Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-14
CHAPTER ".
DISAPP0INT NJ f Mt.

Hartman was now recognized Snagger.-
The first business after introducing him to their
workshops, and loop-holcs of retreat" was
to teach him q sort of tongue peculiar to the
Snaggers, which, he was told, when among
them, he would be often expected to employ, to
the exclusion of all other language. This
charge was committed to q female, with whom,
for his greater proficiency, Hartman was to be
mainly associated in mental services till he
should have acquired the gift of speech. -
She was a short, squabby vixen, wife of good
natured Scot, named McDermot. Yet if one
could keep on the "rlght side " of her, which
was somewhat difficult, since she was, at least,
hexagonal in her temper, she would do them
good, when otherwise she might be evilly in
clined. But Hartman knew but little of her
disposition, consequently before he was fairly
installed, for some slight faur pas, she poured
on him volley of epithets that made his ears
tingle He was returning the fire with hearty
good will when McDermot appeared.
"Saul o. my pody! " said the Scot, " what's
the collie-shangy here?'
"The daidling wife earle cas- me gte," said
she, and forbye in my ain biggia he means
to crown the causey. The gowk St'o ne'or-
be-licket -
Hout fe Hout fe " said McDermot in
terrupting her. "Dinna ye ken, mon, ye suld-
ma cross the woman when she is thrawn? Ju-
dith is unco winsome when over mickle wark
does ma make her fashious,-an' ye maun baud
yer temper, mon, else ye maun drink the stirrup
cup an gang yer ain gate; for we are a tarr'd
wi the same stick here, an gin ye be ne'er-
be-licket, or she wee bit the deevils buckle,
ye maunna snotter an snivel, or show the cauld
shouther here, or ony sic like"
Profting by the good-natured interposition of
the husband Hartman resolved to escape from
his servitude to Mistress McDermot, and make
terms with her. Accordingly he made her
submissive apology, and proposed to McDermot
to accompany him in taking survey OF the
Snaggers' Retreat.
"It's a. vera weel, SIR" said Judith good
: naturedly, "an' I may blame myself belike
, mair nor you. was wee bit DAFT when
ca d We gowk an ne'er-be-licket, but ye are ma
} che waur for a. that, Mr.. Hartman, an ye let
byganes be byganes, lang weel it be afore Judith
McDermot weel say onything4cvil anent ye. L
am ma blearing yer ee moo, Mr. Hartman. Sac
y gang ye AVA wi my gudemon, an sec what
yer cen may find to leuk att
Harriman's humble apology having secured
the good will of Judith, he and McDermot sal
: lied forth to take general survey of the Snag-
1 gers Retreat. They proceeded a short distance
toward the Lake when McDermot stopped, and
scraping with his feet among dry leaves on the
Q ground, exposed a stone hatch hung by straps
of iron on the under side and SO nicely fitted to
s its place that only an observant eye would
a have perceived that it was placedthere by design
! Taking whistle from his pocket, he blew q
q short, shrill blast, and the hatch sprung up.
n Here ye maun ken," said McDermot, des
cending and striking light, I" is the store
i house." --s---~
J. 1t was long, narrow, underground room
"a walled on either side with stone, and archet
with the same material. Here were carefully
packed considerable quantities of silver copper
platina, and other metals crucibles, dies, plas
h ter of paris, brimstone arsenic, steel and copper
plates for engraving great variety of tools o
! the most finished workmanship, printing ant
J. bogus presses and in short, all the material
If and implements necessary for an extensive ant
d skillful forgery of paper and coin. Here wer,
also large lots of counterfeit coin in various de
,e grees of perfection, and Bank notes wholly, OF
in part, filled up, or in blank and oil evincine
a studied system, cunning and secresy. Nc
70 Dermot pulled a small string and the trap-doo
was shut.
ar Moo gang ahint me, said he to Hartman
I" and take baud o. my kilt an ye wull, fo
,r the wind belize may blaw the light out ant
ID yer cen sail see the maist canny warkmen tn
Of halle warld kens o."
a Accordingly being held by the skirts of hi
coat, McDermot led the way through low
of narrow pass, chiseled in stone, at the farthe
A. extremity of which was an upright door Of un
oe hewn stone hung on straps of iron on the inne
e. side. He touched a spring not visible to Harri
in man, and the door swung open. They wer
40 ushered into large, irregularly shaped room