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Although many were the anxious consultations, and deep plottings,
among the belligerent parties within doors, during the fore
part of the memorable 13th of March, yet it was not till the afternoon
of that day had considerably advanced, that any indications
of the events which followed became observable in the streets of
Westminster. About this time, one of the doors of Crean Brush's
guest-filled mansion suddenly flew open, and the crouched and
cringing form of our humble friend Barty Burt, hotly pursued
by his recent employer with uplifted cane, was seen coming
down the steps of the entrance, in flying leaps, to the ground.

“There, you infernal booby! please consider this caning
and kicking as a farewell to my house and employ forever!” exclaimed
the enraged master, standing in the door-way, and looking
down with ineffable scorn upon the prostrate person of the
ejected Bart, as he lay sprawled out upon the spot where he
landed, without manifesting any disposition to rise.

“I should like to know what I've done criminal, squire?”
responded the latter, looking back over his shoulder at the other,
with a doleful grimace.

“What have you done?” sharply retorted Brush. “Why,
you impertinent puppy, you have done every thing wrong, and
nothing right, ever since you got your lubberly carcass out of
bed, at the fine time of eight o'clock this morning! and now, to
crown all, in clearing off the table, you must go, with your load
of meats and half-filled gravy dishes, through the parlor, where
you had no business to go, and there, like a blundering jackass,
as you are, you must fall down and ruin the best carpet in the
house! I've had quite enough of you, sir: so up with you there,
and clear out, you vagabond!”

“Well, I 'spose I know what you want,” muttered Bart, by
way of reply to this tirade — “you want to accuse, and drive me
away, so you won't have to pay me the two crowns you owe me
for work, and other things.”

[figure description] Page 051.[end figure description]

“I don't owe you half that sum, you lying lout,” returned
Brush, fiercely. “But to get rid of such a pest, and prevent
your going round town with that lie in your mouth, I'll give you
all you ask; and there they are!” he continued, pulling out and
disdainfully tossing the coins down at the other's feet. “Your
dirty rags, if you have any in the house, shall be thrown out to
you; and then, if you aint off, I'll set the dogs on ye.”

With this, and an expressive slam of the door behind him, the
secretary returned into the house; and in a few moments, the
sash of a garret window was thrown up, and a pair of shoes, a
pair of old summer pantaloons, a spare coarse shirt, and pair of
stockings, were successively flung down into the yard, near where
the owner was still lying, by the hand of a grinning and blushing
servant maid, while her dainty-fingered master stood by, directing
the operation.

“Well, Bart,” now soon began to mutter this singular being, in
his usual manner of addressing himself as a second person, when
alone — “well, Bart, your plan of getting driv away has worked
to a shaving. You've got your pay, too, jest in the way you calculated
would fetch it; yes, all your honest pay, and one crown
more; but you charged that, you know, when you told him two
crowns, as damage for the kick and cane lick you got. So that's
settled. And as to the other accounts against him, and the rest
of 'em there, you'll be in a way to square all, fore long, guess;
for you will be your own rebel, now, Bart, you know.”

While thus communing with himself, he had slowly, and with
many winces of affected pain, gathered up his limbs, risen on to
his feet, pocketed his two crowns, and collected and tied up his
clothes. And he was now, with a grieved look, as if sorrowing
for the loss of his home, looking back to the house, where several
curious, half-laughing, half-pitying countenances were seen peering
through the windows to witness his departure. He then
looked hesitatingly abroad, one way and then the other, with the
sad and despairing air of one who feels there is no place in the
wide world where he can find a friendly shelter. After this,
with a wince and groan at every step, he slowly hobbled off up
the street, losing his lameness, and converting his groans into
snickers of low, exulting laughter, as soon as he was out of eyeshot
of the company he had left behind him.

