CHAPTER VIII
THE TRAITOR'S WAY
Remember Baker lived at Arlington, and the distance from that newsettlement, it could hardly be called a village, to Bennington was abouttwo and a half miles. Enoch Harding might have given the alarm to theneighbors of the captured man, but he knew that they would not be ableto pursue the Yorkers, for good horse flesh was scarce outside ofBennington. And Robbie would doubtless rouse them, anyway, as soon as hewas recovered from his fright. As he saw it, Enoch believed his duty topoint to the Catamount Inn, and we have seen how quickly a company wasformed there for the chase of the Yorkers and their prisoner.
Enoch had ridden Baker's horse hard into town and now he followed behindthe ten rescuers, urging the animal to still greater efforts. Thehard-packed snow rang merrily under the hoofs of the steeds. Fortunatelythe boy's mount had been well "sharpened" by the local smith shortlybefore, or riding recklessly as he did the horse might have suffered afall, and Enoch been flung off. Nevertheless he could not keep up withIsaac Clark and his companions, so gradually fell behind. His steed'swind was sound, however, and he pursued the trail steadily.
The rescuers showed no hesitation in choosing their route. There werebut a few beaten trails and they knew the road John Munro and his partywould take with the prisoner to the bank of the Hudson. They could notmiss it. The road from Arlington broke into this main trail at a pointnot far beyond the confines of Bennington and there it was at onceapparent that the sledge and horsemen had passed that way not longbefore. There were plain marks of the runners and the ice and snow werecut up by the feet of the flying horses. The fact that the Yorkersnumbered as many--if not more--than themselves, did not disturb theGreen Mountain Boys in the least. "A Grants man who is not good for twoor three of the scurvy Yorkers, is no good at all!" Stephen Fay haddeclared when they set forth, and probably the only emotions the tenfelt as they rode on were eagerness and wrath.
Meanwhile, behind them raced Enoch Harding, desiring mightily to "be inat the death," as the fox-hunters say. His heavy farmhorse could notcompete with the mounts of the posse, however, and with tears in hiseyes he saw them increase the distance between themselves and hisanimal. But he doggedly pursued the road, while the clatter of hoofsgrew mellow in the distance. The morning was very still; the moon hadsunk now and the stars were fading before the gray light of the comingday. In the east behind him the sky was even streaked with pink abovethe mountain-tops; the wind blew more keenly and he suddenly awoke tothe fact that he was almost perished with the cold, for he had stoppedfor neither greatcoat nor mittens.
Finally arriving at the top of a ridge of land he saw before him--atleast two miles along the road and just mounting another ridge--a groupof flying horses with a sledge in their midst, the prisoner and hiscaptors. At first he did not see the Green Mountain Boys at all; but ashis own horse plunged down the slope he suddenly observed the squadronwhich had left the Bennington Inn, come out of the dip of the valleywhere the trees were thickest, and begin the ascent of the furtherridge. The two parties were less than half a mile apart.
But from the elevation he was on Enoch had seen something else. Thesecond ridge was lower than this and over it and not very far beyond hehad caught a glimpse of the frozen Hudson! The river was not far away.Would the settlers catch the scoundrelly New York justice and hiscompanions before they reached the river?
And this must be done if they would rescue Captain Baker. It was allvery well to talk of following the party to Albany; but that wouldsimply result in the imprisonment of all in the jail. Once at the riverthe Yorkers would be among friends and would find plenty of people tohelp them beat off the Green Mountain Boys. The latter understood thiswell enough. They did not need young Enoch Harding to tell them, and itwas quite evident to the boy that his friends were spurring their horsesdesperately up the farther slope in a last grand burst of speed toovertake the fugitives.
On and on they sped and finally, when Enoch reached the dip of the vale,Clark and his party were over the hill and had disappeared. The boydared not urge his horse up the ascent too rapidly and he lost muchprecious time before reaching the summit. But once here he had a broadoutlook over the slope and plain beyond and if he could not be present,at least he had an unobstructed view of the end of the chase. The GreenMountain Boys had spurred down the hill madly and gained upon the sledgeso rapidly that the faint-hearted Yorkers were thrown into a panic. Thehorses attached to the sledge gave out and one of them slipped and fellin the harness. Instead of stopping to help Munro get the animal on itsfeet, the horsemen, with the fear of punishment from the angry pursuersbefore their eyes, rode on and scattered in the thick woods beyond,leaving the doughty justice to meet the posse alone. Munro was not aphysical coward and he felt that with the majesty of the law--New Yorklaw--behind him, he could face Baker's friends.
