobbled off up the +street, losing his lameness, and converting his groans into snickers of +low, exulting laughter, as soon as he was out of eye-shot of the company +he had left behind him. + +“Kinder 'pears to me, Bart,” he at length said, resuming his soliloquy, +as he glanced keenly at the tavern, which was the scene of his last +night's exploit, and which he was now passing--“'pears to me, there's +a good many heads rather close together in spots, round that tory nest +over yonder. They act as if they were in a sort of stew about something. +I wonder if they lost their guns last night, or anything, that puts them +in such a pucker,” he continued with a chuckle. “But suppose, Bart, as +going this way is only a sham, suppose we now haul up here, and edge +over there among 'em a little, to learn what they are up to, before you +go to join the company at the Court House.” + +On reaching the yard of the tavern, Bart found that the company, +numbering perhaps twenty in all, had broken from the separate groups in +which they had been conversing, and had now gathered round one man, who, +having just come out of the tavern, appeared to be communicating to the +crowd something that obviously produced considerable sensation. This +person was a man of the ordinary size, of fair complexion, light +eyes, and an unsettled and vacillating countenance, rendered the more +strikingly so, perhaps, by the quick, eager, and restless motions +and manner by which his whole appearance was characterized. Bart soon +contrived to work his way into this circle, till he gained a position +from which he could hear what was said. + +“You may rely on what I have told you,” said the speaker, as Bart came +within hearing; “for I have just had it from the sheriff and lawyer +Stearns. The rebels have been in possession of the Court House about an +hour, posted sentinels at all the doors, and openly declare, that the +judges and officers shall never enter to hold another court. Nobody +dreamed of their daring on such a bold step, or we should have been +before them in taking possession of the house, even with the force we +had on the ground. But, thinking it best to go strong-handed, the judges +concluded they would not go in to open the court till enough of friends +should arrive to put down all opposition at a blow. The rebels think +now, doubtless, that they have got an advantage which they will be able +to maintain. But they will find themselves a little mistaken, I fancy; +for Patterson says he has now got them in just the spot he wanted. This +act both he and Stearns decide to be overt treason, which will justify +him in taking the course he intends, unless they yield and scatter, +on the first summons. But as they won't do that, and our forces will +shortly be here, you can all guess what we shall now soon see follow,” + he added, with a significant wink. + +“Then why not be getting out our guns at once?” asked one of the +company. + +“No,” resumed the speaker; “the plan is to leave that till the last +thing before we march upon them, lest the rebels should take alarm and +go and arm themselves, and we thus thwart our own intention of taking +them by surprise. You, however, can be kinder carelessly looking up +clubs for such as may have no arms, and a few axes and crowbars for +breaking into the Court House, if that should be necessary. But, as I +said, let the guns remain hid in the sleighs till you have orders to +take them out. For it is not exactly settled yet whether we shall march +upon them as soon as our reenforcements arrive, and besiege them in the +house, or coax them out, and so get possession ourselves. But, at any +rate, you will have work on hand soon; and if we don't see fun before +to-morrow morning, my name aint David Redding. But come, let's all +adjourn to the bar-room, and take a drop to warm us up a little.” + +Leaving Redding to his despicable task of endeavoring, in compliance +with the directions of those whose base tool he was, to inflame the +company he had collected, and work up their feelings to such a pitch of +enmity and recklessness as should prepare them to imbrue their hands in +the blood of their neighbors and countrymen, we will now proceed to note +the conduct of more important personages in the events of the day. + +While the scene above described was transpiring, Patterson, Gale, +Stearns, and one or two other tory leaders, who had been consulting at +this tavern, and making their arrangements for active movements, left +the house, and, with hasty steps, took their way to the mansion of the +haughty secretary, which, by his special invitation, at this crisis, was +made the permanent quarters of the judges and principal officers of the +court, as well as of his numerous guests. + +“Upon the whole, perhaps you are right, Stearns,” said Patterson, as +they were about to enter the house. “We will start off Chandler to the +Court House to make one of his smooth speeches, and play Sir Plausible +with the rebel rascals, as agreed on last night, and though he should +have done it before, yet he may, even now, succeed in flattering them +to quit the house long enough for us to get possession; if not, we will +take the other course.” + +In a few moments after these worthies had disappeared within the house, +the door was again opened, and Chief Justice Chandler, the man to whose +singularly compounded character, made up of timidity, selfishness, +vanity, thirst of power, kindness, and duplicity, or rather the conduct +that flowed from it, may be mainly attributed the bloody tragedy that +ensued, now made his appearance in the street. He wore a powdered wig, +according to the fashion of the times among men of his official station, +and his whole toilet had evidently been made with much attention. +Carelessly flirting a light cane in his hand, and assuming an air of +easy unconcern, he leisurely took his way along the street, towards the +Court House, bowing low, and blandly smiling to every one he met, and +often even crossing to the opposite side of the street to exchange +salutations with the passer-by, to each of whom, whatever his party or +station, he was sure to say something complimentary, and aimed with +no little sagacity to reach the peculiar feelings and interests of the +person addressed. + +“This is Mr. French, I believe,” he said, turning out of his course to +speak to the young man introduced in the last chapter, who, with the +same restless, anxious look he then wore, was unobservantly hurrying by +the other, on his way to the Court House. + +“Yes, yes, sir,” replied French, slightly checking his speed, and +looking back, with a half-surprised, half-vacant expression. + +“Ay, I was sure I knew you,” rejoined the judge. “How are the times with +you, Mr. French? You will pardon my freedom, sir, but the great interest +I take in the success of our enterprising and intelligent young men like +yourself--But no matter now. I see you are in haste. I will not detain +you, sir. A very good day to you, Mr. French.” + +“Well, upon my word, now, here is my friend Colonel Carpenter!” he again +exclaimed, as, turning from the person he had just saluted with such +poor success, his quick and wary eye caught sight of the gentleman +thus addressed coming up behind him. “Most happy to fall in with you, +colonel,” he continued, grasping and warmly shaking the hand of the +other. “How are your family, sir? Shall I confess it, colonel? I have +really sometimes greatly envied you.” + +“Why so, sir?” asked Carpenter, with a little coolness. + +“Envied you your well-deserved appellation--that of _Friend of the +People_, as they call you,” replied the judge. + +“The people need a friend at this crisis, I think, sir,” responded the +unbought yeoman, with cold dignity. + +“If there is one title that I should covet above all others,” resumed +the judge, without appearing to notice the drift of the other's remark, +“it would be the one I have named. What can be a more truly honorable +distinction? I have often regretted being so trammelled by my station on +the bench, as to prevent me from acting as I would otherwise like to do. +But a judge, you know, colonel, in party times, must not act openly on +any particular side.” + +“He had better do that, however, than act _secretly_ on _all_ sides,” + returned the other, with biting significance. + +“O, doubtless, doubtless, sir,” rejoined the judge, with a forced +laugh, but with the air of one perfectly unsuspicious of any intended +personalities. “Yes, indeed. But, ah!” he continued, slightly motioning +towards the Court House, against which they had now arrived. “What have +we here? A public meeting?” + +“Quite possible. At all events I think of going in myself,” said +Carpenter, quietly turning from the other into the Court House yard, but +soon pausing a little, though without looking round, to hear the remarks +which the other seemed intent on making. + +“Indeed! Why, I had not heard of it, else I should have been pleased +to have dropped in. I came out, be sure, only for a little exercise, +but----” + +Here he paused, in expectation that the other would speak; but finding +himself disappointed, and left alone in the street, he resumed his walk, +while his now unguarded countenance very plainly showed the disquiet +he felt at the rebuffs he had received in his attempts to conciliate +Colonel Carpenter, and obtain from him an invitation to go into the +meeting, which, in reality, it was his only object in coming out to +attend. + +While digesting his mortification, and occupied in conjecturing how +he could have become an object of suspicion among the opponents of the +court party, as every thing now seemed to indicate, his attention was +again arrested by the sounds of approaching footsteps; and, looking +up, his eyes encountered the sarcastic countenance of Tom Dunning, +who, coming from an opposite direction, was also on his way to join the +company at the Court House. + +“Ah, Mr. Dunning!” exclaimed the judge, starting from his reverie and +downcast attitude, while his face instantly brightened into smiles +summoned for the occasion; “right glad to meet you, sir. I have been +thinking I must engage some such expert and lucky sportsman, as they say +you are, to catch and send me up a fresh salmon, occasionally. I suppose +your never-failing spear will be put in requisition again, when the +spring opens; will it not?” + +“Der--yes, your worship, unless I turn my attention to the +catching--ditter--eels, or other slippery varments,” returned the +hunter, with a sly, significant twinkling of his eyes, as he brushed by +the rebuked cajoler, and pushed on without waiting for a reply. + +The judge did not pursue his walk much farther; but now, soon facing +about, began, with a quickened step and a look of increasing uneasiness, +to retrace his way to his quarters. + +While those little incidents were occurring in the streets, about one +hundred sturdy and determined men had collected within the walls of the +Court House. As the construction of this building was somewhat peculiar, +for one designed for such purposes, it may be necessary, for a clear +understanding of the descriptions which follow, to say a few words +respecting its interior arrangements. The court-room was in the upper +story, which was all occupied as such, except the east and south +corners, that had been partitioned off for sleeping apartments. In the +lower story, there was a wide passage running through the middle of the +building, with doors at both ends; while the stairs leading up into the +court room faced the principal entrance, on the north-east side of the +house. After passing by the stairs, there was a small passage +leading from the large one, at right angles, and running back between +prison-rooms, whose doors opened into it. The part of this lower story, +on the opposite side of the main passage, consisted also of two rooms, +with doors opening into it, and an entry, or short passage, leading out +into the street. One of these rooms was used as a common, or bar-room, +and the other as a sort of parlor, being both occupied by the jailer and +his family. + +Although there had been, for many weeks, a growing disposition among the +party here assembled to prevent the session of a court avowedly acting +under royal authority, and spurning all the recommendations of Congress, +yet there had been no settled intention among them to resort to any +other than the peaceful measures of petition and remonstrance, which +they believed would be sufficient to effect the desired result. It had +been decided, therefore, that the court should be permitted to come +together; when such representations and arguments were to be laid before +them, as could not fail, it was supposed, to convince any reasonable men +of the wisdom of listening to the voice of the people. But when, or, +the preceding evening, it was discovered, in the way before related, and +from other sources, that the people had been duped by the duplicity of +Chandler, and that it was the secret purpose of the court, in defiance +of all pledges to the contrary, to hold a full session, under the +protection of an armed force, the hitherto modest and quiet spirit +of patriotism was at once aroused among this resolute little band of +revolutionists, and they came to the bold determination, as we have +before seen, of seizing the Court House in advance of their opponents, +and holding it till their remonstrances should be heard and heeded. + +This object, so far as respected the possession of the building, being +now obtained, the company proceeded to organize and make arrangements +for maintaining their advantage through the night. Their possession, +however, was not destined to remain long undisputed. In a short time +after they had begun to act, their new recruit, Barty Burt, who could +not forego his desire of remaining among the tories (where we left him +acting the unsuspected spy on their movements) till they should look +for their guns, that he might have the pleasure of witnessing their +discomfiture on discovering their loss, now arrived with news, that +the latter, as soon as they made the discovery that their arms had been +abstracted, were thrown into the greatest commotion; and that under +the direction of Patterson and Gale, both foaming with rage, they had +hastily collected all the offensive implements they could find, with the +avowed determination of making an immediate assault on their opponents +at the Court House. But notwithstanding this startling intelligence, no +one manifested the least disposition of quitting his post. And although +there was not a weapon of defence, beyond a cane, in the whole company, +yet they seemed none the less inclined to maintain their position in +consequence of the threatening aspect which the affair was beginning to +assume; but resolving, by acclamation, to keep possession of the house +till compelled by force of arms to relinquish it, they placed a few +strong and resolute men as guards at every door, and quietly awaited +the result. And they were not kept long in suspense. In a short time, +Patterson and his posse, armed with several old muskets, swords, +pistols, and clubs, made their appearance, and, with many hostile +manifestations, came rushing up within a few yards of the door. +Commanding a halt, the sheriff then, in a loud and arrogant tone, +summoned the company within to come forth and disperse. No voice, +however, was heard to respond to the summons. Gale, the clerk, then +proceeded, upon the intimation of the former, to read the king's +proclamation to the outward walls of the house, or the supposed +listeners within, with great form and solemnity. + +“Ditter--dickins!” exclaimed Tom Dunning, after listening a moment to +the reading of the riot act, or proclamation, as it was usually called, +as, with several others, he stood just within the entrance. “Now I +wonder if they expect to rout a body of Green Mountain Boys with that +sort of--ditter--ammunition?” + +“There!” fiercely cried Patterson, as the reader concluded his task. +“There, you d----d rascals, now disperse, or, by Heaven, I will blow a +lane through ye!” + +“Only--ditter--hear that!” again remarked the hunter, contemptuously, +at the menace and profanity of the haughty officer. “Natural enough, +though, mayhap, for a bag of wind to blow, if it does any thing. He is +rather smart at--der--swearing, too, I think. But even at that, I guess +he would have to haul in his horns a little, if old Ethan Allen +was here, as I wish he was, to let off a few blasts of +his--ditter--damnations at him.” + +Captain Wright, after a brief consultation with the other leaders, now +coming down from the court-room, opened the door, (Dunning and another +strong-armed man having hold of it to guard against a rush,) and +addressed the besiegers. + +“Why is all this, gentlemen?” he said, in a respectful, but firm +manner. “Are you come here for war? _We_ are here for no such purpose, +ourselves. _We_ came with none other than peaceful intentions. And so +long as we can say that, and say, also, above all, that we have come +together with the approbation of the chief judge of your court, who has +promised us a fair hearing of our grievances; and so long as, in direct +violation of that judge's pledge to us, you appear here in arms, to +intimidate us, let me assure you, we shall not disperse under your +threats. We, however, will permit you to come in, if you will lay aside +your arms; or we will hold a parley with you as you are.” + +“D----n your parley!” exclaimed Gale, furiously. “D----n the parley with +such d----d rascals as you are! I will hold no parley with such d----d +rascals, but by this!” he added, drawing a pistol, and brandishing it +towards his opponents. + +“Ay! ay!” cried Redding, who, next to the sheriff and clerk, appeared +to be the most violent and officious among the assailants: “talk about +being here without arms, and for peace, do ye? when you have stolen +a dozen of our guns, and have now got them in there among you. Pretty +fellows, to talk about parley? We will give you a parley that will send +you all to hell before morning!” + +Wright here began a denial of the charge made by the last speaker; when +he was interrupted by Dunning, who, jogging him said, in an undertone,-- + +“Let 'em-der--believe it. They are such--ditter--cowards, that the +idea of a dozen guns among us will mike 'em more mannerly than all the +preaching you could--ditter--do in a month.” + +Concluding to profit by this suggestion of the sagacious hunter Wright +now retired within doors, followed by the hisses, curses and all manner +of abusive epithets, of the assailants. + +The besiegers, now finding that the king's proclamation, on whose +potency for quelling the risings of the rebellious colonists the tory +authorities, at the commencement of the revolution, seemed to have +greatly counted, did not annihilate their opponents, and, not seeing fit +to attempt to carry their threats into execution at present, they soon +drew off a short distance, and apparently held a consultation. While +they were thus occupied, a small deputation was sent out to them from +the Court House, with another offer to hold a conference. But their +proposals being received with fresh insults and abuse, they returned to +the house, while Patterson and his forces, evidently fearing to venture +an attack, with their present strength, on the other party, whom +they suspected to be armed with the lost guns, now moved off +to head-quarters, to report progress, and wait for the expected +reenforcement, to hasten whose arrival, expresses had been despatched +several hours before. + +A short time after the disappearance of Patterson's band. Judge Chandler +unexpectedly came up to the Court House, wholly unattended, and being +readily admitted, he at once ascended into the court-room, and entered +the somewhat surprised, but unmoved assembly, bowing low to individuals +on the right and left, as he passed on to an unoffered seat, with the +gratified air of one, who, after many detentions, has the satisfaction +of getting at length into the company of his friends. + +After a rather embarrassing pause, the judge rose, and made a short +speech, which left his hearers but little the wiser respecting his real +wishes and intentions, though he had much to say about his solicitude +for the welfare of the people, and his anxiety that they should do +nothing to injure their cause. After he was seated, Wright, Carpenter, +and Knowlton, each in turn, addressed him, stating, in general terms, +the views and wishes of their party, and reminding him of his pledge, +that no arms should be brought by the officers of the court, the recent +violation of which they hoped he would be able to explain. + +Upon this, the former rejoined, declaring with great assurance, and not +a little to the surprise of many in the room, that the arms complained +of had been brought without his knowledge and against his express +wishes; and he concluded by assuring his friends, as he said he was +proud to believe he might safely call them, that he would go and +immediately secure the arms in question; so that the company might now +retire, in full confidence that their petitions would obtain a fair +hearing, when the court came together the next morning. The speaker then +resumed his seat, and glanced persuasively around him for some tokens +of assent or approbation. But the men, whom he had thus undertaken +to wheedle, had been taught by experience to heed the caution so well +recommended by the tuneful Burns,-- + + “Beware the tongue that's smoothly hung,”-- + +and a chilling silence was the only response that greeted him. + +“You hear his honor's remarks,” observed the chairman, at length +breaking the ominous silence. “Have you any propositions to make before +the judge retires?” + +Another long interval of deep silence ensued; when Tom Dunning's tall, +sinewy form, and sharp, bronzed features, screwed up with an expression +of sly mischief, was seen rising from a back seat in the room. + +“Seeing no one else,” he said, “seems--ditter--disposed to accept your +invitation, Mr. Moderator, I don't--ditter--know but I will make a small +proposition on the occasion. Now, as I take it, we are to remain here +to-night; and as we have now learned that the judge and the people here +are the--ditter--best of friends, I would just move, Mr. Moderator, that +his honor be--der--ditter--invited to take up lodgings with us in the +Court House to-night, so that, if the enemy comes,” he added, imitating +the manner of the judge, as described by Bart, “he can assist us +to--ditter--'_temporize--temporize--till_'--” + +Here the hunter bobbed down into his seat, while explosive bursts of +laughter rose from several parts of the room, and a low, half-smothered +titter ran through the whole assembly, at this sly, but cutting allusion +to the part last night taken by the double-dealing judge, who now sat +before them, looking, for the moment, like a suddenly detected criminal. +He, however, while the chairman was calling to order, recovered his +command of countenance, and, by the time the tumult had subsided into +the less noisy expressions of mirth, he was smiling as gayly as the +rest, and affecting to consider the remarks of the stammering humorist +as merely a pleasant joke. + +“There is no cheating our friend Dunning out of his joke. I perceive,” + he said, rising and taking up his hat; “and, indeed, I don't know that +I can blame a hardy woodsman for laughing at the idea of one of our +in-door and tender professional men, like myself, sleeping on floors and +benches. I am afraid we deserve it for our effeminacy. Yes, yes, a good +joke, truly! and a good laughter-moving joke is an excellent thing to +go to bed upon, they say,” he added, as with a merry, gleeful look, he +bowed himself out of the assembly. + +No further comments were offered by any of the company upon the +communications of this official double-dealer, after his departure; for +all seemed to think that the single shot of Dunning had rendered all +further comments on his speech, and his motives in coming there to make +it, entirely superfluous. And they therefore proceeded, as if nothing +but an ordinary interruption had occurred, to the business on which they +were engaged when the judge came in--that of passing some fresh resolves +expressive of their determination to hold the Court House in defiance of +the threats of their opponents, and of their now settled purpose of +no longer submitting, on any conditions, to the continuance of a court +which had proved itself so corrupt and treacherous. After this, and +making arrangements for the posting and relieving of guards at the doors +for the night, a part of the company left the house to seek lodgings +elsewhere, as the usual hour of rest had now arrived. + +When the nonplused and disconcerted Chandler left the Court House, +he rapidly took his way back to his quarters, from which he had been +started out by Patterson and Gale, to see if he might not be able +to accomplish by fair words what they had failed to effect by foul. +Although he had put the best possible face upon the mortifying +occurrence he had just been compelled to meet, and had made, as he +believed, a handsome exit from the company, yet he felt keenly conscious +that he had not only utterly failed in the object of his visit, but +that much of his late base conduct was known. He perceived this in +the allusions of Dunning, the pith of which he had affected not to +understand. He had seen it, he had felt it, in the significant and +knowing glances that had been exchanged on every side around him, and +especially in the bitter derisive laugh that had assailed his tingling +ears. He had also been taught a new lesson in the interview! He had +seen, in the firm manner and determined looks of those he had been +confronting--he had seen that which told him of a spirit at work among +the people, that the loyal party, with all their boasted strength, might +not long be able to quell. He began now, with the instinctive sagacity +of the true office-seeker, to perceive the possibility, perhaps +probability, that the power of dispensing office and patronage was about +to change hands, and he inwardly trembled for his own safety. He +found himself, in short, in one of those straits, to which men of his +character are not unfrequently reduced--that of being wholly at a loss +to decide which side was most likely to become the strongest. Could he +have foreseen and decided this, his mind would have been comparatively +at ease; for he could have then trimmed his sails, so as to steer clear +of the political breakers which he knew were somewhere ahead. Some +course, however, he must decide upon; and after lamenting his inability +to pierce the future, so far as to know which party was destined to +prevail, and thus secure the important advantages that might be derived +from shaping his present course accordingly, he at length resolved to +keep aloof, at present, from both parties, believing he had so adroitly +managed thus far, that whichever side might triumph, he could put in a +specious claim of having acted with it, in reality, from the first. + +And having now made up his mind to this course, he avoided meeting the +tory leaders again; and, seeking out a safe messenger, and sending him +to tell them, that “he had left the company at the Court House as he +found it,” and that “a forgotten business engagement had compelled him +to be absent from their councils for a few hours,” he took his way to +a distant part of the village, where he called on an acquaintance of +neutral politics. And here becoming much engaged in conversation, +and feigning to have forgotten the hour of the night, he was at last +prevailed on to accept, as he did with great seeming reluctance, the +invitation of his host to tarry till morning. + +After Patterson and his minions retreated from the Court House, +they returned to the tory tavern, and there remained several hours, +alternately cursing their opponents for rebellious obstinacy in not +yielding to their commands and menaces, and their expected friends for +their tardiness in reaching the place. And affairs remaining in this +situation till a late hour in the evening, they were on the point of +giving up all thoughts of renewing the attack that night, when the long +and anxiously looked for reenforcement, consisting of thirty or forty +armed men, came hurrying on to the ground. The sinking spirits and +waning courage of the blustering sheriff and his confederates now +instantly revived; and, exulting that they now had the power to glut +their vengeance, they resolved on making an immediate assault. And after +fortifying their courage with liberal potations of brandy, the whole +party, now swelled, not only by the freshly arrived forces, but by +Brush, Peters, Stearns, and many others, who had declined joining in the +first sally, to nearly one hundred men, eagerly set forward to the scene +of action. + +The other party, in the mean time, though still maintaining a watchful +guard at the doors of the Court House, had yet been so long exempted +from an attack of their foes, that they were now in but little +expectation of being any further molested till the next morning. And +some were lying stretched upon the benches in the court-room, asleep; +some, with their great-coats under their heads, were reposing on the +floors of the different passages of the house; while others were sitting +round the fires, engaged in smoking and conversation. + +Among those taking their turns as sentries, at this juncture, were +Woodburn and Bart, who, with each a stout cane or cudgel in his hand, +were now stationed at the principal entrance. + +“They are coming!” cried Bart, who, having gone out into the street to +ascertain what might be the noise which they had heard at a distance, +now came running up, with an excited air to his companion; “they are +upon us again, with twice as many men as before, and plenty of guns!” + +“In with the news!” said Woodburn, as the appearance of the hostile +party wheeling up towards the Court House the next instant confirmed the +other's statement--“in with the news, and tell them to man the doors, or +in two minutes we shall be routed.” + +Instantly springing into the door, which he unfortunately left open, +Bart made the announcement to French, who was restlessly moving about +in the passage, and who repeated the same in a voice which started all, +both above and below to their feet. + +“They are coming for our blood!” he added, in a tone of strange, wild +glee. “Ay, there they come! I see them levelling their guns in the yard! +Now for the victims! Let us die like----” + +The report of two or three muskets, and the whistling of bullets through +the passage just over his head, cut short the speaker. A moment of +breathless silence ensued; when the harsh, ruffian voice of Patterson +was heard from without,-- + +“Damn ye, why don't you fire?” + +A general discharge of the fire-arms of the assailants, flashing +fiercely on the surrounding darkness, and sending them deadly missiles +through the passage, windows, and sides of the house, in every +direction, instantly followed the ferocious order. And, in the expiring +light, the fated French was seen to leap into the air; and then, +spinning giddily round and round an instant, fall, with a low, short +screech, prostrate on the floor; while mingled groans, rising from a +half dozen others along the passage, told also the fearful effect of the +murderous volley. + +With the discharge of their arms, the assailing force, guided by their +torch-bearers, made a rush for the Court House. As they approached the +door, Woodburn, who had kept his post, unhurt, on one side of the steps, +sprang forward to dispute their passage, and, after knocking up the +swords and bayonets that were aimed at his breast, laid about him so +lustily with his cudgel, that the whole party were, for some moments, +kept at bay. At length, however, Peters, who was near the rear of the +hostile column, perceiving it was his hated opponent who was disputing +the pass so resolutely, stealthily crept round those in front, and +coming up partly behind his intended victim, with a protruded sabre, +aimed a deadly lunge at his body, exultingly exclaiming with the +supposed fatal thrust,-- + +“There! d----d rebel, take that!” + +“And you that!” cried the other, who, having, from a lucky turn in his +body at the instant, received only a flesh-wound on the inner side of +his arm, now, with an upward sweep of his cudgel, knocked the sword of +the detestable assassin twenty feet into the air--“and you that! ay, and +that!” he added, as, with a quickly repeated blow over the head, he sent +his foe reeling to the earth. + +But the weapon of the intrepid young man being now caught, and his body +fiercely grappled by four or five of his exasperated foes, he was soon +disarmed, and, in spite of his desperate struggles, borne into the +court-house with the crowd, who now rushed furiously along the passages, +wounding with their swords, and beating down with their guns and clubs, +without distinction or mercy, all whom they met in their way. + +“Guard the doors instantly!” shouted Patterson, who perceived that +numbers of the vanquished party were retreating through the different +doors; “don't let another of the d----d rascals escape! And, hallo +there, jailer! bring on the keys of the prison-rooms; we will cage the +whole lot, dead or alive, and let 'em be enjoying a few of the fruits +of their rebellion now, and the blessed anticipations of being hung for +high treason hereafter.” + +The obsequious jailer soon appeared with the required keys and the +doors of both prison-rooms were speedily unlocked and thrown open by the +directions of the sheriff. + +“Now, tumble them in, boys!” resumed the sheriff, with look and tone of +savage exultation. + +Eager to obey, the supple tools of arbitrary power now commenced driving +all those of their prisoners who had not been too much disabled by their +wounds to stand, together into the prison-rooms. They then seized hold +of the wounded, who lay weltering in their blood in different parts of +the floor of the long passage, and began dragging them along by their +limbs to the same destination. + +“Monster!” exclaimed Woodburn, looking back from the felon's cell which +he was about to enter, and addressing Redding, who stood mimicking, with +fiendish glee, the groans and contortions of French, as he lay gasping +and writhing in mortal agony on the spot where he fell, just beyond the +short passage dividing the prison-rooms--“monster,” he repeated, “would +you insult the dying?” + +“Yes, d--n you!” savagely interposed Gale, stepping forward; “he has got +just what he deserved; and I wish there were forty more of you in +the same predicament. Drag him along in there with the rest of 'em, +Redding!” + +“Ay, ay,” responded Patterson, “in with him! And I can tell the rest of +them, they had better be saving their pity for themselves, for they will +all be in hell before to-morrow night!” + +It is needless to say that this brutal order was promptly obeyed. And +when the dying and insensible victim, pierced through head and body, and +all the wounded, had been drawn in and thrown promiscuously together, +on the cold, damp floors of the prison-rooms, the keys were turned upon +them; and their remorseless butchers, making not the least provision +for the sufferers, by way of medical aid or otherwise, returned, after +posting a strong guard at the doors, to the tavern or the house of +Brush, to celebrate their victory in a drunken carousal. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + “The brand is on their brows, + A dark and guilty spot; + 'Tis ne'er to be erased, + 'Tis ne'er to be forgot.” + + +Whatever may be the result of the present public movement for the +abolition of capital punishment, and however far future experiments may +go towards establishing the expediency and safety of such a change in +criminal jurisprudence, the history of every nation and people will +show, we believe, the remarkable fact, that ever since Cain stood before +his Maker with his hands reeking with the blood of his murdered brother, +and his heart so deeply smitten with the consciousness of having justly +forfeited his own life by taking the life of another, that he could not +divest himself of the belief that all men would seek to slay him, no one +principle has been found to be more deeply implanted in the human breast +than the desire to see the wilful shedding of blood atoned for by +the blood of the perpetrator. So strong, so active, and so impelling, +indeed, seems this principle, that no sooner goes forth the dread tale +of homicide, than all community rise up, as one man, instinctively +impressed with the duty of hunting down the guilty and bringing them +to justice; while the guilty themselves seem no less instinctively +impressed with the abiding consciousness that the doom, which heaven and +earth has decreed to their crimes, must inevitably overtake them. + +Deep and fearful was the excitement, in the hitherto quiet and peaceful +village of Westminster, as from mouth to mouth, and house to house, +spread the startling intelligence, that a meeting of unarmed citizens, +assembled at the Court House, had been assailed, and numbers shot down +in cold blood by the minions of British authority. The whole town was +soon in commotion. No loud noise or clamor of voices, it is true, was +heard proclaiming the deed on the midnight air; but the rapid footfalls +of men hurrying along the streets, the hastily exchanged inquiry, the +eager, suppressed tones of those conversing in small groups at the +corners and by-places around the village, the hasty opening and shutting +of doors, and the dancing of lights in every direction, gave ominous +indication of the feeling that had every where been awakened, and the +secret movement which was everywhere afoot among the people. + +A small band, who had gathered in the yard of what was called the +People's Tavern, were listening, with many a demonstration of horror and +indignation, to the account of one who had escaped from the Court House +after the tories had got possession. + +“Where are our leaders, Morris?” asked one of the listeners, as the +speaker, a fluent, energetic young man, closed his recital of the +atrocities he had witnessed. “Did they escape, or are they among the +wounded and prisoners?” + +“Wright and Carpenter had gone off before we were attacked,” was the +reply, “the rest, not among the wounded I have named escaped in the +confusion, I think, except Dr. Jones, of Buckingham, who was driven into +the felon's hole with other prisoners; and it may be well that he was, +perhaps, as those bloodthirsty brutes would have suffered no surgeon to +be sent for to attend those who are not past help.” + +“And Tom Dunning, whose rifle we shall need,--what became of him?” + +“He got out in the same manner I did. We stood in a dark corner, at +the head of the stairs, taking note of the proceedings below; when that +crafty little chap, that joined us from Brush's, came wriggling like an +eel out from between the legs of the crowding tories, in the passage; +and, working himself up stairs unnoticed, in the same way, beckoned us +to follow him, as we did, into the court-room, where, at his suggestion, +we stripped off the sheets of a bed, in one of those corner sleeping +cuddies, made a rope, and by it let ourselves down through a window to +the ground in the rear of the house; when we separated, Dunning going +home, as he said, to arm himself. But here he comes,” added the speaker, +peering out towards the street, from which several forms were dimly seen +approaching--“here he comes, and those just behind him I should judge to +be Carpenter and Fletcher, by their gait.” + +“Well, Dunning,” asked one of the company, as the hunter came striding +up to the spot, “what is your response to all this?” + +“Der-sixty bullets, and a--ditter--pound of powder!” was the stern and +significant reply of the other, as with one hand he struck his rattling +bullet-pouch and huge powder-horn, and with the other brought down the +breech of his rifle with a heavy blow upon the ground. + +“That's the man for me!” exclaimed Fletcher, now coming up with +Carpenter. + +“Ay, Dunning is right!” said Carpenter, with emphasis. “If we hold our +peace now, the very stones will cry out for vengeance. But talking is +only a small part of what must be done. We must act. And first of all, +this tale of murder and outrage must instantly be thrown upon the +four winds of heaven, and carried into every town in this part of the +settlement. Who will volunteer to ride express with the news?--news +which, if I know anything of the spirit of the great mass of our people, +will be taken as a call to arms, and responded to accordingly.” + +Several eager voices announced their readiness to start off at once on +the proposed mission. + +“Follow me to the stables, then,” resumed the stanch patriot, hastily +leading the way to the barn, and throwing open a stable door. “There!” + he continued, pointing to a pair of large, active-looking brutes, +feeding together in one stall--“there are my two horses--take them. Let +one of their riders go north, the other south; and spare no horse-flesh +of mine in an emergency like this; but ride and rally, till you have +sent the bloody tale to every house and hut this side the mountains. +And you, Morris and Dunning, accompany me to Captain Wright's. More +messengers must be despatched west and east, into the borders of New +Hampshire, and much other business done before morning.” + +A far different scene, in the mean while, was in progress among the +inmates of the loyal mansion, which we have before described, and which +was destined to give shelter that night to the last conclave of royal +office-holders ever known in the Green Mountains. Although the leaders +of the court party had returned from the sanguinary scene they had +enacted, in high exultation at the decisive victory they supposed they +had achieved over their despised opponents, yet neither their own vain +boastings, nor the deeply-quaffed wines of their host, could long keep +up their spirits. Conscience soon began to be busy among them; and their +hearts waxed faint and fearful at the thought of what they had done. +They instinctively drew close together, conversed in subdued tones, or +sat uneasily listening to the sounds that occasionally reached them from +without. And whatever they might have said to keep up their own and each +other's courage, it soon became apparent that secret misgivings, fears, +and forebodings of a coming retribution had taken possession of their +guilt-smitten bosoms. + +And there was another person in that house, to whom the tragical events +of the night brought deep disquietude; but it was a disquietude of quite +a different character from that which was experienced by the troubled +wretches we have named: that person was the _Tory's Daughter_--the pure, +guileless, and nobleminded Sabrey Haviland. + +Having been apprised of the intention of Patterson and his confederates +to make an assault upon their opponents as soon as the expected +reinforcements arrived, her anxieties on the subject had prevented her +from retiring to rest, as her less concerned companion did, at the +usual hour. And when the startling report of fire-arms broke upon the +stillness of the night, she was not, like many others in the village, at +loss to know the cause; and her fears led her to divine but too well +the fatal result. And after an interval of painful suspense, which was +terminated by the return of the tory leaders to the house, she stole +softly out of her chamber to the head of the stairs, and there listened +with mingled emotions of horror and disgust to the boastful recital of +their sanguinary deeds, as given by the heartless Gale and others, to +her father and Judge Sabin, who had remained in the house, but who, she +perceived with sorrow, were warm approvers of all that had been done. +But, as revolting to her gentle nature as was the general description of +the event, the particulars the exulting narrators soon proceeded to give +were much more so. And when she heard them relate the affray between +Woodburn and Peters, and heard the latter, while making light of his own +hurts, boast that he had first given the other a thrust with his sword +through the body, which must finish him before morning; she could listen +no longer, but, hastily retiring to her room, she walked the apartment +for nearly an hour in the deepest agitation and distress. + +Among the many excellent traits of Miss Haviland's character, a lively +sense of right and wrong, together with a deep and abiding love of truth +and justice, unquestionably predominated. So strong and controlling, +indeed, was this principle in her bosom, that it exhibited itself in +all her conversation, and seemed to be the governing motive of all her +actions. And when she had once discovered the truth and the right, at +which she appeared to arrive with intuitive quickness, no wheedling or +sophistry could blind her to their force; and no inducements could be +offered sufficient to cause her to waver in their support. And yet this +peculiar trait, as deeply seated as it was, and as firmly as it was ever +exercised, was so beautifully tempered by the benevolence of her heart, +the equanimity of her mind, and the engaging sweetness of her demeanor, +that it never seemed to impart the least tinge of arrogance to her +character, or harshness to her manners. On the contrary, she was all +gentleness and devotion, and ever ready to comply with the wishes of +others, when a compliance did not contravene, in her opinion, any of the +principles of even-handed justice; and, in case she felt bound to refuse +to yield to their requests, her refusal was made and maintained with +such mild firmness, that none could be offended, none feel inclined +to charge her with obstinacy or perverseness. She was at this time +the mistress of her father's household, her exemplary and intellectual +mother having several years before deceased, and her elder and only +sister, the year previous, married one of the leading loyalists of +Guilford. And it had been mainly through the influence of this sister +and her husband, that she had been induced, the preceding fall, to +take the step which was destined to cause her years of sorrow and +perplexity--that of engaging herself in marriage to Peters. She had +found few or no opportunities of studying this man's character, +having known him only as a parlor acquaintance, of easy manners and +considerable intelligence. And although she saw nothing particularly +objectionable in him, and although she knew that, in point of wealth and +family distinction, he was considered what is termed a desirable match, +yet she had entered into the engagement with many misgivings, and in +compliance rather with the wishes of her friends above named, seconded +by the urgent request of her father, than in accordance with the +dictates of her own judgment and inclination. But whatever her doubts at +that time, or during the months immediately following, they had not been +sufficient to disturb the usual even tenor of her feelings, till she +left home on her present excursion, during which, as already intimated, +she had seen the character of her affianced in a new light--a light +which showed him to be possessed of traits as abhorrent to her feelings, +as, to her mind, they were base and reprehensible in themselves. And +now, to crown all, he had, by an act of deliberate, private malice, even +according to his own account, inflicted a mortal wound on the victim of +his former injuries--the man who, but the day before, had snatched her, +whom the other professed to hold as the highest object of his earthly +solicitude, from a watery grave. It was these painful reflections that +were now agitating her bosom; for the more she pondered upon the +conduct of Peters, the more did her heart reject and despise him; and in +proportion as her feelings rose up against him were her sympathies drawn +towards his victim, Woodburn, whose noble act had created so strong a +claim upon her gratitude, and whose character and appearance had alike +awakened her interest and admiration. + +“Is it indeed thus,” she at length uttered, as if summing up the +thoughts that had been passing through her mind, “that he who saved my +life, at the risk of his own, must die by the hand of one who should +have been the first to thank and reward him? Ay, and die, too, without +receiving from me, or mine, one word of acknowledgement, even, of the +service he so nobly rendered? perhaps the thought of our ingratitude +is now embittering his dying moments! Can I, should I suffer this so to +remain?” + +Here she relapsed into silence, and, slowly resuming her walk round the +room, seemed for a while immersed in anxious thought; when she suddenly +paused, and, after a moment of apparent irresolution, stepped to +the wall, and gave two or three pulls at the wire connected with the +servants' bell in the kitchen. In a few minutes the summons was answered +by the appearance of the chamber-maid. + +“Will you go down to the gentlemen's sitting-room,” said Miss Haviland, +“ask out my father, and tell him I would see him a moment in my own +room?” + +The girl disappeared, and, in a short time, Esquire Haviland, with a +slightly disturbed and anxious air, entered the room, and said,-- + +“What's the matter, Sabrey? Are you sick to-night, that you are yet up +and send for me?” + +“O, no,” replied the other; “nothing of that kind led me to send for +you, but my wish to make a request which I was unwilling to delay.” + +The squire cast a somewhat surprised and inquiring look at his daughter, +but remained silent, while the latter resumed:-- + +“You recollect that this morning, after apprising you of the extent of +our obligations to Mr. Woodburn, about which you seem to have been so +misinformed, I suggested that a personal acknowledgment, with offers of +some more substantial token of our gratitude, should be immediately made +to him. Has this been done?” + +“No,” replied he, with a gathering frown: “having understood the fellow +was assorting with the rebels in their treasonable plots, I did not feel +myself bound to seek him in such company Is that all you wish of me?” + +“It is not, sir,” she answered seriously, and with the air of one +determined not to be repulsed. “I have accidentally become apprised that +Mr. Woodburn, in the affray of to-night, has been dangerously wounded, +and, in this condition, thrust into prison. And, as we have now an +opportunity of testifying our sense of his services, it is my earnest +request that you procure his release from prison, for which your +influence here, I know, is sufficient; that he may be brought out +to-night and properly attended.” + +“Insane girl!” muttered the father, angrily, “what can have put that +absurd project into your head? Had you been abed hours ago, as +you ought, instead of being up and prying into the doings of our +authorities, with which a woman has no concern, I should have been +spared this exhibition of folly. Why, the wretched fellow is but +receiving the just deserts of his crimes. He is in prison for high +treason; and had I the will, which I have not, I could not procure his +release.” + +“I cannot believe these opposers of the court will be held to answer +for such a crime. Indeed, it has occurred to me that the authorities +themselves may be called to account for firing upon these unarmed men; +and therefore I still hope you will use your exertions for Woodburn's +release,” urged the fair pleader. + +“You are to be the judge what is treason, then, hey? And you are +ready to side with these daring and desperate fellows and condemn our +authorities, are you? What assurance! You will hardly persuade me to +favor your mad projects, I think,” harshly retorted the bigoted old +gentleman. + +“You can, at least, go to the prison and return him the acknowledgments +which our character and credit require of us,” still persisted the +former. + +“Well, I shall do no such thing,” replied the other, with angry +impatience; “for I consider the fellow's conduct tonight has wholly +absolved me from my obligations to him, if I was ever under any,” he +added, rising to depart. + +“I do not view it so, father,” returned the unmoved girl, in a mild, +expostulating tone, “and I am sorry for your decision; for, if those +whose place it more properly is to do this, refuse to perform it, I know +not why I should not myself undertake the duty.” + +“You!” + +“Yes, father.” + +“What, to-night?” + +“Certainly; another day may be too late.” + +“Madness and folly! Why, who is to attend you, silly girl?” + +“If no gentleman is to be found with courtesy enough to attend me, I +shall not hesitate to go alone, sir.” + +“We will see if you do!” exclaimed the old gentleman, looking back from +the entrance at the other, with an expression of scornful defiance--“we +will see if you do, madam!” he repeated, closing the door after him, and +turning the key on his daughter, whom he thus left a prisoner in her own +room. + +As Miss Haviland listened to the springing bolt and her father's +departing steps, a slight flush overspread her face at the thought of +the indignity thus put upon her, and she rose, and, after putting her +hand to the door to assure herself that she was not mistaken, proceeded, +with a calm, determined air, to a table on one side of the room, on +which stood the materials for writing; and here, taking pen and paper, +she seated herself, and addressed a brief note to Woodburn, delicately +expressing her sense of obligation to him, and concluding with the +hope that she might soon have it in her power to do something +towards alleviating his present situation. Having signed, sealed, and +superscribed the billet, she rose and stood some time hesitating and +irresolute. + +By what means could this note, now it was written, be made to reach its +destination? Should she again summon the chamber-maid, she presumed her +father had so managed that the call would not be answered; besides, she +felt a repugnance to the thought of resorting to such means. What other +method could then be devised? + +While thus casting about her for some expedient for effecting her +purpose, she thought she heard some one placing a ladder against the +side of the house, beneath a window, opening from the rear end of +the passage adjoining her room; and, after listening a moment, she +distinctly heard the person cautiously ascending. Not being of a timid +cast, she quickly removed the thick, heavy curtains of the window in +her room next and very near the one under which the unknown intruder was +mounting the ladder, and, throwing up the sash, peered out; when, to her +surprise, she beheld, and at once recognized, the queer-looking figure +of Barty Burt, standing on the top round of the ladder, scratching +his head, and giving other tokens of embarrassment at being thus +unexpectedly caught in this situation. + +“Master Bart,” said Miss Haviland, who had become somewhat acquainted +with the other, while supplying her room with fuel, previous to his +ejection from the house, to which she was knowing, “your appearance, at +this time, to say the least of it, causes me much surprise.” + +“I returns the compliment, miss,” replied Bart; “so that makes us even, +and no questions on ither side, don't it?” + +“Perhaps not, sir,” returned the former, with seriousness: “at all +events, you should be able to give a good reason for your appearance +here, under such circumstances: please explain your object.” + +“And if I don't, you will sing out for the squire, you said? Well, I can +get down, and off, before he can get here, I reckon,” responded Bart, in +a tone of roguish defiance. + +“I did not say I would call Esquire Brush; but, unless you explain----” + +“Yes, yes, jest as lieves as not, and will, if you'll keep shut til I +can run up garret and back.” + +“Your purpose there, sir?” + +“An honest one--only to get my gun up there, which the squire didn't +have put out for me, when he dismissed me with his high-heeled shoes, +to-day, and which I darsent name then, fear he'd have that thrown +down, like my 'tother duds, and break it--only that--and if you'll say +nothing, and let me whip in, and up to get it, I'll lay it up against +you, as a great oblige, to be paid for, by a good turn to you some time, +miss.” + +“If that is all, go--and I may wish to speak with you when you come +back.” + +So saying, she gently let down the sash, and, withdrawing a little from +her window, stood awaiting the result; when she soon heard the other, +with the light and stealthy movements of a cat, enter the house, and +ascend into the garret, through a small side-door, opening from the +passage we have named. Scarcely a minute had elapsed before she again +heard his footsteps stealing back by her door to the window, through +which he had so noiselessly entered; when, once more raising the sash of +her own, she found him already standing on the top of the ladder where +she last saw him, he having effected his ingress and egress with such +celerity, that but for the light fusil he now held in his hand, she +would have believed herself mistaken in supposing he had entered at all. + +“Well, miss, I am waiting for your say so,” he said, in a low tone, +peering warily around him. + +“Have you been to the Court House to-night?” hesitatingly asked the +other. + +“Well, now,” replied Bart, hesitating in his turn, “without more token +for knowing what you're up to, I'll say, may be so and may be no so.” + +“You need not fear me, Bart,” replied Sabrey, conjecturing the cause +of his hesitation; “I am no enemy of those who have suffered there +to-night. But do you know Mr. Woodburn? + +“Harry, who got you out of that river scrape? Yes, lived in his town +last summer.” + +“He is among the wounded and prisoners in jail, it is said?” + +“Dreadful true, miss.” + +“Could you get this small letter to him to-night?” she timidly asked. + +“Yes, through the grate; glad to do it, glad of it, twice over,” replied +Bart, reaching out, and grasping the proffered billet. + +“Why, why do you say that?” asked Sabrey, with an air of mingled doubt +and curiosity. + +“Cause, in the first place, you'll now keep my secret of being here; and +nextly, glad to find there's one among the court folks that feels decent +about this bloody business. But I must be off. Yes, I'll get it to him,” + said Bart, beginning to descend. + +“Say, Barty. Is there any hope that Mr. Woodburn will survive his +wounds?” + +“Survive? Live, do you mean? O, yes; though the lunge which that--But no +matter. It was well meant for the heart, and the fellow wan't at all to +blame that it didn't reach it, instead of the inner part of the arm.” + +“Indeed!” exclaimed Miss Haviland, in a tone of joyful surprise; which +the next instant, however, gave way to one of embarrassment. “Why, +I heard--have written, indeed, under the belief that--and +perhaps----Barty, I think, on the whole, I will not send that billet +now.” + +As Bart heard these last words of the fair speaker, so inconsistent with +all which both her words and manner had just expressed, he looked up +with a stare of surprise to her face, now sufficiently revealed, by +the glancing light standing near her in the room, to betray its varying +expressions. But, as he ran his keen gray eyes over her hesitating and +slightly confused countenance, he soon seemed to read the secret cause +of her sudden change of purpose, arising from that curious and beautiful +trait in woman's heart, which, by some gush of awakened sympathy, often +unfolds all the lurking secrets of the breast, but which, when the cause +of that sympathy is removed, closes up the avenue, and conceals them +from view, in the cold reserve of shrinking delicacy--the colder and +more impenetrable in proportion as the disclosure has been complete. + +“O, yes, I will carry it,” said Bart, pretending to misunderstand the +other, while he pocketed the billet and began to glide down the ladder. + +“No,” commenced Miss Haviland; “no, Bart, I said----” + +“Yes, yes, I will have it there in a jiffy,” interrupted Bart, hastening +his descent, and the next instant dodging away in the dark beneath the +foot of the ladder. + +“Well, let it go,” said the foiled and somewhat mortified maiden to +herself, after the disappearance of her strange visitor. “If what I +expressed, when I thought him dying, was right and proper, it cannot be +very wrong now.” + +As soon as she had thus reconciled herself to the unexpected turn which +this matter had taken, Miss Haviland now began to reflect more on Bart's +motives in coming, at such an hour of the night, for his gun; when it, +for the first time, occurred to her mind, that he had been induced to +take this step in consequence of some particular call for arms having +reference to the events of the evening. Fearing she might have done +wrong in suffering him to take away the gun, if it was to be used for +hostile purposes, and anxious to know whether her conjectures relative +to a rising of the people were well founded, she proceeded to an end +window of her room, which overlooked a range of buildings known to her +to be mostly occupied by the opposers of royal authority; and removing +the curtains and raising the sash, she leaned out and listened for any +unusual sounds which might reach her from without. And it was not +long before she became well convinced that her apprehensions were not +groundless. Some extraordinary movement was evidently going on in the +village. The low hum of suppressed voices, mingled with various sounds +of busy preparation, came up, on the dense night air, from almost every +direction around her. Here, was heard the small hammer, the grating +file, with the occasional clicking of the firelock, undergoing repairs +by the use of the instruments just named. There, could be distinguished +the pecking of flints, the rattling of ramrods, and the regularly +repeated rapping of bullet-moulds to disengage the freshly-cast balls. +In other places could be perceived the nasty movements of men about +the stables, evidently engaged in leading out and saddling horses, and +making other preparations for mounting; and then followed the sounds of +the quick, short gallop of their steeds, starting off, on express, in +various directions, under the sharply applied lashes of excited riders, +and distinctly revealing their different routes out of the village, by +the streams of fire that flew from their rapidly striking hoofs on +the gravelly and frozen ground. All, indeed, seemed to be in silent +commotion through the town. Bart's object in coming for his gun, at such +an hour of the night, was now sufficiently explained; for the quick and +discerning mind of Miss Haviland at once told her that the country was +indeed rising in arms to avenge the atrocities just committed by the +party among whom were all her relatives and friends; and she shuddered +at the thought of tomorrow, feeling, as she did, a secret and boding +consciousness that their downfall, brought about by their arrogance and +crimes, was now at hand. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + “A shout as of waters--a long-uttered cry: + Hark! hark! how it leaps from the earth to the sky! + From the sky to the earth, from the earth to the sea + It is grandly reechoed, _We are free, we are free!_” + + +Every thing, the next morning, seemed as quiet and peaceful in the +village, as if nothing unusual had occurred there. The commotion of the +preceding night appeared to have wholly subsided. With such secrecy and +caution, indeed, had the revolutionists managed, that no knowledge of +their movements had yet reached the ears of any of their opponents. And +so guarded was their conduct, through the whole morning, that the court +party leaders, although their spies had early been out, prowling round +the whole village, were yet kept in entire ignorance of all that +had transpired among the former during the night. Being consequently +deceived by the false appearance which every thing within the reach of +their observation had been made to wear, and feeling thus relieved of +their last night's guilty fears of a popular outbreak, these cruel and +dastardly minions of royalty now counted on their triumph as complete, +and, soon giving way to noisy exultation, they began openly to boast +of the sanguinary measure by which their supposed victory had been +achieved. And, about nine o'clock in the forenoon, the judges and +officers of court, with a select number of their most devoted adherents, +all in high spirits, and wholly unsuspicious of the storm that was +silently gathering around them, formed a procession at the house of +Brush, and, attended by a strong armed escort, marched ostentatiously +through the street to the Court House, and entered the courtroom to +commence the session. + +After the judges had been ushered to their seats, and while they were +waiting for the crowd to enter and settle in their places, Chandler, who +had kept aloof till the procession had begun to form, was seen to run +his wary and watchful eye several times over the assembly, to ascertain +whether there were any discoverable indications there pointing to any +different state of things from the one so confidently assumed by his +confederates, when he soon appeared to have noted some circumstance +which caused him suddenly to exchange the bland smile he had been +wearing for a look of thoughtfulness and concern. + +“Do you notice anything unusual in the crowd this morning, Judge +Sabin?” he said to his colleague, in an anxious whisper as he closed his +scrutiny. + +“No, your honor,” replied the other, “unless it be the cheering sight of +encountering none but friendly faces, instead of the hostile ones, which +a man would have been led to expect to meet here, after so much clamor +about popular disaffection. + +“Ay,” responded the former, with a dubious shake of the head--“ay, but +that is the very circumstance that puzzles me. Had a portion of the +assembly been made up of our opponents, quietly mingling with the +rest, as I had rather hoped, I should have construed it into a token of +submission; or, had a committee been here to present a petition, or a +remonstrance or two, I should have been prepared for that, and could +have managed, by a little encouragement, and a good deal of delay, to +give every troublesome thing the go-by, till the storm had blown over. +But this entire absence of the disaffected looks a little suspicious, +don't it?” + +“Why, no,” answered the stiff and stolid Sabin; “I can see nothing +suspicious about it. Indeed, it goes to show me that the rebellion is +crushed; for, as I presume, the honest but well-meaning part of the +rebels are ashamed, and their leaders afraid to show their faces here +to-day, after last night's lesson.” + +“I hope it may be as you suppose; but I have my doubts in the matter,” + returned Chandler, with another dissenting shake of the head, as he +turned away to renew his observations on the company before him. + +On resuming his scrutiny, the uneasy judge soon perceived that the +assembly, during his conversation with his colleague, had received an +accession of several individuals, whom he recognized as belonging to +the party whose absence had awakened his suspicions. But the presence of +these persons, after he had carefully noted their appearance, instead +of tending to allay only went to confirm, his apprehensions; for, as +he closely scanned the bearing and countenance of each, and marked the +assured and determined look and covert smile which spoke of anticipated +triumph, attended with an occasional expectant glance through the +windows, he there read, with the instinctive sagacity sometimes seen in +men of his cast of character, enough to convince him, with what he +had previously observed, that a movement of a dangerous magnitude was +somewhere in progress, and soon to be developed against the court party. +And he instantly resolved to lose no time before trimming his sails and +preparing to meet the coming storm. And the next moment, to the surprise +of his colleague and the officers of the court, he was on his feet, +requesting silence that he might address the assembly. He then proceeded +to remark on the unfortunate occurrences of the previous night, with +a show of much feeling and regret, and concluded by expressing his +disapprobation of the course taken in the affair by the sheriff and his +abettors, in a manner that would have given the highest offence to all +implicated, had they not believed that the speech was secretly designed +only as a game on their opponents, whom he might think it expedient to +quiet and delude a little longer. They, therefore, winked knowingly to +each other, and remained silent; while the speaker sat down with the +mental exclamation,-- + +“There, let it come now! That speech will do to be quoted. I can refer +them to it as the public expression of my views before I knew what was +coming.” + +Having thus placed himself in a position, as he believed, where he +could easily turn himself to meet any contingency,--where, in case the +apprehended overthrow of the court party took place, he could easily and +safely leap the next hour to a favorable, if not a high stand among +the new dispensers of place and power, or where, should the present +authorities be able to sustain themselves, he could as easily explain +away his objectionable doings, and retain his standing among them. +Having done this, he then turned his attention to the official duties +of his place, and ordered the crier to give the usual notice, that the +court was now open for business. This being formally done, the court +docket was called over, and the causes there entered variously disposed +of for the time being, by the judges, till they came to that of Woodburn +versus Peters; which was a petition for a new trial for the recovery of +the petitioner's alleged farm, that had been decided, at the preceding +term, to be the property of Peters, on the ground and in the manner +mentioned in a former chapter. + +“Who answers for this Woodburn?” said Sabin, with a contemptuous air. +Significant glances were exchanged among the tory lawyers and officers +about the bar at the question, and a malicious smile stole over the +features of Peters, who had found a seat among them. + +“I move the court,” said Stearns, the attorney of Peters, “for a +judgment in favor of my client for his costs, and also for a writ of +possession of his land, of which he has been so unjustly kept out by +this vexatious proceeding. And, as the petitioner has not entered his +appearance according to rule, whereby he tacitly admits that his cause +cannot be sustained, I will not permit myself to doubt that the court +will so order, even at this early hour--they certainly have the power to +do so.” + +“They have also the power to postpone the hearing, even to the last day +of the term, before rendering judgment,” bluntly interposed Knights, a +large, plain-looking practitioner at the bar, who had taken no active +part either for or against the court party. + +“We all know how this young man is debarred from appearing here to-day; +and it seems to me manifestly unjust that any power which deprives a man +of the opportunity of appearing at court, should render judgment against +him in consequence of his non-appearance. I would, therefore, suggest +a delay in this cause. Perhaps, within a short time, he will employ +counsel, or be liberated.” + +“And perhaps be hung for treason,” said Stearns, in a sneering +under-tone. + +“Do you answer for him or not, Mr. Knights?” demanded Sabin, +impatiently. + +“No, your honor; he has not authorized me. I only made a suggestion,” + answered the former. + +“Then judgment must go for Peters,” rejoined Sabin, with ill suppressed +warmth. “Traitors and rebels must look somewhere else for favor, beside +this court, while I hold a seat here.” + +“Nobody has yet been convicted of treason, I believe,” promptly +responded Knights, while an expression of indignant scorn flashed over +his manly and intelligent countenance; “and till such is the case, I +take it the rights of all have an equal claim on the court. I should be +pleased to hear the opinion of the chief justice in this matter.” + +“Although I may have my doubts on this subject, Mr. Knights,” graciously +replied Chandler, “you could hardly expect me to be guilty of so great a +discourtesy to my colleague here, as to interfere, after the intimation +he has just given.” + +“Make the entry, Mr. Clerk,” said Sabin, hastily; “judgment for costs, +and a writ of possession. _I_ am not troubled with any doubts in the +matter, and will take the responsibility of the decision.” + +Scarcely was the cause thus decided before Peters glided up to the +clerk, and whispered in his ear; when the latter, nodding assentingly, +opened his desk, and taking out two nicely-folded papers, handed them +slyly to the other, who, receiving them in the same manner, immediately +left the court-room and proceeded down stairs. As the exulting suitor +passed through the crowd gathered round the main entrance, he beckoned +to a short, thick set, harsh-featured fellow, who immediately followed +him around a corner of the building. + +“Well, Fitch,” said Peters, pausing as soon as they were out of the +reach of observation, “have you done up your business in town, so as to +be ready for a start for Guilford?” + +“Yes; don't know but I have. But you can't have got your decision, +papers made out, and all, so soon as this?” replied the other. + +“All complete!” returned Peters, triumphantly. + +“Why, the court has not been in session an hour!” + +“True, but I had spoken to Judge Sabin to have my case taken up this +morning; and, as nobody was authorized to answer for Woodburn, the case +was disposed of in a hurry. And the clerk, with whom I had also arranged +matters, had made out the papers before going into court, and got them +all signed off and ready, in anticipation; and here they are, ready for +your hands, Mr. Constable.” + +“Ay, I see; but what is the necessity of serving them so immediately?” + +“Why, there's no knowing what may happen, Fitch. If the rebels, in +revenge for last night's peppering, should send over the mountain for +old Ethan Allen and his gang to come here to stir up and lead on the +disaffected, all legal proceedings might be stopped. I know most of our +folks think, this morning, that the enemy are fairly under foot. But +Chandler, who is as keen as a fox for smelling out trouble, acts to +me as if he was frightened; and I think he must have scented mischief +brewing, somewhere.” + +“Some say he is a very timorsome man.” + +“Yes; but watchful and sagacious, and therefore an index not to be +disregarded.” + +“May be so. But what are your orders about these papers?” + +“With this, the writ of possession, go, in the first place, and turn the +old woman, his mother, neck and heels, from the house; and then get some +stiff fellow in for a tenant, rent free the first year, if you can do +no better, provided he will defend the premises against Woodburn, if he +escapes unhung. And with this paper, an execution for costs, as you will +see, seize the fellow's cow and oxen, and all else you can find, and +sell them as soon as the law will let you. + +“Why, you won't leave enough of the fellow for a grease spot.” + +“Blast him; I don't intend to. But now is the time to do it, before he +can get out of jail and back there to give fight and trouble us. So you +fix all these matters about right for me, Fitch and I'll do the handsome +thing by you when I come over, after the roads get settled, in the +spring.” + +“Never fear me, as long as I know what a friend's wishes are,” replied +the constable, with a significant wink, as he stuffed the documents +into his hat, and bustled off on the detestable mission of his more +detestable employer. + +While Peters and his official minion was thus engaged, Tom Dunning was +seen coming, with hasty strides, along the road, from the direction of +his cabin, which was situated without the village, about a half mile +north of the Court House, from which it would have been visible but for +the pine thicket by which it was partially enclosed. As the hunter was +entering the village, he met Morris, hastening up the street, from the +opposite part of the town. + +“Well met,” said Morris; “for I was bound to your quarters with a +message, which----” + +“Which I am ditter ready to receive, and give you one, which I started +to carry to your folks, in return. So, first for yours.” + +“Mine is, that we are now drawn up, two hundred strong, in the first +woods south of the village, and are ready to march.” + +“And mine, that we are der ditto; besides being a hundred better than +you, all chafing, like ditter tied-up dogs, to be let on.” + +“I will back, then, to my post with the news; and in less than a half +hour, tell them, they shall hear our signal of entering the village, as +agreed, which we will expect you to answer, and then rush on, as fast as +you please, to effect a junction, as we wheel into the court-yard. But +stay: have the prisoners been apprized that their deliverance is at +hand?” + +“Yes; I ran up at the time the court ditter went in, and, in the bustle, +got a chance to tell them through the grate.” + +“All right; but how are the wounded doing?” + +“Ditter well, except French, who is fast going.” + +“Indeed! Poor fellow! But his blood will now soon be avenged,” said +Morris, as the two now separated and hastened back to their respective +posts. + +After Peters had despatched the constable on his work of legal plunder +and revenge, he returned to the court-room for the purpose of pressing +to a hearing some other cases which he had pending against political +opponents, and which he hoped, through the favor of a biased and corrupt +court, to curry as easily as the one wherein he had just so wickedly +triumphed. But he was not permitted to reap any more of his despicable +advantages; for he found that another, actuated by motives no less +unworthy than his own, had already gained the attention of the court to +a case of which he had been the prime mover and complainant. This was +Secretary Brush; and the trial he had been urging on, through Stearns, +the acting state's attorney, was that of the alleged murderer, to whose +somewhat mysterious, as well as suspicious, arrest and imprisonment +allusion has already been made. + +“As you say the witnesses are in court, Mr. Stearns,” observed Chandler, +after a moment's consultation with his colleague, “as all the witnesses +are here, we have concluded to take up the criminal case in question. +You may therefore direct the sheriff to bring the prisoner into court +without delay.” + +The sheriff, accordingly, left the court-room, and, in a short time, +reappeared with the prisoner, followed by two armed men, who closely +guarded and conducted him forward to the criminal's box. + +The prisoner was a man of the apparent age of sixty, of rather slight +proportions of body, but with a large head, and coarse features, that +seemed to be kept almost constantly in play by a lively, flashing +countenance, in which meekness and fire, kindness and austerity, were +curiously blended. As he seated himself, he turned round and faced the +court with a fearless and even scornful air, but promptly rose, at the +bidding of the chief judge, to listen to the information, which the +clerk proceeded to read against him at length, closing by addressing to +the respondent the usual question as to his guilt or innocence of the +charge. + +“I once,” calmly responded the prisoner--“I once knocked up a pistol, +pointed at my breast by a robber. It went off and killed one of his +fellows, and----” + +“Say, guilty or not guilty?” sternly interrupted the clerk. + +“Not guilty, then,” answered the other, determined, while going through +these preliminary forms, that his accusers, the court, and audience, +should hear what, under other circumstances, he would have reserved for +the more appropriate time of making his defence, or left to his counsel. +“Ay, not guilty; and that gentleman,” he rapidly continued, pointing to +Brush, “that gentleman, who has offered to free me if I would submit to +be robbed, well knows the truth of what I say. The witnesses, whom he +has suborned, also know it, if they know any thing about that luckless +affray.” + +“Liar!” shouted Brush, springing up, in high excitement, as soon as he +could recover from the surprise and confusion into which this bold and +unexpected charge had thrown him. + +“The man's insane--evidently insane, your honors!” cried Stearns, who, +in his anxiety to shield his friend Brush, thought not of the effect of +such a remark. + +“I thank the attorney for the government for that admission, may it +please the court,” said Knights, rising, with a sarcastic glance at +Stearns. “I may wish to make use of it.” + +“Are you counsel for the prisoner, sir?” sharply demanded the other. + +“I am, sir,” coolly replied Knights; “and you may find, before we get +through the trial, that what the prisoner has said, as much out of place +as it was, is not the only truth to be developed. But before the case +proceeds any further, I offer a plea to the jurisdiction of this court, +and at once submit, whether a man can be tried here for an offence +alleged to have been committed in another county, without a special +order from the governor for that purpose.” + +“That order is obtained and on file, sir. So that learned bubble is +burst, as will all the rest you can raise in favor of the miserable +wretch you have stooped to defend,” said Stevens, exultingly. “Mr. +Clerk, pass up that order to the court.” + +“Are you satisfied now, Mr. Knights?” asked Sabin, with undignified +feeling, after glancing at the order which had been laid before the +judges. “Mr. Stearns, proceed with the cause.” + +But that court, on whom the subservient attorney and his corrupt and +arrogant friend depended to convict an innocent man of an infamous +crime, that a private and nefarious object might thereby be +enforced--that court were now destined to be arrested in their career of +judicial oppression before they had time to add another stain to their +already blackened characters: for, at this moment, a deep and piercing +groan, issuing from one of the prison-rooms beneath, resounded through +the building so fearfully distinct, as to cause every individual of +the assembly to start, and even to bring the judges and officers of +the court to a dead pause in their proceedings. A moment of death-like +silence ensued; when another and a sharper groan of anguish, bursting +evidently from the same lips, and swelling up to the highest compass of +the human voice, and ending in a prolonged screech of mortal agony, rang +through the apartment, sending a thrill of horror to the very hearts of +the appalled multitude! + +“Who? What? For God's sake, what is that?” exclaimed a dozen eager and +trembling voices at once, as nearly the whole assembly started to their +feet, and stood with amazed and perplexed countenances, inquiringly +gazing at each other. + +“Don't your consciences tell you that?” exclaimed the prisoner, Herriot, +in a loud, fearless voice, running his stern, indignant eye over the +court, its officers, and leading partisans around the bar. “Don't your +consciences tell you what it was? Then I will! It was the death-screech +of the poor murdered French, whose tortured spirit, now beyond the reach +of your power, went out with that fearful cry which has just assailed +your guilty ears!” + +“Mr. Sheriff! Mr. Sheriff!” sputtered Sabin, boiling with wrath, and +pointing menacingly to the prisoner. + +“Silence, there, blabbing miscreant!” thundered Patterson. + +“Ah! No wonder ye want silence, when that name is mentioned,” returned +Herriot, unflinchingly. + +Struck dumb with astonishment at the unexpected audacity of the prisoner +in thus throwing out, in open court, such bold and cutting intimations +of their guilty conduct, the judges and officers seemed perfectly at +a loss how to act, or give vent to their maddened feelings, for some +moments. Soon, however, the most prompt and reckless among them found +the use of their tongues. + +“Shoot him down, Patterson!” exclaimed Brush, with an oath. + +“Treason! I charge him with treason, and demand that he be ironed and +gagged on the spot!” shouted Gale, bringing down his clinched fist +heavily on the desk before him! + +“Yes, high treason; let us re-arrest him, and see if we can hang him on +that, should he escape on the other charge,” chimed in Stearns. + +“I have my doubts,” began Chandler, who was growing every moment more +wavering and uneasy. + +“No doubts about it,” interrupted Sabin, almost choking with rage. +“I'll not sit here and see the king's authority insulted, and his court +treated with such contempt and treasonable defiance; and I order him +instantly in irons--chains--yes, chains, Mr. Sheriff!” + +“You can chain the body, but shall not fetter the tongue,” responded +Herriot, in no way dismayed by the threats of his enraged persecutors, +or their preparations to confine and torture his person; “for I _will_ +speak, and you shall _hear_, ye tyrants! Listen then, ye red-handed +assassins! The blood of your murdered victim has cried up to God for +vengeance. The cry has been heard! the unseen hand has already +traced your doom on the wall! and this day, ay, within this hour,” he +continued, glancing through the window to a dark mass of men, who might +now be partially discerned drawn up behind the point of woods at the +north--“ay, within this very hour, that doom shall be fulfilled! Hark!” + he added, in startling tones, after a momentary pause--“hark! do ye hear +those signal guns, echoing from post to post, round your beleaguered +Babylon? Do you hear those shouts? The avengers of blood are even now at +your doors. Hear, and tremble!” + +As the speaker closed his bold denunciations, he descended from the +bench which he had mounted for the purpose, and, advancing to the +sheriff and his assistants, now standing mute and doubtful with +their hastily procured fetters in their hands, he paused, and stood +confronting them with an ironical smile, and with folded arms, in token +of his readiness now to submit himself to their hands. But a wonderful +change had suddenly come over the whole band of these tory dignitaries. +The dark and angry scowls of mediated revenge, and the more fiery +expressions of undisguised wrath, which were bent on the dauntless old +man during the first part of his denunciations, had, by the time he +made his closing announcement, all given way to looks of surprise and +apprehension. No one offered to lay hands on him; for, as the truth of +what he said was every moment more strongly confirmed by the increasing +tumult without, no one had any thoughts to spare for any but himself. +And soon the whole assembly broke from their places, and, in spite of +the loud calls of the officers for silence and order, began to cry out +in eager inquiries, and run about the room in the utmost confusion and +alarm. At this juncture, David Redding, who had been thus far the most +reckless and bloodthirsty tory of all, burst into the room, hurriedly +exclaiming,-- + +“The people have risen in arms, and are pouring in upon us, by hundreds, +from every direction! In five minutes this house will be surrounded, +and we in their power. Let every man look to his own safety! I shall to +mine,” he added, rushing back down to the front door, where, instead of +attempting to escape through the back way, as he might then have done, +he began to shout, “Hurra for Congress!” and, “Down with the British +court!” at the very top of his voice. + +“I resign my commission,” cried Chandler, jumping up in great +trepidation. “Let it be distinctly understood,” he repeated, raising his +voice in his anxiety to be heard--“yes, let it be distinctly understood, +that I have resigned my commission as judge of this court.” + +“D----n him! what does he mean by that?” muttered Gale, turning to +Patterson. + +“It means he is going to turn tail, as I always thought he would,--the +cursed cowardly traitor!” replied the latter, gnashing his teeth. “But +let him, and that pitiful poltroon of a Redding, go where they please. +We will see to matters ourselves. I don't believe it is any thing more +than a mere mob, who will scatter at the first fire. So follow me, Gale; +and all the rest of ye, that aint afraid of your own shadows, follow me, +and I'll soon know what can be done.” + +And, while lawyers and suitors were hastily snatching up their papers, +and all were making a general rush for the door, in the universal panic +which had seized them, the boastful sheriff, attended by his assistants +and the tiger-tempered Gale, pushed his way down stairs, shaking his +sword over his head, and shouting with all his might,-- + +“To arms! Every friend to the court and king, to arms! Stand to your +guns there below, guards, and shoot down every rebel that attempts to +enter!” + +But, when he reached the front entrance, the spectacle which there +greeted his eyes seemed to have an instant effect in cooling his +military ardor. There, to his dismay, he beheld drawn up, within thirty +paces of the door, an organized and well-armed body of more than three +hundred men; while small detachments, constantly arriving, were falling +in on the right and left, and extending the wings round the whole +building. And as the discomfited loyalist ran his eye along the line of +the broad-breasted and fierce-looking fellows before him, and recognized +among them the Huntingtons, the Knights, the Stevenses, the Baileys, +the Brighams, the Curtises, and other stanch and leading patriots, from +nearly every town bordering on the Connecticut, and saw the determined +look and the indignant flashing of their countenances, he at once +read not only the entire overthrow of his party in this section of the +country, but the individual peril in which he, and his abettors in the +massacre, now stood before an outraged and excited populace. + +“What ails your men, Squire Sheriff?” cried Barty Burt, now grown to a +soldier in the ranks of the assailants, as he pointed tauntingly to the +company of tory guards who had been stationed in the yard, but who now, +sharing in the general panic, had thrown down their arms, and +stood huddled together near the door; “why don't they pick up their +shooting-irons, and blaze away at the _'d----d rebels,'_ as I think I +heard you order, just now?” + +“And if that won't ditter do,” exclaimed the well-known voice of Tom +Dunning from another part of the ranks, “suppose you ditter read another +king's proclamation at us: no knowing but we might be ditter done for, +entirely.” + +The sheriff waited to hear no more, but hastily retreated into the +house, followed by a shout of derisive laughter; and his place was the +next moment occupied by Chandler, who bustled forward to the steps, +and, in a flustered, supplicatory manner, asked leave to address his +“_respected fellow-citizens_.” + +“Short speeches, judge!” impatiently cried Colonel Carpenter, who +seemed, from his position on horseback among the troops and other +appearances, to be chief in command--“short speeches, if any. We have +come here on a business which neither long speeches nor smooth ones will +prevent us from executing.” + +The judge, however, could not afford to take this as a repulse; and, +with this doubtful license, he went on to say, that on hearing, in the +morning, as he did with astonishment and horror, of the unauthorized +proceedings of last night, he had denounced the outrage, in an address +at the opening of the court; and not finding himself supported, he had +resigned, and left his seat on the bench. + +“And now,” he added in conclusion, “being freed from the trammels of my +oath of office, which have lately become so painful to me, I feel myself +again one of the people, and stand ready to cooperate with them in any +measure required by the public welfare.” + +A very faint and scattering shout of applause, in two or three places, +mingled with hisses and murmurs in others, was the only response with +which this address was received. But even with this equivocal testimony +of public feeling towards him, this despicable functionary felt +gratified. “I _am safe_,” said he to himself, with a long-drawn breath, +as he descended the steps, to watch an opportunity to mingle with the +party with whom he was now especially anxious to be seen, and to whom he +was ready to say, in the words of the satirist,-- + + “I'm all submission, what you'd have me, make me; + The only question is, sirs, will you take me?” + +At this moment a sash was thrown up, and the prisoner, Herriot, appeared +at a window of the court-room above. + +“I have been brought up here this morning,” he said, shaking back his +gray locks, and raising his stern, solemn voice to a pitch clearly +audible to all in the grounds below--“I have been brought here from my +dungeon to answer to the charge of a foul crime; and both my accusers +and triers, fleeing even before any one appeared to pursue, have left +their places, having neither tried nor condemned me. But scorning to +follow their example, I now appear, to submit myself for a verdict, to +the rightful source of all power--the people.” + +“Neither will we condemn thee,” cried Knowlton, pursuing the scriptural +thought of the other; “if thy accusers and judges have left thee +uncondemned, thou shalt not be condemned by us; at least not by me, who +have long had my opinions of the character of this prosecution.” + +“As also have I,” responded Captain Wright. “I know something of the +witnesses, on whom, it is said, they depended to convict father Herriot; +and I would not hang a dog on their testimony. I move, therefore, that +we here pronounce a verdict of acquittal. Who says, ay?” + +“Ay!” promptly responded a dozen voices; and “Ay!” the next instant rose +in one loud, unanimous shout from the whole multitude. + +“A thousand thanks to you, my friends, for your generous confidence in +my innocence,” returned the old man with emotion; “and, thank God, your +confidence is not misplaced. I was formerly guilty of much, which has +cost me many bitter tears of repentance; but there is no blood on _my_ +hands, and I will now return to my hermit hut, from which they dragged +me, there to pray for the success of the good cause in which you are +engaged, leaving to you what lesson shall be taught those Hamans who +have filled these dungeons with the dying and wounded, now demanding +your care.” + +The effect of the old man's closing hint was instantly visible on the +multitude, who decided by acclamation to act upon it without delay; and +accordingly a score of resolute fellows were detached to proceed to the +prisons, release their friends, and fill their places, for the present, +with their murderous oppressors. