University of Virginia Library

11. CHAPTER XI.

The company, whose arrival was announced at
the close of the last chapter, proved to be a small
detachment of soldiers from the opposite Fort.
They were seven or eight in number, under the command
of their sergeant, Darrow, who, with three others,
after knocking, though scarcely waiting for a
bidding, unceremoniously entered the kitchen, the
remainder of the force having been posted at the
doors and windows without, to prevent all escape
from the house. As an ostensible reason for calling
at this time, Darrow carelessly observed that being
out in pursuit of a deserter, a part of their company
had gone up the lake with their boat, thus depriving
them of the means of recrossing, and leaving them
no other resort but to crave a shelter of Captain
Hendee for the night, or, at least, till their boat returned.
Calls of this kind by the officers and soldiers
of the garrison being of no very unfrequent
occurrence at the house, the present visit, therefore,
occasioned the Captain little or no surprise, and
being of a hospitable turn, and fond, as might be
supposed, of having those for company, who belonged
to a profession, in which a great portion of his
own life had been spent, he appeared to feel quite
at case with his new guests. Not so, however, with
all the company assembled. The meeting between
the soldiers, and the stout stranger before described,
seemed to be mutually unexpected, and evidently

but little relished by the latter: For, though they
were all personally unknown to him; yet he was
aware that he might not be so to them: and, should
the last supposition be true, as, from certain sly
looks, which he saw exchanged between the soldiers,
he thought highly probable, he was sensible that he
had a part to play for himself, and Warrington, of
whose co-operation he felt assured, that would require
all his tact, and perhaps put to the severest
test the powers of both to extricate them from the
threatened difficulty.

Nor were the stranger's suspicions by any means
groundless. Darrow had before seen the man, and
at once recognized him as one, who, if taken, would
prove a far greater prize than the person whose seizure
constituted the particular object of the present
visit; but one, at the same time, well known to be
the most formidable, and difficult of capture, of all
the Green Mountain outlaws.

`That ain't the fellow we came for,' whispered
Darrow to the soldier nearest him, the first opportunity
that occurred for so doing unobserved. `He
must be with the girl in the other room, I think.
But this big chap is one of the same kidney, only
worth two of him if taken; secure him, as well as the
other, and your pay shall be doubled. So keep
your eyes on him for the present, and we will wait
till they go to bed, and get to sleep: For the other
is no baby for a tussle; and this one,' he continued,
with a significant look, as he east a fearful glance at
the giantlike person of the stranger; `and this one,
to say nothing of the ugly instruments they say he carries
under his clothes, he is—he's the devil and all
—he's thunder!'

This information, with the orders accompanying

it, being soon passed around to all the band, every
movement of the stranger was regarded with the
most suspicious vigilance. But he, contrary to their
expectation, made not the slightest movement, which
indicated that he was meditating any attempt to escape.
On the contrary, the more he was watched,
the more unconscious did he seem, that he was an object
of suspicion or vigilance with any of the company;
and with the utmost unconcern, he soon began
to mingle in the conversation, commencing with
those blunt, cordial kind of advances to Darrow,
and as many of his men as he could find excuse for
addressing individually, which are generally the surest,
if not the only road to the soldier's heart. Nor
was it long before he had succeeded in putting himself
on a familiar footing with the whole band, whose
feelings and senses, in spite of the distant restraint,
and guarded watchfulness, they had imposed on
themselves, were fairly captivated by his bold sallies
of wit, and the irresistable drollery of his manner.
Captain Hendee, with his war-stories, was completely
thrown into the shade by the extraordinary convivial
powers of the stranger, who, having now fairly become
the hero of the company, continued to pour
forth, from his seemingly inexaustible resources, sally
upon sally, with increasing brilliancy, and anecdote
upon anecdote, each of which was more ludicrous
or striking than the preceding one, till the
whole party became convulsed with merriment, and
the house shook with the din of laughter. And not
satisfied with the success that had so well crowned
his efforts, in this respect, he called on Captain
Hendee to bring on glasses, and a gallon of spirits
at his expense, declaring that `of all God's cattle,
he preferred soldiers for companions. It was not
every day that a hunter, whose next door neighbors
and common acquaintances were bears and wolves,
and whose sweet-hearts and select friends were wolverines
and catamounts, had the rare luck to fall into
such glorious company. He could well afford to
treat, and he should hold it a privilege to have a
bout with his military friends, helping them, while
he could, to drink health to the King, confusion to
all enemies, and shame to the devil.'