“Kinder 'pears to me, Bart,” he at length said, resuming his
soliloquy, as he glanced keenly at the tavern, which was the
scene of his last night's exploit, and which he was now passing —
“'pears to me, there's a good many heads rather close together,

[figure description] Page 052.[end figure description]

in spots, round that tory nest over yonder. They act as if they
were in a sort of stew about something. I wonder if they lost
their guns last night, or any thing, that puts them in such a
pucker,” he continued, with a chuckle. “But suppose, Bart, as
going this way is only a sham, suppose we now haul up here,
and edge over there among 'em a little, to learn what they are
up to, before you go to join the company at the Court House.”

On reaching the yard of the tavern, Bart found that the company,
numbering perhaps twenty in all, had broken from the
separate groups in which they had been conversing, and had
now gathered round one man, who, having just come out of the
tavern, appeared to be communicating to the crowd something
that obviously produced considerable sensation. This person
was a man of the ordinary size, of fair complexion, light eyes,
and an unsettled and vacillating countenance, rendered the more
strikingly so, perhaps, by the quick, eager, and restless motions
and manner by which his whole appearance was characterized.
Bart soon contrived to work his way into this circle, till he gained
a position from which he could hear what was said.

“You may rely on what I have told you,” said the speaker, as
Bart came within hearing; “for I have just had it from the
sheriff and lawyer Stearns. The rebels have been in possession
of the Court House about an hour, posted sentinels at all the
doors, and openly declare, that the judges and officers shall never
enter to hold another court. Nobody dreamed of their daring
on such a bold step, or we should have been before them in
taking possession of the house, even with the force we had on
the ground. But, thinking it best to go strong-handed, the judges
concluded they would not go in to open the court till enough
of friends should arrive to put down all opposition at a blow.
The rebels think now, doubtless, that they have got an advantage
which they will be able to maintain. But they will find themselves
a little mistaken, I fancy; for Patterson says he has now
got them in just the spot he wanted. This act both he and
Stearns decide to be overt treason, which will justify him in
taking the course he intends, unless they yield and scatter, on
the first summons. But as they won't do that, and our forces will
shortly be here, you can all guess what we shall now soon see
follow,” he added, with a significant wink.

“Then why not be getting out our guns at once?” asked
one of the company.

“No,” resumed the speaker; “the plan is to leave that till
the last thing before we march upon them, lest the rebels

[figure description] Page 053.[end figure description]

should take alarm, and go and arm themselves, and we thus
thwart our own intention of taking them by surprise. You,
however, can be kinder carelessly looking up clubs for such as
may have no arms, and a few axes and crowbars for breaking
into the Court House, if that should be necessary. But, as I said,
let the guns remain hid in the sleighs till you have orders to take
them out. For it is not exactly settled yet whether we shall
march upon them as soon as our reënforcements arrive, and
besiege them in the house, or coax them out, and so get possession
ourselves. But, at any rate, you will have work on hand
soon; and if we don't see fun before to-morrow morning, my
name aint David Redding. But come, let's all adjourn to the
bar-room, and take a drop to warm us up a little.”

Leaving Redding to his despicable task of endeavoring, in
compliance with the directions of those whose base tool he was,
to inflame the company he had collected, and work up their
feelings to such a pitch of enmity and recklessness as should
prepare them to imbrue their hands in the blood of their neighbors
and countrymen, we will now proceed to note the conduct
of more important personages in the events of the day.

While the scene above described was transpiring, Patterson,
Gale, Stearns, and one or two other tory leaders, who had been
consulting at this tavern, and making their arrangements for
active movements, left the house, and, with hasty steps, took their
way to the mansion of the haughty secretary, which, by his
special invitation, at this crisis, was made the permanent quarters
of the judges and principal officers of the court, as well as of his
numerous guests.

“Upon the whole, perhaps you are right, Stearns,” said Patterson,
as they were about to enter the house. “We will start
off Chandler to the Court House to make one of his smooth
speeches, and play Sir Plausible with the rebel rascals, as agreed
on last night, and though he should have done it before, yet he
may, even now, succeed in flattering them to quit the house
long enough for us to get possession; if not, we will take the
other course.”