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + “----right represt, + Will heave with the deep earthquake's fierce unrest, + Then fling, with fiery strength, the mountain from its breast” + + +When the besieged tories, who were now mostly crowded together in +the broad space on the lower floor, saw a column of their assailants +entering the front door, and advancing upon them with levelled muskets +to sacrifice them, as they supposed, on the spot, they were seized with +a fresh and uncontrollable panic, and made such a tremendous rush for +the back entrance, that the only sentry who happened at that moment to +be there, was, in spite of all his threats to fire upon them, instantly +borne down, or thrust aside, by the living torrent that now burst +through the door; and before a force sufficient to stop them could +reach the spot, numbers had escaped into the adjoining fields, where, +scattering in different directions, they commenced their disorderly +flight, with all the speed which their guilty terrors could lend them. +The next moment, however, as the cry that the tories were escaping was +raised, a hundred of their most fleet-footed opponents were seen +leaping the fences into the fields, and giving chase to the frightened +fugitives. A scene, in which the ludicrous, the novel, the wild, and +the fearful, were strangely mingled, now ensued; for, although a strong +guard still retained their places round the Court House, who, with the +detachment that had entered as we have described, proceeded to take into +custody the remaining tories and liberate the imprisoned, yet the main +body of the revolutionists joined in the work of hunting down the flying +enemy; those not only who had escaped from the Court House in the manner +we have named, but all concerned in the massacre that could be found +secreted or lurking about the village; while the exulting shouts of +the victors as they overtook, seized, and brought to the ground the +vanquished; the abject cries of the latter for quarter; the reports of +muskets fired by pursuers over the heads of the pursued, to frighten +them to surrender; the beating on drums, and the loud clamor of mingling +voices,--all combined to swell the uproar and confusion of the exciting +scene. + +“How like the ditter deuse these lawyers do scratch gravel!” exclaimed +Tom Dunning, as he singled out and gave chase to Stearns and Knights, +who together were making their way across the fields, in the direction +of the river, as if life and death hung on their speed. “Ha! ha!” + continued the tickled hunter, laughing so immoderately at the novel +spectacle, as greatly to impede his own progress--“ha! ha! ha! ha! Why, +I der don't believe but what they've got consciences, after all! for +what else could make their ditter drumsticks fly so?” + +But although the hunter, in thus indulging his merriment, suffered +himself actually to lose ground in the race, yet he had no notion of +relinquishing the chase, or losing the game; for, conscious of his own +powers, and thinking lightly of those of the fugitives, he supposed, +that, as soon as he chose to exert himself, he could easily make the +race a short one, and as easily capture and lead them back in triumph; +and he began to think over the jokes he would crack at their expense +on the way. But the unseen event of the next moment showed him, to his +vexation, that his inaction, and confidence in his own powers to remedy +the consequences of it, had cost him all the anticipated pleasures +of his expected victory. For scarcely had he commenced the pursuit in +earnest, when the fugitive lawyers reached the bank of the river, and at +the very place too, as it provokingly happened, where his own log-canoe +chanced to be moored, and hastily leaping into it, they managed with +such dexterity and quickness, in handling the oars and cutting the +fastenings, as to push off, and get fairly out of the reach of their +pursuer, before he could gain the spot; and his threat to fire at +them, if they did not return, and the execution of that threat the next +moment, which sent a bullet skipping over the water within a foot of +the receding canoe, as he only intended, were all without effect in +compelling the return of the panic-struck attorneys. And the balked +pursuer had soon the mortification to see his crafty brace of intended +captives land in safety on the opposite shore, which he had now no +means of gaining, and disappear in the dark pine forest then lining the +eastern bank of the Connecticut at this place. + +“Outwitted, by ditter Judas!” exclaimed the hunter, in his vexation. +“These lawyers, dog 'em! they have so much of the Old Scratcher in 'em, +that they will outdo a fellow at his own trade. However, I've done the +new state some ditter service, I reckon, seeing I've fairly driven such +a precious pair of 'em out of it.” [Footnote: Knights, who, unlike his +companion, was no loyalist, appears to have become infected with the +panic that had seized his loyal associates, in common with the whole +court party; and, though he had no cause for alarm, fled with those +who escaped from the Court House, on this memorable occasion. It is +probable, that owing to his supposed interest in the continuance of the +court, and consequent unwillingness to co-operate in the measures +on foot to overthrow it, he was purposely kept in ignorance of the +movements of the revolutionists, and therefore taken wholly by surprise +when the storm burst. At all events, his speedy return, immediate +resumption of his professional duties at Brattleborough, and subsequent +promotion to the bench, abundantly shows that he no less enjoyed +the confidence of the American party than his two namesakes, and, we +believe, relatives, whom we have named as present among the assailants, +and who were afterwards officers in our revolutionary forces. An aged +and distinguished early settler, to whom the author is indebted for many +of the incidents he has here delineated, thus writes in relation to the +particular one in question:-- + +“I have heard Judge Samuel Knights, who, as chief justice, presided +in the Supreme Court from 1791 to 1793, describe the trepidation +that seized them, when, after the massacre, and on the rising of +the surrounding country, they came to learn the excited state of the +populace. He related how he and another member of the bar (Stearns, I +think, who was afterwards attorney secretary of Nova Scotia) hurried +down to the river, and finding there a boat, (such as was used in +those times for carrying seines or nets at the shad and salmon fishing +grounds, which were frequent on both sides the river, below the Great +Falls,) they paddled themselves across, and lay all day under a log in +the pine forest opposite the town; and, when night came, went to Parson +Fessenden's, at Walpole, and obtained a horse, so that, by riding +and tying, they got out of the country till the storm blew over, when +Knights returned to Brattleborough.”] + +With this consolatory reflection, he now turned and retraced his steps +towards the scene of action. While on his way thither, and soon after +passing the rear of the building before described as the head-quarters +of the tory leaders, his attention was arrested by the lamentable +outcries of some one alternately bawling for help, and begging for +mercy; when, turning to the spot, he there beheld his associate, Barty +Burt, astride the haughty owner of the mansion just named, who, with +dress sadly soiled and disordered, was creeping on his hands and knees +on the ground, towards his house, which, it appeared, he had nearly +gained, when he was overtaken, thrown to the ground, and mounted by his +agile and tormenting captor, who was now taking his whimsical revenge +for former indignities, by compelling the fallen secretary, through the +efficacy of a loaded pistol just wrenched from the latter's hand, to +carry him on his back, in the manner above described. + +“What the dogs are you ditter doing there, Bart?” said Dunning, with a +broad grin, as he came up and recognized the secretary in such a strange +plight and attitude. + +“O, nothin very desput; only showing Squire Brush, here the differ +between to-day and yesterday, that's all,” replied Bart kicking and +spurring, like a boy on some broken-down horse “Get up, here! Gee! +whoa, Dobbin! Kinder seems to me,” he continued to his groaning +prisoner--“kinder seems to me I heard somebody say, 'tother night, that +Bart Burt wasn't above a jackass. Wonder if I aint above a jackass +now? only his ears may need pulling and stretching a little,” he added, +suiting the action to the word. + +“For God's sake, my good man,” said Brush, turning imploringly to +Dunning, “do relieve me from the clutches of this insatiate imp of hell. +Let him shoot me, if he will; but don't leave me to be worried, and trod +into the mud and splosh, like a dog, by the revengeful young savage. It +is more than flesh and blood can bear.” + +“Well, now, squire, I wouldn't make such a tearing fuss about this +little bit of a walloping, after what's happened, if I was you,” said +Bart. “There was our differ about who was the jackass, and sich like, +that night, you know, which I kinder thought I might as well settle; +and then, again, there was your good-by, yesterday; but may be I've done +enough to make that square, too. So I don't care if I let you up, now, +seeing as how Mr. Dunning has come to take care of your worship,” added +the speaker, springing nimbly a few paces aside, and facing about with +presented pistol, as if to keep the other on good behavior. + +“What can you want with me, sir?” said the disencumbered secretary to +the hunter, after gaining his feet and shaking off the mud from his +bedraggled garments. + +“Ditter considerable,” replied the other. “In the first place, the +people want to see you back to the Court House, where you may ditter +consider yourself invited to go, under my care. They there may have the +first claim on you.” + +“Well, if I am a prisoner, let us go there, then,” said the crestfallen +loyalist, relinquishing, with bad grace, his hope of being allowed to +escape. “But what do you mean by _first claim_ on me?” + +“Well, I ditter mean that I have another, when they get through with +you.” + +“Explain yourself, sir.” + +“I will. You ditter know that your governor has offered a reward of +fifty pounds for the ditter delivery of Ethan Allen for the gallows, +under a law got through the York Assembly, principally by one Squire +Brush. Well I aint a going to ditter fight old Ethan's battles; for he +can der do that himself. But you may ditter know, also, that Ethan has +offered the same reward for the governor and you. Now, as we are ditter +expecting Allen over here, in a few days, I was der thinking, I and +Bart, here, might as well ditter deliver you up, and claim the money.” + [Footnote: Crean Brush, who procured himself to be elected from this +county to the New York legislature, for several years, was believed to +be the main mover of the act of outlawry against Ethan Allen and others. +He certainly, as chairman of the committee on the subject, reported, and +recommended the passage of, that notorious measure. (See Slade's State +Papers.)] + +So saying, the hunter, bidding the prisoner to follow, and Bart to bring +up the rear, marched off in triumph to the Court House; and, having +delivered over his charge to the guard at the prison doors, sallied +out into the village in quest of further adventures. Nor was he long +in meeting with them. After gaining the street, he soon perceived a +gathering and commotion nearly in front of the mansion whose owner he +had just taken from the rear; and, on reaching the spot, he found a +crowd collected round a sleigh, filled with gentlemen and ladies, which +proved to be that of Peters and his company. It appeared that Haviland, +who had remained at his quarters that forenoon, and had thus become +apprised of the rising of the people sooner than the mass of his party, +had instantly ordered the team to be harnessed, and every thing prepared +for an immediate departure, as soon as Peters should arrive. And the +latter, who was among those who broke away from the Court House after +it was invested, having at length reached the house undiscovered, and +adopted such disguise in dress as the time would permit, they had all +jumped into the sleigh, (which could still be used better than any +other vehicle,) and were rapidly driving from the yard, in an attempt to +escape from the town, when they were recognized and detained by a party +of the revolutionists. Haviland and Peters had already been seized +and taken from the sleigh, and would have instantly been forced off to +prison, but for the entreaties and distress of the females who refused +to be conducted back to the house, or even to be separated from their +protectors; Miss Haviland, especially, declaring that if her father +must go to prison, she would go with him. This had produced a momentary +delay, during which a sharp altercation had arisen, some being for +taking the prisoners back to the house, there to be guarded, and others +strongly insisting on dragging them off, at once, to jail. The latter, +at length, appeared to prevail, and were on the point of forcing the +ladies, in spite of all their entreaties, from the sides of their +protectors, when a man came pushing his way through the crowd:-- + +“For shame! shame! my friends,” he cried; “you surely would not molest +innocent and defenceless females.” + +“I will tell you what it is, Harry Woodburn,” responded one of those who +were for proceeding to active measures, “when ladies attempt to stand +between murderers and their deserts, they must expect to be molested.” + +The circumstances of the case were then explained to Woodburn; when the +crowd, who had been irritated by the threats and arrogant behavior of +the prisoners, at the outset, again began to cry, “Away with them, women +and all, if they will have it so--away with them to prison!” + +“Men, hear me!” exclaimed Woodburn, planting himself between the ladies +and the angry crowd. “You see this!” he continued, holding up his +bandaged and blood-stained arm: “the wound was received in defending +your cause; and I have but this moment come from the felon's hold where +I passed the night, for the part I took in the affray. Now, have I not +earned the right to be heard?” + +“Ay, ay, certainly, Harry; go on!” responded several, while the silence +of the rest denoted a ready acquiescence in the request. + +“This, then, is what I would say,” resumed the former. “These ladies, +who are doubtless anxious to escape from a scene of strife which may +not yet be ended, came from a distance, under the care of this old +gentleman, whose imprisonment would not only take from them their +protector, but deprive them, probably, of all present means of returning +to their home. I propose, therefore, to let him and them depart +unmolested.” + +“If the ladies were all--but I don't know about letting this old fellow +off so easily,” said one, exchanging doubtful glances with those around +him. “He is both tory and Yorker to the eyes.” + +“Yes,” urged another, “and who knows but he was among the murderers last +night?” + +“I have ascertained that he was not among the actors of last night's +outrage,” replied Woodburn. + +“Well,” rejoined the former, “I know the other was--that upper-crust +tory by his side there, who was always too proud to wear an old coat +and hat, till he thought they might help him in skulking away out of the +reach of punishment.” + +“I know Peters was there, to my cost; and I had no notion of asking any +exemption for him,” returned Woodburn, with bitterness. “But this old +gentleman, whatever may be his feelings, has committed none of those +acts of violence, for which, only, I understand, our leaders intend to +institute trials. Shall we not, then, let him and his ladies proceed, as +I proposed?” + +Receiving no direct answer to his appeal, the speaker now took two or +three of the leading opposers aside, and, after conversing with them a +few moments, returned, and announced to Haviland that he was at liberty +to depart. + +How well and wisely had he read the human heart, who penned the +scriptural apothegm, “If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, +give him drink; for, in so doing, thou shall heap coals of fire on his +head”! Haviland, though by nature an honorable man, had yet suffered +himself to enter deeply into the personal animosities of Peters towards +Woodburn, which, with his political and aristocratic prejudices, had +caused him to think of the young man only with feelings of contempt and +bitterness. And when he witnessed the noble conduct of the latter, +first in rescuing his daughter from the flood, and now so generously +interposing in his behalf, it produced that struggle between pride +and conscience, whose operation is so forcibly expressed by the sacred +writer just quoted. And, although he could bring himself to acknowledge +his obligations only by a formal and constrained bow, yet the +conflicting and painful expressions that were seen flitting over his +disturbed countenance, as he now returned to the sleigh, plainly told +how effectually, and with what punished feelings, his enmity had been +silenced. But not so with his single-minded and quickly and justly +appreciating daughter. She had no prejudices to combat, no pride to +conquer; and she, therefore, witnessed each new act of her deliverer +with as much pleasure as gratitude--feelings which sought expression +in no parade of words, it is true, but in the more meaning and eloquent +language of the kindly tone and sweetly-beaming countenance. And, in her +low-murmured, “_Thank you--thank you for all_,” as Woodburn handed her +to her seat in the vehicle, he felt a thousand fold repaid for all he +had ventured for her sake; while the speaking smile, with which she the +next moment turned to him, and nodded her adieu, left an impress on his +heart destined never to be effaced. + +While this was transpiring, Peters, who had been standing apart from +the rest of his company, sullenly looking on, without uttering a word, +except to bid Haviland go on without him, contrived, without exciting +any suspicion of his design, to work himself by degrees to the outer +edge of the crowd, in the direction in which the team was about to pass. +And, as the sleigh, which was now put in motion, approached him, he +made a sudden feint of running the opposite way; when, as the crowd +were confusedly springing forward to head him, he quickly tacked +about, leaped into the sleigh, and, snatching the reins and whip from +Haviland's hands, applied the lash so furiously, that the frantic horses +bounded forward with a speed which carried the receding vehicle more +than fifty yards on its course, before the balked and confused throng +could recover themselves, and fairly comprehend what had happened. But +the sharp, bitter shout of execrations, mingled with cries for immediate +pursuit, which now rose from the agitated multitude, proclaimed at once +their hatred of the haughty loyalist, and their determination not to +suffer him to escape from justice And the next instant, a half dozen +swift runners, led on by Dunning, shot out from the crowd, in the eager +chase, like so many arrows speeding to the mark. And, notwithstanding +the supposed advantages of horses over men in a race, and +notwithstanding the increased speed with which the fugitive team +thundered along over the half-bare and uneven ground, the pursued had +scarcely reached the end of a furlong, before the fleet and determined +hunter, still in advance of his companions, gained the side of the +sleigh, leaped up, pounced upon his cringing victim, and brought him +headlong to the ground, leaving Haviland to seize the relinquished +reins, check the horses as he best could, and proceed on his way +unmolested. + +“There! you ditter sneak of a runaway tory. You will now go, I der +rather calculate, where there's no ditter petticoats to shelter you,” + said Dunning, raising the chapfallen Peters by the collar, and drawing +him along back, amidst the exulting shouts of the revolutionists, by +whom he and his friend Brush were then forced away, in no very gentle +manner, to join their fellow-prisoners, in the same dungeon where +the victims of their last night's outrage were so unfeelingly and so +unwisely immured. + +A detailed description of the various scenes which here succeeded, +in the winding up of this local revolution, as it may justly be +denominated, would occupy too much space for the limits of our tale, +without evolving any further incident, having much bearing on the +destinies of those of its personages whose fortunes we design to follow. +We will now, therefore, sum up, in a few words, the doings of the +triumphant party, and, with a comment or two of our own, dismiss the +subject. + +In the first place, all the supposed actors and abettors of the massacre +within reach were seized and secured, excepting Redding and one or +two others of a like character, who, by their activity in assisting to +apprehend the fugitive comrades whom they had so meanly deserted, and +their offers to give evidence against them, had purchased an exemption +from punishment, and excepting also the Janus-faced Chandler, who, by +his duplicity, had contributed more than any other man, perhaps, towards +this catastrophe, but who now contrived to make even his iniquities +count in his favor. [Footnote: As the acts of this notorious personage, +whose character we have been at considerable pains to ascertain, and +accordingly portray, will have no further connection with our story, +we cannot forbear, before dismissing him entirely, giving the reader a +short account of his subsequent career, and singular end. Although, by +his facility of accommodating his political principles to those of +the majority, and his alacrity of tacking about, and mounting, like +a squirrel on a wheel, so as to be found rising to the top in every +revolution or counter-revolution of public sentiment, he thus adroitly +managed to get appointed to some offices of minor importance, under +the new state government, yet, becoming every year better and better +understood, and consequently more and more distrusted, he finally sunk +into utter insignificance and contempt; and, falling into pecuniary +embarrassments, brought about by a long course of secret fraud in +selling wild lands, of which he had no titles, he was confined for debt +in the very building in which the massacre occurred; where, as if by the +retribution of Heaven for the part he once there acted, he soon died, +unhonored and unlamented. And, what is still more remarkable, his +remains were strangely destined to be denied even the respect of a +common burial. For some exasperated creditor having attached the body, +and the neighbors, from a notion that prevailed at that time, supposing, +that by removing the body for a public burial they would make themselves +liable for his debts, suffered it to remain till it became too offensive +to be endured, when, at the dark hour of midnight, a few individuals +went silently to the prison, got the putrid mass into some rough box, +and drew it on the ground to the fence of the neighboring burial-ground; +and, having dug a horizontal trench under the fence, and a deep pit on +the other side, pushed through and buried up all that remained of the +once noted Chief Justice Chandler. An old, decayed oak stump, still +standing, is the only object that marks the site of his grave.] After +this was effected, the victors, all but enough to constitute a safe +guard, laid aside their arms, and resolved themselves into a sort of +civil convention, to take measures for the trial of the prisoners by +some mode, which, in the absence of all proper authorities, should +answer for a legal process. And, as the first step in the matter, a +jury of inquest, to sit on the dead body of French, was ordered, and +a committee appointed to see to the empanelling of impartial men, and +collect evidence and conduct the investigations to be had before them. +All this being duly accomplished, and the jury bringing in a verdict +that the deceased came to his death by the discharges of muskets, in the +hands of Patterson, Gale, and others therein enumerated, all the latter, +thus designated as the murderers of the unfortunate young man, were +taken, and, under the authority of another order or decree of +the convention, marched off, under a strong guard, to the jail +in Northampton, some forty or fifty miles into the interior of +Massachusetts, and there confined, to be tried for their lives at the +next court that should be holden in the county where the offence was +committed; while a less deeply implicated portion of the prisoners +were put under bonds to appear at the court to answer to the charges +of manslaughter and assault, or made to undergo other punishments and +restrictions immediately imposed by the convention. [Footnote: Among the +different kinds of sentences imposed on the class of offenders here last +named, was one dooming Judge Sabin to the limits of his own farm, and +making it lawful for any one catching him off of it to kill him. And +so deep was the public indignation against this inveterate loyalist and +supposed secret abettor of the massacre, that he was narrowly watched +for the chance of executing the penalty. An aged revolutionist, from +whom this fact was derived, stated that he had lain many a Sunday, with +a loaded rifle, in the woods near the judge's farm lines, to see if he +would not, when coming out to salt his sheep, stray over his limits. But +the old fellow, he said, was always too wary for him.] The actors in +the outrage, who comprised nearly all the leading members of the British +party in that part of the Grants lying east of the mountains, having +been thus summarily disposed of, the people, now taking the government +into their own hands, and acting in primitive assembly, proceeded to +reorganize the county, by the appointment of new judges, and all the +usual subordinate officers, of their own principles, to adopt measures +to reduce to submission or drive away the remaining loyalists of the +county, and, finally, to declare themselves alike independent of the +government of Great Britain and of New York. + +Thus terminated this memorable outbreak, which acquired additional +importance from the fact, that it resulted in the entire subversion of +British authority in this, the only section among the Green Mountains +where it ever gained a foothold. And not small the praise, which, in +view of the circumstances, should be awarded to the hardy spirits by +whom this miniature revolution was achieved; for, so great was the +power of patronage exercised by this court, and the influence of those +enjoying office or immunities under it,--a great majority of whom were +stanch, and the rest tacit, supporters of the royal cause,--that, till +the occurrence of this sanguinary affair, it is evident the former had +but little hope of being able to overthrow this petty local dynasty +without assistance from abroad. The aged survivors of that stormy period +inform us, indeed, that but for the massacre of Westminster, it would +have been difficult to predict whether the opening of the revolution, a +few months afterwards, would have found, in the section in question, a +whig or tory majority predominating. But that act of murder and madness, +which the loyalists here, with the strange infatuation attending their +doings almost every where else at the time, seemed destined to commit, +as if to hasten their own overthrow, settled their doom. + + “It was the electric flame to fire the hearts + Of a true people.” + +And while it opened the eyes of hundreds of the hitherto acquiescent, +it armed the opposing with an energy and determination in their +cause, which at once became irresistible; and when the war-note was +subsequently sounded by such patriots as Benjamin Carpenter and his +associates, it found a ready response in every glen and corner of the +surrounding country, and the hardy settlers seized their arms, and, with +the cry of _French and vengeance!_ hastened away to the scenes of action +at Lexington, Ticonderoga, and Bunker Hill. + +We are aware that some historians have classed this affair among the +difficulties and skirmishes growing out of what has usually been termed +the New York controversy, while others have treated the subject in +a manner which shows them to be doubtful in what light to place the +transaction; and, for that reason apparently, they have slid over the +matter in those general and ambiguous terms so often and reprehensibly +indulged in by writers at a loss about facts, to conceal their own +ignorance, or to avoid the responsibility of deciding the point at +issue. But a careful examination of the subject has led us to the +conclusion, that the affair in question had little or no connection, +in reality, with the New York controversy, but that it was wholly of a +revolutionary character. No resistance to the authority of New York had +ever been previously made in this section of the Grants; nor did +the opposers of this court, in any of their remonstrances, or other +proceedings, either before or after the massacre, assign any reason +for their doings which can be fairly construed into an objection to the +jurisdiction of that province, as such; or any otherwise than that it +had, up to that time, refused to adopt the resolves and recommendations +of the Continental Congress. On the contrary, all their arguments +are based on their duty and determination of joining their revolting +brethren in the other colonies, and, consequently, of resisting the +longer continuance of British authority among them. Such, indeed, is the +ground taken by Dr. Jones, in his minute and authentic account of the +occurrence, in which he was, as we have made him in our illustrations, +an actor. And even the inscription on the tombstone of the ill-fated +French, written when the transaction, and all its attendant +circumstances, were fresh in the minds of all, sufficiently proves, +if further proof were necessary, that the version we have given of the +affair is identical with the one generally understood and received at +the time.” [Footnote: The inscription here alluded to, which we insert +as supporting our position rather than as affording any new antiquarian +curiosity to many readers, is verbatim as follows:-- + + “In memory of William French, son of Mr. Nathaniel French, + Who was shot at Westminster March y'e 13th 1775 by the hands + of Cruel Ministerial tools of George y'e 3d, in the Court + House, at 11 o'clock at night, in the 22d year of his age. + + “Here William French his Body lies + For murder his blood for vengeance cries + King George the third, his tory crew + Tha with a bawl his head shot threw + For liberty and his country's good + He lost his life and dearest blood.”] + +It was this view of the occurrence which led us to occupy the space we +have devoted in attempting to illustrate it; for it becomes invested +with a new interest and new importance, when it is considered, as we +think it must be, that here was enacted the first scene of the great +drama that followed; here was shed the first blood, and here fell the +first martyr, of the American revolution. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + “They sank till their fair land became a sty + Stygian with moral darkness. Heart and mind + Debased--dark passions rose, and with red eye, + Rushed to their revel; until Freedom, blind + And maniac, sought the rest the suicide would find.” + + +The traveller of the present day, as he enters the town of Guilford, on +the southern confines of Vermont, will soon be struck with the peculiar +appearance of many things around him. Few or no traces of a primitive +forest are to be seen, while its place is supplied by a heavy second +growth of woods, sixty or seventy years old, in the midst of which the +remains of old enclosures and other indications of former habitations +are not unfrequently observable. On the cleared farms, also, may often +be seen three or four different clumps of aged fruit-trees, scattered +about in the nooks and corners of the lot, and sometimes extending into +the woods, in such a manner as to preclude the idea that they could have +been planted under any thing like the present arrangements of the farm +and its buildings. Near these old relics of former orchards may likewise +generally be perceived some levelled spot, remains of old chimneys, +traces of cellars, or other marks of dwellings long since removed, or +fallen to decay. These, with many other peculiarities, give to the whole +town an aspect nowhere else to be seen in Vermont, nor even, perhaps, in +any part of New England. And if the traveller be of a fanciful turn, +he will associate the place with the idea of some deserted country, +resettled by a new race of men; and even if he be a mere matter-of-fact +man, he cannot fail to perceive that the town must have been originally +tenanted under a division of lands and an order of things quite +different from those now existing. And either of these suppositions +would be far better justified by the facts than most of the speculations +of modern tourists made in their flying visits through the land, as will +be seen by a recurrence to the early annals of this town, of which, for +the purpose of insuring a full understanding of some scenes here about +to be described, we must be permitted to give a brief outline. + +The events connected with the first settlement of the town of Guilford, +which afterwards became so noted as the stronghold of toryism and +adherence to the New York supremacy, form a curious anomaly even in the +anomalous history of Vermont. The territory comprising this township +appears to have been granted, as early as 1754, to a company of about +fifty persons, by a charter, which, unlike that of any other town, +empowered the proprietors, in express terms, to govern themselves and +regulate the concerns of their little community, by such laws as the +majority should be pleased to enact, without being made amenable to any +power under heaven, save that which might be exercised by the British +Parliament. Being thus constituted a band of freemen and legislators, +at the outset, they soon took possession of their chartered piece of +wilderness, organized by the election of the proper officers of state, +and assumed the title of an independent republic, which their charter, +in fact, created, any control of the Parliament of England being as +little to be apprehended, in their secluded retreat among the wilds of +the Green Mountains, as that of the Great Mogul of Tartary. And as novel +as was the idea of a republic at that early period, when “the divine +right of kings” to govern all men was as little questioned as the divine +right of Satan to afflict the pious Job of old, this enterprising little +band of settlers, for many years, appear to have well sustained the +character they had assumed, not only by carrying out, in all their +public doings, that essential principle of a republic which makes the +will of the majority supreme, but by the simplicity of their tastes and +habits in private life, and their beautiful exemplification of the +great law of love, that can only be fulfilled towards our neighbors by +according to them equal rights and privileges with ourselves. At length, +however, new doctrines began to prevail, and the independent character +of our little republic was soon, in a good degree, forfeited; and that, +too, by the very means, it would seem, which had been taken to make it +flourish and increase. It had been one of the conditions of the charter +that every grantee should become an actual settler, and, within +five years, clear and cultivate five acres of land, for every fifty +purchased. And in accordance with this cunning policy for insuring the +actual and rapid settlement of the place, the township had been laid out +in fifty and one hundred acre lots, except the governor's right of +five hundred acres, which his excellency of New Hampshire, in granting +Vermont lands, never forgot to reserve for his own use, in every +township, but which the proprietors generally contrived, as in this +instance, to have set off on the highest mountain in town, considering +it but respectful and fitting, as they used waggishly to observe, +that so elevated a personage should be honored with the most elevated +location. And the effect of this policy, together with the low prices +at which the lands were put, and other inducements held out to draw in +settlers, soon became visible in the rapid increase of the population, +and consequent improvement of the town. So unexampled in these new +settlements was its progress, indeed, in both the particulars we have +just named, that within twenty years from the time when the sound of the +axe was first heard in its woody limits, the inhabitants were found to +number nearly three thousand; while fields were every where opened in +the wilderness, and buildings raised in such neighborly contiguity, that +the whole town presented the appearance of a continuous village. It +is not very surprising, therefore, that, through such an influx of +settlers, coming from all parts of the country, and including many +interested and active partisans of the York jurisdiction, a majority +should soon be obtained, who were induced to depart from the views of +the first settlers respecting the independence of their community, +and adopt the more fashionable form of subordinate government, which +prevailed in all the towns around them. And accordingly we find them, at +their annual meeting in 1772, voting the district of Guilford, as they +termed it, to belong to the county of Cumberland and province of New +York, and thereupon proceeding to reorganize the town, agreeably to the +laws of that province. This change, however, does not appear to have +been followed by any material alteration of their internal polity, or to +have been productive of any great civil discord, till about the time of +the opening of the American revolution; when the town became the prey of +contending factions, of so fierce and lawless a character as to convert +this once Arcadian abode of virtue, simplicity, and rural happiness, +into a theatre of violence and social disorganization, which never, +perhaps, found a parallel within the limits of order-loving New England. +Sometimes the York party and tories,--for, in this town, it so happened +that the two were identical,--and sometimes the whigs and friends of +the new state of Vermont, were in the ascendant; while scenes of such +disorder and outrage were constantly occurring between the belligerent +parties, that his honor, Judge Lynch, for many years, appears to have +been not the least among the potentates of this notable republic. Nor +was order restored to the ill-starred town till after the close of the +war; when every refractory spirit, whether tory or Yorker, was punished +or awed into submission by the fiery energy of the iron-heeled Ethan +Allen, who, then being relieved from the pursuit of more important game, +came thundering down upon the town with his hundred Green Mountain Boys, +proclaiming to the disaffected, with demonstrations which they well knew +how to interpret, that the peaceable and instant submission of the +place to the new authorities of the land should alone save it from being +“_made as desolate as the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah_”. + +It was a dark and gloomy day in April, and the sleety storm was beating, +in fitful gusts, against the broken and creaking casements, and the +disjointed, loose, and leaky covering of an old, dilapidated log-house, +standing by the road-side, in one of the thousand little dales, which, +with their corresponding hills, so beautifully diversify the face of the +town we have been describing. But as comfortless as this miserable hut +was, and as poor and insufficient a protection from the elements as it +afforded, even for the healthy and robust, it was now the only shelter +of a sick and destitute woman, the widowed mother of Harry Woodburn. The +hand of her son's persecutor, as it not unfrequently is seen to occur in +the history of human oppression, was destined to fall even more heavily +on her than on him for whom the blow was designed. The minion officer, +selected by Peters for the purpose, had no sooner received his warrants, +than, faithful to the cruel instructions of his employer, he had +repaired post-haste to the residence of the absent Woodburn, of which he +was authorized to take possession, and, with insults and abuse, rudely +thrust the lone and unprotected occupant out of doors, in despite of all +her entreaties for mercy, or delay till her son should return, or even +for one day, to give her an opportunity to find some shelter for her +now houseless head. He then, with the aid of the three or four ruffian +assistants enlisted to accompany him, threw all the furniture out of +the windows or doors into the mud and snow beneath where the whole, +consisting of crockery and glasses, now half broken by the fall, and +beds, linen, kettles, chairs, tables, and the like, soon lay piled +promiscuously together. Having thus driven the terrified and distressed +woman from the comfortable abode which had formerly cost her and her +deceased husband so many years of toil to erect and furnish, and having, +to add to the wrong, either injured or destroyed the greater part of her +little stock of goods, by the wanton or careless manner in which they +had been removed, this brutal officer next proceeded to the barn, and +by virtue of his _copias_ for costs, seized the cow and oxen, the last +remaining property of the wronged and ruined young man, which, after +intrusting the present keeping and defence of the premises to two of his +band, he drove away to another part of the town, to be sold at the post, +as soon as the forms of the law, respecting notice of the sale, could +be complied with. The poor widow, half distracted at being thus suddenly +bereft of house and home, spent the remainder of the day in vainly +endeavoring to procure some tenement into which she could remove with +her furniture, or with so much of it as might yet be saved. On the next +day, however, as a last resort, she obtained and accepted the present +use of the deserted cabin we have described, situated but a short +distance from the house from which she had been ejected. And into this +comfortless place, after several days of incessant toil and exposure, +she succeeded in getting her damaged furniture, but not till her +exertions, combined with her anxieties and grief, had given rise to +a malady which, though not at first very threatening, became, each +subsequent day, more and more alarmingly developed in her overtasked +system. In this situation she was found by her son, who, being entirely +ignorant that any judgment had passed against him, and, consequently, +little dreaming what was taking place at home, had remained at +Westminster nearly a week after the massacre, attending the public +meetings, which, as we have before intimated, followed that event; when +he returned to Guilford, and, with feelings bordering on desperation, +learned the extent of his misfortunes. But the bitterness of his +feelings, as great as it was, at being stripped of all his property +through such a series of wrongs, soon became wholly merged in +anxiety and grief for his sick and sorrow-stricken parent, and in the +exasperating thought that her sickness and suffering proceeded from the +same source with his other injuries. And close and unremitting had been +his attentions to her, until the day previous to the one on which we +have introduced her to the reader; when he had been induced to leave for +Brattleborough, or other more distant towns, to try to obtain money to +redeem his stock, which was now about to be sold, and which was worth +more than double the amount, as he had recently ascertained, of +the execution on which it had been seized. On the morning after his +departure, she had become so much worse that she was compelled to take +to her bed, and despatch her only attendant for a doctor. That attendant +was Barty Burt, who had come down from Westminster with Woodburn, and +had been engaged by the latter to remain with his mother during +his absence. Having thus glanced over the events which had occurred +previously to the opening of this new scene of our story, we will now +return to the point we left to make the digression. + +Slowly, to the suffering invalid, rolled the sad hours away, as with +thick and labored breathing, she lay tossing upon her rude couch, +standing behind a blanket-screen, in one corner of her cheerless abode. +Occasionally she would raise her fevered head from the pillow, and seem +to listen to catch the sounds of expected footsteps, and her languid +eye would turn anxiously towards the door; when, after thus exerting her +senses in vain a few moments, she would sink back upon her bed, with a +long-drawn, sighing groan, which told alike of disappointment and bodily +anguish. At length, however, footsteps were heard approaching, the door +opened, and Barty Burt stilly glided into the apartment, and approached +the bedside of the sufferer. + +“You have come at last, then,” said she, lifting her dim eyes to meet +the face of the other. “It seemed as if you never would arrive. But +where is the doctor?” + +“He will be on afore long, mistress; but I've had a time on't in getting +round, I tell ye!” replied Bart. + +“I am very sorry, if you have had any unexpected trouble on my account,” + meekly observed the invalid; “but what has befallen you?” + +“O, nothin,” answered the former--“nothin, at least, but what I was +willing to bear for Harry's sake, who invited me home here till I +got business, or for yours, who let me be. Though to be stopped and +bothered, when one is going for the doctor, is worse than I ever thought +of humans before. But it shows their character--dum 'em!” + +“Did they really stop you, knowing your errand?” + +“Yes, that they did, mistress. As I was going by the tavern, a mile or +two up the road yonder, three or four of them torified Yorkers came out, +and told me I couldn't go for the doctor, nor nowhere else, without a +pass from one of their committee. So I had to post back more than half +way, to Squire Ashcrafts, and there had to be questioned a long while +before he would give me any pass at all. And then again, when I got to +the doctor's, he said he wanted a pass, too; for he darsent go to see a +whig woman without one, which I must go and get him from Squire Evans, +another committee man. Well, finding there was no other way to get him +started, I went, feeling all the time just between crying and fighting. +And as soon as I got the bit of paper into the doctor's hands, I put for +home, leaving him fixing to come horseback, which is the reason of my +getting here first.” + +“These are, indeed dreadful times,” sighed the widow. “But they cannot +always remain; for, though God may chastise us a while for our sins, yet +the rods of the oppressors will surely be broken.” + +“I'd rather see their necks broken,” responded Bart, dryly “When we left +Westminster, I thought, as much as could be, the tories were all used +up; but I find 'em down here thicker than ever now, and as sarcy and +spiteful as a nest of yellow jackets that, like them, have been routed +in one place and got fixed in another. Blast their picturs, how I hate +'em!” + +“That is not right, Barty. You should love your enemies. Evil wishes, +towards those who injure us, are both wicked and foolish.” + +“I don't understand, mistress.” + +“Why, Barty, to love is to be happy, as far as circumstances will +permit; and to hate is but to feel disquieted and miserable. So when +we keep the command to love our enemies, we obtain a reward which often +outbalances the evil they inflict on us, or, at least, enables us the +better to bear it; while, on the contrary, when we hate those who +injure us, we receive a double evil--the wrong they inflict, and the +unhappiness created by the exercise of our revengeful passions. Did you +ever think of that, Barty?” + +“No, mum; Harry talks kinder that way, sometimes; but I can't understand +it, no how.” + +“With your means of moral instruction, perhaps it is not surprising that +you should not; so I will drop the subject, and ask you if you heard any +thing of Harry, while you were gone.” + +“No, mistress; didn't see nobody that knew he was gone.” + +“O, when will he return? He has now been gone two long, long days; but I +must not repine.” + +“Why, mistress, I kinder guess he'll be along to-night, unless so be +he's met with considerable bother to get the money, or somethin. He must +be here afore to-morrow afternoon, when the sale is, you know.” + +“Yes, I knew the sale was delayed till town meeting day, which is +to-morrow, I believe; though for what reason they put it off I never +heard. Harry felt so bitter about the affair, that I thought I would not +disturb his feelings by making any allusions to the subject. But there +appeared to be something about it that I didn't understand. Why didn't +the sale take place last week, as first appointed?” + +“For as good a reason as ever a tory officer had for doing any thing--or +not doing any thing, may be, I should say--in the world,” replied Bart +with a knowing look. + +“What was it?” + +“Why, when the day come, he couldn't find any cattle to sell.” + +“What had become of them?” + +“Well, mistress, I don't know how much it is best to say about that, +considering. But I shouldn't be surprised,” continued the speaker, while +a sly, roguish expression stole over his usually grave, impenetrable +countenance, “that is, not much surprised, if it turned out that two or +three of Harry's friends got the cattle out of the barn where they were +keeping, one dark night, and driv 'em off into the woods, near the top +of Governor's Mountain, and then backed up hay enough to keep 'em a +spell; while the company took turns, for a few days, in going a hunting +over the mountain, so as to come round, once in a while, to fodder and +see to the creters, for which old Bug-Horn paid in milk, on the spot. +Now, mind, I haven't said I _knew_ this was so, but was only kinder +guessing at it; for all that's really known about it--that is, out +loud--is, that Fitch and his men found the cattle up there; and the way +they found them was by following up the trail made by the hay straws +that some one, after a while, grew careless enough to scatter from his +back-load along the path.” + +“Did my son have any hand in this affair?” asked the widow, anxiously. + +“No, mistress; Harry is so kinder notional about some things, that we +thought--that is, I guess some thought--it wasn't best to say any thing +to him about the plan till his cattle were fairly saved.” + +“I am glad to hear it. I should rather see him deprived of his last +penny than do a questionable act. We should never do wrong because +others have done wrong to us.” + +“There is a differ between your think and mine, I see, mistress. If they +did wrong in getting away Harry's cattle so, as every body knows they +did, then the tother of that--getting them back again--must be right. +But you needn't tell any body what I've said, mistress; for they might, +perhaps, have Bill Piper and me up, and try to make barglary out +of it--or simony, I don't know but the law folks would call it--the +breaking into a log-barn. But hush! Somebody's coming. It is the +doctor.” + +Doctor Soper, who now entered, was a small, pug-nosed, chubby man, of +ostentatious manners, and high pretensions to skill and knowledge in +his profession; though, in fact, he was but a quack, and of that most +dangerous class, too, who dip into books rather to acquire learned terms +than to study principles, and who, consequently, as often as otherwise, +are found “doctoring to a name,” which chance has suggested, but which +has little connection with the case which is engaging their attention. + +“Ah, how do you find yourself, madam?” said the doctor, throwing off +his dripping overcoat, and drawing up a chair towards the head of the +patient's bed. + +“Very ill, doctor,” replied the other. “Not so much on account of the +loss of strength, as yet, as the deeply-seated pain in the chest, which, +for the last twenty-four hours, has caused me great suffering; though, +for the last half hour, not so severe.” + +“Indeed, madam! Well, now for the _diagnosis_ of your disease. I pride +myself on _diagnostics_. Your wrist, madam, if you please,” said +the doctor, proceeding to feel the pulse of his patient, with an air +intended for a very professional one. “Tense--frequent--this pulse +of yours, madam; showing great irritability. Your tongue, now. +Ay--rubric--dry and streaked; usual _prognostics_ of neuralgy. Pretty +much made up my mind about your complaint coming along, madam, having +learned from your lad here something of your troubles and fright on +losing your home. And I was right, I see. It is _neuralgy_--decidedly a +_neuralgy_.” + +“What is that, doctor?” + +“Always happy to explain, madam, so as to bring my meaning within the +comprehension of common minds. _Neuralgy_ madam, is a derangement of the +nerves. Your disease, precisely.” + +“Why, I am not at all nervous, sir,” responded the patient, looking up +in surprise. + +“You may not think so, madam. Few do, in your case.” + +“And then, doctor, I have an intense inward fever,” persisted the other, +“and my lungs seem much affected.” + +“Nervous fever, madam,” returned the doctor, too wise to be instructed, +“and lungs sympathetically affected--that's all. Quiet and strengthen +the nerves, and all will be right in a short time. I shall prescribe +_Radix Rhei_, in small doses, _assafoetida, quinine_, and brandy bitters +of my own pieparing. These, with nourishing food, as soon as you can +bear it, will speedily restore you, madam.” + +Having dealt out the prescribed medicines, calculated rather to increase +than check the poor woman's malady, which was inflammation of the lungs, +the self-satisfied doctor, swelling with his own importance, departed, +leaving his patient now to contend with two evils, instead of one--a +dangerous disease, and the more dangerous effects of a quack's +prescription. + +“What time is it now, Barty?” asked the invalid, with a deep sigh, as +she awoke from a troubled slumber, into which she had fallen after the +doctor's departure. + +“Why, don't know exactly, mistress,” answered Bart, rousing himself from +the dreamy abstraction in which he had been indulging, as he sat +looking into the decaying fire--“don't know, exactly; but it has got +a considerable piece into the night. About nine o'clock, guess; may be +more.” + +“Nine o'clock at night, and Harry not yet returned!” sighed the invalid. +“Well, well, I will complain no more.” + +“Can I do any thing for you, mistress?” asked her untutored attendant, +touched at the sad and despondent tone of the other. + +“You may bring me in a pitcher of fresh, cold water, with some ice in +it, if you will, Barty,” replied the former. “It seems to me as if +this inward heat was consuming my vitals, since I took the doctor's +medicines.” + +The youth, with noiseless step, then disappeared with his pitcher, and, +in a few moments, returned with it filled with water and several pieces +of clear, pure ice, which were heard dashing against its sides. + +“How grateful!” said the sick woman, as she took from her lips the +wooden cup which had been filled and handed her by her attendant, and +from which she had eagerly drained nearly a pint of the cooling beverage +at a single draught. “There, now, set the pitcher on the table yonder, +and raise the largest piece of ice up in sight, so, as I lie here, I can +look at it. The mere sight of it seems to do me good.” + +Another dreary hour rolled away in silence, which was broken only by the +restless motions and occasional suppressed groans of the invalid within, +and the wailing of the winds and the pattering of the rain against the +windows without, when a slow, heavy step was heard coming up to the +house. + +“That is he--that is his step!” faintly exclaimed the sick woman, +partially raising herself in bed, and gazing eagerly towards the door; +while her pain-contracted features were, for the moment, smoothed by the +smile of affection and pleasure that now broke over them, like the faint +electric illumining of a weeping cloud. + +The quick ears of the afflicted mother had not deceived her. The next +instant Harry Woodburn entered the room, and, with a gloomy, abstracted +air, proceeded to divest himself of his wet coat and muddy boots, +without uttering a word, or bestowing any thing more than a casual +glance towards the bed, to which he supposed his mother had just +retired, as was usual with her, about this hour, and not suspecting that +she was more indisposed than when he left her. But as he now turned and +approached the fire, his eyes fell, for the first time, on her haggard +features when, stopping short, with a look of surprise and lively +concern, he exclaimed,-- + +“Mother! are you worse, mother?” + +“Yes, Harry, I am very, very sick; and O, how glad I am that you are +come.” + +For several moments he said nothing, but stood gazing at her with the +distressed and stupefied air of one struggling to shut out painful +apprehensions. At length, however, he aroused himself, and made a few +hasty inquiries relative to her disorder, and what had been done for +her; and, having been informed of all that had occurred in his absence, +and now appearing fully to comprehend the danger of her situation, he +sat down by her bedside, when his lip soon began to quiver, and his +strong bosom heave with tumultuous emotions, while bitter tears flowed +down his manly cheeks, as this crowning blow to his misfortunes was +brought home to his feelings. + +“Had they been content,” he said, struggling hard, but vainly, to master +his feelings--“had they but been content with robbing me of my property, +I could have borne it; but to be the means, also, of murdering my only +parent, is more than I can endure. God help me, or I shall go mad!” + +“Do not--do not be so distressed, my son,” said the mother deeply +touched at this exhibition of feeling, accompanied as it was with such a +proof of filial affection in her idolized son, and anxious to soothe and +divert his mind. “I shall recover, if God wills it. Let us, then, bow +in resignation to his dispensations, and not disturb our feelings with +unavailing regrets. Come, my dear son, cheer up, and tell me how you +have succeeded in the object of your journey.” + +“No success,” he replied, gloomily. “No; I have been running from town +to town since yesterday morning, and have not been able to obtain a +single dollar. So the cattle must go to satisfy the stolen judgment of +that insatiable Peters.” + +At this moment the conversation was arrested by a low rap at the door, +when, after the customary walk in had been pronounced by Woodburn, the +door was gently opened, and a tall robust young man, with a frank, open +countenance, hesitatingly entered. + +“Good evening, folks,” he said, in a suppressed tone. “I didn't exactly +know what to do about calling to-night, on account of disturbing your +mother, Harry; but wishing to know whether you had got home, and hear +the news if you had, I thought I would venture to rap. What is going on +up country?” + +“Nothing very new, I believe, Mr. Piper.” + +“Well, what luck about the money, Harry?” + +“None--none whatever.” + +“I am sorry for that. No, I won't lie, now; I am not sorry, Harry; and I +will tell you why, hereafter. All I wanted to know to-night was, whether +you had got the wherewith to redeem the cattle, to-morrow being the last +chance for doing it, you know.” + +“Yes, I was aware of it, friend Piper; and many thanks for the interest +you take in my misfortunes. But I cannot redeem the stock. It must go: +nothing more can be done to save it.” + +“Well, I don't quite know about that, Harry. I don't know about standing +by, and seeing a neighbor's property snatched away from him on such +smuggled papers. But let that turn as it may, the subject brings to +mind a certain circumstance, which I will name, after first asking a +question; and that is, whether Peters has not been hung?” + +“Peters hung? Why, no; the prisoners are not to be tried till the new +court we have been appointing at Westminster holds its first session, +some weeks hence. But why do you ask so strange a question?” + +“Well, Harry, by way of answer, I will tell you the circumstance I +alluded to, which was this: Last night, as I was crossing about town +drumming up friends to attend the meeting tomorrow, seeing we are +expecting a hard tussle, I met a man that I could have sworn was John +Peters, if I had not known the fellow was close in Northampton jail; and +as it was, I could swear it was his exact shape and appearance. Well, +knowing it could not be him bodily, it soon struck me that they had been +hanging off a parcel of them there, Peters among the rest, and that this +was his ghost, kinder hovering about here to see if his affairs were +fixed up to his liking.” + +“Your notion of a ghost, Piper, if you are serious about it, is all +nonsense,” said Woodburn, who had listened with lively interest to the +singular story of the other. “Yes, that is nonsense; but it has brought +to mind a rumor which reached Brattleborough yesterday, that all the +prisoners at Northampton had been liberated by _habeas corpus_ from the +chief justice of New York, and were now at large. Although this was not +credited, yet, if you saw Peters here last night, as I begin to fear, +the story must have been true. And he appears here, at this time, for +the double purpose of seeing, as you said, whether his orders have +been carried into execution, and of being present to use his corrupting +influence at town meeting to-morrow.” + +“Well, Harry, that's about what I meant; for I saw him sure enough, and +knew, at once, that we had got to have him against us at town meeting, +which makes our case rather doubtful. We felt quite sure, before this, +of being able to carry a majority; and in that case, some of us counted +on getting a vote to rescue your cattle, or, at least, putting them +into the hands of our sheriff. [Footnote: During the period of anarchy, +change, and discord, in this distracted town, each of the belligerent +parties had their sheriff, or constable, and other town officers, +and would yield obedience to the officers of their opponents only on +compulsion, though the officers of the majority were not generally +resisted, except, perhaps, in matters purely political.] And either of +these ways would be the means, we thought, of saving your property, and, +at the same time, be a plaguy sight more lawful than any authority +they have for selling them. But now there's no saying how it will go. I +expect hot work there to-morrow; and that minds me to ask if you heard +whether help from the towns up the river is coming down to join us on +the occasion?” + +“Yes, Tom Dunning came down with me, and he informed me that several +others were on the way.” + +“Good. Tom himself, in matter of managing, will be almost a match for +Peters, whether ghost or no ghost. But where is he?” + +“He stopped back at the Liberty Pole tavern.” + +“All happens right, then. I am bound there myself. We are going to hold +a little meeting at the Pole, after folks are to bed, to make up our +plans and arrangements for to-morrow. You can't go, I suppose.” + +“No, I must not think of it.” + +“But you will be at town meeting to-morrow?” + +“Quite uncertain. In the first place, I ought not to leave my sick +mother; and in the next, my feelings are in such a state of bitterness, +that I dare hardly trust myself in such a scene, lest I should do that +which would cost me months of painful regret. No, Piper, in mercy to a +desperate man, let me keep away. But here is Bart to go, if he choose, +both to-night and tomorrow.” + +“Bart is agreeable to that, if Harry and mistress don't want him,” said +the person just named, rousing up from the long-silent reverie in +which he had been sitting before the fire apparently inattentive to the +conversation of the others, which had been carried on in a low tone, at +the opposite side of the room. “So here goes for the Pole to-night, and +meeting to-morrow,” he added, taking down his gun from the pegs on which +it was suspended, near the ceiling above, + +“What do you want to do with that, Bart?” asked Woodburn. + +“I want it for lining to my coat,” replied Bart. “If our coats had all +been lined in that fashion, the first night there, at Westminster, we +needn't have had to attend French's funeral, nor you been troubled about +the papers they got out when you was in jail.” + +“Bravo, Bart. You see that my coat is not wanting of that kind of +lining, don't you?” said Piper, throwing open his greatcoat and +displaying a rifle, as the two now left the house together, on their way +to the rendezvous of the liberty party. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + “Agreed in nothing, but t' abolish, + Subvert, extirpate, and demolish.” + + +“Hurrah for Vermont! hurrah for the new state of Vermont! The victory is +won, and the town is redeemed! hurrah! hurrah!” + +Such were the sounds that rose and rung among the rafters of the crowded +old log Town House of Guilford, as, for the first time for several +years, a New Statesman and whig moderator was declared elected by a +majority of the suffrages of the freemen. The next moment, the door was +seen vomiting forth its throng of excited victors, who, as they reached +the open air, joined the crowd eagerly awaiting the result at the +entrance, and, with them, renewed and reiterated the glad shout, till +the distant hills responded in loud echoes to the roar of the stentorian +voices of the triumphant party. + +After a fortnight's active exertions on the part of each of the opposing +parties, in mustering and drilling their respective forces, preparatory +to the approaching contest, in which both were equally confident of +victory, though too sensible of the danger of losing it to remit any +effort, the voters had assembled at one o'clock in the afternoon. After +spending several hours in a disorderly and wrangling debate, in relation +to the qualification of voters, which at last resulted in rejecting +the test required by the charter,--that of being a freeholder,-and +in permitting every resident to vote, the ballots had been taken for +moderator, or chairman of the meeting, when, as much to the dismay of +the tories as the joy of their opponents, it was found that victory, +in a majority of three, had declared for the latter, who thereupon +testified their exultation in the uproarious manner we have described. + +After a while, the noise and tumult within the house was suddenly +hushed, and the clear, deliberate tones of some new speaker addressing +the assembly, became audible to those without the building; while the +attent and eager looks of those who stood listening in the crowded +pass-way, plainly evinced that some important and exciting subject had +been introduced. At length the voice ceased, and a new commotion ensued +within. + +“What new movement is that? what is going on in there now, Piper?” asked +one standing near the door, as one young man came elbowing his way out +of the house. + +“Why, they are on Colonel Carpenter's resolution. Haven't none of you +here been in there to hear it?” said Piper, turning to the querist and +other political associates, standing near by. + +“No; what is it about?” inquired several of the latter, with interest. + +“The York Rule,” answered Piper, with an animated air. “The colonel +offered a resolve that we shake off the York government now, henceforth +and forever. And this he backed with a speech which would have done you +good to hear. He went into them, I tell you, like a thousand of brick; +and not a single tory tongue of 'em all dare wag in trying to answer it. +They are now beginning to vote on the resolution, which, if carried, +the colonel intends to follow up by another, cutting up all British +authority root and branch.” + +At this moment, they were joined by Tom Dunning, who came hurrying out +of the house, and, taking Piper aside, said,-- + +“Do you ditter understand the plan of what's going on there, Piper, and +the importance to you here, in Guilford, of carrying it?” + +“Not fully, perhaps,” answered Piper. “I didn't have a chance to talk +with Carpenter and the other committee before this move was made, and +don't understand why they did not urge on the election of the other +town officers, as usual, after making a moderator, instead of getting up +these resolutions.” + +“Der well, this is it; they are afraid to ditter try any of the town +officers on so slim a majority, lest the tory candidates should have +got some of our voters under their thumbs, by way of debts or other +obligations, which they will der make use of to get their votes for them +personally, but won't have 'em pledged for this.” + +“That is well thought of,” responded Piper. “They have indeed got the +screws on some I know of, and would so threaten 'em with prosecutions, +that I'm fearful they would get 'em, sure enough. But what's the +prospect about the resolutions?” + +“Well, the colonel thinks, after what has ditter taken place at +Westminster, that we can carry them; and if we can, it will pretty +effectually tie 'em up, even if they got their officers. But we der +don't mean to let 'em. For the plan is, that as soon as we've ditter +carried the resolves, to dissolve the meeting without making any town +officers at all, which we think can be carried by the same voters, and +which if we can ditter do it, with the resolves, will kill Fitch and his +papers as dead as a ditter dum smelt, and so save the property of Harry, +and that of all others in the same der situation.” + +“Good!” exclaimed Piper, with animation; “I see through the move now; +and we'll go at 'em, and whip 'em out on it; and then if Fitch don't +give up the cattle, we'll make him, by the course we thought of taking, +last night, in case we failed electing our officers to-day, or of +getting any vote on Harry's affair.” + +“Yes; but we must be ditter lively in getting in the voters. You and +Bart go in and vote; and I will beat about the bush, here, for more +help, before I go in; for as they have just admitted some to vote on a +twenty hours' residence,--as I can ditter swear they did,--I intend to +vote myself, this time, and have all those from my way der do the same,” + said the hunter, bustling off to muster his forces. + +Just as Dunning, who had collected a band of voters, without much regard +to their qualifications, was pushing into the house at the head of his +recruits, an outcry was raised within; and, the next moment, Bart Burt +was seen hastily emerging from the crowd, followed by the kicks and +cudgel-blows of the tories, through whom he had been compelled, to save +himself from a rougher handling, to run the gauntlet to the door. + +“What, in the name of der Tophet, is the meaning of that ditter +treatment, ye shameless lubbers?” sternly demanded the hunter, shaking +his stout beech cane over the heads of the fore most of his opponents. + +“He deserves it! He is an impostor! He tried to get in his vote when he +aint over eighteen years old!” shouted several tory voices in reply. + +“They let me vote last time without a word,” said Bart, facing round +upon his foes, with a grin of spite and pain; “and so they did John +Stubbs and Jo Snelling, then and now too; and they aint a day older than +I be.” + +“Then we will der have you in, and vote too, if the ditter divil stands +at the door!” fiercely exclaimed the hunter. + +“Let them prove he aint one and twenty,” said one of the same party. +“He wasn't born in these parts, nor does he know himself, I understand, +where he was born, or how old he is; and until they can prove him under +age, I motion, blow high or blow low, that we make them receive his +vote.” + +“Aye, he shall vote! he shall vote!” shouted a dozen others. “They have +admitted others under age, and they shall him, whether or no! Let them +live up to their own rules! Sauce for goose is sauce for gander, the +world over; they shall take him, they shall take him!” + +A hasty consultation was now held, and a plan of operations for +compelling the opposite party to admit Bart to the polls was soon +digested. And, in pursuance of this plan, Bart, who was short and light +of weight, was mounted astride the brawny shoulders of Dunning, while +Piper, with his burly frame, was placed in front, with a stiff cudgel +in hand, to act as the battering-ram or entering wedge to the crowd +of tories, who had closed up the way with their bodies, obviously to +prevent Bart, or any other whig, indeed, from again entering till the +ballot-box was turned. Eight or ten stout, resolute young men were then +selected and formed in column to bring up the rear, and give such an +impetus to those before them as to force them forward in spite of all +opposing obstacles, till they reached the voters' stand in the house. + +“Ditter ready, boys?” now cried Dunning, firmly grasping Bart's legs, +and glancing over his shoulders to his lusty little band of backers. +“All ready there, behind, boys? Then go ahead, as if ditter Belzebub +kicked ye an end!” + +At the word, Piper, gathering himself up like a ram for a butting match, +made a lunge head foremost into the recoiling ranks of the tories, and, +borne irresistibly forward by the force of the rushing phalanx behind, +overthrew, prostrated, and shoved aside, all before him, till the whole +column gained the interior, and came to a halt before the ballot-box. + +“I protest against that fellow's voting!” exclaimed Peters, approaching +the stand as Bart, from his lofty seat on Dunning's shoulders, was about +to put in his vote, which was a simple _yea_ written on a slip of paper, +and handed up to him by some one stationed near the box to furnish the +unsupplied. “I protest against such a glaring outrage! He is under age, +and was very properly driven from the house.” + +“Prove it! prove it!” shouted several of Bart's friends. + +“You can't do it,” cried another, “and if you could, two of your party, +who are under age, have voted already; 'tis a fact; deny it if you can!” + +“In with it, Bart!” said Dunning, bending down to give the other a +chance. + +“Yes, in with it; for he shall vote!” responded the rest. + +“He shall not vote!” vociferated Peters; “and if he attempts to do it; +I'll blow his brains out!” he added, pulling out and levelling a pistol. +Quick as thought, Bart threw open his over-coat, and, drawing from +beneath it the light short gun there concealed, cocked, and brought it +to his shoulder; while the threatening weapon of his foe was seen flying +to a distant part of the room, from a sudden blow of Piper's cudgel, and +its disarmed and nonplused owner slinking away out of the range of the +suspicious-looking barrel still kept aimed at his head. + +Amidst the loud cries of order, and the heated vociferations of both +parties, now raised to condemn or defend the transaction, through the +house, Bart, Dunning, and others of their company, who had not voted, +now hastily deposited their votes, and retired unmolested. + +Although the portion of the revolutionary party, whose movements we have +been more particularly describing, acting on the supposed and probably +actual frauds of their opponents, had thus secured Bart's vote, and the +votes of two or three others, perhaps equally illegal, yet the event +soon showed that their policy in so doing was a mistaken one, and +calculated to defeat the very object they intended to promote; for, as +will always be the result where one party attempts to adopt the wrongful +measures of their opponents, the tories, now armed with the fact that +they had detected the other party in a wrong more glaring, because more +public, than any they had perpetrated, made use of the advantage +with such effect as to bring over several, intending to support the +resolutions, to change their intention, and go against them. And, in +addition to this, by way of retaliating, and of making good at least all +the ground lost by the questionable votes forced upon them, they brought +forward every minor they could find approximating the size of a man, +and boldly demanded their admittance to the polls. An opposition was, +indeed, attempted to a measure so manifestly illegal, by the leaders of +the other party; but they had become too much disarmed by the acts of +their own partisans to produce any sensible effect; and their voices +were soon drowned by the clamors of the tories, who now admitted the +boys by acclamation. This, as will be anticipated, decided the contest. +On counting the votes, the resolution was found to have been rejected +by more than a dozen majority-a victory which the tories failed not to +announce by shouts of exultation, which out-thundered those of their +opponents in their late short-lived triumph. The friends of freedom, +being thus caught in their own trap, or, at least, worsted by the +indiscretion of their own friends, now pretty much yielded the contest: +while the victorious Yorkers and tories had everything in their own +way, electing their town officers, passing denunciatory and royal +resolutions, and continuing their discussions unopposed till it was +nearly dark, when the meeting broke up in noisy confusion. + +“Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!” was now heard crying the well-known voice of +Constable Fitch, as he mounted a stump in the yard; while near by stood +a gang of his confederates, hedging in Woodburn's cow and oxen, which +the former had found the means to have on the spot, in readiness for the +sale, the moment the assembly broke up. “Oyez! A cow and oxen, taken +on execution, now about to be sold to the highest bidder, gentlemen. We +will take the oxen first; as fine a yoke as ever drew plough Who will +give us the first bid? Shan't dwell three minutes. Who bids, I say? One +pound bid, gentlemen; one pound ten! one pound ten! and on Mr. Peters. +Who bids higher?” + +But, as rapid as had been the constable's movements, he did not, as he +intended, take the friends of Woodburn by surprise. They had withdrawn +from the meeting a short time before it dissolved, and met for +consultation in the rear of the house, where, having arranged their plan +of operations, they stood awaiting for the proper time to carry it into +execution. + +“There!” exclaimed Dunning, as the constable began to cry the sale in +the manner we have just described--“there, that is ditter Fitch; he is +at it! All ready, boys? You, Piper and Bart, with your vials of oil of +vitriol in your sleeves, ready to uncork on to their ditter tails?” + +“Ay, ay!” + +“And your ditter snuff to throw into their eyes?” + +“Yes, that, too.” + +“And your guns ditter cocked, and safe under your coats you that are to +fire?” + +“Ay, all right and ready--lead on!” + +“Der well, but remember we ditter separate here, so as to come up on +different sides of the crowd; and mind, don't let off your guns till the +creatures begin to ditter grow uneasy and der snort and blow.” + +While Fitch was repeating the bids he had received for the oxen, and was +about to knock them off to the highest bidder, which still chanced to be +Peters, he was suddenly told to hold on, by several persons who had just +at that moment made their appearance in different parts of the crowd, +and who expressed their wish to bid, as soon as they could get up to +examine the cattle. Owing to the duskiness, the faces of the new comers +did not seem to be recognized by the tories, who unsuspectingly opened +and admitted them to the stand. Quickly availing themselves of the +opportunity, the former, among the foremost of whom were Piper and Bart, +now crowded eagerly round the cattle, and, after rapidly passing their +hands over the cow and each of the oxen a moment, and then stepping +back, began to banter and bid. Not much time, however, was allowed +them to do either; for the cattle, all at once, became unaccountably +restless, at first backing and wheeling about in their confined space, +and then wildly tossing up their heads, snuffing, and assuming the +startled and furious appearance generally exhibited by this class of +animals when about to make a desperate effort to break away. + +At this critical juncture, the fierce flashes and stunning reports of a +half dozen muskets burst over the heads of the startled and astonished +company from various points on the outer edge of the crowd; and the next +instant the already maddened cattle, with loud snorts, leaping over +or trampling down all in their way, broke through the living hedge of +tories around them, and bounded off, with their tails thrown aloft, and +bellowing in wild affright, in different directions, towards the woods, +leaving the amazed and broken crowd jostling and pitching about with +exclamations of surprise, groans of pain, volleys of oaths, and shouts +of laughter, all mingled in Babel-like confusion. + +“'Tis all the work of the cursed rebels!” exclaimed Peters, the first to +rally and comprehend the affair. “Fitch!” he added, pointing after the +runaway cattle, “where the devil are your wits, that you don't order a +pursuit?” + +“Yes, pursue and bring 'em back, instantly!” screamed the constable, +awaking from the stupor and confusion of ideas into which he seemed to +have been thrown by the strange and unexpected occurrence. “Yes, 'tis +an unlawful rescue--it's a conspiracy! bring back the cattle! seize the +offenders, every one of 'em! in the king's name I command ye.” + +Obedient to the call, the obsequious tories instantly rallied for +the pursuit, and, breaking off into three distinct bands, eagerly set +forward in the different directions taken by the fugitive cattle, then +just disappearing over the distant swells, or in the borders of the +woods. Dunning, Piper and Bart, who, in the mean while, had, unknown and +unsuspected in the darkness and confusion, stood in the throng, keenly +watching the result of their plan, no sooner heard the expected order of +pursuit given, than, separating, like their opponents, and each joining +a different band of the pursuers, they sprang in before the rest, and, +by their superior alacrity and speed, soon succeeded in taking the +lead and finally in completely distancing all others in the promiscuous +chase. The tories, now soon wholly losing sight of their fleet and, as +they still supposed, trusty guides in the pursuit, became, in a short +time, confused and at fault respecting the courses to be taken; and, +after hallooing and running about the woods and pastures at random, +nearly an hour, without discovering any traces either of the lost cattle +or the missing pursuers, at length came straggling back to the Town +House, and, by way of saving their own credit, reported to Fitch, +Peters, and the small party remaining there, that their swiftest runners +were last seen nearly up with the cattle, and would soon be in with +them, or that the creatures had been headed, and were on their way back, +in another direction. On this, the company waited another hour; when, +neither the cattle nor the expected pursuers appearing, they began to +suspect something amiss; and the inquiries and investigations then put +afoot soon resulted in the mortifying conviction, that the cattle had +been overtaken and driven off by the same persons who previously had +caused them to break away. Prompted by the enraged Peters, Fitch then +offered a reward for the recovery of the cattle and the detection of +those who had abducted them; when the company separated, to resume the +search the next day. But although this was done, and the country scoured +in every direction for several days, yet the search proved wholly +fruitless. Not one of the cattle was to be found. Nor were the actors in +the transaction, with any certainty, identified, though the absence +of Piper and Bart, for some days after the event, caused them to be +suspected and marked for punishment, when they should again appear +abroad. + + +CHAPTER XI. + + “Vital spark of heavenly flame! + Quit, O quit this mortal frame! + Trembling, hoping, lingering, flying, + O the pain, the bliss of dying! + Cease, fond nature! cease thy strife, + And let me languish into life.” + + +Perhaps the nearest and dearest, as well as the most interesting tie +of consanguity, is that existing between mother and son. Who has not +witnessed the unfailing and unconquerable strength of a mother's love +for the son of her heart and her vows, cleaving to its object through +prosperity and through adversity, through honor and through shame, +with a constancy which never wavers? And what son, especially after the +thoughtlessness of youth has given place to the reflection of maturer +years, and experience has taught him the insincerity and selfishness +of the world--what son has not turned back and lingered, with the +most grateful emotions, over the pleasing memories of a mother's care; +pondered with the most heart-felt admiration over the deep, pure, and +undying nature of a mother's love; realized more and more the priceless +value of a sentiment so fraught with moral beauty, so exalted, so proof +against all those considerations of self, those temptations of interest, +before which all other ties are seen to give way, and, while thus +realizing, found his yearning bosom oftener and oftener prompting him to +exclaim with the poet,-- + + “Where'er I roam, whatever realms I see, + My heart, untravelled, fondly turns to thee.” + +While the scenes of disorder and tumult we last described, and the +similar ones that followed, were being enacted among the belligerent +parties of this misgoverned town, the dutiful and sorrowing Woodburn was +continuing his attendance on his sick mother, from whose bedside no call +of business or of pleasure was suffered for a single hour to lure him. +And well might he have done so, aside even from the dictates of filial +duty; for she was a woman not only of unaffected piety, but of education +and intellect; and to her he had been mainly indebted for all that was +good and elevated in his character. She had emigrated with her husband +to this town, at an early period of its settlement from the vicinity of +Boston, where the latter had become so much straitened in his pecuniary +circumstances, in consequence of being surety for an improvident and +luckless brother, that he was induced, with the hope of bettering his +fortunes, to gather up the poor remnant of his property, and, with it, +remove to the New Hampshire Grant's, at that time the Eldorado most in +vogue among those seeking new countries. Here, having purchased one +of the best tracts of land in the place, he commenced the slow and +laborious process of clearing up a new farm. And this Herculean task, +which may well be considered the work of a man's life, he had, +after years of incessant toil and privation, nearly succeeded in +accomplishing, and begun to catch glimpses of easier and brighter days; +when he was taken away by disease, leaving his property to his wife and +son, an only child, then drawing towards manhood. And nobly had that +son discharged the double duty which now devolved upon him,--that of +becoming the stay and comforter of his widowed mother, and the sole +manager of the farm, their only dependence. For, while discharging his +filial duties in such a manner as to gain him the reputation of being +a pattern of a son, he not only kept good, but, by his industry and +enterprise, even improved, the property to which he had thus succeeded. +And he was fast surmounting the difficulties of his situation, and +making hopeful advances towards a competence, when, in an evil hour, +his flourishing little establishment attracted the coveting eye of the +unconscionable Peters, who, owning an adjoining farm, which would be +rendered much more salable by being united with Woodburn's, undertook, +at first, to wheedle the young man into a sale, or rather an exchange of +his valuable farm for another, or wild lands, at false valuations and of +doubtful titles. But, finding himself wholly mistaken in the character +of the person whom he thus endeavored to overreach, and consequently +failing in his attempt, he next began to think of the quibbles of the +law, as the means of accomplishing his purpose. And having discovered +some slight irregularity in Woodburn's deed, to begin upon, he then +resorted to a trick quite fashionable among the corrupt speculators of +those unsettled times--that of purchasing from some unprincipled person, +ready, for a small sum, to enter into the fraud, a deed of prior date +to that of the one to be defeated, with descriptions of premises and +references to suit the purchaser the worthless assumed owner neither +knowing nor caring what his deed might convey. Having secretly procured +a prior deed of Woodburn's farm in this manner, Peters could see but +one obstacle now in the way of his success, which was the town records, +embracing that of Woodburn's deed. How was this to be disposed of? A +bold measure, which could be executed by his minions under political +pretences, occurred to him; and the result was, that part of the +town record soon disappeared. Peters then commenced an action against +Woodburn, to eject him from his farm, the course and consequences of +which are already known to the reader. + +Spring had now come; but its bland and balmy breath brought no relief to +the suffering widow. From the hour she had been compelled to take to her +bed, her disease, though sometimes lulled, or raging less fiercely than +at other times, had never for a moment loosened its tenacious grasp. And +although her cheerful words, and meek, uncomplaining looks, had often +misled her anxious son, or, at least, prevented him from despairing of +her recovery, yet the dry, parched, red tongue, the daily return of the +bright hectic spot, and the tense, hurrying and unvarying beat of the +strained pulses, might have told him how certainly and rapidly the work +of destruction was going on at the citadel of life, and better prepared +him for the agonizing scene which was now to follow. + +It was a calm and pleasant evening towards the close of April, and the +low descending sun was shedding the mellow light of his parting beams +over the joyful face of reanimating nature. The invalid, during all the +fore part of the day, had suffered greatly from pain--that general and +undefinable distress which is so frequently found to be the precursor +of approaching dissolution. To this had succeeded a sort of lethargic +sleep, from which it was not easy to arouse her, so that she could be +made to take any notice of what was passing around her. But now she +awoke, clear and collected; and, glancing round the room, with a sort of +pensive animation, met and answered the inquiring and solicitous look of +her son with an affectionate smile. Presently her wandering eye rested +on some objects of the landscape, glimpses of which she had caught +through one of the small patched windows of the room, and she faintly +observed,-- + +“How pleasant it appears without! Harry,” she continued after a +thoughtful pause, “could you take out that window before me? I feel a +desire to look out once more on the green earth and breathe the sweet +air of spring.” + +“Yes, mother,” said the other, approaching the bed, with a surprised and +hesitating air; “yes, I could easily do it, I presume; but would it be +quite safe for you to be exposed to the evening air?” + +“Yes, Harry; the time for the exercise of such cares is gone by. You +need fear no more for me, now, my son,” she replied in accents of tender +sadness. + +The son then, with a doubtful and troubled look, proceeded in silence +to comply with the unexpected request; after which, he gently raised the +head of the invalid, who, thereupon, gazed long and thoughtfully on the +variegated landscape, which lay spread out in tranquil beauty beneath +her dimly-kindling eye. + +“How beautiful!” she at length feebly exclaimed, in a tone of melancholy +rapture--“beautiful of itself, but more beautiful as the type of man's +destiny after his body has mingled with the dust. The scene we here +behold, my son, exhibits the resurrection of nature. In summer the +foliage and blossom expands, in autumn the fruit is perfected, and in +winter the visible part falls back to earth and perishes, leaving the +hidden seed or germ to spring forth again into another life. So it has +been, so it will be, with me. I have had my brief summer of life, my +still briefer autumn, and now my winter of death is at hand, from which +I trust to come forth into the more glorious spring of life eternal.” + +“Do not talk thus, mother,” responded the son, greatly moved--“do not +talk thus: you distress me. I trust you may yet recover. You certainly +look brighter this evening; and I hope another day will find you still +better.” + +“No, Harry, not better, as you mean. If I appear brighter, it is but the +brightness of the last flashing up of the expiring taper. I feel that my +time is come, and thanks to _Him_ who has prepared my heart to hail the +event as a relief and a blessing.” + +“O, my mother, my mother, how can I part with you?” + +“My longer sojourn here, my son, would be of little benefit to +others--even to you: my blessing is worth more than would be my further +abiding: come and receive it.” + +The weeping son then knelt down at the bedside, and the mother laying +her hand on his head, pronounced her blessing and a brief prayer for his +earthly prosperity and eternal happiness. + +For several minutes, the son, overcome by his emotions, remained +kneeling, with his head, on which still languidly rested the emaciated +hand of his dying mother, bowed upon the bed-clothes, while the latter, +sinking back exhausted on her pillow, closed her eyes, and seemed to be +silently communing with herself. She soon, however, aroused herself, and +observed,-- + +“My work is not yet quite done. I have a little more to say before the +scene closes.” + +“Say on, mother,” said the other, making an effort to calm himself, as +he now rose, and, taking a seat near, wistfully rivetted his gaze on her +pallid face. “If you are, indeed, about to leave me forever, withhold +nothing you feel inclined to communicate; for your dying counsels, my +dear parent, will be received with pleasure and gratitude, and treasured +up in heart and memory as the last, best lesson of one to whom I am +under such countless obligations.” + +“You have ever acted the part of a dutiful son towards me, Harry; and +that is always a mother's best reward for her care and affection for her +offspring. And I know not that I have aught now to say to you, by way of +counsel for your future guidance, being willing to leave you to practise +upon the principles I have endeavored to inculcate, and be to others +what you have been to me. But it was not of that I intended to speak. I +was about to name some facts connected with our early reverses, which, +it being always unpleasant to recur to those scenes of trial, I think I +have never told you, but which, I thought, it might, perhaps, some +day avail you something to know. You have heard us casually speak, I +presume, of your uncle Charles Woodburn?” + +“I have, mother.” + +“And you may also be aware that, through his misconduct, we were +suddenly reduced from the easy competence we once enjoyed to poverty and +distress.” + +“I have so understood it, but never knew what kind of misconduct it was +that led to our misfortunes.” + +“It was imprudence in speculations, and profligacy in living, and not +dishonesty, or any intentional wrong to us, as I ever believed; though +your father, in his desperation when the blow came, would listen to no +extenuation, but drove him from his presence with bitter reproaches +and accusations. But your uncle, before leaving the country, as he +soon after did, sought an interview with me; and, after deploring the +misfortunes he had brought on my family as well as himself, solemnly +pledged himself that he would, some day or other, more than compensate +me or mine for all the losses he had occasioned us. And this is the +circumstance I wished to tell you; for, though we never received any +certain information of him, yet something tells me he still is alive, +and has the means and disposition to fulfil his promise to you whenever +you may find him, and he recognizes you as the representative of his +brother's family, of whose location here he probably was never apprised. +I would suggest to you therefore, the expediency of trying to trace him +out, and, if you succeed in doing so, make yourself and your situation +known to him; and, without preferring any claim, leave the result with +Providence.” + +“Your suggestion, mother, shall not pass from me unheeded, nor shall I +fail, in due time, to act upon it; but, at present, I know not if the +last tie that binds me to this place should be severed--I know not but +our down-trodden country may have the first claim on my services. Ever +since the startling news of the massacre of Lexington reached us, a +sense of the duty of devoting myself to her defence has pressed heavily +and constantly on my mind. And but for the stronger claim which nature +and my own feelings have given you, in your situation, to my presence +and attention, I might, before this, have been with my shouldered musket +on my way to the scene of action. But even in the event of your death, +I should hesitate to obey the call if I knew I must do it without your +sanction.” + +“I thank you, my son, for your affectionate deference; but you shall not +go without my sanction. Having conjectured what might be your feelings +at this dark hour of our country's peril, I was about to speak to you +on the subject. Yes, Harry, if you think duty calls you to the field, in +defence of a cause so just and righteous as ours, go. You will be under +the care of the same Providence there as elsewhere. Go, and with a dying +mother's blessing, and a prayer of faith for your safety and success, do +battle manfully for the Heaven-favored side, till the oppressor be cast +down, and the oppressed go free.” + +With a heart swelling with conflicting emotions, the young man looked +up to reply, when his words were arrested on his lips, by the evident +change that the countenance of the other had suddenly undergone. The +unnatural animation, which she had exhibited during the conversation, +had faded away. She lay listless and exhausted, with her eyes nearly +closed, and her lips slightly moving in secret prayer. + +“And now, Lord, what wait I for?” she at length audibly uttered. “But +I am not to wait,” she continued, in a firmer tone after a short pause. +“The final moment is at hand! Farewell earth! farewell, my son! May +Heaven's blessings rest on you--on all, and be the offences of all +forgiven. Ah! the light of day is fading; but O, that brighter light +which opens those angel forms, with smiling faces, which beckon me away! +Ready! I come!--I come!” + +And thus,-- + + “--blessing and blest, + In death she went smiling away + To the heavenly bosom of rest.” + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + “Whene'er your case can be no worse, + The desperate is the wiser course.” + + +Late in the afternoon, several days subsequent to the melancholy event +described in the preceding chapter, a mingled company, of some dozens of +persons, including several town officials, were seen, assembling at +the Tory Tavern, in Guilford; the object of which appearances seemed to +indicate to be the holding of a magistrates' court, to try an offender +who had that morning been arrested, and who now, in custody of Constable +Fitch, was demurely sitting on a rude bench under an open window of the +room in which the trial was to be had, and in which the two justices +composing the court had already seated themselves at a table, in +readiness, on their part, to commence proceedings. That offender was no +other than our humble friend, Barty Burt, who had lucklessly fallen +into one of the snares which had been set for him and his suspected +companions, round the country, in consequence of the part they had acted +in spiriting away, in so strange a manner, Woodburn's cattle, when about +to be sold on town meeting day. He and Piper, during the night following +that affair, after meeting Dunning at an appointed place, and giving +him charge of the cattle, which had been successfully pursued and there +collected, to be driven out of that part of the country by the hunter, +left town in different directions, to avoid the arrest they anticipated, +in case they remained; Piper going down the river in quest of some +temporary employment till the storm blew over, and Bart setting off on a +fishing excursion to Marlboro' Pond, situated in a then nearly unsettled +section, about ten miles to the north. Here Bart had pursued his sport +unmolested, many days, occasionally going out to Brattleborough to sell +his fish and buy provisions, and considering himself in this secluded +situation perfectly safe from any search which might be made for him by +the officers of Guilford. But the reward offered by the constable +for the apprehension of the offenders, who had been soon pretty well +identified, had put all the tories in the town and vicinity on the watch +and the result was, that Bart had been seen, traced to his retreat, +seized and brought back for trial. + +Although Bart's general demeanor seemed to show a perfect indifference +to the fate that now threatened him, yet the quick keen glances with +which, under that show of indifference, he noted every movement of those +into whose power he had fallen and the restlesness he exhibited +when their eyes were not upon him, gave token of no little inward +perturbation. And it was not without reason that his apprehensions were +excited; he knew the character and disposition of the two tory justices +whom he saw taking their seats to try him, and he rightly judged that +he need not expect either mercy or justice at their hands. He had also +detected one of the constable's minions, who had been despatched to the +woods for the purpose, stealing slyly round into the horse-shed, on his +return, with a half dozen formidable looking green beech rods; and he +was at no loss to decide for whose back they were intended, or by whose +ruthless hand they were to be applied. + +“You can't go that, Bart,” he mentally exclaimed. “You must get away; so +now put your best contrivances in motion, for I tell you it won't do for +you to think of standing that pickle.” + +And as hopeless as, to all appearance, was any attempt to escape his +captors, who stood round him with loaded pistols in their hands, Bart +yet confidently counted on being able, in some way or other, to slip +through their fingers, and avoid the fearful punishment which he knew +was in store for him, if he remained many hours longer in their hands. +To effect this, he looked for no aid from others; for experience had +taught him the value of self-reliance. The whole life of this singular +being, indeed, had been one which was peculiarly calculated to throw +him on his own resources, sharpen his wits, and render him fertile in +expedients. He had been a foundling, and knew no more of his parentage +than a young ostrich, that springs from the deserted egg in the sand. He +was left, when an infant, at the door of a poor mechanic, in Boston, by +the name of Burt, and by him transferred to the almshouse, where he was +called after the name of his finder, with the pet name of Barty, given +him by his nurse. Here he was kept till he was four or five years +old, when he was given to the Shakers, from whom he ran away at ten +or twelve. From that time, the poor friendless boy became a wanderer +through the interior country, generally remaining but a few months in a +place, being driven from each successive home by misusage, or for want +of profitable work for him to do, or, what was still oftener the case, +perhaps, for playing off some trick to avenge the fancied or real insult +he had received, till, after having been kicked about the world like a +foot-ball, cheated, abused cowed in feeling, and become, in consequence, +abject, uncouth and singular in manner and appearance, he at length +reached the situation in the family of the haughty loyalist where we +found him. + +While Bart was thus uneasily revolving the matter of his present concern +in his mind, and beginning to cast about him for some means of escape, +the constable was called aside by those who had undertaken to manage the +prosecution, for the purpose of holding with them a consultation, the +purport of which, though carried on in a low tone, and at some distance, +was soon gathered by the quick and practised ears of the prisoner. It +appeared that the trial was being delayed in consequence of the absence +of Peters, who was an important witness, and who unaccountably failed +to make his appearance. And it being feared that he might have been +waylaid, and detained on the road, by some band of the other party, to +prevent him from testifying, as all knew he was anxious to do, it was +settled that Fitch should start immediately in search of him to the +house which he usually made his temporary quarters in another part +of the town. Accordingly the constable, after putting the prisoner in +charge of two stout fellows who were in his interest, with orders to +guard him closely, and shoot him down the instant he should attempt +to escape, set forth on his mission after Peters. Bart's countenance +brightened when he saw the savage officer depart, for he believed the +absence of the latter would greatly increase his chances of escape; and +in spite of all the threats he had received of being shot, he resolved +to improve that absence in making the attempt, though the manner of +doing so yet remained to be decided, by the circumstances which might +occur. + +In the mean time a trotting-match had been got up in the road in front +of the tavern, by a small party who had been boasting of the speed and +other qualities of their horses; and it being now understood that the +trial was to be delayed till the constable's return, the whole company +left the house, and went out to the road to witness the performance. +Bart's keepers not being able, where they stood, to see and hear what +was going on very distinctly, and being equally desirous with the rest +to get a favorable stand for that purpose, after renewing the threat of +shooting him, if lie attempted to run away, took him along with them, +and entered the line of spectators extended along the road. After a few +trials among those who began the contest, several new competitors led +on their horses and entered the lists. By this time most of the company +began to take a lively interest in the performance, taking sides, and +betting on the success of the different horses now put into the contest. +The prisoner having, by this time, through dint of persevering in good +humor and sociability, in return for the abusive epithets, by which all +his attempts to converse were, for a while, received, succeeded, in a +great measure, in disarming his keepers of the stern reserve and jealous +distrust they at first exhibited towards him, he was soon permitted to +talk freely, and offer, unrebuked, his opinions of the success of the +various horses about to make a trial, which his previous observation and +acquaintance with many of them, made during his residence in town the +preceding year, enabled him to do with considerable sagacity. And his +predictions being luckily fulfilled in several instances, and especially +in one in which his most rigid keeper had been saved from losing, in +a bet, which would have been made but for his timely cautions, Bart at +length found himself on such a footing of confidence and good will with +those whom he wished to conciliate, that he thought it would now do to +commence operations for himself. + +“I don't think much of such trotting, myself,” said Bart, carelessly, as +one of the contests afoot had just terminated; “but there is one animal +I notice here to-day, I should like to bet on.” + +“What horse is that?” asked the keeper above designated, + +“That dapple gray mare hitched over there in the corner of the cow-yard +yonder,” replied Bart, pointing to a small, long tailed pony, whose +shabby coat of shedding and neglected hair greatly disguised the +remarkable make of her limbs and other indications of strength and +activity. + +“That creature!” exclaimed the other, contemptuously; “why she aint +bigger than a good-sized sheep. You may bet if you want to, and lose; +for there's not a horse on the ground but would beat her.” + +“Well, for all that, Mr. Sturges,” responded Bart, banteringly, “I'll +not take back what I've said about the nag. And to prove my earnest, +I'll make you an offer; I'll bet my gun, which you saw me hand the +landlord for safe keeping when they brought me in--I'll bet my gun +against your hat, I'll take that creature and out-trot you, with any +hoss you may choose to bring on.” + +“Done!” exclaimed Sturges; “but you are contriving this up for a chance +to get away, you scamp.” + +“What should I want to get away for?” I haint done nothin: and there's +a witness here that will swear to a thing or two for me, when the trial +comes on, guess you'll find; besides, aint you young to ride by my side, +with a loaded pistol in your hand?” + +“Yes, and that aint all; I'll put a bullet through you the instant you +make the least move to be off.” + +“I'm agreed to that.” + +“Well, but will they let you take the colt for the march?” + +“Guess so; I'll venture to take her. The boy that rode her here has +cleared out down to the brook a fishing; but I know him, and think he +wouldn't object.” + +“Who owns the colt?” + +“Old Turner did, last year, when I lived with him; and the boy is from +that way, and borrowed her, likely.” + +“Then you have rode her, have you?” asked Sturges, doubtfully. + +“Never rid her with any other boss, but know she can trot faster than +any thing you can find here; so you may as well back out at once,” + answered Bart, with apparent indifference. + +“Not by a jug-full, sir; but I must look me up a horse, and fix matters +a little first; and then, if it is thought safe for me to trust you to +ride, I'll go it,” returned the other, with some hesitation. + +Sturges then stepped aside with the other keeper, and, after consulting +with him a few moments, went forward and announced to the company the +bet offered by the prisoner, and his own intention of accepting it, and +indulging the fellow in a trial, if they thought best, and would assist +in measures to prevent the possibility of his escape. The proposal was +received with shouts of laughter by the tories; and eager for the fun +they expected to see in so queer a contest, they agreed to be answerable +for the prisoner's safety, and urged on the performance. + +The two keepers, now calling in others to take charge of the prisoner, +while they made their preparations, proceeded to arrange the company on +both sides of the road, placing men at short intervals along the whole +line of the course, commencing back about two hundred yards south of the +tavern, and extending to the sign-post, which, standing on the edge of +the beaten path in front of the house, had been agreed on as the goal. +And not satisfied with this precaution, they then procured four long, +heavy, spruce poles, and, extending them from fence to fence across the +enclosed road leading from the tavern yard northward, formed a barricade +five or six feet high, which, with the strong, high fences on each side +of the whole course, except at the starting-point, where no danger was +apprehended, seemed to cut off the prisoner, even without being guarded, +from all possible chance to escape on horseback, as it was most feared +he would do, after being allowed control of the reins. + +“There, Bixby!” exclaimed Sturges, exultingly turning to his +fellow-keeper, as they completed the barricade across the road beyond +the goal--“there! I would defy the devil to jump over this barrier, or +any of the fences on the way, as to that matter. So the little rebel +will hardly escape us by running his horse from the ground, I fancy. +But we must look out that he don't jump off at the end of the race, +or before, and cut into the fields. You may therefore station yourself +somewhere between this and the sign-post; and if he attempts to leap +from his horse and run, as we fetch up here, shoot him down as you would +a dog, and charge the blame to me or Fitch; either of us will bear it.” + +Having thus arranged every thing to his satisfaction, Sturges, ordering +the pony we have described, and the horse he had selected for himself, +to be brought on, then took charge of his prisoner and rival, and +conducted him, with great show of mock dignity, and amidst a noisy and +jeering troop of attendants, to the ground marked off for the place +of starting, and now designated by the close line of men that had been +stationed across the road to guard against the prisoner's escape in that +direction. Bart, in the mean time, seemed perfectly indifferent to all +these precautions of the tories, as well as the gibes and laughter +which constantly greeted him on the way, and, on reaching the prescribed +limit, quietly dropped down on the grass among the company, and awaited +the coming of the horses with the greatest unconcern. The latter soon +made their appearance on the ground, and were immediately led up and +presented to their respective riders. + +“Lightfoot!” exclaimed Bart, springing up to receive his chosen pony; +“do you know me, Lightfoot?” + +The animal instantly pricked up her ears, and responded by a sort of +low, chuckling whinny, by rubbing her nose against his arm, and by other +demonstrations of recognition and pleasure, which plainly showed the two +to have been old acquaintances and friends. Bart then, stripping off the +saddle and handing it to a boy to be carried back to the tavern, again +went to the head of the pony, and, after patting her on her neck, +repeated certain words in her ear, which seemed to produce the instant +effect of arousing her spirit, and making her restless and impatient +for a start. After going through these and other ceremonies of the kind, +which seemed greatly to amuse the company, he mounted, reined up and +announced himself ready for the signal. + +After another delay, to indulge the company in the renewed shouts of +laughter which were called forth by the ludicrous contrast now presented +in the appearance of the oddly matched competitors, as the diminutive +and shabby looking prisoner sat awkwardly mounted on his no less +diminutive and shabby pony, by the side of the portly Sturges and his +large and finely built horse, the signal was given, and the parties set +forth amidst the encouraging hurrahs of the crowd. Their progress, for a +while was nearly equal; and the pony, though very unskilfully managed +by her seemingly raw and timid rider, continued to maintain her place by +the side of the horse so fully, as to render the result of the contest +extremely doubtful. But as they drew near the end of the coarse, and the +horse, by the renewed incentives of his rider, began to gain on her, she +suddenly flounced, broke into a gallop, shot by the horse, giving him +a staggering kick in the chops as she passed, and, in spite of the +apparent efforts of her rider, to bring her up at the goal, plunged on +directly towards the fence that had been thrown across the road. + +“Whoa! whoa!” cried Bart, in tones of distress and affright, +still appearing to strain every nerve to hold in the ungovernable +animal--“whoa! whoa! help, or I shall be thrown!” + +“Help him there! stop her! seize her by the bits!” shouted Sturges, now +riding up to the goal to claim the bet. + +But the perverse pony, veering about among those approaching on either +side to seize, or head her, with sundry monitory kicks thrown out +sidewise towards them as she went, the next moment reached, and, with a +tremendous leap, cleared the barricade, and landed safely with her +rider in the open road on the other side. Here Bart hastily made another +apparent attempt to rein her up; but rearing and spinning round on +her heels, she again made a plunge forward, and set out in a keen run, +making the ground smoke beneath her feet as she flew, with astonishing +speed along the road; while her rider, grasping her mane with both +hands, and swaying from side to side, as if hardly able to keep his seat +at that, continued to bawl and screech, at every step, “Whoa! whoa! stop +her! stop her!” with all his might. + +The tories were so completely taken by surprise by these manoeuvres, +and the unexpected feat of leaping the barricade that Bart and his +fleet pony were nearly a quarter of a mile off, before they sufficiently +rallied from their astonishment and confusion to realize what had +passed; and when they did, hearing his piteous cries for help, and +expecting every moment to see him hurled headlong from his horse, they +stood doubtfully looking at him and each other, several seconds longer, +before they thought of following him. Sturges, however, now took the +alarm, and, ordering the barricade to be thrown down, started off, with +those who, like himself, happened to be mounted, in pursuit. By this +time, the fugitive had passed over an intervening swell, which hid him +from the view of the pursuers; and though their progress was rapid, yet, +when they gained the top of the swell, which commanded a view of the +road till it entered the woods, almost a half mile beyond, he was +nowhere to be seen. But believing he must have gained the woods, they +pushed on, in the vain pursuit, about a mile farther; when, meeting some +townsmen, they ascertained that he had not passed in that direction. +They then retraced their steps, carefully examining every bypath and +open spot by the road-side, where any ordinary horse could be made to +go; but making no discoveries, they concluded to return to the tavern +for consultation; for they grew more and more puzzled to know what to +make of the prisoner, or how to account for his mysterious escape, some +affirming “he must have been in league with the devil, as no horse, in +a natural state, could have leaped that barricade, or have gone off so +like a streak of lightning after he was over it; and his strange doings +with the pony, when he first met her, and the bluish appearance +that attended him along the road as he went off, with such unnatural +swiftness,” were cited in confirmation. But when they reached the +tavern, the prisoner, and every thing attending his escape, were for +the time forgotten in the excitement occasioned by the more startling +tidings just received. The constable had just arrived in great haste +announcing that Peters had been waylaid, and found murdered in the +road, and calling on all to turn out to arrest the unknown but suspected +perpetrators of the horrid deed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + ----“despair itself grew strong + And vengeance fed its torch from wrong” + + +On the same day, and near the same hour, on which Bart so singularly +and luckily effected his escape from his vindictive enemies, the bereft +Woodburn left his lonely residence and walked to the graveyard, to shed +another tear over the freshly-laid turf that covered the remains of his +sainted mother. Here, as, standing over her grave, he reflected on +the many excellences of her character, recalled the many acts of her +kindness and love towards him, never before justly appreciated, and, at +the same time, thought of the circumstances under which she had sickened +and died, his tears flowed fast and bitterly. While he was still +lingering near the sacred spot, immersed in these painful reflections, +two ladies, from a neighboring cottage, came, unperceived by him, along +the road leading by the graveyard; when the younger of the two, wholly +unconscious that any one was within the enclosure, left the other to +pass on to the next house, and entered the yard to amuse herself there +till her companion returned. Now pausing to read an inscription, and +now to pluck a wild violet, she slowly wandered towards that part of +the yard where Woodburn, still screened from her view by a clump of +intervening evergreens, was pensively reclining against a tomb stone in +the vicinity of his mother's grave. And here, taking a turn round +the shrubbery, she came suddenly upon him; and, stopping short in her +course, she stood mute and confused before him, while her cheeks were +mantled with a deep blush at the awkwardness of the position in which +she unexpectedly found herself. + +“Miss Haviland!” exclaimed Woodburn, looking up in equal surprise. +“Excuse me if I am wrong, but, as little as I was expecting it, I think +it is Miss Haviland whom I am addressing?” + +“It is, sir,” she replied, in a slightly tremulous voice; “but trust you +will not think this an intentional intrusion.” + +“No intrusion, fair lady. You do not rightly interpret my expression, +which was one of surprise at seeing you here, when I had supposed you to +be in another part of the country. When I last saw you, I supposed you +on your return to Bennington.” + +“I was so at that time. But having recently come over with my father, +who was journeying to Connecticut, I am now tarrying with a sister +in this neighborhood till he returns. Your allusion to our parting, +however, cannot but bring to mind the circumstances connected with our +meeting, nor fail to admonish me of my great obligations to you, sir, +which I have never before found a suitable opportunity of personally +acknowledging. But be assured, Mr. Woodburn, I shall never forget that +fearful hour; yet sooner far the hour, than the hand that snatched me +from my seemingly inevitable doom.” + +“We both may have cause to remember the incidents attendant on that +journey to Westminster, Miss Haviland; and I, though I did but a common +duty in assisting you, shall remember them, on more accounts than one, I +fear but too long.” + +“If you allude to your difficulties on that journey, and subsequently +with one with whom we were in company, I can only say, sir, that I have +heard of them, and all your consequent misfortunes, with the deepest +regret, scarcely less on account of the author than the victim.” + +“I could have submitted to my pecuniary losses with a good degree of +resignation; but, when I think of the crowning act, and the consequences +that followed it--when I look on that grave,” continued the speaker, +pointing to the fresh mound, with an effort to master his emotions, “it +is hard to endure.” + +“Such misfortunes,” responded Miss Haviland, visibly touched at his +distress; “such misfortunes,--injuries, perhaps, I should call them,--I +am sensible, are not easily forgotten; and I have sometimes feared that +it too often might be my fate to be associated with them in your mind.” + +“O, no, lady, no,” said Woodburn, promptly; “though it were better for +my happiness, perhaps, if I could,” he added, more gloomily; “for who +will care what may be the feelings of one who is now an outcast, without +property, family, or friends?” + +“Think not thus of yourself, Mr. Woodburn,” replied the other, while a +scarcely perceptible tinge appeared on her fair cheek; “feel not thus. +You do to yourself, and I doubt not to many others, great injustice; +certainly to one who can only think of you with the warmest gratitude.” + +“O, if all were like you, Miss Haviland!” returned Woodburn, with +much feeling; “so just, so generous, so pure, so beautiful! But I have +already said too much,” he continued checking himself. “I intended not +to have intimated aught of the thoughts and feelings which have obtruded +themselves upon me, even before I heard these kind expressions. And +though what I have said cannot be recalled, yet I have no thought of +pressing any questions upon you under the accidental advantage which +your gratitude--other things being the same--might give me. I ask for no +corresponding impressions--I expect none. Being aware of your position, +as well as my own, I shall not drive you to the unpleasant task of +repulsing me. I will repulse my self. I will conquer this new enemy, +though planted in my own bosom, lest it prove more dangerous to my peace +than the one with whom I have so vainly contended in another rivalry.” + +She raised her eyes with a look full of maidenly embarrassment, indeed, +but with an expression more resembling that of sorrow than resentment, +as she gently replied,-- + +“I feel additionally grateful to you, Mr. Woodburn, for your delicate +and generous course under the circumstances in which, as you seem to be +aware, I am placed. But as I now perceive my companion approaching in +the road, you will excuse my departure.” + +“Certainly,” said Woodburn; “and you will forgive what has been said by +one who is so truly the prey of conflicting emotions?” + +“O, yes, sir,” she answered, looking up with a witching smile, as she +bowed her adieu; “that is, I will when you do any thing _worthy_ of my +forgiveness.” + +Woodburn stood mutely gazing after his lovely visitor till her small +and graceful figure, floating on in its devious course through the +diversified grounds in almost fairy lightness, receded from his +enraptured sight; when he turned away with a sigh to commune with +himself, try to analyze his feelings, weigh consequences, give Reason +her rightful sway, and follow her dictates. After a long and deep +struggle with his feelings, he appeared to come to some determination, +and, resolutely bringing down a foot on the ground, he exclaimed,-- + +“No, never! I will not give way to feelings which can only end in +disappointment and mortification. Begone, enticing vision, begone! I +will harbor you no longer.” And under the impulse of his freshly-formed +resolution, he abruptly left the spot, and hastened through the +enclosure to take his way homeward. As he was about to pass out into the +road, his attention was attracted by the barking of a small dog, that, +having followed the ladies, and tarried behind on their return, seemed +to be intent on dragging out something from under a broad, flat stone, +lying in one corner of the graveyard. Feeling some inclination to know +what discoveries the dog was making in a spot so unpromising of any game +that would be likely to attract him, Woodbury walked to the spot; when +he perceived the animal to be eagerly tugging away at some object, which +presented the appearance of the corners of some old leather-bound book, +buried beneath the stone. His curiosity being now excited, he stood +by and patiently waited to see the result. In a few minutes the dog +succeeded in dragging out the object in question, which proved to be an +old record-book, or rather the remains of one, for a part of it had +been converted by the mice into a nest, and the rest was mutilated and +falling to pieces. Leaving the dog to pursue his object, which was now +sufficiently explained, Woodburn gathered up the remains of the book and +stepped aside to examine them. On beating off the dirt and opening the +unmutilated parts, he soon, and to his great surprise, discovered it to +be a volume of the town records; the very volume, the loss of which, +as he believed, had caused his defeat in his lawsuit with Peters. And +hurriedly running over the leaves, his eye, the next moment, fell on the +record of his own deed, with the dates precisely as he had contended, +and standing in a connection which would have proved the priority of his +title, furnished him a complete defence, and saved him from ruin! + +The previous suspicions of Woodburn, respecting the disappearance of +these records through the agency of Peters, were now confirmed in the +mind of the former, as certainly as if he had witnessed the act; and +this aggravating discovery, coming as it did too late to be of any +benefit to him, and at a moment, too, when his feelings, notwithstanding +his recent declarations to Miss Haviland, and his subsequent resolves, +were sore from the insidious workings of jealousy, and the revolting +thought of the pretensions of his hated foe to her hand--this discovery, +we say, wrought up his mind, already embittered to the last degree of +endurance, to a state little short of absolute frenzy. And clinching +the fragments of the book, which contained the proof of the black +transaction, in one hand, and flourishing the heavy oak cane he had with +him in the other, he rushed out of the enclosure, and, with a disturbed +air and hurrying step, took his way towards his desolate home, resolved, +that in case he found, as he feared, that all chance of legal redress +had passed by, he would, at least, unsparingly make use of the means, +now in his power, in trumpeting the villainy of Peters to the world. + +In this state of exasperation, after proceeding a short distance he +unexpectedly and unfortunately encountered the very object of his pent +indignation, the haughty and hated Peters, who, on horseback, was coming +up a cross-road on his way to the Tory Tavern, where, as the reader has +been already apprised, his tools and partisans were anxiously awaiting +his arrival. + +“Ha! here? Then he shall be the first to hear it,” muttered Woodburn, as +with a flashing eye he suddenly turned and sternly confronted the other +in his path. + +“What now, sir?” said Peters, reigning up with a look of surprise not +unmingled with uneasiness. + +“I will tell you what, now, sir,” replied Woodburn, in a voice quivering +with suppressed passion; “your frauds are exposed! Here are the remains +of those very records you or your tools purloined to enable you to +accomplish your unhallowed triumph over me, and now just found buried in +yonder graveyard!” + +“Away, sir!” exclaimed Peters, recovering his usual assurance. “I know +nothing of your crazy jargon: stand aside and let me pass.” + +“Not till you have looked at the proof of what I assert, or acknowledged +its correctness,” persisted the other, extending his cane before the +horse with his right hand, and thrusting forward the open book with his +left. “Here it is; here is the record of my deed--dates and all, as I +and you, too, sir, well knew them to be. Look at it, sir, and restore me +my property, or confess yourself a villain!” + +At this juncture Peters, who had covertly reversed the loaded whip he +carried in his hand that he might strike more effectually, suddenly rose +in his stirrups, and aimed a furious blow at the head of his accuser. +But as sudden and unexpected as was the dastardly movement, Woodburn +threw up his cane in time to arrest and parry the descending implement, +when, quick as thought, he paid back the intended blow with a force, of +which, in the madness of the moment, he was little conscious, full on +the exposed head of his antagonist, who, curling like a struck bullock +beneath the fearful stroke, rolled heavily from his saddle to the +ground. The exclamation of triumph that rose to the lips of the victor +died in his throat, as he took a second glance at the motionless form +and corpse-like aspect of the victim; and, recoiling a step, he stood +aghast at the thought of what he had done. After standing a minute with +his eyes rivetted on the face of his prostrate foe Woodburn, arousing +himself, hurried forward, and, raising the head, chafed the temples and +wrists a moment, and then felt for the pulse, when, finding no signs of +life, he suddenly relinquished his hold, and with a look of horror and +unutterable distress, hastily fled from the spot, muttering as he went, +“A murderer!--to crown the host of misfortunes--a murderer!” + +Soon striking off into a deep glade, diverging from the public way, he +continued his course, with a rapid step and troubled brow, on through +the woods and back pastures, till he gained, unobserved, the rear of his +own cabin, when, entering, he threw himself into a chair, and, +burying his face in his hands, sat many minutes motionless and silent, +apparently engaged in deep and anxious thought, At length, he arose with +a more composed look, and proceeded to make up a pack of his wardrobe, +with such valuables as could be conveniently carried, including his +mother's Bible. He then fitted his pack to his shoulders, took down his +gun and ammunition, and, throwing a sorrowful farewell glance round the +lonely apartment, left the house, and bent his course for the woods, in +a northerly direction. + +After travelling in the woods and unfrequented fields about two miles, +he came in sight of the point of intersection between the road near +which he had been holding his course, and a road coming into it from +the central parts of the town. Here, concluding to pause till the +approaching darkness should more perfectly screen him, before going out +into the main thoroughfare leading up the Connecticut, he sat down on a +log within the border of the woods, and again gave way to the remorseful +feelings and moody reflections that still painfully oppressed him. His +meditations, however, were soon disturbed by the quick, heavy tread of +some animal, which seemed to be approaching in the woods, at no great +distance behind him. Instantly peering out through the thicket in which +he had ensconced himself, he soon, to his great surprise, descried a +horseman descending a difficult ledge, leaping old windfalls, and making +his way through all the opposing obstacles of the forest with wonderful +facility, directly towards the spot where he stood concealed in the +thicket. Knowing that whatever might be the object of the person +approaching, it would be his wisest course to remain in his covert, from +which he could not move unobserved, and his curiosity being excited by +the appearance of a horseman in a spot that would have scarcely been +deemed passable for a wild deer, he kept his stand; and continued to +regard the advancing figure with the most lively interest. But owing to +the thickness of the now full-leaved undergrowth, and the duskiness that +by this time had gathered in the forest, he could only catch occasional +glimpses of either horse or rider, which enabled him to ascertain +nothing more than that they both were quite diminutive, and as it struck +him, rather oddly accoutred. They continued to advance directly towards +him till within fifty yards of his covert, when the horse, in emerging +from a clump of bushes, which still enveloped the rider, stopped short, +and, looking keenly into the thicket, gave a quick, significant snort. + +“What's in the wind now, Lightfoot?” said the rider to his horse, as, +parting the obstructing foliage with his hands, he thrust out his head, +and disclosed to the surprised and gratified Woodburn the well-known +visage of his trusty friend, Barty Burt. + +“This is, indeed, unexpected, Bart,” said Woodburn, stepping out into +plain view. + +“Harry!” exclaimed the other, agreeably surprised in turn; “but are +you sure there are no more of you there in the bush?” he added, with a +cautious glance at the thicket. + +“Yes, I am alone here,” answered the former. + +“Well, I vags now!” resumed Bart, drawing a long breath, and riding +forward--“I vags, if I didn't begin to feel rather ticklish when +Lightfoot give me that hint to look out for snakes, just now. But the +case aint quite what it might have been, considering.” + +“Considering what?” + +“I know.” + +“Of course you do, as well as what brought you here with a horse, in so +strange a place for a horseback excursion.” + +“Just so, Harry; same as you know what brought _you_ here with a _pack_ +on your back, in so queer a route for a journey, when a smooth road is +so near you.” + +Well knowing Bart's peculiarities, and that it would be useless to try +to draw from him the secret of his appearance here until he chose to +reveal it, Woodburn, while the other dismounted and told his pony to be +cropping the bushes in the mean time, related all that had transpired +between himself and the victim of his deeply regretted paroxysm of +passion, adding, at the close of his gloomy and self-accusing recital,-- + +“I first thought, after reaching my house, that I would return and give +myself up to the authorities; but knowing, whether Peters should live +or die, that I should be a doomed man in this part of the country, I +at length brought myself, perhaps wrongly, to try to get out of it +undiscovered. And I have now set my course for Boston, to join those +there gathering for the approaching struggle for liberty. And Heaven +knows with what pleasure I shall now sacrifice my life in her battles.” + +“Good! that's grand!” warmly responded Bart, who had listened to the +other with many a _whew_! of surprise at his accompanying expressions +of self-condemnation for killing an antagonist who struck the first +blow--“that's grand! Here is what goes with you, Harry; for, between +us here, I and Lightfoot are clipping it from a predicament, as well as +you.” + +“So I suspected. But what is it? Let us have _your_ story now.” + +“Well, Harry, in the first place, do you know this critter I call +Lightfoot?” + +“No; at least I don't now remember to have noticed the animal before.” + +“Well, it is the colt old skin-flint Turner cheated me out of, last +year.” + +“I think you told me something about it, but don't recollect the +particulars; though I had then no doubt, I believe, but the old man +wronged you, as I understood you worked very hard for him through the +season.” + +“I did, like a niggar--cause he promised to give me this colt, then a +little snubby three-year-old, for my summer's work, if I would stay and +work well for him, which I did, as I said. Well, supposing the colt +was to be mine, without any mistake, I made a sight of her, named +her Lightfoot, fed her, got her as tame as a dog, then trained her to +understand certain words and signs, which I at last got her to obey; and +whether it was to trot, run, or jump fences, she would do it as no other +critter could. But just as I had got her to mind and love _me_, as I did +_her_, my time was out; and I went to settle off matters with the old +man, and tell him I was going to take her off with me, when--rot his +pictur!--he pretended he had forgot all about his promise to let me have +her, and forbid my touching her, saying he had paid me all I earnt in +the old clothes which he urged on to me, against my will, and which were +not worth one week's work, as true as the book, Harry. Well, I couldn't +help crying, to be cheated so, and, what was worse, to lose Lightfoot. +But it did no good. I had to come away without her, or any other pay; +and, from that time, I haven't seen her till to-day.” + +“But you have not now stole and run away with her, I trust Bart?” + +“No; she run away with me,” replied Bart, roguishly, “as I can prove; for +I hollered _whoa_ all the time, as loud as I could yell.” + +“But how came you mounted upon her at all?” + +“Well, Harry, that brings me to the worst and best part of my story, all +in one; and here goes for it.” + +Bart, in his own peculiar manner, then related, with great accuracy, the +particulars of his arrest and escape from the tories, as we have already +described them in the preceding chapter, merely explaining, in addition, +that Lightfoot well understood the game, and knew she was to obey the +signs he secretly gave her with his feet and hands, however loud he, +or others, might cry _whoa_ or any of the terms usually addressed to +horses. He then proceeded:-- + +“Well, you see, as soon as I got over the hill, out of sight, I looked +out for a hard, stony place, where Lightfoot couldn't be tracked; and, +soon finding one, I leaped her over the fence, and made full speed +for the woods, which I luckily reached jest in time to wheel round in +safety, and see them thundering along by, in the road, after me. I then +took it leisurely off in this direction, contriving to keep mostly in +the woods, where I had learnt Lightfoot, in riding after the cows, last +summer, to be as much at home in as in the road.” + +“And what do you propose to do with this horse now?” asked Woodburn. + +“Take her along with me, to be sure, Harry.” + +“And so make yourself, in law, a horse-thief, eh? Do you expect me to +join company with such a character?” + +“Well, now, Harry, I didn't expect the like of that from you, any +how,” observed Bart, evidently touched at the remark. “The creature is +honestly mine; and I supposed I had a right to get what was mine away, +if I could, without going to law, which would help me about as much as +it has you, I reckon. But supposing that to be law which aint right and +justice, and so make me out a thief, as you say, how much boot could I +afford to give you, Harry, to swap predicaments with me? You have just +called yourself a murderer, which you aint, and me a horse-thief, +which _I_ aint, any more than you the other. Now, how will you swap +characters?” + +“Bart, you have silenced me. Injustice and oppression have made us both +outlaws, but not intentionally wrong-doers. Let us still abstain from +all intentional wrong, however trifling. And that leads me to observe, +that whatever justification you may have for taking away the horse, you +probably have none for carrying off the bridle.” + +“There you are out again, Harry. That bridle, which queerly happened to +be put on Lightfoot to-day, (as if it was kinder ordered I should get +the beast,) is the very one I bought last fall, to take her off with; +but being so worked up, when I left, I forgot to bring it away.” + +“Upon my word, Bart, you are successful to-day in making defences.” + +“Always mean to be able to do so, Harry. Nobody has any honest claims +on me in Guilford, now, nor I any on them. I leave 'em with every thing +squared, according to my religion. + +“Except in the matter of your gun, which you leave--not exactly won by +your opponent--behind you; do you not?” + +“They are welcome to it; much good may it do 'em. It has gone pretty +much where I calkerlated to get it off--among those who used me the +worst; though I'd some rather it had gone to Fitch, who hunts some, and +would be sure to try it.” + +“That is queer reasoning, Bart.” + +“Well, there is a head and tail to it, for all that, Harry.” + +“What are they?” + +“Why, the head, or cause, is, that the last time I shot the piece, I +overloaded it, being for black ducks, and the charge raised a seam, in a +flaw underside the barrel, which I could blow through. And the tail, or +consequence, is, that the next man who shoots it will wish he'd never +seen it, I reckon.” + +“Ah, Bart, Bart, your religion, as you term it, is a strange one! But +let us now dismiss the past, and think of the future. If you join me for +the army, what do you propose to do with your horse--sell her?” + +“Sell her? why, I'd as soon sell my daddy, if I had one. No, we'll keep +her between us. You, and Tom Dunning, and Lightfoot are the only friends +I have in the world, Harry; and I want we should kinder stick together. +So I've been thinking up the plan, that we ride and tie, or keep along +together and foot it by turns, to-night, till we get to Westminster, +when we will beat up Dunning, and leave Lightfoot with him, who can take +her to some of his sly places over the mountain, and have her kept for +us. Then, if one of us gets killed, or any thing, so as never to come +back, let the other take her; and if both fail to come, then let Tom +have her for his own.” + +And Bart's plan being adopted, our two humble, friendless, and nearly +penniless adventurers left the wood, and entering the northern road, set +forth on their destination, Woodburn first mounting the pony and keeping +some hundred yards in advance, and Bart forming the rear-guard, under +the agreement that the latter, on hearing any bounds of pursuit, should +utter the cry of the raccoon, when both were to plunge into the woods, +and remain till the danger had passed by. + +After travelling in this manner, and at a rapid rate, about two hours, +without encountering any thing to excite their apprehension or delay +their progress, they entered a long reach of unbroken forest, which +neither of them remembered ever to have passed through. But not being +able to conceive where they could have turned off from the river road, +which was their intended route, they continued to move doubtingly +onwards some miles farther, till the increasing obstructions and +narrowness of the path, together with the absence of the settlements +which they knew they must have found before this time on the road up the +Connecticut, fully convinced Woodburn they had lost their way. And he +was on the point of proposing to retrace their steps, when, descrying a +light some distance ahead, emanating, as he supposed, from the hut of a +new settler, he at once concluded to push on towards it, for the purpose +of making inquiries of the occupants to ascertain their situation. In +making for the light, of which, for a while, only feeble and occasional +glimmerings could be obtained through the dense foliage that overhung +the devious path, they at length came to an apparently well-cultivated +opening, containing about a dozen acres, on one side of which stood +a small, snug-looking stone house, built against or near a boldly +projecting ledge of rocks. As they approached the house, their attention +was arrested by the loud and earnest voice of a man within, engaged, +evidently, in prayer. Concluding that the man was at his family evening +devotions, which they had no thought of disturbing, they left the horse +at a little distance from the house, and silently drawing near to the +door, paused and reverently listened. A confused recollection of the +supplicant's voice, together with his deep and fervid tones, his bold +language, and especially the subject that seemed then mostly to engross +his thoughts, at once awakened the interest and rivetted the attention +of Woodburn. The great burden of his soul was, obviously, the political +condition of his country. And, after vividly painting the many wrongs +she had suffered from her haughty oppressors, and warmly setting forth +her claims to divine assistance, he broke forth, in conclusion,-- + +“My country! O my injured, oppressed, and down-trodden country! shall +the cry of thy wrongs go up in vain to Heaven? Will not the God of +battles hear and help thee, in this the hour of thy peril and of thy +need? O, wilt thou not, Lord, extend Thy mighty arm in her defence? O, +teach the proud Britons, now thronging our shores--teach them, scoffing +Goliahs as they are, that there are young Davids in our land! O, bring +their counsels to nought! Scatter their fleets by thy tempests at sea, +and destroy their armies on land! Sweep them off by bullet and plague! +and--and”--suddenly checking himself, he meekly added, “and save their +souls; and this, Lord, is all that in conscience I can ask for them. +Amen.” + +Woodburn now gently rapped at the door, which, after a slight pause, was +opened, and Herriot, the late prisoner of the royal court, stood before +him. + +“If this is Harry Woodburn,” he said, after scrutinizing the other's +features a moment, “he is very welcome to my hut. But you are not +alone?” he added, glancing towards Bart, who stood several paces in the +background. + +“No,” replied Woodburn; “I have in company a young man whom you may, +perhaps, recollect as the messenger that appeared several times at the +grate of our prison at Westminster, to bring us news of the progress of +the rising.” + +“Ah, yes, well do I recollect that goodly youth, and have ever since +taken a peculiar interest in him. Invite him in. All this is opportune, +very--very,” said Herriot, leading the way into the house. + +After the recluse had ushered his guests into the principal room of his +very simply furnished house, of which he and a servant boy, of perhaps +fifteen, were the only inmates, he turned to Woodburn, and said,-- + +“As my retreat here in the woods, and the road that leads to it, are +known to so few, I conclude that your young friend here, Mr. Woodburn, +acted as your guide on the occasion.” + +“O, no,” replied the other; “we had lost our way, having left the +river road inadvertently, and were about to turn back, when, catching +a glimpse of your light, we came on to make inquiries. We neither of us +knew when we struck into the road leading hither.” + +“Do you agree to that statement, without any qualification, master +Bart?” asked the recluse, with a doubting and slightly puzzled air. + +“Well, some of it, I reckon,” answered Bart, with a look of droll +gravity. + +“Why, you told me, sir,” responded Woodburn, rather sharply “that you +had never travelled this road before.” + +“No more I hadn't,” replied Bart, composedly; “but I didn't say I didn't +know where it turned off, for Tom Dunning told me that.” + +“Bart,” said Woodburn, seriously, “though I am not sorry to have +fallen in with father Herriot, yet, as between you and me, this needs +explanation. It looks as if you purposely led me astray.” + +“Well now, Harry, no offence, I hope. The thing was kinder agreed on, +somehow, that you should come this way, when you left Guilford, which +was understood would happen soon. If I hadn't fell in with you as I did, +it was my notion to take Lightfoot here, or at Dunning's, and then go +back and skulk there somewheres till you was ready to come; but finding +you and things all coming so handy like, when we got to where the road +turned off, I thought I'd let you follow me into it, if you would, and +say nothing till we got here.” + +“I am still perfectly at a loss how to understand all this, Bart and I +still wish you would more fully explain it.” + +“I will take that task upon myself; for I suppose I am somewhat in the +secret respecting the little plot of your friends,” said Herriot, going +to a chest, and bringing forward a small bag of money. “This has been +deposited with me for your use and benefit. It is the price of your cow +and oxen, sold by Dunning to a drover from Rhode Island. The sum is, +I believe, about fifty dollars, which I now deliver you, as your own +unquestionable property.” + +In the explanation that now ensued, it appeared that the cattle, which +had been rescued by the friends of Woodburn, without his privity, +lest the scruples it was feared he might entertain should lead him +to interfere with the plan, were taken that night to the retreat of +Herriot, who was made acquainted with the whole transaction; and that +the next day, while Dunning went up the river in search of a purchaser, +the other, who was not without his scruples, also, about sanctioning the +procedure, repaired to lawyer Knights for his opinion on the subject. +And the latter, having been confidentially let into the secret, and +given it as his decided opinion that the judgment, to satisfy which the +cattle had been seized, was an illegal and void one, and that the cattle +so seized might rightfully be taken for the owner, without legal process +if found out of the hands of the officer, the recluse returned and +actively cooperated with the hunter; the result of which was, that +a purchaser was soon found, who paid the money for the stock and +immediately drove it from the country. + +This, to Woodburn, was an unexpected development. And now, after hearing +the explanation of Herriot, being satisfied of the propriety of the +course so generously taken by his friends in his behalf, he gratefully +received the money; and, in turn, while Bart and the servant were out +caring for the pony, he confidentially disclosed to the recluse the +painful occurrence of the afternoon which had led to his sudden flight +from home, and his determination of immediately joining the army, +concluding by giving the particulars of Bart's arrest and singular +escape from the tories. + +“You have acted wisely, Mr. Woodburn,” observed Herriot after listening +with deep interest to the recital. “Peters may yet recover; but should +he not, I do not view the act in so criminal a light as that in which +you yourself have placed it. And in the absence of all intention of +killing the man, I feel very clear that it is not a deed meriting the +punishment you would be likely to receive, if you had put your fate +into the hands of the corrupted witnesses who would probably have been +brought against you. Yes, you have acted wisely in leaving that wicked +Babel of toryism, and nobly in devoting yourself to the cause of your +bleeding country. My blessing and prayers will attend you and your young +friend, to whom, I trust, you will act the friend and adviser he will +doubtless need. But come, Harry,” he added, taking up a light, and +making a sign for the other to follow him, “some new notions have come +into my head since I became acquainted with you and your young friend, +at Westminster, and knowing of no two persons in whom I take greater +interest, I have concluded to impart something to you in confidence.” + +So saying, he led the way into the cellar, the bottom of which was +flagged over with stones of various shapes and sizes; when pointing to +a broad, flat stone lying near the centre of the room, he asked Woodburn +to raise it. Wondering what could be the object of so unexpected a +request, the latter, with considerable effort, succeeded in raising the +stone to an upright position, and in so doing brought to view two small +iron-bound casks, standing in a cavity beneath, and labelled, in large +inky letters, “_Printers Type_.” + +“Printing, then, was formerly your trade?” said Woodburn, inquiringly, +perceiving the other not inclined to be the first to speak. + +“Well, that is a respectable calling, is it not?” said the other, +evasively. + +“Certainly,” replied Woodburn; “but I had not looked for any immediate +use for such implements in this new settlement.” + +“The contents of those casks, nevertheless, are of more value than you +may think them, Harry, and may soon be needed for the public, in the +times now at hand. But what I wish to say to you is, in the first place, +that you are not to divulge what you have seen to any one but your young +friend, and not to him unless you are satisfied he can be trusted, or +you are about to die. And, in the second place, if you hear of my death, +both of you are to come here, take possession of these casks, and divide +the contents equally between you as your own. I have now no relative +that will appear to claim them. You will also find, enclosed in one of +the casks, certain documents, which I have recently deposited there, +explaining my wishes, as well as some secrets of my life connected with +discoveries lately made by me, that interest others besides myself. This +you, or the survivor of you two, if one should die, will do in case I am +taken away. And even if I continue to live, my designs will probably not +be altered and I shall wish to see you both again when you are permitted +to return to your old homes. And still further, I would say, that should +you be in want at any time, and will apply to me, I will dispose of +enough of this property to supply your necessities. Now replace the +stone, and let us return to the room above.” + +Woodburn knew not what to make of all this mystery, or affected mystery, +as he believed it. But knowing the singularities of the man, he forebore +to ask any questions, and they left the cellar in silence. Soon after +they had returned, Bart and the servant came in; when a frugal meal +was set before the travellers. And while the latter were occupied in +partaking their repast, the recluse procured his writing materials, and +penning a brief letter, presented it to Woodburn, saying, “There is a +letter of introduction to a former friend of mine, who, I understand, +is appointed to an important command in the army now mustering at +Cambridge. It may be of service to you. And now,” he added, as his +guests rose to depart--“now, my young friends and fellow-sufferers from +oppression, go--deserve well of your country, and desert her not till +the British Dagons are all leveled to the dust, which may God speedily +grant. Amen.” + +In a few minutes more, our adventurers were on their way. And being now +invigorated, both in body and mind, by what had occurred during their +call at the retreat of their mysterious friend they pressed on so +rapidly, for the next three or four hours, that they arrived at +Dunning's cabin, in Westminster, just as the first faint flush of +daylight appeared in the east. Here luckily finding the hunter already +astir, cooking his breakfast, preparatory to any early start on some new +excursion, they joined him in his delicious meal, which consisted of +the rich steaks of a salmon caught the preceding evening. And having +finished their breakfast, and made the contemplated arrangement with +Dunning, to take charge of Lightfoot, their now common favorite, the +last-named person set them across the Connecticut in his log canoe; +when, looking back from the woody shore of the New Hampshire side, they +bade a long farewell to the Green Mountains, whose tall, blue peaks +were then beginning to grow bright in the rays of the rising sun, and +resolutely plunged into the dark recesses before them. + + + + + +VOLUME II. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + “We owe no allegiance, we bow to no throne; + Our ruler is law, and the law is our own; + Our leaders themselves are our own fellow-men, + Who can handle the sword, the scythe, or the pen.” + + +Vermont was ushered into political existence midst storm and tempest. We +speak both metaphorically and literally; for it is a curious historical +fact, that her constitution, the result of the first regular movement +ever made by her people towards an independent civil government, was +adopted during the darkest period of the revolution, at an hour of +commotion and alarm, when the tempest of war was actually bursting over +her borders and threatening her entire subversion. And, as if to +make the event the more remarkable, the adoption took place amidst +a memorable thunder-storm, but for the happening of which, at that +particular juncture, as will soon appear, that important political +measure must have been postponed to a future period, and a period, too, +when the measure, probably, would have been defeated, and the blessings +of an independent government forever lost, owing to the dissensions, +which, as soon as the common danger was over, New York and New +Hampshire combined to scatter among her people. The whole history of the +settlement and organization of the state, indeed, exhibits a striking +anomaly when viewed with that of any other state in the Union. She may +emphatically be called the offspring of war and controversy. The long +and fierce dispute for her territory between the colonies above named +had sown her soil with dragon teeth, which at length sprang up in a crop +of hardy, determined, and liberty-loving men, who, instead of joining +either of the contending parties, soon resolved to take a stand for +themselves against both. And that stand, when taken, they maintained +with a spirit and success, to which, considering the discouragements, +difficulties, and dangers they were constantly compelled to encounter, +history furnishes but few parallels. But although every step of her +progress, from the felling of the first tree in her dark wilderness to +her final reception into the sisterhood of the states, was marked by +the severest trials, yet the summer of 1777--the period to which the +remainder of our tale refers--was, for her, far the most gloomy and +portentous. And still it was a period in which she filled the brightest +page of her history, and, at the same time, did more than in any other +year towards insuring her subsequent happy destiny. + +In the beginning of this eventful year, the people of Vermont, by +their delegates in formal convention assembled, had declared themselves +independent-- + + “Independent of all save the mercies of God,” + +as the poet, who has furnished us the heading of this chapter, and +who has so strikingly embodied the feelings of those he describes, has +significantly expressed it. And having taken measures for publishing +their declaration to the world, the convention closed their proceedings +by appointing a committee, selected as combining the most happily an +acquaintance with form and precedent with a knowledge of the ways and +wants of the people, to draft a constitution to be submitted to a new +convention, which the people were invited to call for that purpose. In +response to that call, a new convention assembled at Windsor, in +the month of July following, and proceeded, with that diligence and +scrupulous regard to the employment of their time for which the early +public bodies of this state were so noted, to take into consideration +the important instrument now submitted to them as a proper basis on +which to erect the superstructure of a civil government, suited to the +genius and necessities of an industrious and frugal people--a people +who, though keenly jealous of their individual rights, and exceedingly +restive under all foreign authority, had yet declared their willingness, +and even their wish, to receive and obey a system of legal restraints, +if it could be one of their own imposing. For five days, from rising +to setting sun, this convention employed the best energies of their +practical and enlightened minds in discussing and amending the document +before them. But their labors for the present, if not forever, had well +nigh been lost, for, soon after they had assembled, on the sixth day of +their session, and while they were intently listening to the reading +of the instrument for the last time before taking a final vote on its +adoption their proceedings were suddenly brought to a stand by the +alarming news, loudly proclaimed by a herald, who appeared on his +foam-covered horse before their open door, that Ticonderoga, the +supposed impregnable barrier of frontier defence, had fallen, and our +scattered troops were flying in every direction before a formidable +British army, that was sweeping, unopposed, along the western border of +the state, flanked by a horde of merciless savages, from whose fearful +irruptions not a dwelling on that side of the mountains would probably +be spared! + +This intelligence, so unexpected and so startling, too nearly concerned +the members of the convention, not only as patriots, but as men, to +permit their entire exemption from the general consternation and dismay +which were every where spreading around them; and many a staid heart +among them secretly trembled for the fate of the near and dear ones left +at homes in which the red tomahawk might, even at that very moment, be +busy at its work of death; while the bosoms of all were burning to be +freed from their present duties, that they might seize the sword or +musket and fly to the relief of their endangered families, or mingle +in the common defence against the haughty invaders of their soil. Any +further proceedings with the subject on hand, at such a moment, were +soon perceived to be utterly impossible; and a majority f the members +began to press eagerly for an immediate adjournment. But while a few of +their number, sharing less than the rest in the general agitation, or +being more deeply impressed with the importance of accomplishing, at +this time, an object now so nearly attained, were attempting to resist +the current, and prevent any action on the motion to adjourn, till time +was gained for reflection, an unwonted darkness, as if by the special +interposition of Providence, suddenly fell upon the earth. The +lightnings began to gleam through the dark and threatening masses of +cloud that had enveloped the sky, and the long, deep roll of thunder was +heard in different quarters of the heavens, giving warning of the severe +and protracted tempest which soon burst over them with a fury that +precluded all thought of venturing abroad, The prospect of being thus +confined to the place for some hours, and perhaps the whole day, taking +from those moving it all inducement for an immediate adjournment, they +now began to take a cooler view of their situation; and soon, by +common consent the business on hand was resumed. The reading of the +constitution was finished; and, while the storm was still howling +around, and the thunders breaking over them, that instrument was +adopted, and became the supreme law of the land. [Footnote: Through +inadvertence arising out of the unsettled state of the times, or design +among the leaders who might have fears for the result, the constitution +was never submitted to the people for their ratification or rejection; +but, no questions ever being raised on account of this informality it +was acquiesced in as valid and binding.] + +One thing more remained to be done; and that was, to constitute +a provisional government to act till the one pointed out by the +constitution just adopted could be established. This was now effected +by the appointment of that small body of men since known as the _Old +Council of Safety _of Vermont, and noted alike for the remarkable powers +with which they were clothed, and the remarkable manner in which +those powers were exercised; for, from the nature of the case, and +the emergency in which these men were called to act, they were almost +necessarily invested with the extraordinary combination of legislative, +judicial, and executive power. But this power, absolute and dictatorial +as it was, they never abused or exercised but for the public good; and +in this they were cheerfully sustained by the people, who felt that they +were thus not only sustaining the cause of freedom, but the laws which +were of their own providing, and which they were anxious should be +obeyed. + +To that unique assembly, of whose origin we have been speaking, we +propose next to introduce the reader. In obedience to an order of the +convention, issued at the moment of its hasty dissolution, near the +close of the memorable day before described, the different members +of this newly-appointed body, many of whom, it is believed, were also +members of the one just dissolved, had promptly convened at Arlington. +But finding themselves here endangered by the near vicinity of the +enemy, they had adjourned into the more interior town of Manchester, +within whose barricade of mountains they could proceed with their +deliberations with little fear of interruption. And here, conscious that +the eyes of all were turned anxiously upon them, in the expectation that +they would provide for the safety of the infant state, whose destinies +had been committed to their hands, they commenced the worse than +Egyptian task devolving on them--that of making adequate provisions for +the public defence, while the means were almost wholly wanting; for +with scarcely the visible means in the whole settlements in its then +exhausted and unsettled condition, of raising and supporting a single +company of soldiers, they were expected to raise an army. Without the +shadow of a public treasury, without any credit as a state, and without +the power of taxing the people,--which, by the constitution just +adopted, could only be done by the legislature not yet called,--they +were required to do that for which half a million of money might +be needed. Such were the difficulties by which they were met at the +outset--difficulties which, to men of ordinary stamina and mental +resources, would have been insurmountable. But these were not men of +ordinary stamina, either moral or mental. They had been selected by the +representatives of the people for the qualities which would fit them +to guide the helm of state in this difficult and alarming crisis. +And, unshrinkingly proceeding to the discharge of their high +responsibilities, they soon evinced, by their conduct, that the +confidence reposed in them had not been misplaced; for the glorious +results of the field of Bennington, and the incessant and harassing +warfare on the flanks of the enemy which both preceded and followed that +event, and which drew forth from its despairing leader his best apology +for his defeat and surrender, were, far more than is generally supposed, +the fruits of the combined energy and talents of that unequalled little +band of patriots and statesmen. [Footnote: A finer tribute of praise +to the Green Mountain Boys could scarcely have been given, than the one +involved in Burgoyne's letter to Lord Germain, written about the time +of the battle of Bennington, in which he says, “The Hampshire Grants, a +country unpeopled, and almost unknown, in the last war, now abounds in +the most active and the most rebellious race of men on the continent, +and hangs like a gathering storm on my left.”] But the particular time +we have chosen for lifting the curtain from their secret proceedings +was at the darkest and most disheartening hour they were doomed to +experience, and before the united mind of their body had been brought +to bear on any measure which afforded a reasonable promise of auspicious +results. The army of Burgoyne was then hovering on their borders in its +most menacing attitude. Marauding parties were daily penetrating the +interior, and plundering and capturing the defenceless inhabitants, +while each day brought the unwelcome news of the defection of +individuals who had openly gone off to swell the ranks of the victorious +enemy to whose alarming progress scarcely a show of resistance had +yet been interposed. Nor was this the end of the chapter of trials and +discouragements that awaited the council. Another blow was to be added, +more calculated than all to test their firmness and bring home to +their bosoms a sense of the perils of the crisis, and the necessity of +immediate action, unless they should conclude to yield at once to the +current of destiny which seemed to be setting so strongly against them. +But let us present the mortifying and disgraceful event, to which we +last alluded, in another form, in which the historic pen, that thus far +in this chapter has only been employed, may be legitimately aided by the +pencil of fancy, while we bring the leading individuals of this body to +view, and sketch the details of a scene as truthful in outline as it was +important in result. + +The long summer day was drawing to a close. It had been thus far spent +by the council, as had been the several preceding days of their session, +in discussing the subject of the ways and means of doing something to +avert the doom that hung over their seemingly devoted state. But up to +this hour their deliberations had been wholly fruitless. Project after +project for the means of raising military forces had been brought +forward and discussed; and each in turn had been thought to be +impracticable, and had been consequently abandoned, till, wearied with +their unavailing labors, and discouraged at the dubious prospect before +them, they now began to think of giving up business for the day, when +the door-keeper, with unwonted haste and an agitated manner, entered +the room, and announced to the astonished members of the council the +alarming tidings that one of their own body, and, until that day, an +active participator in their discussions, had proved a Judas, and was +now, with a band of his recreant neighbors, on his way to the British +camp. The news fell like a thunder-clap on the council, producing, at +first, a sensation not often witnessed in so grave an assemblage. But no +formal comments were offered; and, after the commotion had subsided, all +sunk into a thoughtful silence, which we will improve by our promised +introduction to the reader of the leading members of the council. + +Separated from the rest by a sort of enclosure composed of tables strung +across one end of the apartment, which was a large upper room of an inn, +hastily fitted up for the occasion, conspicuously sat the president of +the council, the venerable Thomas Chittenden, the wise, the prudent, and +the good, who was to Vermont what Washington was to the Union; and who, +though not possessing dazzling greatness, had yet that rare combination +of moral and intellectual qualities which was more fortunate for +him--good sense, great discretion, firmness, honesty of purpose, +benevolence, and unvarying equanimity of temper, united with a modest +and pleasing address. And by the long and continued exercise of this +golden mean of qualities, he was destined to leave behind him an honest, +enduring fame--a memorial of good deeds and useful every-day examples, +to be remembered and quoted, both in the domestic circle and in the +public assembly, when the far superior brilliancy of many a contemporary +had passed away and been forgotten. He was now something over fifty; but +so fine were his physical endowments, and so temperate and regular had +been his habits, that time had scarcely left a trace on his manly brow; +and his fair and well-moulded features had almost the freshness +of youth. And notwithstanding the unpretending simplicity of his +deportment, and the extreme plainness of his dress, the large arm-chair, +in which he now reclined, furnished probably by some considerate matron +of the neighborhood for his special convenience, could not have found, +in the broad land, an occupant who would have filled it with more native +dignity, or one better fitted to restrain by courteous firmness, and +by tact guide into safe and appropriate fields of action, the less +disciplined and more fiery spirits of the body over which he presided. + +Let us now take a glance at the more prominent members of this notable +little band of public conservators. Here, immersed in thought, sat, side +by side, like brothers, as they were, the two Fays, those intelligent, +enterprising, and persevering friends of freedom and state independence. +And there sat the two Robinsons, alike patriotic, and active, or able, +according to the different spheres of action in which they were about +to be distinguished--one in the tented field, and the other on the +bench and in the national councils. In another place was seen the short, +thick-set form of the uncompromising Matthew Lyon, the Irish refugee, +who was willing to be sold to pay his passage to America, for the sake +of getting out of the despotic moral atmosphere of the old world, into +one where his broad chest, as he was wont to say, could expand freely, +and where his bold spirit could soar unclogged by the trammels of +legitimacy. In his eagle eye, in every lineament of his clear, ardent, +and fearless countenance, indeed, might be read the promise of what he +was to become--the stern democrat, and the well-known champion of the +whole right and the largest liberty. In contrast to him, near by was +seen the tall, commanding form, and the firm and thoughtful countenance, +of Benjamin Carpenter, who had just arrived, with pack and cane, from +Guilford, from which he had that day come on foot by a route designated +by marked trees, through the mountain wilderness, nearly thirty miles in +extent. Farther on, and seated before an open window, was Thomas Rowley, +the first poet of the Green Mountains. He was here because he was a +public favorite, a trusty patriot, and something of a statesman. +But, like most other poets, he was not without his peculiarities of +temperament, as might have been seen by his manner and movements even in +this staid assembly; for, as if disgusted with a tedious and profitless +debate, and determined also not long to be troubled by the disconcerting +news just announced, he had now evidently cast these cares from his +mind, to indulge in the more congenial employment of gazing out upon the +landscape, over which his kindling eye might have been seen to wander, +till it rested, in rapture, on the broad empurpled side and bright +summit of the lofty Equinox Mountain, whose contrasted magnificence was +growing every moment more striking and beautiful in the beams of the +low-descending sun. On the opposite side of the room stood the mild and +gentlemanly Nathan Clark, the future speaker of the first legislature +of Vermont; and by his side, the dark and rough-featured Gideon Olin, +an embryo member of Congress, was leaning against the wall, with a +countenance of mingled sternness and gloom. + +By the side of one of the tables, in front of the president, might +also have been seen the stout, burly frame, and the matter-of-fact +and business-like countenance, of Paul Spooner, engaged in writing +a despatch. And as the last, though not as the least, among the +strongly-contrasted characters of this assembly of whom we propose to +take note, let us turn to the youthful secretary of the council, Ira +Allen. So much the junior of his colleagues was he, indeed, that a +spectator might well have wondered how he came to be selected as one of +such a sage and elderly body of councillors. But those who procured +his appointment knew full well why they had done so; and his history +thenceforward was destined to prove a continued justification of their +high opinion of him. He was of an active, mercurial turn, and, as might +have been seen, was not inclined to remain long in one place or posture. +He had now thrown aside his rapid pen, and, with a quick, light step +and deeply-cogitating air, was traversing back and forth the open space +between his table, in front of the president, and the closed door of the +apartment. Both in form and feature, he was one of the handsomest men +of his day; while a mind at once versatile, clear, and penetrating, with +perceptions as quick as light, was stamped on his Grecian brow, or found +a livelier expression in his lucid black eyes and other lineaments of +his strikingly intellectual countenance. Such as he appeared for the +first time on the stage of public action was the noted Ira Allen, whose +true history, when written, will show him to have been, either secretly +or openly, the originator, or successful prosecutor, of more important +political measures, affecting the interests and independence of the +state, and the issue of the war in the Northern Department, than any +other individual in Vermont, making him, with the many peculiar traits +of character he possessed, one of the most remarkable men of the times +in which he so conspicuously figured. + +“I have finished, Mr. President,” said Spooner, now breaking the gloomy +silence which had, for an unusual interval, pervaded the assembly--“I +have finished the despatch, suggested by your honor, requiring +the attendance of the absent member from the east side of the +mountain--General Bayley. And having put it into the form of a familiar +letter, I have ventured to enlarge somewhat on our perplexing situation, +especially in the matter of the miserable Squire Spencer, whose +treasonable desertion I little dreamed, when I commenced writing, I +should have the mortification of announcing.” [Footnote: The original +letter from Paul Spooner to General Jacob Bayley, of Newbury, written +in council, requiring the attendance of the latter, and informing him +of Spencer's defection, and the gloomy situation of affairs, is still +preserved, and affords, notwithstanding the disheartening news it +communicates, a striking proof of the determination of that body to +struggle on to the last against the mountain of difficulties which, at +this dark crisis, seemed to lie before them.] + +“That is well,” responded the president; “and we must look up some +suitable messenger to convey it to its destination. But I had hoped +to forward, by the same hand, the despatch requesting the aid and +co-operation of New Hampshire, which has been deferred till some +definite action of our own should enable us to inform the council of +that state what we of the Grants propose to do ourselves towards the +object for which we invoke their assistance. This they will doubtless +consider essential to be known, before listening to our call, as +otherwise they will not know whether they will find among us more +friends to assist than enemies to impede them. But what can we now tell +them? I will submit to you, gentlemen of the council,” he continued, +in a kindly expostulating tone--“I will submit to your good sense and +patriotism, whether it is not now time to adopt some decided course to +be pursued. We must not be disheartened by a few untoward circumstances. +Providence not unfrequently frowns on us for our own good. And who +shall say, in the present instance, that our deliberations have not been +wisely and kindly rendered of no effect till after Spencer's desertion, +since, had we adopted a plan of operations while he was here, the whole +of it, by this time, had been in the possession of the British general? +But be that as it may, the event of this man's apostasy, of itself, +instead of making us timid and irresolute in action, should but render +us more prompt and decided. The people, as we all feel painfully +conscious, I presume, expect much from us. Shall we disappoint them in +every thing? Because we cannot consistently do all that may be expected, +shall we resolve to do nothing? I have listened to your objections +to levying a general tax upon the people, as the means of raising a +military force; and, with you, I consider them valid; for to infringe +the constitution, just adopted, by an arbitrary taxation, would be +setting a dangerous precedent, and one which would come with a bad grace +from those of us here who helped to adopt it. No; we must resort +to other means. We can, if we will, borrow, pledging ourselves as +individuals, with such others as we may find willing to stand sponsors +with us, that the state shall hereafter pay the debt; or we may +resort to voluntary contributions. I am aware the people are unable to +contribute much. I am aware that a great portion of the inhabitants have +been driven from their homes, and are now living on the hospitality +of the rest. But for all this, the people can and will cheerfully +contribute something--more, I think, than we should be willing to +require of them. I have ten head of cattle, which can be spared for the +emergency. But am I more patriotic than you, and hundreds of others in +the settlement? My wife has a valuable gold necklace. Hint to her to-day +that it is needed for the public service, and, my word for it, to-morrow +you will find it in the treasury of freedom. But is my wife any more +public-spirited than yours and many others among us? Gentlemen, I await +your propositions.” + +During this moderate, but really well-timed and effective appeal of the +president, drooping heads began to be raised, perplexed and desponding +countenances grew brighter, and by the time he had closed, several +speakers were on their feet, eager to respond. + +“Mr. Carpenter has the floor, I think, gentlemen,” said the president. + +“I rose,” said Carpenter, “but to give my hearty response to the +sentiments of the chair. It _is_ time, _high_ time, for some definite +and decided action. Less talking and more action shall henceforth be +_my_ motto. I have not now, it is true, any digested proposition to +present to the council; but I soon will have one, unless others are +offered; for, in this emergency, it is little short of a crime to dally +any longer.” + +“Ay, action! action!” responded several voices. + +“Action let it be, then,” said Rowley, the next rising to speak. “If it +be true, as has been urged, Mr. President, that we cannot raise money +by general assessment without exceeding our power; and disaffecting +the people, and that we must depend on voluntary contribution, which +receivers, appointed for the purpose, may more appropriately gather +in than ourselves, why are we needed here? I will, therefore, make a +proposition, which, while it will be obnoxious to none of the objections +brought against other plans of defence, will give gentlemen as much +action as they want. I propose, Mr. President, that each of us here, +before any more of us run away to the enemy, seize a standard, repair +singly to the different hamlets among our mountains, cause the summoning +drum to beat for volunteers, and lead them, when obtained, to do battle +in person with this Jupiter Olympus of a British general, who has so +nearly annihilated the country by proclamation.” + +“Tom Rowley all over! but a gallant push nevertheless,” vivaciously +exclaimed Samuel Robinson, in an under tone. “And yet, Mr. President,” + he continued, dropping the jocose, and now rising to speak in form--“and +yet, if our colleague's spirited proposal could be carried into effect, +and men be found to volunteer under such military leaders as most of us +would make,--or if the different towns, as has been suggested by others, +would order out the militia on our requisition,--even then, it appears +to me, we should raise a permanent and regularly enlisted force, to +serve a rallying point or nucleus for the militia, or our patriotic +friend's army of volunteers. I therefore move, as I was about to do when +others claimed the floor--I move the raising of a regular force, however +small our means may compel us to make it; and as the smallest to be +thought of, I will name one company of one hundred men, to be raised and +supported by one of the methods suggested by the president.” + +“And I,” said Clark, promptly rising--“and I, believing we may venture +to go a little higher than that, I propose, we have to raise two +companies of sixty men each.” + +“No, No!” cried several voices; “one company. Means can be found for no +more than one.” + +“Yes, yes! the larger number first, Mr. President! I go for two +companies,” cried others. + +“And I go for neither, Mr. President,” said Ira Allen stopping short in +his walk, and turning to the chair. “For I believe the council, on a +little reflection, will conclude to do something more worthy of the +character of the Green Mountain Boys, than the raising of the paltry +force which even the bes' of these propositions involves. And I doubt +not the means of so doing may be soon and abundantly supplied, without +infringing the constitution or distressing the people. And I therefore +move, sir, that this council resolve to raise a full regiment of men, +forthwith appoint their officers, and take such prompt and speedy +measures for their enlistment, that, within one week every glen in +Vermont shall resound with the stir of military preparation.” + +“Chimerical!” said one, who, in common with the rest of the council, +seemed to hear, with much surprise, a proposition of this magnitude +so confidently offered, when the doubt appeared to be whether even the +comparatively trifling one of Clark would be adopted. + +“Impossible, utterly impossible to raise pay for half of them,” + responded several others. + +“Don't let us say that till we are compelled to do so,” said the +patriotic Carpenter, in an encouraging tone. “This proposition jumps +so well with my wishes, that I would not see it hastily abandoned. For, +although I confess I do not pretend to see where the requisite means are +to come from, yet some new light, in this respect, may break in upon +us by another day. And could we but see our way clear to sustain this +proposition, we should feel like men again.” + +“Amen to all that,” responded Clark. “And as the hour for adjournment +has now arrived, I move that our young colleague, who offered this +proposition with so much confidence in the discovery of a way to carry +it into execution, and who is said to be very fertile in expedients, +be appointed a committee to devise the ways and means of paying the +bounties and wages of the regiment he proposes to raise; and that he +make his report to the council by sunrise to-morrow morning.” + +“Second that motion, Mr. President,” cried Lyon, in his usual full, +determined tone of voice and strong Irish accent. “I go for the whole of +Mr. Allen's proposition, means or no means. But the means can, must, and +shall be found, sir! We will put the gentleman's brains under the screws +to-night,” he continued, jocosely turning to Allen; “and if he appears +here in the morning empty-handed, he ought to be expelled from the +council. Ay, and I'll move it, too, by the two bulls that redeemed me!” + [Footnote: Matthew Lyon, who very soon became much noted as a leading +partisan in the legislature of Vermont, and subsequently more so as +member of congress from Kentucky, having, as before intimated, been sold +to pay his passage from Ireland to Connecticut, where he landed, was +afterwards redeemed by the payment of a pair of bulls to the purchaser, +by a gentleman of that state, for whom he was permitted to labor, at +liberal wages, till this novel kind of indebtedness was cancelled. +And as this bold and singular man entered upon the scenes of life as a +successful freeman, he was fond of boasting of the romantic manner +in which he became one, while the expression, “By the two bulls that +redeemed me,” became his favorite oath on all occasions.] + +“I accept the terms,” replied Allen, bowing pleasantly to the former. +“Give me a room by myself, pen, ink, paper, and a lamp, and I will abide +the condition.” + +“For your lamp, Mr. Allen, as your task is to discover money where there +is none, I advise you to borrow the wonderful lamp of Aladin,” gayly +added Rowley, as the question was put, and carried; and the council, +in a half-serious, half-sportive mood, broke up, and separated for the +night. + +At sunrise, the next morning, as had been proposed, the council +punctually assembled to receive the promised report of their committee. +Most of them, from having lodged in the same house, were aware that +Allen had spent the whole of the intervening time on the business which +had been committed to his charge; for, hour after hour, during that +important night, they had heard the sound of his footsteps, as he +continued to walk his solitary chamber, intensely revolving in his +teeming mind the vexed question, upon the decision of which he felt the +last chance of making a successful stand against the invaders of the +state would probably depend. And this and the expectation, which had +somehow been generally raised, that he would present some feasible plan +for carrying out his proposals, the character of which no one could +conjecture, caused his appearance to be awaited with no little curiosity +and solicitude. They were not left long in suspense; for scarcely had +the president called the council to order, before Allen came in, holding +in his hand an open sheet of paper, to which, as the yet undried ink +showed, he had just committed the result of his night's labor. + +“Is the committee, appointed at adjournment last evening prepared to +make his report?” asked the president. + +“Fully, your honor,” promptly responded Allen, who accordingly then rose +and said,-- + +“My report, Mr. President, consists of two parts. The first comprises +the nomination of a list of officers, from colonel to subaltern, for +a regiment, to be styled _The Rangers_. The second part involves the +subject more particularly committed to me, and proposes the means of +raising and supporting them. As the first will be useless unless the +second is adopted, I will submit it without present reading, and proceed +at once with the second and more important proposition, which, after +a long and patient consideration of every argument for and against the +measure, I have concluded to recommend to the council, as the best and +most effectual means of securing the desired end. And that proposition, +for the sake of convenience, as regards the action of the council on +the principle involved, I have thrown into the form of the following +resolution:-- + +“Resolved, That by specific decree of this council, and under +regulations hereafter to be made, the estates, both real and personal, +of all those who have been, or hereafter may be, identified as tories, +aiders and abettors of the enemy, within this state, be confiscated for +the military defence thereof; and that so much of said estates as may +be needed for the payment of the bounties and wages of the regiment now +proposed to be raised, be forthwith seized, and within ten days sold at +the post, for that purpose, by the officers appointed by this council to +execute its orders and decrees in that behalf.” + +The speaker, without offering any further remark in explanation or +defence of the measure he had reported, resumed his seat, and calmly +awaited the expression of the council. But they were taken by such +complete surprise by a proposition at that time so entirely new in the +colonies, so bold and so startling in its character, that, for many +minutes, not a word or whisper was heard through the hushed assembly, +whose bowed heads and working countenances showed how deeply their minds +were engaged in trying to grapple with the momentous subject, upon which +their action was thus unexpectedly required. At length, nowever, +low murmurs of doubt or disapproval began to be heard; and soon the +expressions, “_unprecedented step!_”--“_doubtful policy!_” and “_injury +to the cause_” became distinguishable among the over-prudent in +different parts of the room when Matthew Lyon sprang to his feet, +and, bringing his broad palms together with a loud slap, exultingly +exclaimed,-- + +“The child is born, Mr, President! My head has been in a continual fog, +every hour since we convened, till the present moment; and I could +see no way by which we could even begin to do all that the exigency +required, without running against law, or distressing the people. But +now, thank God, I can see my way out. I can now see, at a glance, how +all can be speedily and righteously accomplished. I can already see a +regiment of our brave mountaineers in arms before me, as the certain +fruits of this bold, bright thought of our sagacious and intrepid +young colleague. Unprecedented step is it? It may be so with us +timid republicans but is it so with our enemies, who are this moment +threatening to crush us, because we object to receive their law and +precedent? How were they to obtain the lands of the half of Vermont, +which, it is said, they recently offered the lion-hearted Ethan Allen, +if he would join them, but by confiscating _our_ estates? What +has become of the estates of those in their own country, who, like +ourselves, have rebelled against their government? From time immemorial +they have been confiscated. Can they complain then, at our following a +precedent of their own setting? Can they complain because _we_ adopt +a measure, which, in case we are vanquished, they will not be slow to +visit on _our_ estates, to say nothing of our necks? Can these recreant +rascals themselves, who have left their property among us, and gone off +to help fasten this very government upon us, complain at our doing what +they will be the first to recommend to be done to us, if their side +prevails? Where, then, is the doubtful policy of our anticipating them +in this measure, any more than in seizing one of their loaded guns +in battle, and turning it against them? Injury to the cause, will it +be?--Will it injure our cause here, where men are daily deserting to the +British, in belief that we shall not dare touch their property to +strike a blow that will deter _all_ the wavering, and most others of any +property, from leaving us hereafter? Will it injure our cause here to +have a regiment of regular troops, who will, perhaps, draw into the +field four times their number, in volunteers? If this be an injury, Mr. +President, I only wish we may have a few more of them; for, with a half +dozen such injuries, by the two bulls, we would rout Burgoyne's whole +army in a fortnight. Yes, Mr. President, this measure must go; for +it promises every thing to cause, and threatens nothing that honest +patriots need fear, and had I a hundred tongues, they should all wag a +good stiff ay for its adoption.” + +“A bold measure, boldly advocated!” next spoke Carpenter. “But as bold +as it is, Mr. President, I rise not to condemn it, but rather to say, +that I am determined to meet it fairly, and without fear; and if, when I +get cool enough to trust myself to make a decision, the objections to +it appear no more formidable than they now do, I will give it my hearty +support.” + +“If the public should call this a desperate remedy, they must recollect +that it is almost our only one,” remarked Olin, in his cool, quiet +manner. “Nothing venture, nothing have;--let us go for it who dare!” + +“Let us _oppose_ it who dare!” warmly responded Lyon. “The measure +will be a popular one; and let it once be known among the people, as I +promise gentlemen it shall be, that this proposition was considerately +recommended to us by a committee we appointed for the purpose--let this +be known, and who among us has nerve enough to stem the storm of popular +indignation that will burst on his head, for the timid and cowardly +policy which led him to go against it?” + +“Vermont,” added Rowley--“Vermont was the first to show her sister +states the way to take a British fort; let her also be the first to +teach them the secret of making tories bear their proportion of the +burdens of the war. I am already prepared to give the measure my +support, Mr. President.” + +Almost every member, in turn, now threw in a few observations. The +doubts and fears of the more cautious and wavering gradually gave way; +and it soon became evident that the measure had found too much favor +with the council to be resisted. Lyon, with his rough and pithy +eloquence, had broken the ice of timidity at the right moment; and +he and the originator of the measure, at first the only unhesitating +members of the assembly, perceiving the gathering current in its favor, +now warmly followed up their advantage; and, within two hours from its +introduction, the resolution was adopted. This was immediately followed +by the passage of the decree named in the resolution, specifying the +names of those thus far fairly identified as openly espousing the +British cause in Vermont, and declaring their estates forfeited to its +use. Allen's proposal to raise a regiment of rangers was then, as a +matter of course, unanimously carried, and the officers he had nominated +were, with a few alterations, as unanimously appointed. All were now +animated with a new spirit. Hope and confidence had taken the place of +doubt and despondency in their bosoms and the remainder of the day was +spent in carrying out the details of their plan, which all agreed should +now be put into execution with the greatest possible promptitude and +secrecy. In this, as soon as the different appointments, made necessary +for the execution of the decree, were completed by the united action of +the council, all the members, individually, took an active part. And for +many hours, they might have been seen sitting round the tables, silently +and intently engaged with their pens; some in drafting despatches to be +sent to New Hampshire and Massachusetts, some in writing confidential +letters, unfolding their plans and asking the co-operation of the +leading men in the different parts of their own state, and some in +making out commissions for the military officers, or the commissioners +and other officers of confiscation, while others were out, scattering +themselves about town, warily and cautiously inquiring out prompt +and trusty messengers, to be despatched, as soon as it was dark, +simultaneously and post-haste, to convey these important missives +to their different destinations round the country. And all being +accomplished,--the blow struck, and the machinery put in motion,--the +council concluded to adjourn, to meet again in a few days at Bennington, +the interim to be spent by them in repairing to their respective spheres +of influence among the people, and there taking an active part in +defending and explaining their measures, and assisting to carry them +into operation. + +Such was the origin of those temporary tribunals in Vermont, +subsequently termed courts of confiscation, which formed a prominent +feature in her early history, and which furnished, it is believed, the +first example of the exercise of this extraordinary power ever known in +the United Colonies during the revolutionary struggle. And whatever may +have been the effects of this retributive policy in other states, its +results here were salutary and important. It put an immediate stop to +any further espousing of British interests, especially among men of +property, while, within the astonishingly short space of fifteen days, +it brought a regiment of men into the field, well armed and prepared +for instant service,--thus securing those advantages to the defenders +of liberty, in the peculiar posture of their affairs in which it was +introduced, and giving that impetus to their military operations, +without which the brilliant successes that marked the ensuing campaign +in Vermont could never have been obtained. Of this there can scarcely +be a doubt. And scarcely less doubt can there be, that the important +measure in question would not have been brought forward and adopted at +the crisis, in which alone the advantages it then secured could have +been denied from us but for its sole projector, the sagacious, scheming, +and fearless Ira Allen. + +Speculative writers have often amused themselves in tracing great +events to small causes. And in this they have oftentimes so wonderfully +succeeded, as to show, beyond the power of man to refute, some of the +most trivial circumstances of life, considered by themselves, to have +caused the revolutions of empires. Were we to make out an instance of +this character, to be added to the many other remarkable ones which have +been noted by the curious, it should be done by tracing the independence +of America to the measure which Allen so boldly projected, as he +walked his lonely chamber, on the eventful night we have described. The +independence of the colonies was, at that dark crisis, balancing, as +on a pivot; and the success of Burgoyne must seemingly have turned the +scale against us. The success of Burgoyne, at the same time, hung on +a pivot also; and the victory of Bennington, with all its numberless +direct and indirect consequences, as now seems generally conceded, +turned the scale of his fortunes when his success, otherwise, could +scarcely have been doubtful. But the victory of Bennington would +never have been achieved but for the decided and energetic movement of +Vermont, which alone secured the cooperation of New Hampshire, or, +at least insured victory, when, otherwise, no battle would have been +rewarded. And that essential movement of Vermont would never have been +made but for the bold and characteristic project of Ira Allen. + +All this, to be sure, is but supposition; but who can gainsay its +truthfulness? + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + “Say what is woman's heart?--a thing + Where all the deepest feelings spring; + And what its love?--a ceaseless stream, + A changeless star--an endless dream-- + A smiling flower, that will not die-- + A beauty and a mystery!” + + +While the scenes last described were occurring at Manchester, in the +Council of Safety, whose secret and unforeseen action was about to be +felt in the remotest corners of the state, an athletic, well-formed, +though plainly-dressed young man, whose fortunes, in common with those +of hundreds around him, were suddenly and unexpectedly to be affected +by the movements of that body, might have been seen, in the evening +twilight, moving, with slow and apparently hesitating steps, across a +new-mown field, towards a neat and commodious dwelling, situated on the +main road leading from the town just named, to the south, and near where +it entered the then fast increasing little village of Bennington. Though +he wore no regular military uniform, or arms that were visible, yet +there was that in his gait, manner, and general appearance, which +indicated the recent occupation of a soldier, while the natural cast of +his bold, manly features, and the clear, calm, and steady expression +of his fine countenance, all combined to show him a man of coolness and +courage; and that, consequently, the seeming timidity and indecision +of his present movements were attributable to some passing doubts +respecting the issue of the business on hand, or other causes of +a similar character, rather than any general want of firmness and +resolution. After advancing within a stone's throw of the house, he +turned into a clump of small trees, which, extending along the outer +border of an unenclosed garden to the north of the establishment, had +concealed his approach; and here taking a position that commanded a view +of the front and rear entrances of the house, he seemed to await some +expected event, with manifestations of considerable uneasiness and +solicitude. In a few moments, a slight stir, as of company taking +leave, was heard in the front part of the house; and very soon a +fashionably-dressed personage of a somewhat swaggering deportment, +accompanied with many of those supercilious airs with which the colonial +loyalists of the times often thought to dignify their carriage among +despised republicans, made his appearance in the yard, where, equipped +for riding, stood a stout, well-conditioned horse, which he approached +and led out some distance into the road, preparatory to mounting. He +then paused, and, with a hasty glance around him, covertly drew forth, +from a concealed girdle apparently, a pair of good-sized pistols, and +carefully examined their flints and priming; after which he replaced +them, and, vaulting into his saddle, rode leisurely away along the road +leading northward. In the mean time, the person first described retained +his position within his leafy concealment, where, unseen himself, he had +seen and watched from the first, with keen interest, all the +movements of the other, whom, at length, he seemed to recognize, with +recollections which caused him to recoil, and his whole countenance +to contract and darken with angry and disquieting emotions. He was not +allowed much time, however, for indulging his disturbed feelings; +for scarcely had the object of his annoyance disappeared, before his +attention was attracted by a slight rustling sound somewhere within the +garden; when, turning his head, the frown that had gathered on his brow +suddenly gave place to a look of joyful animation, as his eager eye +caught a glimpse of the light, fluttering drapery of a female, who, with +soft, rapid tread, was gliding along the outer edge of the screening +shrubbery towards him. The next instant he was at her side, ardently +grasping her half-proffered hand, and tenderly gazing into her +sweetly-confused countenance. + +“How grateful,” he began, after a broken salutation--“how grateful I +should be for this obliging attention to the note I sent you, soliciting +a meeting which--” + +“Which my gallant preserver of old will be pretty sure to misconstrue, I +fear me,” interrupted the maiden, with a half-murmured, sportive laugh. + +“No, Miss Haviland,” he replied, too intent on a serious demonstration +of his feelings to respond in the same spirit--“no, I am not so +presuming; nor do I wish to count on the former service, which you so +magnify, and which has induced you, perhaps, to grant this interview.” + +“In part, I confess,” was the answer to this implied question. + +“I suspected--I feared so,” he rejoined, despondingly. “Would to Heaven +you could have acted entirely aside from that motive, and then I +might have found cause to hope. But now,” he added, with suppressed +emotion--“now--But O, how can I harbor the chilling thought of being +doomed to love without a return! Say, fairest and best, must this indeed +be so?” + +The downcast look and the quick-heaving bosom were the only reply; +and the impassioned lover, gathering courage even from these uncertain +indications, proceeded:-- + +“Years, eventful years, have passed away, my dear Miss Haviland, since +your face, like some unexpected vision, first greeted my sight, and its +image, at the same moment, as a thing not to be resisted, sunk deep +into my heart. And there, from that hour to this, it has constantly +remained--remained in spite of all my attempts to exclude it; for I +struggled hard to banish it, as I had so much reason to do. You were the +daughter of wealth and prosperity--I the son of poverty and misfortune; +and, what was more revolting to my pride, you were found with my +political opponents--my oppressors--nay, in the closest connection, +apparently, with my bitterest foe. But with all the aid which these +thoughts and associations were calculated to lend me, I struggled in +vain. And when I was driven, poor, sorrowing, and desperate, from my +home, by the wrongs and insults of this same man, of whose position +towards you I was not left in doubt, I carried that image with me. It +would not be eradicated; it would not even fade; but became more deeply +impressed, and grew more and more vivid with time and change. In the +stirring scenes of military life into which I then entered,--in the +hour of battle, the exhausting march, the horrors of a prisonship, the +perilous escape, and the lone wanderings through the wilderness, till I +again reached the soil of freedom,--in all these, the impress remained +unweakened, constantly presenting itself to my thoughts by day, and +shaping my dreams by night. And it was this, when, on my return, I +came into this quarter, where I had learned our scattered troops were +rallying, and where I found myself near you--it was this that brought me +to your father's dwelling--it was this, which, in spite of the coldness +of my reception by all but yourself, urged me to the repeated visit, in +which I was driven with insults from your house.” + +“Not by me, Mr. Woodburn,” interposed the fair listener, in kindly and +earnest tones--“not by me, nor by my consent or sanctioning. And it was +mainly to show you this that I was induced to grant your request for +this, on my part, I fear, imprudent meeting. No! O, no, sir, I have +never forgotten--I can never forget--to whom I am indebted for my life; +and gratitude as well as respect for his general character, will ever +forbid aught but kind and courteous treatment at my hands. And I hope +you will make some allowance for my father, who feels so strongly that +the people, whose cause you espouse, are criminally wrong.” + +“I do make an allowance,” responded Woodburn--“great allowance for his +imbittered state of mind towards the defenders of the American cause; +but does that fully account for the course he pursues towards me?” + +“To be frank with you, sir, it does not,” she replied, after some +hesitation. “There are those often with my father, who are not backward +in fanning his prejudices, and perhaps in instigating the undeserved +treatment you have received. I may be unwise in saying this; but justice +to all, it appears to me, requires that you should be apprised of it. +You will not surely make use of this to embroil us?” + +“Certainly not; but what you communicate is hardly news to me. I well +understand that the principal one of those to whom you allude is no +other than the person who just rode away from your house.” + +“You saw him, then? I am thankful you did not come in collision with +him; for he is a man you must avoid. Yes, that was indeed Colonel +Peters.” + +“_Colonel_ Peters! _Colonel_, did you call him? Has he, then, actually +joined the British forces, and received a commission for such a post in +their army?” + +“Yes; but I had supposed this was known, else I might have hesitated to +disclose it, lest his frequent visits here might implicate my father, +who, I hope, may be induced to remain neutral in this unhappy contest.” + +“Fear not, fair friend. No advantage shall be taken of this, through my +means, to the injury of your father. But, tell me, does that officious +adviser of your father still urge a suit, and plead an engagement, of +which, I have inferred, you would not be sorry to be relieved?” + +“He does,” answered the maiden, sadly--“he does urge a suit, and insist +on an engagement, of which he knows I wish to be relieved.” + +“Why should he do this?” + +“Perhaps he counts on the effect of events to reconcile me--events which +he seems to expect will shortly happen--the complete triumph of his +cause, the disgrace, banishment, or death of its cpposers, and his own +elevation thereby to stations which, he thinks no woman will refuse to +share with him. He counts much also, probably, on the aiding influence +of my father, who feels warmly interested in his success, and believes +with the other that he, who is so loyal, while so many of his standing +are otherwise, cannot fail of reaping a brilliant harvest of rewards, +which, with the connection they propose, will reflect lustre on our +family.” + +“Then it does not occur to them,” said Woodburn, with a smile at this +specimen of that loyal air-castle building in which the tories of the +revolution seemed to have so extravagantly indulged--“it does not occur +to them that it is even _possible_ these splendid schemes may fail, +in the failure of their cause in this country, which has thus, in +anticipation, been parcelled out into dukedoms and lordships, to reward +its sanguine adherents?” + +“One would think not, from their conversation on the subject,” replied +the other. + +“And what thinks _she_, whom they would have so much _interested_ in +this great issue?” asked Woodburn, encouraged to the question by the +manner and tone of her last remark. “Has it never occurred to _her_ mind +that their cause, as strong as they deem it, is destined to fail; that +even this vaunting army, which hangs so menacingly on our borders, +may be swept away by the vengeance of a wronged, an insulted, and now +aroused people; and that this despised people have right and Heaven on +their side; and by the blessings of that Heaven, while they do battle +in the consciousness of that right, will yet triumph, and become an +independent nation, to which even her present haughty foe will do +reverence?” + +“It has,” replied the maiden, warmly and with emphasis--“it has, +Mr. Woodburn; and--why should I attempt to conceal it?--and I have +wished--for I could not help it, though against the feelings, and, +perhaps, the best interests of a generally kind parent--I have long +secretly wished, and even prayed, for your success; because I could not +stifle the conviction of the truth of what you assert respecting the +wrongs of the American people, and the justice of their cause.” + +“Sabrey Haviland,” exclaimed the surprised and delighted lover, “as long +as I have respected and loved you, I have never till this moment, known +you--never half appreciated the worth of your character!” + +“What you may appreciate highly, sir, others may as highly condemn,” she +meekly responded. “I have said more to you than I have ever expressed +to human being; and I may be wrong--wrong in saying it to you--wrong in +saying it or believing it at all.” + +“Wrong? O, no, no, noble girl!” he rejoined, with increasing animation; +“no, you are not wrong; you are right--right in your convictions, right +in the wish, the prayer, and the declaration. Men will honor your honest +independence, exercised against so much to bias and prejudice, so much +to tempt and dazzle you; and Heaven will approve and bless you. But with +such sentiments,” he added, in tenderly expostulating accents--“with +such sentiments, dear lady, will you doom me to plead my heart's cause +in vain? Will you still adhere to a lover active in the work of +oppression which you condemn, and reject his rival, equally active in +the cause you approve and pray for?” + +“I see my error, Mr. Woodburn,” she replied, with an air of +self-reproach and of slightly-offended pride, which, however, gave way +to kindly tones, as she proceeded; “I have unintentionally helped you to +an argument, while I am constrained to decide that no argument, so long +as I stand in my present position, must prevail with me. Do not, then, +O, do not press me with questions like these. You know not the extent of +my perplexities, and I may not explain. Besides, are these the times +to engage in such affairs, when the next hour may lead to an eternal +separation, or place our respective destinies as wide as the poles +asunder?” + +“But will you not allow me even to hope for the future?” still persisted +the lover. + +“Why should I bid you tantalize yourself with hopes so likely to prove +futile, when nobler thoughts should engross you? Look, Mr. Woodburn,” + she said, pointing, with charming enthusiasm, towards the distant +summits of Manchester, then beginning to be dimly visible in the rays of +the rising moon, “cast your eyes northward! Beneath yon blue mountains +is gathered the council of your people. There also rolls the recruiting +drum of your brave Warner, who needs men like you; or if, as you +intimated, you are waiting to engage in a different corps, which your +council is expected to raise, would not your attendance there be more +worthily bestowed, than in adding to the perplexities of one already so +thickly surrounded with difficulties, and one who, to your suit, cannot +say yea, while she would be pained to say nay?” + +“Cruel girl, but noble in your cruelty!” exclaimed Woodburn, with +mingled disappointment and admiration. “I will forbear to press my suit +for the present, but not forever. I will heed the lesson of patriotism +you have given me, but only to remember my fair prompter with deeper +devotion.” + +“Hark!” said the other, starting; “I hear my father's chiding voice in +the house inquiring for me. I must go. Adieu, Mr. Woodburn. With this +tendered hand of friendship and gratitude, adieu.” + +“If it must be so, my precious, my beautiful one, farewell to you, +also.” + +Lips uttered no more, but the mute pause that followed, while eye met +eye, and hand lingered in hand, was not meaningless. The fond lover was +not permitted, however, to prolong the entrancing moment, which, as the +slightly-returned pressure of the small white hand, closely imprisoned +in his own, told him, had not been reluctantly vouchsafed him; for, +quickly arousing herself, the maiden broke from his clinging grasp, and +tripped silenty away, leaving him gazing after her retreating form, and +listening to the soft and decreasing sounds of her light footsteps upon +the grass, till the jar of the closing door, to which she had directed +her devious course, made him feel that he was alone, and that the charm +of the place was gone. + +With a sigh, he turned from the spot, and soon gained the highway; when, +taking the direction in which his rival and foe had departed, he walked +musingly onward, heedless alike of the cool and balmly air of the +evening, or the quietly reposing beauties which the light of a full +moon, now beginning to peer over the eastern hills, was gradually +unfolding around him, and intent only on the dreamy images with which +love and his new-fledged hope seemed conspiring for a while to amuse his +willing mind. At length, however, a quickened pace, a firmer tread, and +a prouder bearing, showed that a different and less peaceful train of +thought was springing up within. + +“So this evil genius of mine, it seems,” he muttered, “who forever +appears in my path to snatch from me every prize I set my heart on, is +secretly an officer in the British service, commissioned, probably, to +head a regiment of tories, whom he is now by his false statements and +delusive promises, attempting to gather from the weak and wavering of +our overawed people. This must be instantly made known. Heavens! +what effrontery!--to be playing the spy under the garb of pretended +neutrality, and seducing away the deluded men under our very noses, +to lead them back to fall with fire and sword on their kindred and +neighbors! And I am to be the particular object of his vengeance, I +presume, from the significant hint she gave me to avoid him. Avoid him! +He shall be spared much trouble to find me if that is what he wants. He +is now the country's foe, and lawful game with me. I would that I could +meet him tonight--yes, this night; and if I thought I could overtake +him--stay, why can't this be done?--only three miles start, probably, +and on a moderate trot; while my horse is a fleet one, and--and--we will +try it.” + +By this time he had reached a log house, and barn of the same materials, +which formed a small opening on the left side of the road, and which was +the residence of a recently-married and here settled friend, in whose +care he had left his horse before proceeding, as on the lady's account +he did, through the adjoining wood and Haviland's broad fields beyond, +to the clandestine interview with her that we have described. And +now turning in towards this rude establishment, he hastily proceeded, +without calling at the house, directly to the barn, that was partially +enclosed by one of those close-laid, high, pole fences which the +settlers usually constructed round their barns to protect their flocks +against the depredations of wild beasts. Within this strong enclosure, +the owner's cattle, consisting of a pair of oxen, cow, and two or three +young creatures of the same species, were now quietly chewing their +cuds, with those occasional wheezing grunts, which with them seem so +indicative of animal enjoyment; while in one corner stood the horse of +which Woodburn was in quest--a little model of a creature, of a lively, +attent appearance, as now particularly manifested by a low, earnest, +recognizing whinny, and by instantly starting off, in a sort of half +trot towards the bars of the enclosure, as her master came up on the +other side. + +“Yes, yes, Lightfoot, you shall go now, and as fast as you desire, this +time,” responded the latter, throwing himself over the bars, and patting +the animal on the neck, as he passed on to the barn for his saddle and +bridle. + +To equip his willing steed, examine the trusty pistols, which, like his +foe, he carried about his person, let down, pass through, and replace +the bars, occupied him but a moment, and he was about springing into his +saddle, when he was hailed from the house. + +“Halloo, there, Woodburn, is that you?” exclaimed a cheerly voice, as a +stout-built, crank, honest-looking young man, without hat or coat, came +out of the door, and with a free and careless air made his way towards +the other; “but what is your hurry? Nothing unpleasant has befallen you +in your affair over yonder that makes you feel like being off in this +sly and hasty manner, has there?” + +“No, Risdon, not quite so bad as that yet,” replied Woodburn, taking all +in good part. + +“How much better, then? Come, Harry, I have taken stones enough out +of your path, and thrown them into that of your rival there, to earn a +candid answer to such a question.” + +“True, sir; but you ask more than I am permitted to know myself. I +can neither get accepted nor rejected. She, however has given me fresh +reason to admire her. She is no common girl, friend Risdon.” + +“There is not a finer or fairer in all the Green Mountains; but what is +that fresh reason you name?” + +“The discovery that at heart she is warmly with us in the good cause.” + +“That is, you hope, and therefore believe so, eh?” + +“I have a much better reason than that, sir, for my assertion. She has, +within this hour, told me so herself.” + +“Ah! Well, then, it is indeed so; for Sabrey Haviland never uttered +aught but perfect truth and sincerity in all her life. Why, God bless +her for her spunk and independence, living and visiting, as she mostly +has, from a child, in that circle of high-toned and bitter tories. +And it argues well for your suit, too, Woodburn, which till now I have +considered rather an unpromising one; for it tells me that she will +struggle hard to get free from the fetters which Peters and her father +have fastened on her, and by which, counting on her high sense of the +sacredness of all promises and contracts, they suppose have secured her +beyond the least fear of escape.” + +“Do you allude to any thing other than the mere consent which she +formerly gave to Peters's proposals of marriage, and which, I had +supposed, constituted the only engagement existing between them?” + +“Yes, a far stronger case, which I have learned by way of my wife, since +I last conversed with you on the subject.” + +“Ah! What is it?” eagerly demanded the lover. + +“Why as I gathered it, the case was this,” answered the other. “The old +man, as well as Peters, you know, must always do things, if possible, +after the English custom; and both thinking more of property than women, +they got up a regularly-written marriage contract, or settlement, by +which one bound himself to give the other his daughter, with such and +such a dowry, and the other to marry the daughter, and settle such and +such sums on her and her heirs, all to be void in case the marriage fell +through by fault of the girl. But to provide against this, they made +another part to the instrument for her to sign, in which they made her +solemnly promise and covenant to marry Peters, and none else; otherwise +she was to forfeit her birthright in her father's estate. This they +somehow or other at last induced her to sign and seal thus binding +herself hand and foot forever, with but one single advantage, which, +it seems, she had the wit to get added to the contract before she would +sign it; and that was, that the time of fulfilling the contract, or day +of the marriage, was to be left to her.” + +“What a detestable conspiracy for a father to enter into against the +rightful liberty and happiness of a daughter!” exclaimed Woodburn, after +a pause, during which surprise and indignation kept him silent. +“That, then, explains the hints she has several times thrown out to +me respecting some peculiar trials and difficulties to which she was +subjected. But was she of age when she signed that paper?” + +“No; but she probably, in her great scrupulousness, would long hesitate +to break the engagement on account of that, or the fraudulent means they +doubtless used to draw her into the shameful affair. Nevertheless, I +would persevere. Her right to stave off the fellow, with her known wish +to get rid of him, may yet procure her an honorable release; or she +may be brought to take a different view about the binding nature of a +promise obtained under such circumstances; or, as a last resort, that +paper may be got out of his possession by some scheme or other. So +I think you will worst him in the long run, in spite of his present +advantages of the father's help, his own wealth, and----” + +“And his recent promotion,” interrupted Woodburn, “which is to be the +stepping-stone to the dukedom of Vermont, the reward for betraying his +country, and the glittering bait, which, in anticipation, is already +held out to this besieged, but bravely resisting, girl!” + +“What do you mean, Woodburn?” bluntly said the other, in surprise. + +“I mean,” replied the former, “that Peters has lately received a +colonel's commission in the British service, and is even now secretly +but actively engaged, I suspect, in trying to seduce the people with +British gold, and raise troops among us to co-operate with Burgoyne.” + +“You astonish me. Why, the hypocritical rascal has been giving out word +about here, that, as he had friends and interests on both sides, he +had concluded to remain neutral! Are you sure you have been correctly +informed?” + +“Quite sure. But while you may conjecture the source of my information, +remember that it is to work no injury to the family of my informer.” + +“Ay, I understand, now--'tis true, then; and you are correct, too, in +your suspicions about his present movements. That will account for +the existence of the hard dollars that have so strangely made their +appearance about here within a few days. But will he be suffered to +prosecute his plans here among us? What better is he than a spy?” + +“Nothing.” + +“He must be nabbed, then; and we will let him find his duke's coronet +in a crow's nest, on the limb of some old hemlock, to which we will soon +have him dangling in the air, unless our authorities wish to give him a +more respectable gallows. What say you to that, Harry?” + +“That you are not the first to think of it--that is, so far as to have +him captured. He rode away from Haviland's in this direction, and at a +moderate pace, just as I, unperceived by him, reached there, about +an hour ago, on his way, doubtless, to one of the tory haunts in +Manchester. My mare has a fleet foot, Risdon; so you now understand why +I was in a hurry to be off, don't you?” + +“I do; but Heavens! Woodburn, you are not going to give chase alone?” + +“Yes; no horse but mine probably could overtake him before he reaches +his associates; besides, since it was hinted to me that he would seek my +life I am willing to give him a chance to take it, where neither he nor +I shall have help or witness.” + +“Are you armed?” + +“With dirk and pistols, as he only is.” + +“A rather hazardous push, Harry. But go, and God prosper you to take +him, and with him that mischievous document. And one thing more: if +you live to reach Manchester, tell that Council of Safety, that if they +don't do something soon, we, the people, will set up for ourselves in +war-making. I, for one, don't believe I can keep my hands off my rifle +three days longer.” + +“Ay, ay,” said Woodburn, springing into his saddle. “And now, Lightfoot, +here is a loose rein for you. Go!” he added, striking with his heels +the body, and with his hands the mane of the impatient animal, that, at +these well-understood signs, gave an irregular plunge or two ahead, and +then shot off like an arrow up the road. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + “What heroes from the woodland sprung, + When, through the fresh-awakened land, + The thrilling cry of freedom rung. + And to the work of warfare strung + The yeoman's iron hand!” + + +Leaving Woodburn to the hot and eager pursuit that patriotism and +private animosity had prompted him to undertake, we will now precede him +a few miles on the road, for the purpose of introducing and accompanying +another old acquaintance, who was also destined to become an actor in +the wild and stirring adventures of the night. + +Near the southern confines of Manchester, about nine o'clock, the same +evening, a youth of the probable age of twenty, of a sandy complexion, +and of a rather slight, but evidently tough, wiry frame, with a short +rifle on his shoulder, and powder-horn and ball-pouch slung at his back, +was making his solitary way on foot along the main road towards the town +just mentioned. As he now reached the Batenkill, where the stream, here +first beginning to find a more peaceful flow, after its headlong descent +from the Green Mountains, intersected the road, he suddenly paused +and began to muse, with the air of one who has been struck by some new +thought tending to divert him from his settled purposes; and, slowly +passing on to the bridge, which, after the rude construction of the +times, had been thrown across the river at this place, he took a seat on +one of the side-timbers, or binders, as they were usually termed, and, +in accordance with an old and inveterate habit, generated probably by +the peculiar circumstances of his early life, began to commune with +himself aloud. + +“I wonder what this new business is they want you should do Bart? +Harry said it was a secret matter when he handed over the paper,” he +continued, pulling out and abstractedly unrolling a small wad of white +paper, “a kinder private commission, or something, which he would +explain about, after I had gone and got his letter to the girl, as he +met me on my way back. But why don't he meet me fore this time? It's +pesky strange he should hang back in a woman affair so! Why, he would +go--like enough has gone--but then how could he miss me? O Lord, Bart, +what a stupid pup! He passed you when you was napping it in the bushes +at that cool spring! I'll bet my old hat on't! Well, we shan't see much +more of him to-night, likely, seeing it is love he's doing, and such a +moon as this holds the candle; and we may as well be trying to find out +this business without him. So let's be digging out what the paper says. +Harry and the rest of 'em don't know I can read writing; but I can, +when driv to it; though I think we won't let 'em know that, Bart; for no +knowing what cunning things we may find out if they don't mistrust it. +Now let's look. Why, I can see as plain as day!' he added, holding up +the writing to the bright moonlight, and beginning to spell out the +well-known bold and distinct characters of the secretary of the council, +as follows:-- + +“TO BARTHOLOMEW BURT:-- + +“You are hereby appointed by the Council of Safety to go through this +and the neighboring towns, bordering on the British line of march; to +spy out the resorts of the tories; to mark and identify all inimical +persons; to gain all the information that can be obtained respecting the +movements of the enemy at large; and make report, from time to time, to +this council or some field officer of our line. + +“IRA ALLEN, _Secretary_.” [Footnote: Those who may doubt the probability +that such a commission would be issued by this body, would do well to +consult that part of the journal of their proceedings, at this period, +which has been preserved and published, in which will be found several +similar ones, to serve as specimens of the many contained in the part +that was lost, and to show how searching were the operations of these +vigilant guardians of the cause of liberty in Vermont, and how various +the instruments they made use of to effect their objects.] + +“Good! grand!” exclaimed the excited soliloquist, starting up and +snapping his fingers in high glee. “This will be a great thing for you, +Bart. Yes, and then how gentlemanly and respectful-like it sounds to be +called Bartholomew, in that way! Bart, we'll go it for them; and have +a touch of the trade this very night, if you please. But where shall we +begin? Let's see, now. Why, there's old mother Rose's haunt up the great +road here, where, I do think, she must hatch out tories, same as a hen +does chickens, they are so thick about there. Then there's Josh Rose +courting that up and a coming sort of girl you saw at Howard's t'other +day, when you called with Harry for a drink of water. Now wouldn't the +fellow be apt to let out secrets there that we could get hold of, +and put us on some good scent? Ah! that's it; so now up the river for +Howard's, as a beginning, hit or miss, Bart.” + +While this singular genius is proceeding on his proposed destination, +in the hope of accomplishing something to show himself worthy of the +curious trust that had been so unexpectedly reposed in him, we will +occupy the breathing spot, thus afforded in our narrative, in apprising +the reader, more definitely than we have yet done, of the main incidents +that had marked the checkered fortunes of the two adventurers whom we +have now again brought upon the scene of action, since we left them. + +When Woodburn and Bart left the state, under the circumstances described +in the closing chapters of our first volume, they proceeded directly to +Cambridge, where the revolutionary army was then gathering for the siege +of Boston, enlisted, for two years, into the continental service; and +actively participated in all the most important movements of the army +in the campaign that immediately succeeded. They were at Bunker Hill, +on that memorable day of fire and blood, so glorious for the yeoman +patriots of New England, and so fearful for her foes,-- + + “When first, as at Thermopylae, + The battle shout of freemen rose; + Firm as their mountains, and as free, + They nobly braved encountering foes.” + +And in the following autumn, they, in the same company, in which +Woodburn, for bravery and good conduct, had been made a subaltern +officer, marched with that division of the army which Arnold, with +almost unequalled energy and fortitude, and amidst privation and +suffering untold, led through the snow-clad wilderness of morass and +mountain, to the distant Quebec. And there, in the onset, in which +the high-souled Montgomery fell, they were together cut off from their +company and made prisoners; when, after having, for nearly a year and +a half, endured the sufferings of a British prison-ship, they together +escaped at Halifax, wandered, half naked and starving, through the +seemingly interminable forests of Brunswick and Maine, to the American +settlemens, and finally reached home; not there, however, long to +repose, but soon to repair, with yet unbroken spirit, to the new scene +of action, at which their countrymen were beginning to rally to meet the +formidable invasion of the hitherto victorious Burgoyne. + +We will now resume the thread of our narrative. A walk of twenty or +thirty minutes brought Bart to the log tenement of Howard, who was a +soldier in the continental service, now absent on duty, having left his +house and business in charge of his wife a woman no less noted, in her +neighborhood, for energy in conducting her domestic affairs, than for +the patriotic spirit with which she espoused the American cause. She and +her daughter, a rustic beauty of eighteen, of keen perceptions, and +even rare good sense, when her frolicsome disposition would allow her to +exercise it, were now the only permanent inmates of this secluded cabin, +which consisted of but two rooms, with a front entrance leading through +an entry into either of them, and another door at the end of the house +opening into the one usually occupied by the family as both sitting-room +and kitchen. + +“A light in both rooms, by the pipers!” exclaimed Bart, as, after having +cautiously approached, he paused to reconnoitre the house. “The fellow +is there at his traps, as sure as a gun! Now what's to be done, Bart? +'Twon't do to go in and show yourself, and have that torified scamp +carry away word that you are mousing round the country nights, will +it? No, but I'll tell you what, if it want for the name of sneaking and +evesdropping, we would creep round back of the room where they be, and +hark through the cracks; like enough get a peep, and so learn something. +But such things they expected of you, didn't they, Bart? Must be so, I +think. Then suppose we throw the name and blame of it on the council, +and try it, mister?” + +Taking a wide sweep round the house, Bart soon approached that part of +it, on the back side, in which he rightly conjectured the young people +were sitting; and gliding up to the wall with steps as noiseless as +those of a mousing fox, he discovered a crevice between the logs, from +which the moss calking had fallen out so as to permit a small pencil of +light to escape. Guided by this, he quickly gained, after applying +his eye to the aperture, a distinct view of the couple within, and +was enabled, at the same time, to catch every word of their variously +modulated conversation. They were seated at different sides of a +light-stand, on which a candle was burning, she assiduously engaged, +to all appearance, with her needle on some light sewing work, and he +diligently, with his penknife, on a pine chip, which he was essaying to +shape into a human profile, that of his mistress, it might be surmised +from the sly glances with which he seemed occasionally to scan her +features. Though now dressed in his smartest fustian, he yet appeared +awkward and ill at ease; while the timid and hesitating air, with +which he seemed to regard his fair companion, indicated much conscious +uncertainty respecting the place he might hold in her affections. She, +on the contrary, seemed quite self-possessed, and wore the air of one +not particularly solicitous about pleasing, which gave her as much +advantage over him in her manner as she obviously possessed in her +person; for, besides a good form and a wholesome roseate bloom, she had +one of those polyglot countenances which seem almost to supersede +the necessity of speaking--a trait she very prettily exhibited +while listening to the forced hints and innuendoes of her lover's +conversation, as she occasionally lifted her head, now with a blush, now +with a smile, and now with a frown, that caused his eyes to drop to the +floor as quick as those of a rebuked schoolboy. Thus far, she had not +opened her lips; but now, as her suitor, turning in his chair, brought +a hitherto shaded arm into view, and displayed upon his sleeve a common +brass pin, (usually denominated in those days the Canada pin, as this +article, then almost excluded from the toilet by the war, rarely found +its way into this section except through the intercourse of the tories +with that province,) her attention was suddenly excited; and turning a +sharp and searching look upon him, she said,-- + +“Where have you been lately, Josh?” + +“Why?” he replied, evidently surprised at the question and manner of the +girl. + +“That, sir,” she responded, significantly pointing to the pin. “Such +articles don't get here but in one way, in these hard times, which +compel us to put up with thorns for pins, and half tories for beaux,” + she added, with a meaning and roguish look. + +“Won't you accept it, Vine?” he said, obviously disconcerted but +pretending not to understand her allusions. + +“Not unless you tell me honestly how you got it, sir,” she replied, +decisively. + +“O, picked it up somewhere; don't remember now,” he evasively answered. + +“That, now, is a thumper, I know,” she rejoined, with a pretty toss of +the head. “But you don't put me off so. The fact is Josh, I suspect you +have been among the tories to-day. Now be honest, and tell me, sir.” + +And for the next ten minutes the determined girl plied her reluctant and +perplexed companion, by all the means which her ingenuity could invent, +to accomplish her object; teasing, coaxing and threatening by turns, +till, being unable to resist any longer, he replied,-- + +“Well, I will tell you; and it can't do any hurt either, for they will +all be out of reach before morning.” + +“Who will be out of reach?” eagerly demanded the other. + +“The men that my brother Samuel enlisted. You knew he had got a +captain's commission in General Burgoyne's army, I 'spose.” + +“We heard so; but has Captain Samuel Rose been in town to-day?” + +“Yes; for I may as well tell the whole, now I've begun. The captain has +been all day at the house of brother Asa Rose, who lives out of the way, +there, in the woods, over beyond the great road, you know. Well, he had +agreed to meet all he had enlisted in this section there at sunset, and +lead them off to the British camp, after people were abed. I was there +just before dark, and saw them; sixteen in all, besides the captain, all +armed and equipped, and he in full uniform; and he looks complete in it, +too, I tell you.” + +“But what was you amoung them there for?” + +“O, I wanted to see Sam, and bid him good-by, you know, as he was going +off, never to come back, for aught I knew; that was all, upon honor, +now.” + +“Perhaps it was; but one thing I wish you to understand, Josh Rose, +and that is, if you take up for that side of the question, openly or +secretly, your visits here----” + +“O, I shan't; no notion on't, not the least in the world; so don't +worry; though candidly, Vine, I don't believe it's much use for your +folks to think of standing out any longer. Why, hundreds are joining +the British every day, and what will be left, in a short time, can do +nothing towards stopping such an army as Burgoyne's.” + +“What are left will be apt to try it, I think, sir.” + +The subject was now dropped; and the girl, after a thoughtful pause, +commenced on a theme more agreeable to her suitor, and for a short time, +was unusually sociable and gracious; when she rose, and, carelessly +remarking she must be excused a moment, left the room, and passed out +through the front door, with noise enough in opening and closing it to +leave the other in no doubt as to the direction of her exit. + +“Well, Bart, what do you think of that?” whispered our listener to +himself, as now, on the departure of the girl from the room, he withdrew +from his peeping-hole. “Now, I pretend to say, I wouldn't take a gold +guinea for what we have got through that crack, nor two either, if our +legs will carry us to the village and rally help quick enough to have +that batch of tories nabbed before they are off. But let's jest edge +along against the mother's room, and see if there is any discovery to be +made there, before we start.” + +Being equally fortunate in finding an opening into the room to which his +attention was now directed, Bart cautiously peered in; when his eye soon +fell on the solitary occupant, a fine, resolute-looking matron, quietly +employed in knitting by the light of a torch stuck in one of the stone +jambs of the broad fireplace. He, however, had scarcely time to note +these circumstances before the door was softly opened, and the girl who +had just left the other room entered on tiptoe, and whispered in her +mother's ear something that seemed to produce an instant effect on the +hitherto sedate and listless countenance of the latter; for, starting +to her feet, she stood gazing at the other with a flashing eye, and +listening with the keenest interest, as some further particulars were +added to the communication. + +“Are you sure he was not fooling you?” said the mother. + +“Very sure,” replied the daughter, significantly holding up the Canada +pin. + +“Well, Vine,” rejoined the former, with the air of one whose resolution +is taken, “you whip back to your post the same way you came; and see +that you keep him here till--say about midnight,” she added, exchanging +a meaning glance with the daughter, whose hand was already on the latch +to depart. + +No sooner had the intermingling tones of conversation in the other room +apprised the woman that her daughter had there joined the unsuspecting +suitor, than, hastily seizing bonnet and shawl, she noiselessly left +the house and glided out into the road. After hesitating a moment here, +respecting the course she should take, apparently, she made up to the +log-fence enclosing an adjoining field, threw herself over it with the +lightness of a boy, and, striking off directly west, almost flew over +the ground till she reached the boundaries of their little opening; when +she fearlessly plunged into the dark and pathless recesses of the +wood lying between her and the main road, to which she was evidently +directing her course. + +“There! just as I told you,” muttered Bart, who, inwardly vexed that the +secret he had been hugging, as exclusively his own should be shared by +another, for fear measures might be taken to deprive him of the sole +honor and profit he had promised himself of communicating it, had been +jealously noting what had occurred. “Just as I told, Bart; the old woman +has got your story, and there she goes, streaming off with it, like the +house afire, for the great road, through woods, swamp, and all! Well, +it's too late to try to stop her now, to save her the trouble of going, +cause you'd frighten her, likely; besides, she'd find out you'd been +listening. But we'll follow and keep track of her; may be she'll get +lost, and we can cut by her; or may be we can seem to come kinder +accidentally on her, and contrive to get employed to do her errand, and +so let her go back.” + +With this resolution, he immediately gave chase; and by occasionally +pausing, after entering the forest, to listen to the rustling of her +garments as the intrepid woman rushed through the tangled thickets on +her way, or the cracking of dry twigs under her rapid tread, he was +enabled to trace her course and keep within hearing distance, though not +without exertions which drew forth many an exclamation of surprise at +the speed with which, at such a time and place, she got over the ground. +At length, they both reached the opening on the other side of the forest +opposite to a good-sized house on the main road. + +“I vags,” exclaimed Bart, pausing and wiping the perspiration from +his face with his sleeve, as he emerged from the wood, “if the perlite +Frenchman, they tell of, who thought women had no legs, had followed +this one through a mile-swamp at the rate she has gone, he would think +a little different about the matter, I guess. But never mind the tramp, +Bart, but still keep your eye on her. There she goes smack into +that house over yonder, which is--let's see, now--Why, that is Major +Ormsbee's, who, I remember now, Harry told me, was her brother. Well, +Bart, seeing you are fairly beat in this business, let's work along over +into the road against the house, and see what comes of it.” + +Scarcely had Bart gained his proposed situation in a nook of the fence, +before the major, followed by his son, came bustling out into the yard. + +“Jock!” he said, hastily turning to his son, “you run to the barn, and +saddle and bring out my horse, while I slip over to Captain Barney's. +But who have we here?” he added, espying and approaching Bart. “Who are +you, friend?” + +“Well, you may call me any thing but a tory and I won't complain, +major.” + +“That's right. O, I believe I know you now--the comical chap I have seen +with Woodburn, at Warner's encampment All right. Glad you happen here +just at this time--we have business on hand.” + +“I know it.” + +“Know it! how? You didn't come with my sister?” + +“No; after her; but got at the wrinkle about the gang down yonder before +she did; and am now on my way to the council, or the camp, with the +news.” + +“That I propose to do myself. I have a fleet horse, and it will be best +I should go with the news myself. Besides, I wish to put you, with the +few others I can raise hereabouts, on the track at once. You shall lose +nothing by it; so turn in here, and go with me.” + +Content with this assurance of an officer known to be in the confidence +of the council, and quite willing to make one in the expected affray, +Bart cheerfully complied. And the two hurried on to the house the +major had named; where, fortunately, they found not only the owner, but +another fearless patriot, by the name of Purdy, to both of whom the news +just received was communicated; when a hasty plan was devised among them +for the capture of Captain Rose and his band of recruits, who, it was +supposed, had not yet left the neighborhood, even if they had started +from their place of rendezvous. + +The dwelling of Asa Rose, which had been selected by the tory captain +as a secluded and safe rallying-point for his band, was situated in +the wood, about three fourths of a mile west of the main road, and +the residence, thereon, of the old widow Rose, who has been already +mentioned, and who was the mother of a hopeful brood of either open or +secret loyalists, as their father, an extensive land-owner, who died +about the beginning of the war, was before them. This old +establishment of the Rose family, well known through the country as the +harboring-place of the disaffected, was a little over a mile from the +bridge over the river, at the south, and about half that distance from +the residence of Major Ormsbee, at the north, where our handful of +spirited friends were now rallying; while from the road, about half way +between the two, diverged the path, which wound round south-westerly to +Asa Rose's, and from which the tories were expected to emerge on their +way out of the neighborhood. + +“Here comes Jock with my horse,” said the major, taking die reins from +the boy, a sturdy youth of sixteen, who had not forgotten to bring his +gun with him. “Well, captain,” he continued, leaping into his saddle, +“you understand the arrangement; three of you to take the path to their +rendezvous, then to go on to old mother Rose's, and, if they are there, +give the signal: the long howl of a dog, remember; but if they are not +there, to join the rest, and scout round, watch and delay them while +I, on my way, start out Pettibone and others, and send them directly +through the woods to Asa Rose's to get into the rear All understand, do +you?” + +“Ay, ay, major.” + +“Well, then, God prosper you all, till I can get on with the platoon of +Warner's boys for the rescue.” + +So saying, the major dashed off at full speed towards the village; while +Barney and his men, with no less spirit, hurried on to their respective +destinations, in the opposite direction. The place where the latter were +to separate being soon reached, appearances examined, and no discoveries +made, the captain, with Purdy and young Ormsbee, struck off from the +road, and proceeded cautiously along the bushy outskirts of the path +before mentioned as leading to the supposed rendezvous, leaving to Bart +the task of going on and reconnoitring the old establishment on the main +road, at which, it was believed, the tories would be sure to call, +on their way out, to take a last treat from mother Rose's ever-ready +bottle, and perhaps some provisions from her cupboard, to invigorate +them for their long night march to the British camp. A short walk +now brought Bart in close vicinity to the house he was appointed to +reconnoitre; when, gliding silently along under cover of the fences, +tall weeds, and other screening objects, he quickly made a circuit round +the buildings, contriving, as he did so, to peer into the barns, sheds, +and even into most of the rooms of the capacious old dwelling. He +perceived, however, no indications of the presence of any but females +about the establishment; though, from the movements of these, and +especially those of the old woman, who was busily engaged in cutting +up large quantities of bread and cheese, and in replenishing her junk +bottles, he became satisfied that the company, of whom he was in search, +were shortly expected. Having made these observations, he retired +from the house, crossed over the road into the opposite field, and was +marking out a course for himself through the wood, which would intersect +the path taken by his companions, and enable him to join them somewhere +near the tory rendezvous, when his ear caught the clattering of +horse-hoofs, approaching, at a furious pace, up the road from the south, +And so rapid was the advance of the coming horseman, that Bart had +scarcely time to gain the covert of a clump of shrubbery standing by the +fence, over against the house, before the former made his appearance, +and, turning into the yard, galloped up to an open window, and addressed +a hasty inquiry to the mistress of the house; when, hardly waiting for +the negative reply that appeared to be given, he suddenly wheeled about, +and, regaining the road, pursued his course with renewed speed. + +“Why!” exclaimed Bart in surprise, as he caught a view of me man's +features; “as sure as a gun, it is Harry's old troubler, that he thought +he'd killed once, and felt so guilty about it, till he heard he didn't. +But what can the fellow be up to here, in such a hurry, just at this +time? Don't like the looks on't, exactly, Bart, hasn't this tall tory +got wind of our movement, somehow, and come on to warn the gang, that, +not finding here, he has gone to meet? Let's be off and try to trace +him. But hark! Do you hear that? Another coming from the same quarter! +yes, and scratching gravel too, like Mars, I should think, by the way +his horse's feet strike the ground! Here he comes! What! it is, by +mighty--it's Harry and Lightfoot in full chase! Go it, Lightfoot! +Catch him, Harry! Stuboy! stuboy!” he added, in low, eager shouts of +exultation, as the recognized horseman passed, like a flash, by his +place of concealment. + +Springing forward to a small elevation in the field, which commanded a +broken view of the road to the path before described, and even a small +portion of the latter, Bart tasked both eye and ear to the utmost, in +trying to trace the dimly-discerned forms of the receding horsemen, now +obviously but a short distance asunder, his object being to ascertain +whether Peters would keep on in the main road, or, as he suspected his +intention to be, strike into the path to Asa Rose's, and try to reach +the tories before he should be overtaken. For one moment, in which he +lost sight of both pursuer and pursued, Bart stood in doubt; but the +next, the changing direction of the still audible sounds, and the slight +glimmerings of the sparks from the horse's hoofs, now seen extending out +in a line nearly at right angles to the course they had been pursuing, +sufficiently apprised him that his suspicions were correct. Waiting, +therefore, no longer than to ascertain this, he turned and plunged into +the wood on his left; and taking the course he had already decided +on for joining his companions, and being now incited to his utmost +exertions of speed by his anxiety to reach the other road in time +to warn Woodburn of the trap into which his antagonist was doubtless +intending to draw him at the tory rendevous, or to be ready to lend any +needed assistance in case a collision took place between them before +reaching it, he made his way through the opposing obstacles of the +thickets with a rapidity, probably, that a wild Indian could not have +equalled, till he suddenly found himself in the path of which he was in +quest, within a few rods of the small opening where stood the suspected +log-tenement of Asa Rose. His first act now was to stoop down and +examine the soft ground in the road, to ascertain whether Peters and his +pursuer had passed the place. A moment's inspection, however, confirming +him in the negative, he rose and bent a listening ear in the direction +of their expected appearance; but no sounds reached him indicative of +their approach. While standing here in doubt respecting the course next +to be pursued, his attention was attracted by a commotion at the house; +when, stepping forward towards the edge of the opening, he caught a +glimpse of the whole body of the tories, with their leader at their +head, just leaving the house and moving silently, and with a quick +step, in the road towards him. Stealing softly away from his post of +observation, he retreated rapidly along the path, some hundred yards +into the wood; when he fortunately encountered Barney and his two men, +to whom he hastily communicated all the discoveries he had made since he +left them. + +Fearing, from the non-appearance of Peters and his pursuer, of whom, +strangely, nothing had yet been seen or heard, that the former had given +the latter the slip in some by-path, which would enable him to reach +the tories in the rear, or otherwise apprise them of the danger of +proceeding, Barney instantly adopted the bold resolution of attempting +the immediate capture of the whole band by stratagem, trusting to the +firmness and ingenuity of himself and his men to keep, or get them +forward, till the expected reenforcement should arrive. + +“We must multiply ourselves, and then act according to circumstances,” + he said, after apprising his men of his project, which they eagerly +seconded. + +“I will multiply into a platoon of ten, and be their orderly, if you +will let me have my own way in the managing of 'em, captain,” said Bart, +entering with great spirit into a plan in which his peculiarities so +well fitted him for taking a leading part. + +“Well, then,” replied the other, “take a station in the bushes five or +six rods ahead; the rest of us will take our coverts here, on different +sides of the road. You must all act for yourselves, and on the hints +of the moment; but I will take the lead, and give you such clews as the +case may require.” + +Scarcely had this fearless little band settled themselves in their +respective stations, before the tories, marching in close Indian file, +made their appearance, and came forward wholly unsuspicious of danger. +They were permitted to advance unmolested till they were nearly all +between the two points of ambush; when Captain Barney, stepping partly +out from his concealment presented his gun, and exclaimed,-- + +“Stand! Surrender, or die!” + +“Halt!” cried the surprised, though not frightened, tory captain, who +was not only a fine-looking, but cool and capable young officer--“halt, +till we see what all this means.” + +“You will soon find out what it means, unless you surrender,'” rejoined +Barney, in a bold and confident tone. “I give you one minute to decide. +Attention there!” he continued, as if addressing a numerous band of +concealed forces--“attention there, right, left, and front platoons! +Every man at his station and ready for the word!” + +Purdy and Ormsbee now made a simultaneous movement in the bushes, on +the different sides of the road, by stepping about, hitting their guns +against the trees, and thrusting out the muzzles at various openings +towards the enemy; while, at the same time, the clicking sounds, as +of the irregular cocking of a dozen muskets, with as many distinct +movements of men, apparently, were heard in the direction of Bart's +concealment in front. + +“Stand to your arms!” exclaimed Rose, to his men, who now began to show +signs of fear and uneasiness. + +“Don't all take aim at the captain, you fools!” shouted Bart, from his +covert, to his men of straw; “don't do that, I tell you! There's enough +of 'em to furnish each of you a separate mark, nearly. There, that looks +more like it! All cocked and ready?” + +“Hold up there, Sergeant Burt!” cried Barney; “don't fire yet. Let us +spare their lives if we can. Purdy,” he continued, turning to the man +concealed on his right, “you may give the signal, now, for the reserve +platoons, in front and rear, to advance, and close up on the road. The +minute is nearly out, and I perceive we have got to make a demonstration +before they will surrender.” + +The signal howl was then accordingly given, and, to the great joy of the +assailants, immediately answered by Pettibone, who, having reached his +destination in the rear of the house, and seen the tories decamping, was +now, with another man, cautiously advancing towards the scene of action +in the wood; while nearly at the same moment, as it strangely happened, +the sharp reports of three pistols, fired in quick succession, rang +through the forest a short distance on the road to the north. The noise +of fire-arms which, to the assailants, portended a rencounter between +Peters and Woodburn, and filled them with anxiety for the fate of the +latter, was token by the tories as an answer of the signal from the +pretended corps in front, and so completed their dismay that some of +them threw down their arms, and began to cry out for quarter. + +“The minute is out; shall we fire, Captain Barney?” exclaimed Bart, in a +tone of impatience. + +“Your answer, Captain Rose,” sternly demanded Barney--“your answer this +instant, or----” + +“I yield,” said the reluctant tory leader--“We surrender ourselves +prisoners of war.” + +“'Tis well, sir,” responded the former. “Lay down your arms, then, here +in the road, advance twenty paces, and wait further orders.” + +While this order, which was thus given for the double purpose of +enabling the victors to get between the tories and their guns, and to +give time for Pettibone and his associate to come up, was being carried +into effect, Bart, who had been burning with impatience for a chance +to go to the assistance of his endangered friend. Woodburn, slunk +noiselessly from his post, and made his way, with all possible speed, +towards the spot from whence the noise of the firing appeared to +proceed. + +But let us now return to note the issue between the belligerent +horsemen. Woodburn having come in sight of his antagonist soon after +crossing the river, and the latter then taking the alarm, the chase +had proceeded, as witnessed by Bart, till the parties struck into the +by-road leading to the tory rendezvous; when the former, concluding that +Peters would not have turned in here without the expectation of finding +friends and defenders near, now redoubled his exertions to overtake +him, and bring on an encounter while it would have to be decided by +individual prowess, and before his foe should reach assistance to render +the pursuit futile or dangerous. But notwithstanding his efforts, he +soon lost sight of the other in the short turns of the winding and +thickly-embowered path which they soon entered. Expecting, however, that +the next turn in the road would reveal the object of his pursuit, he +dashed ahead some distance; when, becoming satisfied that his antagonist +had given him the slip by riding out of the road into some nook or +side-path in the wood, he retraced his way nearly to the opening, vainly +endeavoring to discover the concealment of the fugitive. Vexed and +disappointed at being thus balked, Woodburn was on the point of giving +up the chase when he caught a glimpse of the other, emerging from a +thicket into the road, not a hundred yards distant, and setting off on a +gallop in the direction first taken. Incited to fresh exertion, Woodburn +now shot forward after his flying foe with a velocity which none but +a horse trained to the rough paths of the wood could equal, and which, +consequently, soon brought the parties in close vicinity of each other. +Peters, now seeing no further chance to escape, suddenly pulled out +a pistol, and, turning in his saddle, discharged it at Woodburn, who, +wholly unharmed by the badly-aimed instrument, instantly returned +the fire. The bullet of the latter, grazing the person of the former, +entered the head of his startled and rearing horse, just back of the +ears, and, after two or three fearful plunges onward, brought him to the +ground. Leaping from his falling horse, the desperate loyalist gained +his feet and discharged another pistol at Woodburn; when, perceiving his +opponent still unhurt, and about to make a rush upon him, he leaped +over the body of his dying horse, still floundering in the edge of the +bushes, and, in the noise thus occasioned, and in the screening smoke of +his own fire, made good his escape into the forest. + +“Come back, miscreant! coward!” shouted Woodburn, dismounting, and +leaping forward to the place where the other had disappeared--“come +back, and decide your fate or mine.” + +But the new-made tory colonel, who was more a coward from conscience +than nature, in the present instance, perhaps, did not see fit to accept +the challenge for a further personal combat. And Woodburn, judging that +any attempt to pursue him in the woods would be useless, reluctantly +gave up the chase, and turned to go back to his horse; when Bart, +running up and peering an instant at the dying horse and then at his +friend, rushed by the latter, and, throwing himself on the neck of his +loved pony, fell to hugging and fondling her in an ecstasy of delight. + +“O Lightfoot! Lightfoot!” he exclaimed; “lucky divil that you are, not +now to be sprawling and kicking, like your tory brother there in the +bushes! Yes, that you are, Lightfoot; and you shall have an oat-supper +to-night that would make a horse, laugh, for catching up with the +rapscallion.” + +“Bart!” said Woodburn, in surprise; “how did you get wind of this? But +no matter. You have come too late.” + +“Know it--couldn't help it, though--had other fish to fry first, that +musn't cool. Captain Rose and sixteen other tory prisoners are on the +road here, just below.” + +“Prisoners! how? By whom taken?” + +“O, Captain Barney, and Bart, and I, and Mr Stratagem and one or two +others.” + +“What, only three or four of you to seventeen?” + +“No; I was a flanking party of ten in the bushes, and sergeant of +'em--cocked all their guns for 'em, by cocking and uncocking my +own--talked for 'em all, out of seven corners of my mouth at once, and +kept 'em from firing till the word, you know. We heard your firing, and +called you the front-guard; and--and we took 'em--every dog of 'em.” + +“Bravoes! and no fool of an exploit on your part neither, Bart, if all +this is so. But are the prisoners secured? Had we not better hasten to +join the escort?” + +“No, two or three more came up just as I left, and there's enough now to +manage in that quarter; but the advance-guard here must be kept up till +we get 'em out to the groat road, lest the sneaks slink away-into the +woods as they pass along the road and slip through our fingers as your +smart trooper did just now. Let's see--about eight strong we will have +this guard, I guess. I will be rank and file, and you shall be the +officer. Come, mount! They'll be poking their heads along in sight in +a moment. Ay, there they come! Advance-guard!” he now added, in a loud, +commanding tone, as the slow tread of the prisoners, advancing along +the devious and closely-embowered path, became audible--“advance-guard! +Attention the whole! Prepare to march!--march!” + +And accordingly he then, as Woodburn mounted and rode slowly on behind, +commenced the enactment of his assumed part, always keeping within +hearing, but never within distinct view, of the prisoners; now jabbering +in as many voices as the most expert ventriloquist, and now sternly +commanding, “_Silence in the ranks!_”--now getting up a seeming scuffle +among his men, and now driving them, with thwacks and curses, to their +places; and now again softening his tones and cracking jokes with his +men,--Smith, Johnson, &c.,--who, in as many different tones, were heard +to return various sharp and comical retorts, which raised shouts of +laughter and made the forest ring with the sham merriment And thus he +proceeded, to the secret amusement of the victors all if whom perfectly +understood the artifice, till they emerged from the woods into the open +grounds on the main road, when they were met by Major Ormsbee with a +small detachment of regular soldiers. The tories were then, for the +first time, permitted to know the smallness of the force that had +captured them when, amidst showers of gibes and shouts of laughter, at +their expense, from the Green Mountain Boys, the chapfallen creatures +were wheeled into the main road, and hurried on at a lively pace to +the village of Manchester, to be kept as prisoners of war, or tried +as spies, as the higher authorities there should see fit to decide. +[Footnote: This band of tories were, the next day after their capture, +marched to Arlington, where the question was raised, and sharply +discussed, whether they should be considered as prisoners of war, or +tried as spies, the latter being insisted on by Mathew Lyon, and some +others of the more bold and ardent friends of the American cause, who +declared that Captain Rose, at least, should be tried and hung as a +spy. A jury, however,--Eli Pettibone, Esq., presiding as civil +magistrate,--was allowed the prisoner; when, more probably, from +sympathy for the manly but misguided young officer, whom they had known +as a pleasant neighbor, than from want of proof, he was acquitted as +a spy, and, with the rest of his band, removed to Northampton jail as +prisoner of war. Considerable favor, also, seems to have been extended +to the other brothers, some of whom married into whig families, through +whose influence, it is said, they retained their estates, none of the +extensive Rose property being confiscated, except that of Captain Samuel +Rose, which is now the residence of the Hon. J. S. Pettibone, from +whom these particulars have been obtained, his father being one of the +captors and his uncle the magistrate, above named.] + +“Captain Woodburn!” exclaimed the clear, animated voice of one coming +out of the door of the honored tavern before described, in the village +of Manchester, as the person thus addressed, who had just arrived with +those escorting the prisoners, was describing the capture to a crowd +gathered round him in the yard--“Captain Woodburn, your most obedient! I +am glad my patience in waiting for your arrival is rewarded by the good +news which Powell, our landlord here, has just told us you bring. But +come, sir, a word in your ear, if you please.” + +Woodburn turned and confronted the bright and smiling countenance of Ira +Allen, who was beckoning him from the crowd. + +“Certainly, Mr. Allen; but why honor me with that appellation?” + responded the former, stepping aside with the ardent young secretary. + +“Because I have the warrant for so doing in my pocket--a captain's +commission for you, my dear sir, if you will believe me.” + +“Indeed!” + +“Yes, we have done something in the council at last worth talking +about--voted to raise a regiment of Rangers forthwith, and appointed all +the commissioned officers, Samuel Herrick heading the list as colonel.” + +“A gallant fellow, who will honor the post. But how about the means of +paying and supporting such a force? You lately held taxing the people, +without their consent, too bold a measure, I thought.” + +“We did, but have nevertheless adopted a bolder one.” + +“What is it?” + +“Decreed the confiscation of the estates of the tories, appointed the +necessary officers to execute the decree, and despatched messengers to +them with commissions, instructions, and with orders to put the machine +immediately into motion. By to-morrow nigh many of those on our black +list will--” + +“Your black list?” + +“Yes, already mostly made out for operations. But what is there to +startle you in that?” + +“Nothing; and yet I cannot forbear asking if that list includes one in +whose family you may guess I feel some interest.” + +“I fear so, and regret that the proofs are so strong as to require it.” + +“Could not action in that case be deferred? An angel is pleading with +him to remain neutral.” + +“If she were a whig angel, Woodburn, I know not----” + +“She is, she is--firmly, devotedly.” + +“Indeed! Well, for your sake, Woodburn, I am glad of it. And as the +political hue of petticoats has already been permitted to have an +influence, in some instances of the kind, in making up the list, it +may have in this case. But the old man's enmity to our cause is so +notorious, that I fear his estate must go, though the daughter, if +she prove true, will not be forgotten on the question of a future +restoration of her share of the property. But I am neglecting my chief +business with you. We have fixed your present destination for the +other side of the mountain, where among your old acquaintances, it was +thought, you could raise a company most expeditiously.” + +“But where is the money to come from to pay my recruits: Even in case +these estates are sold, who among us, these times, has money to purchase +them?” + +“The answer to that question involves a secret which is known to but a +few of us, and which must not be further revealed. Suffice it that there +is yet among us abundance of money, besides the British gold that +is beginning to be scattered along our border to meet our present +requirements. You will be supplied in season.” + +“I am content, and ready to depart.” + +“How soon can you start?” + +“This hour, if necessary.” + +“Retire, then, and obtain a few hours' sleep; but be off before day. +Here are your commission and instructions, by which you will see that +your subalterns are to be of your own appointing. Good-night, and God +speed you on your way. Remember that we expect much of you, and that +I stand voucher for your good conduct. And remember, also, my dear +fellow,” added the speaker, in a low, confidential tone, “that the +interests of your fair friend could not be in better keeping.” + +“You have laid me under deep obligations to you, Mr. Allen for all +this,” began Woodburn, with grateful emotion. + +“Yes, to do well; but not a word of thanks will I hear. So off with you +to your rest. Begone, sir!” said Allen, pushing the other away, with +that winning smile and kindly playful manner, with which he ever so +wonderfully contrived to gain the hearts and control the actions of all +whom he wished to make friends. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + “It is not much the world can give + With all its subtle art; + And gold and rank are not the things + To satisfy the heart.” + + +The day following the occurrences noted in the preceding chapter was an +eventful one to the Haviland family, developing circumstances calculated +to hasten the crisis to which the conflicting feelings and conduct of +the father and daughter had been for some time silently tending, and to +give a new turn to their respective destinies. + +It was late in the afternoon. No event had thus far during the day +occurred to mar the usual tranquillity of the family; and Haviland, +yet uninformed of the untoward affair which befell his party the last +evening at Manchester, and little dreaming of the bold and decisive +measures adopted by the Council of Safety, was seated at a table in his +usual sitting-room, examining, with a satisfied and triumphant air, a +map of New York, on which he was tracing out the intended route of the +British army in its hitherto victorious way from the St. Lawrence to +Albany. At length he began to muse aloud, partly to himself, apparently, +and partly to his daughter, who, with a pensive brow, was seated at an +open window in the same room, quietly engaged with her needle-work. + +“As soon as General Burgoyne can clear the road of the trees and other +obstructions, with which the rebels, in their impotent spite, have +filled it, so that he can move on to the Hudson, how that grand army +will sweep away the feeble and undisciplined bands that may venture to +oppose its victorious march! And when a junction of the British armies +is formed at Albany, what can this infatuated people think of doing +then? With the north completely cut off from the south, as will then be +the case, what can these two sections, which together can hardly raise a +respectable force, do, when thus divided and prevented from all concert +and cooperation? Ay, what will they do then? Come, Sabrey,” he added, +turning with an exulting air to his daughter, “perhaps you, who appear +to have so high an opinion of rebel prowess--perhaps you can answer the +question?” + +“I may be better prepared to answer the question, perhaps when I see the +junction you anticipate really effected. Burgoyne has not reached Albany +yet,” replied the other, with playful significance. + +“Be sure not; but what is to prevent him? What force can the rebels +oppose that he will not scatter like chaff before the wind? None! I tell +you, girl, their doom is sealed!” + +“It might be, if they would consent to let you fight their battles for +them, father. But the battle which they are preparing to give Burgoyne +they will choose to fight themselves, I imagine. A few Bunker Hill +lessons, on his way, might materially alter the general's prospects.” + +“Bunker Hill? Pooh! Why, we routed them even there behind their +breastworks. Besides, we never had so fine an army as this in the field +before. I only wish I was as sure of some good commission in Burgoyne's +army, as I am that he will march triumphantly through to Albany, and +thus bring this unnatural war to a close.” + + +“Would you think of going into that army, father, should you receive +such an appointment?” asked the daughter, in a tone of surprise and +expostulation. + +“Why, I should be proud to be there, Sabrey, in an army that contains so +much of the first talents and chivalry of England.” + +At this stage of the conversation, a man rode up to the door, and, +dismounting and entering the house, handed to Mr. Haviland, after +inquiring his name, a gorgeously-sealed packet. + +Haviland, after examining the seal a moment, bowed low to the stranger, +and inquiringly observed,-- + +“From General Burgoyne, I believe?” + +The messenger, nodding in the affirmative, and saying he was directed to +wait for an answer, the former broke open the missive, and found in it, +by singular coincidence, an answer to the prayer he had a few moments +before indirectly uttered a commission, or appointment in the commissary +department of the British army. After perusing the paper a second time, +he turned, and, with a consequential air, handed it to his daughter, +whose countenance instantly fell AS she glanced over the suspected +contents. + +“You cannot seriously think of accepting this appointment father,” she +said, with a look of concern; “you cannot think of leaving your quiet +and comfortable home, and engaging, at your age, in the fatigues and +dangers of the camp?” + +“Why not, Sabrey?” replied the other, reprovingly. “From my knowledge of +the country, I can be of great use in procuring the supplies which the +army will need, as the general doubtless foresaw; and I consider it my +duty to the king to lend my feeble aid when called. The post is not, it +is true, a very high one; but it is honorable and lucrative, and I shall +accept it.” + +'If this is Miss Sabrey Haviland, I have a letter for her also,' here +interposed the messenger, rising and presenting the letter in question. + +Sabrey broke open the proffered letter, which proved to be from her +friend Miss McRea, and ran thus:-- + +“You remember your promise, Sabrey, to visit me the first opportunity. +That opportunity now occurs. Captain Jones and other friends have +presented your father's name at head-quarters for promotion; and he has +now, I am informed, received an appointment. If he accepts, as I am sure +he will, I hope you will accompany him, and remain with me. I have just +received one of those letters so precious to me: he says the army will +probably move on to Fort Edward next week, the obstructions in the road +being mostly removed; so that, by the time you arrive, I shall probably +be enabled to introduce you to the beautiful and accomplished ladies +of whom he has so much to say,--such as the Countess of Reidesel, +Lady Harriet Ackland, and others, who accompany their husbands in the +campaign. But you will perhaps say that he is interested in praising +these ladies for the love and heroism which prompt them to brave such +fatigues and dangers for the sake of their lords, since he is warmly +urging me to consent to an immediate union, that I may follow their +example. He says, in his last letter,--and I think truly,--that I cannot +long remain where I am, in a section which he evidently anticipates, +will soon become a frightful scene of strife and bloodshed; and that I +must therefore go away with my friends, and leave him, perhaps forever, +or put myself under his protection in the army. And he seems hurt that +I hesitate in a choice of the alternatives. On the other hand, my +connections and friends here think it would be little short of madness +in me to yield to my lover's proposal. The people about here are greatly +alarmed at the expected approach of the British army, which is known to +be accompanied by a large body of Indians, Many are already removing and +nearly all preparing to go The crisis hastens, and yet I am undecided. +Prudence points one way, love the other. What shall I do? O Sabrey what +shall I do? Should you come on with your father, I think I should feel +a confidence in going with you to the British encampment. Come then, +my friend, come quickly, for I feel as if I could not go on without +friends, and especially a female friend, to accompany me; while, at the +same time, I feel as if some irresistible destiny would compel me to +the attempt. And yet why would I hesitate to take any step which +_he_ advises? Why refuse to share with him any dangers which _he_ may +encounter? And why should my anticipations of the future, which have +never, till recently, during my happy intimacy with Mr. Joes, been +so bright and blissful, be clouded now? I know not; I know not why +it should be so; but lately my bosom has become disturbed by strange +misgivings, and my mind perplexed by dark and undefined apprehensions. +I must not, however, indulge them; and your presence, I know, would +entirely dissipate them. I repeat, therefore, come, and that quickly. +Adieu. + + “Yours, truly, + JANE McREA.” + +The messenger in waiting, having been invited into another room to +partake of some refreshment, and the father and daughter being thus left +again by themselves, the latter now handed the other for his perusal the +affectionate but too truly boding letter of her fated friend. + +“And what answer do you intend to return to this kind and pressing +invitation of your friend, Sabrey?” asked Haviland, after attentively +reading the epistle. + +“That I do not think it advisable to accept it, at this time, father,” + answered the girl. + +“Why not advisable?” asked the other, in a censorious tone. “I see +nothing to object to in the step, going, as you will, under the +protection of a father; while it will introduce you to a circle which +few American girls can ever reach.” + +“I feel quite willing to forego the honor of such an introduction,” + coolly returned the daughter. “And were it otherwise, the very letter +that brings me the invitations unfolds enough to deter me from the +undertaking.” + +“You wholly mistake your friend's meaning,” responded the former. “Her +apprehensions are merely the natural effect of maiden timidity. I think, +as her lover seems to do, that the safest place for her is with the +British army. So I think it will be for you; for I know not what +punishment will be inflicted on these settlements for their rebellious +and treasonable conduct And it is my wish to separate myself and family +from them, before the day of reckoning arrives. I shall, therefore, +expect you to attend me.” + +As the daughter was about to reply a domestic came in and announced the +arrival of Colonel Peters; and the latter, the next moment, with a dark +and sullen brow, unceremoniously entered the apartment. He did not, +however, deign immediately to unfold the cause of his evident ill-humor, +but contented himself with listening to the news, which the elated +Haviland was prompt to impart in relation to his own promotion, the +invitation received by his daughter to accompany him to the army or +its vicinity, and his thus far rejected advice to her to accede to the +proposal. The cold countenance of Peters brightened with selfish +delight at the recital; for in the old gentleman's appointment, his +determination to accept it, and his intention of taking his daughter +with him, if she could be so persuaded, the former saw the triumph of +his machinations to involve the family inextricably in the royal cause. +But that triumph would not be complete, unless the daughter, whose +predilections for Woodburn and the American cause were more than +suspected, could be kept within the scope of loyal influence. He +therefore secretly resolved that, if her father left the settlement to +join the army, she should not be left behind, but should be induced +or compelled to accompany him. He consequently was not slow to add his +advice and entreaties to those of the father. This he did for a while +with some show of respect and kindness; but finding her still immovable, +he at length became irritated, and assumed a tone of dictation so +inconsistent with the natural delicacy of a lover, that she declined any +further conversation with him on the subject. + +“Where will you go, perverse and blinded girl?” now interposed the +father, reproachfully. “You would not stay here alone and unprotected, +would you?” + +“I should not hesitate to do so on account of any molestation which +_American_ troops would offer me,” replied Sabrey, with a significant +emphasis on the word American. “And should others approach, I would go +to my connections on the other side of the mountains.” + +“Miss Haviland may have her private reasons for wishing to remain in +this section of the country,” said Peters, with an ill-suppressed sneer, +turning to the father. + +“Will you please explain your meaning, sir?” demanded the girl with +spirit. + +“I mean,” replied Peters, “that she who would hold clandestine meetings +with one whom her father has seen fit to eject from his house, might see +the advantage of remaining where her interviews could be enjoyed without +molestation.” + +“Sabrey Haviland, is that true?” asked the old gentleman with a +gathering frown. + +“She will hardly deny, I think,” said Peters, “that the fellow was here +soon after I left last night. At all events, he was seen to leave the +premises in pursuit of me. By whom he was informed of the direction I +took, I know not; but I know he overtook me, beset me like a ruffian, +and shot my horse by a ball intended for the rider.” + +“Is all that true, I repeat?” again fiercely demanded Haviland of his +daughter, in a burst of rage. + +But without deigning one word of reply either to the insulting +insinuations of Peters, or the angry and ill-timed demand of her father, +Sabrey, with cheeks glowing with offended delicacy and just indignation, +rose from her seat, and was about to leave the apartment, when her step +was arrested by the altered voice of her father, who, quickly becoming +sensible of the harshness of his conduct from its visible effects, now +spoke to her in a softened and more expostulatory tone. + +“Surely, Sabrey, you are not going to deny my right, as a parent, to +question you, or at least ask you for an explanation respecting charges +which have the appearance of involving your character?” + +“I might not,” said she, coolly, but respectfully; “and indeed, I should +not, at another time, have refused to answer your question so far as I +could, however harshly it was put to me; but I must still decline to do +so in this presence!” she added, glancing towards the abashed Peters, +with an air of scorn to which her usually serene and benignant +countenance never before, perhaps, gave expression. + +“Perhaps, Miss Haviland,” said Peters, stung by the remark and manner +of the other, and now rallying for the revenge to which such minds are +prone to resort--“perhaps Miss Haviland, on a little more reflection, +may be willing to acknowledge that I, also, am not wholly without a +right to ask for an explanation in an affair which she seems to admit +requires one.” + +“I am not aware, sir,” promptly responded the maiden, so much aroused by +the cool arrogance of the other, as to forget her determination to hold +no more conversation with him--“I am not aware, sir, of having admitted +any necessity of an explanation And had I done so, I should be very far +from acknowledging your right to require it of me.” + +“It is possible,” rejoined the former in the same strain--“it is +possible Miss Haviland may be willing to qualify her last remark a +little, when she is reminded of the existence of a certain marriage +contract, to which she voluntarily became a party.” + +“I need no prompting to make me mindful of that evidence of my youthful +indiscretion, sir,” responded Miss Haviland; “nor should I be likely to +forget the particular provisions of an instrument, the thought of +which has cost me, as my entreaties to be released from it should have +apprised you, so many painful regrets. But, while mindful of all this, +I have yet to be informed of the provision which, till the contract is +consummated, gives you any control over my actions, or right to require +me to account for or explain them.” + +“If the instrument, which I have somewhere about me, I believe,” replied +the other, with his usual cold indifference, as he took the document +from his pocket, and began, with a businesslike air, to glance over the +contents--“if the instrument does not express, or rather if it is not +admitted to presuppose and give me, any of the rights I have named +till it is consummated, then it is time that I should insist on its +consummation, which, as few others would have done, I have so long +forborne to urge.” + +“I perfectly agree with Colonel Peters,” interposed Mr. Haviland, +catching at the last suggestion in his growing alarm for the success +of his favorite scheme, which the unexpected state of feeling here +displayed taught him might be endangered, if not speedily consummated. +“I perfectly agree with him, that this business has already been +sufficiently delayed; and I think, as the family is now about to break +up, that the final ceremony had better be performed before we go, or, +at the farthest, when we reach the army, where, as Sabrey would perhaps +prefer, it might take place at the same time as that of her friend, who +is similarly situated.” + +“You forget,” said the maiden, now freshly aroused at this combined +attempt to make her forego her last remaining privilege in the abhorrent +negotiation--“you both forget that the very instrument, by which you +claim to dispose of my hand, expressly leaves to me, and to me only, +the right and privilege of deciding upon the time for that ceremony, +by which you would now, it seems, so summarily consummate your unmanly +scheme. And thank Heaven!” she continued, turning to the nonplused +suitor with an air of decision and fearlessness which the excitement +of insulted feeling could only have given her--“thank Heaven, I had the +forethought to insist on a privilege now so precious to me; for let me +assure you, sir, that distant will be the day when _I_ shall fix on a +time for consummating a contract, wrung from girlish inexperience, to +gratify selfish ambition or mistaken views in the first place, and now +claimed to hold me like a sold article of merchandise, for the use and +control of one whose feelings, principles, and whole character are every +way uncongenial with my own.” + +“What!--how!” exclaimed the irritated and evidently astonished Haviland, +who, in his obtuseness, even now, could not perceive what objection his +daughter could have to a match esteemed by him so advantageous. “What +can this mean? Why, the girl must be demented! You to decide on the +time! Why, reasonable time is all that was meant by that, if it is not +so expressed!” + +“That is all; nothing more,” eagerly chimed in Peters. + +“If a part of the instrument is to be construed differently from what +is expressed, and as you choose, why not other parts, and as I choose?” + calmly asked the unmoved girl. “If so, then its power to bind me shall +cease with this hour.” + +“What folly!” again exclaimed the old gentleman, balked and chafing +worse than before. “Why, don't the infatuated girl know that, to say +nothing about losing prospects which no other young lady in the country +would reject--that by marrying any other man, she will forfeit her +birthright in my estate, and make herself, as she will deserve to be, a +beggar?” + +“I have no thought of marrying any other man while in my present +embarrassing position,” quickly retorted the former, with an offended +air. “But should I wish to do so, I should hardly be deterred from it by +either of the considerations you have just named, I think. And, indeed, +if the mercenary and ambitious motives, which you would have actuate +me, were alone to be my guide in such a step, I could see but little +temptation for the sacrifice in the honors and wealth which are so much +to depend on a triumph that, for all your boasts, I believe will never +be accomplished; while the failure, if the same justice is meted out to +you which you seem to be meditating for others, will leave you with a +branded name, and no estate here to give or withhold.” + +“Silence! audacious girl,” exclaimed the baffled loyalist, unable longer +to endure the calm but scorching rebuke involved in the reply of his +daughter. “I will listen to no more of your railings. This comes of +being allowed to mingle with an ignorant, rebellious populace. But +that evil shall, at least, be remedied. You will attend me to the army, +where, I trust, your eyes may soon be opened to your folly.” + +“You may perhaps compel me to go, sir,” responded the still unawed +maiden; “but if you do so, let me warn you against all hope of thereby +rendering my feelings less repugnant to the scheme we have been +discussing, or of changing my views of the cause in which you are about +to embark; for I will now openly declare, what I have often before left +you to infer, that I have no sympathies for those who come to oppress +and enslave my country; nor will I ever aid or sanction their ignoble +purposes--not even to the withholding any intelligence I may gain of +their movements, which may avert disaster or peril from our struggling +people.” + +“Hurrah for the tory's daughter!” now burst on the ears of the +astonished group, from a band of armed men standing immediately beneath +the open but thickly vine-clad windows without, whither, it seemed, they +had approached unperceived, and thus become unintentional listeners +to the last part of the foregoing dialogue, which they were still +hesitating to break in upon, when their admiration of the heroic +girl's declarations led to the irrepressible burst of applause just +mentioned--“Hurrah for the tory's daughter! She shall be remembered for +that!” + +The party within instantly rose to their feet at so strange and +unexpected a salutation. Peters, aware, from the experience of the last +night, that his capture was sought, was the first, as might be expected, +to take the alarm. With a hasty step towards the window, and an equally +hasty glance through the screening foliage at the new-comers, he +hurriedly retreated through a door leading to the rear of the house. +Haviland, scarcely less alarmed, though having no conception of the main +object of the visit, advanced, with evident perturbation, to the front +door, when he was met at the threshold by the secretary of the Council +of Safety, who, bowing politely, proceeded to apologize for the noisy +outbreak of his attendants, which, contrary to his wishes, he said, had +been made to announce his arrival. + +“Attendants, sir?” exclaimed Haviland, casting a flurried glance at the +file of soldiers in the yard--“attendants--armed men led up here to my +door? Who are they? What is then business, and yours, sir? This affair +needs explanation, sir.” + +“Well, sir, if so, I am here to give it,” composedly replied Allen. +“But, as you appear somewhat agitated, let us walk in and talk over the +matter calmly.” + +Mechanically complying with the suggestion, Haviland turned and led the +way into the room, where his daughter still stood, mutely awaiting the +development; when the secretary, after bowing with marked respect to +Miss Haviland, with whom, it appeared, he was slightly acquainted, +resumed,-- + +“The Council of Safety, sir, having determined on defending the state +to the last extremity, in the present crisis, have perceived, with deep +regret, that there are those in our midst who hesitate not either to +take up arms against their countrymen, or, what is no better, secretly +to aid the enemy, and harbor and conceal in their houses hostile +emissaries, trying to seduce our people. And not perceiving the policy +or justice of longer permitting their cause thus to be endangered, the +council have decided on a measure for promptly remedying the evil--a +measure which they had less hesitation in adopting, as they believed, +from the repeated threats of the loyalists, they would only be +anticipating their opponents by inflicting penalties, that, in case of +the conquest of this country, will be visited on themselves. They have +passed a solemn decree, sir, to confiscate, for the public use, all the +estates of both of the classes of loyalists I have named, among one of +which, at least, they have abundant proof, I regret to say, to warrant +them in classing Esquire Haviland. And they direct me to permit him +to take one of the horses, lately his own, and depart, with the least +possible delay, for the British camp, where, they think, he more +properly belongs.” + +The arrogant loyalist, who had hitherto looked upon the Council of +Safety with utter contempt for either their powers or their efficiency, +was now perfectly thunderstruck at the announcement of so bold and +unexpected a measure; and, for some moments, his mouth seemed wholly +sealed against any remonstrance to a step which, not for public good, +but for his own aggrandizement, he was conscious of intending to +recommend to the British government in relation to the estates of the +leading rebels, and especially those of the treasonable body by whom, as +had just been so truthfully told him, his selfish designs had now been +anticipated. Soon rallying, however, he wrathfully muttered,-- + +“They dare not do it; their audacity will not carry them to that length. +But if they do,” he continued, with louder and more menacing tones--“if +they do attempt to carry out their plundering purposes, I will bring +down upon them, within eight and forty hours, a British force that +will give them enough to do to take care of themselves and their own +property, without meddling with that of others.” + +“That is what we supposed you would be glad to do, in any case,” quietly +responded Allen. “It but swells the proof against you, and goes to +confirm the justice of the decree.” + +“O, do not say any more, father,” interposed Miss Haviland, with much +feeling. “Do not, I beg of you, further and more inextricably involve +yourself. You know how gladly I would have saved you from this; how +often warned you of the consequences of persisting in your course. +Perhaps it is not too late to retract, even now. Who knows but the +council, who have done this but from a sense of duty to their country, +and with no ill will against you personally, may yet be induced, if +you will send in a pledge of neutrality, to reverse their sentence as +regards you, and still leave you in possession of your property and +a quiet home? I myself, feeble girl as I am, would go before them to +intercede for you; and perhaps this gentleman would assist me,” she +added, with an appealing glance to Allen. + +“Most gladly,” replied the latter, touched at the magnanimity of the +girl, in her distress--“most gladly, and with great hope of success.” + +“Do you hear that, father?” said the other, eagerly; “do you hear what +I feel--I know--may yet be done for you? Then do not reject my petition, +but retract, and give up your intention of joining these invaders of +your country.” + +“No,” replied the old gentleman, after a moment of apparent +wavering--“no, never! Let the plunderers take possession of my estate +here for the short time they will be enabled to hold it, if they will. +To-morrow morning I start for the British camp.” + +“It is as I feared,” observed Allen, turning to the daughter; “but your +efforts to rescue your father, Miss Haviland, and the noble stand +you have taken on this occasion and before, are, let me assure you, +appreciated by myself, and will not fail to be so by those of more +controlling influence. And although this property will, in a few days, +be sold by those duly appointed, and now here to guard and dispose of +it, yet the government, which has the power to confiscate, will have +the power to restore; and I have no fears that your own interests will +eventually be made to suffer by a measure which may now appear as harsh +to you as it appeared necessary to the upright and patriotic men who +felt themselves constrained to adopt it. In this you may trust, I think, +as regards the future. As for the present, I am only empowered to offer +you an asylum in some friendly family of the neighborhood, with ample +means of support, or, if you prefer, a safe conveyance, with a female +attendant, should you desire it, to any family in a more distant part of +the state.” + +“My daughter will probably go with me, sir,” said Haviland, resentfully. + +“No, father,” said the girl, firmly; “that army is no proper place for +a young lady and especially one of my views. I shall for the present, +go into the family of our neighbor Risdon; but in a few days, I will +gratefully accept of Mr. Allen's offer of a conveyance, and, as I +proposed to you a short time ago, go to my connections on the other side +of the mountains.” + +“Your wishes will be attended to in this or any other respect as soon +as you shall please to signify them, Miss Haviland,” said the secretary, +as, bowing a respectful adieu, he now departed with part of his +armed attendants, for other and similar visits which remained to be +accomplished that night among the unsuspecting tories of that vicinity. + +Within an hour or two after the departure of Allen, or as soon as the +growing darkness would enable a skulker to approach unseen, a man, who +was of the latter description evidently, might have been discovered +slowly and cautiously making a circuit round the house, but at so +respectable distance from it as to escape the observation of the guard +now stationed at three or four commanding points about the premises. +When he had reached a point nearly opposite to the back door, he +ventured up to the border of the intervening garden, and gave a low, +significant whistle. After a momentary silence, a slight rustling was +heard in a thick patch of corn occupying a portion of the garden, and +Peters, who, it will be recollected, passed out in this direction, and +who, perceiving his retreat cut off by men already posted in the fields, +had here lain concealed till now, cautiously emerged from his covert, +and came forward to the spot where the other stood awaiting his +approach. + +“Well, Redding,” said Peters, in a low voice, as he came up “when I +asked you this morning to come here to Haviland's to-night to see me, +before I went to the army, I didn't exactly expect you would have to +call me out of a corn patch to receive my orders. But how came you to +know or suspect I was here? You have not ventured in there, I take it?” + he added, leading the way into the field, which the guard had now left. + +“No,” replied the other; “I caught a glimpse of the fellows in the yard +as I came in sight, and, mistrusting what was to pay from what I had +just heard of their movements this forenoon in Manchester, and other +towns thereabouts I struck off across the pasture, where I luckily +encountered the old squire, who walked out there, after the leader of +the gang had left, and who told me of your concealment, and all.” + +“Yes, he came to the back door, here, the first chance he could get, to +see if I had escaped, when, contriving to apprise him where I was, I had +got a moment's talk with him just before. But what have you heard about +their movements in other places to-day?” + +“Why, I met Asa Rose going post-haste to warn our friends in this +direction to be on their guard. He says they have seized on the estates +of all the Rose family, and every other leading loyalist, as far as +they could hear, in all that section; and, in several instances, put the +owners themselves under guard. What do you say to all that, colonel?” + +“Glad of it. Though an act of lawlessness and audacity which I did not +once dream of their attempting, and which, even now, they will not dare +to carry out, should they have time to do so before their brief career +is arrested, yet I am glad the rebel fools have done it; for, +between you and me, Redding, I have had my doubts whether the British +government, which is ever too merciful, would take their estates from +them, when we come to subdue them, as you know we have talked; but now +vengeance will be swift and certain. Their estates will all be seized +and given to the deserving.” + +“Ay, that's it!” exclaimed the perfidious minion, with a chuckle of +satisfaction; “it will give us our revenge, and at the same time supply +us with the needful. I have a good many scores to settle with the people +about here; and I know of the farm of a certain rebel that I shall ask +for my share, as I think I justly may, seeing how active I've been this +summer. + +“Yes, yes,” replied Peters, rather impatiently; “but there must be +no more wavering and turning with you. What you ask you must earn, +remember.” + +“You see if I don't! only name what you would have me do, colonel!” + eagerly responded the other. + +“Well, I will now,” said the former, coming to a halt. “Yes, as we are, +by this time, fairly out of reach and hearing of these foiled rebels, +who have so kindly yielded me a pass through this side of their watch, +thinking, doubtless, that I could not have been in the house when they +surrounded it, but should be there this evening--yes, I will give you my +orders now, which will embrace a fresh item or two above what I intended +before some of the occurrences of this afternoon. Well, in the first +place, you are to proceed to Castleton, and join the northern company +there collected and ready for operations at the Remington rendezvous, +You will then become the guide and assistant of the leader of that +force, which is to move on to some secret and safe place, to be selected +by you (as you know the localities, and the leader don't) in the woods +near the Twenty Mile Encampment, where, acting is the advanced corps +of our planned expedition to the Connecticut by that route, they will +remain concealed as much as possible, till further orders, watching all +movements of the rebels, and drawing in every trusty loyalist that +can be approached. And mark me, Redding, while there, or elsewhere, +remember, that accursed Woodburn is a doomed man, and is to be taken, if +found, and kept for my disposal. And I have another order, which must be +left still more to your especial management. Haviland's daughter, with +whom you know, I suppose, how I am situated, has got some dangerous +notions into her head, and, refusing to hear to her father, who wishes +her to go with him to the army, has determined to go to her relatives, +over the mountain, in a carriage the rebels have promised to provide +her. She will be along that road, probably, soon after you get to your +rendezvous. She must be stopped, and conducted, with good treatment, +mind you, back, through some secret route, to the British camp, where +her father, though he knows nothing of my plan, will be glad to receive +and keep her. And now I will be off to my horse, which I luckily left +at the house of a friend, on the cross road, about a mile to the west of +us.” + +“Will you go far on your journey to-night?” + +“About seven miles, to the house of another friend, where I am to be +joined by the squire in the morning, and, with him, proceed directly to +the army.” + +“How soon are we to hear from you?” + +“Within ten days, or sooner. I shall, with all possible despatch, +organize and prepare the force designed for the purpose; when I shall +sweep on through Arlington and Manchester, and, after teaching them a +few lessons in that quarter, proceed at once to join you. There! you +now know all; go, and remember that secrecy and vengeance are the +watchwords.” + +“Ay, ay; I am your man for all that, colonel,” responded the +heartless tool, as the two now separated to depart on their different +destinations. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + “What nearer foe is lurking in the glade?-- + But joy! Columbia's friends are trampling through the shade!” + + +One of the earliest and most noted of the houses of public entertainment +in Vermont was that of Captain John Coffin, situated in the north part +of Cavendish, on the old military road, cut out in the French wars, by +the energetic General Amherst, with a regiment of New Hampshire Boys, +and extending from Number Four, as Charleston on the Connecticut was +then called, to the fortresses on Lake Champlain. This tavern, at the +time of the revolution, being on the very outskirts of the settlements +on the east side of the Green Mountains, was long the general resort of +the soldier and the common wayfarer for rest and refreshment, before +and after passing over the long and dreary route of mountain wilderness +lying between the eastern and western settlements of the state. And +to the soldier, especially, it was a favorite haven; the more so, +doubtless, from the congenial character of its frank, fearless, +patriotic, but blunt and unpolished landlord, whose substantial cheer +and hearty welcome, money or no money usually caused him to be +looked upon as a friend, as well as a good entertainer. To this then +widely-known establishment we will now repair, to note the occurrences +next to be related in the progress of our story. + +On a dark and cloudy afternoon, about ten days after the events related +in the last chapter, a company of five persons were assembled in the +rudely finished bar-room of the inn just described. Of these, three were +strangers, or pretended strangers, to the house and each other; having +dropped in at different intervals during the afternoon. Of the two +others, one was the landlord, whose burly frame, rough, open features, +and fear-nought countenance need have left none in doubt of either +the physical or moral traits which experience proved he possessed. The +other, a somewhat tall, thin, gaunt man, of a weather-beaten visage, and +a sort of sly, scrutinizing look, was an old acquaintance of the reader. +As of old, his large powder-horn and ball-pouch were slung under his +left arm, and his long, heavy rifle, standing by his side, was resting +on the sill of the open window beneath which he had seated himself, +so as to enable him to note what might be passing without as well as +within. The manner in which the latter and the landlord occasionally +exchanged glances, implied a previous and familiar acquaintance, the +usual manifestations of which seemed to be repressed by the presence of +the three guests first named, who were evidently objects of the secret +suspicion of the former. But all this, for some time, might have passed +unheeded by any but close observers; for few remarks, and those of the +briefest and most common-place kind, were offered; and an inclination +for silence and reserve was manifest among the company. + +A circumstance at length occurred, however, which quickly awakened +the landlord from his apparent apathy, and brought some of the +leading characteristics of the man at once into view. A very large and +powerfully-made black dog, which belonged to the house, had just marched +into the room, and laid down to sleep in the middle of the floor; when +one of the strangers, whom we have noticed, in returning from the bar, +where he had been for a drink of water, trod on the animal's tail, +either through accident or design--probably the latter;--at least the +landlord seemed to suspect so; for his countenance instantly flashed +with indignation, and, turning abruptly to the aggressor, he said,-- + +“What was that done for, sir?” + +“Done for?” replied the other, indifferently. “Why, it was done because +the dog was in my way. If he don't want his tail trod on, he must keep +out from under foot; that's all.” + +“Well, sir,” rejoined the former, in no gentle tones, “I don't know who +you are; but whether whig or tory, gentle or simple, I shall just take +the liberty to tell you, that if I was sure you did that intentionally, +I would pull your ears for you; for, if any living being has a good +right to remain undisturbed, and do as he likes in this house, it is +that dog. Roarer, come here, my old friend,” he added, turning to fondle +the creature, that now, dropping the menacing attitude he had assumed +towards the aggressing stranger, came up and thrust his huge snout into +his master's lap. “Yes, old fellow, while I live, you shall never want +a friend to avenge your wrongs, though I have to fight a regiment to +do it! And aint I right in that, Dunning?” he still further remarked, +turning to the hunter. + +“Der yes, if needful,” replied the latter; “but the ditter dog. I'm +thinking, would ask no favors, if you would give him leave to der do his +own work on meddlers. + +“O, that wouldn't do, you know, Tom,” rejoined the former, “for, if I +but said the word, Roarer would tear him in shoestrings, as quick as you +could say Jack Roberson! No I'll settle the hash myself. And I am now +ready to hear the fellow's explanation,” he added, again turning sternly +to the aggressor. + +But the last-named questionable personage, not relishing the course +matters were taking, now, in a subdued and altered tone promptly +disclaimed any intention of touching the dog, and expressed his regret +at what had happened. + +“O, that's enough,” said Coffin, instantly cooling off. “All right now, +Roarer. You may lie down again, sir,” he continued, waving away the dog, +that had faced round, and still stood suspiciously eyeing the offender. +“Yes, that's enough; we'll call the matter settled. But by way of +explaining to you, who are strangers, what I have said about that dog's +claims to my friendship and protection, I must tell you a story, which +will show you how much the noble creature is deserving at my hands. + +“Six years ago, the seventh day of last March, as I was returning from +the settlements on Otter Creek, a distance of from twenty to thirty +miles, through the then entire wilderness, with the snow nearly five +feet deep on a level, and the weather so cold and stormy, that I +was compelled to travel with great-coat on, as well as snow-shoes, I +undertook to cross one of the ponds in Plymouth on the ice, which I +supposed perfectly sound and safe for any thing that could be got on to +it. But for some reason or other, there seemed to have been one place, +concealed from view by the snow, so thin and spongy, that the moment I +stepped upon it, I went down some feet below the surface into the water, +while the snow and broken ice at once closed over me. And although I +succeeded in forcing my way up through the slush, and getting my head +above water, yet I soon found it, hampered as I was with snow-shoes and +great-coat, impossible to get out. As sure as I tried to raise myself +by the treacherous support at the sides, so sure was it to give way, +and precipitate me back into the water. But still I struggled on, till +chilled to the vitals, so benumbed that I could scarcely move a limb, +and growing weaker and weaker at every effort, I could do no more; and +I saw myself gradually sinking for the last time. O heavens! who can +describe my sensations--who conceive the thousand thoughts that flashed +through my mind at that horrible moment! But just as I was on the point +of giving up in despair, I caught a glimpse of my dog (that had taken +a circuit wide from me after some game) coming on to the pond. I raised +one faint shout--it was all I could do,--and, though nearly a half mile +off, he heard it, and came on, with monstrous bounds, to the spot. In a +moment he was there; and, after giving me one look,--I can never forget +that look,--he slid down to the very verge of the hole to try to assist +me. With a struggle, I made out to raise one hand out of the water +within his reach. He seized the cuff of my coat, and, drawing back with +the seeming strength of a draught-horse, he, with one pull, brought me +half out of the water. With a desperate effort on my part, and another +on his, the next instant I was lying helpless, but safe, on the ice, +while the dog fairly howled aloud for joy! I said safe; for as hopeless +as some might have viewed my situation, even then, wet, benumbed, nearly +dead with cold and exhaustion, and many miles from any human help or +habitation, as I was, yet rallying every energy I had left me, and +rolling, kicking, and pawing, to put my blood in motion, and regain the +use of my limbs, I soon got on to my feet; when, seizing my gun, that I +had hurled aside as I went down, I made for a dry tree in sight, fired +into a spot of spunk I luckily found on one side of it, kindled a fire, +warmed and dried myself, set forward again, and reached home that night; +but with feelings towards that dog, sir, that I can never know towards +any other created being--not even, in some respects, towards my wife +and children. Yes, sir; I will not only fight, but, if need be, die for +him.” + +While the captain was relating his oft-told but truthful adventure with +his justly-prized dog, the quick eye of Dunning caught, through the +window, a glimpse of a recognized form, approaching in the road from +the east; and slipping out unnoticed from the room, he beckoned the +approaching personage round the corner of the house, and when safely out +of the hearing and observation of those in the bar-room, he turned to +the other, and said,-- + +“Der devil's in the wind, Captain Harry!” + +“How so? Have you discovered the suspected rendezvous?” + +“Der yes; and more too.” + +“Indeed! where is it?” + +“Ditter deep in the thickets, on the west side of the pond nearest the +great road over the mountains.” + +“Ah, ha! but their numbers? any more, probably, than the small club we +supposed?” + +“Der double, and then the ditter double of that, if it don't make more +than twenty.” + +“You surprise me, Dunning. Are you sure?” + +“Sure as that I am der talking to Captain Woodburn.” + +“Impossible! It must be some secret meeting of the disaffected in this +quarter.” + +“Der not that, but a regularly armed force, and, with the ditter +exception of two or three about-home tories, may be, all strange faces, +including a sprinkling of red skins, brought along with them for ditter +decency's sake, I suppose.” + +“But how could such a force get so far into the interior undetected? +How dare they venture on so hazardous a movement? and what can be their +designs in so doing?” + +“Der here is something that ditter tells a rather loud story about that; +at least, as to the matter of intentions,” said the hunter, by way of +reply, taking a crumpled paper from his cap and handing it to the other. + +Woodburn took the paper, and eagerly ran over its contents; which to his +astonishment he found to be a copy of an order from General Burgoyne to +Colonel Peters, detailing the plan of an expedition, to be conducted by +the latter, with one hundred loyalists and a company of Indians, by way +of the head waters of Otter Creek, across the mountains to Connecticut +River, where this force was to be joined by the loyal troops from Rhode +Island, and directing him “to scour the country, levy contributions, +take hostages, make prisoners of all civil and military officers acting +under Congress, collect horses, and, after proceeding down the river as +far as Brattleborough, return to the great road to Albany.” [Footnote: +The document here quoted was brought to General Stark on his advance +through Vermont; and there can be but little doubt of its genuineness; +as it afterwards came out, in the trial of Burgoyne in the British +Parliament, that such an expedition was actually started, but +subsequently changed for that of Bennington. How considerable a +portion of the whole intended force penetrated into the interior is not +ascertained. But we have the authority of the oldest inhabitants for +asserting, that a portion of this force did cross over the mountains, +and some of them even reached Springfield; when, owing to the unexpected +movements they found going on among the people, and the rumored advance +of Stark, all, who were not taken, speedily decamped.] + +“How did this get into your hands, Dunning?” demanded the surprised and +excited officer, as soon as he had mastered the contents. + +“Der well, having crept along near the edge of the pond within ten or +twelve rods of their camp, I was lying in the bushes for discoveries; +when ditter one of 'em--their leader, I suppose--came down to the pond, +for observation, likely; and, while peering up and down the shore, a +gust of wind blew his hat off into the water. But though he regained his +ditter hit and disappeared, I soon saw a piece of white paper blowing +along in the water towards me. After a while, it reached the sort of +point where I was, and lodging against a bush, I secured it, and found +it this same thing. What do you think of it, captain?” + +“Why, it unfolds a plan too bold for credence.” + +“Not too bold for _my_ ditter credence, captain.” + +“Then you think it no feint?” + +“Der no, sir, but a regular bred expedition, which they mean to push as +soon as more force arrives. I have been ditter watching things a little +since I got at this wrinkle. They have spies out in every direction. +'Tis not an hour since I espied a fellow peering from the corner of the +woods up yonder, who, I think, must be that treacherous ditter devil, +David Redding, and there are three now in the bar-room of the same +kidney.” + +“Ah! well, all this may be. Such an expedition may have been set afoot +at the instigation of such fellows as Spencer, who, having left the +Council of Safety before any thing was done, and while its distracted +counsels seemed to preclude all prospect that any thing would be done +for the defence of the state. Ay, that is it; and little dreaming of +what has since transpired, Peters, who is probably behind, with the main +force, has sent forward this as a sort of pioneer corps, who, coming +over a route now mostly deserted by our people, have penetrated here +nearly to the Twenty Mile Encampment, without once suspecting what is +going on through the rest of the state. But that is a secret, which, +thanks to the prompt patriotism shown by our young men in enlisting, we +shall now soon be able to teach them; for my company is already nearly +full; and, if you have notified the recruits you enlisted. Sergeant +Dunning, they will all be here for mustering by to-morrow night.” + +“All done, as in der duty bound, captain; and six of my men said they +would be here this evening.” + +“Indeed! there will be almost enough of us, if your six recruits all +get in, to make a pounce upon this nest of vipers to-night Let's see; +six--you, myself, and Captain Coffin, and----” + +“And der Bart, if he comes; ditter don't you expect him along here +to-night?” + +“I do. Miss Haviland, according to the letter of Mr. Allen, who wrote +some days ago, to apprise me of her coming, would have started, I +calculate, this morning; and Bart, whom I immediately despatched to +act as her guard on the way, will of course come with her. They will +probably arrive before long, now--unless----” and the speaker suddenly +paused at the new and startling thought that now seemed to occur to him. + +“Unless,” said Dunning, guessing the thoughts of the other and taking up +the supposition--“unless beset by some of this crew, who are ordered to +take prisoners and hostages. But der stay; didn't I catch the glimmer +of a distant horseman then?” he continued, pointing along the partially +wooded road to the west. “There! that was a clearer view; and, by the +ditter darting kind of gait of the horse, I should think it might be +Lightfoot, and the short rider the critter we've been talking about.” + +The hunter's eye had not misled him; for in a few minutes the horseman +emerged from the forest into open view, and confirmed the conjecture +that had just been made respecting his identity. As he neared the +house, perceiving Woodburn and Dunning beckoning to him from behind the +buildings, he threw himself from his saddle, leaped over the fence, and +approached them. + +“The news, sir? What is it? Speak!” eagerly exclaimed Woodburn, as Bart, +with a downcast and troubled look, drew near. + +“Bad as need to be, consarn it!” replied the latter, with an air of +mingled vexation and self-reproach. “But I couldn't help it.” + +“Help what? What has happened? Where is the lady?” rapidly asked the +alarmed and impatient lover. + +“Taken prisoner by the tories, as I guessed 'em. She and Vine Howard, +that come with her, and the boy that drove 'em.” + +“How? when? where?” + +“Why, as we were coming down this side the mountain, and when nearly +to the bottom, five or six fellows, with guns, rushed out of the bush, +seized the horse, pulled out the women, and hurried them off with two of +their number into the woods towards the pond; while the rest made a push +to take me, who was riding just behind. But firing a pistol in their +faces, and giving Lightfoot my stiffest sign, we dashed through or over +them, and escaped, with their bullets whistling after us, one after +another, till we were out of reach.” + +“These ladies shall be rescued before I sleep, or I will perish in +the attempt,” said Woodburn, with stern emphasis. “Let us arm and set +forward immediately with the best force we can raise.” + +“There is a thing or two to be ditter done first, it strikes me,” + observed Dunning, with his usual coolness; “that is, if we don't want +enemies both before and behind us, on the way.” + +“What is that, Dunning?” + +“Secure those three chaps in the bar-room, or they'll be ditter sure +either to be on our heels, or get there before us to raise the alarm of +our coming.” + +“Are they armed, think you?” + +“With ditter knives only, I'm thinking--their guns may have been left +in the point of woods yonder, in charge of the spy I named, who, now I +ditter think on't, ought to be taken about the same time, for fear of +some secret signal being given.” + +The suggestions of Dunning, who, as the reader will already have +inferred, had been made a sergeant in Woodburn's company of Rangers, +were at once approved by his superior, who accordingly, as the first +step, despatched him and Bart to the woods, where the man conjectured to +be in charge of the arms of his comrades was supposed to be concealed. +After waiting till the two others might have had time to gain the woods +in question, Woodburn left his stand, and, passing round to the front of +the house, boldly marched into the bar-room, where the three suspected +personages still sat listening to the stories with which the landlord, +who suspected what was in progress, seemed intent on amusing them. They, +however, now seemed suddenly to lose all interest in the recital going +on, and, after exchanging uneasy and significant glances, simultaneously +rose to depart. + +“You are my prisoners, gentlemen,” said Woodburn, stepping before them +and presenting a cocked pistol. + +For a moment, the surprised tories stood mute in alarm and doubt, +alternately glancing from their armed opponent to the landlord, and from +the latter to the door and windows, as if weighing the chances and +means of escape. But, the next instant, two of them suddenly turned, and +drawing and flourishing their knives behind them, sprang for the open +windows, with the intention of leaping through them. + +“At 'em, Roarer!” exclaimed Coffin, seizing one escaping tory by the +leg, and hurling him back with stunning effect upon the floor. + +The dog was but little behind his master in drawing back, by a grip in +his clothes, the other to the floor, where he was glad to lie without +offering further resistance to the grim and growling conqueror standing +over him. The third, in the mean while, not daring to stir lest a worse +fate should befall him, standing as he was directly before the muzzle of +Woodburn's pistol, and seeing the situation of his comrades, immediately +submitted; when all, giving up their concealed arms, now quietly yielded +themselves as prisoners. + +In a few minutes after the surrender of the tories, their guns were +brought in by Dunning and Bart, who found them at the suspected place, +though the traitor, Redding, whom they identified, had just taken the +alarm, and was seen retreating over a distant knoll as they came up to +the spot. + +The prisoners being left in charge of the landlord's oldest boy, who was +armed for the purpose, and the dog Roarer, the rest of the company now +retired to another part of the house, to devise measures for the rescue +of the fair captives, for which a preliminary step only had as yet +been taken. Having at length fixed on the plan of operations which +they believed most promising of auspicious results, they immediately +commenced their hasty preparations for the bold adventure. And Dunning's +six recruits luckily arriving in season, the whole company, now +consisting of ten resolute woodsmen, and led on by a man fully resolved +to succeed or perish, set forward, a little after sunset, for the scene +of action, which was several miles distant from the tavern. According to +the plan that had been adopted, two men were to proceed to the eastern +shore of the pond, take a log canoe, and, under cover of the darkness, +row silently over to some point beyond, but near the tory encampment; +and, after making what discoveries they could respecting the situation +of the captives, lie in ambush and await the operations of the rest of +the company, who were to proceed round by the road, enter the woods, +and gain a post on the other side of the encampment, and, by a feigned +attack, draw off the tories, and thus afford the former a favorable +moment to rush from their concealment and release the captives. And +if they found this impracticable, they were then to shout aloud the +watchword, _To the rescue!