Leaving this bold, sagacious and singularly gifted
outlaw and his companions to the merriment he had
infused into them, and the boisterous and drunken
revelry that followed, we will now repair to the other
room, where a far different, though no less interesting
scene was in progress.

When Miss Hendee, on recognizing the voice of
Darrow among those of others about to enter the
house, so abruptly invited Warrington to take a seat
with her in the other room, she did so from a sudden
impulse, arising out of her secret dread of encountering
one whose recent conduct had filled her
with the deepest dislike, coupled with a sort of
vague apprehension, that the visits of these soldiers
with Darrow at their head, at this particular time,
was in some way to affect the safety of her friend,
whom she thought thus to shield from the impending
danger. And it was not till they become seated in
the room by themselves, that it occurred to her, that
she had voluntarily affored her lover the very opportunity
which, at their recent interview, he had earnestly
requested, but which she had so promptly and
pointedly refused him. Blushing deeply at the
thought of her apparent inconsistency, and fearful
that this act would be misconstrued by the other,
she suddenly commenced uttering an apology, or

explantion, but perceiving some worse dilemma from
so doing, she stopped short in the midst of a sentence,
blushing more deeply than a first, while an
embarrassing silence ensued, which neither party, for
some moments, was able to break. Warrington,
however, comprehending the cause of her embarrassment
at a glance, and anxious to relieve it, soon
rallied and observed,

`Fear not, Miss Hendee, that I shall misinterpet
this act of yours in inviting me to a seat with you
here: I believe I can appreciate the motives that
led to it; and I certainly feel very grateful for the
deed.'

`You were ever generous, Mr. Howard,' replied
Alma, with a grateful smile, `but do you comprehend
all the motives that might have influenced me in
this?'

`I may not all, but will Miss Hendee state wherein
she supposes I may not understand them?'

`Did you recognize any of the voices of these
last visitors, while they were at the door, or have you
since?'

`I can scarcely say I have, though I conclude
them to be soldiers from yonder garrison.'

`They are—all that will appear, at least, I presume,
and among them is that suspicious fellow,
from whose intrusion you so kindly relieved me the
other day. He went away at that time, I think,
harboring revengeful feelings towards you, and does
not this visit involve some design against your safety?—Though
I confess I can hardly see how you
should be sought here with any purpose of revenge.'

`You may be right, Miss Hendee,' said the other,
thoughtfully, after a silence of a moment; `you may
be right in supposing me the object of their visit.

I have had some suspicions from the first that it was
so; and I have noticed some indications, indeed,
since we have been in this room, which go to confirm
me. Yes, you may be right in this, but wrong,
I think, in judging of the motives that have led to
the visit.'

`What other motive can there be but the one I
assigned?' at length asked Alma, with an air of perplexity
mingled with some uneasiness.

`Miss Hendee,' resumed Warrington, with considerable
embarrassment at the effort, `your question
leads me to a declaration, which my painfully conflicting
obligations, as a citizen, and as gentleman who
has received much kindness from your family, will
be some excuse, I hope, for withholding till now;
but which my feelings will allow me to withhold no
longer. Miss Hendee, my name is not Howard!'

`Not Howard!' exclaimed Miss Hendee, with a
look of unfeigned surprise. `Not Howard!' she repeated,
the tall arches of her beautiful brows slightly
contracting with an incipient frown. `Surely, surely,
Sir!'