In a few moments after these worthies had disappeared within
the house, the door was again opened, and Chief Justice Chandler,
the man to whose singularly compounded character, made up
of timidity, selfishness, vanity, thirst of power, kindness, and
duplicity, or rather the conduct that flowed from it, may be
mainly attributed the bloody tragedy that ensued, now made his
appearance in the street. He wore a powdered wig, according

[figure description] Page 054.[end figure description]

to the fashion of the times among men of his official station,
and his whole toilet had evidently been made with much attention.
Carelessly flirting a light cane in his hand, and assuming
an air of easy unconcern, he leisurely took his way along the
street, towards the Court House, bowing low, and blandly smiling
to every one he met, and often even crossing to the opposite
side of the street to exchange salutations with the passers-by;
to each of whom, whatever his party or station, he was sure
to say something complimentary, and aimed with no little sagacity
to reach the peculiar feelings and interests of the person
addressed.

“This is Mr. French, I believe,” he said, turning out of his
course to speak to the young man introduced in the last chapter,
who, with the same restless, anxious look he then wore, was
unobservantly hurrying by the other, on his way to the Court
House.

“Yes, yes, sir,” replied French, slightly checking his speed,
and looking back, with a half-surprised, half-vacant expression.

“Ay, I was sure I knew you,” rejoined the judge. “How are
the times with you, Mr. French? You will pardon my freedom,
sir, but the great interest I take in the success of our enterprising
and intelligent young men like yourself — But no matter now.
I see you are in haste. I will not detain you, sir. A very good
day to you, Mr. French.”

“Well, upon my word, now, here is my friend Colonel Carpenter!”
he again exclaimed, as, turning from the person he
had just saluted with such poor success, his quick and wary eye
caught sight of the gentleman thus addressed coming up behind
him. “Most happy to fall in with you, colonel,” he continued,
grasping and warmly shaking the hand of the other. “How are
your family, sir? Shall I confess it, colonel? I have really
sometimes greatly envied you.”

“Why so, sir?” asked Carpenter, with a little coolness.

“Envied you your well-deserved appellation — that of Friend
of the People, as they call you,” replied the judge.

“The people need a friend at this crisis, I think, sir,”
responded the unbought yeoman, with cold dignity.

“If there is one title that I should covet above all others,”
resumed the judge, without appearing to notice the drift of the
other's remark, “it would be the one I have named. What can
be a more truly honorable distinction? I have often regretted
being so trammelled by my station on the bench, as to prevent
me from acting as I would otherwise like to do. But a judge,

[figure description] Page 055.[end figure description]

you know, colonel, in party times, must not act openly on any
particular side.”

“He had better do that, however, than act secretly on all sides,”
returned the other, with biting significance.

“O, doubtless, doubtless, sir,” rejoined the judge, with a
forced laugh, but with the air of one perfectly unsuspicious of
any intended personalities. “Yes, indeed. But, ah!” he continued,
slightly motioning towards the Court House, against
which they had now arrived. “What have we here? A public
meeting?”

“Quite possible. At all events I think of going in myself,”
said Carpenter, quietly turning from the other into the Court
House yard, but soon pausing a little, though without looking
round, to hear the remarks which the other seemed intent on
making.

“Indeed! Why, I had not heard of it, else I should have been
pleased to have dropped in. I came out, be sure, only for a
little exercise, but —”

Here he paused, in expectation that the other would speak; but
finding himself disappointed, and left alone in the street, he resumed
his walk, while his now unguarded countenance very plainly
showed the disquiet he felt at the rebuffs he had received in his
attempts to conciliate Colonel Carpenter, and obtain from him an
invitation to go into the meeting, which, in reality, it was his only
object in coming out to attend.

While digesting his mortification, and occupied in conjecturing
how he could have become an object of suspicion among the
opponents of the court party, as every thing now seemed to indicate,
his attention was again arrested by the sounds of approaching
footsteps; and, looking up, his eyes encountered the sarcastic
countenance of Tom Dunning, who, coming from an opposite
direction, was also on his way to join the company at the Court
House.

