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

and not little unseemly. Klaas, however,
on occasions, was gifted with vast supply
ofthat moral courage generally designated by
the ancients under the name of vis ;nertie
and faithful to his purse, submitted to several
hearty thwacks across the shoulders, and an
equal number Of shakings that nearly suflo-
Gated him, before he drew it forth. But at
last it camc-a plethoric little bag Of leather,
with bottle belly, crammed to bursting, and
tightly secured at the neck with cravat Of
greasy leather.
"Pray, don't trouble yourself" said Hy-
der, seeing him preparing to unloose the
string; and removing the bag with gentle
violence from the hand that clutched it, the
brigand quietly deposited it in his own pocket.
"Ter Tuyfel!" exclaimed Klaas, car
ried far beyond his usual mild forbearance at
this cool appropriation of his funds, "that
bag contains thousand guilders |"
$50 much the BETTER" replied Hyder.
"As shall frequently deliver myself up to
the authorities, l take it as payment in adj
vance Of the rewards which they doubtless
intend to offer hereafter. So much for that
and now for the taxes" exclaimed he
fiercely; and dashing his hat to the floor he
drew a pistol-cocked it with a dreadful
double click that echoed fearfully round the
room-and ran his eye savagely over the
whole assembly, as if selecting a victim.
"That hat" said he, pointing to il with his
pistol, "must be filled--ay, to the brim-and
the man that is last shall have the contents OF
this for receipt" said he, tapping the band
of the weapon.
The words acted like magic. Never was
legal or illegal process for the payment Of
money so rapid in its operation. Never had
the ple,horic sages of Neuw Amsterdam,
displayed such fests Of agility;-and never,
since the days of Danae, had there been such
a shower of gold. Those were hard money
times, and not one minute had elapsed before
the wish so politely limited by the brigand
had been complied with.
Advancing, and raising the hat, he bowed
courteously to the assembly, and said
"Worthy Mynheers, thank ye for your
liberality and as any backwardness 10 COM
ply with my reasonable request, has eviden-
fly arisen from inability rather than dsinclin-
alton, l shall omit the unnecessary form of my
promised receipt-the rather, as it would be
impossible for me TO decide which of the
three last who have made their deposites is
entitled to it, and neither appears anxious tc
tlaim it." Then advancing to Stofiel Stein
back, he took him cordially by the nose
and shaking it heartily-not emitting cor.
responding favor in another quarter, which
deposited the discounted hero against the
wall at the opposite side of the room-ht
civilly wished him pleasant evening, at tho
same time stating that he would no Longer
intrude upon the meeting; and exhor,ing then
by all means to adopt rigorous measures tt
put stop to all pitering and above all tc
shake the stern arm Of the law over all isIant
marauders.
As he approached the door, however, h,
turned abruptly about and addressing then
in tone that made them quake, forbad,
any to quit the building for fifteen minutes
" or else !'-here he shook his pistol in
manner sufficiently expressive. In anothe
moment, he had disappeared in the dark
ness-and then the plash Of an oar was sool
heard in the river, even above the wailng
Of the storm.
! For the time prescribed, the dignitarics o
that worthy city sat as if spell-bound bu
no sooner had it expired, than the room wa
deserted and in fifteen minutes more tn,
town was in uproar. The men swore round
ly, the women screamed. the dogs barked
the bells rang, and several who still retained
their presence of mind, retrcated to the fort
and having double-shotted the guns, pourc'
volley directly into the heart of the cabba
ges of Communipaw, an unonending littl
Dutch settlement on the opposite side of tin
Hudson.
The brigand, however, being on the rive
on the opposite side of the town, despite tn
cannonading of Communipaw, and the flashing
Of the storm, reached his home in safety
and the spirit of the Colony, Stohe
Steinbach and all, being completely broker
BY this last unheard-of feat of audacity
Hyder continued TO reign, so long as h
chose to make his abode in these parts, tn
undlsturbed monarch Of the waters ofNieuy
Amsterdam.