`Nor is that, I fear you will think,' resumed the
other seriouely, and now with perfect composure,
`the worst of the avowal; I am aware what I risk—
what, indeed, I shall probably forever lose in your
esteem, fair lady. But duty to you, and respect to
my own character, compels me to the disclosure—I
am Charles Warrington!'

A sharp, inarticulate exclamation burst from the
lips of the astonished and recoiling girl, at the announcement
of the name.

`What is the matter there, Alma?' asked Captain
Hendee, in a tone modulated somewhere between
the jocose and anxious, as he thrust his head

partly through the door, beside which he was sitting,
on the opposite side of the partition in the other
room, `what is the case there, girl?—Doctor Hunter
is not pulling a tooth for you, is he?'

Perceiving, however, nothing but dumb shows going
on between the parties, and satisfied with the
shot he had given them, he left them to another
embarrassing silence, which for many minutes was
broken by neither.

`I am so surprised at this strange and unexpected
developement, 'at length observed Miss Hendee,
though with mind and feelings still unsettled and
balancing between the former high opinion she had
entertained of her companion as Howard, and the
preconceived picture of the ruffian-like character
with which she had been accustomed to associate
Warrington: `so surprised that I hardly know what
I should say, or how I should act towards you, Sir,
in the new character in which you now stand before
me. Am I to understand that our quiet home here
is now to be made the theatre of contention in a
dispute for a possession?'

`Heaven forbid!' replied Warrington, eagerly,
`You have, Miss Hendee, my pledge already in this
respect, given to you at our last interview—can you
doubt my will to redeem it? And you now perceive
with what authority I could make the assurance.
But though you can have no apprehensions of this
kind of me, or my people, for whom I can safely
answer, yet what will be your opinion of one who
made, and has since sought your acquaintance under
a disguised name? It is that which troubles me,
dear lady. And in that you have an apparent right,
at least, to condemn me, though not acting for myself,

but for those who assigned me the part in
which disguise was deemed necessary.'

`You need not forestall your sentence, Sir,' said
the other, something very like a smile again lighting
up her sweetly expressive countenance, `I know too
little of the merits of this unhappy controversy, I
freely confess, to feel sure of doing justice to either
party in any opinion I might now express. I believe
I can still put trust in you—at least, I will for
the present believe so: For it would indeed be humiliating
to us all, to find ourselves so much mistaken
in one, whose character we had so highly estimated.
Yes, in you,' she repeated with emphasis,
`but in your party'—and she paused, but soon, and
without finishing the sentence, resumed `can you
inform me who is that fearful looking, and singular
stranger in the other room?—or was I mistaken in
judging from some appearances I noticed, that you
and be were acquainted?'

`Your conjectures were true. His name, however,
I cannot disclose. But this I may say, that he
is not all that he may have appeared here to night;
and yet he is far more—a man of many high and
noble qualities, combined with extraordinary powers
of body and mind, though now placed here in circumstances
as inauspicious as my own. These circumstances,
as they will make up an answer to the
question you asked before I announced my true
name, I will now, with your permission, briefly explain.'

His fair auditor signifying a willingness, at least,
to listen to the explanation, Warrington, taking a
comprehensive glance at the true grounds of the controversy
between the settlers and their opponents,
drew a vivid picture of the wrongs and consequent

sufferings which the latter had endured, and which
led to the part he had taken in their behalf—explained
the necessity of the disguise he had assumed, related
his subsequent career, and the consequences to himself
and all those who had taken a conspicuous part
in attempting to defend the poor settlers against the
rapacity of their oppressors.