“Ah, Mr. Dunning!” exclaimed the judge, starting from his
reverie and downcast attitude, while his face instantly brightened
into smiles summoned for the occasion; “right glad to meet you,
sir. I have been thinking I must engage some such expert and
lucky sportsman, as they say you are, to catch and send me up
a fresh salmon, occasionally. I suppose your never-failing spear
will be put in requisition again, when the spring opens; will it
not?”

“Der — yes, your worship, unless I turn my attention to the
catching — ditter — eels, or other slippery varments,” returned the

[figure description] Page 056.[end figure description]

hunter, with a sly, significant twinkling of his eyes, as he brushed
by the rebuked cajoler, and pushed on without waiting for a
reply.

The judge did not pursue his walk much farther; but now, soon
facing about, began, with a quickened step and a look of increasing
uneasiness, to retrace his way to his quarters.

While these little incidents were occurring in the streets, about
one hundred sturdy and determined men had collected within the
walls of the Court House. As the construction of this building
was somewhat peculiar, for one designed for such purposes, it
may be necessary, for a clear understanding of the descriptions
which follow, to say a few words respecting its interior arrangements.
The court-room was in the upper story, which was all
occupied as such, except the east and south corners, that had been
partitioned off for sleeping apartments. In the lower story, there
was a wide passage running through the middle of the building,
with doors at both ends; while the stairs leading up into the court
room faced the principal entrance, on the north-east side of the
house. After passing by the stairs, there was a small passage
leading from the large one, at right angles, and running back
between prison-rooms, whose doors opened into it. The part of
this lower story, on the opposite side of the main passage, consisted
also of two rooms, with doors opening into it, and an entry,
or short passage, leading out into the street. One of these rooms
was used as a common, or bar-room, and the other as a sort of
parlor, being both occupied by the jailer and his family.

Although there had been, for many weeks, a growing disposition
among the party here assembled to prevent the session of a
court avowedly acting under royal authority, and spurning all the
recommendations of Congress, yet there had been no settled intention
among them to resort to any other than the peaceful measures
of petition and remonstrance, which they believed would be
sufficient to effect the desired result. It had been decided, therefore,
that the court should be permitted to come together; when
such representations and arguments were to be laid before them,
as could not fail, it was supposed, to convince any reasonable men
of the wisdom of listening to the voice of the people. But when,
on the preceding evening, it was discovered, in the way before
related, and from other sources, that the people had been duped
by the duplicity of Chandler, and that it was the secret purpose
of the court, in defiance of all pledges to the contrary, to hold a
full session, under the protection of an armed force, the hitherto
modest and quiet spirit of patriotism was at once aroused among

[figure description] Page 057.[end figure description]

this resolute little band of revolutionists, and they came to the
bold determination, as we have before seen, of seizing the Court
House in advance of their opponents, and holding it till their
remonstrances should be heard and heeded.

This object, so far as respected the possession of the building,
being now obtained, the company proceeded to organize and
make arrangements for maintaining their advantage through the
night. Their possession, however, was not destined to remain
long undisputed. In a short time after they had begun to act,
their new recruit, Barty Burt, who could not forego his desire of
remaining among the tories (where we left him acting the unsuspected
spy on their movements) till they should look for their
guns, that he might have the pleasure of witnessing their discomfiture
on discovering their loss, now arrived with news, that the
latter, as soon as they made the discovery that their arms had
been abstracted, were thrown into the greatest commotion; and
that under the direction of Patterson and Gale, both foaming with
rage, they had hastily collected all the offensive implements they
could find, with the avowed determination of making an immediate
assault on their opponents at the Court House. But notwithstanding
this startling intelligence, no one manifested the least
disposition of quitting his post. And although there was not a
weapon of defence, beyond a cane, in the whole company, yet
they seemed none the less inclined to maintain their position in
consequence of the threatening aspect which the affair was beginning
to assume; but resolving, by acclamation, to keep possession
of the house till compelled by force of arms to relinquish
it, they placed a few strong and resolute men as guards at every
door, and quietly awaited the result. And they were not kept
long in suspense. In a short time, Patterson and his posse, armed
with several old muskets, swords, pistols, and clubs, made their
appearance, and, with many hostile manifestations, came rushing
up within a few yards of the door. Commanding a halt, the
sheriff then, in a loud and arrogant tone, summoned the company
within to come forth and disperse. No voice, however, was heard
to respond to the summons. Gale, the clerk, then proceeded,
upon the intimation of the former, to read the king's proclamation
to the outward walls of the house, or the supposed listeners within,
with great form and solemnity.

