Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-04-22


rick, with an oath.
"Thank'e Nat Harrick; and if you don't
succeed with Ruth Harviland, it'll be no
| fault of mine."
"And will nobody speak word for me Z"
asked Langford
"A hundred if you like r cried pollard,
though TO me it appears like the gratest
nonsense to be runnin' arter women when
there's so much real fightin' to be done.
My mistress is bloody one, and l find
her wherever there is a Wing to hang,
till to rifle, or house to burn. Howsom-
dever, if you like Judith Burnside, it's
none o my business, and ! reckon none on
us'll stand in your way. She's very hand
some, and proud as she is handsome; and
if you win her at all, it'll be by foul and not
by fair means. l don't want to be hard ON
ye, Phil Laneford, but I'm sure you can't
do much in the way of what folks call hon.
est courtshp. But don't be down-hearted,
lad, for we're bound TO aid each other un-
der all circumstances, and in all cases."
Martin Vantassle drew his sabre from
the earth and thursting it forward, held it
over the blazing fire the blade was dnted
and sarrated with service, and there were
red stains upon it. The other six un-
sheathed theirs and crossed them upon his,
when he dictated a terrible and impious
compact which they repeated. 1t was too
profane and shocking to be put verbatim
upon paper. They pledged themselves to
mutual brotherhood and crime to exter-
inmate the struggling and hunted Wings;
to give no quarter to the captured foe to
tha Iy.ncr {,,o;t,va x.-,tt, rar,o,ra1,se
fury to commit every enornity upon the
defenseless patriots to rob, to burn, to
outrage helpless innocence.
When this fearful compact had been
made, Vantassle turned to Herrick and
asked:
"What names have you brought? ?"
Herrick drew soiled paper from his
waistcoat pocket, and bending toward the
fire, read the following names:
Paul Hazelhurst, Frank Haviland,
Tom Hutter, Podijah Makepeace. Gideon
Grant, Blinco, niger, and One-eyed
Saul of Laurel Swamp"
"Men" said Vantassle, t'these are for the
sword We are TO hunt them down and
kill them. BY virtue of my authority, sue
the persons whose names you have heard,
out of existance ]"
There are seven of them and seven of
us--a man for each" said Herrick.
"Let US deturmine our respective men
by lot" suggested Lansford.
''.The idea is good, and by lot the matter
shall be decided" added Vantassle.
This suggestion was egerly received ; its
novelty made it welcome. The names of
the parties doomed to destruction were
written upon seven slips of papers, and
drawn from Vantassle's cap by his associ-
ates. Herrick drew the first ballot.
"Frank Haviland Y he exclaimed.
"The brother of Ruth said pollard,
with a shrug, and looking inquiringly at
his comrade.
"Tom hutter," said Langford, drawing
and reading his ballot.
"And 4, Blnko, th,, klack," said Nicol-
son.
"And IOne-eyed Saulr' cried Pollard,
in dsmay.
"You've got something to do,' laughed
Vantassle. "f you outwit Saul of Laurel
Swamp, you'll! be the gratest among us.
"Podjah Makepeace, an internal Yam
kee = declared Tim Becker, looking at his
ballot. ha
.'Simon Arrowsmiih was the last to draw.
He drew Gideon Grant, leaving Paul Haz-
elhurst for Vantassle.
at is just as wish it." observed the
latter while a scowl of hatrid gave addition
al malignance to his expression.
'.He has visited the Burnaides at LAUREL
WOOD remarked Langford.
"ls it judith or Jessie ?" asked Pollard,
with sneer.
at shall be neither !" Numbered Van
tassle, casting fierce glances around him.
" Let us join heads" he added, "and swear
that we will respectively abide by The ball
lot"
This was instantly done; with clasped
hands and unsheathed sabres they renewed
the terrible compact, invoking direful pen
allies if they proved recreant to their oath.
The League of Seven was complete.
They separated, and went their several
ways. A moment later, and nothing but
the smouldering embers of their fire
remained to mark the spot where they had
met ~