They bore down upon him with threatening cries, but he stood his groundand warned them at the top of his voice neither to shoot nor to try torescue his prisoner. There was no need of firearms, of course, for theywere ten to one now. But they laughed his authority to scorn. What!allow him to carry 'Member Baker to Albany to be tried by a judge whowas himself interested in land speculations, and by a jury antagonisticto the settlers of the Grants? It was preposterous!
Baker, who suffered sorely from his wounds, was untied and placed uponone of the horses which could carry double. The posse felt ugly, butthey did not harm the justice and after some wordy warfare rode awayagain, leaving Munro to get his horse up and harnessed again to thesledge without their help. His threats of future punishment for theentire party were unnoticed. Their wild ride had been crowned withsuccess, for they had recovered their wounded comrade within a mile ofthe Hudson River, and they took him home without any molestation.
But Captain Baker was weak from the loss of blood and terribly shaken bythe experience and was in bed and under the care of a surgeon for somedays. The news of the Yorkers' raid spread throughout the Grants and thesettlers whose fears had been lulled to sleep by the peace of thewinter, were roused to a realization of the fact that the land grabbersintended to be quite as active in the future as they had been in thepast. The next training day the conversation of the Green Mountain Boyswho were present in Bennington was bitter indeed. Cochran, and suchreckless spirits, were for retaliating with fire and bullet on the NewYork border. Nevertheless Warner and other more moderate men counseledforbearance.
"We overawed the sheriff's army last year, it is true. But at that timewe had given the people of New York no reasonable excuse for attackingus," declared Warner. "We've beech-sealed more than one surveyor andwarned New York settlers off the farms they had stolen since then. We'vebeen obliged to use force and now force will be used against us. But Ifind that many of these New York settlers have been brought here under amisapprehension. They did not understand the controversy before they gotthe farms, and believed that the land-grabbers really owned the propertyof which they are in possession. To visit our righteous wrath uponhelpless women and children will not help the cause of the Grants."
Many of his hearers, however, were not convinced. "'Member Baker's beenbeaten and his wife and boy ill-treated. What are we going to do aboutit?" was the demand.
"Complaint has already been made to Governor Tryon of New York, and JohnMunro may be punished by his own side for what he did the other night."
"And there's 'Member's gun," spoke up another ill-affected partisan."Munro stole it and has got it to his house. I'm told so by a neighborof his. 'Member thinks a deal of that gun."
"I'll get that," said Warner, quickly. "'Member shall have his propertyback before next training day."
And with that promise the disaffected spirits were satisfied for thetime being. When Enoch rode away from Bennington on his return home thatafternoon, the Connecticut giant overtook him on the road. Warner was afine-looking man, younger even than Ethan Allen and idolized by thewomen and children of the community as Allen was by the men. But therewas nothing effeminate about Warner
. He was of the better class ofborderers, possessing more education than most of his neighbors and withthat measure of refinement and cultivation which placed GeorgeWashington above the majority of his associates. Warner had no patricianbearing, however, but entered into the work, sports and pursuits of hisfellows. He was a superb horseman and rode on this day a mount which thegovernor of New York himself might covet.
Enoch Harding had grown used, by this time, to seeing these prominentleaders of the Grants and had spoken with Captain Warner before. "MasterHarding, your road lies my way for some distance," declared Warner,smiling on the boy. "We will go together."
"You do not ride this way frequently, sir," said Enoch.
"Nay. But you heard my promise to-day. I must get 'Member's gun. Thatrascally Munro may have to be taught a lesson, too."
"But will you go alone?" cried the boy.
Warner laughed. "Why, it is a peaceful mission. See--I have not even myrifle--only my sword as captain of our military company. A show of forcemight only make matters worse--and dear knows they are bad enough as itstands."
"Munro will be among his friends, sir. Ought you not to have somebodywith you?"
"There might be some doubt regarding that, Master Harding. A man likeMunro is never blessed with an overabundance of friends. He may haveminions that, for wage, would help him in his nefarious deeds. But Ishall meet him when he least expects to see a Green Mountain Boy and Ifear no serious trouble. But if you have doubt as to my safety," and hesmiled again, "you may ride with me and see that the doughty 'Squiredoes not capture and run away with me as he attempted to with CaptainBaker."