“Ditter — dickins!” exclaimed Tom Dunning, after listening
a moment to the reading of the riot act, or proclamation, as it was
usually called, as, with several others, he stood just within the

[figure description] Page 058.[end figure description]

entrance. “Now I wonder if they expect to rout a body of Green
Mountain Boys with that sort of — ditter — ammunition?”

“There!” fiercely cried Patterson, as the reader concluded
his task. “There, you d—d rascals, now disperse, or, by
Heaven, I will blow a lane through ye!”

“Only — ditter — hear that!” again remaked the hunter, contemptuously,
at the menace and profanity of the haughty officer.
“Natural enough, though, mayhap, for a bag of wind to blow, if
it does any thing. He is rather smart at — der — swearing, too,
I think. But even at that, I guess he would have to haul in his
horns a little, if old Ethan Allen was here, as I wish he was, to
let off a few blasts of his — ditter — damnations at him.”

Captain Wright, after a brief consultation with the other leaders,
now coming down from the court-room, opened the door, (Dunning
and another strong-armed man having hold of it to guard
against a rush,) and addressed the besiegers.

“Why is all this, gentlemen?” he said, in a respectful, but
firm manner. “Are you come here for war? We are here for
no such purpose, ourselves. We came with none other than
peaceful intentions. And so long as we can say that, and say,
also, above all, that we have come together with the approbation
of the chief judge of your court, who has promised us a fair
hearing of our grievances; and so long as, in direct violation
of that judge's pledge to us, you appear here in arms, to intimidate
us, let me assure you, we shall not disperse under your
threats. We, however, will permit you to come in, if you will
lay aside your arms; or we will hold a parley with you as you
are.”

“D—n your parley!” exclaimed Gale, furiously. “D—n
the parley with such d—d rascals as you are! I will hold no
parley with such d—d rascals, but by this!” he added, drawing
a pistol, and brandishing it towards his opponents.

“Ay! ay!” cried Redding, who, next to the sheriff and
clerk, appeared to be the most violent and officious among the
assailants: “talk about being here without arms, and for peace, do
ye? when you have stolen a dozen of our guns, and have now
got them in there among you. Pretty fellows, to talk about parley?
We will give you a parley that will send you all to hell
before morning!”

Wright here began a denial of the charge made by the last
speaker; when he was interrupted by Dunning, who, jogging him,
said, in an undertone, —

[figure description] Page 059.[end figure description]

“Let 'em — der — believe it. They are such — ditter — cowards,
that the idea of a dozen guns among us will make 'em more
mannerly than all the preaching you could — ditter — do in a
month.”

Concluding to profit by this suggestion of the sagacious hunter,
Wright now retired within doors, followed by the hisses, curses,
and all manner of abusive epithets, of the assailants.

The besiegers, now finding that the king's proclamation, on
whose potency for quelling the risings of the rebellious colonists,
the tory authorities, at the commencement of the revolution,
seemed to have greatly counted, did not annihilate their opponents,
and, not seeing fit to attempt to carry their threats into
execution at present, they soon drew off a short distance, and
apparently held a consultation. While they were thus occupied,
a small deputation was sent out to them from the Court House,
with another offer to hold a conference. But their proposals
being received with fresh insults and abuse, they returned to the
house; while Patterson and his forces, evidently fearing to
venture an attack, with their present strength, on the other party,
whom they suspected to be armed with the lost guns, now moved
off to head-quarters, to report progress, and wait for the expected
reënforcement, to hasten whose arrival, expresses had been despatched
several hours before.

