University of Virginia Library

1. CHAPTER I.

Those who have wandered along the banks of
the Otter Creek, in search of the beautiful and picturesque,
may have extended their rambles, perhaps,
to lake Dunmore, which lies embosomed among the
hills a few miles to the eastward of that quiet
stream. If so, their taste for natural scenery has
doubtless been amply gratified: for there is no
spot in the whole range of the Green Mountains
that combines more of the requisites for a perfect
landscape than this romantic sheet of water and its
surrounding shores. Of an oblong form, about four
miles in length and one in breadth, this lake, or
pond, as such bodies of water are more usually denominated
among us, lies extended between the
main ridge and a collateral eminence on the west, of
a height but little more than sufficient to serve as a
secure embankment to this noble reservoir of the
hills. From the eastern shore the land rises abruptly

into a lofty mountain, which, like some mighty
giantess, sits enthroned in the mid heavens, her
head turbaned with a wreath of white mist, and
looking down with seeming fondness and care upon
the bright daughter, that reflecting back her own
rude image, lies quietly reposing in her lap, receiving
the rich supply of a thousand pearly rills that
come gushing to her opening lips. To the north
and south, open long and beautiful vistas, extending
along over the bright extremities of the lake, and
terminating among the far off peaks of the Green
Mountains; while from the western shore the
land, after a gentle rise for a short distance, falls off
rapidly toward the Otter, leaving the broad and extensive
valley of that stream open to the vision,
which now wanders unobstructed to the western
borders of the lake Champlain, where the long
chain of mountains, that rise immediately beyond,
lies sleeping in the blue distance, and bounds the
view of this magnificent scene.

It was near sunset, on one of the last days of
April, and in the same year and month which were
marked by the opening scene of our great national
drama, that four stout and hardy looking men, two
of them of about the middle age, and two considerably
younger, were seen occupying a large log
canoe near the eastern shore of the lake just described,
and engaged fishing for trout. Their success
through the day in ensnaring `the pride of the
pure waters,' as the trout has been appropriately
termed, had been ample, as was evinced by the large
strings of this beautiful fish lying on the bottom of the
boat beneath the feet of their respective captors.
Now, however, as the rapidly lengthening shadows
of the dark primeval forest, that thickly lined

