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Mercy!" exclaimed Ruth in alarm; "if it should be the Green Mountain Boys!"

"The worst would be their own, I think," coolly observed the Captain; "that is, if they come to show us such play as it is said they have shown some on Otter Creek."

"What would you do father, in case they should come on such an errand?” asked Alma, with an air of mingled curiosity and

concern.

"What would I do, child? Why, I would put a rifle bullet through the first one who should attempt to enter, even if it should be Warrington himself. Besure, I know but little of this cursed dispute about titles. They may have as much right to lands that they have bought, and first improved, as the Yorkers, for aught that I know; and I was never for hanging them for fighting in such a case. But here why, zounds! do you think when I have got the first possession, and done so much upon the place, that I am a going to give it up to the greedy dogs? No! not if their great devil and all generalissimo, Ethan Allen, should come on with all his forces, would I give it up without a fight! Hoo! they shall have my heart's blood first!"

"I trust there will be no necessity for bloodshed any where, father," rejoined the daughter quite composedly; "I have reason to that is, I do not believe the Green Mountain Boys will make the least attempt to molest us."

"Well-well, girl," said the Captain, scanning the other closely, and at first with rather a puzzled air, which soon, however, gave way to a look of approbation; "I must say that does not seem much like borrowing trouble, as most of you women do in such cases. However, I have been taught by the Indians, and sometimes have paid dear for my schooling too, that this borrowing trouble is not always so bad a thing after all; as it generally keeps us well guarded against a surprise. But here comes our scout; so let us hear his report. Well, Neshobee, they say you are scouting to-night- what is in the wind?”

"Me hark um, but no tell um," replied the Indian, quietly taking his place by the fire.

The dog in the yard now gave one of those faint, indecisive sort of yelps usual with the animal when doubtful whether he has heard something that should require his notice.

"Beagle thinks pretty much as you do, Neshobee," said the Captain, comprehending the tone of the dog: "but hark!" he added, as the animal barked again, and in a more decided man

ner; “I can't read that so easily. What do you make of it, boy?"

"Beag say that no four-foot coming, Cappen," said the native, unconcernedly.

"Is the rifle well loaded, Neshobee?" asked the Captain, glancing at the fire-arms suspended by hooks on the wall. "Yas!"

"And the fowling-piece?"

"Me spose um.

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Very well, down with them, then! Alma, step and bring me my pistols and in the mean time we will bar the door Ruth, lend a hand! If these fellows," continued the Captain, coolly assisting to execute the several commands he had so rapidly given to his household - "if these fellows had any honest errand, they would come up to the house at once like men, instead of skulking around at a distance, as they evidently are. We may as well be prepared for them.”

required pistols, and 'Father, I do beg of ascertain what

Father," said Alma, returning with the now manifesting the most lively concern. you not to think of firing on any one rashly they want, at all events. Your apprehensions, I think, are wholly groundless I cannot think I cannot think - indeed I am very sure

A gentle rap, rap, rap! on the outside of the door caused the speaker suddenly to suspend. All now stood hushed in silence, till the rapping was repeated, in several louder and more distinct knocks.

CHAPTER X.

But who was he, that on his hunting spear
Lean'd with a prouder and more fiery bearing?
His was a brow for tyrant hearts to fear,
Within the shadow of its dark locks wearing

That which they may not tame - a soul declaring
War against earth's oppressors."

"HALLO, there!" called out Captain Hendee, in no very gentle tones, as he cocked his pistols, and threw himself into an attitude of defence. "Hallo! who comes?"

"No enemy, to say the least," answered the voice without.

"Let him in, father, do let him in!" said Miss Hendee, in a low beseeching tone.

"What, without giving his name!" said the Captain. "Why child, I do n't know that voice from Adam's! No, no, friend or foe, he shall undergo that ceremony."

"Well, father, you can just ask him, without being so rough, can't you?" interposed the daughter, in an earnest half whisper, quietly placing her hand on the arm of the other.

"Friend," said Captain Hendee, softening down at the entreaties of his daughter, and as it occurred to him that the tones of the voice he had just heard were entirely of a pacific character; "friend, will you favor us with your name ?"

"Captain Hendee," said the man, seeming to hesitate about complying, "I am wholly unattended, your dog here seems to acknowledge my acquaintance, and if you will not do the same, when I am admitted," he added in rather a jocose tone, “I will agree to depart as peaceably as I came."

