CHAPTER VI--THE YORKERS
Though the presentation of claims, under the authority of the New Yorkgovernment, to the land which Seth Beeman occupied by virtue of a titlederived from the Governor of New Hampshire, had for some time beenexpected and resistance fully determined upon, Seth's heart was as hotwith anger and heavy with anxiety as if invasion had come withoutwarning. Tenacious of his rights, he yet hated strife and contention.Nor could he foresee whether he must lose the home he had wrought withtoil and privation out of the savage wilderness, or whether, after asharp, brief contest, he would be left in peaceable possession of it, orwhether he could then hold it only by continued resistance.
Nathan had not been long away when he shouldered his axe and hastenedtoward the house. When it came in view, between the tall pillars of treetrunks that paled the verge of the clearing, the rough-walled dwellinghad never looked more homelike nor better worth keeping. It had overcomethe strangeness of new occupancy and settled to its place. The logs hadbegun to gather again the moss that they lost when they ceased to betrees. Wild vines, trained to tamer ways, clambered about the doorwayand deep-set windows, beneath which beds of native and alien posies,carefully tended, alike flourished in the virgin soil. The young gardenstuff was promising, and the broader expanse of fall-sown wheat, growntall enough to toss in the wind, made a rippling green sea of theclearing, with islands of blackened stumps jutting here and there abovethe surface. The place had outgrown its uncouth newness and transientcamp-like appearance and become a home to cling to and defend.
"What is it, Seth?" asked Ruth, coming to greet him at the door, hersmile fading as she saw his troubled face.
"The Yorkers have come." And then he explained Nathan's mission. "Ourfolks'll come to help as soon as they can, but the Yorkers'll get herefirst. Look a there," and, following his eyes, Ruth saw the surveyor'sparty approaching the border of the clearing, just as the Beemans passedinto the house.
"It won't come to that, will it?" she asked, in a low, awed voice, asSeth took down his gun.
"I hope not, but I want the gun out of their reach and where I can getit handy. There ain't a bullet or buckshot in the house," he declared,after examining the empty bullet pouch. "Give me some beans. They'regood enough for Yorkers."
As he spoke he measured a charge of powder into the long barrel, rammeda tow wad upon it, poured in a half handful of the beans that Ruthbrought him in a gourd, rammed down another wad, put priming in the pan,clapped down the hammer, then mounted half way up the ladder that servedas a stair, laid the gun on the floor of the upper room, and was down atthe door when the surveyor led his party to it. He saluted the partycivilly, and, upon demand, gave his name.
"Well, Mr. Beeman," began the surveyor, in a pompous tone, "I sent yourson to bring you to me, but it seems you did not please to come."
"No," said Seth quietly; "it does not please me to leave my affairs atthe beck and call of every stranger that comes this way."
"Well, sir, I'd have you understand that I am Marmaduke Felton, dulyappointed and licensed as a surveyor of His Majesty's lands within hisprovince of New York. Furthermore, be it known, I have come here in theregular discharge of the duties of my office, to fix the bounds of landpurchased by my client, Mr. Erastus Graves," bowing to the person, "ofthe original grantees, with patent from His Excellency the Governor, whoalone has authority to grant these lands. I find you, sir, establishedon these same lands belonging to my client. What have you to say foryourself? By what pretended right have you made occupation of landsbelonging to my client?"
"I have to say for myself," Seth answered, in a steady voice, "that Ibought this pitch of the original proprietors, and I have their deed,duly signed and sealed. They got their charter of His Excellency BenningWentworth, His Majesty's Governor of the Province of New Hampshire."
"Your title is not worth the paper it's written on," scoffed Mr. Felton."Governor Wentworth has no more authority to grant lands than I have.Not a whit. The east bounds of New York are fixed by royal decree at thewest bank of Connecticut River, as everybody knows, and Wentworth'sgrants this side that limit are null and void. No doubt you have actedin good faith, but now there's nothing for you but to vacate thesebetterments forthwith; yes, forthwith, if you will take the advice of afriend," and the little man regaled himself with a pinch of snuff.
"I shall not go till I am forced to," Seth answered with determination."When it comes to force both parties may take a hand in the game."
"Very well, very well! I have given you friendly advice; if you do notchoose to take it the consequences be on your own head. Come, Graves;come, men, let us go about our present affairs;" adding, after some talkwith Graves, "We shall be back to spend the night with you, Mr. Beeman.You cannot refuse Mr. Graves the shelter of his own house."
Seth flushed with anger, but answered steadily: "I can't help it, butyou will not be welcome."
The men who had been idling about, taking little interest in the parley,now followed their employers back to the woods, trampling through theyoung wheat in their course.
"I wish you a pleasant night on't," said Seth under his breath, andturned to reassure his wife. "Don't be frightened, my girl. They won'tget us out of here. Keep a stout heart and wait."
With a quieter heart she went about her household affairs, while herhusband busied himself nearby, weeding the garden and giving to hiswife's posy beds the awkward care of unaccustomed hands. He oftenstopped his employment to listen and intently scan the border of thewoods. The shadows of the trees were stretching far across the clearingwhen an owl hooted solemnly in the nearest woods on the bank of thecreek, and, presently, another answered farther away.
"Do hear the owls hootin', and it's clear as a bell," said Ruth at thedoor, looking up to the cloudless sky. "It can't be it's a-going tostorm."
"I shouldn't wonder if it did," said Seth with a mirthless laugh. "Wherewas that nighest hoot?"
As he spoke the solemn hollow notes were repeated, and some crows beganto wheel and caw above the spot, marking it plainly enough to the eyeand ear, and he set forth in the direction at a quick pace.
"Why don't Nathan come home?" little Martha asked. "I hain't seen himall day. I wish he'd come. He'll get ketched in the storm."
"Oh, don't worry, deary," said her mother after she had watched herhusband disappear in the thickening shadow of the woods. "We might aswell eat, for there's no telling when father'll be back." They were nothalf through the meal before he came, and, as he took his seat at thetable, he said with a deep sigh of relief: "I'm afeard our York friendswon't enjoy their lodgin's overmuch. The owls are round pretty thickto-night."
"Well, I guess they've ben talking to you," said Ruth, as her facelighted with a comprehension of his meaning.
"Can owls talk?" Martha asked, agape with wonder.
"Well, the old knowing ones. Owls are turrible knowing creatur's," herfather said.
The twilight possessing the woods had scarcely invaded the clearing whenthe surveyor and his party came to the house, bringing in blankets,provisions, guns, tools, and instruments, till the one small room wascrowded with them and the uninvited guests. Felton and Graves madethemselves offensively and officiously at home. The cook took possessionof the fire, and set two frying-pans of pork sputtering grease upon thetidy hearth, to the disgust of the housewife, who sat with her husbandand child in a dark corner. At last Felton brought forth a bottle ofspirits from his leathern portmanteau and drank to Graves.
"Here's to your speedy installment in your rightful possessions. Now,help yourself, and give the men their tot."
Graves stood filling his measure of grog in the tin cup, grinning withsatisfaction, when a loud knock came on the door.