the shores, had nearly closed over the lake, the
party began to manifest a disposition to relinquish
the exciting labors of the day. One sat listless and
unemployed in his seat; another was taking in, and
winding up his line; while a third had handled the
oars, and sat patiently awaiting the movements of
the fourth, who seemed intent on securing, before
quitting the station, one more victim, as `a most severe
large one,' he said, was brushing round his
hook. At length the speckled tantalizer, after playing
warily round the bait awhile, seized it with a
desperation that seemed to imply at once his suspicions
and his determination to test them, and was
drawn flapping and floundering into the boat,
amidst a shout of exultation from the company,
who unanimously declared the fish to be a ten
pounder, and the capital prize of all that had that
day been taken. All being now in readiness, the
boat was rowed slowly toward the shore in the direction
of a spot indicated as the place of their temporary
quarters by a slight, wreathy line of blue
smoke, which had risen from their noon fiires, and
still hung undissipated along the precipitous cliffs of
the mountain above. On reaching the shore the
party, after taking out their fish and carefully concealing
their canoe in a thick clump of overhanging
bushes, proceeded to their retreat, which proved to
be a cavern in the rocks, at the foot of the mountain,
here shutting down within a dozen rods of the
lake. The front of this cave consisted of a sort of
natural porch, eight or ten feet in length, and of,
perhaps, about half that number of feet in width,
formed by a projection of the rocks above and on
each side, so as to enclose the intervening space.
From the centre of the arena thus formed
in front, an entrance, wide enough only to admit
one person at a time, opened into the interior, or
main part of the cavern, a spacious and lofty room
branching off in several dark recesses that appeared
to extend far into the rocks. This cave had once
been a favorite lodge with the Indians, as was evident
from the flint arrow-heads, and other indications
of aboriginal life, discovered in and about the
place; and in late years it had been the usual resort
of professional hunters, and others of the
neighboring settlement, when out for more than one
day on fishing and hunting excursions on the lake
or its vicinity, as it afforded them comfortable quarters
for the night, and such as could easily be secured
from the intrusion of wild beasts, or Indians,
small parties of whom, though not generally very
hostile at this period, were still occasionally seen
skulking among these mountains. The party now
present, as before remarked, were four in number.
The two eldest of these had nothing remarkable in
their appearance to distinguish them from the ordinary
run of men, except their broad chests and
strong muscular limbs, which they possessed in common
with most of the settlers. Of the other two,
whom we will more particularly describe, one was a
young woodsman of very singular and striking appearance.
He was full seven feet high, and as
straight as an arrow. From his trunk, which,
though strongly made, and quite as large as that of
a common stout man, looked like a may-pole, rose
a long, slender neck, surmounted by a small apple-shaped
head. His features might have been regular
when he slept, but in conversation, in which he
was always sure to have a part, they were made to
play such anticks, by way of acting as gesturers to
the queer conceits with which his brain was forever
teeming, that it would have been difficult to tell
what any one of them might have been when reduced
to a state of quiescence. His mouth with a
peculiar twist seemed to move at will in a half circle
from one ear to the other; while his nose, playing
at cross-purposes with his mouth, was seemingly
wriggled up to the eyebrows, or let down to the
chin at the option of its owner. These, with the
eyes, which were no less singularly expressive, combined
to form a countenance to the last degree
comical, though, with all its predominating humor,
great good nature and considerable native intelligence
were very visibly mingled in its expression.
This man went by the name of Pete Jones, or long
legged Pete, as was his more common appellation
among his companions. The other person, the only
one of the party now remaining to be described,
was evidently far superior in every respect, except
physical powers, to the rest of the company. His
exterior exhibited a high degree of manly beauty,
both in form and feature; while a fine dark eye,
with a cleanly turned, rectilinear nose, and a high
square forehead, indicated tastes of an intellectual
character. His countenance was expressive of
keen perceptions, and manifested also, like that of
the person last described, a strong disposition to
wit and mirthfulness; though this disposition, unlike
that of his rude companion, had been evidently
chastened and trained by education and intercourse
with refined society, the advantages of both
of which his language and manners showed he had
received. His whole appearance, indeed, was such
as would induce to the probable conclusion that a
romantic turn of mind, with a love of the exciting
scenes of the forest, or still more exciting strife in
which the settlers were engaged with the neighboring
colony, had led him to a temporary adoption of
his present course of life, and that he was rather an
amateur woodsman than one from habit or necessity.

When the party reached their quarters, the person,
whose description last occupied us, separated himself
from the rest, and, clambering up the steep, sat down
on a commanding cliff, some hundred feet above
the cave, leaving the duties of the camp to be performed
by those who remained below. The latter,
after kindling up a fire in front of the cave, proceeded
to bring from the interior a light, portable
kettle and piece of salt junk, articles with which
such parties usually went provided, and soon became
busily engaged in dressing and preparing a
portion of the fruits of their day's labors for an
evening repast.

`Smith,' said the tall woodsman, whose peculiarities
we have before noted, now turning to one of his
comrades as they were proceeding with their culinary
labors; `say, Smith, what do you suppose Mr.
Selden has perched himself on that old crazy crag
up there for? He looks as glum and hazy as a catowl
winking at the sun with one eye and watching
a tree-toad with the other.'

`Well done for you, Pete Jones!' responded the
person addressed; `I rather guess you have hit the
nail on the head this time; for Selden, I've noticed,
is fond of looking at prospects—scenery, I think he
calls it—well, while he has an eye for that, it's my
opinion he is on the look-out for mischief, which he
thinks may perhaps be brewing for us somewhere—
what say you, Brown?'

`Well, I don't know,' replied the latter, a plain,
blunt, and somewhat dogged looking man; `there
may be something in your idea—and come to think
of it, I guess it is so: You know we caught a

glimpse or two of a fellow skulking round the shore
over yonder last evening as we were coming across
to take up our quarters here; and I remember that
Selden seemed to watch his movements as if he
had some suspicions that the fellow might be a spy
upon us.'

