Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-01-15

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each other; the negroes deserted their kit
chens, and with starting eyes and chattering
teeth, ventured unrebuked into the parlors.
A chilly feeling Of dismay seemed to pervade
all classes; conversations were low and mys.
terious furtive glances were thrown toward
the dark corners Of the room one and all
declared that this was the very night for
Hydcr TO be on tho wing and not soul in
the whole colony but was in momentary APP
prehension Of seeing the dark scowling brow
Of the brigand, peering over his shoulder, and
fancied his pockets rifed his nose tweaked
and that portion Of his person, where
honor is wont to take her humble seat, suf-
fering under the form ofaggression known to
be habitual to this most irreverent ma
raudcr.
The potentates Of the town, however,
were men Of other calibre-persons Of great
rotundity of abdomen, and Of corresponding
courage. They had viewed the spoliations
of Hyder with an angry eye, and thought il
full time that his high-handed domination
should be put to an end.
In stou, hearted squads of four or five, we'll
mufiled with shawls and wrappers, they set
out for tho place Of meeting keeping the
middle Of the path, and having wary eye
about them, to guard against surprise or am
buscado-for however bold and bravo Alex
ander or Julius Caesar, or other worthless Of
the same kidney, may have been in taking
the foe in open combat, yet history afforded
the worthy burgomastcrs no authority for
supposing ,hateven they would have preferred
to be first made aware Of hi. presence by an
a posteriori demonstration.
The house of Myndert Quackenboss stood
not far from the brink of the East River. Il
was tall, gaunt building of gables. 1t had
a Haunting sign over the door, whose mourn
full creaking sank deeply into the hearts and
courage of the patriotic fathers of Nieuw
Amsterdam, and filled them with gloomy
forebodings as to the fate of their beloved city.
Not man crossed the Threshold, who had
not mcdltatcd the passage the resolution Of
the most determined character.
Nothing can be more impressive, than an
assemblage Of the age and intellect Of a
country in the hour of darkness and danger,
met together to devise means for averting
some great national calamity; and history
loves to pause for an instant to contemplate
so solemn, so touching spectacle.
Such was the meeting of that night
! There was the wealthy Rupert Ten Eyck,
whose cabbage gardens and money bags
, were the envy ofthc New Netherlands. And
there was the profound and judicious Klaas
; Van HIg-nOt to mention many others
men of war-renowned for valor on the field,
and judgment in the council. And as they
sat round the hall which was wont to be the
scene Of these reverend asscmblages of all
the wealth and wisdom of Nicuw Amsterdam
with their ample itankards at their elbows,
and their pipes all lighted, like the fearful
array of tho matches of loaded battery
lMyndert Quackcnboss, in the exurbrant ex-
nltation Of his heart, was tempted TO with
draw his pipe from his lps-to pause for half
il minute in the emission of his curling VOL
lcys of smoke-and to burst forth in the
Triumphant ejaculation, that if such meet
ing could not put down this vagrant thief,
then nothing could-and he only wished that
he were there to see them
Scarce was this complimentary remark Ut
tered, than, as if in answer to it, came a
sharp, loud knock at the door, which had
been locked to prevent intrusion. A DEATH
like stiffness pervaded tho room, and more
deathlke paleness was seen to pervadc the
habitual rubicundity of the bold speaker who
had just given uttcrance to so fearfully rash
sentiment. The knock was repeated with
lredoublcd violence. Not a soul stirrcd-till
there came third and louder summons, and
then blow evidently from foot that SEEM
edo ell used to such application of its vigor,
which carried lock and bolt before it {: and in
stalkcd the applicant, man of gigantic
height, muilied in cloak from which the
water strcamcd in torrent; with his broad
brimmed hat slooched down so as completely
to hide his face.
"Dondcr and bitten, what night" ex-
claimed he, as he entered, and stalking
across the room and drawing a small stool
from corner, he seated himself directly in
front Of the fire. Then without needing the
perplexi,y Of the assembly, nor the utter
dismay of the landlord, he threw off his wet
wrapper, displaying pair of shoulders Of
immense breadth, and a profusion of shaggy
elf-locks dripping with rain. Thcre was
something too, winch occasionally glittered
beneath his vest in the light of the fire, which
struck those who caught sight Of it, as not
unlike the butt Of pistol.
| S"'S'"o INV SoUNCtSdtIO VIII
any one, Or appearing to notice those about
him, the stranger drew pipe from his pock-
ct; and lighting it by coal Of fire, COM
+ menced smoking with the GOODNESS and ease
/ Of one at his own liresidc.
d 1t was the good fortune and the pride OF
Nieuw Amsterdam to number among her
sons, one Stoael Steinbach, a man of grea,
. intrepidity and valor inasmuch as he had
served in several desperate campaigns agains,
| the Indians, in which there had been flri-
ous discharge Of menaccs and hard epithets
! on the part of the Dutch, but little waste Of
5 other ammunition. On these occasions
$ Stoflel, being a man Of large frame, and Of
5 powerful lungs, acquitted himself in man.
ner that drew upon him the applause of the
whole province, and established for the name
of Stenbach fame for daun,less valor, lit.
tie inferior to that of Hydcr himself
Such was the man who now took prom
inent part in the deliberations Of the sages OF
Nieuw Amsterdam, and upon whose well.