Enoch's eyes sparkled at this permission and he spurred on after CaptainWarner although the direction was one which carried him some distanceout of his way. A two hours' ride brought them to the settlement wherethe New York justice lived. Before they reached the place the figure ofWarner was spied and recognized and Munro met the Green Mountain Boy inthe roadway before his own house, surrounded by several of hisneighbors. Enoch kept in the rear and as they rode up the boy unslunghis gun and laid it across his saddle. Warner smiled as he noted thisact, and then his face grew stern again as he drew rein before themuch-hated Yorker.
"Master Munro," he said, without parley, "it has been brought to myattention that, upon your late evening visit to Captain Remember Baker,you carried away from his house a certain weapon which Captain Bakerhighly prizes. You mistook it for your own, I presume, and the duties ofyour office have doubtless been so onerous since then that you have nothad opportunity to return it. Happening to be in this neighborhood Ihave stopped to request the return of the gun."
"Ha, ye rebel!" exclaimed Munro. "Dare ye put yourself in the lion'sjaws in this way? I'll show ye----"
"Whether I have put myself in the jaws of a lion or a jackal may be aquestion which is aside from our present discussion," interruptedWarner, scornfully. "I have come for Captain Baker's property."
"Baker is an outlaw--as are you," declared Munro, wrathfully, "and assuch I took away his arms. An' I shall keep the gun."
"Now, 'Squire, if you had stated the reverse of that proposition Ishould have the more easily believed you," cried Warner, with flashingeyes. "Even a New York justice of the peace may not rob his neighborwith impunity in the Grants. I shall carry that gun away with me to-day.So, sir, deliver it without further ado!"
HE WHIPPED OUT HIS SWORD]
"Ye threaten me, do ye?" cried Munro, lashing himself into a rage."Seize this villain, neighbors! I call on ye to assist in the capture ofSeth Warner, the outlaw!" He seized the bridle of Warner's horse, whichreared with him and struck out angrily. But the justice hung on, stillcalling to the bystanders to interfere and help him. Enoch urged his ownhorse forward; but there was no fear of the neighbors aiding in SethWarner's capture. They refused to do so, and perhaps as much out of fearof the Connecticut man himself, as out of dislike for the justice.
Warner's horse was a mettlesome beast and Munro's act in seizing thebridle angered it. The Green Mountain boy had all he could do to handlehis steed for a moment and, as Munro continued to cling to the bridle,Warner suddenly whipped out his sword and whirling it about his headbrought the flat of the weapon down upon the officer's pate! The blowcaused Munro to relax his hold and knocked him to the ground, where helay, roaring with pain and anger. Warner rode over him and approachedthe open door of the house to which Mrs. Munro, frightened by herhusband's overthrow, quickly brought the gun in question and handed itto the victor.
"Many thanks, 'Squire Munro!" cried Warner, waving the gun above hishead and holding in his charger. "And when next ye seek to impound me,come in force, sir--come in force!" and letting his mount go, he andEnoch rode away at a swift canter.
Young Harding went home that night full of the afternoon's doings, andloud in his praise of Captain Warner's prowess. He and Bryce made manyplans for the reception of the Yorkers if they came to their farm; butafter this matters were quiet for some weeks and the settlers wereenabled to begin the spring work and get the seed into the ground inpeace. On May 19th Governor Tryon sent a letter to the Grants proposinga conference and promising amnesty to all those who had taken an activepart in the raids of the Green Mountain Boys excepting Ethan Allen, SethWarner, Baker and Robert Cochran. The King had commanded that New Yorkdo nothing further toward surveying or settling the lands east of LakeChamplain and the Twenty-Mile Line until the difficulty could beproperly adjusted, and Tryon promised that the land-grabbers should bekept away from the Grants.
The farmers were delighted with this letter. They had been living incontinual fear of dispossession since the first attack on theBreckenridge farm in '69. Now they felt that they would be free tofollow the peaceful pursuits of their calling and began to improve theirpossessions, believing that, after all, the right would prevail. Nonewere more pleased at this turn of affairs than the widow Harding andEnoch. Bryce, it must be confessed, felt a little disappointed that hehad seen no active service; but they were all happy in their work andthe Harding place bade fair to be one of the most profitable farms inthe township that year.
The boys labored well and after the second corn hoeing in August thework was so far along that Enoch was able to accompany 'Siah Bolderwoodon a hunting trip. The old ranger, lacking any regular abiding place ofhis own, often visited the Hardings and helped in the work of the farm.But he was a wanderer by nature and could not stay in one place long ata time. So, being off to the northward, the widow allowed Enoch to joinhim for a week or two.