`Is this, Mr. Howard—excuse me, Mr. Warrington,
I should say,' observed the other, evidently interested,
and even touched by the recital she had
just heard: `is this, indeed, an impartial account of
this hapless contest? And are these armed men here
to drag you to prison, and an ignominious death,
for acting a part like this? Why, O, why, did you
venture here into the very jaws of the lion? and
now, why do you a moment linger? why not escape
while they are at their noisy carousals in the other
room?—that door—these windows'—

`Have all been guarded; each by a soldier with a
loaded musket, from the moment we entered this
room. An ear, practised in the forest, has not failed
to catch the sound of their cautious and stealthy
tread, the occasional rubbing of their muskets against
their buttons, and indications of their presence and
object not to be mistaken.'

`Oh! I do wonder how you can be so calm.
What hope—what resource is there left you, in
which you can now trust for escape?'

`Many! be not concerned. They probably think
we shall remain through the night, and will deem it
safest to defer any attempt to seize us till they suppose
us asleep. I trust much in my friend, ever fruitful
in expedients, and now acting a part in the other
room, as nigh as I can judge from what occasionally
reaches my ear, with reference to effecting this

object. Neshobee is a friend; and may I not hope
an acquiesence, at least, from you?'

`Most certainly the latter, and if I could—but
what could I do?'

`Perhaps nothing—perhaps much. We must act
on circumstances. But had we now not better part:
I feel anxious to be co-operating with my friend,'
said Warrington, rising and moving towards the
door.

`One moment longer—that is, if you are not too
anxious to go,' observed Alma, motioning him to remain.

`What would my fair friend say?' asked the other,
perceiving her to hesitate.

`Should you escape this danger, as I hope you
may,' at length replied Alma, `I trust—I pray, that
you will not be so thoughtless as to venture here
again. There may be other hazards in repeating
your visits here, besides the fearful one you have already
incurred of being seized in behalf of the public
authorities.'

`Indeed! but in what way, lady?'

`There may be those,' she answered with evident
reluctance and with severely conflicting feelings,
`who would look on your visits here with—with suspicion;
and who, I fear—who, perhaps, I would
say, might have a disposition—that is, he may'—

`I did not understand the name,' said Warrington,
with the appearance of wishing to relieve the
embarrassment of the other, and assist her to proceed.

`I did not name him, and I would gladly avoid
doing so,' replied she, still hesitating.

`But of what avail will be your caution, unless I
know against whom to be on my guard?” asked he,

with a little spice of the lawyer in the question, he
being more anxious to learn the name of his unknown
rival, to whom he rightly conjectured she alluded,
than concerned on account of any danger he
apprehended from his jealousy or malice.

`But if you kept entirely away?—unless, perhaps,
you should be sought out for the crimes you have
already committed,' said the girl half playfully. `I
much wish you could have received this intimation
from others,' she continued, after a pause; `but as
you might not; and as I have ventured, perhaps unadvisedly,
to give it, I know not but you have a just
right to require the name. It is Sherwood—one
Jacob Sherwood.'

`Sherwood!' said Warrington in utter surprise,
`Sherwood. That then explains several things that
to me were mysteries. `Sherwood!' he repeated,
muttering, and speaking as if to himself, `yes I
know the man, and the heart of the man. But is it
possible, with Sherwood for a rival, and Alma Hendee
the object, that she for him would'—

`Trespasser!' exclaimed the other, shaking her
head with a look in which menance and roguishness
were queerly blended, `trespasser, beware!'

`Cruel! cruel! I must not then even ask if
there is hope, even one ray of hope, in the future!'
rejoined Warrington with the air of tender reproach.

`O, how can you ask'—replied Alma, her countenance
now changing to a serious, even a sad expression,
`how can you ask, or expect this, when I
see no hope for myself? And how can you think
of entering into a discussion so useless, at such a
moment as this? Go, go!'