_ when both parties of the assailants were to +make an earnest and desperate onset on the foe. Dunning and Bart, from +their known sagacity and skill as woodsmen and coolness and intrepidity +in action, were the two men selected to undertake the more difficult and +hazardous part first mentioned. + +After a rapid and silent march of about an hour, the company reached +the vicinity of the pond, just as the last suffusions of an obscured +twilight disappeared in the west, and halted a few minutes, that the +different parts of the plan might be repeated and clearly understood by +all before separating. + +“Remember the arrangement, boys,” said Woodburn, addressing Dunning and +Bart, in a voice which betrayed the intense solicitude he felt in the +event at issue. “Recollect the first and main object is to release and +get off the ladies, and if this can be done within the hour we will +give you for the purpose, as it possibly may be, before we make any +demonstrations in front, so much the better; if not, proceed in the +manner agreed on. And may Heaven favor the innocent, whose cause, +remember, is mostly in your hands.” + +With this the company separated, and each party proceeded to their +different destinations. We will follow the two intrusted with the most +difficult part of the enterprise. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + “The first that hears + Shall be the first to bleed.” + + +The hunter, followed by his young comrade, now leaving the rest of the +band to proceed to their contemplated stand by the main road, struck off +into the woods to the right, and, with silent and rapid steps, led the +way to the south-eastern shore of the pond. Here finding, as he seemed +to have expected, a capacious canoe, dug out from the trunk of some huge +pine, he drew it forth from its concealment, beneath a mass of fallen +trees projecting over the bank, and, bidding Bart enter with the oars, +and placing one knee on the stern, with a grasp on the sides, gave a +push with his foot from the shore, which sent his rude craft surging out +far into the open expanse of water before him. Before applying the oars, +however, and while the canoe continued to move under the impulse it had +thus received, its occupants employed themselves in bending their heads +to the water, and listening for any sounds that might indicate the +presence of others abroad on the pond. The night, as it was yet +moonless, and as the sky was overclouded, was consequently a dark one; +and the adventurers could distinguish little else but the dark outlines +of the Green Mountains, that rose high in the western heavens, casting, +by their huge shadows, an impenetrable pall of darkness over the +intervening space beneath, from which not a sound rose to the ear, save +an occasional short croak of some waterfowl, or the low, sullen dash of +the waters along the shores. + +“Nothing out on the pond, guess, but loons, ducks, and sich like,” + quietly observed Bart, raising himself from his listening attitude; “nor +can I make out any sounds from the nest of 'em you say there is over on +the shore yonder. Ma'be they've pulled up stakes and are off with their +traps, the wimin folks and all--shouldn't wonder, single bit.” + +“Now I reason a little ditter different,” replied the sergeant. “They +may be getting oneasy and suspicious, because their spies we took there +at Coffin's don't return; and so keep still, and put out their +fires, lest the absent ones be dogged back, and their rendezvous thus +discovered; but I der don't believe the company would clear out till +they knew what become of them. They are still there, I'm apt to think; +so we will now put forward--first up north a piece, on this side, and +then across and down to a little cove there is near their encampment.” + +So saying, Dunning took up one of the oars, and, with long vigorous, but +noiseless strokes, sent the boat rapidly ahead; while the other took a +position most favorable for a lookout. In this manner, and taking turns +at the oar, they soon, by the course they had marked out for themselves, +reached the western side of the pond, and, heading round, moved +cautiously along the shore towards the hostile encampment. + +“Ah! there! one--two--yes, three camp fires, T can der catch glimmers +of occasionally,” softly exclaimed Dunning, rising up in the boat, and +peering ahead for observation. “I was right--the ditter rapscallions are +there, snug in their quarters, but had wit enough to build their fires +behind logs, or something, so as not to be seen from 'tother side. We +are within the ditter matter of three hundred yards of 'em, now; so +carefully, Bart, and don't let your oar graze the boat, or any thing, to +give out the least sound; for they've ears, it's der probable, as well +as we.” + +A short time now sufficed to bring them to the small cove, at which the +hunter had proposed to land. Here, under the screen of an impervious +tangle of brushwood and fallen tree tops, which intervened between them +and the foe, they drew up their boat on to the shore. They then, after +taking off their shoes, which they left in the canoe, carefully crawled +up the bank, passed round the thicket, and paused to listen. The sounds +of voices conversing in low tones in one spot, the slow steps of a +sentinel in another, and the snoring of some hard sleeper in a third, +were soon detected by the quick ears of the anxious listeners. + +“As I thought,” whispered Dunning, putting his mouth close to the ear +of the other: “the head ones are ditter suspicious, and watchful; but we +must try what can be done--at least to find the spot where they've put +the gals. There's a ditter old shanty I used to camp in, about fifty +yards ahead; and as that is probably the best they've got, I've been +thinking they may have cooped 'em in there. Suppose you, who are +lightest and smallest, creep forward to it, for ditter discoveries. I +will follow half way, and wait.” + +Without demurring to the suggestion, Bart immediately set forward, +on his hands and knees, in the direction indicated by his companion. +Carefully removing every dry twig and leaf from each place where he +wished to bear his weight, and moving as noiselessly as the preying cat +along the ground, he made his way onward till he had gone far enough, +as he judged, to reach the expected shanty; when he paused to listen and +reconnoitre. But now all seemed perfectly still. Not the slightest +sound of any kind reached his ears; while it had, in some unaccountable +manner, suddenly become so pitchy dark that he could not distinguish +a single object before him. And he began to feel confused and doubtful +about proceeding, when, by the action of those secret and undefinable +sympathies, perhaps, by which, it is said, we sometimes become apprised +of the presence of others before we are informed by the senses, he all +at once became impressed with the idea that some person was near him. He +therefore strained his senses to the utmost in trying to discover what +objects might be before or around him; but all, for a while, to no +purpose. In a short time, however, his ear caught the sound of a deep +sigh, the softness of which told him it came from a female, within a few +feet of him. With a palpitating heart, he now doubtfully attempted to +move forward, when he suddenly perceived his head on the point of coming +in contact with some broad, high obstacle, which seemed to rise like +a wall before him, Surprised, and still more confused than before, he +retreated a few paces, and looked upward, to try to make out the nature +of the obstacle before him; when he discovered it to be the backside of +the very shanty of which he was in search. The strange darkness, +which had so suddenly overshadowed him, and which was caused by the +obstruction of the skylight by this rude structure, being now explained, +and every thing made clear to his mind, he cautiously moved round +towards the front of the shanty, to find the entrance, no longer +doubting that those he sought were within. On reaching the front corner, +so as to enable him to peer round it on that side, he soon made out the +entrance; but directly across it, to his disappointment, he discovered +the half-recumbent form of a man, with a musket leaning on his shoulder. +After a few hurried observations, in which he discovered, by the +decaying fires before them several other shanties or tents among the +trees, a few rods in front, Bart again slunk back to the spot he had +just left, and was about to retrace his way to his companion, when a new +thought occurred to him, and, moving up to the back of the shanty, which +was formed by broad pieces of thick bark standing slantingly against a +pole supported by crotches, and, placing his mouth to a crack, softly +whispered the names of the captives, and turned his ear to the spot to +catch the hoped-for response. For the first moment, all was still but +the next, the catching of a long-suspended breath, and even, as he +thought, the rapid beatings of a fluttering bosom, became audible. +Presently a slight movement, as of a cautiously changed posture, was +heard within; and the next instant a pair of soft lips came in contact +with his ear at the crevice, articulating, in sounds scarcely above the +slightest murmur of the air,-- + +“Who speaks my name?” + +“Bart,” replied the other. “You know what I'm after. Can one of the +barks between us be removed without alarming your keeper?” + +“I fear--but he seems asleep--try it,” was the measured and hesitating +reply. + +After slightly essaying several of the pieces of the bark he wished to +remove, he at length commenced operations at the bottom of one of them, +and gently forcing it aside, inch by inch, in a short time effected an +opening sufficient, as he judged, for the egress of the captives, and +that too, he felt confident, without attracting the attention of the +dozing guard. + +“Now feel your way out; and, without stirring a twig or leaf creep on +after me,” whispered Bart. + +And receding a few paces from the opening, he paused to await the +result. In a moment he had the satisfaction of perceiving a female form +slowly emerging from the narrow passage into the open air without. + +Supposing her companion to be immediately behind, he now, with a +whispered word of encouragement, led the way from the spot. With +frequent pauses, both to assure himself that he was followed by his +charge, and to listen for any stir among the foe that should indicate +a discovery of the escape, he continued to creep forward till he +encountered Dunning, when, the latter taking the lead, they all moved +on, one after another, in the same cautious manner as before, and soon +reached the landing in safety; out as they emerged from the bushes, and +the hunter turned to congratulate the ladies on their escape, it was +now, for the first time, discovered that but one of them was present. + +“Bart, how is this? ditter tell me--where is the other?” demanded +Dunning, in a tone of disappointment and vexation. + +But Bart, equally disappointed and perplexed, was mute; and the lady, +who proved to be Miss Howard, replied,-- + +“Miss Haviland, if not retaken, is now wandering in the woods.” + +“Der wandering in ditter woods, and you not with her?” again demanded +the former with an air of mingled surprise and reproach. + +“Yes sir, but I did not intend to desert her,” promptly replied the +girl. “Perceiving we were not watched very closely by the man they put +over us, she and I had thought of a plan of escaping into the woods and +getting round into the road. And while he was talking with another, +that he had stepped forward a little ways to meet, we slipped out +undiscovered, and gained a thicket; when finding I had left my shawl, I, +contrary to Miss Haviland's advice, I will own, ventured back to get it, +and was detected, just as I was leaving the shanty a second time, and +her absence discovered. This made a stir among them, and they ordered +off scouts after her along the pond towards the road, which was the way +I pointed when they were threatening me if I didn't tell. But she must +have heard all and escaped.” + +“Escaped! ditter deuse of an escape that; for a woman to get out into a +forest full of Indians in search of her,” replied the still unreconciled +hunter. “But what course has she der taken, think ye, gal?” + +“The one we planned, likely; and that was, to take a wide sweep round +their camp, gain the road, and make for the tavern, which she said was +not far off,” replied the other. + +“Well,” said Dunning, in a more mollified tone, “though der dogs is in +the luck, to be sure, yet half a loaf is better than none. We must save +what we have got; so into the canoe there with ye, gal; and you, Bart, +take her across, der find Harry, whom I'd ditter rather you would meet +first, and tell him you have left me this side to go in search of the +other, who, if found, can most likely be got to the road as well the way +she set out as this, in the shape things now stand.” + +Although this conversation scarcely occupied a minute, and although, +while the hunter was yet speaking, Bart and his fair friend were +in their respective positions in the boat, which instantly shot out +silently and swiftly into the pond, under the vigorous push given it by +the former, yet the event showed that they had been none too speedy +in their movements; for, at that instant, a sudden bustle in the tory +encampment, which was quickly followed by the confused sounds of voices +making rapid inquiries and giving orders, together with the stealthy +tread of approaching footsteps, apprised the fugitives that not only was +their escape discovered, but probably also the direction they had taken. + +“Der narve it, narve it, Bart! The ditter divils are after ye!” shouted +the hunter, hastily retreating from the shore and disappearing in the +nearest thicket. + +And scarcely had he gained a covert before his place was occupied by +four or five of the enemy, who came rushing down to the water; when, +discovering the receding boat, then not fifty yards distant, the acting +leader of the band fiercely exclaimed “Put about there instantly, and +come ashore, or we'll fire and kill every person in the boat!” + +“O, but you'll kill us if we come back,” replied Bart, splashing round +his oar as if turning the boat, which in fact was going swiftly ahead. + +“No, we won't,” responded the leader, deceived by the apparent +simplicity of the reply; “but be quick, or we fire!” + +“Well, seeing you aint going to hurt us,” said the former, carelessly +while at the same time directing, in a whisper, the girl to throw +herself close on the bottom of the canoe, he silently, but with all his +might, bent himself to the oar. + +“Why,” said the leader, after a short and doubtful pause, as he peered +out in the darkness at the dimly-seen boat--“why, aint the fellow still +moving ahead? He is, confound him: fire!” + +“Let drive, then!” sung out Bart, with the greatest _sang froid_, as he +hastily cast himself down in the boat. + +The next instant several bullets struck the boat, or whistled over +it, as the fierce flashings and deafening reports of as many exploding +muskets burst from the shore with startling effect on the darkness and +silence of night. + +“I vown! but that an't so bad shooting as might be, in the dark so,” + exclaimed Bart, hastily springing up and seizing his oar. “They are +more at the business than I thought 'em; and we may as well be a little +further off afore they have time to load and fire agin, guess,” he +added, suddenly changing the direction of the beat from the course it +had been taking, and plying the oar with an energy which showed rather +less indifference to his proximity to the hostile marksmen behind him +than his words might seem to imply. + +The tories, in the mean while, who had foolishly all discharged their +pieces at once, fell to loading again as fast as was possible for them +to do in the dark. But before any of them was ready to fire, the last +traces of the fugitive boat had vanished from their view. + +They were, however, after giving vent to their vexation in a volley of +curses upon the fellow who had thus outwitted them, in getting beyond +controlling distance, preparing to fire again, at random, in the +direction in which the canoe was last seen moving, when their attention +was suddenly arrested by firing in the woods a short distance to the +south, which seemed to be an exchange of shots between their pickets and +some enemy assailing them from that direction. They therefore hurried +back to their companions, and with them rallied to make a stand against +the force which all supposed was about to storm their encampment. But to +their agreeable disappointment, though an occasional shot continued +to be directed towards them by persons who seemed to be lurking in the +distant thickets, no tangible force made its appearance for the firing +which had so alarmed them, and caused them to call in all their scouts +within hearing, and make every preparation for a desperate resistance, +was, as the reader will have already imagined, but the feint made by +Woodburn's party, who, hearing the reports of the guns discharged at the +escaping canoe, and partly divining the cause, had advanced from their +concealment, and begun to make the diversion agreed on at the outset. +But not receiving the signal promised, in case help was needed, +and feeling doubtful how to act, most of them fell back, and ceased +operations, till Bart, who had, in the mean time, reached the shore, +and, with the fearless girl he had released, hastened round to their +post, arrived and informed them of all that had occurred. On receiving +this aggravating intelligence, Woodburn, now almost frantic with +disappointment and anxiety, instantly withdrew to the road with all his +band, except two left to keep the enemy in a state of alarm; when they +all, including even the heroic Vine Howard, immediately scattered in +different directions through the dark forest in anxious search for the +luckless Miss Haviland, to whom we will now return, for the purpose of +following her in the wild and perillous adventures she was destined to +encounter on that eventful night. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + “Unshrinking from the storm, + Well have ye borne your part, + With woman's fragile form, + But more than manhood's heart”--_Whittier_ + + +The observation is no less true than trite, that no one knows till he +has tried it, what he can do or endure. And as just as is the remark +in a general application, it is, we apprehend, more strikingly so when +applied to the gentler sex; for, from the position they occupy in social +life, their powers of action or endurance are so seldom fully put to the +test, that they are generally far less conscious than men of what deeds +they might accomplish or what degree of suffering they might endure, +in emergencies calculated to call forth the highest energies of their +physical and moral natures. And if there be any disparity between the +number of heroes and heroines in the world, such emergencies as we have +named are only wanting, we believe, to make up any deficiency that may +be found in the latter. + +When Miss Haviland ascertained that her too venturous companion had +been intercepted and retaken, in the manner mentioned in the preceding +chapter, she for a moment greatly hesitated whether to return and yield +herself again to her captors, or persevere in her attempt to escape. +But, beginning to suspect the true source of the present misfortune, +which, if her suspicions were just, pointed only at herself, and +thinking that her escape would soon lead to the voluntary release of +her companion, she quickly decided on the latter alternative, and glided +noiselessly away into the depths of the forest. + +After proceeding in a direct course from the camp to such a distance as +should preclude the possibility that any ordinary sound made in walking +through the woods would reach her captors, unless they were in actual +pursuit behind, of which her often strained senses had as yet given her +no evidence, she turned short to the south, and, in pursuance of the +hasty plan formed by herself and companion at the outset, now made her +way, as fast as the darkness and the usual obstacles of the woods would +permit, towards the road, her only guide being the parallel swells of +land, which, running north and south, rose, as she had luckily noticed +before dark, in successive lifts up the mountain to the west. Still +hearing no sounds of pursuit, she began to entertain strong hopes that +she should be permitted to reach the road unmolested. In this, however, +she was doomed to be disappointed; for, in a short time, a cracking, as +of dry twigs under the tread of some one stealthily advancing, arrested +her attention, and brought her to a stand. Fortunately, no part of her +dress was sufficiently light-colored to betray her. And, having nothing +to fear from this, and believing that, by placing herself in close +contact with some natural object, she might still have a good chance to +be passed undetected, she glided to the nearest tree, and, placing her +back to the side opposite to the suspected foe, awaited his approach in +breathless silence. Presently he came up, and, after pausing a moment +within a few yards of her, apparently to listen and reconnoitre, he +passed by so near as to graze the bark of the tree behind which she +stood, and moved carelessly on some distance before again pausing to +repeat his _reconnoissance_. + +She drew a long breath; but, before she dared move from her stand, the +sounds of other approaching feet reached her ears. And soon two more +men, evidently on the same search, passed by her, at different distances +to the east, and, like the first one, bent their courses northward. +After waiting till all sound of their receding steps had wholly died +away, she again moved forward, and soon had the satisfaction of finding +herself in the road, but a short distance from the spot where, a few +hours before, she and her attendant had been captured. It remained now +to get beyond the tory encampment. Could she be permitted to pass down +the mountain, in the road, but a half mile, she might then consider the +danger mostly over, and proceed on to the tavern in comparative safety. +And, though aware that this portion of the way might be scarcely less +dangerous than any she had passed over, yet, tempted by the facility +with which it could be accomplished in the road, she resolved to make +the attempt, and accordingly, with a guarded but rapid step, began to +move down the sloping way before her. But she had proceeded but a short +distance, when she was startled by the loud report of firearms in the +direction of the tory encampment, which, as already described, were, +just at that moment, being discharged at the escaping canoe. While +pausing in doubt at the meaning of this unexpected outbreak, the random +firing of Woodburn's party which we noted as soon following that of the +tories, now burst from the forest a little before her on the left, and +greatly in creased her perplexity. Suddenly conceiving the idea, from +these circumstances, that the tories had been assailed in their rear, +and were now retreating towards her, and this notion being the next +moment confirmed by the glimpses she caught of a dark form emerging from +the bushes on the left, whom she mistook for a foe, she hastily turned +and fled, in agitation and alarm, into the opposite forest bordering the +road on the south, having thus approached within a few rods of the +very men who were in search of her, and thus unconsciously eluded their +friendly grasp. Though intending soon to turn her course eastward, so +as to come out again into the road at such a point as should place her +beyond any danger of a recapture, yet, urged by her fears lest her foes +should cross the road and overtake her, she pressed on so far into the +depths of the woods, that when she paused to change her course, she +became confused and doubtful respecting the direction she should take to +regain the road in the manner she had proposed. She had now no further +knowledge of the make of the land, or the situation of the hills, by +which she could be guided. But at length, fixing on a course which she +thought most likely to be the right one, she again set forward, slowly +picking her way through the swampy and tangled tract of forest into +which she seemed now to have entered. In this manner she pursued her +dubious course onward nearly an hour, every moment expecting that the +next would bring her out into the road. At length she fell in with a +small stream, which she rightly judged to be one of the brooks running +into Black River, and which, from what she knew of the course of that +river, she supposed would lead nearly in the direction she sought to go. +But on stooping down to feel the current, she, to her great surprise, +found it running in a course directly opposite from what she expected. +Scarcely knowing now which way to direct her steps, she passed over the +stream, and, with a sense of desolation, growing out of the thought that +she was lost in the depths of the wilderness, which she had never before +experienced, wandered on, and on, for several of the successive hours of +that dark and dismal night. At last she came to the top of a high swell, +where, the new aspect presented in the slope of the forest before her +naturally causing her to pause, she dropped down upon an old mossy log +to rest her worn and wearied frame, and try to collect her confused +and scattered faculties. While here endeavoring to rally her sinking +spirits, and compose her thoughts so as to look more coolly on her +situation, she began to discern, through the openings of the foliage, +the dark outlines of a high mountain, rising, at the distance of two or +three miles, directly in front of her. It now occurred to her that, like +other persons lost in the woods, of whom she had heard, she might have +been, all this time, wandering in a circle, and that the mountain before +her might be the very one she supposed she had left far behind her, west +of the tory encampment. If this supposition should prove correct, the +long-sought road must lie somewhere between her and the mountain +in view, and a little more perseverance in that direction would +consequently put an end to those perplexities which were now becoming +more painful and dread than any sensations she had experienced from +the pursuit of her enemies. Encouraged by the gleam of hope which this +thought imparted to her almost despairing mind, she started up, and +again nerved herself for the task of meeting the many difficulties which +she knew, at the best, yet remained to be overcome. It had, by this +time, in consequence of a scattering of the clouds, or the rising of +a waning moon, become perceptibly lighter, and, for the next hour, her +progress was much more direct and easy. By this time, she came to a spot +in the forest which was sufficiently open to give her another and fairer +view of the mountain she had been approaching. She looked upon its +dark sides a moment, and the pleasant delusion under which she had been +laboring wholly vanished from her mind. She saw it could not be the +mountain she had hoped to find it, nor indeed any she had ever seen; and +she again gave herself up as lost, perhaps, irretrievably lost, far away +and deep in the dark recesses of a howling wilderness, from which she +might never be extricated. And yet her usual firmness did not wholly +forsake her. “_Is not your life of more value than many sparrows_ in the +sight of Him who careth for all?” she mentally exclaimed; and she was +calmed and comforted by the ready affirmative which her faith responded. + +While casting about her in doubt respecting the next step to be taken, +she discovered traces of what was evidently once an imperfect road, +or path, which seemed to extend through a partial opening towards the +mountain. Thinking it might possibly lead to some human habitation, +or at least to some place preferable to the open forest for rest and +shelter till the return of daylight, she resolved to follow it. As she +proceeded on, she began to detect marks of the woodman's or hunter's axe +in the trees, here entirely cut down, and there girdled, or denuded of +their bark as high as the hand could reach. These indications of the +former presence of men appeared to grow more frequent as she went on; +and at length she came out into a small opening in the forest in the +midst of which stood a roughly-constructed log-house, or shanty, with +a regularly-formed bark roof still standing. The remains of smaller and +less durable shanties were also visible in the vicinity of the former. +[Footnote: Colonel Hawks, while traversing the wilderness of Vermont, in +the French wars, with a regular force, among whom was the then Captain +John Stark, once encamped near the foot of the mountain, in the south +part of Cavendish, where the incident we are narrating is supposed to +have occurred. The mountain still bears the name of Hawks's Mountain, +and the traces of the encampment, it is said are still visible.] + +With a cautious and hesitating step, Miss Haviland drew near to +this rude structure, and at once perceived, by the appearance of the +unguarded loop-hole window, and the open entrance, before which the +untrodden wild weeds were growing, that it was untenanted. Approaching +still nearer, and peering into the window, she discovered, in one +corner of the deserted apartment, a comfortable-looking bed, composed of +branches of the hemlock, which she rightly concluded had been collected +and used by hunters, who occasionally made the place their quarters for +the night. Immediately concluding to avail herself of the advantages +which this shelter and primitive couch seemed to promise for obtaining +the rest her exhausted system so much needed, she entered, and, throwing +herself down on the soft and yielding boughs, soon surrendered herself +to the influence of the grateful repose, and fell asleep. She was +soon, however, awakened--by what she knew not, unless by the feeling +of uneasiness and apprehension, by which she now found herself +unaccountably agitated. She had heard, or read, of those mysterious +intimations, by which, it is said, we sometimes instinctively become +apprised of impending danger, when there is no apparent cause for +apprehension, and when reason utters no warning. If such instances ever +in reality occurred, this might be one of them; or the impression might +have been unconsciously received from actual sounds, which came from +foes now secretly lurking near, and which, as it is known often to be +the case, had fallen on her slumbering ear, and disturbed and troubled, +without fully awakening her. But whatever the cause of the strange +foreboding, the effect soon became too strong and exciting to permit her +longer to remain passive. And she arose to examine the apartment, and +see what precautions could be taken to render it more safe against the +intrusion of enemies, whether they should come in the shape of men or +wild beasts. On approaching the entrance, she discovered, standing by +the side of it against the wall a sort of rough door made of long cuts +of thick bark, confined by withes to two cross-pieces, and intended, +evidently, as there were no contrivances for hanging it, to be set up +against the entrance on the inside as a barrier against the cold, or +the unwelcome intrusion of any thing from without. But it had become so +water-soaked and heavy, and the end on which it stood so firmly set in +the ground, that she found, on making the attempt, her strength unequal +to the task of removing it. And she turned away to look for other +means of protecting herself from danger. Casting her eyes upward, she +perceived, lying loose on the beams, or rather poles, extending across +the room above, several long pieces of bark, which had been left there, +probably, when the roof, of the same material, was constructed. And it +immediately occurred to her, that, if she could mount this loft, she +might so dispose of herself there as to escape the observation of any +human intruders, and, at the same time, be out of reach of any wild +beasts that should enter the room below. Accordingly, going to one +corner, she began to mount by stepping on the projecting sides of the +logs in the two converging walls, and soon succeeded in reaching the +loft, and forming, from the bark, a piece of flooring sufficiently +strong and broad to bear her weight and screen her person from +observation. Upon this she extended herself, face downwards, with her +eyes placed to a small aperture, to enable her to see what might happen +in the room below, and silently, but with highly excited expectation, +awaited the event. But what event did she expect? She could not tell; +and yet she was wholly unable to divest herself of the continually +intruding idea that something fearful was about to occur; and impelled +by the singular apprehension, she could not help listening for sounds +which might herald the approaching evil. For some time, however, no +sounds reached her ears, except those low, mingled murmurs which are +peculiar to the forest in the stillness of night. But at length her +quickened organs were greeted by some noise which she knew was not a +fancied one; and the next moment the sound of human footsteps became +distinctly audible. Presently she heard voices at the door, and then saw +two dark forms cautiously entering the room below. After walking around +the apartment and thrusting the muzzles of their guns into corners, +with the apparent purpose of ascertaining whether any one was concealed +within, they approached the pile of boughs before described, and +gave vent to their satisfaction at finding so good a bed, in a short, +guttural _ugh!_ which proclaimed them, to the trembling listener above, +to be Indians, and of those, doubtless, who had been sent out in pursuit +of her. They then proceeded to draw up the old door and barricade the +entrance after which they set their guns against the wall, and camped +down on the bed in the corner. + +It would be difficult to describe the sensations with which the hapless +girl witnessed what had occurred; and these, with the fear of what might +still be in store for her, nearly filled the measure of her distress +and perplexity; for although she had thus far escaped observation, and +although she soon had the satisfaction of knowing, by the heavy and +measured breathing which reached her ears, that her foes had sunk into +a deep sleep, yet how was she, even now, to avoid falling into their +merciless hands? Should she attempt to descend and escape through the +window, could she effect her purpose without being heard and detected? +She feared not. And should she remain in her present situation till +daylight, would her terrible visitors then awaken and depart without +discovering her? This alternative appeared to her even less promising +than the other. And yet one of the two courses must be adopted. Which +should it be? While anxiously reflecting on the subject, fresh noises +in the woods arrested her attention. These were also the sounds of +footsteps, but evidently not those of any human prowler. With a light, +quick pat, pat, pat, the animal came up to the door, paused, and snuffed +the air through the crevices. He then moved along to the window, reared +himself on his hind legs, thrust in his nose, and after giving two or +three quick, eager snuffs there also, withdrew, and trotted off, at a +moderate pace, a short distance into the forest, where he appeared to +come to a sudden halt. The next moment, the long, unearthly howl of a +wolf rose shrill and tremulous from the spot, and died slowly away, +in strange, wild cadences, among the echoing mountains around. Sabrey +instinctively shuddered at the fearful sound, but instantly turned her +attention to the sleeping Indians, whom she expected to hear rousing up +and rushing out with their guns after the insidious prowler. But they, +to her surprise, snored on, unconscious of the danger. The howl was +soon repeated, when short, faint responses, in the same shrill, savage +modulations, became audible in every direction in the surrounding +forest. These answering cries, growing more distinct and loud every +moment, in their evident approach to the spot where the first signal +howl was given, now fully apprised the agitated listener of the fearful +character of the scene which was likely soon to occur beneath or around +her. In an incredibly short space of time, the gathering troop of +famished monsters seemed to be arriving and arranging themselves under +their invoking leader to be led on to the promised prey. And soon the +trampling of multitudinous feet evinced that they were in motion and +cautiously advancing towards the house. The next moment, they all +appeared to have assembled under the window, and paused as if to plan +the mode of attack. After a brief interval, in which no sounds could +be distinguished but the low, suppressed snuffling of the troop for the +scented prey, a large wolf leaped up into the narrow aperture paused +a second and then quickly thrusting his balanced body forward, dropped +noiselessly down on the ground floor within. Another, and another, and +another, followed in rapid succession, till more than half a score +of the gaunt, grim monsters had landed inside, and silently arranged +themselves in a row before the bed of their intended victims, who still +strangely slept on. One more fearful pause succeeded, in which the +greedy band seemed to be eagerly eyeing the fated sleepers, and marking +out portions of their bodies for the deadly gripe; when suddenly +springing forward, they all fiercely pounced upon the victims, and, +with the seeming noise of a thousand wrangling fiends, mingled with the +sharp, short, half-stifled screeches of human agony, that were heard in +the hideous din, seized, throttled, and tore them, limb from limb, to +pieces, and bore off the dissevered parts, munching and snarling, to +different corners of the room. The noise now for a short time subsided, +and nothing was heard but the low, broken growls of the cannibal troop, +as they busily craunched the bones, and tore the flesh on which they +were raking their horrid feast. Then followed the fierce and noisy +encounters for the decreasing fragments, till none were left worth +contending for. + +At this juncture, two of the half-glutted but still ravenous gang, +relinquishing the well-picked bones on which they had been laboring, +rose, and, advancing into the middle of the room, stood a moment +listlessly viewing the operations of the rest; when they suddenly +started, and, turning slowly round and round, began busily to snuff +the air, and throw their noses upward in search of some fresh game +that appeared now to have struck their keen olfactories. The affrighted +maiden, who had been witnessing this hideous scene from her hitherto +unsuspected concealment above, with blood curdling in horror at the +sights and sounds that reached her recoiling senses, now shuddered +in fresh alarm; for she but too well understood what this new +and fearfully-significant movement of the wolves portended. And, +instinctively withdrawing her face from her loop-hole of observation, +she hastily drew herself up in the middle of her frail support, so as to +be as far as possible out of the reach of her expected assailants. But +they at once detected the slight sounds occasioned by her movement, and, +now guided by two senses instead of one, instantly began to gnash their +teeth, and, with wild howls, to leap upward after their newly-discovered +prey. And although her position was more than seven feet from the +ground,--a height which, it might be supposed, could not have been +reached by this class of animals in a perpendicular leap,--yet so +desperate had the present gang become by the taste of human blood, that +they soon, in their determined and constantly-repeated efforts, began +to strike and seize the beams with their teeth, by which they would hang +suspended a moment, and then drop back again to the ground for another +trial. The terrified maiden now gave herself up as lost, and tried +to quell the tumult of her frenzied feelings, that she might meet her +approaching fate, as dreadful as it was, with calmness and resignation. +But the terrific noise of her maddened assailants, as they leaped up, +snapping, snarling, and howling, in demoniac chorus, and made nearer +and nearer approaches every moment to her person, once more aroused her +natural instinct for self-preservation; and she arose, and, standing +upon her feet, involuntarily bent over one end of her support to catch a +view of what was passing below. + +In withdrawing her shrinking gaze from the fiercely upheaving heads +and fiery eyeballs which there greeted her, she espied the guns of the +Indians still standing against the wall, almost directly beneath her, +with the muzzles extending upward within the reach of her arm. With the +rapid process of thought which danger is known often to beget, a new +plan of deliverance, suggested by the discovery just made, was instantly +formed and digested in her mind. And in its pursuance, she drew a white +handkerchief from her pocket, and, hastily folding it together, threw it +down to the farthest corner of the room below. As she had anticipated, +the whole gang rushed after it. And instantly seizing the opportunity +thus afforded to execute her design, she hastily balanced herself on the +edge of the bark the most nearly over the guns, reached down her arm, +grasped one of the muzzles, and drew up the heavy weapon, just in time +to escape the baffled brutes as they came bounding back, with redoubled +howls of rage and disappointment, to the spot. Too much accustomed, in +the new settlement in which she had been mostly reared, to the sight and +even handling of fire-arms not to know how to use them, she cocked the +piece, and, again advancing to the edge of her platform, pointed down +into the thickest of the infuriated pack, and fired. One wild, piercing +yelp followed the deafening explosion, and, the next instant, all +the survivors of the hushed and frightened gang were heard scrambling +through the window, and scattering and fleeing off with desperate speed +into the surrounding forest. With the last sounds of the retreating +steps of the wolves, and with the relief which a returning sense of +safety brought to the over-wrought feelings of the maiden, all her +strength gave way, and, sinking down, weak and helpless as an infant, +she sobbed out, in the broken murmurs of an overflowing heart, her +gratitude to Heaven for her deliverance from the horrid death from which +she had so narrowly escaped. For a while she could only tremble and +weep; but at length the violence of her emotions began gradually to +subside, exhausted nature would be cheated no longer, and she sunk into +slumber, too sound, happily, to permit her to dream over the fearful +scenes of the past. + +When she awoke, it was broad daylight, and all was quiet within, while +without the birds were chanting their morning melodies. At first she +could scarcely believe that the scene she had passed through was not +the distempered imaginings of some frightful dream. But there, on the +blood-stained floor beneath her, lay the carcass of a dead wolf, and the +scattered bones of the slain Indians, to attest the dreadful reality. +Hastening down from the loft into the room, and averting her eyes from +the revolting spectacle, she hurried forward with a shudder to the door, +effected an opening sufficient for her egress, and rushed out into +the open air, of which she now drew a long, grateful inhalation, +more expressive than words of the deep sense of inward pleasure she +experienced in being freed from this den of horrors. + +Believing that, by the advantages daylight would now afford her, she +might be able to retrace her way to the road, she immediately sought out +and entered the old path by which she had approached the cabin; and this +serving to indicate the general course she must pursue to accomplish her +purpose, she followed it back to the end, and then passed on through the +forest in the same direction. She had proceeded but a short distance, +however, before she was startled by the unexpected appearance of a man +advancing through the thick intervening undergrowth directly towards +her. As she was about to strike out obliquely into the forest to avoid +him, her steps were arrested by his voice calling out to her. + +“Don't be alarmed at a friend, young lady,” he said, in a plausible +manner, as he came forward and stopped at a respectful distance--“don't +be alarmed at my appearance at all; for you are the one, I take it, that +we are searching for. It is Miss Haviland, is it not?” + +“Yes, sir,” replied the latter, looking doubtfully at the man whom she +thought she had somewhere before seen--“yes, that is my name; but as +there may be both friends and foes out in search of me, you will excuse +me for saying that I do not know to which of these you belong.” + +“True, true,” said the other, in a wheedling tone--“true; I don't blame +you for being a little cautious. So I must tell you that, living in +these parts, and being acquainted with Captain Woodburn, I volunteered, +when I heard you were lost last night, to go with the rest in search of +you. And being now so lucky as to find you, I will conduct you out to +Coffin's--four or five miles from this, I suppose--where your friends +are anxiously waiting to see or get word of you.” + +Although our heroine was not exactly pleased with the manner and +countenance of the man, yet the charm of the name of Woodburn, to whom +he had so artfully referred, restored her confidence, and she at once +and thankfully accepted of his proffered guidance, little suspecting +that she had yielded herself to the most subtle of her foes--the +deceitful and treacherous David Redding! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + “Then marched the brave from rocky steep, + From mountain river, swift and cold. + The borders of the stormy deep, + The vales where gathered waters sleep, + Bent up the strong and bold.”--_Bryant_ + + +The bold and decisive measures of the Council of Safety had by this +time begun to manifest themselves in results little anticipated by the +adherents of the royal cause in Vermont. The latter, emboldened both by +the presence of a powerful British army on their borders, and the doubts +and difficulties which, for a while, were known to have embarrassed and +rendered ineffectual the deliberations of their opponents, had become +so assured and confident of an easy conquest, that in some sections they +proceeded openly in the work of enlistment, and in others pushed forward +their parties into the very heart of the interior, before perceiving +their error; while, by their representations at headquarters, they +completely deceived Burgoyne and his advisers respecting the true state +of feeling that animated the bosoms of the great mass of the people--a +fact made abundantly evident, not only by the subsequent confessions of +that general, but by all his operations at the time, and especially that +of the short-sighted expedition, which we have before shown him to have +planned and set afoot, under Peters, to the Connecticut River. It was +no wonder, therefore, that when they now suddenly discovered the whole +state in motion--armed men springing up in every glen, nook, and corner +of the Green Mountains, and concentrating to join another no less +unexpected, and no less formidable force, which was understood to be +rapidly advancing from New Hampshire--it was no wonder they were taken +wholly by surprise, and slunk silently away to their retreats, or +immediately fled to the British army, whom they still neglected to +undeceive. + +It was about one week subsequent to the events last recited; and the +interim had been marked with little, as far as immediately concerned +the action of our story, and those of its personages to whom we must now +return--with very little to which pen can do justice, except what +the reader's imagination probably has already anticipated; for though +thrilling events may be described with a good degree of adequacy, there +are yet certain states of high wrought feeling that language can never +but feebly portray. The search for the lost maiden, on the eventful +night of her capture and escape, had been, as the reader will have +inferred, as vain and fruitless as it was agonizing to her lover, and +anxious to all. The renewal of the search next day, till afternoon, +had been no better rewarded. More force having then arrived, the tory +encampment was assailed, but found empty of occupants, who had, some +hours before, scattered and fled. Still unwilling to relinquish his +object, Woodburn, with a small party of his friends, continued his +efforts in wider ranges through the forest, which, on the third morning, +brought him to the cabin in which her most fearful trials had occurred; +when the dead wolf, the remnants of the slain Indians, not yet wholly +carried off by the foxes or returning wolves, the guns, the torn and +blood-stained earth, and, above all, the white shreds of some part of +female apparel, discolored and scattered round the room, told a tale, +that, in spite of the entreaties of his sympathizing friends, who deemed +the evidence not yet wholly conclusive, drove the appalled lover, in a +frenzy of grief and horror, from the dreadful scene. + +It was about a week, as we have said, after that night of adventure and +excitement. Three companies of the newly-enlisted regiment of Rangers, +embracing all the recruits yet raised on the east side of the mountains, +were paraded in the road before Coffin's tavern, while their officers +were standing listless on the grass in front, and occasionally throwing +inquiring glances along the road to the east, as if awaiting some +expected arrival from that quarter. At length Woodburn, on whose brow +rested an air of gloomy sternness, advanced, and calling his sergeant +and scoutmaster, Dunning, to his side, in a low tone, imparted to him +some private order or suggestion; when the latter, beckoning from the +ranks his and the reader's old acquaintance, Bill Piper, who was also +a subaltern in the same company, the two laid aside their guns and +equipments, and proceeded leisurely down the road, the way in which the +attention of all seemed directed. After proceeding about a quarter of +a mile, they came to a turn in the road, which, now becoming invisible +from the tavern, led down a long hill, and entered an extended piece of +woods nearly another quarter of a mile distant. + +“Well,” said Dunning, here pausing and casting his eyes forward to the +woods, “they der don't seem to make their appearance yet. I ditter think +they must have halted there by the brook to drink and rest a little so +we will stop at this point, where we can see both ways; and when the +troops begin to show themselves, we'll then give the signal.” + +With this, they threw themselves down in the cool shade of a tree by the +way side, and, for a while, yielded themselves to that listless, dreamy +mood, which reclining in the shade, after exercise, on a warm day, +almost invariably induces. + +“Dunning,” said Piper, at length rousing up a little, and drawing from +his pocket a well-filled leathern purse, which he carelessly chinked +against his upraised knee, by way of preliminary--“Dunning, it is a +mystery to me where all this stuff comes from. Six weeks ago, it was +thought there were scarcely a thousand hard dollars, except what was in +tory families, in all the _Grants_. Now, there must be well on to that +sum even in our own company, every recruit having been paid his bounty +and month's advance pay, in silver or gold, on the spot. Where does it +come from?” + +“From the sales of the der tory estates, of which they have been making +a clean sweep, you know,” replied the other. + +“Yes, yes, we all know that, I suppose; but where do the purchasers of +these estates get the money to buy with?” rejoined the former. + +“I never ditter catechized them about it,” said the hunter, evasively. + +“Nor I,” remarked Piper; “but I have lately heard a curious story about +the matter. They say there has been a sort of homespun-looking old +fellow, that nobody seems to know, following the commissioners of sales +round, from place to place, with an old horse and cart, seemingly loaded +with wooden ware, or some such kind of gear, for peddling; and that he +has bid off a great part of all the farms, and stock on them, which have +been sold, paying down for them on the spot in hard money, which they +say he carries about with him tied up in old stockings, and hid away in +his load of trumpery. Some mistrust he is a Jew; and some are afraid he +is a British agent, not only buying up farms, but also the Council of +Safety, who are also strangely full of money these days.” + +“That last would prove a rather ditter tough bargain for him and his +masters, I reckon,” responded the hunter, dryly. + +“Yes, that is all nonsense, no doubt,” observed Piper. “But still it is +a mystery to my mind, how money, that a short time ago was so scarce, +should now all at once be so plenty; and that was the reason I raised +the question before you, who generally know pretty near what is going on +among our head men, and who, I thought likely, could easily explain this +secret.” + +“No,” said the other; “no, Bill; there might be der trouble about that. +When a state secret falls into my ears, it is not so easy to get it out +of my mouth. I've got an impediment in my ditter speech, you know,” he +added, with a slight twinkle of the eye. + +“Your mouth goes off well enough on some public matters, I find,” + remarked Piper, with an air fluctuating between a miff and a laugh. + +“Der yes, to say, for instance, that the decree to confiscate and +sell the tory estates was a ditter righteous one--has worked like a +charm--called out the rusty dollars from their hiding-places thick as +der bumblebees in June--ditter drove off the blue devils from among the +people, and raised a regiment of men in less than three weeks!” + +“Ah! and a fine regiment, too, it will be. I long to see it all wrought +together, for I don't know a tenth of them--men or officers--not even +our colonel.” + +“Herrick? Well, I can't der quite say I should know him now; but he is a +ditter go-ahead fellow, who loves the smell of gunpowder nearly as well +as Seth Warner himself, whose pupil he is in the trade. We shall have +the pleasure of seeing him in a few minutes, probably, as Coffin told me +he passed along here night before last, on the way to _Number Four_, to +come on with Stark. _That_ may be told without ditter mischief.” + +“And so may another thing, perhaps, which I should like to know, +Dunning.” + +“Der what is that, Bill?” + +“Why, you know that Bart, the night after we discovered the place where +we supposed the girl was destroyed, disappeared, and has not been here +since. Where have they sent him, and what after?” + +“Piper, you are as brave as a lion, and as strong as a horse, der +doubtless; but your tongue may ditter need training, for all that. +Still, as you mean right, and will probably learn to bridle that unruly +member only by practice, I will, for once, put you to the trial. Bart +has gone a spy to the British camp. Though Harry, in his despair, would +for a while believe nothing but that she was der dead, or worse, yet, +as I and others, putting all things together, hoped and reasoned ditter +different, in part, and thought she might not have been killed there, +but retaken; and, for fear of pursuit, hurried off directly to the +British, he concluded to despatch Bart to his friend Allen, of the +Council, to take advice, and then proceed in some disguise or other, +right into the lion's den--ascertain whether the girl was there--and, +after ditter learning what he could about the enemy's movements, return +with the news.” + +“Well, I'll be chunked if the project wan't a bold one! But if any +creature on earth can carry it out, it is Bart; and he will, unless they +get word from this quarter that such a fellow is among them. Ah! I +now see the need of a close mouth on the subject, and will keep one, +thanking you kindly, Dunning, for your caution and confidence.” + +“It will be all right, I presume, Bill, now you perceive Bart's neck +may depend on your ditter discretion. But who have we there?” added the +speaker, pointing down the road towards the woods. + +While Dunning and Piper were thus engrossed in conversation, two men, on +foot, had emerged from the woods and approached within a hundred yards, +before attracting the attention of the former. They were without coats, +or in their shirt sleeves, as, in common parlance, is the phrase for +such undress; and, having handkerchiefs tied round their heads, and +carrying in their hands rough sticks, picked up by the way-side, for +canes, they presented an appearance, as they leisurely came along up +the ascending road, with occasional glances back towards the woods, +that left Dunning and his companion wholly in doubt, while attempting to +decide who or what they were. + +“Now, who knows,” said the wary hunter, “but they may be der tory spies, +hanging round the skirts of Stark's army, and intending soon to be off +cross-lots to the British, to report his progress. I'll ditter banter +them a little, at all hazards, before we let 'em pass.” + +But as the strangers drew near, their appearance grew less and less like +that of the ordinary footpads for whom they had been taken; and there +was something in their bearing which considerably shook, though it +did not wholly alter, the hunter's intention to banter them. One was +a strongly-built, broad-chested man, with a high head, hardy brown +features, and a countenance betokening much cool energy and decision +of character. The other was rather less stocky, and slightly taller, of +quicker motions, but withal a prompt, resolute-looking person. + +“Well, my friends,” said the former, coming up and pausing before the +expectant Rangers, with an air that seemed to challenge conversation, +“this is Coffin's tavern here ahead, I suppose. Will the captain be +pleased, think ye, to see a little company about this time?” + +“Der yes,” replied Dunning, eyeing the speaker with a curious, half +doubtful and half quizzing expression. “Yes, if of the right sort, +he wont ditter cry, I reckon. But the captain is sometimes rather +particular--for instance, if you should happen to be tories----” + +“Tories!--do we look like tories?” demanded the former glancing to his +companion with a droll, surprised look. + +“Why der no,” replied the hunter, a little abashed, “I ditter think +not.” + +“Well, I had hoped not,” rejoined the man. “But who are you, my +friend--one of the Green Mountain Boys, that we hear so much about?” + +“Not far from the mark, sergeant, or commissary, or whatever is your +ditter title; for you belong to the army that's at hand, I take it?” + said Dunning. + +“O, yes,” briskly returned the other, again looking at his companion, +and joining him in a merry laugh. “Yes, I am one of them, and mean to +have a hand in stirring up Burgoyne, when we reach him, I assure you.” + +“That's right, commissary!” exclaimed Dunning. “You are a der chap of +some pluck, I'll warrant it. I begin to ditter like you. What shall I +call your name, friend?” + +“My name is John Stark, if you will allow,” replied the stranger, with +an amused look. + +“John Stark? Why, that's your der general's name!” said the hunter, +incredulously. “Come, come, friend, you are ditter gumming me. I have +seen John Stark--Captain Stark, that was then--now general--the same +that was bought back by our folks for a white pony--ditter dog cheap, +too, as the British will find, before he is der done with them, or +I mistake the amount of fight that's in the critter, amazingly.” + [Footnote: When General Stark was exposed for sale in Montreal, by the +Indians, by whom he had been captured in the French war, and some of his +countrymen were trying in vain to make his savage master set a price on +him, an English gentleman happened to ride by on a handsome white pony, +which so greatly struck the Indian's fancy, that, pointing after the +coveted animal, he exclaimed, “Ah! ugh! me take that you get him.” + Whereupon the gentleman was followed, the pony purchased, and, with it, +the captive Stark redeemed.] + +“Thank you, sir!” heartily exclaimed the former, now evidently as much +gratified as amused at what he heard. “In behalf of that same John +Stark, I thank you, sir, for your good opinion of him. But where, my +good fellow,” he continued, with at look of lively interest, “where did +you ever fall in with Captain Stark?” + +“Why, in the old war, when he der marched through here with Colonel +Hawk, I ditter acted as the colonel's guide over the mountains to Otter +Creek. Stark, as I've said, was one of the captains, though I wasn't +much with him, to be sure,” replied the hunter, becoming more doubtful +and puzzled every moment, at the turn matters were taking. + +“Ah! yes, yes,--our hunter guide on that rough march! I remember now. +Well, well, the fault is not wholly on one side after all!” said the +other, musingly. + +“Der--der--ditter how? der--ditter--” began Dunning opening his eyes +with an uneasy stare. + +“This is General Stark, my boys,” here quickly interposed the other +gentleman. “I see by your badges that you belong to the Rangers. I am +your colonel, Herrick, and this the general himself, who, by way of +relief from a long ride in the saddle, threw off his uniform, like +myself, down in the woods yonder, and walked on, while the troops were +halting to refresh a moment, and recover from the effects of their +march in this scalding heat, before they made their appearance at your +rendezvous. They will now be on the move shortly.” + +“Der--der--ditter--” cried the confused hunter, rising hurriedly to his +feet, and lifting his cap, in a tremor of respectful deprecation, before +the general, while his tongue began to trip and fly in the vain attempt +to get out an apology--“der--der--ditter--ditter--ditter--” + +“Never mind, my brave fellow!” exclaimed Stark, with a hearty slap on +the other's shoulder; “never mind a mistake so naturally growing out +of our unmilitary guise. No offence, even had your remarks been less +pleasant. But you, sir!--why, you have paid me the greatest compliment I +ever had in my life!” + +“No--no offence whatever to either of us,” added Herrick. “But yonder +come the columns of our friends and helpers from New Hampshire. If +you are here to give notice of their approach, as I suppose, make +the signal, and back to your post. And here, general,” he continued, +pointing to two fine-looking and gayly caparisoned horses, now led up by +waiters, with the coats, swords, sashes, and great military cocked hats +of the denuded officers swinging on their arms--“here, general, come our +horses and uniforms. Let us rig up before a worse mistake shall befall +us.” + +With a curious mixture of chagrin and gratification at what had just +occurred, the two Rangers now made the appointed signal, and hurried +back to join their companions in arms at the tavern. And in a few +minutes, the fine little brigade of the hardy and resolute New Hampshire +Boys, headed by their intrepid leader, now equipped in imposing +regimentals, and mounted on his curvetting charger, came pouring along +the plain in all the pomp of martial array, and were received by the +customary military salutes, and the reiterated cheers of their congenial +welcomers of the Green Mountains. + +The hour that succeeded was a bustling and a joyous one. The greetings, +the introductions, the mutual compliments for deeds done at Ticonderoga +and Bunker Hill, and the merry jokes given and taken, as the mingling +forces partook of the good cheer prepared for the whole at the expense +of the public or patriotic individuals, together with the strong +community of feeling that agitated their bosoms in view of a common +object to be accomplished, and common dangers to be encountered,--all +combined to render the scene one of no ordinary interest and animation. +At length, the drums of the different companies began to beat to +arms, and the soldiers were seen gathering at their respective stands, +preparatory to the march of the combined forces across the mountains. + +At this juncture, a single horseman came galloping along the road from +the west; and, the next moment, Ira Allen, the active and untiring +secretary of the Council of Safety, with a countenance betokening good +or exciting news, rode up to the door, and, throwing himself from the +saddle, turned to receive the greetings of his acquaintances gathering +round him. With a significant look and gesture to Woodburn to follow, +he led the way to an unoccupied room, at length found in the crowded +tavern. + +“What news do you bring, Mr. Allen?” said Woodburn, with an effort at +calmness, as soon as the two were by themselves. + +“That which will scatter the blackest part of that cloud on your brow, +I trust, my dear fellow,” replied Allen, with an animated and exulting +air. “Here, look at this!” he added, pulling out and presenting a small +and closely-folded letter. + +With trembling eagerness, Woodburn seized the missive, and, with +a glance at the well-known hand of the superscription, “To Captain +Woodburn, or Mr. Allen, of the Council,” opened it, and read as +follows:-- + +“I am at the British head-quarters--not exactly a prisoner but evidently +a closely-watched personage, having reached here with my captors, after +a forced and fatiguing journey, which however, was not made unpleasant +by any disrespectful treatment. Although the party, to whom I became a +prisoner, have been frightened back or recalled, and the expedition, +of which they were the advance, given up, yet I think it my duty to +say that another, and much more formidable one, is in agitation against +Bennington. I hope our people will be prepared for it, and show these +haughty Britons that they do not deserve the name of the undisciplined +rabble of poltroons and cowards by which I here daily hear them branded. +S. H.” + +We will not attempt to describe the emotions of Woodburn on the +occasion. But the letter disclosed that which involved more momentous +interests than those merely that concerned the individual feelings of +a lover. And it was soon concluded to lay it before General Stark, who, +with Colonel Herrick, was then called in, the letter shown, and all +the attending circumstances, past and present, so far as concerned the +public to know, fully explained. + +Mean while the troops were drawn up, in marching order, before the +tavern, and stood wondering why their general did not appear, or, at +least, give order for the column to move onward. + +At length, however, the long expected leader, attended by those with +whom he had been in consultation, made his appearance at the door, +and ordered the horses of those who were to travel mounted to be led +forward. + +“There's something more than common on John Stark's mind,” whispered a +tall New Hampshire Boy, to his fellow in the ranks. “See how his eyes +snap! I am an old neighbor of his, you know, and can read him like a +book. I shouldn't be surprised if we heard from him soon; for he an't +one of those that like to keep chawing on a thing that makes him feel, +but wants to out with it, and always will, unless he has good reason for +a close mouth. Yes, I'll bet a goose we hear from him before we start.” + +The speaker had conjectured rightly. Stark was heard to say to Allen,-- + +“Mount and ride along against the centre there, sir, where you can best +be heard. We must have it; for, besides preparing their minds for what +they probably must soon meet, it will make a battle cry for your boys +and mine as potent, for aught we can tell, as was the name of Joan of +Arc among the Frenchmen.” + +The officers, with Allen, then sprung into their saddles; and as the +latter reached his allotted post, and faced round to the lines, the +general commanded attention, and added,-- + +“My men, let me introduce you to Mr. Allen, the patriotic secretary of +the Vermont Council of Safety, and say that I hold myself voucher for +the truth of what he shall tell you. Listen to his communication.” + +The secretary, now bowing respectfully to the attentive and already +prepossessed ranks before him, began by saying that among the recreant +few of any note in the Green Mountains, who had basely deserted their +country and joined the enemy, there was one who had a daughter of +whom he was wholly unworthy. The speaker then proceeded to relate Miss +Haviland's noble stand for the American cause, from which she was not +to be allured or driven by all the inducements and menaces held out by a +tory father and lover, both of whom had received royal commissions--her +absolute refusal to go with them, on their late departure for the +British army, and her more recent capture and abduction, while on her +way to her friends, by the probable instigation of the rejected lover, +and with the connivance, perhaps, of the father; all of which was +concluded by reading the letter just received, it was added, by a trusty +messenger, who had gone in disguise to the enemy's camp to receive it, +and who had now returned to keep open the important communication. + +“Men of New Hampshire!” now cried Stark, in a loud, animated voice, as +with flashing eyes he glanced over the throng of upturned and excited +faces before him, “is it any wonder the Green Mountain Boys are so +gallant and brave in fighting for their wives and sweethearts, when such +is a specimen? Will you join them in defence of their homes and country, +and help fulfil this matchless girl's expectations when we meet that +taunting foe at Bennington, as by God's favor we will? If so, then let +it now be told in three cheers for _the good cause_, and as many more as +you please for _The Tory's Daughter!_” + +The next instant, as the bidden drummers brought their sticks to the +bounding parchment of their instruments with blows that seemingly would +have thrown their arms from their shoulders, a thousand men were seen +leaping wildly into the air, and giving their patriotic response in +a round of cheers that rent the ringing heavens above, and shook the +startled wilderness for miles around them. + +“Order in the ranks!” at length broke in the deep, stern voice of the +general, as the last cheer was dying away. “Prepare to march! March!” + +And the excited troops could scarcely be kept in their places as, with +the stirring strains of lively fife and rattling drum, they went rushing +and pouring along on their way to the seat of war. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + “In dreams the haughty Briton bore + The trophies of a conqueror.” + + +The scene of our story changes to the vicinity of the Hudson, to which +the eyes of millions were now turned as the theatre of approaching +events, on which hung, perhaps, the great issue of the American +revolution. Although both parties seemed to look upon the matter at +stake as one of immense magnitude, yet far different were the views +and feelings which, at this time, pervaded the two opposing armies. +The British, flushed by their successes, and confident in that strength +before which every opposing obstacle had thus far given way, were +looking down with little other than absolute contempt on the American +forces in their front, believing them wholly incapable, either from +numbers or courage, of opposing any serious resistance to their march, +when they chose to move forward. And here thus lay their proud and +infatuated chief for weeks, dreaming of coronets, frittering away the +time in feasting with his officers, and indulging himself and them in +all the follies which characterized their gay and licentious camp. On +the other hand, the Americans, deeply sensible of the consequence of +suffering their enemies to effect their contemplated junction at Albany, +were vigilant, active, and determined. Though firmly resolved to dispute +the way of the invader to the death when they must, they yet preferred, +for a while, the policy of embarrassing and impeding him, rather than +openly exposing themselves to his attacks. Whole brigades were therefore +employed in the work of destroying the bridges, blocking up the roads +with fallen trees, and putting every possible obstruction in the way of +his advance, so that his delay, where he now lay at Fort Ann, might be +protracted till a sufficient force could be gathered to meet him with a +more reasonable hope of success. + +And every hour that hope waxed stronger and stronger. Every day brought +fresh accessions of strength to their self-devoted bands, and every gale +wafted to their gladdened ears the sounds of the warlike preparations of +an aroused and indignant people gathering from afar to the rescue; and +they began to breathe more freely while they thought, as with trembling +solicitude they still did, of the fearful meeting that must now soon +follow. + +At the time which we have selected for opening the scene that forms the +next connecting link in the chain of our tale although the road had been +at length opened, and a few detachments thrown forward to the Hudson, +the main part of the British army still lay at Fort Ann; where their +long lines of tents, marked, at intervals, by the colors of the +different regiments flying from their slender flagstaffs, were now seen +stretching, a city of canvas, over the plain. A little apart from this +imposing array stood a small number of dwelling-houses of different +sizes, irregularly scattered along on both sides of the road towards +the south, over the largest of which floated the broad British flag, +proclaiming it the head-quarters of the commander-in-chief. The next, +in size and commodiousness, among these various structures,--all now +occupied by the general officers and other favored personages of the +army,--was a large, low farmhouse, which the intermingling devices of +the British and Hanoverian flags, conspicuously displayed from the roof, +denoted to be the quarters of General Reidesel, suite, and well-known +family. This last building seemed now to be the principal point of +attraction. Gayly dressed officers and ladies were seen entering the +doors, or standing inside at the open windows; while the sounds of the +familiar greetings, lively sallies, and merry laughter of the assembled +and assembling company, sufficiently indicated the convivial character +of the scene about to be enacted within. Let us enter. Around a long +and richly-furnished table, in the principal apartment, were just seated +those who deemed themselves the _elite_ of that boastful army. Its +notorious chief, the weak and wise, vain-glorious and energetic +Burgoyne, occupied the post of honor, at the head, and the fair hostess, +the amiable, learned, and vivacious Countess of Reidesel, the foot of +the table: while, at the sides, were ranged, according to the prevailing +notions of precedence, the variously-ranked individuals composing the +rest of the company, among whom, with other officers of less note, +were Generals Reidesel and Frazier, Major Ackland and his devoted wife, +together with several Americans, including the elated Esquire Haviland +and his beautiful daughter. The latter who, sorely against her +inclinations, had been prevailed on, or rather constrained, by her +father to attend him to the entertainment, was seated by the side of +Lady Ackland, to whom she seemed shrinkingly to cling as a sort of +shield against the fierce glances she was compelled to encounter from +the eyes of those whom it was there counted treason to repulse. + +The feast proceeded. With the constant bandying of compliment, joke, and +repartee, among the merry and self-satisfied lordlings who assumed +the right of engrossing the conversation, course after course came and +passed in rapid succession, till a sufficient variety of viands and +other substantial esculents had been served to warrant the introduction +of the lighter delicacies of the dessert. But still there seemed to be +a saving of appetite, a looking for some expected dish that had not +yet made its appearance, on the part of several of the guests, and +especially on that of the pompous votary of Mars, who had been installed +master of the ceremonies, and who at length ventured to say,-- + +“I had looked, my lady hostess, to have seen, ere this, among your many +other delectables, the fulfilment of your ladyship's promise gracing +the table, in the shape of the blackbird pie, wherewith we were to be +regaled, at your entertainment, if your polite note of invitation was +rightly read and interpreted.” + +“O, the blackbird pie!” replied the countess, with a sprightly air and +a charming touch of the German brogue. “I was waiting to be reminded +of that; for there is a condition, which I wish to propose to your +excellency, before the promised extra can make its appearance.” + +“Ah! What is that, my incomparable cateress?” asked the former. + +“Why, only that you carve and serve the pie to the company yourself, mon +general,” archly replied the countess. + +“A challenge to your chivalry, general, which no true knight can refuse +to accept,” cried Frazier and others. + +“I yield me, and accede to the condition,” said Burgoyne, gracefully +waving his jewelled hand, and joining in the general laugh. + +“It is well,” said the countess, with a finely-assumed air of mock +gravity, as she raised her exquisite little table bell, which now, under +her rapidly-plied fingers, sent its sharp jingle through the house. + +The next moment, a liveried servant, whose countenance seemed slyly +gleaming with some suppressed merriment, was seen advancing with a +broad, deep dish, tastefully crowned by the swelling crust of snow-white +pastry, which tightly enclosed the supposed contents beneath. + +At a motion of the indicating finger of the hostess, the tempting +dish was brought forward, and carefully placed on the table before the +many-titled carver, amid a shower of compliments to the distinguished +artificer of so fine an edible structure, from him and many others +of the admiring company. The general now rose, and, intent only on +a dexterous performance of the duties of his new vocation, gave a +preliminary flourish of knife and fork, and dashed into the middle of +the pie; when lo! through the rent thus made in the imprisoning crust, +out flew half a score of live blackbirds, which, fluttering up and +scattering over the dodging heads of the astonished guests, made for +the open windows, and escaped, with loud chirping cries, to their native +meadows! At first, a slight exclamation from the gentlemen, a half +shriek from the ladies, then a momentary pause, and then one universal +burst of uproarious laughter, followed this strange _denouement_ of the +little plot of the playful countess. She, it appeared, had engaged a +fowler to bring her a couple of dozens of blackbirds, which, by a net, +he had taken, and brought to her alive; when, keeping part as they +were, she contrived up the scheme to amuse and surprise her guests here +described, and, slaying the rest, made of them a veritable pie, that was +now brought forward, and partaken, with great gusto, by the delighted +company. + +At length the cloth was removed, and the table replenished with bottles +and glasses. Then followed the usual round of toasts--“the health of the +king,”--“the invincibility of British arms,”--“success to the present +expedition,”--and, with many a deriding epithet, “confusion to the +rebels and their ragged army.” + +“Fill, gentlemen,” said Burgoyne, after the subjects above named had +been sufficiently exhausted--“fill up your glasses once more; for, in +descanting on the public responsibilities and glory of the soldier, let +us not be unmindful of those private felicities which are to reward +his prowess. I give you,” he added, with a significant glance at our +heroine--“I give you, ladies and gentlemen, the health and happiness of +our two loyal American officers, Colonel Peters and Captain Jones, the +prospective bridegrooms of the double wedding of to-morrow, extremely +regretting that _both_ of the fair participants of the happy occasion, +instead of one, are not here to give the beautiful response of their +blushes to the sentiment.” + +As the lively applause with which this toast was received and drank +was subsiding, the ladies, to the great relief of the astonished and +confused Miss Haviland, now rose and retired to another apartment. Here, +pleading some excuse for an immediate departure, Sabrey hurried out +through a back way, and escaped unperceived to her father's quarters, a +small adjoining cottage, where she had lodged since his arrival in camp, +and where she now secluded herself, to endeavour to fathom the plot +which the unexpected and unwarranted announcement just indirectly made, +together with some other circumstances of recent occurrence, plainly +told was in progress to in snare her. + +But it may here be necessary, for a clear understanding of some things +which have preceded, and others which may follow, to revert briefly +to the experience of the luckless maiden since placed in her present +uncongenial and embarrassing position. + +When Miss Haviland, on the termination of her compulsory journey, +arrived at the outposts of the British army, she was conducted, by the +order of some one evidently apprised of her coming immediately to her +father's quarters. The old gentleman, at the somewhat awkward meeting +that now took place between them, seemed both surprised and gratified +at seeing her there; and though his manner betrayed a sort of guilty +embarrassment arising, perhaps, from the consciousness of his former +harshness to her, he yet at once, and pointedly, disclaimed having had +any agency in her abduction, which he laid to the chances of war; to +which, he contended, her perverse and unadvised conduct had been the +means of exposing her. Peters, also, who soon made his appearance, +joined in the disclaimer; and tendering some empty apologies for what +had happened, which, he said, grew out of the mistake of a subordinate +officer in construing an order in relation to taking hostages from the +enemy, in certain cases, offered to convey her back, if she chose it, as +soon as found consistent with her safety. The offer, however, was never +repeated; and his own conduct very soon belied his assertions, and +convinced her of the truth of her suspicions from the first, that he +was the sole instigator of the outrage she had received, and that it was +still his purpose to detain her and keep her in a position which would +enable him the more effectually to prosecute his designs; for although +in the few formal calls he continued to make at the house, he never +pressed his suit, but seemed rather to avoid the subject, as if +determined to afford her no opportunity to repeat her former refusals, +she yet quickly perceived that he was busy at his intrigues to bring +about, by the agency of others and by secret management, what +by himself, or by any open and honorable means, he despaired of +accomplishing. All this, from day to day, unfolded itself in the renewed +importunities and reproaches of her father, the added entreaties of +Jones, the lover of Miss McRea, then soon expected in the British camp +to be married, in the reports which had been put in circulation to place +her in a false light,--that of a perverse and coquettish girl,--in the +efforts made to force her into social parties, where the opinions of +all were obviously forestalled, and especially in the contrived +introductions she was compelled to undergo to those who had evidently +been enlisted as intercessors, among whom were some whose ambiguous +conduct often greatly annoyed, and, at times, even filled her bosom with +perplexity and alarm. + +Such was the position of the unhappy girl at the time of her reluctant +attendance as one of the guests of the merry party we have described. +Although annoyed, sickened, and disgusted at what she had daily +witnessed, and vexed and indignant at the contemptible artifices and +intrigues of Peters, which, however intended, were beginning to be the +means of exposing her to new trials, yet, till what took place at that +party, she had entertained no serious apprehension that any attempt +would be made to coerce her into a marriage which she had so decidedly +repudiated. + +But the announcement which had just been so strangely made coming as +it did from so powerful a personage, and one, at the same time, whose +equivocal behavior, when she had casually met him, had excited her +deepest aversion, now gave her to understand that such an attempt was +indeed about to be made by the assumed arbiters of her fate, and that +her resistance to the contemplated scheme, should she be able to make +one against the overawing influence that was about to be brought to bear +upon her, and even her acquiescence, she feared, was to be followed +by persecutions, from the thought of which she shrunk with dismay. She +might have taken that announcement, perhaps, as a mere ruse, as in +part it really was, got up to place her in a predicament in which most +females would yield rather than become the principal actor in the scene +that would follow further resistance; or she might have viewed the whole +as a contemptible fabrication, but for a circumstance of that morning's +occurrence. Captain Jones had called and apprised her that he was about +sending an escort to Fort Edward for his betrothed, informed her that +the next morning was appointed for his wedding, and concluded by making +his last appeal to induce her to consent to be united to Peters at the +same time. + +And it was this occurrence, in connection with the former, that had so +thoroughly alarmed her. + +While pondering on the means and chances of escaping the threatened +destiny, she perceived from her window that the company at Reidesel's +had broken up, and were scattering to their respective quarters. And +presently her father entered her room, and after announcing that he had +been honored by the commander-in-chief with a mission to Skenesboro', +from which he should not be able to return till late at night, presented +her a sealed billet, and immediately departed. With a trembling hand she +opened the suspected missive and read,-- + +“Miss Haviland will pardon the mistake involved in the sentiment +delivered at Lady Reidesel's table. Its author, however, cannot but +think that the full arrangement which he had supposed to have been +already settled may still be effected in season. And he therefore +proposes, if Miss H. will permit, a call for friendly intercession, at +twilight this evening.” + +With a flushed and flashing countenance the offended maiden instantly +sprang to her feet, and paced the room several minutes in silent +agitation. Her naturally mild spirit was at length evidently aroused +for some decided action; and the manner in which it was to be commenced +appeared soon to be determined in her mind. + +“Ay, and the step, as bold as it may be, shall first be taken,” she +said, as, preparing to leave the house, her burning thoughts began to +press for utterance. “Ay, if it will not avail me, in bringing aid to +escape from this den of iniquity, or protection to remain, it shall, at +least, serve as a proclamation of villany, which shall yet be heard in +every house and hamlet of the American people!” + +The next moment she was in the street; and, with hurried step making +her way to General Reidesel's quarters. Instantly seeking a private +interview with the readily assenting countess, she frankly and without +reserve told the whole story of her wrongs, and implored assistance +in escaping the toils that had been spread for her, or, at least, the +protecting shield of an influence which should enable her to withstand +them. And the effect of her forceful recital soon showed her that she +had not over-estimated the discernment and magnanimity of the noble lady +she was addressing. + +“Well, that is right, my bonny rebel, as they call you!” said the +countess, encouragingly. “And it is the spirit in a woman which I like, +and which I will have no hand in repressing. Yes, I see clearly, now, +what I half suspected before--the man who had you brought here, where he +could more surely noose you, is repugnant even to the misery; and some +of those he has been fool enough to enlist as intercessors, are still +more dreaded. Ah! wicked, wicked Briton! But, do you know, he is king +here and that it is treason to talk, and worse treason to try to thwart +him?” + +“I have greatly feared so, my lady.” + +“What, then, do you propose to do, wherein I could befriend you?” + +“Leave the army before night.” + +“Have you a carriage at command, and a protector?” + +“I have, strictly speaking, neither, madam.” + +“Then how can you go?” + +“On foot, and alone, unless I chance to engage one to attend me in the +character of a servant.” + +“You are a brave one, my young lady. But they will be likely to detain +you at the outposts.” + +“I had supposed so, and therefore came here with the hope that, after +you had heard my story, you might be moved to prevail on your husband to +give me a pass.” + +“O girl, girl! No, no, he would not dare to do it, after finding out +the cause, which he must first know,” exclaimed the lady, in a tone of +kindly remonstrance. “He would dare do no such thing. But _I_ would, +in such a case; indeed I would! And, stay, let me see!” she continued, +rising and opening the general's desk. “Here are several passes which he +keeps for occasions of hurry, all signed off and ready, except inserting +the name of the bearer. O, what shall I do? I am tempted to write your +name in one, and trust to your honor and shrewdness to shield me, in +case of your failure, from exposure and blame.” + +“Will your hand-writing be acknowledged, madam?” + +“O, yes, I don't hesitate on that account; for I often fill up the +general's passes under his direction.” + +“O, then, dear madam, as I know you would do by a daughter, do by +me--trust to my discretion, and hesitate no longer.” + +The good-hearted countess soon yielded, and our heroine, with tears of +gratitude, mutely imprinted a farewell kiss on her cheek, and departed +with the coveted pass in her pocket. + +When Miss Haviland reached her chamber, she seated herself by an open, +but partially curtained window, where, unseen her self, she could easily +note what was passing in the street below, to which her attention seemed +somewhat anxiously directed. She had been but a few minutes at her post +of observation, before she was apprised, by the hooting of boys, and the +gibes and laughter of the idling soldiers, with whom the street, at +this hour, was commonly thronged, that some unusual spectacle was +approaching. And peering forward through the folds of the curtains, she +beheld, amidst a slowly-advancing crowd, a meanly clad, simple looking +country youth wearing a ragged broad-brim, and mounted on an unsightly, +donkey-like beast, whose long tail and mane were stuck full of briers, +and whose hair, lying in every direction, seemed besmeared with mange +and dirt; all combining to give both horse and rider a most ungainly and +poverty-struck appearance. The fellow was trying to peddle apples, which +he carried in an old pair of panniers swung across his pony's back and +which seemed to be bought mostly by the boys, who with them were pelting +him and his cringing pony, to the great mirth of the bystanders. While +the crowd, and the object of their attention, were thus engaged, at a +little distance, an officer, who was passing, paused near the house, +and, calling a couple of soldiers to his side, said to them,-- + +“Keep your eyes on that fellow with the scurvy pony yonder, and if you +notice any thing suspicious in his movements, arrest him. It appears to +me I have seen him in almost too many places to-day.” + +An expression of concern passed over Sabrey's countenance, as she heard +these words, and she gave an involuntary glance to the object thus +pointed out, who, as she thought from his appearance, had also heard +the order himself, or at least guessed its import. But instead of making +off, as she expected, he spurred up his pony, and, coming directly up to +the officer, asked him, with an air of confiding simplicity, to buy some +of his apples, which he said were “eny most ripe, and grand for pies.” + +“Who are you, fellow?” said the officer, without heeding the other's +request. + +“Who I be? I am Jo Wilkins. But aint you going to buy some of the +apples?” persisted the former. + +“Blast your apples!” impatiently replied the officer; “that is not what +I want of you. Where do you live?” + +“Up in the edge of Arlington, when I'm tu hum--next house to uncle +Jake's great burnt piece there, you know,” answered the other; “but +these ap----” + +“Whom are you for? King or Congress?” interrupted the officer. + +“Who be Congus? I don't know him,” said the former, with a doubtful +stare. + +“Well, then, whom do you fight for?” resumed the somewhat mollified +officer. + +“Don't fight for nobody tu our house,--cause dad's a Quaker--but then if +you'd buy--” + +“Yes, yes; but you must tell me honestly, what you came here for to-day, +and who sent you, my lad?” + +“Why, dad sent me to sell the apples, 'cause he wants the money to buy +some rye with. But I've been all round, and aint sell'd half, they kept +bothering me so. And now its time to go hum, and nobody won't buy 'em!” + said the speaker, with a doleful tone, and evident signs of snivelling. + +“Well, well, my honest lad,” responded the commiserating and now +satisfied officer; don't mind it--nobody wants to harm you. There is +half a crown to pay you for my part of the bothering. + +“Why, you going to buy 'em all?” eagerly asked the other, as, with a +grin of delight, he clutched the precious metal. + +“No, no,” said the former, kindly. “I don't wish for any of your +apples--they are too green, though they may do for cooking. You would be +most likely to sell them in some of these houses.” + +“Well, now, I vown! I never thought of that! jest's likely's not I +mought, you!” exclaimed the fellow, brightening up. “Good mind to go +right straight into this ere house and try it--will, by golly!” he +added, leaping nimbly from his pony, swinging his panniers on his arm, +and hurrying off round for the back door. + +“Don't molest the poor simpleton any more, but disperse to your +quarters,” said the officer, now waving his ratan to the scattering +crowd, and resuming his walk up the street. + +Waiting no longer than to hear this order, and see that it was about to +be obeyed by the crowd, Sabrey hurried down to the kitchen, where she +encountered the object of her solicitude standing within the door, +holding up the half crown between the fingers of one hand, and snapping +those of the other, with a look that needed no interpreting. + +“Your disguise, Bart,” said the maiden, looking at the other with a +smile--“your disguise is so perfect, or rather, the new character, in +which you this time appear, has been so well acted, that had it not been +the afternoon you set for your third appearance, I should have never +known you. I think you make a better Quaker boy than you did a crazy man +last time, or buffoon and tumbler the first one. But what have you been +able to gather, to-day?” + +“Pretty much all that's afoot, guess. The movement on Bennington is +begun. Peters's corps of tories and Indians have gone on to Cambridge; +and he, who is off to the lake, to-day, to consult with Skene and others +about the expedition, is to follow some time to-morrow, as is the German +regiment picked out to the service. Got at it all, think?” + +“Nearly. It is the plan, however, I understand, that when the stores +are secured at Bennington, the troops are to proceed to Manchester, make +prisoners of all the Council of Safety, and others of the principal men +whom they can find, and return through Arlington.” + +“They've got to get there, first, guess, and then catch 'em afterwards. +But have you fixed out a letter about that and other things, ready for +me to take? I'm aching to be off with the news.” + +“No, Bart. I have just discovered plots to entrap me that have made me +resolve to die before I will remain here any longer. My old persecutor, +and others a thousand times more powerful, are in league against me.” + +“The girl that killed the wolf would stand the racket against big bugs +and all, rather guess, if she tried it. Don't know, though, being about +woman matters so.” + +“Ay, sir, to a woman there are human monsters more terrible than all the +wolves of the forest. And I am determined on at tempting to escape from +this place without another hour's delay with you, if you will permit.” + +“Yes, glad to go into it; and by Captain Harry's request, I was a going +to propose the same thing myself, even without your new reasons. +But this getting you off before dark, which you name, may be rather +ticklish, miss. How did you think to manage it?” + +“Look at this, sir!” said Sabrey, exhibiting her permit by way of reply. +“Signed by a man whose authority, I think, will not be questioned, and +allowing me, with my servant, to pass through the lines to my friends in +the country. I engage you to act as that servant, Bart.” + +“I vags, now if that aint lucky!” exclaimed the former, with glistening +eyes. “Yes, lucky enough, whether it come by ploughing with heifers or +steers. But let's see a bit, though. How will my turning servant to a +lady, all at once, tally with the stories I've been telling,--that is, +till we get beyond all who heard 'em? Don't know about that. But look +here, miss!” he added, beckoning the other to the window. “Do you see +that tall old pine, standing alone, nearly in a line with the road, a +mile or so off there, at the south?” + +“Yes, very clearly.” + +“Well, that tree, which is beyond, and out of sight of the last pickets, +stands near a house where a widow woman lives, who washes fine clothes +for some of the officers, but wants to keep in with all sides, and so +asks no questions and tells no stories. My saddle and fixings are +hard by there, in the bushes. Now, suppose I go on there alone, and be +scrubbing up Lightfoot, and feeding her with these apples, to pay her +for playing Quaker so well. Can you get on to that place by the help of +the pass, and tell straight stories, if questioned, about your servant +being at the wash-woman's, fixing things?” + +“If you think it wisest, as it may be, I will try, and be there within +an hour, if not detained. If I am, do not desert me, Bart, but return to +this kitchen at dusk.” + +“Agreed! But you'll go it without the ifs, I reckon,” said Bart, +swinging his panniers to his shoulder, and departing with full +confidence in his ability to effect an escape perilous to them both, +but made much more so to him by the new charge to had so cheerfully +undertaken. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + “But a gloom fell o'er their way, + A fearful wall went ey'” + + +Fortunately for Miss Haviland, all those who had been enlisted to act +as spies upon her movements happened, that afternoon, to be absent, or +busily engaged in a quarter of the encampment from which all view of her +proposed path of escape was intercepted by intervening buildings. Much +to her relief, therefore, on setting out on her perilous journey, she +was permitted to pass forward through the street unquestioned, and +without exciting any particular observation. And when she arrived at the +outpost, the soldier on duty, with a bare glance at her offered pass, +respectfully motioned her to proceed on her way. A short walk then +brought her to the house to which she had been directed; and here, +finding every thing in readiness, she immediately mounted the now +strangely-improved pony, and, with her trusty attendant on foot, set +forward, at a quick pace, in the main road leading from the lake to Fort +Edward. Their way was now mostly through a deep forest, and over a road +which every where exhibited evidence with what perseverance and skill +the Americans had labored to destroy and block it up, and with what +incredible exertions it had been reopened by their opponents, wholly +untaught in the easiest modes of accomplishing the Herculean task. In +some places, long causeys over miry morasses had been entirely torn up, +and every log of which they were composed drawn off beyond the means of +recovery; and, in others, streams had been dammed up, causing extensive +overflows, or turned from their natural channels, and thus made to +wash out impassable gulfs. Every bridge had disappeared, and all the +surrounding timber rendered useless for constructing more; while, for +mile after mile, one continued mass of gnarled and crooked trees, here +pitched together in seemingly inextricable tangles, and there piled +mountains high, had been felled into the road, which even now had +scarcely been made passable by the toiling thousands who, for weeks, +had been employed upon it. In consequence of this, and the time spent +in making circuits round in the woods to avoid parties of the enemy, +who were seasonably discovered by the wary guide to be still at work, in +several places, in trying to improve some of the worst portions of the +road, the progress of our heroine was slow and obscure. And it was not +till after a dreary and fatiguing ride of several hours, that she and +her attendant began to emerge into the more open country bordering the +Hudson. + +“Now, miss,” said Bart, falling in by the side of the maiden, and +speaking in a low, cautionary tone--“now we are coming out on to the +river, and at a spot that I feel kinder shyish of.” + +“On what account, Bart?” asked the other, with a glance of concern. + +“Well, it's for a reason I have, and then one or two more on top of +that,” replied the former, with his usual indirectness. “In the first +place, it is a sort of a torified neighborhood about there which may +hold those more likely to mistrust and snap us up than the regular-built +enemy, who may, some of 'em, be there too, likely; as a regiment, or so, +have already gone on, by this same road, to Fort Edward, which is not a +great ways beyond.” + +“Is there no way to avoid going through the place?” asked Sabrey. + +“That is what I'm thinking about,” replied Bart, musing. “But one thing +is certain, you must be got somewhere, and a little reconnoitring be +done, before we try to go through or round the pesky place. Now, here +on the left is a pine thicket, that reaches along, and comes to a point, +very near this Sandy Hill place, as they call it; and by entering the +woods, and keeping on in a line with the road, we both might gain a +spot, in that point, where we could safely see enough of what is going +on there to judge of the rest.” + +“I am unacquainted with the locality, and the character of the +inhabitants, and shall, therefore, be wholly guided by you,” responded +Sabrey, reining up in compliance with the motions, rather than the +words, of the other. “But what means have you had of ascertaining what +you suggest respecting the place?” + +“Why, I came this route the last spying trip I made,” replied the +former; “and being afoot--crazy folks don't ride, you know--I kinder +naturally kept going back and forward and calling at places on the road +to inquire for swamp angels, or blue dogs I had lost, or some sich-like +whimseys, till I managed to fine out who and what lived in most every +house, all the way to Bennington. It is a tory concern of a place, and a +sort of rendezvous for those running away from our parts. One fellow, +of the last sort, came plaguy nigh knowing me; and would, forzino if +I hadn't suddenly gone into a fit, to screw my features out of his +acquaintance. Yes, we may as well be turning in here, I am thinking.” + +In accordance with the plan just suggested, Miss Haviland now turned her +willing steed, and plunged directly into the dark forest bordering +the road on the left. Here following her guide, who kept some rods in +advance to select and point out the places affording the most feasible +route through the thick undergrowth, she slowly, and with no little +personal inconvenience, made her way forward in the proposed direction, +till she at length succeeded in reaching the desired station, which was +the top of a low, woody bluff, commanding, from some portions of it, a +near and distinct view of the hamlet, in the opening below, of which the +intended _reconnaissance_ was to be made. Bart, now assisting the maiden +to dismount, and directing her attention to a mossy hillock at hand, as +an eligible seat or bed for resting herself, turned the pony loose to +crop the bushes, and disappeared to commence his observations. In a few +minutes he returned, and, having reported the discovery of a safe and +easy route for passing to the east of the public road, as far as it +might be necessary to avoid it, proceeded to reconnoitre the houses +below. And taking a well-screened seat on a log, lying on the verge of +the bluff, he looked long and intently. + +“Well, sir, what discoveries are you making there?” at length asked +Sabrey, wondering at his prolonged silence. + +“Why, nothing very alarming, be sure,” replied the other. “The place +looks as if it was deserted, except one house; but there's something +going on about that which I don't somehow seem to understand. Suppose +you throw a few of those evergreen vines near you over your head and +shoulders, to prevent your dress from attracting notice, and come here +to help me read out the puzzle.” + +In compliance with the unexpected suggestion, the maiden instantly rose, +and, preparing herself, as directed, cautiously advanced and seated +herself at his side. The road they had recently quitted was in plain +view, a little distance to the right, and continued distinctly visible +as it swept round towards the broad Hudson, whose tranquil surface was +gleaming with the reflected brightness of the low-descending sun. On +each side of the road, till it disappeared over a distant swell, were +scattered, at irregular intervals, the dwellings to which allusion has +been made. Among the nearest and most respectable of these, stood, in +a retired situation considerably to the east of the highway, the house +presenting the questionable appearances to which Hart's attention had +been directed. On one side of the spacious yard or lawn, in front of +this building, stood, tied to a post, and impatiently pawing the ground, +a noble-looking horse, equipped with a richly-caparisoned side-saddle; +while near by, under the fence, sat, patiently smoking their pipes, +three Indians, one of whom, as was evident by their contrasted bearing +and accoutrements, was a chief, and the other two his attendants. +Near the principal entrance was drawn up a two-horse team, having the +appearance of awaiting the reception of persons about to depart on some +journey. At length the family, consisting evidently of father, mother, +and their children, slowly, and in seeming mournful silence, issued from +the door, and approached the wagon, when the former, lifting the latter +into the seats, again turned an anxious look towards the house, and, +with his companion whose handkerchief was frequently applied to her +eyes, stood lingering and hesitating, as if reluctant to part with +some object of their solicitude still remaining behind. Presently the +agitated couple returned to the door, and, with gestures of grief and +supplication, appeared to be making a last appeal to one standing +just within the entrance, whose partially disclosed form, and white +fluttering decorations, proclaimed her to be a gayly-dressed female. + +“It acts some like a funeral there,” observed Bart, doubtfully; “but +then those Indians, that seem to be waiting for some one--and that horse +with the lady's saddle on him, which they appear to have the care of, +and which looks, by the trim, like a British army horse--and----” + +“Bart, do you know who lives there?” interrupted Sabrey, with a sudden +start. + +“A tory,” replied the other; “but not a fighting one, I gathered. +That's him and his wife standing before the door, I take it. His name is +Me--something.” + +“Merciful Heaven!” exclaimed Sabrey. “I understand it all now. That +lady, in the door, is dressed for her wedding--those before her are her +brother and sister-in-law, pleading with her to go with them, instead +of taking the questionable step she is evidently meditating. O, that I +dared rush down to the side of her well-judging friends, and join them +in dissuading her from listening to the ill-timed summons of her lover, +and especially from going with such, an escort as the infatuated man +appears to have sent for her!” + +Although Miss Haviland was wholly unprepared for here finding the +residence of her friend, Jane McRea, which she had supposed to be +in another and more distant locality, yet her quick perceptions, in +combining the past and present circumstances, had not misled her. It +was, indeed, that lovely and hapless girl, passing through the last +trial she was destined ever to be conscious of undergoing,--that of the +distracting conflict of emotions produced by being now finally compelled +to decide between the behests of prudence and of love,--between the +advice and entreaties of confessedly kind and judicious relatives, +and the opposing counsels and impassioned importunities of an idolized +lover. Deeply and anxiously, that afternoon, had the thought of her +situation engrossed the mind of our heroine, who both expected and +dreaded to meet her on the way--expected, because her coming had +been announced; and dreaded, not only on account of the pain it would +occasion to witness her disappointment, and resist her entreaties, but +also on account of the danger of the unintentional betrayal which +would be likely to attend a meeting with that guileless creature of +the affections and her probable escort. And it was now with the mingled +emotions naturally called up by the associations of former friendship, +the contrast between the circumstances of the past and present, together +with fears and anxieties for the future, that Sabrey, after a few brief +explanations to her attendant, resumed her observations of the scene +before her, which she hoped, might still result in the triumph of wisdom +over the delusive pleadings of love. + +At length, she who had now become the principal object of solicitude in +the family group, to which the attention of our concealed spectators +had been directed, followed, with slow and hesitating steps, her still +importuning friends into the yard, where, in her bridal robes of vestal +white, and with her rich profusion of bright and wavy tresses hanging +like a golden cloud over her shoulders, she stood at once a vision of +loveliness and an object of commiseration. Again and again did those +friends appear to renew their entreaties, at which the agitated girl +seemed sometimes to waver, and at others to reply only with her tears; +till at length the former, evidently wearied with their fruitless +attempts, and despairing of success, ascended their vehicle, and drove +off at a rapid pace, along the road to the south, without turning their +heads to look behind them. Once, as she stood, like one bound by some +fatal spell to the spot, wistfully gazing after the receding wagon, +a momentary relenting appeared to come over the wretched maiden. She +irresolutely ran forward a few paces, and, imploringly stretching forth +her white arms, uttered a faint, sobbing cry of, “_Come back! O, come +back!_” But the late appeal, which would have so gladdened the hearts of +those for whom it was intended, was destined to be unheeded. The cry was +lost in the din of their rattling wheels, as they urged on their horses, +as if anxious to escape from the painful scene. And the poor girl, +dropping her arms, and turning hopelessly away to a small tree near by, +leaned against the trunk for support, and, for a while, seemed to yield +herself wholly a prey to the wild grief which now burst forth from the +dreadful conflict of emotions that was rending her distracted bosom. At +length she appeared to be slowly regaining her self-possession, and now +soon fully arousing herself, she advanced towards the Indians, and, by +signs, signified her readiness to attend them. With eager alacrity, +the horse was led up for her to the door-step; when, lightly throwing +herself into the saddle, she immediately set forth along the road to the +north, preceded by the chief, and followed by his dusky assistants. + +“Well, the poor thing has settled it at last,” observed Bart, drawing a +long breath. “But I aint so sure that those red characters, who appear +to feel so crank at having got her started, will be allowed to get far +with their prize, without seeing trouble.” + +“Why, sir?” asked Sabrey, wiping away the sympathetic tears that had +started to her cheeks at what she had been witnessing--“why do you make +such a remark?” + +“Well, it may not amount to any thing, be sure,” replied the other. “But +having had one eye on the lookout, during this affair at the house, I +noticed, a while ago, some five or six scores, slying along on the other +bank of the river, over there, and crossing in a boat, and entering +the woods on this side. By their appearance, I think they must be +Continentals from our army below; and if it is these Indians they +have been spying out, and are after, they will waylay them along here +somewhere, likely.” + +“O, if they could but take her from these creatures, and send her to her +friends!” said the former, with emotion. + +“Yes, but I hope they won't attempt it,” said Bart; “for if these +Redskins, who are probably to have a smart price for getting her safe +to camp, should find themselves about to be robbed of her, there's no +telling what they would do.” + +At this juncture, their attention was arrested by the sounds of +footsteps approaching in the road from the north; and, the next moment, +a second party of Indians, headed by a tall, fierce looking chief, +emerged into view, and advanced nearly to the edge of the woods; when +the chief, beholding the other party coming on with their charge, +suddenly halted, and stood awaiting their approach, with an air of doubt +and disappointment, and with looks that plainly bespoke his jealous +fears of losing the reward, which, it appeared, the short-sighted lover, +in his impatience at the delay that had occurred, had offered him +also to bring off his betrothed. The bold and arrogant air of the +newly-arrived party, standing in the middle of the road, and seemingly +intending to dispute the path, caused the others, as they now came +up, to pause, as if for parley or explanation; when a fierce and angry +debate arose between the rival chiefs, in which the new comer, with dark +scowls and menacing gestures, demanded the exclusive possession of the +lady, which the other, at first mildly, and then in a tone of defiance, +persisted in refusing. At length the latter, under the pretence of +wishing to obtain water, but with the real object, probably, of avoiding +a collision till some compromise could be effected, approached the +alarmed maiden, and led her horse out into a little opening in the +bushes on the left, where a cool and inviting spring was seen bursting +from beneath the wide-spreading roots of a stately pine-tree standing in +the background; and here leaving her under the shade of the tree, still +sitting on her horse, he and his attendants gathered round the spring +for the purpose of quenching their thirst. At this instant, white +streams of smoke, followed by the startling reports of muskets, suddenly +burst from a neighboring thicket, and the band of concealed scouts, with +challenging hurrahs, were seen springing from their coverts, and +rapidly gliding from tree to tree towards the spot. The astonished and +unprepared Indians, who had escaped death only by the distance from +which the missiles of their assailants had been discharged upon them, +all, with one accord, slunk instantly away into the surrounding bushes. + +Scarcely had they disappeared, however, before the tall chief, whose +ill-omened appearance and conduct we have noted, again darted out into +the opening; when, with a quick, wild glance around him, and a yell +of fiendish triumph, he rapidly whirled his arm aloft, and, the next +instant, the glittering tomahawk was seen, like a shooting gleam of +light, swiftly speeding its way on its death-doing errand. + +One solitary, piercing shriek, suddenly cut short, and sinking into an +appalling groan, rose from the fatal spot; while the white robes of the +victim, like the ruffled pinions of some struck bird, came fluttering +to the ground. The deed was done and the spirit of the beauteous and +unfortunate Jane McRea had left its mangled tenement and fled forever! +[Footnote: From the various published accounts of the massacre of +Miss McRea, we have followed, in our illustrations of that melancholy +tragedy, as far as our limits and plan permitted us to carry them, the +one deemed by us the most probable. By way of finishing the details +of the horrible scene, however, it may be proper here to state, that +Captain Jones, the strangely infatuated lover, having despatched, for +the reward of a barrel of rum, one party of Indians after her, and +then a second one, for the same reward, had started to meet her, when, +encountering the murderer with the scalp, which he recognized by the +peculiar color and length of the hair, he hastened, in a state bordering +on absolute distraction, to the fatal scene. A British officer, with a +few attendants, had, in the mean time, removed the corpse to a wagon by +the road side, and was guarding it, when the lover arrived to claim it. +But his lamentations were so terrible, and his conduct so frantic, that +it was deemed advisable to remove him, and bury the remains from his +sight. From that hour, the bereaved lover was an altered and ruined man. +And he died soon after, as there is every reason to believe, of a broken +heart.] + +A momentary pause ensued; when, amidst the intermingling shouts and +cries of murder and vengeance, that now burst from both scouts and +Indians, the fiend-like perpetrator of the foul deed, who had been +seen to leap forward towards his fallen victim with his scalping-knife, +bounded back into the road, and, there holding up and shaking the +gory trophy at his rival, immediately plunged into the forest and +disappeared. The next moment a detachment of British cavalry, who had +been sent out to intercept the scouts, came thundering down the road, +and put an end to the tumult. Turning away in horror from the spot, now +made dangerous by the presence of the British, who, on seeing what was +done, and learning the facts, soon began to scatter in all directions +after the murderer, Miss Haviland and her guide hastily resumed their +journey by the route which the latter had discovered for avoiding the +road, and which they pursued till dark, when, arriving at the house of +a family in the interest of the American cause, they found a comfortable +shelter for the night, and the repose so much needed to counteract the +effect of the agitating events of the day on our heroine, and fortify +her for the trials yet in store for her. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + “Still on? Have not the forest gloom, + The taunt of foes, the threatened doom, + Shaken thy courage yet?” + + +The indefatigable Bart, after seeing the object of his greatest +solicitude in safety for the night, that of his next, his loved +Lightfoot, well stabled and fed, and, lastly, his own wants supplied, +determined, with his usual caution and forethought, on making a little +tour of observation to Fort Edward, now some miles in the rear, for the +purpose of gathering what new intelligence could be gained respecting +the movements of the enemy, which might both enhance the value of his +budget of news to carry home, and enable him to shape his course more +understandingly and safely on the morrow. Accordingly, in the new +disguise of a barefooted, bareheaded, coatless farmer's boy, with a +basket of green corn to sell for roasting slung on his arm, he proceeded +on foot to the recently-established rendezvous of the enemy at the place +above named, and boldly entered their encampment. Here he soon made +discoveries that filled him with uneasiness, and, finally, those which +thoroughly alarmed him for his own and the safety of his charge. The +whole camp was in a state of bustle and commotion. Colonel Baum, in +anticipation of the time fixed for his march, had just arrived with his +appointed force, and was intending, after allowing his troops a short +respite, to press immediately forward that night on the contemplated +expedition. Bands of painted Indians, who had also arrived from the main +army since dark, were feasting and drinking in grim revelry, or enacting +the frightful war-dance, on the outskirts of the encampment. Parties of +tories were constantly coming in from the surrounding towns, receiving +arms, and departing to their different allotted stations, to act as +pickets to the force about to advance, or as scouts to scour the country +along the road to the south. And at last, to crown all, Peters and +Haviland, with a small number of attendants, all bearing, on their +bespattered persons, evidence of hard and rapid travelling, rode +hurriedly into camp, and announced that a dangerous spy had, that +afternoon, been at the head-quarters of the main army audaciously +abducted a young lady, and with her escaped in this direction, for the +arrest of which a handsome reward should be paid. + +“It is time you and I was jogging, Bart,” muttered the unsuspected +personage within hearing, who deemed himself not the least interested in +this unexpected announcement, as he gradually edged himself out of the +camp, and made his way, with unusual haste, back to his quarters for the +night. + +Scarcely had the first faint suffusions of morning light begun to be +distinguishable in the chambers of the east, before the well-recruited +Lightfoot stood pawing at the door, as if impatient to receive and bear +off her precious burden from the scene of danger. In a few minutes, the +fair fugitive, in answer to the summons of her vigilant attendant, +came forth, evidently refreshed by her repose, and, in a good measure, +recovered from the shock occasioned by the sad and fearful spectacles +of yesterday. Without any allusions to the startling discoveries he had +made since they parted for the night, other than the quiet remark that +he had ascertained that it might not be wholly safe for them to proceed +any longer in the main road, Bart assisted the lady to mount, and led +the way on their now doubly difficult and hazardous flight. Striking off +obliquely to the left, into a partially cleared pine plain, and then, +after thus proceeding a while, again turning to the right, they directed +their course forward in a line parallel to the great thoroughfare to the +south, but at a sufficient distance from it to insure them against the +observation of all who might be passing therein, or scouting along its +borders. And on, on, now through open fields, and now through dense +forests, now through splashy pools, or rapid rivers, and now over sharp +pitches or deep ravines, now in cross-roads or cow-paths, and now +in trackless thickets, now over fenny moors, and now along the rocky +declivities of mountains,--on, on, did they pursue their toilsome and +weary way through the seemingly interminable hours of all the first half +of that eventful day. + +At length, however, believing themselves many miles beyond the +rendezvous of Peters's corps, who were understood to have been selected +as the pioneers of the expedition, they emerged from the woods, and fell +into the main road leading up the winding Walloomscoik to the village +of Bennington. Greatly rejoiced that, at last, she could be permitted to +travel in a smooth road with some assurance of safety, and encouraged +by the prospect of soon reaching the friends and acquaintance of her +old neighborhood, from whom she was confident of a cordial welcome, our +heroine now rode on with lightened feelings and renewed spirits. But +she soon perceived, by the manner of her guide, as he examined the +appearances of the road, as he went on, and occasionally cast uneasy +glances before and behind him, that he did not consider it yet time to +rejoice. And soon he stopped short, and observed,-- + +“There are too many tracks in this road for my liking, and not of the +right kind to read well, either.” + +“I hope you will indulge in no unnecessary alarms, Bart,” said the +other, reluctant to leave the road, as she supposed he was about to +advise. “You, who yesterday manifested little uneasiness, to-day, when +we are farther removed from danger, have appeared extremely cautious and +apprehensive, I have thought. Why such a change, while the reverse would +seem so much more rational?” + +“Well, miss, the question is not so onnatural as it might be, I reckon,” + replied the former; “and I have been expecting you'd wonder some why I +led you on such a jaunt as we've had. But the fact was, your chance +of getting off has been a little scaly, to-day, to say nothing of the +shadow of a rope that's been round my own neck in the mean time.” + +“I cannot comprehend you, Bart,” said the maiden, with a look of +surprise and concern. + +“Spose so; for I have held in, cause I thought I wouldn't worry your +mind till needful, which it may be now; so I'll tell you the whole +kink,” replied Bart, proceeding to relate his last night's discoveries, +and then adding,-- + +“Now a party of the enemy--for I saw a moccason track just now, and none +on our side would be in such company as that means--a party of 'em have +gone on before us; and my notion is, that we strike off through this +bushy pasture to the left.” + +“Let us do so, then, if such is our situation, and that without a +moment's delay,” cried Sabrey, in alarm at the unexpected disclosure. + +“Well, perhaps it an't best to fret about it, jest at this minute,” + responded the imperturbable guide--“I kinder want to make an observation +or two, before we start,” he added, ascending an elevation near +by, which commanded a view of the road both ways for a considerable +distance. + +After glancing along the road in front, a moment, he turned and bent +his searching gaze in the other direction, where he soon appeared to +discover something that both interested and disturbed him. + +“It is, by Herod! it is the whole main body, Germans and all, at their +rations, within a mile of us, and their pickets on the move in this +direction!” he at length exclaimed, hastily quitting his post of +observation. + +Hurrying down to the side of the startled maiden, he sprang to the +nearest length of the fence, here enclosing the road, and grappling, +with main strength, the topmost of the heavy poles of which it was +composed, soon effected a breach sufficiently low to allow the horse to +leap over without endangering the seat of the rider. + +“Here, go it, Lightfoot! gently! there you are! Now off with ye, as if +the divil was at your heels!” cried Bart, as the horse, with her fair +burden, dashed lightly through the breach, and cantered off in the +direction indicated by the finger of her master. + +Pausing to replace the fence, lest the opening should attract the +notice of those coming on behind, Bart rapidly followed, and, in another +minute, the fugitives were safely screened from observation by the thick +foliage of the different clumps of bushes, which they managed to keep +between them and the road they had just quitted. + +“There is a house,” said Bart, musingly, after they had proceeded a +while in silence--“there is a house about half a mile ahead, and nearly +the same distance from the great road, with woods between, which is +a place I called at when I came down, and which I had been all along +calculating to turn off to, for a short stop, as we might shape our +course to do now, if not somewhat risky.” + +“A little rest and refreshment would certainly be very acceptable,” said +the other, “if it could be safely obtained. Who lives there?” + +“Well, some folks.” + +“Loyalists?” + +“Tories, d'ye mean? No, not by a jug full.” + +“Who are they, then, sir?” + +“The man,” said Bart, glancing up to his wondering companion, with an +odd air of shyness, as he provokingly persisted in his evasions--“the +man is one of Warner's sergeants, and a sort of relation to somebody +that I thought likely would be visiting at his house by this time. +And--and I guess we'll venture there, considering,” he added, suddenly +dashing some distance ahead, under pretence of pointing out the way +After winding their course a while among the variously grouped little +thickets that studded the old pasture, they at length entered a tall +forest of maple, which the incisions in the trees, together with the +marks of an old boiling-place, that they soon reached, proclaimed to be +the sugar orchard, belonging, probably, to the establishment they were +seeking. And, now falling into a beaten path, they soon perceived, by +the glimpses of an opening which they occasionally caught through the +trees, that they were drawing near to the object of their search. The +serpentine course of the path, however, and the undergrowth, so thick as +to be nearly impervious to the sight, prevented any direct view of +the opening; and they passed on without any very exact notions of +propinquity till a sudden turn of the path brought them unexpectedly to +the edge of the wood, and in full view of the house, not a hundred yards +distant; when, to their astonishment and dismay, they beheld the place +in possession of a large party of the enemy. Bart instantly caught the +bridle, and was turning the horse for the purpose of fleeing back into +the forest, when five or six armed men sprang out from the bushes behind +and around them, cutting off their retreat in every direction. And the +next moment they were prisoners to the minions of the vindictive Peters. + +Bart's quick eye had told him, at a glance, that there was no chance +for him to escape; and, before his natural looks could be noted, he +had become transformed into a lout of so stolid and inoffensive an +appearance, that his captors seemed greatly disappointed, and evidently +entertained doubts whether he could be the one they supposed they +were about to secure. And it was not till his pale and trembling +fellow-prisoner had been conducted off on her horse some rods, that they +could make him seem to comprehend that he was a prisoner, and must +go with them. He then burst out into a piteous fit of weeping, and, +passively receiving the kicks and cuffs of his keepers to get him in +motion, went bawling along, like a whipped schoolboy, towards the house. + +“I thought 'twould be jes so!” he exclaimed, between his sobs and +outcries. “I most knowed when that man hired father to have me go to +show the woman the way--I most knowed she was running away, and would +get me into some scrape. Then the man, like enough, had done something, +so he darsent go any furder with her. And now they'll lay it at to +me--boo-hoo! oo-oo-oo!” + +“Conduct the lady into the house!” said the officer in command, as the +prisoners were led into the yard--“conduct her into the house, and set a +guard round it, till orders can be got from the colonel. And as to this +bawling devil,” he continued, turning with a scrutinizing, but somewhat +staggered look, to the blubbering Bart, “take him to the barn, where +I just noticed some good cords, bind him hand and foot, and guard him +closely, he will make less noise within an hour from now, I fancy.” + +“But, your honor,” began one of the scouts who had brought in the +prisoners-- + +“Yes, yes,” interrupted the other, “I have just been informed of his +pretences; but there's an even chance that he is shamming, and the +fellow we want, after all. Do as I have ordered.” + +Bart was now led into the open barn, which stood facing the yard, and +projecting in the rear over a steep bank, making from the floor, on the +back side, that was also open, a perpendicular fall of nearly a dozen +feet. He was then ordered to sit down in the middle of the floor, when +two of the half dozen keepers who had him in charge, with many a half +taunting, half pitying joke at his doleful whimpering, carelessly +proceeded to prepare the cords for binding him, while the rest laid +aside their guns, and went searching about the barn for eggs, all, +notwithstanding the caution of their commander, being evidently so +much impressed with the idea of his innocence as to disarm them of the +vigilance usually exercised on such occasions. At this juncture, just as +the two men, one standing before and the other behind him, were in the +act of stooping to take his legs and arms, Bart started to his feet with +the suddenness of thought, and giving the one in his rear a paralyzing +kick in the pit of his stomach, grappled round the legs of the other, +and, bearing him, in spite of all his struggles, across the floor, +leaped with him from the verge to the earth below. Managing to keep +uppermost in the descent, Bart, as the man struck heavily on the ground, +leaped unhurt from the senseless body, and, with the speed of a wild +deer, made his way to the nearest point of woods, which he fortunately +reached just in time to avoid the volley of bullets that was sent after +him by the rallying guard from whom he had so strangely escaped. While +the balked tories, in the general commotion that now ensued, were giving +vent to their rage and mortification, in cursing one another and the +more particular object of their wrath, whom they concluded it was +useless to pursue, a long, shrill whistle was heard issuing from another +point of the forest, to which it was thought the escaped prisoner could +not have had time to pass round. Scarcely had the sound died away, when +a movement, accompanied by a low snorting, was heard in the high-fenced +cow-yard, into which Lightfoot had been turned for safe keeping. The +whistle was soon repeated, and the next moment the sagacious animal +was seen rearing herself nearly upright in the air, and then, with a +prodigious leap, throwing herself over the fence into the field beyond. +Although the tories, for a while, as little comprehended this movement +of the pony, as they did, at first, that of her master, yet they raised +the alarm that the horse had broken away; and a dozen men threw down +their guns, and ran out into the field to head her, but, dashing at and +through them, like a mad Fury, she bounded off at full speed, and soon +disappeared in the woods in the direction in which the whistling had +been heard, leaving the baffled pursuers and their associates now fully +to perceive how completely they had all been outwitted and outdone by +both horse and master. + +Much of our happiness is the result of contrast. A slight alleviation, +unexpectedly springing out of a disheartening misfortune, not +unfrequently affords a comparative pleasure more keenly appreciated than +unalloyed blessings arising out of the ordinary circumstances of life. +The pleasure of Miss Haviland was equalled only by her surprise, +when, on entering the house, she found her former fellow-prisoner, the +sprightly and fearless Vine Howard, a transient but favored inmate, +whose presence here now fully explained the enigmatical language of +Bart, on the way, while it soon raised a shrewd suspicion of the cause +of the awkward shyness he had exhibited in making his partial and +roundabout revelations. Their mutual salutations, inquiries, and +explanations, had scarcely been exchanged, before they were called to +the window by an outcry and commotion among the tories without; when +they had the unspeakable satisfaction of witnessing the escape of Bart, +for whose situation and fate they had both, from different causes, felt +the deepest commiseration and the most gloomy apprehensions. + +“Now,” said the animated Vine, as she turned exultingly away from the +gratifying scene that had opened by the escape of Bart, and closed by +that of his pony--“now, Sabrey, if they will let you remain here till +dark, I will see what _I_ can do towards effecting _your_ escape, which, +to be candid about it, I mainly came here to favor. But whether you +escape, remain, or are dragged back to the British camp, I will not this +time be separated from you.” + +The proffered assistance of the spirited girl, however, at least so +far as related to the contemplated attempt to escape by night, was not +destined to be called in requisition. In a short time, a messenger +was seen to arrive; upon which the whole party of tories commenced +preparations for an immediate departure. Presently a closely covered +vehicle, drawn by one horse, appeared coming from the main road, and +approaching the door. The next moment, the officer, whom we have already +noted, entered the house, and told Miss Haviland she was required to +depart. + +“This young lady attends me, if I am compelled to go, sir,” said Sabrey, +firmly, pointing to Vine, who instantly advanced and locked her arm +within that of the former, by way of confirming the assertion. + +“Such are not my orders,” responded the officer, with an air of slight +perplexity. + +“Then I go not with you alive, sir,” said Miss Haviland, with calm +determination. + +“Nor will I be separated from _her_, by you, while I am living,” added +Vine, with no less spirit. + +“Well, well, ladies, you must have your own way, I suppose. But be +prompt; the carriage waits for you,” replied the officer, stepping back +to the door. + +In a few minutes more, the ladies presented themselves at the door, and, +without accepting the offered assistance of their summoner, entered +the unoccupied vehicle, which was now immediately put in motion, and +conducted on in the rear of the main column of the tories, who had +already commenced their march towards the great road. As they emerged +from the short piece of forest through which their way now led, the +exciting spectacle of a large body of troops, moving in military array +along the road, accompanied by the hum of mingling voices, the steady +tramp of men and horses, the rattling of tumbrels, and the heavy +rumbling of artillery, unexpectedly burst upon the senses of the +startled maidens. Baum's select and finely-equipped regiment of Germans +and British occupied the front, and Peter's motley corps of tories +and Indians the rear of the long-extended column. As the head of the +detachment in possession of the fair prisoners reached the road, +they came to a halt, when, after waiting till the corps to which they +belonged had mostly passed by, they, to the agreeable disappointment +of the girls, turned in, and moved on with the rest towards that little +anticipated scene of defeat and death from which so few of them were +destined to return. + +“By this time,” observed Vine to her thoughtful companion after they +had concluded the remarks which the novelty of their situation naturally +elicited--“by this time, Bart, at the rate he will be likely to ride, +has nearly reached Bennington, now less than ten miles distant; and in +another hour after, if the news he carries has the effect on our army +there that I anticipate from what I learned when I came down, these +fellows will be met on the way by a force which they cannot be expecting +to see. Can they, do you suppose?” + +“I think not,” replied Sabrey, “or we should have been sent back at +once, to the British camp, as we expected; but, believing he shall meet +with no serious opposition, and probably fearing I should find some +means to escape, if sent back, my magnanimous persecutor concludes +to drag me round with him and his minions, that I may be watched more +closely, till, having completed his anticipated triumphs, he is ready to +return.” + +“But where _is_ Peters?” asked the other; “where _is_ that remarkable +gentleman _now_, that he don't present himself here, to pay his respects +or make his apologies, or assure you of your safety, or frame some story +by the way of accounting for his conduct, or at least, of smoothing the +matter? One would suppose the fellow would want to say _something_ on +the occasion.” + +“Yes,” replied the former; “but he wishes to see me as little as I do +him, I presume. Should he find it impossible to avoid me, however, he +would probably come up boldly, and say my detention was a mistake of his +subaltern; or that he only directed it to afford me a safe escort to my +friends in the Grants.” + +“There would be a deal of love in such doings.” + +“He entertains none; not one particle now, if he ever did, for me, +Vine.” + +“What the deuse, then, does he want with you?” + +“Indeed, I hardly know myself.” + +“Marry you?” + +“If he does still aim at that, it is with no honorable motives, I have +had some strange suspicions lately, and I feel but too thankful at this +prospect of a battle, for I shall cheerfully meet all dangers I may +encounter from the flying bullets of our people for my chance of a +release.” + +“Chance, Sabrey? Why, I know our side will get the victory, when we +shall be made prisoners to--well, to about the right sort of fellows, +probably,” added the girl, with a merry laugh. + +The conversation was here interrupted by the scattering reports of +musketry somewhere in front, which instantly threw the whole line into +commotion. An immediate halt was commanded, and the troops hastily +formed in order of battle, as well as the ground would permit. Glancing +over the line in front, from the small elevation on which they chanced +to have stopped, the girls perceived that the head of the column had +reached the banks of the stream that here crossed the road, and were +rapidly deploying into the fields, to the right and left, to be prepared +to receive their yet invisible foe. The bridge over the stream had +just been torn up, and its scattered wrecks were seen floating down +the stream below. While Baum was hurrying forward his artillery to the +front, a body of about two hundred Americans emerged from their coverts +in the bushes, some distance from the opposite bank and, with an ominous +shout of defiance, discharged their guns and disappeared over the hill +beyond, before the slow Germans who alone were yet near enough to do +any execution with muskets, were ready to return a single shot. A +strong guard of pickets, consisting of tories and Indians, were now +sent forward to ford the stream, and keep watch of their retreating +assailants while the few wounded and dying wretches who had +experienced the effects of American marksmanship were carried back +in hastily-constructed litters to a house in the rear, affording the +shocked maidens, as they were borne by groaning and writhing in their +agony a sad and sickening foretaste of the fearful scene of blood and +carnage they were destined soon to witness. As soon as the bridge +was repaired by the engineers, who were occupied nearly two hours in +rendering it passable, the column was put in motion, and again moved +forward, but much slower and more cautiously than before; for there was +something in the manner of this attack, as unimportant as it was, and +even in the shouts of their assailants, that had disturbed the minds, +and cast a visible shade of thoughtfulness over the countenances, +of these hitherto self-confident and boastful invaders of the Green +Mountains. For the next three or four miles, however, they moved on +unmolested; when, coming to a hamlet of log-houses scattered along the +highway on both sides of the stream, that, here again crossing the road, +wound through a smooth meadow of considerable extent, the word _Halt! +halt!_ rang loudly, and from company to company, through the line, with +an emphasis and significance that instantly apprised all that trouble +was at hand. The next moment all were in commotion, hurry, and alarm. +Amidst the furious beating of the rallying drums, and the mingling +clamor of dictating voices, the cannon were detached from the horses, +run forward, and unlimbered; the fences on each side of the road were +levelled to the ground, and the whole force rapidly thrown into battle +array, the tories taking position in the meadow on the right, and the +regulars on the more elevated grounds to the left of the road, there to +await the foe, understood to be approaching in unexpected strength just +beyond the thick copse which terminated the opening on the east. While +this was transpiring, the officer who had before taken charge of Miss +Haviland and her friend came forward, and, summoning them from their +carriage, hurried them to a large, strongly-built log-house, around +which a company of tories had been posted, when, bidding them enter and +take care of themselves, he hastened back to his post, to take part in +repelling the menaced onset. Neither that day nor the next, however, was +destined to be the one which was to cover the untrained freemen of New +England with the deathless laurels of Bennington. Stark, after marching +out into the open field, offering battle, and vainly manoeuvring to +draw the enemy from their advantageous ground, retired about a mile, and +encamped for the night, leaving Baum to intrench himself in his chosen +position, and despatch expresses to Burgoyne to apprise him of his +unexpectedly perilous situation, and ask for reenforcement. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + “Sad was the year, by proud oppression driven, + When transatlantic liberty arose, + Not in the sunshine and the smile of Heaven, + But wrapped in whirlwinds, and begirt with woes, + Amidst the strife of fratricidal foes.”--_Campbell._ + + +The house, into which our heroine and her attendant had been ushered +for safe keeping during the expected conflict, was divided into two +compartments, and separately occupied by a couple of young farmers, and +their still more youthful and recently espoused wives, twin sisters, +by the names of Mary and Martha. But as happy a social circle as these +close and interesting ties should have continued to render the inmates, +the fiend of discord, with the approach of the opposing armies, had just +entered in among them. One of the young men was a whig, and the other +a tory; and the wives had very naturally adopted the predilections of +their respective husbands. The young men had, as yet, however, taken no +active part in the public quarrel; and, while the war was at a distance, +their difference of opinion had not been permitted very essentially to +disturb their friendly intercourse. But now, as the war was brought to +their door, the sight of the two hostile armies, coming together for +deadly conflict on the great issue in which their hitherto repressed +sympathies were oppositely enlisted, had aroused the demon of contention +in their friendly bosoms. The boastful assumptions of the tory, uttered +in his excitement at beholding the imposing display of the British +forces around him, were promptly met by the counter predictions of the +other. Retort, recrimination, and darkly-hinted menaces followed, till +jealousy and rancor seemed completely to have usurped the place of all +those fraternal feelings that lately blessed their peaceful abode. + +Such was the painful and ill-omened scene which was passing in the +apartment of the brother who had espoused the cause of his country, +where both families were assembled to witness the anticipated battle, +when the unexpected entrance of the girls put an end to the altercation; +and it soon after being announced that the Americans had retreated, the +tory, followed by his wife, retired with an exulting sneer, to his own +room, leaving the fair strangers, as it happily chanced, to the care +and more congenial companionship of the young patriot and his warmly +sympathizing Martha, who now kindly supplied their wants, and then +conducted them to their attic chamber, where, it being now nearly dark, +they immediately betook themselves to their homely but grateful couch. +And, overcome by the fatigues and harrowing anxieties of the day, they +soon fell asleep, expecting to be roused in the morning by the din of +the battle, which they felt confident was yet to take place before the +invaders would be permitted to advance farther on their boasted mission +of plunder and outrage. + +But the next day was to be marked by the battle of the elements, rather +than of men. The morning was ushered in by a storm of unusual violence. +And as the day advanced, so seemed to increase the power of the tempest. +The black, flying clouds, deeply enshrouding the mountain tops, and +dragging the summits of the low, woody hills around, closer and closer +begirt the darkened earth. Heavier and heavier dashed the deluging +torrents against the smitten herbage of the field, and the trembling +habitations of men; and louder and louder roared the wind, as it went +howling and raging over the vexed wilderness, as if in mockery of +the intended conflict of the feeble creatures of earth, who now stood +shrinking and shivering in its rain-freighted blasts. + +Miss Haviland and her friend, in the mean time, closely kept their +little chamber; and as little enviable as were their sensations under +the terrors which the tempest, as it roared around the rocked dwelling, +naturally inspired, it was soon with feelings of thankfulness that they +found themselves permitted to remain even there unmolested; for their +ears were continually shocked, and their liveliest apprehensions often +excited, by the profane vociferations, the noisy ribaldry, and lawless +conduct of the tories, who, driven from their drenched tents, which +afforded them but a feeble protection against the fury of the storm, +had crowded into the lower rooms of the house, where, half stifled, and +jostled for want of space, they filled up the stairway, and repeatedly +attempted to force open the fastened door of the trembling inmates +of the apartment above. But the latter were at length permitted +to experience a temporary relief from this source of annoyance and +apprehension. Towards night the tempest lulled, and the rain abated, +when the tories left the house, and joined in the universal rejoicing of +the troops of the encampment, that the discomforts and sufferings of the +storm were over. It soon became manifest, however, that they had been +relieved of one evil only to be disturbed by another. In a short time, +the American scouting parties began to show themselves on the border of +the field in various directions around the encampment. Presently, the +sharp crack of the rifle, followed by the whistling of bullets, and the +fall of one of their number, in the midst of the startled camp, apprised +them of the danger of remaining longer inactive. And Baum, astonished at +the temerity of his foes, and scarcely less so at their evident ability +to do execution with small arms at such a distance, instantly issued +orders to fit out parties of tories and Indians, to go and dislodge +them. At this juncture, the girls received a visit from their friendly +hostess, who, with a troubled look, entered their room, and, after +telling them that she and her sister had been, like themselves, little +else than prisoners in the other chamber, proceeded to inform them that +her husband, impressed with a sense of duty to his country, had secretly +stolen off, during the preceding night, to the American camp; and that +his tory brother-in-law, from whom she had contrived to conceal her +husband's absence through the morning, had just discovered the fact, +and, with bitter imprecations, seized his gun and rushed out to join the +parties fitting out to fight his countrymen. Scarcely waiting to finish +her hurried communication, the agitated woman hurried down and joined +her no less excited sister in the yard, to witness the expected +encounter of the opposing skirmishers; while Sabrey and Vine, sharing +with the sisters, though less keenly, perhaps, in the interest of the +event, took post at their window, which commanded a clear view of the +scene of action, and looked forth for the same purpose. + +A company of tories were cautiously stealing along a low, bushy vale, +towards the most westerly of the opposite woody points, from which the +firing had proceeded. On the extreme right of the field, under a clump +of tall evergreens, was seen the encampment of the Indians, who were +in lively commotion, and evidently preparing to join in the meditated +sally. One, whose stature, accoutrements, and bearing denoted him to +be a chief, and principal leader of the band, appeared to be actively +engaged in giving orders, and pointing out the course to be taken to +reach some designated station in the woods. But just as the whole party +were beginning to file away in their usual fashion, their steps were +suddenly arrested by a rapid discharge of rifle-shots, that burst upon +them from behind an old bush fence on the border of the forest, about a +hundred yards to the east; when the tall chief, and three or four of his +followers, in different parts of their line, were seen leaping wildly +into the air, and then pitching headlong to the earth, to rise no more. +The next instant, every dark form had vanished, and their places of +refuge were only distinguishable by the occasional reports of their +guns, as the protracted skirmish gradually receded within the depths of +the forest. + +Meanwhile, the tories had proceeded on their destination undiscovered, +till they reached the termination of their screening ridge on the left, +which brought them within fifty yards of the bushy point where the +largest party of their opponents lay concealed, unsuspicious of any +immediate attack. Here the former made a brief pause, when they rushed +forward with a loud shout, and, after a rapid exchange of shots, and +a brief hand to hand conflict, drove the others from their ground, and +compelled them to flee across the intervening opening to the opposite +jungle, for protection. A cry of exultation now burst from the lips +of the wife of the tory, as she witnessed this successful onset of her +husband's party, and, crowing over her disappointed sister, she began +to treat the insignificant result as the certain precursor of the speedy +flight of the whole rebel army. But her triumph was of short duration; +for, almost the next moment, the discomfited party, in conjunction +with the band of their associates, to whose covert they had retreated, +sallied out, and, returning impetuously to the charge, sent a fatal +shower of bullets into the huddled ranks of the unprepared tories, and +soon routed them entirely from the woods, from which they were seen +flying, in wild disorder, towards the encampment. The rallying wife of +the whig now, in turn, broke out in retaliatory exclamations of joy and +exultation. But her triumphs, also, were destined to be cut short as +speedily as those of her equally thoughtless sister, but in a different, +and far more sorrowful manner. + +A man, bearing the lifeless body of one of the slain on his shoulders, +now emerged into view, and came hurriedly staggering along over the +field, directly towards the house. The instant the careless eye of the +elated Martha fell on the approaching figure, it became fixed as if +enchained by a spell. The half-uttered word she was speaking suddenly +died on her faltering tongue. An instinctive shudder seemed to run over +her; and, for nearly a minute, she stood gazing in motionless silence. + +“What is that? O! what is that?” at length burst sharply from her +blanched lips. + +But no one answered; and she again relapsed into the same ominous +silence, and continued gazing with the same burning intensity, till the +man, with a look of conscience-smitten agony, came up, and laying down +his burden on the grass, gently turned it over, and presented to her the +face of her slain husband; when shriek after shriek broke, in quick and +startling succession, from her convulsed bosom, and she was carried, in +a state of wild and fearful frenzy, into the house. The homicide was the +tory husband, who, having met his victim in the fight, and acting, as he +averred, under an irresistible impulse, had singled out and slain one, +whom, the next moment, he would have given worlds to have been able to +bring to life. [Footnote: The scene here introduced is drawn from an +incident belonging to the local history of the battle of Bennington, and +is but one among the many sad and touching occurrences which tradition +has preserved as connected with that memorable conflict.] + +The scattered forces of the sky now again began to collect, the rain +to descend, and the angry winds to roar through the surrounding forest, +compelling both the assailed and assailants to retire from the fields +and woods to their respective places of rendezvous for shelter. And soon +night closed over the scene, and shrouded every object from view with +its Egyptian darkness. + +Widely different were the feelings and impressions which the events of +that afternoon had imparted to the troops of the two opposing armies. +The advantages gained, though not very important or decisive, had yet +been almost wholly on the side of the Americans. Their different parties +of scouts and skirmishers, who, with the first slackening of the storm, +had filled the woods in every direction around the British encampment, +had slain or disabled, in the various encounters of the day, more than +thirty of their opponents, and, among them, two Indian chiefs, whose +destruction caused a rejoicing proportioned to the exasperation which +their presence here had occasioned. And the effect of the whole had been +to banish the last remaining doubts of success from their bosoms, and +make them long for the hour when they should be permitted to meet the +foe in regular battle. The losses and defeats of the royal forces, on +the other hand, had proportionally depressed their feelings, and filled +them with dark forebodings of the fate which was in store for them. Nor +did these feelings, in conjunction with the natural effect of the +gloom and physical discomforts of their situation, long fail of a +characteristic manifestation among the contrasted bands of that fated +army. And strange and fearful were the sights and sounds which their +encampment exhibited during the night of storm and darkness that +followed. The sullen oaths and outlandish grumbling of the Germans, +delving and splashing away at their unfinished intrenchments,--the noisy +execrations of the exasperated tories moving restlessly about from tent +to tent, and swearing revenge for the losses,--the sputtering of the +Canadians,--the frightful whooping of the discontented savages, as their +dark forms were seen darting about in the flickering light of their +camp fires, and finally, the groans and blaspheming curses of the poor +wretches who had been wounded in the skirmishes of the day, all mingling +with the wailing of the wind, and the ceaseless pattering of the rain, +combined to form a scene as wild and dismal as language could well +paint, or even imagination conceive, and throw over this devoted spot of +earth more of the air of the regions of the damned, than of the abodes +of human beings. + +But what, in the mean while, were the thoughts and sensations of +the hapless maiden, whose fate and fortune seemed to have become so +strangely involved in the movements and scenes we have been +describing? To her the day had been but a varying scene of gloom and +wretchedness--of maidenly terror and painful excitement. And night had +come only to be made still more hideous by its accumulated horrors. +Shuddering at the strange and appalling sounds, that constantly assailed +her recoiling senses from without, and pained and distressed at the +ceaseless wailing of the bereaved and heart-broken wife within--often +startled and alarmed at the noisy intrusions of the heartless tories in +the room below, and their frequent threats, and even occasional +attempts to get into her apartment above, and tortured by the anxieties, +suspense, and apprehension she felt respecting the fate for which she +might be reserved, independent of the more immediately-menaced evils +around her, she lay, hour after hour, during the first watches of that +fearful night, tremblingly clinging to her less-troubled companion, and +earnestly praying for death, or the approach of morning, to relieve her +from some of the horrors of her situation. But at length her exhausted +system yielded to the requirements of nature, and her senses became +locked, and her cares lost, in the forgetfulness of slumber. + +She and her attendant were awakened, the next morning, by the reveille +of the clangorous brass drums of the Hessians, and the mingling hum +of the stirring camp around them. Attiring themselves with that haste +which, whether required or not, is usually consequent on a state +of great anxiety, they ran to the window and glanced out over the +landscape. But what a contrast with what it yesterday presented! The +black storm-cloud, that had so closely brooded over the earth, had been +rolled away, and the cerulean vault above was as calm and cloudless as +if storm and tempest had never disfigured its beautiful expanse. The air +was full of balmy sweetness; and soon the golden sun, slowly mounting +over the eastern hills, poured down his floods of light upon the +varigated landscape, transforming the still-weeping forest into a sea of +glittering diamonds, converting the hitherto unnoticed openings on the +surrounding hill-sides into bright spots of smiling verdure, and +adding a brighter tint to the yellow fields of waving grain, that stood +ripening in the valley, soon to be trod and trampled by other than +peaceful reapers' feet:-- + + “For here, far other harvest here + Than that which peasant's scythe demands, + Was gathered in by sterner hands, + With musket, blade, and spear.” + +Slowly rolled the bright hours of that calm and beautiful morning away, +as Miss Haviland, with her attendant, sat by the window, often and +anxiously glancing along the road to the east, to catch a glimpse of +that army, in whose movements all her hopes were centred, making its +expected advance. But it came not. No American--not even a scout or +skirmisher--any where made his appearance; and no signs of a battle +were visible in any quarter, unless they might be gathered from the +busy labors of the British troops in putting their arms in order, or the +unusual stillness and the air of anxious suspense that seemed to pervade +their whole encampment. Noon came; and still all remained quiet as +before. That hour, and the next, also, passed away with the same ominous +stillness; and the desponding girl began seriously to fear, that the +Americans had indeed retreated from the vicinity, and left her and +the country alike at the mercy of the foe. But just as this depressing +thought was taking possession of her mind, a sound reached her ears from +afar, that caused her suddenly to start to her feet with a look of joy +and animation that, for weeks, had been a stranger to her countenance. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + “Death to him who forges + Fetters, fetters for the free!”--_Eastman_. + + +“Did you hear that?” exclaimed the maiden, with flushed cheek and +kindling eye. + +“Hear what?” asked her surprised and wondering companion, who had heard +nothing to warrant so sudden a change in the other's demeanor. + +“That sound from the forest yonder,” answered Sabrey, pointing over to +the wood bordering the opening to the south. “But hush! listen! it may +be repeated. There--didn't you hear it then?” + +“I heard nothing but the hooting of an old owl over there What do you +make out of that?” responded Vine, still surprised and doubtful. + +“I make much out of it: but let us listen further,” answered the other. + +They did so; and presently the same slow, solemn hoot of the bird just +named rose more loud and distinct than before. And scarcely had the last +sound died away in its peculiar melancholy cadence, when the solitary +report of a musket sent its echoing peal over the valley from the forest +in the opposite direction. + +“There! the story is told,” exclaimed Sabrey, exultingly. “Three +hoots of the owl is the secret watchword of the Rangers. The admirable +imitation we have just heard was doubtless given by him who communicated +to me this fact, and gave me a specimen of his faculty of making the +sound as we were coming through the woods in our recent flight. It here +shows, unless I greatly err, that his regiment is passing round to the +rear of the enemy; while the gun we have just heard must proceed, +I think, from some other force going round through the woods on the +opposite side,--these sounds being a concerted interchange of signals +to apprise each other and General Stark of the progress they have +made towards the appointed station. In fifteen minutes, this camp may +discover itself surrounded and assailed on all sides by men who know +what they are fighting for. Then Vine then comes the struggle we have +been praying to witness. O, may Heaven prosper the defenders of their +homes, and enable them to triumph over their haughty foes.” + +The conjectures of Miss Haviland respecting the plan of attack which the +Americans had adopted were well founded. Colonel Herrick, with his brave +and spirited regiment of Rangers, had been despatched through the woods +to the rear of the enemy, where he was to be joined by nearly an equal +force of militia, under the command of Colonel Nichols, coming through +the forest, also, in an opposite direction; while the remaining and +larger portion of the army was to advance in front, in time to commence +with the former the general attack. And, in a short time, the long, deep +roll of drums, swelling louder and louder on the breeze, announced that +Stark, with the main body, was in motion, and rapidly approaching along +the road from the east. + +Quickly every part of the British camp was in lively commotion. And the +hasty mounting of field-officers, the flying of the scattered troops to +their respective standards, the furious beating of the drums to arms, +and the deep, stern words of command, mingling with the rattling of +steel, and other sounds of hostile preparation, all plainly told that +they were at length aroused to the conviction that their opponents in +front were coming down in full force upon their encampment; and that +something more might now be required to insure their safety, than +the empty vaunting, and the supposed intimidating display, of British +uniforms and brass cannon, which had thus far marked the expedition, +and constituted its only achievements. And scarcely had the different +divisions of their motley army become arrayed and fixed in their line of +battle, which consisted of the regulars within their strong field-works +on the elevated plain on the left, and the Canadians and tories behind +their more imperfect defences stretching from the former across the +meadow on the right--scarcely had this been done, before their line +of pickets, which had been placed among the trees at the eastern +termination of the field, suddenly broke from their station, and came +disorderly rushing back to the encampment. Presently a dark body of men +in motion began to be perceptible through the openings of the wood +along the line of the winding road; and, in a moment more, Stark's noble +little brigade of sturdy and resolute peasant warriors came pouring into +the field. + +Wheeling in beautiful order into battle array, they came to a halt in +the open plain near the border of the woods. Stark, then advancing, +rode slowly along the front of the line, and, at length pausing, ran his +practised eye collectedly over the firmly-standing ranks and dauntless +faces before him; when, raising his massive form to its full length, he +raised his glittering sword, and pointed to the hostile lines. + +“Yonder, my men,” he said, in a voice whose clear, deep, and ringing +tones, in the stillness which at the moment prevailed, distinctly +reached the attent organs of our fair listeners--“yonder, my brave +men, stand the red-coats, your own and your country's foe--their army +a mongrel crew of Hessian hirelings, fighting for eight-pence a day, +or thereabouts; of tories, who come to ravage and enslave the land that +gave them birth; and lastly, of Indians, dreaming of scalps and plunder! +Are you not better men? Have you not nobler objects? Call you not +yourselves freemen, with hearts to defend your homes and country? If so, +then let your deeds this day prove it to the world! As for myself, my +resolution is taken,--the field and foe is ours by set of sun, or Molly +Stark this night will sleep a widow.” + +Three hearty cheers, bursting spontaneously from the listening ranks +before him, told the gratified leader that he had not overrated the +spirit and enthusiasm of the men to whom his brief but effective appeal +had been addressed. + +The British forces, in the mean time, awaited the approach of their +opponents in silence. Baum even forebore to open upon them with his +cannon, in the delusive hope that they would prove to be one of the +large bodies of friendly inhabitants, who, he had been assured, would +rise up in arms to join his standard as he advanced into the interior. +His suspense, however, was soon ended. A scattering volley of musketry, +followed by a distant shout, rose from the woods in rear of the station +occupied by the Indians. And suddenly the whole body of the savages, +contrary to their usual custom, quitted the woods, and came rushing into +the camp of their allies with manifestations of the greatest surprise +and dismay. The next moment, Herrick, at the head of his long files of +Rangers, emerged into the open field, rapidly formed them into column, +and advanced towards the rear of the enemy's intrenchments; while, at +the same time, Nichols and his corps were seen approaching from the +forest in an opposite direction, to form the contemplated junction, and +move on with the former to the combined assault. The moment the Indians +obtained a view of both these forces, and perceived they were converging +together so as to form a continuous line of battle along the rear, they +began to manifest the greatest uneasiness and alarm. And heir innate +dread of being surrounded soon becoming too strong for the restraints +of discipline, they broke from their position, and, like a flock of wild +horses, commenced a tumultuous flight across the field towards the woods +in open space between the two approaching forces of their opponents, +who, quickly changing fronts, poured in upon them a rapid succession +of destructive volleys. A fierce shout now burst from the ranks of the +assailants; and, when the smoke rose, a line of dark, lifeless forms +marked the green field nearly to the woods; others were seen crawling, +like wounded reptiles, to the nearest coverts; while all the rest of the +savage foe had disappeared forever from the field. Herrick and Nichols +having now resumed their march, and Stark put his corps in motion, the +three divisions, with two small flanking detachments, despatched along +the woods to the right and left of the main body, all moved steadily on +to the different points of attack. They were not permitted, however, +to advance far unmolested; for suddenly every part of the royal lines +became wrapped in clouds of mingling smoke and flame; while the heavens +and earth seemed rent by the deafening crash of exploding muskets, and +the jarring concussions of cannon, which instantly followed. Unmoved, +however, by the tremendous outbreak, the American forces all moved +steadily and rapidly forward till the forms of their opponents could be +discerned beneath the lifting smoke, when they poured in a storm of fire +and lead which told with dreadful effect on the shrinking lines before +them. The general fire thus fatally delivered was speedily returned; and +the battle now commencing in fearful earnest in every part of the field, +both armies became so deeply concealed in the whirling clouds of smoke, +which enveloped them, that the opposing forces could be distinguished +only in the fierce gleams of musketry and the broader blaze of cannon +that burst incessantly along the lines, filling, with the mingled uproar +of a thousand thunders, the rocking valley and reverberating mountains +around. + +In the mean while, our heroine and her companion, who, at the first +shock of this terrible onset, had shrunk back in consternation from view +of the scene, sat listening on their humble couch to the fearful din +that assailed their recoiling senses in every direction around them +from without, with feelings which can be far more easily imagined than +described. For more than an hour, while the battle continued to rage +with increasing violence, and showers of bullets were heard every moment +striking and burying themselves in the logs composing the walls of their +seemingly devoted shelter, the amazed and trembling girls remained in +the same position, dreading to look out upon the field, lest their eyes +should be greeted with the sight of the death and carnage which they +full well knew must there be going on to a fearful extent among both +friends and foes. But Sabrey's increasing anxiety for the result, at +length, mastering all other considerations, she arose, and, against the +remonstrances of her companion, advanced towards the window. + +“How awful!” she exclaimed, as she glanced out on the terrific conflict. + +“Too awful to witness, unless there were some use in so doing,” + responded Vine. “If we were permitted to mingle in the fight with our +friends, I, for one, would be willing to brave all the horrors of the +battle for the good I might do; but, as this cannot be, why should we +expose ourselves to danger so uselessly? Now, I do entreat you, Sabrey, +to venture no farther,” she continued, as the former, reaching the +window, leaned forward for a full view of the scene. “Step back from +that dangerous spot; don't you hear the bullets rattling, like hail, +round the building?” + +“Yes, but there is no danger where I stand, I presume, but if there +were, I could no longer forbear watching the issue of a contest in which +my own fate, as well as that of friends, is so deeply involved,” replied +Sabrey, with desperate calmness, as she continued to rivet her gaze on +the field below. + +“If you will look, then,” said the other, “tell me what you see going +on.” + +“I will,” answered the former, “as far as I can distinguish any +movements. But, at present, both sides are so completely concealed in +the smoke that enshrouds them, that I can only discern dark forms in +active motion along the lines, as the blaze of their fire-arms reveals +portions of their ranks. The struggle, however, is evidently a dreadful +one! In that continued, deafening crash which you hear, flames and +smoke seem to be vomited forth from the earth, as if from the mouth of a +volcano.” + +“There seems to be less firing now,” observed Vine, after listening in +silence a few minutes. “Can you perceive any new movements afoot? Can't +you distinguish any of the words of command, or any thing that is said +among that uproar of voices, which, between the booming of the cannon, +once in a while, plainly reaches my ears?” + +“Ay,” returned the other, intently bending her ear towards the scene of +action--“ay, I think I can, now. Hark! I hear one voice in particular, +rising loud over all others; but it is the voice of one in prayer, +invoking the God of battles to strike with the free and aid in bringing +down quick destruction on their foes. How mightily he cries to Heaven +for succor and success!” + +“Where is he? among the rest in the fight?” + +“No, not directly in the battle, I should think, but a little aloof, in +the rear of this end of the American lines. There! I can now distinguish +his form coming obliquely out of the smoke in this direction.” + +“Who is he?” + +“I know not; but he seems a venerable old man, and his long, white locks +are streaming in the wind, as, with a grasped musket in his hands, and +the cry of _The sword of the Lord and Gideon_ on his lips, he rushes +towards the foe.” + +“What! to encounter them alone?” + +“Yes, alone, and in advance of all others. Now he takes his stand in +front of a group of tories partially concealed by the bushes on the bank +of the stream. There! he raises his gun, and crying, God have mercy on +your soul, fires, and his victim pitches headlong to the ground. They +return his fire, but harm him not; and he again raises his gun, and, +with the same prayer for mercy on the soul of the foeman he has singled +out, fires, and another tory falls heavily to the earth. Mercy! they are +now rushing forward to slay the old man! But now they are met by a party +of the Americans, running forward with shouts, _For the rescue of Father +Herriot_! Both sides fire; and again all are enveloped in the cloud of +smoke that rolls over them.” + +“Father Herriot--Father Herriot,” said Vine, musingly. “I have heard a +great deal said about one they call Father Herriot, lately; but can he +be here fighting?” + +“Why, who and what is he, that he should not be here?” asked the other. + +“A sort of preacher, I believe,” answered Vine, “but rich enough to have +bought several large tory estates; though where he came from, or how he +got so much hard money as he seems to have, nobody can tell.” + +A fresh and general outbreak between the opposing lines here interrupted +the conversation, and turned Sabrey's attention again to the field. And +for nearly another fearful hour did she keep her stand at the window, +heedless of the danger from the bullets which were whistling round her +head, and unable, in the agonizing anxiety she felt for the result, to +withdraw her eyes from that dread field, where the continued thunders +of the artillery and musketry, shaking the solid earth along the line of +conflict proclaimed the battle to be still raging with unabated fury. + +At length, a brisk breeze sprang up in the north-west, and the battle +cloud rolled heavily away before it from the field, disclosing, not only +the relative positions of the opposing forces, but the awful picture of +carnage that every where strewed the blackened earth. Mutually anxious +to avail themselves of this opportunity to ascertain each other's +situation, both parties at once suspended operations, for the purpose +of obtaining observations which should enable them to resume the battle +with more deadly effect. The deafening roar of musketry which, for +nearly two hours, had shaken the embattled plain like one continued +peal of thunder, was now heard rolling away, in dying echoes, among the +far-off hills, leaving only the monotonous din of the martial music, +kept up to drown the cries of the wounded, and the heavy booming of +Baum's artillery, that still maintained its regular fire on the hill, +though only to send--as it now became evident it had done from the +first--its iron missiles high and harmlessly over the heads of the +Americans, into the tops of the crashing forest beyond. + +“Is the battle over?” asked Vine, as the noise of fire-arms thus +subsided. + +“No--that is, I conclude not,” hesitatingly answered the other, still +more closely rivetting her anxious gaze on the unfolding scene +before her. “No, I think not--I trust not; for the British yet remain +unconquered.” + +“Can you see them now?” + +“Yes; the wind is driving away the smoke, and both armies are now fast +becoming visible.” + +“Do our men maintain their ground?” + +“Ay, and more. They have advanced almost to the hostile intrenchments; +and there they stand face to face with their foes; and with ranks less +thinned, thank Heaven, than I should think possible after withstanding +so long the dreadful fire to which they have been exposed; though I can +distinguish the forms of many poor fellows stretched upon the earth.” + +“And have not the ranks of the enemy suffered also?” + +“Severely, it is evident. The ground along their lines as far as I can +see, and especially that part opposite to the station occupied by the +Rangers, whom I can distinguish by their green uniform, is thickly +strown with the bodies of the slain. And if our men could see the +destruction they have caused behind those intrenchments to encourage +them! But stay! what means that commotion? Can it be? Heaven forbid! +But it is so. They fly!” + +“Who fly?” eagerly demanded Vine. + +“The Americans--Stark's division--and all is lost, when one more effort +might have given them the victory! If my feeble voice could but reach +them, I would rush out and raise it, though I perished in the attempt!” + rapidly exclaimed the heroic girl, agonized at the thought that her +countrymen were actually retreating from a field she believed so nearly +won. “Ay, and who knows but I might be heard, or, at least, understood?” + she added, glancing hurriedly through the window to the grounds round +the house, to see what might be there to prevent her from trying to put +her half-formed resolution into execution. + +In looking out, with this object, her eye fell on the rude portico +running along that side of the house, the narrow, flat roof of which +rose to within a few feet of her window. And, suddenly changing her +purpose, she hastily tore out the fastenings of the window, removed the +sashes, and leaped down upon the roof of the portico, and stood in open +view of the greater partion of both armies. But still regardless of her +exposure, she advanced to the verge of the roof, and, turning towards +the Americans, waved high her kerchief, and essayed to lift her voice +over the tumult in words which, she hoped, would catch their attention +and arrest their supposed flight. But the Americans, who had only fallen +back a short distance to avoid the now unobstructed aim of the enemy, +and prepare for a fresh onset, had already come to a stand, but were at +first too busily engaged in loading their guns, and watching the motions +of their foes, to observe her. The tories, however, whose forces were +posted in the more immediate vicinity, instantly noted her appearance, +and pointed her out to their officers, who, at once, appeared to read +her intentions. And the next moment Colonel Peters, now for the first +time presenting himself to her sight since her recapture, rode up; and, +with a countenance flushed with suppressed passion, commanded her to +retire within the house. A look of ineffable scorn was the only reply +the maiden vouchsafed to give him, while she redoubled her exertions to +attract the attention of his opponents. Stung by this public exhibition +of her disdain, and defiance of his commands, the tory chief hastily +raised a pistol towards her, and, in a fierce and menacing tone, +demanded an immediate compliance with his orders. + +“God have mercy on your soul!” was at that instant heard issuing from +a covert near the American lines, in the well-known voice of Father +Herriot. With the exclamation came the report of a musket, and at the +same time a bullet struck and shattered in his hand the raised pistol +of the dastardly Peters, who, casting away the remnant of the weapon +to which he had been indebted only for his life, hastily wheeled and +galloped back to his post barely escaping the shower of balls that, as +he had rightly anticipated, was sent after him from the nearest of his +foes. + +But although the maiden had failed at the onset to attract the attention +of the Americans by her attempt, as she had designed, yet the incident, +to which the bold step she had taken gave rise, more effectually +subserved her purpose. The firing had at once drawn all eyes to the +spot. Presently the low hum of questioning voices was heard running +through the American lines, while many an uplifted hand was seen +pointing to her conspicuous form, as, still undeterred from her purpose, +she stood waving her signal kerchief towards them. And the next moment +the loud and cheering cry, _Forward, to the rescue of the Tory's +Daughter!_ burst from the Rangers, and was speedily caught up and echoed +in lively acclamations, from detachment to detachment, through the whole +encircling lines of the assailing army, which, with one impulse, now +threw itself forward towards the foe. And, unmoved by the tremendous but +hasty and misdirected fire that every where met them on the way, +they swept onward like an avalanche to the very foot of the tory +intrenchments; when, pausing only to pour in their devouring volleys, +they mounted the works, and raising their clubbed muskets, dashed down, +with shouts of defiance, upon the recoiling ranks of the amazed and +panic-stricken foe, who, unable to withstand the force and fury of the +onset, instantly gave way and threw down their arms, or scattered and +fled in every direction. + +Astonished and alarmed at beholding all his outworks so suddenly and +unexpectedly stormed and carried, Baum seemed immediately to have +resolved on a desperate effort to retrieve the fortunes of the day. +And in a few minutes he was seen at the head of a long column of his +grenadiers, issuing from his intrenchments on the hill, and bearing down +with hasty step on the assailing forces below. But the next moment, +that imposing column, with its luckless leader, disappeared before the +enfilading fire of the death-dealing Rangers, like frost-work before the +breath of a furnace; while, nearly at the same time, an upleaping cloud +of smoke and flame, followed by the shock of an exploding ammunition +wagon within the principal works, completed the only signal of +encouragement that was wanted by the already flushed assailants to +decide them on an immediate attempt for the completion of their triumph. +And before the dull roar of the explosion was lost among the echoing +hills, the deep-toned voice of the intrepid Stark, ever eagle-eyed +to see, and prompt to seize, an advantage, was heard rising over the +tumult, in ordering the final assault, which, having leaped from his +horse, and sprung forward to the head of a forming column, he was the +next moment seen, with the air of a roused lion, leading on in person. +In one minute more, all the various forces, not required to guard the +prisoners already taken, were in motion, and, with flashing eyes, and +rapid, determined tread, charging up the ascending grounds towards the +different sides of the doomed redoubt; in another, they were furiously +rushing over the embankments, and pouring their bristling columns in +resistless streams down upon the weakened and dismayed forces of +the Germans and British in the enclosure. Then succeeded the +rapid, scattering reports of pistols and musketry, the sounds of +fiercely-clashing steel, and the wild cries of those struggling hand +to hand in deadly contest, and the wilder shrieks of the wounded, +all rising in mingled uproar from the spot. Then all was hushed in a +momentary stillness; and then rose the long, loud shout of a thousand +uniting voices, pealing forth to the heavens the exulting acclamations +of victory! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + “The strife, that for a while did fail, + Now trebly thundering, swelled the gale.”--_Scott_. + + +Like the rapidly-flitting scenes of some dioramic exhibition passed the +crowding events of the next half hour before the half-bewildered senses +of our heroine. The sudden appearance of Woodburn in the now deserted +yard of her prison-house, whither, the moment the battle was won, he +had hastened, with the usual anxiety of the lover made intense by the +distracting fear that she might have been carried off by the escaping +tories,--his eager inquiries for her presence and safety,--her own +involuntary but silent response to his calls, by rushing out to meet +him, and placing herself under his coveted protection,--the hurried +congratulations that passed between them,--the complimentary greetings +of the gallant hero of the day, and other distinguished persons soon +gathering around her and her fair companion, as they stood shrinking +from the admiration and applause which the conduct of one, and the +position of both, had called forth from the lips of all,--their welcome +escape from the embarrassing scene, in a carriage, under the guidance +of Bart, to whom they were given in charge by Woodburn, as he hastily +departed, at the head of a chosen band of followers, in pursuit of +Peters, and a body of tories that were discovered to have escaped,--the +passage of the vehicle through the contested field, ploughed up by +artillery, blackened by the fire and smoke of battle, and strewed with +the dying and the dead, among whom the busy groups of the dismissed +soldiery were every where scattered in pursuit of their different +objects--here to collect plunder from their slain enemies, and there +to minister to the wounded, or search among the fallen for missing +comrades,--all these followed so rapidly upon a victory, the sudden +announcement of which had nearly overpowered her with joyful surprise, +that it was not till she and her companion had passed beyond the +confines of the battle-field, and entered upon the comparatively +solitary road leading towards the village of Bennington, to which +they were now directing their course, that she could realize her happy +deliverance. Then, for the first time during that terrible day, the +woman in her prevailed, and she melted into tears. But they were +the tears of joy and gratitude, that she and her native land, whose +immediate fate had so singularly become interwoven with her own, had +alike been permitted to triumph. We must, however, leave her and her +friend to indulge their overflowing feelings, and listen to the recitals +of the no less happy Bart, who had been in the hottest of the fight, +while they pursue their unmolested way to their present destination--we +must now leave them, and return once more to the field of battle, where +the dismissed troops were still busily engaged in gathering up the +trophies of war, preparing refreshments, and exulting over the glorious +result of the conflict, little dreaming of any further appearance of the +enemy after so signal a defeat. + +But hark! What means that heavy firing which suddenly comes echoing over +the forest from the west? Does it portend only some skirmish on the +line of the retreat, where a portion of the foe have come to a stand +to shield the rest, or favor their escape? No; it is the booming of the +deep-mouthed cannon, and not those of the defeated forces; for they have +left all theirs behind them. While every eye and ear, through the hushed +field, were turned in anxious perplexity towards the ominous sounds, a +horseman came dashing at full speed along the wood-begirt road from +that direction, loudly proclaiming, as he drew near, the startling +intelligence, that the broken and flying bands of the enemy had been +met and rallied by a reenforcement of five hundred fresh veteran troops, +well supplied with artillery; and the whole, making a more formidable +army than the first, and evidently resolved to retrieve the lost +credit of the day, and revenge themselves on the victors, were rapidly +approaching, and within two miles of the place! + +The next moment the loud and quickly repeated cry of “To arms! to arms!” + rang far and wide over the field. Then followed the rapid roll of the +alarm drums, the rattling of hastily-grasped muskets, the trampling of +hurrying feet, and the confused clamor of voices; while the scattered +and commingling bands of the surprised troops were seen throwing down +their plunder, or leaving the half-partaken meal, and flying, in all +directions, to their respective rallying points, to be ready to meet the +menaced onset, and die, or keep the field they had so gloriously won. +But notwithstanding the spirit and alacrity with which the troops +responded to the call, so rapid was the advance of the enemy, that, +before Stark, with all his energy, could collect much more than half his +former forces, refit them with ammunition, and bring them into line, the +British, led on by the cool and experienced Breyman, and driving before +them the detachment of Americans sent in pursuit of the fugitives, came +pouring onto the field; and, immediately throwing themselves into battle +array, opened a tremendous fire, with cannon and small arms, upon the +half-formed lines of their opponents, gathering to dispute their passage +in front. The Americans returned the fire, which, though partial and +irregular, was yet so well directed as to put a temporary check upon the +advance of the foe. But the latter, seeing the unprepared condition of +the former, and becoming confident of an easy victory, were soon again +upon the advance; while Stark, destroying the breastworks that had +sheltered the foe in the first action, as far as the time would permit, +and dragging the captured cannon along with him, slowly fell back, +continuing to make his dispositions, and pour, from time to time, as he +went, his well-aimed volleys upon the thinning ranks of his pursuers. +At length, however, he took his stand, resolved, in despite of all his +disadvantages, to make a final and desperate effort to regain the lost +mastery of the field. But closer and closer pressed the exulting and +determined foe; and, although well and bravely did his weakened and +exhausted men repel the fierce charges of their assailants, yet it soon +became evident that they could not long withstand the repeated assaults +of those heavy and disciplined columns upon their unequal lines. Both +the men and their officers began to exchange doubtful and despairing +glances; and even their bold and unyielding chief was seen to look +uneasily around him. But at that critical juncture, when the fate of the +free seemed trembling doubtfully in the balance, an inspiring shout rose +from the copse-wood bordering the road in the rear. And the next moment, +the far-famed regiment of Green Mountain Boys, whose earlier arrival +had been prevented by the storm of the preceding day, emerged into view; +and, led on by the chivalrous Warner on his fiery charger, that would +know no other rider,[Footnote: It may be interesting, to the antiquarian +at least, to learn that the splendid war-horse, which Warner was known +to have rode in all his battles, could neither be mounted nor managed by +any except the colonel and his son, then a lad of sixteen or seventeen, +who attended his father in the service mainly on that account. This fact +I have from the lips of Colonel W.'s second son, now living in Lower +Canada.] advanced with rapid and resolute tread directly to the scene of +action. + +“Warm work, warm work here, Colonel Warner,” said Stark, as the other +dashed up to his side for his orders. + +“Ay, general; but we will make it still warmer for the Red coats, at +least, if you will give us a chance at them in front of your line,” + promptly responded the gallant officer. + +“That chance you shall have, with the thanks of my exhausted troops, to +whom, and myself, your presence, at this time, my brave friend, could +scarcely be more welcome,” said Stark, with a frankness and cordiality +of manner which attested the pleasure he felt at the other's timely +arrival. + +“Thank you--thank you, general,” replied Warner, galloping back to his +regiment, and commanding their attention. + +“Soldiers,” he exclaimed, in his clear, trumpet tones throwing back +his tall, superb form, and displaying his noble and beautifully-arched +brow,--“my brave soldiers, shall this be _our_ battle, and _our_ +victory?” + +A deafening cheer was the affirmative response. + +“In God's name, on, then!” he resumed, in a voice of thunder--“on, +and avenge yourselves for country's wrongs, and for your flogging at +Hubbardton.” + +In eager obedience to the welcome command of their idolized leader, who +now led the way, with flashing eyes and waving sword, they all swept on +through the opening ranks of their loudly-cheering companions in arms, +rapidly deployed into line, and, the next instant, wrapped themselves +in the flame and smoke of their own fire, which burst, with an almost +single report, into the very faces of the astonished foe, whose ranks +went down by scores before the leaden blast of that terrible volley. +And, by the time they had recovered from the shock of the unexpected +assault, the relieved and encouraged forces of Stark, now strengthened +by the arrival of additional numbers of the scattered militia, and +formed into new and more effective combinations, returned with, +fresh ardor to the contest. And, as the different detachments, moving +resolutely on, with flying colors and rattling drums, to the various +points of attack assigned them in front and around the hostile squares, +reached their allotted stations, they successively poured in their +withering volleys till the rebounding plain trembled and shook beneath +the tumult and thunders of a conflict, to which, in obstinacy and +sanguinary fierceness, few engagements on record afford a parallel. On +one side was discipline, with revenge, the hope of reward, and the fear +of the disgrace attending defeat, to incite them, to action On the other +side, the stake was home and liberty; and these as the trained officers +of Europe soon found to their astonishment often more than compensated +for the lack of discipline and military experience; for, in contending +for a stake of such individual moment, every man in the ranks of +freedom, though frequently wholly untrained, and in battle for the first +time in his life, at once became a warrior, fighting as if the whole +responsibility of the issue of the battle rested on his own shoulders. +And, in every part of the field, deeds were performed by nameless +peasants rivalling the most daring exploits of heroes. Here a company +of raw militia might be seen rushing upon a detached column of British +veterans, firing in their faces, and, for want of bayonets, knocking +them down with clubbed muskets. There old men and boys, with others +who, like them, had come unarmed and as spectators of the battle, would +spring forward after some retreating band, seize the muskets of the +slain, and engage, muzzle to muzzle, with the hated foe. The intrepid +Stark, harboring no thought but of victory, and as regardless of +exposure as the unconscious charger that bore him through the leaden +storm, was every where to be seen; now heading an onset--now dashing off +to rouse or rally a faltering column, and now leaping from his horse +to show his inexperienced men how to load and fire the captured cannon; +while Warner and Herrick, fit men to second the efforts of such a chief, +were constantly storming, like raging lions, in the smoke and fire +of the hottest of the fight; here breasting, with their brave and +unflinching regiments, the desperate assault, and there, in turn, +leading on the resistless charge. + +Thus, with the tide of war alternately surging to and fro, like the wild +waves of the ocean lashed by contending winds, continued to rage this +fierce and sanguinary conflict, till the sun went down in the semblant +blood with which the smoke of battle had enshrouded him. + +But now, soon an unusual commotion, attended with new and rapid +movements, was observable among the contending forces of the field. +Presently an exulting shout rose from the American lines; and the enemy +were seen at all points to be giving way. Their retreat, however, though +rapid, was yet, for a while, conducted with order; and they repeatedly +turned and made desperate efforts to resist the fiery tide that, with +gathering impetus, was rolling after them. But vain and fruitless +were all their attempts; for, while their whole rear was wasting with +frightful rapidity, under the terrible volleys which were poured upon +it, in one incessant blaze, by the hotly pursuing squadrons of Stark and +Warner, a strong detachment of the heroic Rangers, under the daring lead +of the now half-maddened Woodburn rushed forward and fell upon their +flank with a fury that threw their pierced and staggering columns into +such disorder and confusion as to destroy their last indulged hope of +escaping in a body from their infuriated pursuers. And, the next moment, +their whole force broke, and, abandoning their cannon and baggage, fled +in a tumultuous rout from the field, some escaping along the road, some +yielding themselves prisoners on the way, and others, to avoid their +outstripping pursuers, seeking refuge in the surrounding forest. But +neither road, nor field, nor forest, were this time permitted to afford +many of them the means of escape, or shield them from the harassing +pursuit of the exasperated Americans, who, in furiously-charging +columns, overthrew, shot down, or captured, all their broken and flying +bands within reach, in the road and open grounds, or in small parties, +or singly, closely followed and boldly encountered them in the woods, +whose dark recesses soon resounded with the scattering fire, the +clashing steel, and the hurrying shout, of the pursued and pursuing +combatants. + +But of the scores of promiscuous conflicts and personal encounters which +marked the _finale_ of this memorable triumph and made so conspicuous +the prowess of the heroic men by whom it was achieved, it were in vain +for us, within our limits, to attempt a description. There was one of +these encounters, however, which the approaching development of our +story requires to be more particularly noted. And, for this purpose, we +will now change the scene to a wild glen, far within the depths of the +forest, where, hedged in by an impassable morass in front, and steep +ledges of rocks on either side, a gang of a half dozen of the fugitive +tories, headed by an officer in British uniform, had turned round +with the desperate ferocity of wild beasts, to give battle to the +indefatigable pursuers, who had followed them from the battle-field +with a vigilance and speed from which there was no escape, and with such +demonstrations of marksmanship as had already told fatally on nearly +half their numbers on the way. But those pursuers, as wary as they were +brave and untiring, with the double object of concealing the inequality +of their numbers, which were but four, and securing the advantages that +a choice of positions in all sylvan contests especially affords, had +instantly fallen back to a line of hastily-selected coverts, stretching +across the gorge, and had now become wholly invisible to their advancing +foes, who soon paused in turn, and, shielding themselves behind the +bodies of trees stood eagerly peering out to catch sight of the +objects of their aim. Suddenly the sharp report of a rifle burst from +a bush-covered cleft in the rocks nearly abreast of one of the exposed +flanks of the tories; and the tallest of their number, with a wild +start, and half-uttered oath, floundered into the bushes and fell. The +next moment, our old acquaintance, Bart Burt, who, having conveyed the +ladies to their destination, had sped back to the battle-field in time +to participate in the last part of the final action, was seen stealthily +creeping round the point of the ledge, from which the fatal shot had +issued, and approaching the leader of the concealed assailants, who, +as the reader may have already anticipated, was no other than Captain +Woodburn. + +“Bart,” said the latter, “you have executed my order as no other man +could. But whom have you slain? Not Peters?” + +“No--couldn't get him in range; but did as well, though--may be +better--fixed out the only one whose aim I was 'fraid of--the big, +fierce-looking whelp that shot father Herriot, in our last sally in the +field; the same that made that bullet-hole in your coat on the way +here; and the same, too, who would have finished me, likely, but for the +glancing of his bullet on a bush before me. But I have settled all the +grudges at a blow, now.” + +“You have done bravely; but did you discover who they are--any of them +besides the leader, Peters?” + +“Yes, two of 'em, who are, as Dunning and Piper surmised, Dave Redding +and Tiger Fitch, that beauty of a constable, who bothered us so in old +times, at Guilford. He's now some kind of an officer among 'em, guess; +and, dead or alive, I'm bound to have him; though, if you've any +particular plan, captain, I'll follow it, instead of going round to +'tother ledge for another pick of the flock.” + +“I have one; and that is, to draw their fire, or most of it, and then +rush upon them. You may creep on, then, to Dunning and Piper, and, with +them, contrive and execute some plan to effect that object, and I will +stand here ready to order, and lead the charge, at the favoring moment.” + +Bart now, with the noiseless tread of a cat, rapidly glided away into +the bushes and disappeared on his errand. In a few minutes, the cracking +of sticks, as if under the pressure of cautiously moving feet, was heard +in a thicket of bushes within full range of the guns of the tories, +who, now safely ensconced behind the new coverts, to which, in alarm at +Bart's fatal shot, they had betaken themselves, instantly turned their +attention in that direction, and, levelling their pieces, keenly watched +for the expected exposure of the persons of some of their opponents. +Soon the dim outlines of two or three apparently human forms could +be traced in the thicket, rising up one after another, with the quick +hesitating motions of men intent on a stealthy _reconnaissance_ of the +objects before them. And, the next moment, every tory, but one, sent the +contents of his gun at these supposed forms of the lurking besiegers. +But instead of beholding, as they had anticipated, the riddled bodies +of the dreaded foe dropping to the earth, they soon discovered, to +their astonishment and dismay, that the empty coats and caps, which +the outwitting Rangers had raised on their ramrods over their prostrate +persons, were the only sufferers. + +“Der--der--der--ditter ready!” shouted Dunning, in a voice which at last +went off like the terminating clap of a rattling thunder peal, as he and +his two associates leaped, coatless, from the ground, to be prepared for +the instant execution of the expected order. + +“On, then, and suffer not a wretch of them to escape you alive!” + exclaimed their impatient leader in reply, dashing forward himself, and +leading in the headlong onset which they all now made on the foe. + +Taken by complete surprise by this rapid and unexpected movement of the +assailants, now bursting upon them with cocked and levelled rifles, the +dismayed tories, at first, made no attempts at escape or resistance; +while part of then threw down their half-loaded guns, and stepped out +from their coverts. + +“Surrender at discretion, or take the consequence!” sternly cried +Woodburn, pausing within twenty yards of the tory leader. + +“We are in your power, sir, I suppose,” replied Peters evasively, and +in a tone of affected submission, as, avoiding the burning gaze of the +other, he threw a significant glance to the tory who had reserved his +charge at the fruitless fire just made by the rest of his party. + +In an instant, the gun of the latter, who still stood behind a tree +shielding him, as he supposed, from the other Rangers, was levelled at +Woodburn, whose attention was too intently fixed on his chief foe to +notice the movement. But before the finger of the assassin was permitted +to tighten on the trigger, a bullet from the unerring rifle of the +watchful Dunning had pierced his brain, and his gun, as he fell over +backwards, exploded harmlessly into the air. Three of the tories, +however, taking advantage of the momentary confusion occasioned by the +noise and smoke of the guns, made a desperate spring for the surrounding +thickets and succeeded in breaking through the line of their assailants, +three of whom instantly gave chase, leaving Woodburn to cope alone with +the rival foe, whom he had vainly sought through the day to confront +in battle. Peters threw a quick, furtive glance around him; and, for +an instant, seemed hesitating whether he should attempt to follow the +example of the rest of his band; but another glance at the watchful +and menacing eye of his opponent gleaming at him over the barrel of the +deadly rifle, taught the folly of any such attempt, and, throwing down +his weapons, he said,-- + +“I yield myself a prisoner of war, sir.” + +“A prisoner of war!” exclaimed Woodburn, repeating the words of the +other, in a tone of bitter scorn. “After signifying your submission, and +then instigating an attempt to shoot me, you hope to be received as a +prisoner of war, do you? Villain!” he added, advancing and presenting +the muzzle of his piece within a yard of the other's breast--“villain, +your last claim to mercy is forfeited!” + +“You would not slay an unarmed man, and a prisoner, would you?” said +Peters, recoiling, and casting an uneasy glance at his opponent. + +“Yes,” replied the former, with increasing sternness, “if, like you, in +defiance of all the rules of war as well as honor, he would do the same +to me the first moment he had it in his power. No submission shields the +life of an outlaw from any one disposed to take it. But you shall have +one minute for uttering your last request, if you have any such to +make.” + +Being now thoroughly alarmed by the words, as well as the demeanor of +his incensed captor, the once haughty loyalist fell on his knees, and +humbly besought the other to spare his life. + +“Live, then, wretch!” said Woodburn, at length moved to both pity and +contempt by the entreaties and abject manner of the former--“live then, +if you choose it, to be dealt with as a traitor and a spy, by men who +will award you your deserts with more coolness, doubtless, than I should +have done, but with no less certainty.” + +“O, spare me from that,” pleaded the abased supplicant, with redoubled +earnestness. “Kill me on the spot, if you will; but spare me from that +fate. Allow me to be delivered up as a prisoner of war, and I will +consent to any thing--yield any thing you wish. I will ensure you, by +my influence at the British camp, any advantage in a future exchange of +prisoners you may ask; and----” + +“Peace! miserable craven!” interrupted Woodburn. “I could promise you +no exemption, if I would, from a punishment which our exasperated people +will justly say you have brought upon your own head.” + +“And I will also,” resumed Peters, encouraged by the somewhat softened +tone, and slightly hesitating manner of the other--“I will also +relinquish all claims, and forego all interference, in matters that may +have stood in the way of your private interests and wishes.” + +“I will make no pledges, nor grant, nor receive any terms, at your +dictation, sir,” said the former, haughtily. + +“I will trust to your magnanimity to a fallen foe,” then, rejoined +Peters, rightly appreciating, for once, the character of his conqueror. +“Here, take this,” he continued, drawing a carefully-preserved document +from his pocket, and extending it towards the other--“take it, and +deliver it to the one whom it most concerns. Tell her it was voluntarily +relinquished, and that I will trouble her no more.” + +As small as was the measure of credit which Woodburn's judgment told him +should be accorded to the motives prompting this unexpected course in +his old enemy, it nevertheless quickly banished every vindictive feeling +from his generous bosom; and after a momentary hesitation, he took the +proffered document, glanced at its contents, and silently deposited +it among his other papers. But soon growing jealous of himself lest he +should compromit the policy which his superiors might deem it just +and wise, under the sanction of the stern rules of war, to enforce, +he restrained himself from making any immediate reply. And, the next +moment, he was relieved from what apparent necessity there might be for +so doing, by the approach of the first of the returning Rangers. + +“Where is your prisoner, Piper?” he asked, turning to the latter, now +coming up. + +“He would not be taken alive, sir; and the order was to let none +escape in that condition,” replied the broad-chested subaltern with a +significant look. + +“In order, then, that you go not home empty-handed,” rejoined Woodburn, +“I will give you charge of _my_ prisoner, Colonel Peters here, whom you +will conduct to Bennington Meeting-House, whither the prisoners of the +day were ordered, and whence you will deliver him to the officer in +command as a prisoner of war--at least for the present; for any doubt +that may arise about his final disposal can be settled hereafter.” + +“Der well, captain,” exclaimed Dunning, whose tall, gaunt form, in the +rear of his prisoner, the infamous David Redding, whom it had been his +lot to capture, was now seen emerging from a thicket near by--“here is +one, about whom we shan't be bothered with der doubts, a great while, if +his captor can have his say.” + +“Aha!--but what _is_ your say about him, sergeant?” said Woodburn, +smiling. + +“Der well,” replied the other, “I say, if the ditter devil don't take +him from a traitor's gallows, then we may just as well have no devil.” + +“I shall not be the one to gainsay you in that, sergeant,” responded +Woodburn. “But hark! what is the uproar yonder?” he added, pointing out +into the woods in a direction from whence the sound of an occasional +stiff _whack!_ followed by groans, curses, and calls for protection, +were now heard to issue. + +On turning their eyes towards the spot, the company beheld Bart, with +his rifle in one hand, and a long beechen switch in the other, driving +in before him the whilom constable, Fitch, who was chafing, like +a chained bear, under the lash which his catechizing captor was +administering every few yards on the way. + +“Why are you so rough with him, Bart?” expostulated Woodburn, as they +came up. + +“Well, captain, I have a reasonable wherefore for it--may be,” answered +the former, gravely. + +“What is it?” asked the other. + +“Why,” replied the imperturbable Bart, “perhaps I don't remember, and +perhaps I do, how a chap of about my size sat sweating near two cool +hours, at the sight of an ugly-looking bunch of beech rods, that a +certain constable had ordered for his back. And as 'twas no fault of his +that the matter wasn't carried out at the time, and, as I always thought +there was a mistake made as to the one whose back ought to take it, I +felt rather bound to have the order executed now, and in a manner to set +all to rights between us.” + +“Well, well, boys,” said Woodburn, with a good-humored smile, “you must +all be indulged in your notions, I suppose, at such a glorious hour as +this. But you may now be moving on with your prisoners to the field, and +thence by the road to Bennington. Business calls me there by a nearer +route, and at a quicker pace. You shall find good cheer awaiting your +arrival.” + +So saying, he struck off rapidly from the rest, and soon disappeared in +the forest. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + “Sing it where forests wave,-- + From mountain to the sea, + And o'er each hero's grave,-- + Sing, sing, the land is free.” + + +It was evening; and all that met the eye was joy and animation in the +little village of Bennington, in which, not only the great body of the +opposing armies, either as conquerors or prisoners, but the best +portion of the patriotism, wisdom, and beauty of young Vermont, were now +congregated. There her statesmen and sages--many of whom had mingled +in the strife of the day--were gathered to rejoice over a result which +their own heads, and hearts, and hands, through the anxious days and +nights of the preceding month, had been unceasingly engaged in +securing for their country and their homes. There, too, the old men and +striplings, drawn from all the neighboring settlements by the ominous +sounds which had reached them from the distant battlefield, and there +the maids and matrons, whose solicitude for the near and dear ones, +supposed to be engaged in the conflict, would not permit them to stay +behind, were all found mingling with the victors, and participating in +their exultations. Bright lights were streaming from every window, or +dancing in every direction in the streets; while the smiling faces and +animated voices, everywhere seen and heard among the commingling throng, +seemed to tell only of a scene of universal joy and triumph. But as +joyous and lively as was the scene, in its predominating features, it +was yet not without its painful contrasts. The broken sob, or the +low wail of sorrow, was heard rising sadly on the night air, in +every interval that occurred in the more boisterous but irrepressible +manifestations which characterized the hour. And, even in the same +dwellings, these two contrasted phases in war's exciting but melancholy +picture were not unfrequently presented; for, while in one room might be +heard the notes of joy and exultation, in another might be distinguished +the stifled groan of some wounded soldier, or the lamentations of the +bereaved over the body of a slain relative. + +Among the most noted of the class last mentioned was the late residence +of Esquire Haviland, situated in the outskirts of the village, and +recently occupied as the quarters of the officers of the Rangers, on the +invitation of the patriotic but singular and mysterious man, who, at +its sale by the commissioners of confiscation, had purchased the +establishment, among several others of a valuable description thus sold +in this section of the country. To this residence, the scene of a former +portion of our story, we will now once more, and for the last time, +repair. + +While in one part of the building the officers just named, with other +distinguished persons, were engaged in discussing the incidents of the +day, in another and more retired apartment, on a pillowed couch, lay +the wounded Father Herriot, who, having been stricken down in the last +moments of the battle, as before intimated, had been borne hither to +complete the willing sacrifice he had made of his life to the cause of +his country. On a small table, within his reach, lay several documents, +which were fresh from the hand of that ready writer, the accomplished +secretary of the Council of Safety, who had just left the apartment. +And around his bedside stood those in whom all his private interests and +sympathies had been for some time secretly concentrated, though to two +of them personally unknown till a few hours before, when he had beer +brought in wounded and committed to their care. Those persons were Henry +Woodburn, Bart Burt, Sabrey Haviland, and Vine Howard, who, ignorant of +his particular wishes or intentions, and wondering why the presence of +all of them should be desired at the same time, had been summoned to his +bedside to hear his last communication and receive his blessing. + +“My prayer is answered,” said Herriot, after looking round +affectionately a while upon his expectant auditors, who, at his request, +after the room was cleared of other company, had advanced to his +bedside. “My last prayer has been to be permitted to see all of you, +in whose personal welfare I have been led to take a peculiar interest, +assembled before me while life and reason remained, so that I could +commune with you; and the prayer has been graciously answered. Still, +when, at the close of our first, and, as we all then supposed, final +triumph to-day, Miss Haviland, with her friend, at my request, was +conveyed here to her former home, of which I had become the purchaser, +I then thought to have met you all here this evening under circumstances +in which I could have actively shared with you in the rejoicings that +our victory so naturally calls forth, as well as in the happiness, +which, as far as regards you, I believed I could superadd by my own +acts. But He who holds the fate of individuals, as well as that of +armies, in his hands, has seen fit to deny me such participation; and +_He doeth all things well_.” + +“Your wound is not necessarily a mortal one, Father Herriot and I trust +you may yet live to enjoy the fruits of a victory you have contributed +so much by your bravery to win,” observed Woodburn, feelingly. + +“That may not be. I feel the destroyer busily at work here, undermining +the citadel,” responded the other, placing his hand on that part of his +chest where the bullet had entered. “But I regret not having made the +poor sacrifice of my life for so righteous a cause. And though I shall +not live to see the happiness I would be the means of imparting, yet +the wish and the duty of doing what I proposed to that end remains to be +fulfilled, and for this purpose I have requested your presence.” + +The speaker here paused, as if at a loss how he should open the subject +which seemed to rest on his mind. But at length he resumed:-- + +“Miss Haviland, what you have done and suffered for the cause, in which +you so nobly took your stand, is known to many. The part you have acted +in the events of this day is known to still more; but have not those +events had a bearing on your happiness beyond what would arise from the +bare liberation of your person?” + +“They have, sir,” replied the maiden, frankly, but with an air of +surprise at the unexpected question. + +“And have I been correctly informed, by the person who has just left us, +and who has long been my confidential friend and adviser, that, by the +relinquishment of a certain contract, you are now left free to bestow +your hand on one whose character and feelings may be more congenial with +your own?” + +“Why am I questioned in so unusual a manner, and by one so much a +stranger?” asked the former, in a half-remonstrating, half-beseeching +tone. + +“I knew,” rejoined the other, “that you, as well as the rest of those +present, might, at first, wonder why and how I should have kept myself +apprised, as I confess I have long done, of all that concerned the +individual interests, and even inclinations, as far as could be +conjectured, of each of you. And I know, also, that my ways are not like +those of other men. But cannot you trust to the motives of a dying man, +and let him proceed in his own manner?” + +“I can--I will, Father Herriot,” answered Sabrey, touched by the appeal. +“And I will not affect to misunderstand you. I have been freed from +fetters under which I have suffered--perhaps unnecessarily--both +persecution and embarrassment of feeling. And I am thankful,” she +continued, throwing a grateful glance to Woodburn--“greatly thankful for +that generous forbearance by which this was effected without bloodshed. +Yes, I am free, doubly free; but whoever takes me,” she added, slightly +coloring, “must now receive a penniless bride.” + +“Perhaps not,” said Herriot, musingly--“perhaps not. But I did not mean +to be understood as imposing any conditions to the act I was about to +perform, after ascertaining your entire deliverance from the power and +supposed claims of one whom I deem a bad man, as well as a foe to his +country. Here, deserving girl,” he continued, taking up one of the +documents from the table and extending it towards her, “here is a deed +of gift, from me to you, of all this, which was your father's estate. +Take it; it is freely given and worthily bestowed.” + +Surprise at an act as unexpected as it was munificent, kept all mute for +some seconds; when Sabrey, whose sensibilities were too deeply moved +to permit her to speak, threw upon the donor a look which her grateful +emotions made more eloquent than any language she could have summoned +for a reply; and then, turning, she silently extended her hand to +Woodburn, with the deed still laying across the open palm. + +“Which?--the hand or the paper?” asked the latter, in a low tone, and +with a slightly apprehensive air. + +“Either, or both,” replied the maiden, as a blush stole over her +conscious cheek. + +“The hand, then,” exclaimed the delighted lover, grasping the coveted +prize, and bearing it in triumph to his lips. + +“It is all right; but no words,” said Herriot, making a motion for +silence to Woodburn, who was about to address him--“no words. I have +much to say--let me proceed. Bart,” he continued, after a thoughtful +pause, as he turned to the young man who had stood mutely noting the +proceedings with a puzzled look--“Bart, do you remember the old Rose +Homestead, which was confiscated, and also purchased by me?” + +“Well, yes,” replied Bart, looking up with an inquiring, doubtful +expression--“yes, for as many as two several reasons, or more,” he +added, with one glance to Woodburn, and another, and more significant +one, to Vine, who was standing demurely at his side. + +“Would you like it for your own?” asked the former. + +“My own!” exclaimed Bart, casting an incredulous but searching look at +the other's countenance, in which, however, he read something that at +once changed his demeanor; and, in a softened and respectful tone, he +replied to the question, “Yes, Father Herriot, as soon as the smell of +toryism got fairly out of it, I would like it grandly, that's a fact.” + +“It is yours, then, as this deed will show,” said Herriot, handing to +the surprised and hesitating young man the instrument in question; “it +is yours; but have you no one to share it with you?” + +“Well, don't know exactly, but may be the chap that helped me fix up +my spy disguises, and gave me so many good hints for ferreting out the +tories, won't object much to that, seeing we have had considerably +the start of the captain and his lady here, in the way of finished +bargains,” replied Bart, turning, with an expression of droll gravity, +to the blooming girl at his side, who, thereupon, with an arch and +blushful smile, placed her hand in his, which had been extended to +receive it. + +“Who are you, Father Herriot?” exclaimed the now completely surprised +Woodburn; “who are you, to take such an interest in us, and bestow on us +gifts so valuable, with so little hope, as you can have, of any adequate +return?” + +“Listen, and you shall be answered,” replied Herriot; “for the time has +now arrived when you all should know the relation in which we stand to +each other; and I know not but I have already delayed the disclosure of +this fact too long. Perhaps I should have made it, as I had nearly done, +when, at the breaking out of the war, you and Bart visited my hermit +cabin in the vicinity of the Connecticut. But when I found you about +to embark in the cause of liberty, for which I stood ready to make any +sacrifice, I concluded to defer it, lest the discovery, which I had but +then just made myself, should turn you from a service that I thought +none were at liberty to withhold. I therefore, after communicating to +you enough to lead you, in case of my death, to all the knowledge +I wished you to obtain, encouraged you on your way. And it has all, +doubtless, been for the best; for who knows but your individual +exertions were needed to turn the scale which has been so long trembling +at equipoise? But the events of this day,” continued the patriot, +kindling at the thought--“the events of this day, which will be +memorable through all, time, have turned that scale in favor of American +freedom. I read it with a prophetic eye, which is made for me too clear +for error or misconception. Our avenging armies will henceforth go on +conquering and to conquer, till the last vestige of British usurpation +is swept from the land.” + +Here the speaker paused a while to recover from his exhaustion, and +indulge his mental vision, apparently, with the enrapturing glimpses +he was catching of the future destiny of his country. But soon arousing +himself from his reverie, he resumed,-- + +“Harry Woodburn, you had once a paternal uncle?” + +“I have been told so,” was the reply. + +“Who, by his folly and wickedness, disgraced himself and ruined your +father,” proceeded the former. + +“I had such an uncle,” responded Woodburn, with an expression of +gathering interest and surprise; “or, rather, I had an uncle, who, +though not a bad man, was, I have understood, at one time, a very +indiscreet one; and, by his indiscretion, lost his own property, and +deeply involved that of my father. But I do not feel to condemn him as +much as your words imply you expect I should.” + +“Or as he has always condemned himself,” rejoined Herriot, with an air +of deep self-abasement. “But I thank God for giving me the means, and +the will, for making ample restitution to such as remain of my injured +brother's family, or of my own. Harry, I am that uncle. I am the erring +Charles Woodburn.” + +“I am surprised, deeply surprised,” said the other; “for, attributing +the interest you have taken in me to other causes, I have, till within +a few minutes, been totally unprepared for such a revelation. And now +it seems as if it could not be. You could not have much resembled my +father, and you bear another name.” + +“I did not strikingly resemble my more staid brother, in person or +character,” responded the former, meekly; “and my reasons for assuming +another name are explained by the circumstances under which you first +saw me, the accused of a revolting crime, of which, as I then declared, +I was never guilty. And this the wicked men, who combined against me, +and hunted me out, even in this new settlement, full well knew. But they +knew, also, that I had somewhere at command the large amount of money +that had been left me by a wealthy and heirless gentleman, whom I had +previously rescued from death. Are you now satisfied that I am the man I +claim to be, and, as such, willing to acknowledge me?” + +“Fully, now--not only satisfied of the identity, but willing, nay, proud +to acknowledge the relationship,” said Woodburn, with warmth and rising +emotion. “Nor is this all, my uncle, my friend! The acts you have just +performed will ever--” + +“Enough, enough!” interrupted the former; “but let me go on. I have +still another and more humiliating duty to perform. Bart,” he continued, +turning, with an agitated countenance, to the young man, “as forsaken +and guideless as you have been, many a parent has had a less deserving +offspring. And had you not done more for yourself than he, who should +have been your protector and guide, has done for you, you had been less +than nothing among men. But listen; for the story of your origin, which, +thus far, has been as a sealed book to you, must now be disclosed Your +father contracted a private, but legal marriage, with a woman, who, as +the world falsely esteemed it, was below him in station; and, in +his pride, he refused to acknowledge her, and, having squandered the +property that should have been applied to her support, absconded from +the country. In after years, however, conscience drove him back, but +only to find her dying of destitution and a broken heart, and to learn +from her last words that the offspring of their connection, a male +infant, had been thrown unacknowledged on the charity of the +public. Aroused by a new sense of duty, he diligently sought for the +child--followed it from its first lodgment to its next asylum in the +city; from that to another in the country; and then, through various +shifts and wanderings, till the trace was lost far in the interior; when +he gave up the search, and again left the country. In the process of +time, he once more returned to New England, in altered circumstances, +and located himself in this settlement, where he soon met with a youth, +whose countenance so strikingly resembled that of his deceased wife, +as to put him instantly on inquiry and research, which, in a few weeks, +resulted in supplying the broken chain of evidence, and in identifying +the youth as his lost son. Bart, you were, and still are, that son. +I was, and still am, that father. Do I die, my much injured son, +acknowledged and forgiven?” + +The young man was too deeply affected by his surprise and emotion to +utter a word in reply; but tears, which all the wrongs and hardships he +had endured had failed to wring from him, now stole out on his sunburnt +cheeks, testifying, not only his gratification at the discovery, but +that the slumbering fountain of a naturally generous nature was now +effectually stirred within his bosom. And the speaker, seeming satisfied +with the answer which this evidence implied, soon proceeded:-- + +“Little more now remains to be imparted. You remember, Harry, that at +the visit at my cabin, to which I have already alluded, I showed you two +small casks, labelled '_Printers Type_,' concealed under a stone in the +cellar?” + +“I do; and the impression they caused of the absurdity of bringing that +kind of property into our new settlement,” replied the other. + +“They were so marked for greater security,” resumed the former; “for +they contained silver coin, and, at that time, nearly all the property I +possessed. Of these, one has been recently appropriated to the purchase +of confiscated estates, whenever a lack of money in others was likely to +prevent a sale at a fair value. The other remains in the same spot. And +this, and the rest of my property, except what I have just conveyed, and +except, also, bequests of small farms to Dunning and Piper, for their +friendship to you, and faithfulness to the cause, you will find, by my +will here on the table, to be equally divided between you, my son and +nephew. And now,” he added, in a faltering tone, and in accents of +touching tenderness, “now, my children, having said all I wished to +communicate, I will commend you to our common Parent above. Kneel and +receive my blessing.” + +Hand in hand, and side by side, with the fair sharers of their gushing +sympathies, the young men now reverently knelt around the dying patriot, +and bowed their faces beneath his outspread hands to receive the +proffered blessing, which was then pronounced with much fervor, but with +the last words he was destined ever to utter; for after waiting a while +after he had ceased to speak, the tearful group gently removed his hands +from their heads, and arose to be greeted by a face pale in death. + + + + +CONCLUSION. + +On a summer afternoon, nearly a year after the occurrence of the +events last described, there was an unusual gathering in the village +of Bennington. As early as one o'clock, multitudes of people were seen +pouring in by every road leading into the place from the surrounding +country, and filling up the streets with a promiscuous crowd of all +ages, sexes, and conditions. And as the hour of two approached, the +commotion increased to a degree which plainly showed that some crisis +was at hand; and soon the dense throng, gathered in the vicinity of the +Green Mountain Tavern, then the principal place of public resort, +broke away into groups and companies, and began to flock towards +a newly-erected gallows, standing, at no great distance, on the +neighboring common. Here arranging themselves, as they came up, in a +circle round the ill-omened structure, they assumed the attitude of +spectators awaiting the advent of some promised spectacle. + +Presently a clamor rose from the outer part of the crowd, as, with the +exclamations, “_There comes the new Overseer of the Tories!_” [Footnote: +The Overseer of the Tories, an officer peculiar to the times, and +perhaps to the locality, was one to whom was intrusted the general +surveillance and control of that class of persons, to prevent them from +communicating with the British, and see that they did not pass over +the limits of the farms, or town lines, within which, under various +penalties, they were doomed to remain, unless called out by such officer +for some public service, such as clearing out the highways, &c., to +which they were held subject.] “_There comes Dunning and his gang of +beauties!_” They pointed to a column of some dozens of variously-clad, +dejected-looking men, headed by a well-armed officer in the continental +uniform, just coming round a corner into view, and advancing towards the +spot. + +“Der open there to the right and left!” cried the commander of this +unique company, as he marched them up to the crowd. “Make way for Mother +Britain's ditter darlings! The coming sight is as much for their der +benefit as your ditter fun. There, halt!” he continued, bringing the +submissive creatures into their allotted place. “Now, the first one +of you that attempts to sneak away hem the sight, takes a der pistol +bullet. So face the music without flinching. It will ditter do you +good.” + +Scarcely had this transpired before the crowd, whose attention, for the +moment, was too much engrossed to notice the approach of the principal +procession, now close at hand, was again thrown into commotion by the +sound of a muffled drum, followed by the loud cry of, “_Clear the way +for the prisoner and his escort!_” in a voice whose well-known tones +never fell unheeded on the ears of a Green Mountain assemblage. With +magic quickness, a clear space opened through the ranks of the receding +throng, in the direction of this fresh summons, when the first object +that met the eye was the towering form of Ethan Allen, mounted on a +large black horse; he having recently returned from his captivity, and +been appointed, in the quaint language of his commission, “_to conduct, +in behalf of the state, the trial and execution of that inimical person, +David Redding_” [Footnote: David Redding, the only person ever executed +in Vermont for political offences, was, after changing two or three +times from the American to the British cause, and two trials, hanged +July 17, 1777. at 2 o'clock, P. M.] Next to Allen came the prisoner, +riding in an ox-cart, and sitting between two armed men, who were acting +as his special guards. Then followed a company of soldiers, under the +command of another of our old acquaintances Bill Piper, who had been +promoted to a captaincy in a volunteer service then recently projected; +while the president, secretary, and members of the Council of Safety, +succeeded by a band of private citizens, brought up the rear of the +procession. On reaching its destination, the team was brought to a stand +immediately beneath the gallows, which was a naked cross-tree, set into +the ground like a sign-post, and wholly unprovided with platform, or +other of the usual adjuncts of such structures. The prisoner was then +ordered to stand up in the cart, when the noose at the end of the rope, +dangling from the arm above, was securely adjusted round his neck, and +every thing made ready for the awful moment. + +Ira Allen, having mounted some object at hand, then addressed the people +in an eloquent exhortation on the duty and policy of a faithful and +unwavering adherence to the cause of the country, which he enforced +by giving a rapid sketch of the character and career of the wretched +traitor before them, as contrasted with those who had been true to that +cause, and especially those who had captured him. + +“Of the four brave men,” he said, in conclusion, “who, at such odds +and risk, pursued and took the prisoner and his party, on that glorious +occasion, two are present, and in positions which amply testify the high +estimation that has been placed on their gallant conduct. The others, +the two Woodburns, who remained in the city, are--as I learn from +letters I have recently seen from them or their scarcely less heroic +young wives, left to conduct the affairs of their respective homes--now +in New Jersey, acting under the eye of their beloved Washington, whose +confidence in them in their different spheres of action--one as the +honored colonel of a regiment and the other as the most trusty and +adroit manager in the secret service--they consider their sufficient +reward, and one that was only wanting to crown that which, on the eve of +our memorable battle here, they received in their wives, and the wealth +obtained through the romantic disclosures of their dying relative, the +lamented Father Herriot. And of the party taken alive by those +gallant men, the tory leader, Peters, was exchanged for several of our +imprisoned officers, and at a bargain which secured us advantages not +to be obtained by stretching his worthless neck; and he has retired into +Canada, to sink into insignificance, despised and hated by those whom +his misrepresentations respecting the alleged easy conquest of our state +so completely deceived. Fitch, after having ransomed himself by the +payment of all he could raise, offered through his fear of a fate to +which, after all, he probably would not have been condemned, sneaked +back to his old haunts in Guilford, where he perished miserably by the +hand of one whom former wrongs, committed in acts of official cruelty +and extortion, had made desperate. And the other, and last of the +infamous trio, now stands before us, to make atonement for his crimes by +an ignominious death on the gallows.” + +When the speaker had concluded, the prisoner, after glancing around him, +with that fitful, furtive, and restless expression, which at all times +so strongly marked his countenance, turned to Ethan Allen, and meekly +begged permission to address the multitude. + +“Why--yes,” hesitatingly replied the rough old hero, who had been +sitting upon his horse, moodily looking at his watch lying in his broad +palm, and occasionally exhibiting signs of impatience at the length of +his more wordy young brother's remarks--“yes, it may be right enough, +that you should have your say unless you want to preach some more of +your damnable tory doctrines to the people. But be short, sir. Your hour +is nearly up; and I do not intend that the earth shall be polluted by +your living presence one moment beyond the time.” + +Immediately availing himself of this ungracious permission, the prisoner +turned, shrinkingly, towards the crowd, and said,-- + +“All you who hear me, I hope, will take warning by my miserable end--an +end to which I have been brought, in my opinion only by my inconstancy. +In the first place, I adhered to my oath allegiance, and supported the +king; but, finding myself in danger, I enrolled myself under the new +state, and went for the authority of Congress. Conscience, however, +quickly carried me lack to the royal cause, which I again supported a +while; and then, being over-persuaded by my neighbors, I came out once +more openly for the state, and went for it till the approach of Burgoyne +emboldened me to risk another change, and go for my old master. But, +being soon taken in arms, I must now untimely perish. It is, therefore, +my advice to you all--never fluctuate as I have done; but you who are +for the States, stick by the States; and you who are for the king, stick +by the king, and prove--” + +“And so,” fiercely interrupted old Ethan--“so you would have an +interminable war, would you? Take your treason along with you to Tophet, +ye doubly-damned miscreant! I will have no more of it here. Teamster, +drive on the cart!” + +The teamster did so; and the next moment the traitor Redding was +launched into eternity. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rangers, by D. P. 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