A short time after the disappearance of Patterson's band, Judge
Chandler unexpectedly came up to the Court House, wholly unattended,
and being readily admitted, he at once ascended into the
court-room, and entered the somewhat surprised, but unmoved
assembly, bowing low to individuals on the right and left, as he
passed on to an unoffered seat, with the gratified air of one, who,
after many detentions, has the satisfaction of getting at length
into the company of his friends.

After a rather embarrassing pause, the judge rose, and made
a short speech, which left his hearers but little the wiser respecting
his real wishes and intentions, though he had much to say
about his solicitude for the welfare of the people, and his anxiety
that they should do nothing to injure their cause. After he was
seated, Wright, Carpenter, and Knowlton, each in turn, addressed
him, stating, in general terms, the views and wishes of their
party, and reminding him of his pledge, that no arms should be
brought by the officers of the court, the recent violation of which
they hoped he would be able to explain.

Upon this, the former rejoined, declaring with great assurance,
and not a little to the surprise of many in the room, that the

[figure description] Page 060.[end figure description]

arms complained of had been brought without his knowledge,
and against his express wishes; and he concluded by assuring
his friends, as he said he was proud to believe he might safely
call them, that he would go and immediately secure the arms in
question; so that the company might now retire, in full confidence
that their petitions would obtain a fair hearing, when the
court came together the next morning. The speaker then resumed
his seat, and glanced persuasively around him for some
tokens of assent or approbation. But the men, whom he had
thus undertaken to wheedle, had been taught by experience to
heed the caution so well recommended by the tuneful Burns, —

“Beware the tongue that's smoothly hung,” —

“You hear his honor's remarks,” observed the chairman,
at length breaking the ominous silence. “Have you any propositions
to make before the judge retires.”

Another long interval of deep silence ensued; when Tom
Dunning's tall, sinewy form, and sharp, bronzed features, screwed
up with an expression of sly mischief, was seen rising from a
back seat in the room.

“Seeing no one else,” he said, “seems — ditter — disposed to
accept your invitation, Mr. Moderator, I don't — ditter — know but
I will make a small proposition on the occasion. Now, as I take
it, we are to remain here to-night; and as we have now learned
that the judge and the people here are the — ditter — best of friends,
I would just move, Mr. Moderator, that his honor be — der — ditter—
invited to take up lodgings with us in the Court House to-night;
so that, if the enemy comes,” he added, imitating the manner of
the judge, as described by Bart, “he can assist us to — ditter —
`temporize — temporize — till' —”

Here the hunter bobbed down into his seat, while explosive
bursts of laughter rose from several parts of the room, and a low,
half-smothered titter ran through the whole assembly, at this sly, but
cutting allusion to the part last night taken by the double-dealing
judge, who now sat before them, looking, for the moment, like a
suddenly detected criminal. He, however, while the chairman
was calling to order, recovered his command of countenance, and,
by the time the tumult had subsided into the less noisy expressions
of mirth, he was smiling as gayly as the rest, and affecting
to consider the remarks of the stammering humorist as merely a
pleasant joke.

“There is no cheating our friend Dunning out of his joke, I

[figure description] Page 061.[end figure description]

perceive,” he said, rising and taking up his hat; “and, indeed, I
don't know that I can blame a hardy woodsman for laughing at the
idea of one of our in-door and tender professional men, like myself,
sleeping on floors and benches. I am afraid we deserve it for our
effeminacy. Yes, yes, a good joke, truly! and a good laughter-moving
joke is an excellent thing to go to bed upon, they say,”
he added, as with a merry, gleeful look, he bowed himself out
of the assembly.