When Warrington, at the close of the interview
above described, entered the room of the revelers,

he found them at the height of their boisterous carousals.
The health of every known potentate on
the earth, and some under it, was proposed and
drank, by the huge stranger, now the undisputed
master of the ceremonies, who, at each rapidly succeeding
toast tossed off his glass with as little apparent
regard to its effect on himself, as if the beverage
had been water—such, at least was there every
appearance of his doing: For he always lifted a full
glass to his lips, and returned it empty to the table,
while he made this his boast in urging the same on
his companions of the revel, all of whom, with the
exception of Darrow, seemed little disposed to refuse
a compliance. The latter, however, after drinking
a few stinted glasses, contrived constantly to
evade a repetition which would unfit him for the enterprise,
that he, at least, had by no means lost sight
of; while it was with increasing uneasiness, that he
perceived the fearful inroads which the liquor was
making on the faculties of his men. This, however,
might not have alarmed the wary sergeant, had
not both of his intended victims been in the same
condition: Since so long as they drank as freely as
the rest, the difficulty of their seizure, he knew,
would be diminished in the same proportion with
the powers of the men, upon whom he depended
for its accomplishment. But Warrington, he soon
noticed, though mingling gaily with the rest at the
board, seemed inclined, like himself, to drink but
lightly, making the excuse, when urged to take
more, that he wished to keep sober in order to take
care of his brother hunter, who seemed in a fair
way to require his assistance. And the appearance
of the stranger, indeed, soon well confirmed the
truth of the observation. His wit fast grew vapid;
and some of his remarks were so silly, that none but
the very drunkest of the soldiers would join him in
the maudlin roar of laughter, which he raised at
each of his efforts to be witty. He began to
sway to and fro, and his huge frame to totter at every
step, like a sapped tower about to fall to the
earth,—all of which was observed by Darrow with
a look of malicious satisfaction.

Warrington now proposed that the company
should break up, and all retire for the night. This
proposal was seconded, though from far different
motives, both by the Captain and Darrow. A
question, however, now arose in regard to the accommodations
which could be furnished for sleeping;
the Captain stated that he had but two spare beds,
which might be made to answer for four of the
company. He should have been extremely happy
to be able to accommodate all his guests with beds;
but as it was, they must agree among themselves,
who should occupy those he could furnish. The
sergeant immediately proposed, that Warrington and
his drunken friend should take one of the beds, and
himself, and one of his men, would occupy the other,
while the rest should seek lodgings in the barn.
At this moment the drunken outlaw, roused from
the stupor, into which he seemed to have fallen during
the discussion, so far as to appear conscious of
the point of debate, and hiccuping at every word,
swore with a big oath, that his military friends
should have the best—they should have both the
beds, or he would fight them like h—l. And that
other scurvy hunter, who was not man enough to
drink like a gentleman, should go to the barn with
him, and sleep on the hay, or he would fight him
too, and be d—d to him.'

To this, Darrow, for some reasons of his own,
strenuously objected; and the debate was growing
warm, when Miss Hendee entered the room, and
after asking the cause of their dispute, and looking
a moment with an air of disgust at the now helpless
stranger, earnestly begged of her father to let the
creature have his way, and by no means suffer him
to occupy a bed in the house.

`I think, Captain Hendee,' remarked Warrington,
now for the first time offering an opinion, `that the
man's notions, as bad off as he appears to be, are
correct. He will probably keep the house in an uproar
half the night, if he remains. It is more suitable,
I think, that he should be taken to the barn.
And it is my duty, I suppose, to attend him.'

`I by no means intended to exclude you in my
prohibition, Sir,' said Alma, addressing Warrington.

`O, no, certainly not, I presume. But I think I
ought to go with him,' rejoined Warrington. `And
a bed of hay,' he added gaily,' `is far better than
has sometimes fallen to my lot.'

`Hoy! there, Cap—Cap—Capting!' stammered
out the stranger, lifting his head, though nearly
falling out of his chair at the effort, `say, you
Cap—Capting Handy, Hindy—dev—divil knows
what, take good care—care my rifle—cost ten pounds
—king's lawful cur—cur—curren—cyation,—God
d—n—bless him!'

