Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-21

at her feet gave vent to low, angry growl, and
Bruno did the same.
"Hush, Wolf! Be STILL Fangs" said she
in low voice.
"Down, Bruno " said Pellet, and the dogs
were quiet.
Again they began their watch, and half an
hour elapsed undisturbed when the dogs again
betrayed signs of uneasiness. Moll undid the
chains about her ankles, and with low, half
blast on whistle, summoned Clovis
to force the dogs to submission. He undid the
leash about their necks and the feree mastitls,
either of which was sufficient to throttle a
moose, were entirely obedient to his will. Be-
lieving the danger, if any, to be near, Clovis
proposed to let the dogs ferret it. Pellet and
Moll assented, and at word from Clovis the
animals disappeared in the forest When they
returned, which was after an hour or two, they
were followed by Musgrave and the scouts who
had been sent out to reconnoitre.
A loud shout and derisive laugh onMoll'sac-
count, which essentially irritated her, followed
their arrival, and the party repaired to the Hall
Here table was soon spread that the rarest
glutton might envy. 1t was burdened with
great abundance and variety of the most tender
and delicious wild flesh and fowls fish from the
cool depths of the Lake; with pastry, conserves,
and fresh fruits of foreign and domestic growth,
in reckless profusion and a reserve of the mel
lowest wines and some more vigorous beverage
all dressed and arranged in manner that would
do honor to the best of stewards, Or the prince
of cooks A season of hilarity, to use mild
term, followed, and did not terminate till late
hour in the night.
The anticipation of conflict was exciting to
Hartman, and that and the scenes in which he
was now participating, served more efficiently
than all else he had witnessed to reconcile him
to the lawless life he was voluntarily resigning
himself to. He participated with extraordinary
zest in the evenings entertainment, and relished
highly the sharp and well seasoned jests with
which Moll was overwhelmed for her efforts to
fortify the Camp against imaginary dangers.
Musgrave's arrival was earlier by twenty-four
hours than was expected. He was in the habit
of making frequent journeys to, and from, tho
Retreat, but seldom anticipating the time of his
arrival thther, of which the party might bc
appraised, excepting in cases of emergency
Without putting it to the test he was sufficient
ly assured of the vigilance of his party; but an
occasion was soon to be presented, contrary to
his Wishes wherein their watchfulness, perhaps
their courage was to be tried.
By means of emissaries who were kept con-
stantly on the look out, he was informed that
the officers of the law were intending soon to
make descent upon the Snaggers' Quarters,
which the former supposed to be then known to
them, with strong armed force sufficient to
overcome all resistance. To prevent on encoun-
terif possible, and prepareto to meet it if necessary,
was the object of his hasty visit. On the morn
ing after his arrival he disclosed to the party
the danger which threatened them. Measures
were Immediately taken for the removal and
concealment of every indication of the presence
of human beings, and likewise for desperate
defence in case of an attack This being done
Musgrave gave peremptory orders for suspen-
sion of all their operations for period of two
weeks, and took his departure for the settle
ments, where he was met with applications to
aid the posse then assembling to ferret the
Snaggers He excused himself FROM personal
attendance, but, with great apparent zeal in
the enterprise, he rendered the services of two
persons of his household and by adroit man.
agement contrived to have the pilotage of the
party confded to men whose interest, or fears
made them subservient to the Snaggers.
Under such guidance it is unnecessary to say
the party was led in every direction but the
true one; and after days of weary .journeyings
many times bewildered and lost they returned
to the settlements, some doubling, and Others
confirmed in q belief of the non-existence Of
any organized band of counterfeiters having
any particular rendezvous. Thus the unsuccess-
ful search resulted in an increased security fol
the Snaggers. Leaving them in the " full tide
of successful experiment. we will return to the
farm of Hartman and its occupants.