With Ethan Allen at Ticonderoga Part 9

"What'll we do?" demanded Bryce. "You shot that one, Nuck. Now I wanter git the other, before we go home."

"We'll smoke him out," declared the elder brother. "You stay right here and watch, and I'll get some wood." Nuck had brought a tomahawk which, with his skinning knife, was thrust into his belt. With the hatchet he obtained dry branches from the lower limbs of some spruce-trees which grew near, and packed a big f.a.got through the mire to the hillock where Bryce stood guard. This wood he flung into the mouth of the lair, started the fire with his flint and steel, and when the flames began to wreathe the branches hungrily, he flung on leaves and gra.s.s to make a "smudge." His suspicions regarding the hollowness of the tree proved true, for the draft through the hollow hole acted like a chimney and sucked the smoke upward. It began to wreathe out between the first limbs, some thirty feet or more from the ground.

Suddenly there was a great clatter and sc.r.a.ping of claws inside the tree and then there popped out between the branches the head and shoulders of a smaller bear than the one which now lay still in the bushes. "Wait till he gits out!" shouted Nuck, as the excited Bryce raised his musket.

"If you shoot him there he'll tumble back into the hole."

Bryce was cool enough to see the wisdom of this advice and stay his hand. But in a moment the bear was completely out and then he fired. The bullet struck home and the bear lost its hold upon the limbs and dropped to the ground, landing with fearful force at the roots of the tree. But it was not dead and after a moment's struggle, got upon its feet again.

But the shock had dazed it and for a little it could neither see its a.s.sailants nor find any means of escape. Nuck ran in, placed the muzzle of his rifle within a foot of the creature, and finished it off with despatch.

Bryce was dancing about and yelling like a wild Indian; but it was not for joy over the death of this second bear. He was pointing on high and Nuck looked upward to see a third bear in the tree-top. This one had followed the second out of the hollow trunk and was mounting among the branches with great agility. The smoke pouring up through the hollow had driven the whole family into the open air. The Hardings reloaded their guns with despatch and then, on either side of the tree, fired at the remaining bear. Both bullets went true, but in falling the bear became wedged in the crotch of a big limb and Nuck, throwing aside his shoes and stockings, essayed to climb the trunk to push the dead beast off to the ground.

This was no simple matter, for all he had to cling to were the knots and "warts" on the side of the trunk. It was almost like climbing up the wall of a house. But he reached the first crotch finally and after resting a spell, found the remainder of the climb easy enough. Before he pushed the carca.s.s of the bear out of its resting-place he took an observation of the forest, for he was high above the swamp here and could see beyond the creek. In some way they would have to get the carca.s.ses to the creek bank and transport them to the cabin by canoe. It would be no easy task.

And as he scanned the stretch of river which he could see from his high perch he suddenly observed something which almost caused him to lose his hold upon the tree and fall, like the bear, to the ground. Coming up the stream were two canoes, each paddled by a couple of Indians, and with three white men in each craft. Even at that distance Enoch knew them to be strangers, and they were not a hunting party. Naturally his mind reverted to the warning Crow Wing had brought him a fortnight before, and without stopping to dislodge the dead bear, he descended the tree in utmost haste.

"Why don't you push the bear off?" shouted Bryce from below.

Nuck leaned over and placed his finger on his lips, shaking his head warningly. Then he slid down the remainder of the way, falling in a heap on the carca.s.s of the second bear. "Quick!" he gasped, seizing his shoes and stockings. "They're coming."

"What's coming?"

"The Yorkers. I seen 'em on the river. Two canoes full."

"Simon Halpen!" exclaimed the younger boy, his face blanching.

"I don't know. Couldn't tell any of 'em so far away. But they be'n't Bennington men, that's sure." Nuck was hastily pulling on his stockings.

"You run back and tell mother. I'll watch 'em till they land and see what they intend to do."

"But the bears----" began Bryce.

"We'll have to leave 'em. That one in the tree will be all right for a while for sure. Now hurry."

Bryce obeyed at once and a moment later the elder boy started off in the other direction for the bank of the creek. He ran carefully, however, so as not to make any noise and thus warn the canoe party of his presence.