`And of mine, too, Captain, if you will. We
will leave them in the house till morning, with your
permission,' observed Warrington, exchanging a
significant glance with Miss Hendee.

Darrow, who till now had manifested a determination
that our two outlaws should remain in the
house with him, on hearing that the valuable rifles

were to be left behind, seemed no longer to entertain
any suspicion of the arrangement last proposed,
and conceeded the point without further objection.

Captain Hendee, then ordering Neshobee to take
the rifles into the next room, and pointing out the
beds to be occupied by Darrow and his men, took
leave of his guests for the night, and with his daughter
retired to the other part of the house. Every thing
being now settled to the apparent satisfaction of all
parties, it only remained to get the helpless and unwieldy
outlaw to his lodgings in the barn. And
Darrow and his men all declaring that they would by
no means consent to quit their generous entertainer
till they had seem him safely disposed of for the
night, Warrington and the soberest soldiers to be
found in the company, now assisted him in getting
on his feet, and bracing out his legs so that he could
be kept from dropping on the floor. When this,
with considerable difficulty, and no little noise and
merriment, had been effected, they planted themselves
firmly under each arm, and at the word of
command, sportively given by one of the company,
trundled, or rather pushed his huge and staggering
carcase, forward toward the barn, attended by the
whole company, reeling, jostling and shouting
along by his side. After they had arrived there,
and succeeded in getting their charge over the
threshold, they unceremoniously tumbled him on a
pile of hay on the barn floor; when, after exchanging
mock ceremonies of parting politeness, Darrow
and all his men, now feeling sure of an easy and
safe capture as soon as their intended victims were
asleep, departed for the house.

`Charles!' said the big outlaw, raising himself on

his elbow, as soon as the sounds of the receeding
footsteps of the soldiers had died away, `Charles!'
he repeated, in a low, though perfectly sober tone,
`you creep carefully round to those side windows,
and see if some of these curses ain't still lurking
round the barn to watch us.'

The other, silently complying, soon returned, and
reported that no one was visible.

`Well now, Charles,' resumed the first speaker,
`you get down there at my feet, and see if you can
pull off my plaguey old boots. There is more than
a quart of rum in them. I can neither run nor fight
worth a copper with my feet in such a devil's pickle.'

`Upon my word, Colonel!' said Warrington,
while complying with the request just made, `you
would make no slouch of a juggler. I saw no chance
of succeeding in any way short of drinking or openly
refusing. And I was not a little puzzled to decide
whether you were stark mad in taking such quantities
of liquor, or whether you had some way of
otherwise disposing of it, which I could not detect.
Indeed, for the last half hour, I have been perfectly
at a loss to know whether you were drunk or sober.
How did you contrive to cheat them so cleverly?'

`Buttoned up my high collared coat, so as to
come up over my chin, at the onset. Then minding
to stand so as to admit no side views to that
hawk-eyed sergeant, or to the others, till they were
too far gone to see straight, I dashed every glass
down my bosom.—Not a spoonful has gone down
my throat to night! so help me Peter! who never
lied but three times, as I recollect. But come, we
must be thinking of something else now. And the
first question to be settled is, whether we shall go
off without our rifles, and perhaps lose them entirely,

or whether we shall hatch up some scheme to
get them out of the house?'

`I have strong hope, though I may be disappointed,'
said the other in reply, `that we shall soon get
hold of them through other agency than our own.
I think we had better venture on remaining here a
few moments longer to wait the result of an effort,
which, I feel quite confident, will be made for this
purpose.'

`Aha, Charley?—been ploughing with the Captain's
heifer, hey? Well, we will wait a little. Yes,
yes, I see now what the sly jade was at, when she
set in so plausibly to have `the loathsome creature,'
carried off to the barn. And, indeed, Charles, I
suspected, soon after I arrived, that you was in for
it, there. But how in the name of Cupid, and Hymen,
and Venus, and all that sort of heathen cattle,
did you happen to pounce upon such a superb piece
of housel stuff? I thought you never strayed so far
down here to the land's end?'

