Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-25
CHAPTER XIX.
A CUTE YANKEE.

CHAPTER XIX
4 ACUTE YANKEE.
On the evening of the day named, Sabine and
his recruits met Captain Bornkil with sub
stantial posse of Provincials, well armed with
civil process as well as military weapons, on the
open plain ten miles from Musgrave's residence.
For several miles before they reached their place
of meeting, thcy had struggled along sngly as
huntsmen, or two or three in company as trav-
elers, and when they met, a watch-word pre-
viously agreed on by Mr.. Sabine and Captain
Bornkil enabled each to recognize the others as
friends.
Mr.. Sabine having been the first applied to
for succour, and having been the protector OF
the plan to break up the gang, it was generally
agreed, on the proposal of Captain Bornkil'
that the former should command thecntcrprise
Among the eighteen men Sabine had mustered,
was one named Short. He was younglsh
man, quite 'verdant " in his manners, but
possessed of more shrewdness than was usually
pissed to the credit side of his account No
man was more of daredevil than he, and but
few have grown taller. He was a lathy, loose
iointed creature, having mouth which seemed
to have been made large on purpose to admit the
hugo tobacco guilds which he deposited there,
as if he wished tosave insurance, or was g short
ont " for pocket storage On his countonance
baamed good-humored smile, and the ludicrous
air was ever predominant
Sabine had urged him forward on the after
noon of the day fixed for the meeting of the two
parties on the plain, to engage the attention of
Musgrave, if the latter should be at home !;
while others were to follow, who, upon signal
from Short were to enter the premises, and
make the chief of the Snaggers prisoner.
This was an enterprise admirably fitted to
Shorts capacity: and while it afforded him
pleasure to undertake it, the selection proved
Sabines discernment.
The animal which Short rode seemed more
like a production of art than of nature, with
horses hide wrapped around it to cover the
deception. Among such as had the sense OF
feeling, or of sight, there could be no question
as to the number of ribs the animals /" flesh
was heir to - but concerning his age men
might " long debate" for there was an entire
absence from his mouth of those substitutes for
speech by which the scientific enquirer after the
age of the horse is usually answered. The to-
tai want of hair on the neck and tail of the
animal clearly showed that hisabstemious mode
of life would not justify such superhous orna
ment. He was so thin and sharp, like his rider
that his progress hardly occasioned in the air &
vacuum; yet his power of speed, when urged
to the test, almost foreclosed competition.
When Short hove in sight of Musgrave's res
idence he refined up his horse, and putting the
animal into as awkward a gait as possible, he
trudged slowly along. Musgrave saw him
for his ever suspicious eye seldom failed to OBJ
,-~ssfve any one who passed his premises when he
:, was about; though he affected surprise wher
\ Short entered his door.
-: Musgrave was apparently absorbed in Il news
paper when Short knocked. The latter entered
and seating himself unasked, commenced somC
self-satisfed, and ludcrous smile played upol
his face.
You don't want to hire no help, du you?
said he to Musgrave, who appeared but littl
pleased with his loquacious visitor.
81 don't know as do, the other answered
while the eyes of Short were taking genera
survey of the room
81 reckon from the size o your belly, and tn
color o. the handle to your face, you don't d.
much yourself, frind,'' said Short, "and
should kind o think you'd want chap or S
tu help YOU This is a pooty considerable of
farm o. your'n to carry on, he continued.
Yes," Musgrave replied at the same tim
looking up as if he felt the necessity of ez
hausting subjects of conversation in order to b
rid of his visitor 90 but what can you do ?"
WAL now, Mister, that sounds like it,
said Short. " What kin du?" he continue
at the same time turning his face to the windo,
which looked out upon his horse 81 gucs
that ere frame O. mine IL stand without an
oats. Howsumever, frind," he continued afte
momentary pause, " arter we sit to banterin
I'm afcarod we shall forget all about that or
critter; SO if you've mind to stuff him wit
little grain, jest to keep his rafters from tunl
bling in, you may turn the cost O. the foddC
on my wages if we make rap
"Boy, carry some oats to that horse," yee
Musgrave, who feared that unless he ordered
hasty compliance, the next proposition of Shol
would be to lead the horse to the oats
" But what kin du? you asked. Wal.
kin turn my hand to anything enamost. lii
potatoes, chop wood, plough SOW, reap, NOV
mend fences, help the gals in the kitchen, Wa
on em to meetin' &C.. I'm good at most ar
kind o. domestic industry, and real America
system man, up to the hub Mister
" l don't know as l stand in need of al
more of that kind of labor than [ now ha
employed" said Musgrave.
''Wal, seein you raise hops here, and a
short ont for poles, wouldn't vally standi
out by the month for vines to run on for a IA
premium. Pm about the right build you S
for that tu, Mister
8. ses you can BE- useful In many ways
sad MusgrAvc: "but how have you got yo
living heretofore?"