In half an hour he was abreast of the boats, for they progressed but slowly up the stream. Here he had a good view of the men. In the first canoe he saw Crow Wing and another young Indian of his tribe, while the paddlers in the second were likewise Iroquois. The white men were Yorkers he was sure, and all were heavily armed.

As he scrutinized the whites his eyes rested finally on one man in the leading canoe whom he was sure he had seen before. He could not mistake that lean, dark face and hooked nose. Whether or not it was the person he had seen in the wood the day of Sheriff Ten Eyck's fiasco at the Breckenridge farm, he was certain of the man's ident.i.ty. It was Simon Halpen who, under a New York patent, claimed territory on the Walloomscoik, a part of which the Harding farm was.

Dodging from tree to tree, the boy followed the canoes and finally, before they came in sight of the Harding house, saw the party land. The Indians remained with the canoes; but the white men disembarked with considerable baggage. One of the men carried a surveyor's instrument, while a second bore a chain. Halpen led them and when he had seen the party strike into the forest in the direction of the house, Enoch sped away on a parallel trail and headed them off, arriving first at the destination.

He found that his mother and the children had already put up the shutters and made ready to receive the Yorkers. The cattle were shut in the yard surrounding the barn and the smaller children were put in their mother's bed to be out of the way. Bryce went into the loft where he could watch for the appearance of the enemy; but Enoch remained outside the door, his rifle in the hollow of his arm, ready to parley with the Yorkers who soon were reported by Bryce as coming through the lower fields.

CHAPTER XI

AN UNEQUAL BATTLE

A masterful spirit had entered into Enoch Harding during the past few months. He was no longer a child; he thought and acted as a man in many things. Now, with this danger threatening them all, he did not shrink from the ordeal, and none might know his inmost feelings from the expression of his face. He did not speak to his mother, nor did she seek to advise him. Long before they had talked this emergency over, and it had been agreed that the homestead must and should be defended even to the point of firing on the Yorkers who might come to dispossess them.

The legal authority claimed by Simon Halpen was not recognized in the Grants and did the Hardings put themselves in Halpen's power by agreeing to let the New York authorities arbitrate the matter, they would lose all that they had toiled and suffered for during the past ten years.

The widow saw that the windows of the cabin were shuttered and that Bryce had both powder and bullets beside him in the loft. Then she went into her own chamber and falling upon her knees prayed as only a mother can whose children are in bodily and imminent danger. How far the Yorkers would dare go--to what lengths Halpen might force the fight for the ox-bow farm--it was impossible even to imagine. He was a cruel and unscrupulous man, but he had already had a taste of the temper of the Bennington settlers and perhaps the remembrance of the beech-sealing which had been dealt out to him two years and more before, would make him chary of coming to blows.

Soon the six Yorkers appeared around the corner of the log fence which enclosed the cattleyard. Four of them, including Halpen, were armed with guns. The surveyor and his a.s.sistant carried their tools only, and walked in the rear of the more warlike quartette. Their leader, his lean, black face clouded by a threatening scowl, strode across the home lot and approached the cabin door. His beady eyes glittered and when he was enraged his hooked nose seemed to glow a dull red beneath the dusky skin, like a half-heated iron.

Simon Halpen was much better dressed than the citizens of Bennington were apt to be, and he carried himself haughtily. His hair was done carefully and the queue tied with a silk ribbon. His rifle was silver-mounted and his powder-horn was partly of silver filagree work.

In every way--dress, accoutrements and manner--he bore out the account the Hardings had received of him, that he was a wealthy and proud man.

The three other armed men were fellows of the baser sort, hired at Albany for the purpose of driving the widow and her children from their home.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BOY STOOD LIKE A STATUE]

Enoch Harding thought this as he saw the party approach, and his heart beat faster while his cheeks were dyed with crimson. Should these men march up and deprive his mother and brothers and sisters of their home?

Not as long as he held a gun and had powder and shot with which to load it! The fearful thought of shooting down one or more of these men in cold blood did not shock him now. The bitterness which filled his heart against Simon Halpen overbore any other emotion. He raised his rifle threateningly and cried aloud: "Halt there--halt I say! What d'ye want on our land?"