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Humph! me know that man talk! Him no bad! said the Indian, with a low chuckle.

The Captain, now, evidently a little chagrined at the suspicions he had entertained, and the parade he had made, immediately drew out the bar, and opened the door; when the visitor entered, but quickly paused, after entering the threshold, to receive the scrutinizing look of the other.

"What! no-yes, 't is !" exclaimed Hendee, between perplexity and surprise, after looking a few seconds into the face of the new-comer. Well, now, by the great Jupiter! if I am not absolutely ashamed of myself! Mr. Howard!" he continued, advancing, and cordially shaking the other by the hand, "Mr. Howard, God bless you, sir, how do you do? Apologies by the dozen are yours!or should be, if such moon-shine concerns were ever worth offering. But walk in, walk in, sir. Here are my family - all together now - they were not when you saw us, I think. Alma you are acquainted with Miss Ruth, this is Mr. Howard. And here is another, Neshobee, we call him, a native, as you perceive, but for all that an adopted member of our family."

Miss Hendee, though much embarrassed at this meeting, in spite of all her attempts to appear composed, managed nevertheless, to exchange the customary salutations in such a manner as to conceal her embarrassment from all except her lover; between whom and herself it seemed to be tacitly understood that they should meet each other as for the first time, without making the slightest allusion to their late interview. There was another of the family group also, that came in for his share of surprise, at least, at some of the circumstances attending this meeting. And that was the Indian. Not expecting to see Warrington here till he heard his voice at the door, and never dreaming till this moment, but that the latter and his master's family were entire strangers, the poor fellow, when he saw them meet as old acquaintances, and above all, when he heard Captain Hendee address the other by the name of Howard, looked perfectly confounded, and expressed as much unfeigned astonishment as an Indian countenance, perhaps, ever exhibited. The instinctive prudence of his race, however, prevented him from betraying, by words, his surprise and perplexity, or exposing Warrington in the disguise which he supposed was for some good reasons assumed.

"Well, Mr. Howard," resumed the Captain, after the usual salutations were over, "I am right happy to renew my acquain tance with you, and have the opportunity to express personally, my obligations to you for your many kindnesses to us at the time of my accident on the road. You probably thought our departure rather abrupt on your return. But you received my note, did you not?"

"No, sir, neither note nor message.”

"What! then that old heedless poodle of a landlady forgot it, or more probably lost it, and to mend the matter, thought she

would conceal from you that I gave her one. Well, well, you must have thought us rather singular beings, as well for that as for some other things you perhaps noticed in us. For I remember, we kept you pretty much in the dark about our affairs. The fact was, Mr. Howard, and I care not now who knows it, that I was then under the apprehension of being pursued and taken back by creditors, before I could reach my connections in Albany, where I expected to obtain the means of satisfying them, as I did, before making this purchase."

"You did not return then?"

- made a

"No! When I arrived there, finding that sales were making in these lands, I concluded on a life in the woods. purchase came on here the first season with hired men, and then sent for Alma from Albany, and the rest of the family and goods from Connecticut."

“And what directed you particularly to this location ? ”

66

My own knowledge of the country, obtained in the wars when I was campaigning with Put and Rogers along the borders of this then bloody lake. I remember this spot well. A pitch had been made here by some Frenchmen, who cleared up several acres, lived here a few years, and then deserted the place. This was the first opening made this side of the Connecticut river, all the rest of the country being, at the time I first saw the spot, one broad, unbroken wilderness. Many a weary march, and many a cold, wet bed, have I had on these dark and tangled shores. I have often wondered how we could have outlived such hardships. With the constitution and spirits I then possessed, however, I had but little dread of the woods, or the red imps that infested them. But my days of fighting are now over, Mr. Howard."

"Some, in my situation, with these evidences around, might feel disposed to doubt that, Captain," smilingly observed Warrington motioning to the fire-arms, which had not been yet replaced.

" but

If

"Ah, you have me there," gaily responded the other; honestly, we were expecting visits of a different character. those rough dealing devils, the Green Mountain Boys, had beset us, instead of our peaceable old friend, Dr. Hunter, there is no telling but even so broken down an old Trojan, as I am, might have shown some fight on the occasion."

"Perhaps, sir,” replied the guest in the same spirit; I should tender my condolence at your disappointment in not being allowed the chance to exercise your old vocation.”

“Not a whit, not a whit, sir: For I should extremely regret

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