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This spirited epistle was received by the company
with a `loud hurra for the widow!' and notwithstanding
it brought them the startling intelligence
that the Sheriff of Albany county, with an armed
force of twice their own number, was on the march
to seize them, two of whom, at least, were known to
be under sentence of outlawry, for former resistance
to the New York authorities, while attempting to
execute their cruel mandates on the persons or property
of the settlers—notwithstanding this, the news
was received with the liveliest expressions of joy and
enthusiasm. An escape from their pursuers into
the forest, or on to the water in their canoe, which
was the only one in the lake, they well knew might
easily be effected. But this was no part of the plan
of this resolute little band of Green Mountain Boys;
nor was the possibility of their being overpowered
and taken deemed by them scarcely more worthy of
their consideration. Their object was the punishment
of their foes, for the accomplishment of which

this was hailed by them all as a golden opportunity.
From the unwonted boldness with which this noted
troubler of the Grants was attempting to push so far
into the interior with so small a number of men, all
of whom were supposed to be unacquainted with the
forest in this part of the country, it was rightly conjectured
that he must have been apprized, by some
traitorous settler, not only of the exact situation of
the present rendezvous, but also of the number of
these occupying it; and for similar reasons it was
concluded that this person must now be with the approaching
enemy, acting as guide in conducting them
to the spot, where they doubtless anticipated taking
their intended victims by complete surprize, and then
hurrying with them by night over the country to the
British fort at Ticonderega, before the settlers could
be rallied for a rescue. In this opinion our band
were confirmed by the suspicious appearance of a
man, who, as before intimated, had been seen the
evening before luikirg round the shores of the lake,
and who, it was now scarcely longer to be doubted,
was a spy, dogging them to such place as they might
select for their encampment. Next to the sheriff,
therefore, and even before him, was this person,
whose offence was considered the most heinous of
the two, particularly marked for punishment; and it
was determined to identify and seize him, if possible,
and wherever he might prove, make him an example
to all future traitors. To retain their strong hold,
the cavern, however defensible it might be, was no
object with our party, as their leader had already determined
to leave it the following morning to proceed
all the main purpose of their excursion, which was
to break up an establishment of their opponents, who
had obtained a strong foothold at the lower falls of
Otter Creek, and to seize a York surveyor, locating
lands in that vicinity—from which purpose they had
only turned aside for a day or two to give others an
opportunity to join them on the lake, the appointed
rendezvous, and a pleasant spot for employing the interim
in fishing and hunting. Accordingly it was
soon concluded to make no regular defence of the
cave, bat, using it only so far as might best favor
them in their object of discomfiring the enemy, the
modes of doing which were yet to be devised, leave
it to their possession, and quit the place that night.
Their game and such moveables as were not immediately
wanted were therefore now transferred to the
boat, which was removed to a secret landing, where
the party were ordered to repair at the signal-call of
the whistle. These brief arrangements having been
completed, and the young Indian, who seemed to enter
with great spirit into the enterprize, being employed
to stand on the look-out, the company, with
their loaded rifles by their sides, sat down to their
sylvan meal, over which they discussed, in gleeful
mood, the various and ingenious methods which were
successively proposed for the reception and chastisement
of their assailants, who were expected to make
their appearance as soon as it was fairly dark.