Warrington then related to his companion all the
circumstances connected with his acquaintance with
the diffent members of the Hendee family, his late
discovery relative to his ownership of the land, and
the course which he had, and still intended to pursue
in that respect, without revealing, however, the uncertain
and somewhat peculiar attitude in which he
stood with the daughter.

`Right nobly said and done!' exclaimed the other,
who had listened with the appearance of much
interest to the recital, and who seemed highly to appreciate
the delicate generosity of Warrington, `nobly,
indeed, though with a higher touch of the chivalrous,
I fear, my dear fellow, than you would often
find reciprocated in this wooden age and country.

However, you will one of these days be rewarded, I
suppose, by receiving the same lands, and an article
with them that will richly pay you for your forbearance:
For by all the saints, from St. Paul down to
ragged St. Patrick, I swear, that if there be any
angels of clay—that, though, is nonsense for a married
man. But seriously, Charles, I don't know
when I have seen the like of that girl! A form and
face, the mould of which, I think, must have been
broken with but one cast—eyes with the rich and
lustrous hue of good old indigo, though pure and
clear as the mudless crystal to the very depths of
the soul beyond them. And then her smile, Charles
—enough to craze an anchorite, by heavens!'

`Really, Colonel,' rejoined Warrington jocosely,
`you would make me jealous, if I had but a tithe
of the title to the girl that you seem to suppose.
She is engaged, man, to one Sherwood, the very fellow,
as I this night ascertained from her own lips,
whom we caught and beech-sealed for a spy and traitor,
on our way down the creek, and to whom,
doubtless, we are indebted for this concerted plan
for our seizure.'

`I heard of your doings with that scoundrel, as I
came along a day or two after. And the only fault
I find about is, that you did not string him up, according
to decree of convention, in such case made
and provided. But can it be possible, Charles, that
God ever made this girl for such a fellow? I swear,
I don't believe it! And if there is not enough of
you to set him aside'—

`Well, what then?'

`Why, you don't deserve her, that's all—but
whist! I thought I heard a footstep. See to your
pistols, Charles!'

`All handy, Colonel. But what is your plan if
they beset us here?'

`Why, fight 'em, most likely, I think,—a d—n
poor story, if we two an't a match for those four
half fuddled devils!'

`Certainly, but there were nearly, or quite, as many
more, posted round the house in ambush, or my
ears deceived me sadly.'

`No? were there?'

`Yes, I am positive, colonel.'

`Well, well, Charles, the trifling addition of three
or four more of them, an't worth standing about.
But hush again!' continued the speaker, his voice
sinking to a whisper, `I was right: I just caught the
glimpse of a head peering in at that side door.'

The senses of the big outlaw had not deceived
him. And the object of his suspicion now appeared
several times before the partly opened door;
thought at each time suddenly, and for a moment
withdrawn. At length the door was cautiously opened
considerably wider, and the questionable head
thrust fairly in, where it remained stationary as a
block for a full minute.

`Umph!' at length uttered the object in a low, but
distinct tone.

“All right,' said Warrington, `it is Neshobee, as
I expected.'

`Umph! me come—got um your rifles,' said the
latter, noiselessly advancing, and handing the guns
to each of their respective owners.

`You have done us no fool of a favor, my fine
fellow,' said the elder Green Mountain Boy. `How
did you get the guns out of the house?'

`Missus Alma contrive um all,' replied the Indian.
`She put um out her sleep-room window—then say
it—so me go bring um.'

`A glorious girl, that, by Jupiter!' resumed the
former. `You and she both, my red friend, deserve
a pension at our hands. Here, take hold of this
crown piece, to begin upon.'

`Him good! Cappen, him good afore,' said the
native, taking the proffered coin.

`And I will try to continue so,' said Warrington,
thrusting another crown into the Indian's ready hand
`But any thing more, Neshobee?' he continued,
judging from the other's manner, that he had something
further to impart.

