Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-01-27

CHAPTER XVIII-coNrINuED.
"lt seems by your preparations that you
hem an attack inevitable" said Boyden.
. do, replied Rand "You are too i'm
brtant u perssnage to remain here undisturb'
l56, when the Tories are aware of your pres
mee.''
* How long will it be ere they will return ?"
IAN hour, perhaps. They will not delay
longer, fearing that you may be removed. ,
II an sorry shat you are endangering your
own life in an attempt to save mine'
my life 1t is true is unsafe, yet think
neither cf us will be injured. Should Skinner
lead his men, he dare not modest me, but there
are Others who would not hesitate to take my
life. Once safe, and have no fear of entering
their ranks again"
:" And would you do this? asked Boyden, in
a surprised tone.
"Doit!" +" repeated Rand, with flashing
eye AYE, have an object in this, which s
a key to my opposition to my country, that
cannot EXPLAIN
As he ceased speaking, there was loud
knock upon the door,
" You have visitor" exclaimed the Spy.
eyes, and at time when least wish to see
one''
Perhaps they do not know you are here
By remaining quiet, and leaving the summons
unanswered, they may depart"
mo, that were dangerous experiment 1t
may be some one who has trailed me in here.
and if it is, they have come for no friendlypu pur-
pose To refuse them entrance would make a
bad matter worse. Remain as quiet as posi-
be,' and thus speaking, Rand descended to the
room, closing the door as he had previously
done.
Who's there i? " called out Rand, as he sat
down the light.
"It's me, Thomas Rand, so you needn't b.
skeery about lettin in an old friend" was tn
reply, in voice which Rand recognized Al
once.
.Eorney - he exclaimed to himself in sur
prise. There must be some new game afoot
he'd not be here ere the company arrives. Per
haps he has them at his heels" and Rand stoot
as if undecided whether to admit his visitor.
Aren't you going to let me in? ?" asked tn
man at length in an impatient tone.
i" Are you alone, Forney?"
''Of course am, SO open the door, and no
keep me out here all night"
Rand carefully removeda portion of the logs
and looked out. The man, it was evident, wa
alone, or at least no one was visible, and with
drawing the bar, he opened the door.
'' Pears to me, Thomas Rand, you're gettin
mighty afraid of an old comrade, that you kee
him outside of your cabin week, after he'
asked to come in.
" It's always best to be safe, Forney, in time
like these replied Rand, evasively.
at always best to be safe when there
any danger nigh, but I'd like to know wha
you are afraid of at this time o'night,' and tn
m.n c,st su spcious glance at the fastening
Lncoln's men are getting bolder every day
Forney, and there's no telling when they migt
make a descent on me-"
+" They wouldn't b. no ways likely to con
to sich an out o'the-way place as this" sal
the new conner, in reply
Perhaps not, and yet my head is not wor
much since played that trick on the Scout
Their was always mystery about tn
chap gttin away, and the sentinel swears
don't know anything about it, I've hea
Skinner hint that twas all a trick, to get som
body into favor, and then hev it appear as he
it was chance he slipped off so easy
"Hints, returned Rand, his anger rising
this allusion, are out of place under such q
cumstances as Lincoln Scout escaped, and
were best for Skinner, as well as others, to
tain their ill-grounded suspicious, until there
probability of proving them correct"
:. The coat fits, them exclaimed Forne
with twinkle in his eye as he spoke. The
as is guilty alters
"Do you mean to say that had anything
do with the escape of Llncoln's Scout }" ask
Rand, piqued that he should have let his visit
know he understood the words, as referring
himself
didn say anything like that, so don't
riley"
1t is well you did not, Forney. You kn
me too we'll, to think would let such a chai
as you have insinuated, pass idly BY"
. You've fastened up rather snug, ha
yon f" asked the visitor, surveying the blo
ut the windows.
II always calculate to leave things SO d
no one can enter when I'm absent
I've been up above here apiece" contin
Foruey. @ and they say there's man shot h'
abouts, nigh to the spot where you strike
path to come in here.o
GA man wounded " exclaimed Rand in
ident surprise. 9 Did you learn his name
"No; but they say he's whig, and so
body took him off in this direction. Hev
lodger tonight, Rand? p exclaimed the vi
or suddenly, as slight noise arrested his
tention.
"No," replied Rand. "what put that
into your head, Forncy7"
:. Nothing, only heard movement in
! pft.'