`That's it,' rejoined Smith; `and if Selden
named the affair to the Captain when he joined us
last night, as I'll warrant you he did, seeing they
had considerable private talk together, most likely
he got orders to keep a spare eye for breakers to-day.
I have noticed several times this afternoon
that he seemed to be looking round the lake rather
anxiously; and it was that which set me to thinking.'

`By the way,' interposed Jones; `what in the
world can have got the Captain, that he aint in by
this time? not a single loud word has his rifle spoken
to-day, to my hearing.'

`He has doubtless taken a wide range to day,'
replied Smith, who assumed to be the best guesser
of the trio; `but an eye as keen, and an aim as
sure as the young Captain's, never need be exercised
a whole day for nothing on these mountains.
He don't come home empty to night, you'll find.'

`I wish he would come, however,' observed
Brown; `I am anxious to know what are to be the
orders for tomorrow. I hope he wont make us
wait here another day for more to join us before we
proceed on the business we came for. We have
now been nearly three days, coming and here, without
a chance of setting our seals to the back of a
single Yorker. I would'nt have volunteered and
left my work at this busy season but for Captain
Warrington's promise to let us have right at 'em,
and be off again. And I would'nt at no rate, if he

had not fought so like a young lion for me at the
time these land sharks turned us, wife, little ones
and all, out into the snow. He did me God's service
at that time; so I thought I ought to oblige
him by coming. Though besure I was obliging my
own feelings about as much; for, so help me Heaven!
I would go fourteen miles barefoot in January
for a chance to pay off scores upon those same
York gentry.'

`So would I,' remarked Smith; `for what was
your case may soon be mine, unless we all turn out,
and drive the scoundrels from the Grants every time
they put foot within them. So we must not grudge
a little time spent in paying off our debts in this
manner, seeing we shall be doing the public a service
at the same time. Only think of Warrington!
He has spent more than half his time in this way for
the last three years; and all he has ever got by it
has been to have a price set upon his head.'

`They have set a price on my head too,' gloomily
resumed the other; `but as for the Captain, he
will have his reward in heaven; while they have
made me so savage and murderous in my feelings
that I begin to fear that heaven will be no place for
me.'

`Well, I owe the scamps nothing in particular
myself, I believe,' observed Jones; `but not knowing
how soon I might, seeing as how I had lately bought
a new lot down there near Old Ti, I thought I
might as well join you a spell to learn the way and
manner of fixing the chaps. And I calculated if
any body could show me 'twas Captain Charley,
who they say is a trifle braver than Julius Cæsar,
besides having a heart as big as a meeting-house.'

`What would you say of Ethan Allen at that rate?'
asked Smith, laughing.

`Ethan Allen? Lordy! why, two Alexanders,
with half a dozen Turks thrown in to stiffen the upper
lip, would be used up in making the priming to
Ethan Allen! But hoo! what in the divil's name
has come among us now?' continued the speaker,
pointing to a new figure that had arrived unperceived,
and noiselessly taken a station within a few yards
of the company.

All eyes were now turned to the spot indicated
by the words and odd gesticulations of their companion.
There stood a young Indian, quietly looking
at the company, or rather, after the peculiarity of
his race, looking at every thing else but the company,
the moment they turned and confronted him.
He held a rifle in his hand, while his dress differed
but little from the ordinary garb of the settlers.

`Umph!' he at length exclaimed in the peculiar,
jerking gutteral of the native Indian; `Massa Cappen—him
no here!'

`Guessed exactly right, Tawney!' cried Jones,
awakening from the momentary surprise into which
he, as well as his companions, had been thrown by
the unexpected appearance of such a visiter; `but
what do you want with the Captain, my beauty?'

`Umph! you ask, when me tell, then you know,'
quickly replied the Indian, with the apparent object
both to evade the question and retort on the interrogator
for the manner in which it was put.

`Right, again!' exclaimed Smith, pleased at the
rebuff thus received by the professed joker of the
party; `here, Jones, let me manage him. Where
did you leave your company, friend?' he continued,
addressing the native coaxingly—`I conclude there
are more of your people somewhere hereabouts?'