`Missus Alma say me tell um go—say the rest sogers
come in house now, drink rum more again—
say, go straight, quick, better—no stay minute.'

`Good advice, too,' said the big outlaw, `and let
us lose no time in following it. Charles, lead the
way!'

Cautiously emerging from the barn, and clearing
the yard fence, our two friends now proceeded, with
silent but rapid steps, through the open field, till
they gained a knoll about sixty rods from the house,
when the nameless outlaw paused, and looked back.

`Clear of the rascals at last, I believe,' observed
Warrington.

The other made no reply, but stood as if debating
some point in his mind, which he was unable
to decide.

`Well, which way now, Colonel?' resumed the
former, thinking his companion might be hesitating
about the rout they should take.

`Get thee behind me, Satan!' at length exclaimed
the other, violently dashing back both his hands,
`Give me joy, Charles,' he added, without paying
the least attention to the question that had just been
asked him, `give me joy, for I have conquered.'

`Indeed, sir, it is quite impossible for me to comprehend
you.'

`Not comprehend me! O, true, how should you?
It only passed through my mind. Well, Charles, I
have been sorely tempted—never so tempted in my
life.'

`About what, pray?'

`Why, about going over and taking yonder fort
to night. According to your account of the numbers
now on this side, there cannot be over ten or a
dozen left in the garrison. You and I could have
taken their boat here, while they were waiting for
us to get to sleep, slipped over and made the attempt.
I think we could carry it. And ah!'
continued the speaker, rubbing his hands in extacy,
`there would have been glory, glory in it, Charles!
But duty forbade; for a failure certainly, and success,
probably, would have defeated an object of two
fold importance to the country. And conscience
told me I should forego my private wishes for public
good. That object, as stone walls have ears, they
say, I will not name here. But it was that which
brought me into this section. Hendee's situation
here, so near one of the enemy's strong holds, made
it important that his feelings should be known. And
it was for that purpose I called to night, when I unexpectedly
found you. I intended to have been at
a half a dozen other places before this, and I should,
but for this cursed bother with these minions of hell
and New York. We will now on to your encampment.
I called there at sunset. Your lieutenant
had returned. The party sent to seize the surveyor
had just been heard from, and were expected to arrive
with their prisoner to night. He must be tried
and disposed of in a hurry. But have you made

any further discoveries about the York justice, in
this section?'

`I have ascertained his residence, and discovered
the bearing of his feeling towards the enemy—nothing
further.'

`Enough! I have received, since we parted, papers
which settles the case. We must have him up,
and do off all this York business in a batch in the
morning; for there is much to be done to-morrow,
in preparation of a general meeting of the trusty
to-morrow night, in the vicinity of the Middle Falls.
Ah! Charles, there is something afoot, to which this
petty warfare we have been engaged in with New
York, is as a rush light to the meridian sun! I burn
to be in it; for it will be great, daring and glorious!'

Leaving our two Green Mountain Boys to proceed
to their present destination, with hearts swelling
at the thought of the future, and somewhat elated
withal at their fortunate escape from a danger of
certainly no small magnitude, when the vicinage of
the fort, and small chance for a rescue, are considered,
we will return for a moment to the company
we left at the house. It would be difficult to describe
the rage and chagrin of Darrow, and his
men, when, after waiting till they supposed their
two intended victims were helpless in sleep, they
proceeded stealthily, and with undoubting assurance
of an easy victory, to the barn, and discovered that
their birds were both flown. They saw at once that
they had been fairly outwitted by the wily outlaws.
Solacing themselves, however, with a promise of
seizing the fugitives another day, they gave up the
project for the present, well knowing that any attempt
at pursuit would now be utterly useless. And
at the command of Darrow, who kept his future

purposes, whatever they might be, to himself, they
all silently withdrew from the house, and immediately
crossed over to the fort.