Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-07-30


daughter came after her"
:" honor him for the course he has taken,
said Walton, " and am glad that even at this
late hour, he has done that which, but for his
deep rooted prejudices, he would have done long
ago"
| 1t was nearly noon when the trio reached the
shanty, and an exclamation of surprise fell from
the lips of all as they observed it.
Visitors have been here since we left, - said
Waldo.
And quito number of them, Ishould
iudas from the tracks arsS Ss.e lhr sHftty. I
Ssrhaps il was only Tparty Of emigrants,
looking up a spot to pitch upon. =
Reckon not, said Ham, g for 'cording to
my notion Of things, they wouldn't tramp all
around the shanty, and go book the way they
came, if they were after claim"
Right, Ham" exclaimed Waldo. % There
are no tracks beyond here, but had not tho't
of it before"
" we an idea that whoever twas they af
ter something
And that something is no less than you and
myself said Waldo, turning to Montague.
But can it be! "
1t is my opinion we were followed last
night, and this morning they came here to Sc
cure US, and found us gone.'
I" 1t is Maitland's work"
~ hardly think so, if my pistol did its work
and nothing but mere chance in Thousand
could have prevented it."
Perhaps so, We are evidently marked men,
and the question arises, what are we to do "
Z" If we stay here, we are liable to be arrest
ed, and if we leave we may fare no better"
" How long is such state of things to exist,
when man cannot pursue his way through the
territory, without being arrested and treated
like one guilty of some heinous crime! Is there
no law to prevent this!"
q 1t makes but little difference, Walton,
whether there is or is not a law SO long as JUS
tice is in the hands of such men as Jones and
Lecompte. What more brutal deed can be con-
ceived than the murder of Brown, and yet the
Kickapoo Rangers belong to the Law and Order
party, which rule the Territrry. Men have been
arrested without even the sign of writ, but
never will be until see one executed in due
form. We are liable to be arrested as horse
thieves, and in the eye of the law we are such.
Let them take us if they can"
:" When they presenta legal order for my
lapprshansian shay yield ynd trnst 10 luel a6
terwards, as did at Lecompton. twill not dc
for US to resist the law for it will only give ouI
enemies ground for the commtal of greater out
RACES than we have yet SEEM"
=" Here's more of their tarnal doings," ex-
claimed Ham, issuing from the shanty with the
pistols of Waldo and Montague in his hands
d" Ham, what are you doing with those weap
ons!"
"Trying the powder, but for some reason OF
nuther it won't go, and adjusting caps to thu
barrels, he pulled the trigger, which caused NJ
report save the explosion of the cap.
Walton, were not those pistols loaded whel
we left this morning?"
Yes. | put fresh powder in mine at least.
And so did in my own. see through i
all now. Those internal scoundrels have damp
ened the powder so as to ehectually prevent an.
resistance upon their return here. 1t is fortu
nate that Ham discovered it in time
I" 1t is indeed so. But come let us broil som
of this venison, and then we will attend to ou
weapons "
A fire was kindled and portion Of the mea
was soon in preparation for eating. 1t require
but a few moments to render it ready for tn
: palate, and drawing some bread from knaI
sack which Ham carried they were soon in tn
enjoyment of rcpast fit for king.
There'l be ii devil of time" said Ham
as piece after piece Of the venison disat peare
s down his capacious throat
I" We expect it," replied Waldo.
What is the plan of operations in case the
try any of their games!
e " If they attempt our arrest in legal mar
0 ner, for one shall submit"
"And also,' said Walton.
n "Well, III be blamed if shall !; for it
n too much like putting yer foot in kettle
hot water to see whether it will burn you
}, not. I'm for giving them whipping, as the
It deserve. Howsomever Faint going to run ii
l. the time comes
d eff you think of leaving you had best n,
wait till they reach us, for if there is numb
is you will stand but poor chance to escape"
IS "I'l risk it any way. I've alters been bless
I, with good luck enough to give them the sli
7, and can do it again"
n You can stay, then, if you wish Sbou
" we be taken. and you escape, inform our lrien
% of our arrest"
is I'm do it and may be I'll happen roul
30 some time in the night. If do, when y
N hear sound like this, you may know /
)r there"
Of Ham placed his hands to his mou th, and ga
lg an imitation OF the screech of an owl in such
le perfect manner as would have deceived the mC
n, practiced ear.
~ I" learnt that music when | wasn't kn
ls high to woodchuck, and used TO use it to ft
e- the boys when they were out cunning. o
day see an old chap go out in the woods wi
a his gun; so followed him. When got in
er the woods, climbed II tree and put the mul
in motion. was in an alfred great hemloc
as and the branches were 50 thick you couldn't /
les out no how. Well he came round the tree u
til looked into it spell, and then stopt. VIII
he started off I'D begin again, and kept hi
he agoing TILL he got SO mad he drew up and fir
se into the tree, swearing if he couldn't scare {
sh owl out he'd climb the tree himself. When
Ike fired, | lelt an alfred twinge in my right le