No further comments were offered by any of the company
upon the communications of this official double-dealer, after his
departure; for all seemed to think that the single shot of Dunning
had rendered all further comments on his speech, and his
motives in coming there to make it, entirely superfluous. And
they therefore proceeded, as if nothing but an ordinary interruption
had occurred, to the business on which they were engaged
when the judge came in — that of passing some fresh
resolves expressive of their determination to hold the Court House
in defiance of the threats of their opponents, and of their now
settled purpose of no longer submitting, on any conditions, to the
continuance of a court which had proved itself so corrupt and
treacherous. After this, and making arrangements for the posting
and relieving of guards at the doors for the night, a part of the
company left the house to seek lodgings elsewhere, as the usual
hour of rest had now arrived.

When the nonplused and disconcerted Chandler left the Court
House, he rapidly took his way back to his quarters, from which
he had been started out by Patterson and Gale, to see if he
might not be able to accomplish by fair words what they had
failed to effect by foul. Although he had put the best possible
face upon the mortifying occurrence he had just been compelled
to meet, and had made, as he believed, a handsome exit from
the company, yet he felt keenly conscious that he had not only
utterly failed in the object of his visit, but that much of his late
base conduct was known. He perceived this in the allusions of
Dunning, the pith of which he had affected not to understand.
He had seen it, he had felt it, in the significant and knowing
glances that had been exchanged on every side around him, and
especially in the bitter derisive laugh that had assailed his tingling
ears. He had also been taught a new lesson in the interview!
He had seen, in the firm manner and determined looks of those
he had been confronting — he had seen that which told him of
a spirit at work among the people, that the loyal party, with
all their boasted strength, might not long be able to quell. He

[figure description] Page 062.[end figure description]

began now, with the instinctive sagacity of the true office-seeker,
to perceive the possibility, perhaps probability, that the power
of dispensing office and patronage was about to change hands;
and he inwardly trembled for his own safety. He found
himself, in short, in one of those straits, to which men of his
character are not unfrequently reduced — that of being wholly at
a loss to decide which side was most likely to become the strongest.
Could he have foreseen and decided this, his mind would
have been comparatively at ease; for he could have then trimmed
his sails, so as to steer clear of the political breakers which
he knew were somewhere ahead. Some course, however, he
must decide upon; and after lamenting his inability to pierce the
future, so far as to know which party was destined to prevail,
and thus secure the important advantages that might be derived
from shaping his present course accordingly, he at length resolved
to keep aloof, at present, from both parties, believing he
had so adroitly managed thus far, that whichever side might
triumph, he could put in a specious claim of having acted with it,
in reality, from the first.

And having now made up his mind to this course, he avoided
meeting the tory leaders again; and, seeking out a safe messenger,
and sending him to tell them, that “he had left the company
at the Court House as he found it,” and that “a forgotten
business engagement had compelled him to be absent from their
councils for a few hours,” he took his way to a distant part of
the village, where he called on an acquaintance of neutral politics.
And here becoming much engaged in conversation, and feigning
to have forgotten the hour of the night, he was at last prevailed
on to accept, as he did with great seeming reluctance, the invitation
of his host to tarry till morning.

After Patterson and his minions retreated from the Court House,
they returned to the tory tavern, and there remained several
hours, alternately cursing their opponents for rebellious obstinacy
in not yielding to their commands and menaces, and their expected
friends for their tardiness in reaching the place. And
affairs remaining in this situation till a late hour in the evening,
they were on the point of giving up all thoughts of renewing the
attack that night, when the long and anxiously looked for reenforcement,
consisting of thirty or forty armed men, came hurrying
on to the ground. The sinking spirits and waning courage
of the blustering sheriff and his confederates now instantly revived;
and, exulting that they now had the power to glut their
vengeance, they resolved on making an immediate assault. And,

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after fortifying their courage with liberal potations of brandy, the
whole party, now swelled, not only by the freshly arrived forces,
but by Brush, Peters, Stearns, and many others, who had declined
joining in the first sally, to nearly one hundred men, eagerly set
forward to the scene of action.