The three retainers of Halpen, as well as the surveyor and his 'prentice, halted instantly, but Simon strode on, his eyes blazing and his great nose growing ruddier as his rage increased. "Your land--your land, forsooth!" he exclaimed. "I'll teach ye better than that, ye young viper!"

Instantly Enoch had his rifle to his shoulder and had drawn bead upon the Yorker. The muzzle of the weapon covered Halpen's heart. The boy stood like a statue--there was no trembling to his young arms. "Back! If you come a yard nearer I will fire!" he cried. He did not recognize his own voice, but Halpen heard him plainly and was impressed with his earnestness. He stopped suddenly, half raising his own gun. "Don't do that!" cried Enoch, instantly. "Keep your gun down. Why, I have but to press this trigger and you will drop where you are! Be warned."

"Hi, captain," growled one of his supporters, "the little varmint means it. Have a care."

"You--you----" Halpen only sputtered for a moment. He could not find words to properly express his rage. "I believe on my life, he would shoot me."

"I certainly will, Master Simon Halpen, if you come nearer. You are quite near enough. You have come here for no good purpose. We own this land--my father paid for it and has improved it. He may be dead, but we will show you how we can defend the place from you Yorkers."

"You crow loud, my young c.o.c.k-o'-th'-walk!" exclaimed Simon Halpen, yet seeking to come no nearer the boy. "But you cannot hope to stand before his Majesty's officers--though some of you vagabond Whigs have become bold of late. Know ye that I bear authority from the loyal governor of his Majesty's Colony of New York, to turn you off this land, which is mine and has been mine for these six years."

"And I have told you that you cannot come here and drive us off, for we shall fight ye!" declared Enoch, his anger rising. "And what be more, Master Halpen, though ye might succeed in driving us off, ye could not hold this land. It is too near Bennington, and ye know well what sort of men Bennington folk are, and what they would do to you."

At this reminder of his former embarra.s.sment, when caught by the neighbors and "viewed," Simon Halpen flew into a towering rage. He shook his rifle in the air as he berated the fearless youth. "Have a care with that gun, Master Halpen," said Enoch, "for it might go off by accident.

And if such a thing should happen I would shoot you down--'deed and I would!"

This warning cooled the man's ardor somewhat. For a full minute he stood silent eyeing Enoch from under his s.h.a.ggy brows. "Would you dare flout me to my face?" he demanded.

"I dare keep my rights here, Master Halpen, as my father did before me,"

said Enoch, his voice trembling for the first time. And at the mention of the dead and gone Jonas Harding more than Enoch were moved. Halpen's manner changed; his face paled perceptibly; the fire died out of his eyes and his nose no longer glowed. He dropped his head and half turned as though to leave the spot.

But suddenly one of his retainers stepped forward and whispered in his ear. The whisper brought the leader to his old mind. His head came up and he flashed a look of bitter hatred at Enoch. He nodded to the man who had spoken and instantly the three armed retainers began to quietly spread out as though to surround the house. "I'll parley no longer with you, my lad," Halpen said, shortly. "This land is mine and you are naught but squatters on it. And as such you shall be put off, or my name is not Simon Halpen!"

Quick as thought Enoch darted backward to the house, for he had noted the action of the three men. "It is fighting you want, then, Master Halpen?" cried the boy, shrilly. "And you will get bullets instead of fair words if you press us--now I tell ye that! This is our home and we shall fight for it."

"Stop the young rascal!" roared Halpen, raising his gun now in earnest, when he saw that Enoch no longer had him "covered." But the boy dodged into the house and slammed to the heavy door. As he did so a bullet buried itself in the door frame. Halpen had actually fired.

The widow herself dropped the bars into place, for she had come out of her chamber and heard the conversation between her son and the Yorker.

Now Enoch ran to one of the loopholes from which he could observe the movements of the man who had shot at him in so cowardly a manner. He saw that the surveyor, who had thus far kept in the background, was expostulating with the angry man. He could not hear what they said, but it was evident that the surveyor was a man of some conscience and could not see such murderous actions without striving to put Halpen in better mind. But the latter shook him off in rage and loaded his gun again. The house was now surrounded by the four armed men and the three understrappers were only waiting Halpen's command to fire.

"Shall I shoot him? shall I shoot him?" cried Bryce, from the loft.