`Umph!' answered the native with a sarcastic
smile; `Now you fraid—scare—why you no run?'

`Righter than ever!' shouted Jones, laughing
heartily in turn at his baffled comrade, who had fared
even worse than himself in the rencounter.

Other methods were then taken to draw from the
Indian his name and business, but without the least
success. He either stood mute, or answered with
such odd evasions, that they soon gave over the attempt,
and called to Selden on the hill, intimating
that his presence was needed below. That person,
who proved to be second in command in the expedition,
as if partly apprized of what was going on,
immediately came down and appeared among them.

`Leftenant Selden,' said Jones, `they say you can
make poetry out of rocks and trees, if you are a
mind to—now we want to see what you can make
out of this fellow.'

`He is very evidently a domesticated Indian,'
seriously replied the person addressed, who appeared
just then to be in no humor to relish the jokes of the
other. `He probably resides with some family in
the vicinity. I think I have heard Warrington speak
of meeting one of his description in a hunting adventure
in this quarter.'

`Well, he inquired for the captain,' observed Smith.

`Then he has some business with him, I presume,'
rejoined Selden; `some friendly message, perhaps.

`Umph! that man say it,' said the subject of their
discourse, pointing to the former with an expressive
and respectful look.

`We will try then to hasten the Captain's return,'
observed Selden, and taking from his pocket a sort
of whistle, formed from the leg-bone of a deer, he
blew a blast whose loud, shrill note was capable of
being heard at a great distance.

A strict silence of several moments was now observed
by the whole party in listening for a reply

from their leader, who, it was understood, carried
about him a crresponding instrument. At length,
instead of a reply from a whistle, the sharp report
of a rifle burst from a neighboring glen, and, echoing
wildly from cliff to cliff in the surrounding stillness,
died slowly away on the distant mountains.

`There he is!' `There goes the Captain's rifle—I
should know her voice among a thousand,' simultaneously
burst from the lips of several of the company.

`Just as I told you,' said Smith; `I knew he would
never return empty. That shot, mark me, brought
down a deer, which he had in his eye when the Leftenant
whistled, and prevented his answering the
call, which no small game would.'

The event soon proved the truth of the last speaker's
conjecture. The heavy, slow tread, as of one
carrying some weighty load, now became distinguishable
at a distance in the woods, the sounds falling
more and more distinctly on the ear every moment,
as they approached the spot where the expectant
and excited party stood, eagerly straining their
eyes to catch the first glimpse of their huntsman
leader. At length he emerged from the bushes,
bearing a noble buck upon his shoulders. Advancing,
amidst the congratulations of his followers, he
came up to the spot, and, with the air of one relieved
from a heavy burden, threw down his prize to
the ground before them. Of the probable age of
twenty-six or eight, he was a man of a very fine and
even majestic appearance. Though tall and muscular,
so compactly and finely set were his limbs, that
his contour presented nothing to the eye in the least
disproportioned or ungainly. His features seemed
to correspond in regularity of formation to the rest
of his person, while his countenance was rather of

the cool and deliberate cast, indicative, however, of
a mild, benevolent disposition, as well as a sound,
reflecting intellect. Every developement, indeed,
whether of his shapely head or manly countenance,
went to show a strong, well balanced character, and
one capable of action beyond the scope of ordinary
men. His dress, which was that of a huntsman,
was neat—not rich—but tastefully arranged and well
fitted. A mahogany-stocked rifle, richly chased with
silver, with small arms partially concealed in his dress,
completed his equipments.

`Heaven save me from another such jaunt,' were
his first words after he had thrown down his load
and recovered himself a little; `a noble buck, indeed,
but the chase has been rather a dear one.'

`I don't see how it could well have been otherwise,
Captain,' observed Selden, now evidently in
high spirits and disposed for a little merriment—

`Mine has been somewhat dearer, however, I think,'
replied the former with an appreciating smile, `than
was necessary to give zest to those savory trout,
which, by the way, I am right glad to see so nearly
ready for the partaking.'