It was not wholly game that Bolderwood was after, however. At least, notgame for present killing. He was mapping out his next winter's campaignagainst the wild creatures of the forest. His strings of traps anddead-falls would be laid along the route which he and his young comradetraversed. Reaching the southern extremity of Lake Champlain Bolderwoodfound a canoe which, well hidden in a hollow log--all that remained of amonster king of the woodland--had lain untouched since his last visit tothe lake. In this light bark they set sail upon that beautiful body ofwater on the shores of which the French and English had so often met inbattle. It has been well said that the Champlain Valley was the schoolgrounds of the early colonists, and that here were largely unfolded theelements of character which became of supreme importance in theRevolutionary struggle.
On the west bank of this lower, and narrower, portion of the lake, stoodthe frowning walls of Fort Ticonderoga--"Old Ti" as the settlers calledit--wrested not long since from the French backed by their Huron andAlgonquin allies. That promontory signalized a more ancient landmark ofhistory even than the Pilgrim stone at Plymouth, and one quite asimportant to our country at large. Eleven years before the Mayflowerbegan her voyage to America, Champlain met the Iroquois in battle on thesite of Ticonderoga, and this battle made the Iroquois the friends ofthe English and the enemies of the French for generations. Ticonderogawas an important link in the chain of French posts extending from theSt. Lawrence to the Mississippi, which was designed to shut the Englishcolonists into that
narrow strip of the continent east of theAlleghanies.
From the beginning Fort Frederick (Crown Point) and Ticonderoga were amenace to the English. From these points the red allies of the Frenchdescended upon the border settlements to the south and burned andpillaged at pleasure. Two fearful campaigns were needed to reduceTiconderoga and place the command of the Champlain in the hands of theBritish. Since its capture Ticonderoga had fallen somewhat into decay,for with the changing of the Canadian government from French to English,danger of attack, even by Indian bands, from the north was little to beexpected by the settlers who had flocked into the rich lands near thelake after the close of the war.
Bolderwood and his young comrade passed Old Ti and, continuing up thelake, paddled by Crown Point and reached the mouth of the Otter. Herethey encamped for several days, hunting and fishing, and living in anomadic fashion that charmed Enoch. But when they were about to returnanother party of hunters came to the spot--men whom Bolderwoodknew--bound for the upper end of the lake and into the wilderness lyingeast of that point. Enoch could not go so far because of the work on thefarm; but he urged Bolderwood to accompany this party, as he knew verywell he could find his way home in safety by either the land or waterroute. In fact, he rather coveted the chance to make his way home alone,for he wished to prove to the ranger his ability to do for himself.
It was therefore arranged that the boy should take Bolderwood's canoeand go up Otter Creek to a certain settler's house, there to leave thecanoe and make his way overland to Bennington, and the next day theyseparated. The hunters did not start until afternoon on their northernjourney, however, and Enoch left at the same time. Not far up the creekwas a settlement of Hampshire farmers who on one occasion had beendriven out by Yorkers in the employ of a Scotchman named Reid. But theYorkers who had taken these farms stayed but a short time and the realowners of the property had come back the year before. Here Enochexpected to remain the first night of his lonely journey.
He did not arrive until late, however, and the houses were indarkness--indeed they seemed deserted. The mill (built by Colonel Reid'sfollowers) stood silent, the stones having been broken by the GreenMountain Boys on the occasion of the driving out of the New Yorksettlers. Enoch, having heard such good accounts of this settlement, wasastonished by the appearance of inactivity.
Nevertheless he landed and soon found a stockade surrounding ablockhouse, which was evidently occupied. The people seemed to liveunder this single roof as though they were in fear of an Indian raid,and the boy approached the place cautiously. He was not molested,however, for no watch was being kept; but when he rapped smartly on thedoor he knew by the sudden hush of voices within that the occupants ofthe dwelling were startled. There was the clatter of arms and a suddencommand. Fearing that he might be treated as an enemy, Enoch knockedagain and was about to raise his voice in the "view halloa" of thesettlers, when the door was snapped open for an instant and the sharpblade of a sword thrust out of the darkness, the light of the candleshaving been quenched at his first summons.
The boy sprang back with an exclamation of fear, and only his agilitysaved him from serious injury, for the point of the sword cut a slit inhis hunting coat. And the attack, so utterly unexpected, quite deprivedhim of speech or further motion as the heavy door slammed in his face.Such a welcome was, to say the least, disconcerting.