The other party, in the mean time, though still maintaining a
watchful guard at the doors of the Court House, had yet been
so long exempted from an attack of their foes, that they were
now in but little expectation of being any further molested till the
next morning. And some were lying stretched upon the benches
in the court-room, asleep; some, with their great-coats under their
heads, were reposing on the floors of the different passages of the
house; while others were sitting round the fires, engaged in
smoking and conversation.

Among those taking their turns as sentries, at this juncture,
were Woodburn and Bart, who, with each a stout cane or cudgel
in his hand, were now stationed at the principal entrance.

“They are coming!” cried Bart, who, having gone out into
the street to ascertain what might be the noise which they had
heard at a distance, now came running up, with an excited air,
to his companion; “they are upon us again, with twice as many
men as before, and plenty of guns!”

“In with the news!” said Woodburn, as the appearance of
the hostile party wheeling up towards the Court House the next
instant confirmed the other's statement — “in with the news,
and tell them to man the doors, or in two minutes we shall be
routed.”

Instantly springing into the door, which he unfortunately left
open, Bart made the announcement to French, who was restlessly
moving about in the passage, and who repeated the same in a
voice which started all, both above and below to their feet.

“They are coming for our blood!” he added, in a tone of
strange, wild glee. “Ay, there they come! I see them levelling
their guns in the yard! Now for the victims! Let us die
like —”

The report of two or three muskets, and the whistling of bullets
through the passage just over his head, cut short the speaker.
A moment of breathless silence ensued; when the harsh, ruffian
voice of Patterson was heard from without, —

“Damn ye, why don't you fire?”

A general discharge of the fire-arms of the assailants, flashing
fiercely on the surrounding darkness, and sending their deadly

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missiles through the passage, windows, and sides of the house, in
every direction, instantly followed the ferocious order. And, in
the expiring light, the fated French was seen to leap into the air;
and then, spinning giddily round and round an instant, fall, with
a low, short screech, prostrate on the floor; while mingled groans,
rising from a half dozen others along the passage, told also the
fearful effect of the murderous volley.

With the discharge of their arms, the assailing force, guided
by their torch-bearers, made a rush for the Court House. As
they approached the door, Woodburn, who had kept his post,
unhurt, on one side of the steps, sprang forward to dispute their
passage, and, after knocking up the swords and bayonets that
were aimed at his breast, laid about him so lustily with his cudgel,
that the whole party were, for some moments, kept at bay.
At length, however, Peters, who was near the rear of the hostile
column, perceiving it was his hated opponent who was disputing
the pass so resolutely, stealthily crept round those in front, and
coming up partly behind his intended victim, with a protruded
sabre, aimed a deadly lunge at his body, exultingly exclaiming
with the supposed fatal thrust, —

“There! d—d rebel, take that!”

“And you that!” cried the other, who, having, from a
lucky turn in his body at the instant, received only a flesh-wound
on the inner side of his arm, now, with an upward sweep of his
cudgel, knocked the sword of the detestable assassin twenty feet
into the air — “and you that! ay, and that!” he added, as,
with a quickly repeated blow over the head, he sent his foe
reeling to the earth.

But the weapon of the intrepid young man being now caught,
and his body fiercely grappled by four or five of his exasperated
foes, he was soon disarmed, and, in spite of his desperate struggles,
borne into the court-house with the crowd, who now rushed
furiously along the passages, wounding with their swords, and
beating down with their guns and clubs, without distinction or
mercy, all whom they met in their way.

“Guard the doors instantly!” shouted Patterson, who perceived
that numbers of the vanquished party were retreating through the
different doors; “don't let another of the d—d rascals escape!
And, hallo there, jailer! bring on the keys of the prison-rooms;
we will cage the whole lot, dead or alive, and let 'em be enjoying
a few of the fruits of their rebellion now, and the blessed anticipations
of being hung for high treason hereafter.”

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