`Yes,' rejoined the other, glancing round at the
Indian, who stood demure and silent in the background,
with his face partly averted from the company,
`and yet I know not, really, Captain Warrington,
but you may have other fish to fry first.'

`And just about the oddest fish, too, that we have
caught to-day, Captain,' said Jones, instantly understanding
the allusion of the last speaker: `I rather
think he must be a sort of shell-fish, from the difficulty
we found in getting his mouth open.'

`O ho!' exclaimed Warrington, his eye now for
the first time resting on the form of the Indian, and
his countenance clearing up from the puzzled expression
that had come over it for the instant at the
enigmatical words of his friends; `a new recruit!
that explains your call, the wherefore I was about to
ask—a new recruit of doubtful credentials, eh?'

So saying he advanced to the side of the Indian
youth and attentively examined his features; while
the object of his scrutiny stood perfectly immoveable
and apparently unconscious of the examination
he was undergoing, till perceiving by the hesitation
of the other that he was not likely to be recognized,
he, without looking up, or varying the expression
of a single muscle of his face, quietly observed,

`Massa Cappen no remember Neshobee—no remember
shoot three wolf.'

`Aha?' said the other, recalled by the last allusion;
`the same poor fellow that I so providentially
came across, and relieved from that savage pack of
wolves last year, on these very mountains? You
may well remember that escape, my friend. But it
is strange I did not know you.'

`Neshobee hunt all day,' resumed the Indian, intent
on rehearsing the event, the remembrance of
which seemed to light up his countenance to something
like the indications of feeling, and incline
him to unusual loquacity; `hunt, hunt—kill no
deer—dark come fast. Now hear wolf way out
there, howl! howl! Now way out here, howl!
howl! Now um come together, howl! howl!—
Now near off, howl! howl! Now me know what
um want, and climb small tree quick. Wolf come,
five, six, hungry and lap um mouth. Me shoot; kill
one, and go to load um up again—so no think nothing,

and drop um rifle low down—wolf jump high,
catch um away—now rifle all gone—no get um—
wolf get mad fast—bite um tree, gnaw, gnaw, wolf
no do so fore. Now tree begin shake, shake to fall
soon. Now bend, bend, slow long down—wolf
jump, jump, snap um white teeth, and most jest
catch um Neshobee. Now hoo! bang! one wolf
kick over dead—Cappen out there in the bush.—
Shoot again, two dead! Shoot again, three dead!
Now the rest two wolf begin to mistrust to run
away afore they dead too. Now Neshobee come
down—stay all night in cave with um Cappen—him
very good, no forget um.'

`Very nearly correct, I believe, Neshobee,' observed
Warrington, as the Indian closed his recital,
the longest perhaps he ever made in his life, for unluckily,
it may be, for the romance of our tale,
Neshobee was no Logan or Red Jacket, either in
length of speech, or that peculiar eloquence, which
most of our writers seem to delight in attributing to
the sons of the forest; `very nearly correct, but
are you out on another hunt in this quarter, or does
other business bring you here at this time?'

`No much hunt, me come for.'

`What then?'

`Missus Story talk um on paper for Cappen better
nor Neshobee say,' replied the Indian, handing
Warrington a small dingy scrap of paper.

The latter, after running hastily over the contents
of the billet, which caused his eye to kindle with
enthusiasm as he read, immediately turned to the
company, and, with a cheerful, animated air, observed,
`It is from our friend, widow Story, of the
Creek down here, and contains news of interest,
my boys—shall I read it to you?'

`Aye, aye, Captain,' was the eager response.

`Listen then.'

“Capt. W.—I tear out the blank leaf of my
bible to say, the Philistines be upon thee, Sampson.
They came over the Creek somewhere north of here,
and, after a short consultation near the edge of my
clearing, from which I luckily espied them, struck off
towards the lake. Munroe, as usual, heads the party—ten
in number, as I counted. There are five of
you, at least; and that is enough, if you are of the
stuff I think you, to attend to confirming our titles in
this neighborhood. My messenger is a chance one,
but true and friendly, and may be enlisted, I think,
for the night's work, if needed.

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.