Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-11
HARLEY HARTMAN;
OR,
The Snaggers of Memphremagog.
A Tale of the Canada border Counterfefters.

THE PLOT THTCKENs,

CHAPTER XVI.
THE PLOT THICKENs.
Hartman was surprised and at a loss to ac
count for the strong emotions to which Clovi
was subject when William Belden and hi
mother were spoken Jf, for hsknew nothingfo
the circumstances connected with the death o
Mrs Belden, or the rccollections which his owl
words had stirred up in the mind of Clovis
and he had no other belief than that the moth
er of the boy was the wife of Musgrave Bu
he now felt as if he could rely safely on the co
operation of Clovis; and aside from any con
slderations of aid that William Belden nigh
Offer, his regard and sympathy for the virtue
of the boy, made him quite willing, and solicit
GUS even, to encourage, and assist in his escape
Mrs. McDermot had treated his children will
such uniform kindness and had afforded to AL
ice so much of encouragement and hope, in al
her gloom and despondency, that Hartman fel
that he owed the recognition of his children tx
the steadfast and disinterested kindness of th,
Scot. He was not willing, therefore, that she
or her husband, should suffer any of therctribu
tion for their offences, which he now felt it nee
essary to expose many Of his compeers to, ii
order to save his children from certain death
Or fate more to be dreaded by him than in
stant annihilation. Could he have devised sucl
plans for the escape of his children, upon which
he could rely with reasonable hope, as woulc
shut out the chance for exposure of his associ
ates, he would gladly have done SO, and adopted
them. But Alice was a woman, incapable O
enduring the fatigues, and Impractical in thu
strategy, that would be necessary to effect
stealthy retreat; and the attempt if discovered
he we'll knew, as Clovis had said, would forever
seal the doom Of such as might have the temer-
ity to make it. His comrades would tolerate
no doubtful adherents. His children were now
dearer to him than ever before, and there was
no hope of deliyerance to them but that he
should become, like the stern and wholesome
vitality of Law, for the safeguard of Innocence,
the punishment of Guilt.
Having thus determined, he was resolving on
means to effect his purpose when Clovis re-en-
tered.
"He is agreed" said the latter, :" and not
only agreed, but ready and anxious to go. To-
night let us be off,
- Have you not already named difficulties
that would be great in the way of your escape
even, or mine, Clovis? How then can Won ex-
pect that we can escape with the young girl,
who would be an incumbrance to us and her
brother who is entirely ignorant of the way, if
we have none to aid us? And especially, when
the strangers can hardly move within the mar
row limits of the Retreat, when less than half
score of eyes are on them?"
Well take the dogs with us, and defy the
whole gang" said Clovis.
. Aye, but are not the dogs already set upon
the watch from early twilight till the sun is up
and shames them to their kennel? Besides. can
you turn the dogs upon the familiar faces they
have for years met here? Theirs is fidelity
that would put to the blush the principles of
most of their masters here, if the latter would
but take thought of the CONTRAST
" You are right, Rolph In the name of
Heaven then, what shall we do?"
"Ill tell you, Clovis. You and Billy have
long been suspected by all the gang of having
an attachment, and strong sympathy, for the
girl The impression is abroad and Mol and
Pellet take pains to excite it more, that either of
you would be glad to aid her to escape, though
it should bring to the rest of us-our deserts
And swear would, Roph, but for YOU
and Billy"
8 Both OF you are watched, and when Mus
grave comes, a little ripple on the Lake, that
comes and goes like bad mem memory of their
crimes, will mark the burial place of the stran-
ger children and then--the iron rufles for
your neck and Billy's, because you loved the
girls beauty more than Mol's, and let the
golden pen of Truth, guided by her soft hand,
write 'unc1ean, unclean,' upon your hearts"
" By Heavens, Rolph, have mistrusted as
much, but how did you know t?"
How did know you loved the girl, Clovis =?
guessed it from what saw You never told
any one, but tried to conceal the fact; and 50,
from what have seen, guessed the rest.''
Rolph, there is more of the villain in Mus
grave than in any other five men ever knew
and have seen many desperate men in nv
day"
g You are right, Clovis, and we must get clear
of him, though it bring others necks to the
noose"
Agreed, Rolph, but howl"
q As | said, I'll tell you. You and Billy are
suspected of friendship for the Strangers am
supposed to be their bitter enemy as in truth
a little while since, was Now, on their ac-
count, Musgrave's presence is anxiously desired,
and you know it has been unusually long defer
red. Once he was sent for by Pellet, and lucki-
ly that monster came back without tidings of
the monster he was sent to meet. Now I will
propose to Moll, from pure love to the gang
and hatred to the strangers, to send sealed
N ,ssage by you to Musgrave, exhorting his I'M
mediate presence here to dispose of the stran.
GERS"
"Rolph s" said Clovis interupting him.
" Hear me, Clovis, and then If you doubtmo,
say So"
"Well, but remember -" |,