Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-18
CHAPTER XI.
A NEG OTIATI0 N.

To return to Pellet. He had been to the res
idence of Musgrave, where he made many,
and anxious enquiries for the latter. Musgrave
had long been absent from home but whittier he
had gone; or for what purpose; Or when he
might be expected to return, no one knew. Day
succeeded day and no tidings Of him came.
Pellet, wearied With the current of time which
brought no excitement, and believing that his
prolonged absence might occasion alarm at the
Retreat, Judged it advisable, though in con-
travention of his orders to return. Consider
ing his order not to return without seeing
Musgrave and appraising him of the presence
of the strangers, equivalent to an order not to
disclose to any other person the purpose of his
errand and his own conceptions Of prudence
confirming in his mind, the expediency of such
course, he retraced his steps without hay
ing impaired to any one the occasion which
brought him thither, or the motives which in
duced his return But his judgment in the
matter not being affirmed by the wiser opinion
of Moll, he was assailed with numberless coarse,
and harsh epithets, and charged with being
derelict in his duty. Pellet had acted in the
matter with positive regard to what he be-
Iieved to be the true interest cf the snaggers
and, despite the suggestions of Moll, he still in
duged his opinion. The reproof of the latter
therefore irritated him, and elimination was
followed by recrimination, the effect of which
was to produce strong tendencies to insubordi-
nation
So apparent was this. that the presence of
Musgrave seemed indispensably necessary to
their harmonious action, or indeed to prevent a
dissolution of the confederacy. Moll was
doubtless conscious that she had upbraided Pc
let too sharply for that which was at any rate
a venial, and probably, an unintentional of
fence, if it asat all an offence that he had
committed ; and if her authority was arbitrary
certainly he had no discretionary Judgement to
exercise yet she, having once taken the ground
she did, was too arrogant and self-wiled to
concede her error
Pellet, on the other hand, had acted as he
thought, in accordance with proper regard to
his duty and smarting under the public infic-
tion of what he conceived to be a personal
wrong, and that, as he thought, wantonly in
Aicted he was too much incensed to submit
tamely to Molls reproof, or to concede the mat
ter in controversy between them to be even a
doubtful point So rancorous were they, and
probably so doubtful too, in their antagonism,
that neither seemed disposed to appeal the ques-
tion to Musgrave, their common, and acknowl-
edged, leader for his decision
Among the consequences of this state Of
things, for many days were, seeming lapse of
any special desire for hepresence of Musgrave
and more desirable than all, an increased
courtesy, or rather, diminished incivility and
harshness of conduct toward the wanderers
whose uncertain fate helps to excite the little
there may be of interest in our narrative.
Among Others whose judgement was sought
upon the matters in controversy, was Hartman.
His collision with Herbert had not tended to
excite any decided prepossessions in favor Of
the latter, and he uttered his opinions freely
and strongly, against the conduct of Pellet
Thestrangers he regarded as intruders, who had
come into the snaggers quarters, not by acci-
dent, but for some original and specific purpose
yet no one had been able to extract from them
an assignable cause for their presence, or to di.
vine plausible reason therefor, consistent
with the safety and prosperity of the League
Moreover, Judging from what he had heard
concerning them, for he had seen them but lit
tie, and desired to see them less and Judging
likewise from the bearing of some of tn,