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"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 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.

God speed you all,

ANN STORY."

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 scarce 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 those 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 surprise, and then hurrying with them by night over the country to the British fort at Ticonderoga, 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 lurking 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, whoever 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 on 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, but, using it only so far as might best favor them in their object of discomfiting 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 movables 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.

CHAPTER II.

"Thus, spite of prayers, her schemes pursuing,
She went on still to work our ruin;

Annul'd our charters of releases,
And tore our title-deeds to pieces;
Then signed her warrants of ejection,

And gallows raised to stretch our necks on;
And straightway sent, like dogs to bait us,
MUNROE, with posse comitatus."

LEAVING our little band of Green Mountain Boys to discuss and settle the manner of receiving their expected visitors, and to make their dispositions for carrying such plan, as should be finally adopted, into effect, we will now change the scene a little, and introducing the reader to those visitors themselves, accompany him and them to the scene of action.

In a thickly wooded swamp, near the northern extremity of the lake before described, were assembled a group of ten men, awaiting the approach of darkness, which was already beginning to settle in successive and fast increasing shades upon the low lands and glens along the foot of the mountain. They were all armed, though variously some having muskets, some large pistols, and some only oaken cudgels. Apart from the rest stood their leader, a stern, rough looking personage, engaged in a low, earnest conversation with another individual, of the apparent age of twentyfive, whose dress and general demeanor seemed to forbid the conclusion that he was either a common follower, or one in any command; and yet, from the interest he manifested in the business in hand, it was evident he was in some way connected with the expedition. As the last named person may occupy considerable space in our tale, we will pause to note his personal appearance more particularly: he was of about the middle height, well made, though of rather slight proportions. His features, though regular, were common-place and inexpressive, with the exception of a pair of small, twinkling, black eyes, in which an observant spectator might often read meaning considerably at variance with the import of his language, his plausible manners, and the obsequious, smirking smile, which he usually assumed while address

ing those with whom he had a point to carry. The construction of his head seemed to be somewhat peculiar - his forehead, which was very tall, being nearly in the shape of a triangle, with the base resting on the eyebrows, and the sides narrowing to an apex at the hair above; while his head, as far back as the ears, swelling upwards into large protuberances, might be better represented by a triangle reversed. His dress was of a finer tex ture than that of any of his present associates, or that ordinarily worn by the settlers, and his whole appearance, indeed, denoted some connection with the more wealthy and fashionable classes of society.

"You say, Sherwood," observed the former of the two last mentioned persons, at that part of their dialogue which it concerns us to repeat: you say that, from having been yourself at this cave, you know all the surrounding localities?"

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"Exactly-just as I described to you when I reached you last night. There can be no mistaking the place. They are still there, as is evident from the smoke which we saw rising over the spot just now, while passing the head of the lake. The path is now plain, and the game sure, without further guidance; so I think, as I began to suggest to your honor a few minutes ago, that you may now dispense with my further attendance. If I should be seen by any of their party, I should be delicately situated here in the settlement."

"To the devil with your delicacy! Why, man, do you think I am going on in the dark, stumbling over logs and through bogs, without a guide? Even you are none too good a one for this cursed hole; but such as you are, in the king's name I retain you; so not another word about quitting us till the scoundrels are secured."

"I am certainly aware, Mr. Munroe, of the importance of securing this Warrington, so great a disturber of the public peace, but

"Disturber! doubly damned rebel! Why, no man in the settlement has caused me so much trouble, considering his audacious assault on me, and all. It will do me more good to see him hung than to sit at the king's banquet."

"O, certainly—it would me; and I would by all means aid you even to the capture, if your honor's well known sagacity and bravery on such occasions did not render my assistance wholly unnecessary."

"Well, well, Jake," replied the Sheriff, relaxing a little from his wonted roughness at the flattering expressions of the other;

"suppose I am all that you say, it wont serve me in finding a fox's hole in these woods any better than the instinct of any country booby, nor half so well. I tell you, Sherwood, you must conduct us to the place, at least; for we shall then have enough to do to take the fellow, and, what is worse, to get him through the settlement to Ticonderoga. Why, there is not an old woman in all the Grants but will fight for the scoundrel as if he was one of her own brats."

"O, there can be no great trouble, the surprise will be so great; but as your honor desires it, I will go so far as to point out the place, on condition that I then be allowed to keep out of sight."

"Yes, but your half of the reward for taking the fellows, for you say that there is at least one outlaw besides Warrington; you wont claim all that, unless you help us through the whole affair, will you?

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"Your honor forgets that I was only to conduct you so far as to point out their retreat."

"Have it your own way, then but I hate to see a fellow so keen on the chase, and then become so devilish prudent the moment he approaches the game," grumbled Munroe, turning away to give some orders to his men, preparatory to resuming their march.

It having now become sufficiently dark for their purpose, the party were put in motion for the prosecution of their enterprise. And after striking a light, and procuring some materials for torches from the pine knots gathered in the surrounding windfalls, they set forward towards the place of their destination, then about a mile distant. Keeping as far from the shore of the lake as the nature of the ground would permit, lest the gleams of their light, striking across the water to the vicinity of the cave, should betray their approach, they pursued their way along the foot of the mountain with all possible silence and caution; while the glare of their torches, glittering on the points of the crags, and thrown back on to the dark forms, and eager and flushed visages of the party, gliding stealthily along in Indian file beneath the overhanging cliffs, like tigers for their prey, gave them a singularly wild and almost unearthly appearance. At length they arrived at a sharp knoll, which, running down from the main ridge above to the water, had so far screened their approach, and enabled them to advance with their lights unseen within a few hundred yards of the cavern. Here they made a brief halt to arrange their forces for the onset. As soon as this was effected, Munroe and

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